Science X Newsletter Monday, May 7

Dear Reader ,

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Best of Last Week – Stephen Hawking's last theory, sauna bathing reducing stroke risk and health benefits of walnuts

Caffau's star is a dwarf, Gaia DR2 confirms

Chemical octopus catches sneaky cancer clues, trace glycoproteins

What will happen when our sun dies?

Built for speed: DNA nanomachines take a (rapid) step forward

Protecting confidentiality in genomic studies

Global tourism carbon footprint quantified in world first

Astronomers find exoplanet atmosphere free of clouds

Earth's orbital changes have influenced climate, life forms for at least 215 million years

Scientists make strong, super-tough carbon sheets at low temperature

Flexible, wearable oral sodium sensor could help improve hypertension control

Hematene joins parade of new 2-D materials—Team extracts 3-atom-thick sheets from common iron oxide

Women's preference for masculine faces not linked with hormones: study

Most autonomous vehicles require intricate hand-labeled maps, but MapLite enables navigation with just GPS and sensors

Very-low-carb diet shows promise in type 1 diabetes

Astronomy & Space news

	Caffau's star is a dwarf, Gaia DR2 confirms Caffau's star, the most metal-poor object known to date and one of the oldest stars in the Milky Way galaxy, turns out to be a dwarf star, according to an analysis of new measurements provided by Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2). The finding was detailed April 27 in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print server.
	What will happen when our sun dies? Scientists agree the sun will die in approximately 10 billion years, but they weren't sure what would happen next... until now.
	Astronomers find exoplanet atmosphere free of clouds Scientists have detected an exoplanet atmosphere that is free of clouds, marking a pivotal breakthrough in the quest for greater understanding of the planets beyond our solar system.
	Study explains why Mars growth stunted A University of Oklahoma astrophysics team explains why the growth of Mars was stunted by an orbital instability among the outer solar system's giant planets in a new study on the evolution of the young solar system. The OU study builds on the widely-accepted Nice Model, which invokes a planetary instability to explain many peculiar observed aspects of the outer solar system. An OU model used computer simulations to show how planet accretion (growth) is halted by the outer solar system instability. Without it, Mars possibly could have become a larger, habitable planet like Earth.
	Waves similar to those controlling weather on Earth have now been found on the Sun A team of scientists led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) and the University of Göttingen has discovered new waves of vorticity on the Sun. As described in today's issue of Nature Astronomy, these Rossby waves propagate in the direction opposite to rotation, have lifetimes of several months, and maximum amplitudes at the Sun's equator. For forty years scientists had speculated about the existence of such waves on the Sun, which should be present in every rotating fluid system. Now, they have been unambiguously detected and characterized for the first time. The solar Rossby waves are close relatives of the Rossby waves known to occur in the Earth's atmosphere and oceans.
	Burst of newborn stars in young star cluster puzzles astronomers Since the limited amount of gas that survived from the first bulk star-forming process will be quickly expelled within several million years, star clusters have long been thought of as "infertile" stellar systems that cannot form new stars. Only collisions or mergers of stars can lead to rejuvenation of much older stars, making them look younger than most normal stars in much the same way as humans apply facelifts.
	NASA's Webb Observatory spacecraft element environmental testing update The spacecraft element of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope recently completed its first two major launch environmental tests at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Redondo Beach, California, and will soon undergo further tests to ensure it will handle the rigors of launch and the harsh environment of space.
	Surviving the inferno of entry, descent and landing Anticipation is building as preparations are well underway for the launch of NASA's next Mars mission, InSight. But before the roar of the rocket lifting off from Vandenberg Air Force Base has subsided, a NASA team will be hard at work preparing for the lander's eventual plunge through the Martian atmosphere.

Technology news

	Flexible, wearable oral sodium sensor could help improve hypertension control For people who have hypertension and certain other conditions, eating too much salt raises blood pressure and increases the likelihood of heart complications. To help monitor salt intake, researchers have developed a flexible and stretchable wireless sensing system designed to be comfortably worn in the mouth to measure the amount of sodium a person consumes.
	Most autonomous vehicles require intricate hand-labeled maps, but MapLite enables navigation with just GPS and sensors Uber's recent self-driving car fatality underscores the fact that the technology is still not ready for widespread adoption. One reason is that there aren't many places where self-driving cars can actually drive. Companies like Google only test their fleets in major cities where they've spent countless hours meticulously labeling the exact 3D positions of lanes, curbs, off-ramps and stop signs.
	Deep learning comes full circle For years, the people developing artificial intelligence drew inspiration from what was known about the human brain, and it has enjoyed a lot of success as a result. Now, AI is starting to return the favor.
	Vulnerable communities may be adversely affected by the transition to cleaner energy Researchers at Indiana University have developed a new method for identifying communities that may be negatively affected by clean energy policies designed to hasten the move from fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly solutions.
	SureFly keeps focus on new day in safe, two-seater flight SureFly's hybrid gas- and battery-powered vertical take-off and landing vehicle is making news after declaring success on its first flight—manned, untethered, lifitng off for the first time, outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
	New software, HyperTools, transforms complex data into visualizable shapes Every dataset in the observable universe has a fundamental geometry or shape to it, but that structure can be highly complicated. To make it easier to visualize complicated datasets, a Dartmouth research team has created HyperTools— an open-source software package that leverages a suite of mathematical techniques to gain intuitions about high-dimensional datasets through the underlying geometric structures they reflect. The findings are published in the Journal of Machine Learning Research.
	Cloud computing, artificial intelligence on Microsoft agenda Microsoft's annual Build conference for software developers kicks off on Monday, giving the company an opportunity to offer updates on its computing platforms and services.
Trial set for Latvian accused of running malware operation Jury selection is set to begin in Virginia in the trial of a Latvian man accused of running a hacking operation offering malware products and services to cybercriminals.
Low-carbon energy transition requires more renewables than previously thought The transition to a low-carbon energy society will require more renewable energy sources than previous estimates if current levels of energy consumption per capita and lifestyles are to be maintained. This is one of the main conclusions of a study recently published in Nature Energy by Lewis King and Jeroen van den Bergh of the Institute of Science and Environmental Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB).
	Oversharing can have consequences, research says Social media and digital communication tools make sharing private information easier than ever, but communication research suggests that people often fail to set clear expectations and boundaries when they share private information with friends and family. This prompted Lindsey Aloia to investigate how people react when information they consider secret is made public by someone they trust. Her results were published in Communications Studies.
	Sensor stickers transform the human body into a multi-touch surface Sensors now make it possible to capture touches on the body very precisely, even from multiple fingers. Researchers have successfully tested a new prototype sensor in four different applications.
	Bioinspiration—plant-inspired pipettes The authors of a new article published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, "Plant-inspired pipettes", sought inspiration from the liverwort, a widely spread plant, for the creation of a bioinspired pipette. We asked one of the authors, Hirofumi Wada, about the study.
Snapchat joins EU group fighting hate speech Snapchat has agreed to join an EU-sponsored group of US internet giants to combat hate speech and online extremism, EU officials said on Monday.
	Buffett says stocks remain best investment option for most Billionaire Warren Buffett recommends that investors stick with simple stock index funds—not bonds and especially not bitcoins.
	News agencies hail 'major step' by EU to make net giants pay for news News agencies welcomed Monday what they called a "major step" by the EU parliament's legal committee asking internet giants to pay for press articles.
	Microsoft launches $25M program to use AI for disabilities Microsoft is launching a $25 million initiative to use artificial intelligence to build better technology for people with disabilities.
	Romanian who attacked Warcraft gets year in prison A Romanian man who launched a cyber attack on the California-based servers of the hugely popular online fantasy game World of Warcraft over a squabble with other players was sentenced on Monday to one year in prison.
	Air France shares nosedive after CEO bails (Update) Air France shares went into a tailspin on the Paris stock exchange Monday after the strike-hit company's CEO resigned and the government seemed to worry about the carrier's very chances of survival.
	ZTE petitions US government to lift sanctions Chinese telecom giant ZTE has asked the US government to lift a ban on sales to the company, which threatens its survival and has added to trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
	Nestle pays $7.15 billion to sell Starbucks products Swiss food giant Nestle announced Monday it will pay $7.15 billion in cash for the rights to market Starbucks products around the world, outside of the company's coffee shops.
	Invisible structures exposed Thoroughly understanding the growth of branches and leaves of individual fruit-bearing trees and adequately managing them are important in improving their quality. However, daily observation and advanced knowledge are necessary for proper management and cultivation of trees, so tree management systems using cameras are drawing attention. The automatic 3-D modeling of plant shapes and branch structures from images is an indispensable technology for pursuing both labor-saving cultivation and improvement of product quality.
	Report: Millions of tweets spread anti-Semitic messages Millions of anti-Semitic messages on Twitter have spread negative stereotypes and conspiracy theories about Jews across the social media platform, according to a report Monday by the Anti-Defamation League.
	Putin rolls out new Russian limo at inauguration Russian President Vladimir Putin glided across the Kremlin square in a boxy black Russian-made limousine ahead of Monday's inauguration, making a break with previous ceremonies when he used a Mercedes.
US giant IFF to buy Israel's Frutarom for $7 bn International Flavors & Fragrances said Monday it agreed to buy Israel's Frutarom for more than seven billion dollars (5.9 billion euros) in a deal the US giant said would create a world leader.
	Visual homing for micro aerial vehicles using scene familiarity In a paper to be published in Unmanned Systems, a group of researchers have discovered that a navigation algorithm proposed by Baddeley et al. is able to allow MAVs to find their way back to an earlier visited location fairly quickly and efficiently, allowing it to function more similar to a flying insect.
	Egypt approves law to govern popular ride-hailing apps Egypt's parliament has approved a law to govern popular ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem, which had faced legal challenges stemming from regulations designed for traditional taxis.
	Big investor offers about $6.5 billion for athenahealth Prominent athenahealth investor Elliott Management Corp. is offering about $6.5 billion to take the medical billing software maker private after saying it has grown frustrated with the company's performance.
Monsanto CEO and others to leave after Bayer takeover Monsanto Chairman and CEO Hugh Grant will leave the company after it's acquired by Germany's Bayer AG.
	Amos Genish confirmed as CEO of Telecom Italia Israeli Amos Genish was on Monday confirmed as chief executive officer of Telecom Italia, by the new board of directors, after US hedge fund Elliott Management won control of the company following a power struggle with French telecom giant Vivendi.

Medicine & Health news

	Women's preference for masculine faces not linked with hormones: study Data from almost 600 participants show that women's perceptions of male attractiveness do not vary according to their hormone levels, in contrast with some previous research. The study findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Very-low-carb diet shows promise in type 1 diabetes Very-low-carbohydrate diets can improve blood sugar control in type 1 diabetes, with low rates of hypoglycemia and other complications, according to an online patient survey. The researchers, led by Belinda Lennerz, MD, PhD, and David Ludwig, MD, PhD, of Boston Children's Hospital, now call for controlled clinical trials of this approach.
	Ophthalmologists link immunotherapy with a serious eye condition New immunotherapy treatments offer a remarkable chance for survival for patients with advanced melanoma and hard-to-treat cancers of the bladder, kidney and lung.
	Gene loss can lead to accumulation of waste products in cells MIT biologists have discovered a function of a gene that is believed to account for up to 40 percent of all familial cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies of ALS patients have shown that an abnormally expanded region of DNA in a specific region of this gene can cause the disease.
	Cell nutrition links to tumour growth One of the many mysteries of cancer is the ability of tumour cells to survive and grow in spite of poor blood and nutrient flow.
	Leukemia protective role of Y chromosome gene discovered Scientists have discovered the first leukaemia protective gene that is specific to the male-only Y chromosome. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge found that this Y-chromosome gene protects against the development of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and other cancers.
	Why people become more prone to distraction with age Older adults appear more easily distracted by irrelevant information than younger people when they experience stress or powerful emotions— and a specific network in the brain recently identified as the epicenter for Alzheimer's and dementia may be to blame.
	Preclinical study suggests ARID1a may be useful biomarker for immunotherapy Functional loss of ARID1a, a frequently mutated tumor suppressor gene, causes deficiencies in normal DNA repair and may sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint blockade therapies, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The preclinical study suggests that mutations in ARID1a could be beneficial in predicting immunotherapy success.
	Dementia risk doubles following concussion, study shows Dementia should join the expanding list of possible complications following concussion, even if the patient did not lose consciousness, say researchers from UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
	Brain cholesterol associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease Researchers have shown how cholesterol—a molecule normally linked with cardiovascular diseases—may also play an important role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
	Nuclear pore functions are essential for T cell survival Nuclear pore complexes in the nuclear membrane not only control the transport of molecules into and out of the nucleus—they play an essential role in the survival of T cells. A new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) researchers describes how a specific nuclear pore component is critical for the survival of circulating T cells. The findings, published in Nature Immunology, identify a new node of T cell receptor signaling and could pave the way for the development of future immunotherapies.
	New study links strong pupillary light reflex in infancy to later autism diagnosis A new study published in Nature Communications shows that infants who are later diagnosed with autism react more strongly to sudden changes in light. This finding provides support for the view that sensory processing plays an important role in the development of the disorder.
	Study confirms curable state between single and widespread cancers In 1995, two University of Chicago-based cancer specialists suggested there was an intermediate state—somewhere between curable localized cancers and lethal widespread disease—for patients with metastatic cancer.
	Study: Women perceive men who extrovertly display their wealth as unsuitable partners for long-term relationships When a man throws money around on flashy cars, people intuitively interpret this behavior as a sign that he is more interested in short-term sexual relationships than in romantic commitment. This is according to Daniel Kruger of the University of Michigan and Jessica Kruger at the University at Buffalo in the US, in a study published in Springer's journal Evolutionary Psychological Science.
	A new molecular target identified in depression The discovery of a new mechanism involved in depression - and a way to target it with a drug as effective as classical antidepressants—provides new understanding of this illness and could pave the way for treatments with fewer side effects.
	Study adds new evidence that infants track others' mental states A brain-imaging study offers new support for the idea that infants can accurately track other people's beliefs. When 7-month-old infants in the study viewed videos of an actor who saw - or failed to see - an object being moved to a new location, activity in a brain region known to play a role in processing others' beliefs changed in the infants just as it did in adults watching the same videos.
	Could reading our circadian clocks according to DNA repair optimize chemotherapy? We all have tiny, protein-operated clocks inside our cells that operate based upon the 24-hour day cycle. These circadian clocks are important for the proper biological function of different organs - heart, liver, lungs, brain, skin. Yet, we don't know exactly how they interact with other basic and crucial biology, such as DNA repair - the process our cells constantly undergo because we are perpetually bombarded with stuff that wrecks DNA. Sunlight, for instance.
	Breakthrough bioelectronic medicine discovery made by decoding immune system's neural signals Northwell Health's Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Assistant Professor Theodoros P. Zanos, PhD, and his collaborators are the first to decode specific signals the nervous system uses to communicate immune status and inflammation to the brain. Identifying these neural signals and what they're communicating about the body's health is a major step forward for bioelectronic medicine as it provides insight into diagnostic and therapeutic targets, and device development. These findings were published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Simple treatment may minimize hearing loss triggered by loud noises It's well known that exposure to extremely loud noises—whether it's an explosion, a firecracker or even a concert—can lead to permanent hearing loss. But knowing how to treat noise-induced hearing loss, which affects about 15 percent of Americans, has largely remained a mystery. That may eventually change, thanks to new research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, which sheds light on how noise-induced hearing loss happens and shows how a simple injection of a salt- or sugar-based solution into the middle ear may preserve hearing. The results of the study were published today in PNAS.
	A new way to watch brain activity in action It's a neuroscientist's dream: being able to track the millions of interactions among brain cells in animals that move about freely, behaving as they would under natural circumstances. New technology developed at The Rockefeller University represents a big step toward realizing that goal.
	Understanding how DNA is selectively tagged with 'do not use' marks Not all of your genome needs to be active at any given time. Some regions are prone to hopping around the genome in problematic ways if left unchecked; others code for genes that need to be turned off in certain cells or at certain times. One way that cells keep these genetic elements under control is with the chemical equivalent of a "do not use" sign. This chemical signal, called DNA methylation, is known to vary in different cell types or at different stages of cellular development, but the details of how cells regulate exactly where to put DNA methylation marks have remained unclear.
	The effect of night shifts—gene expression fails to adapt to new sleep patterns Have you ever considered that working night shifts may, in the long run, have an impact on your health? A team of researchers from the McGill University affiliated Douglas Mental Health University Institute (DMHUI) has discovered that genes regulating important biological processes are incapable of adapting to new sleeping and eating patterns and that most of them stay tuned to their daytime biological clock rhythms.
	Breast cancer: Discovery of a protein linked to metastasis Jean-François Côté, a researcher at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) and professor at Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine, studies metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related death. Recently, his team uncovered a protein that, once deactivated, could prevent the development of metastases in an aggressive type of cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer.
Alcohol-related cirrhosis patients are sicker, costlier and often female More than one-third of cirrhosis cases are related to alcohol, a seven-year national study of more than 100 million privately insured people has found.
Parenting concerns create challenges for mothers with advanced cancer and dependent children A new study indicates that parenting concerns are associated with poor health-related quality of life among women with metastatic cancer who are parents of dependent children. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings highlight the stresses women may face in dealing with family challenges and cancer.
Higher risks associated with vaginal birth after cesarean, although absolute risk small Attempted vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is associated with higher rates of adverse effects or death for mothers and infants, although absolute rates were low in mothers who attempted this type of birth, according to research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
For mothers with advanced cancer, parenting concerns affect emotional well-being Parenting concerns contributed significantly to the psychological distress of mothers with late-stage cancer, according to a study by University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers.
Eggs not linked to cardiovascular risk, despite conflicting advice University of Sydney researchers aim to help clear up conflicting dietary advice around egg consumption, as a new study finds eating up to 12 eggs per week for a year did not increase cardiovascular risk factors in people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Children hospitalized for injuries have increased mental health needs There's no doubt that serious injuries can be stressful for families. But little is known about the impact of these injuries on children's mental health. A new study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy, the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research, and the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital looked at mental health and social functioning of children after they were hospitalized for an injury.
'Shooting gallery' helps addicts in Europe's richest country Far from the glitzy bank buildings and boutiques in Luxembourg city sits a run-down prefab building behind the railway station that shows another side to Europe's richest country.
Security tight as Pakistan starts 5-day anti-polio drive A Pakistani health official says a five-day anti-polio drive has been launched in the country to vaccinate millions of children under five years of age against the crippling disease.
Artificial limbs give hope to Boko Haram amputees Njidda Maidugu breaks into a broad smile as he wobbles on his artificial leg with the support of crutches as a nurse walks alongside, helping him to keep his balance.
New study of Xia-Gibbs syndrome spurs development of patient registry Researchers at the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine have conducted a study of 20 individuals with Xia-Gibbs syndrome, a rare condition that has symptoms of severe developmental delay, sleep apnea, delayed speech and generalized upper body weakness, and have established a registry to collect genetic and other clinical information from patients with the condition.
	Unexpected discovery gives new model for studying brain networks The same kind of neurons can have completely different wiring diagrams in the rat and mouse, as mice lack intercellular molecular channels known as gap junctions, researchers at Karolinska Institutet report in the scientific journal eLife. The unexpected discovery gives the researchers a new model for studying the role of gap junctions in the brain.
	Gene study spots clues to heart risk for statin patients A Vanderbilt-led research team has discovered genetic variations that increase the risk of heart attack even when patients are receiving a statin drug like Lipitor or Crestor to lower their blood cholesterol.
	Breast screening error—women need reassurance, not misleading statistics On Wednesday, Jeremy Hunt announced that the English breast screening programme had suffered a computer failure, resulting in an estimated 450,000 women not receiving their final breast screening invitation since 2009. This has triggered widespread concern, and is being widely covered by the media.
Cardiovascular disease risk prediction equations published in The Lancet University of Auckland academics have developed new equations to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease (mainly heart attacks and strokes) in New Zealanders that has just been published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet.
	Early warning tool for breast cancer prediction in southeast Asian women A researcher at The University of Nottingham Malaysia is collaborating with scientists at Cancer Research Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom to develop a new early warning tool that could help to predict which women in South East Asia are most at risk of developing breast cancer.
Pioneering new 3-D cancer model to speed new treatments A scientist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, working with local biotech company HemoShear Therapeutics, has created a physical, three-dimensional model of a cancer tumor that can replicate the complex nature and behavior of a real tumor. The model will help researchers better understand the disease and accelerate the development of new and better treatments.
	We uncovered the genetic basis of risk taking – and found it's linked to obesity and mental illness Those who take extreme risks often describe being drawn in by a feeling of compulsion. William Trubridge, a free-diving world record holder who regularly plunges his body hundreds of metres under water, simply explains "it beckons me beyond my means".
	Study shows family psychiatric history increases risk of postpartum psychiatric episodes A new mother's risk of postpartum psychiatric conditions increases when she has an immediate family member with a psychiatric disorder, especially bipolar disorder, according to research published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The increased risk occurs with both male or female family members. The authors presented their findings at a media briefing in New York, where they had come to deliver a presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
	Use of some antipsychotics during pregnancy may raise risk of gestational diabetes Women who take certain antipsychotic medications and continue the use of these medications through pregnancy may be at increased risk for gestational diabetes, according to new research published online today by the American Journal of Psychiatry.
	Nursing home residents with advanced dementia have lower mortality rate with hip surgery Researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife's Institute for Aging Research and Brown University have conducted the first study to examine outcomes in nursing home residents with advanced dementia and hip fracture. They discovered that advanced dementia residents have a lower mortality rate after 6 months, if they undergo surgical repair. Those advanced dementia patients managed with surgery also reported less pain and fewer pressure ulcers than those whose proxies chose a palliative care approach in lieu of surgery.
	Every cancer patient should be prescribed exercise medicine Every four minutes someone in Australia is diagnosed with cancer. Only one in ten of those diagnosed will exercise enough during and after their treatment. But every one of those patients would benefit from exercise.
	Pattern hair loss could be due to gut bacteria The bacteria that live in our gut play an important role for our health, especially for a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
	Brain quickly adapts to new surroundings, only sees the most important information captured though eyes Certain objects attract our attention in a particular way. It could be something that is especially ugly or something that we perceive as being rather pretty.
Increased prevalence of depression, PTSD and medical conditions among military personnel who experience trauma Service members who experience trauma, including sexual trauma, during their service are at increased risk of major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic medical conditions, according to new research presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association here. Adverse childhood experiences also increased risk of PTSD among female service members.
Opiates may be playing an increasing role in suicides, even outside of overdoses The percentage of people who died by suicide and who had opiates in their system more than doubled from 2006 to 2017, particularly in the most recent years, according to new research being presented today at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting here.
Continuous consumption of pangasius exposes to dangerous mercury levels The pangasius, originally from Vietnam, is one of the most popular fish in the world due to its low cost, mild flavor and fillet presentation without skin or bones. It is especially requested in school canteens and senior centers. But a toxicological evaluation carried out by a team of Spanish scientists now shows that the mercury content in some samples exceeds all limits, so the consumption of other fish in the child population is recommended.
Bragging and modesty Young people today react to bragging in the same way as previous generations, according to new research by psychologists at the University of Dayton.
	Proper burial of dead cells limits inflammation If dead cells accumulate in the body, they can contribute to inflammation and pre-dispose individuals to multiple chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, Crohn's disease or lupus by uncharacterized pathways.
Biggest ever cholera vaccine drive underway in Africa: UN The biggest cholera vaccine drive in history is under way in Africa aimed at reining in a spate of outbreaks across the continent, the UN and charity alliance Gavi said Monday.
People reflexively accept information as accurate if it aligns with their worldview: study A new study illuminates how rapid, involuntary mental processes kick in when responding to statements that correspond with an already held viewpoint, according to a study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
	Neuroimaging research demonstrates how the brain translates altruism into feelings of thankfulness A brain network that gives rise to feelings of gratitude has been uncovered in new research published in JNeurosci. The study could spur future investigations into how these "building blocks" transform social information into complex emotions.
Hypertensive patients may benefit from folic acid supplements Hypertensive adults with low platelet count who took a combined daily pill of both enalapril and folic acid saw a 73 percent reduction in their risk of first stroke compared to patients who took only enalapril daily, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Brain activity helps explain diabetics' negative feelings, risk for depression For millions of Americans who are obese and living with diabetes or prediabetes, feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety are often part of daily life.
	Generic options provide limited savings for expensive drugs Generic drug options did not reduce prices paid for the cancer therapy imatinib (Gleevec), according to a Health Affairs study released today in its May issue.
	Prescription drug monitoring programs may have negative unintended consequences Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are a key component of the President's Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan and considered a critical tool for reducing prescription opioid-related illness and death. The results of a study just conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and University of California, Davis, show there is insufficient evidence to confirm whether implementing these programs actually increases or decreases overdoses. The findings are published online in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers say issues of dementia and gun ownership need more discussion As the number of adults with Alzheimer's disease and dementia steadily increases, questions around their access to firearms remain largely unaddressed, according to a study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Police violence takes 'substantial' toll on youth and people of color Police violence in the US is taking a 'substantial' toll on youth and people of colour, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
	Scientists discover roadblocks that stop brain white matter healing A new study identifies a molecule that may be critical to the repair of white matter, the fatty tissue wrapped around parts of brain cells that helps speed up communication. Damage to white matter is associated with several conditions, including multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, and can occur in the brains of preterm babies. New findings suggest that the molecule triggers a pathway that is normally used by the immune system to prevent excessive damage but may contribute to chronic white matter injury by completely blocking repair operations. The study, published in the May issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation, was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Review of nearly 500 patient cases shows surgery benefits for congenital hyperinsulinism A review of nearly 500 cases of infants with severe congenital hyperinsulinism who underwent partial or near-total removal of their pancreas for persistent hypoglycemia at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) showed that surgeons can cure virtually all patients with the focal, or localized, form of the rare genetic disease. Surgery also can prevent complications in patients with the diffuse form, in which defective insulin-producing cells occur throughout the pancreas.
First oral cholera vaccination push launches in Yemen The World Health Organization and other global agencies have launched the first oral cholera vaccination campaign in Yemen, aiming to reach millions of people in the war-torn country.
	Menus with calorie counts now a must in US as Obama-era rule takes effect An Obama-era rule requiring thousands of US restaurants, stores and movie theaters to post nutritional information for items on their menus kicked in Monday, reminding Americans they are what they eat.
	CBD oil: all the rage, but is it really safe and effective? (HealthDay)—Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become the hot new product in states that have legalized medical marijuana.
	Smoke-free laws do seem to help young adults' hearts Laws and policies that prohibit smoking in workplaces and other public areas appeared to significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease among a group of young adults who were followed over a 20-year span.
	Many teens switch from hi-cal sodas to hi-cal sports drinks (HealthDay)—Teens who were once hooked on sugary sodas may now be now turning to sugary sports drinks, a new study reveals.
	Using diet to stave off diabetes (HealthDay)—Diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic, but you can protect yourself with a healthier diet. And the same type of diet can help you manage diabetes if you already have it.
	Eyes of Ebola survivors show localized pathological changes (HealthDay)—Survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have localized pathological changes in photoreceptors, according to a study published online May 3 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Early intervention services best for early-phase psychosis (HealthDay)—Early intervention services (EIS) are better than treatment as usual (TAU) for early-phase psychosis across meta-analyzable outcomes, according to a review published online May 2 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Psoriasis negatively affects patient sleep quality (HealthDay)—Patients with psoriasis commonly report poor sleep, with itch being the main predictor, according to a study published online April 28 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Community health worker-led intervention beneficial in T2DM (HealthDay)—A community health worker (CHW)-led diabetes self-management education (DSME) program is associated with sustained improvement in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to a study published online April 27 in Diabetes Care.
	Provider counseling for weight loss up for arthritis, overweight (HealthDay)—In 2014, health care provider counseling for weight loss for adults with arthritis and overweight or obesity was 45.5 percent, up 10.4 percent from 2002, according to research published in the May 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Executive function improved with prenatal exposure to SSRIs (HealthDay)—Children with prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (pSRI) have better executive function (EF) at age 12 years, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, held from May 5 to 8 in Toronto.
Yellow fever threatens South Florida after Zika scare The Zika scare of 2016 could lead to a yellow fever panic this year if South Florida residents let down their guard when it comes to protecting themselves from disease-carrying mosquitoes.
	How mindfulness helps you live in the moment If you've heard of or read about mindfulness—a form of meditation—you might be curious about how to practice it. Find out how to do mindfulness exercises and how they might benefit you.
Uptick in vector-borne illnesses in US and what it means to you Illnesses caused by disease-infected ticks, mosquitoes and fleas have tripled in the U.S. in recent years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lyme disease is the most common illness attributed to ticks.
Are health regulations enough? Lung disease on the rise in mine workers While on-the-job fatalities due to injuries and accidents have steadily decreased in nearly every industry in the U.S., the burden of debilitating lung disease in the coal mining industry has sharply increased within the last decade. A new study published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal examines whether compliance with health regulations at mines across the country was sufficient to decrease instances of lung disease.
	AI detects patterns of gut microbes for cholera risk Researchers from Duke University, Massachusetts General Hospital and the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh have used machine learning algorithms to spot patterns within communities of bacteria living in the human gut that no human would ever be able to pick out. These patterns could indicate who among the approximately one billion people around the globe at risk of cholera infection will get sick with the diarrheal disease.
	Study finds possibility of new ways to treat, manage epilepsy seizures New findings from the University of Kentucky published in the Journal of Neuroscience demonstrate that there may be ways to address blood-brain barrier dysfunction in epilepsy.
	Study discovers new molecular mechanism likely involved in cancer metastasis Cancer is most devastating when it metastasizes—when tumor cells break away, travel through the bloodstream, and then attach elsewhere, only to grow another tumor. A significant amount of scientific research has focused on finding ways to prevent metastasis. For some time, scientists have understood that a particular biochemical pathway, known as the PDK1 pathway, is active in metastasizing cancer cells. But no one knew why.
	New movement monitoring system helping prevent falls in the elderly Technology that allows BMW's assembly lines to run more efficiently is now being used to accurately indicate when residents in Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) are at increased risk of falling.
	MCRI and AFL team up to tackle concussion in kids Experts from Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the AFL have teamed up to create an app that helps parents recognise a concussion and manage recovery in children.
Researchers launch study to measure bone effects of new rheumatologic agent Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have launched a pilot study to see how a drug that treats several related autoimmune disorders affects the skeleton.
Ontology-based surgical subtask automation, automating blunt dissection In a paper to be published in the Journal of Medical Robotics Research, a team of researchers have discovered a way to automate blunt dissection using the da Vinci surgical robot, which is controlled by the Da Vinci Research Kit (DVRK).
	Neuro filter sharpens visual processing Blurry and clear versions of an image are represented similarly in the brain, according to a neuroimaging study published in eNeuro. The research shows how the visual system fills in missing information to maintain perception when visibility is low.
By 2030, prostate and lung cancers expected to be most common cancers among HIV population Despite declines in cancer incidence rates among HIV-infected people, cancer will remain a significant concern as this patient population ages. By 2030, prostate and lung cancers are projected to be the most common cancers among individuals aging with HIV. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Texas company recalls nearly 25 tons of smoked sausage items A Texas company has recalled nearly 25 tons (23 metric tons) of smoked sausage products due to possible plastic contamination.
	Providing clinicians feedback on their opioid prescribing data alters future prescribing Asking emergency department (ED) providers to self-identify their opioid prescribing practices and then providing them with timely, clinically relevant, individualized, and actionable feedback on their actual opioid prescribing data, significantly decreases future opioid prescribing among providers who underestimate their baseline prescribing. That is the finding of a study to be published in the May 2018 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).
Australian, 104, arrives in Swiss city for planned suicide A 104-year-old Australian scientist has arrived in Switzerland before his planned assisted suicide this week, unbowed about his intentions and hopeful his premeditated death will send a message to legislators back home.

Biology news

	Protecting confidentiality in genomic studies Genome-wide association studies, which look for links between particular genetic variants and incidence of disease, are the basis of much modern biomedical research.
	Zebra finches' social experiences alter their genomic DNA, changing ability to learn Asst. Prof. Sarah London has long appreciated zebra finches for their unique learning characteristics. The males learn from another male tutor, but their ability to memorize the tutor's song is restricted to a "critical period," or CP. This offers a unique opportunity to study how the brain learns, and how brain processes affect whether or not a mentor's song can be learned, London said.
	Taking CRISPR from clipping scissors to word processor Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR to snip at DNA is often akin to using scissors to edit a newspaper article. You can cut out words, but it's difficult to remove individual letters or instantly know how the cuts affect the meaning of the text. Someday, CRISPR could be used to "clip" disease-causing genetic mutations in patients. But such precision medicine is impossible so long as CRISPR remains a clumsy tool.
	Polygamy observed in trio of great horned owls A trio of great horned owls has been found to be engaging in a polygamous relationship according to an ornithologist with Bird Studies Canada. The finding has been reported by Doug Main with National Geographic.
	Russian cuckoo invasion spells trouble for Alaskan birds, study finds Common cuckoos and oriental cuckoos in eastern Russia appear to be expanding their breeding range into western Alaska, where songbirds are naive to the cuckoos' wily ways, researchers report. A new study suggests the North American birds could suffer significant losses if cuckoos become established in Alaska.
	Could seismology equipment help to protect elephants from poachers? Using tools developed to monitor earthquakes, an interdisciplinary team of researchers reporting in Current Biology on May 7 have found that it's possible to eavesdrop on elephants by listening in to vibrations through the ground as they move about and vocalize. The findings lend support to theories suggesting that elephants could use ground vibrations for long-distance communication among themselves, the researchers say. They might also lead to development of a new kind of alarm system for detecting elephant behaviors, such as panic running, as a means to catch and deter poachers.
	Researchers develop 'hibernation in a dish' to study how animals adapt to the cold Researchers at the National Eye Institute have discovered cellular mechanisms that help the 13-lined ground squirrel survive hibernation. Their findings could be a step to extending storage of human donor tissues awaiting transplantation and protecting traumatic brain injury patients who undergo induced hypothermia. NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health. The findings were published in the May 3 issue of Cell.
	Genetics help make a weed a weed New University of British Columbia research finds that the success of weedy and invasive plants like the Jerusalem artichoke lies in their genes.
	Should I stay or go? Birds migrate to save energy: study Why have some birds opted for a taxing life of constant migration—seeking out temperate climes to feed as winter arrives, only to return months later to breed?
	Study of fruit flies shows sex composition of group alters disease transmission "Patient zero" isn't entirely to blame when an infection takes root in a population. According to Rice University scientists, social context in the community has a lot to do with how a disease spreads.
	New CRISPR technology 'knocks out' yeast genes with single-point precision The CRISPR-Cas9 system has given researchers the power to precisely edit selected genes. Now, researchers have used it to develop a technology that can target any gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and turn it off by deleting single letters from its DNA sequence.
	Stomata—the plant pores that give us life—arise thanks to a gene called MUTE, scientists report Plants know how to do a neat trick.
	Large predators once hunted to near-extinction are showing up in unexpected places Alligators on the beach. Killer whales in rivers. Mountain lions miles from the nearest mountain.
	Uncovering a hidden protein 'tail' that puts the brakes on cell signaling Using an informatics tool that identifies "hotspots" of post-translational modification (PTM) activity on proteins, researchers have found a previously-unknown mechanism that puts the brakes on an important cell signaling process involving the G proteins found in most living organisms.
	Researchers find genetic 'dial' can control body size in pigs Researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated a connection between the expression of the HMGA2 gene and body size in pigs. The work further demonstrates the gene's importance in body size regulation across mammalian species, and provides a target for gene modification.
	Australia pledges cash to help save the koala Australia unveiled on Monday a US$34 million plan to help bring its koala population back from the brink, following a rapid decline in the furry marsupial's fortunes.
Scientists hark back to Pleistocene to trace prioritary areas for conservation Identifying priority areas for action is a major challenge in biodiversity conservation projects. A group of researchers has chosen an approach based on past scenarios to try to understand the history of climate conditions in the regions analyzed.
	Custom-built DNA could be used as a sensor probe Researchers believe that DNA – the molecule that stores information about life – could one day be used as a type of sensor, to record information based on its surroundings.
	Cells change tension to make tissue barriers easier to get through Cells squeeze through tissue barriers in the body more easily when these barriers are made less stiff. This is the result of a study by Daria Siekhaus, Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology (IST Austria) and her team, including first author and postdoc Aparna Ratheesh, which was published today in the journal Developmental Cell. This mechanism was previously unknown.
	Shipwreck research unearths treasure trove of animal knowledge Research into accounts of Australia's first scientific expedition to foreign lands could assist with modern-day efforts to conserve native mammals and marsupials.
	Carnivores in captivity give birth at the same time of year as those in the wild Reproductive seasonality is a fixed characteristic of a species—University of Zurich re-searchers have now found that carnivores in captivity give birth at the same time of year as their counterparts in the wild. In some species, the gestation period is shortened in order to provide ideal conditions for the offspring, while for others it is extended.
	Fish talk-os: Studying electrocommunication in the wild A field study published in JNeurosci of tropical fish in Central America reveals how the animals use electric fields to communicate in their natural habitat to accomplish coordinated behaviors including mating and reproduction.
	If El Ninos happen twice as often in the future, what happens to seabirds? More frequent El Niño events in the future may have surprising impacts on seabirds and some fish species, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
	New breakthrough paving the way for universal Ebola therapeutic A new collaborative study has identified and studied Ebola antibodies that could be used to design universal therapeutics that are effective against many different Ebola species. The findings were recently published in Nature Microbiology.
	New approach in the fight against antibiotic resistance According to the WHO, around 700,000 people die every year as a result of antibiotic resistance. In Germany, around 6,000 people die every year because treatment with antibiotics is not effective. Scientists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the University of Oxford have now discovered that there is a point in the production process of the proteins at which it can be regulated by bacteria. This could be used as a starting point for the development of new antibiotics and help overcome resistance to antibiotics.
	Building a circular bioeconomy with synthetic biology On April 2010, the Gulf of Mexico turned black. The largest marine oil spill initiated by an explosion of methane gas on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig is supposed to have leaked around 800 million liters of oil into the environment. Causing severe damage to the whole ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico and to the people living around it, oil spills such as this demonstrate that our reliance on oil is coupled to serious consequences. Even in recent times, such as in the disastrous oil spill on the coast of the Indonesian port city of Balikpapan on Borneo which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, large-scale accidents involving oil can cause immeasurable damage. We need oil for countless high-value chemicals, such as dyes, fuels and drugs, as well as for plastic. Plastic that ends up in locations such as the Great Pacific garbage patch, a marine area which is estimated to be twice as large as France. From the moment of pumping up the limited resource of oil to its last moment as plastic trash, oil is an unsustainable source of energy and chemicals. So how can we do better?
	Touch forms the foundation of the powerful human-horse relationship Two recent films, "Lean on Pete" and "The Rider," explore the transformative quality of human-horse relationships. Both films center on young men: One deals with the trauma of poverty and loneliness, the other struggles to rebuild his life after a horrific brain injury. For each, salvation is found in the relationships they form with their equine companions.
Impacts of windfarm construction on harbor porpoises Scientists from Germany, Denmark and the U.K. have built a model tool to predict what happens to marine animals when exposed to noise from the construction and operation of wind farms at sea.

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