Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 21, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Sculpting stable structures in pure liquids

New species of tiny tyrannosaur foreshadows rise of T. rex

Physicists get thousands of semiconductor nuclei to do 'quantum dances' in unison

Electric car batteries inspire safer, cheaper way to make compounds used in medicines

Do volcanoes or an asteroid deserve blame for dinosaur extinction?

More flexible nanomaterials can make fuel cell cars cheaper

New biochemical pathway that may develop more resilient crop varieties

LMC S154 is a symbiotic recurrent nova, study suggests

A qualitative model to describe microscopic 'jumps' by adhesive tape unwinding from a roll

Quantum dots can spit out clone-like photons

Researchers make coldest quantum gas of molecules

Research creates DNA-like molecule to aid search for alien life

Japanese spacecraft to attempt landing on distant asteroid (Update)

New robotic sensor technology can diagnose reproductive health problems in real-time

Female golden snub-nosed monkeys share nursing of young

Astronomy & Space news

	LMC S154 is a symbiotic recurrent nova, study suggests Astronomers have conducted observations of a symbiotic star in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), known as LMC S154, which provide new insights about the nature of this object. Results of these observations, presented in a paper published February 7 on arXiv.org, suggest that LMC S154 is a symbiotic recurrent nova—the first such object identified in Magellanic Clouds.
	Research creates DNA-like molecule to aid search for alien life In a research breakthrough funded by NASA, scientists have synthesized a molecular system that, like DNA, can store and transmit information. This unprecedented feat suggests there could be an alternative to DNA-based life, as we know it on Earth – a genetic system for life that may be possible on other worlds.
	Japanese spacecraft to attempt landing on distant asteroid (Update) A Japanese spacecraft began its approach Thursday toward a distant asteroid on a mission to collect material that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.
	Israeli spacecraft aims to make history by landing on Moon A rocket will take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night carrying Israel's Beresheet spacecraft, which aims to make history twice: as the first private-sector landing on the Moon, and the first from the Jewish state.
	Japan probe Hayabusa2 set for asteroid landing A Japanese probe is expected to land on a distant asteroid Friday, aiming to blast a "bullet" into the surface to collect clues about the origins of Earth and the solar system.
	Solar wind fills research sails at space weather center Researchers at CU Boulder are starting work on a new collaborative grant from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that will improve solar wind modeling.
	Habitable zone planet finder enables discovery of planets around cool stars A new astronomical spectrograph built by a Penn State-led team of scientists provides the highest precision measurements to date of infrared signals from nearby stars, allowing astronomers to detect planets capable of having liquid water on their surfaces that orbit cool stars outside our solar system. The Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF) allows precise measurement of a star's radial velocity, measured by the subtle change in the color of the star's spectra as it is tugged by an orbiting planet, which is critical information in the discovery and confirmation of new planets.
	Signs of ancient flowing water on Mars These images from ESA's Mars Express satellite show a branching, desiccated system of trenches and valleys, signs of ancient water flow that hint at a warmer, wetter past for the Red Planet.
	Astronauts optimistic for ISS launch after botched flight Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin and US astronaut Nick Hague said Thursday they were ready to head into space again next month after their last launch ended in failure.
	SNoOPI: A flying ace for soil moisture and snow measurements Work has begun on a new CubeSat mission that will demonstrate for the first time a new, highly promising technique for measuring soil moisture from space—data important for early flood and drought warnings as well as crop-yield forecasts.
Russian rocket launches Egyptian telecom satellite Russia successfully launched an Egyptian telecommunications satellite on Thursday, the Russian space agency Roskosmos announced.

Technology news

	New antibiotics are desperately needed—machine learning could help Researchers at Stanford have created an algorithm that, guided by previous research, lays out the DNA sequences most likely to align with antimicrobial properties.
	Researchers look to computing's past to unlock 3-D-printed mechanical logic gates for the future Taking a page from the past, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists and engineers are combining mechanical computing with 3-D printing as part of an effort to create "sentient" materials that can respond to changes in their surroundings, even in extreme environments that would destroy electronic components, such as high radiation, heat or pressure.
	A prosthetic that restores the sense of where your hand is Researchers have developed a next-generation bionic hand that allows amputees to regain their proprioception. The results of the study, which have been published in Science Robotics, are the culmination of ten years of robotics research.
	Expanding the use of silicon in batteries, by preventing electrodes from expanding The latest lithium-ion batteries on the market are likely to extend the charge-to-charge life of phones and electric cars by as much as 40 percent. This leap forward, which comes after more than a decade of incremental improvements, is happening because developers replaced the battery's graphite anode with one made from silicon. Research from Drexel University and Trinity College in Ireland now suggests that an even greater improvement could be in line if the silicon is fortified with a special type of material called MXene.
Lyft set for March market debut: report Lyft is preparing to list its shares on the Nasdaq exchange as early as next month, jumping ahead of ride-hailing rival Uber, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
	AI may be better for detecting radar signals, facilitating spectrum sharing When vacationers buy a stake in a beachfront timeshare, they decide in advance who gets to use the property when. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is helping the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) institute a similar plan for when commercial wireless providers and the U.S. Navy attempt to share a desirable 150-megahertz (MHz)-wide section of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum for communications.
	What alchemy and astrology can teach artificial intelligence researchers Artificial intelligence researchers and engineers have spent a lot of effort trying to build machines that look like humans and operate largely independently. Those tempting dreams have distracted many of them from where the real progress is already happening: in systems that enhance – rather than replace – human capabilities. To accelerate the shift to new ways of thinking, AI designers and developers could take some lessons from the missteps of past researchers.
	Australia's been hacked – so will the data be weaponised to influence election 2019? Here's what to look for Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently said both the Australian Parliament and its major political parties were hacked by a "sophisticated state actor."
	700,000 submunitions demilitarized by Sandia-designed robotics system More than 700,000 Multiple Launch Rocket System submunitions have been demilitarized since the Army started using an automated nine-robot system conceptualized, built and programmed by Sandia National Laboratories engineers.
	Google moves to fix YouTube glitch exploited for child porn Google-owned YouTube said Thursday it was taking action to close a loophole that enabled users to share comments and links on child pornography over the video-sharing service.
	Ryanair, Wizzair fined in Italy over cabin bag policy Italy's antitrust authority on Thursday slapped fines on low cost airlines Ryanair and Wizzair over their cabin baggage policy.
	Reddit co-founder pushes hard for paternity leave Alexis Ohanian wants other guys to be jealous of him. Not because he's a multimillionaire venture capitalist. Or because he's married to tennis pro Serena Williams.
	Report: US company to stop sales of genetic tech in Xinjiang Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. says it will no longer sell or service genetic sequencers in China's mostly Muslim region of Xinjiang following criticism that they were used for surveillance that enabled human rights abuses, The Wall Street Journal reported.
	Ghosn held $260,000 Rio party billed to Renault-Nissan, documents show Former Renault and Nissan head Carlos Ghosn and his wife invited friends to a $260,000 Carnival party in Brazil last year and charged it to his employers, documents seen by AFP show, a move Ghosn's lawyer defended as a routine corporate function for a multinational CEO.
	Singapore Airlines denies snooping with seatback cameras Singapore Airlines insisted Thursday that cameras on its planes' entertainment systems had been disabled after an outcry online from worried passengers who spotted the tiny lenses peering at them.
	Food industry waste becomes profitable biogas Huge gains can be made by using waste from the food industry for biogas production, no matter whether the biogas is used in vehicles or to produce electricity and heat. This is the conclusion of researchers from the Biogas Research Center at Linköping University, in a recently published article.
	Drone sighting halts flights at Ireland's Dublin Airport Flights to and from Dublin Airport in Ireland were briefly halted Thursday after a drone was spotted over the airfield.

Medicine & Health news

	A missing gene makes a big difference in patients' recovery from mild stroke More than 6 million Americans live with disabilities following a stroke. Even mild strokes can leave survivors with arm and leg weakness, poor muscle control and memory lapses that worsen with age.
	Cellular sickness linked to type 1 diabetes onset A UC San Francisco study of human and mouse pancreatic tissue suggests a new origin story for type 1 (T1) diabetes. The findings flip current assumptions about the causes of the disease on their head and demonstrate a promising new preventative strategy that dramatically reduced disease risk in laboratory animals.
	Research shows for the first time how we use others' viewpoints to make decisions Everyday life is full of situations that require us to take others' perspectives—for example, when showing a book to a child, we intuitively know how to hold it so that they can see it well, even if it is harder to see for ourselves. Or when performing before an audience, we often can't help but picture how we will look to the other people.
	How genes affect tobacco and alcohol use The use of alcohol and tobacco is closely linked to several diseases, and is a contributing factor in many deaths. A recent study using data from 1.2 million people has now been published in the journal Nature Genetics. Several research groups around the world are involved, among them a group from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and the K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology.
	Salt could be a key factor in allergic immune reactions Salt apparently affects allergic immune reactions. A team working with Prof. Christina Zielinski at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has demonstrated in cell cultures that salt leads to the formation of Th2 cells. These immune cells are active in allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis. The team also detected elevated salt concentrations in the skin of patients.
	Bat influenza viruses could infect humans Bats don't only carry the deadly Ebola virus, but are also a reservoir for a new type of influenza virus. These newly discovered flu viruses could potentially also attack the cells of humans and livestock, researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown.
	T-cell specificity found to play a role in attacks on myelin versus β-synuclein in MS A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in Germany has found that T-cell specificity plays a major role in immune system attacks on myelin versus β-synuclein in people with multiple sclerosis. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their study of T-cell behavior in rat models and what they learned. Jenna Pappalardo and David Hafler with the Yale School of Medicine have published a News and Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Researchers develop new compound that offers superior therapeutic approach to treat multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. This debilitating condition periodically shutters communication between the brain and other parts of the body, resulting in symptoms that range from numbness and tingling in the arms and legs to blindness and paralysis. While treatments are available to alleviate inflammation, no therapies exist to protect neurons or repair the degraded myelin sheath that normally surrounds nerves.
	Prenatal exposure to plastics linked to motor skill deficiencies at age 11 Scientists with the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health report motor skills problems in children exposed during pregnancy to plasticizer chemicals known as phthalates that are widely used in personal care products like moisturizers and lipstick, as well as plastic containers and children's toys.
	Researchers discover how blood vessels protect the brain during inflammation Researchers from the University of British Columbia have discovered how blood vessels protect the brain during inflammation—a finding that could lead to the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
	Study links diabetes and back pain People with diabetes have a 35 percent higher risk of experiencing low back pain and 24 percent higher risk of having neck pain than those without diabetes, a review by University of Sydney researchers has found.
	Scientists discover new type of immune cells that are essential for forming heart valves UCLA researchers have identified for the first time the origin of an immune cell that plays a critical role in the formation of healthy heart valves. The findings could pave the way for new treatments for heart valve disorders, which can be caused by congenital defects, aging or disease.
	Scientists uncover how high-fat diet drives colorectal cancer growth As cancer death rates drop overall, doctors have noted a frightening anomaly: deaths from colorectal cancer in people under 55 appear to be creeping up. According to the American Cancer Society, deaths in this younger group increased by 1 percent between 2007 and 2016.
	Researchers explore what tumor cells and a healthy retina have in common How is a healthy retina cell like a tumor cell? It hijacks an energy-producing chemical reaction to churn out molecular building blocks. When tumor cells do it, they use the building blocks to make cancer grow and spread. But when retina cells do it, they renew photoreceptor membranes that keep our vision sharp.
Lesbian and bi women at increased risk of being overweight Lesbian and bisexual women are at increased risk of being overweight or obese compared to heterosexual women, according to new research from the University of East Anglia and UCL.
Researchers review modern cases of leprosy Leprosy has a history that has spanned centuries and societies across the globe. Yet, it continues to be a problem—even in the modern era. Sufferers from the chronic and infectious skin disease still face the social stigma and lack of medical care that people have endured since the origins of the disease itself. Although leprosy can be treated, the World Health Organization reported 216,108 cases in 2016, with some of these patients seeking treatment at Mayo Clinic's Rochester campus.
Study finds increase in calls to US Poison Control Centers for kratom exposure In recent years, kratom has become popular as a treatment for chronic or acute pain as well as mood conditions such as depression and anxiety. It is also often used to help with opioid withdrawal. While there is a perception that kratom is safe because it is classified as an herbal supplement, a variety of serious medical outcomes as well as 11 deaths have occurred following kratom use. A new study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy and the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that there were more than 1,800 calls to U.S. Poison Control Centers regarding exposures to kratom from January 2011 through December 2017. The annual number of calls increased dramatically, going from 13 calls in 2011 to 682 calls in 2017. That is the equivalent of going from about one call a month to two calls a day. Almost two-thirds (65%) of these exposures occurred from 2016 through 2017- the two most recent years of the study.
	Evening exercise will not ruin sleep and might even reduce appetite: study Must cook dinner. Need to pick the kids up from school. Have to catch up on my favourite TV series. Live too far from the gym. Any of these sound familiar? With growing time demands, many middle-aged adults are finding time to engage in exercise increasingly difficult. For many, even the thought of fitting exercise in after a busy day at work can be as tiring as it is unappetising. The standing belief that high-intensity exercise should be avoided in the early evening due to its effect on sleep only serves to act as another barrier to exercise at this time.
	Native California medicinal plant may hold promise for treating Alzheimer's The medicinal powers of aspirin, digitalis, and the anti-malarial artemisinin all come from plants. A Salk Institute discovery of a potent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory chemical in a native California shrub may lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's disease based on a compound found in nature. The research appears in the February 2019 issue of the journal Redox Biology.
	American drug overdose death rates the highest among wealthy nations In the most comprehensive international comparison of its kind, a USC study found that the United States has the highest drug overdose death rates among a set of high-income countries.
	The new exercise trend that's made for everyone Bringing the science of high intensity interval training (HIIT) into everyday life could be the key to helping unfit, overweight people get more of the exercise they need to improve their health, according to an international research team.
	Study looks at seasonal and geographic trends in syphilis Much of the public health impact of syphilis revolves around its impact on fetuses and neonates through the mother-to-child transmission of the disease. Researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have now analyzed temporal and demographic patterns in gestational syphilis (GS) and mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of syphilis.
GI neuroimmune disruption contributes to Gulf War Illness Many Persian Gulf War veterans experience Gulf War Illness (GWI), a chronic condition with symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal to neurological. While exposure to the anti-nerve gas pyridostigmine bromide (PB) is linked to the development of GWI, the exact cause and mechanisms of the illness remain unclear. Recently, an animal study published in The FASEB Journal tested the hypothesis that exposure to PB contributes to the development of GWI by disrupting the neural and immune systems of the intestine.
	Super-recognisers accurately pick out a face in a crowd – but can this skill be taught? Yenny is 26 years old, lives in Melbourne, and has a very specific talent.
	Playground study shows how recess can include all children Recess, for most children, is synonymous with freedom. A break from class that has nothing to do with learning and everything to do with play.
	How does a vasectomy work and can it be reversed? Some men may shudder at the thought of "the snip". But vasectomies are a safe and effective form of contraception for men who have completed their family, or don't wish to have children.
	Three years into soda tax, sugary drink consumption down more than 50 percent in Berkeley Consumption of sugary drinks in Berkeley's diverse and low-income neighborhoods dropped precipitously in 2015, just months after the city levied the nation's first soda tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
ACA's pre-existing condition and age clauses had immediate impact on people with diabetes A pair of requirements deep in the Affordable Care Act had a sizable effect on the ability of people with diabetes to get health insurance, a new study suggests.
	Convenience and control—online sexually transmitted infection testing offers many benefits Online sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing removes some of the barriers that prevent people from getting tested while still providing key information about health and wellness, according to users.
	New algorithm calculates drug synergy: Initial tests involve melanoma, lung cancer Drug combinations used for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma aren't as effective as they could be. Oncologists haven't had the right tools to predict drug interactions, other than in costly clinical trials.
	For adult scoliosis, surgery, other treatments are viable options For years, spine surgeons have debated the best methods for treating scoliosis in adults. Spinal curvature often results in more back pain, leg pain and other symptoms for adults than teens because adults also can have degeneration in the discs between vertebrae, and spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the opening for the spinal nerves. Still, there hasn't been good evidence regarding whether it's better for adults with scoliosis to have corrective surgery or whether nonoperative treatment, such as physical therapy or nerve injections, is adequate.
	Improved food health standards linked to fewer cases of childhood gastroenteritis A University of Otago study reveals the incidence of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children has declined over the past 20 years with researchers concluding improved food health standards the key contributor.
	Finding the right exercise, diet aids for HIV patients Although generally true, it's not enough for health-care professionals to simply advise patients to "exercise more and eat better," especially for people dealing with the physical, mental and emotional challenges of a chronic disease like HIV/AIDs.
	Antibody therapy training phagocytes to destroy tumors now tested on patients Developed by researchers at the University of Turku in Finland, an immunotherapeutic antibody therapy re-educates macrophages to activate passivated cytotoxic T cells to kill cancer. The antibody therapy prevented the growth of tumours in several mouse models, and the development of the therapy has now progressed to patient testing in a phase I/II clinical trial.
	Electric bikes could provide old people with brain boost Older cyclists who use electric bicycles may be getting the same brain benefits as those on standard bikes.
	Finding the elusive drinking 'brake' It's a common scene in bars and clubs: messy, falling-down drunk, slurring and incoherent, precariously close to catastrophe … and asking the bartender for another shot.
	New blood test may map fetal genome for countless mutations Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a new blood test for genetic disorders that may allow parents to learn about the health of their baby as early as 11 weeks into pregnancy.
	Managers who listen boost staff creativity, study says Managers who listen attentively could boost their team members' creativity, suggests a new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and King's Business School at King's College London.
	Are all cancer cells the same? Take two cancer cells and compare their genomes. Surprisingly, they can be quite different. This genetic variation is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and one reason why treating cancer is so hard.
	As pharmaceutical use continues to rise, side effects are becoming a costly health issue The use of pharmaceuticals is on the rise and, globally, the expenses for drugs are projected to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2021.
	Don't have time to exercise? Here's a regime everyone can squeeze in Have you recently carried heavy shopping bags up a few flights of stairs? Or run the last 100 metres to the station to catch your train? If you have, you may have unknowingly been doing a style of exercise called high-intensity incidental physical activity.
	Cocktail of common antibiotics can fight resistant E. coli Today, many disease-causing bacteria acquire resistance genes, which make antibiotic treatment ineffective. One gene especially—CTX-M-15, encoding an extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)—can lead to resistance in E. coli causing urinary tract infections.
	Combination therapy might be beneficial in schizophrenia Combining certain types of two antipsychotic agents in the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia is associated with a lower risk of relapse than using monotherapy. This is suggested in a paper published by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. The current treatment guidelines should modify their categorical recommendations discouraging all antipsychotic polypharmacy, according to the researchers.
	Unraveling mysteries in the blood Queen's University researcher Paula James has revealed women who are carriers of hemophilia A, an inherited bleeding disorder, experience abnormal bleeding in about 30 per cent of cases. Dr. James is working to unravel the mystery as to why this abnormal bleeding, including nosebleeds, heavy periods, and bleeding following childbirth, occurs.
	Drug prices based on success could speed up cancer patients' treatment Paying for cancer drugs based on how well they work in practice could help patients get new treatments faster, according to a Cancer Research UK report published today.
	An intricate interaction: Dietary fatty acid intake influences hypertension risk Hypertension is an important public health problem that can lead to life-threatening cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. Many studies have attempted to understand the complex relationship between dietary factors and hypertension; none have provided a clear explanation of the interaction between hypertension and dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids (a building block of fat), until now.
	Xeno/endobiotic metabolism potencies vary between strains and sex in rats Rats are commonly used in nonclinical pharmaceutical studies to investigate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic profiles of drug candidates before they are entered into clinical studies. Most compounds administered via the oral route are metabolized in the liver and intestine, so the metabolism is a key determinant of pharmacokinetics.
	Did you get it? I can see it in your eyes How can we tell what a person is thinking? Sometimes, it is enough to observe one's behavior, for example, how they respond to a stimulus in the environment. The same holds for knowing whether one has learned something of importance or is otherwise engaged with their external surrounding. Scientists know that reactions and actions are meaningful, an indeed, observing reactions has been the cornerstone for studying the mechanisms that regulate learning in humans. But is studying responses necessarily the most precise, reliable or informative approach for understanding learning?
	Fast food versus fast casual—which has more calories? (HealthDay)—Fast-food restaurants get a bad rap for menus chockful of high-fat, high-salt foods with little nutrition. But are fast casual and sit-down chains better? The answer may surprise you.
	Plazomicin noninferior to meropenem for complicated UTI (HealthDay)—Plazomicin is noninferior to meropenem for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to a study and a research letter published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Morning exercise linked to BP reduction in sedentary seniors (HealthDay)—In sedentary overweight/obese older adults, morning exercise reduces systolic blood pressure, with additional benefit seen by combining exercise with regular breaks in sitting, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Hypertension.
	Smart steps for stronger calves (HealthDay)—Have you been neglecting your calves? Many people forget about these important muscles when doing strength training. These exercises will add definition and help protect against some lower leg injuries.
	Video games could help uncover your hidden talents – and make you happier If you've ever wondered whether you could make a real contribution to the world but aren't sure you have any really meaningful talents, perhaps you should look at how you play computer games. A growing body of research suggests that the virtual world can show you what you are truly capable of.
	New care package can improve treatment of people with acute kidney injury, study finds A large clinical trial involving people with acute kidney injury has found that a new package of interventions can significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients, as well as improving their care experience.
	Promising new drug for treatment-resistant depression – esketamine Treatment-resistant depression affects 1 in 3 of the estimated 16.2 million adults in the U.S. who have suffered at least one major depressive episode. For them, two or more therapies have failed and the risk of suicide is much greater. It's a grim prognosis.
	To manage your anger better, learn the difference between frustration and irritation. Chances are, something has made you angry recently. Maybe it was an argument. Maybe it was accidentally burning a dinner you'd been looking forward to all day. Maybe it was something that a politician said.
	Smoking cessation may reduce risk of rheumatoid arthritis Smoking is an important risk factor for developing the most common form of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases, but a critical question remains: Can those who quit smoking delay or prevent RA or have they permanently and irrevocably altered their risk of the disease? A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital leverages data from the Nurses' Health Studies to find out. Their findings, which appear in Arthritis Care & Research, demonstrate for the first time that changing behavior—in this case, sustained smoking cessation—can reduce risk of developing seropositive RA, the more severe form of the disease.
Artificial intelligence can identify trauma patients who misuse alcohol A first-of-its kind study has demonstrated that an artificial intelligence technique can be used to identify trauma patients who misuse alcohol.
Silver linings come from partner support, research says We're often told we are responsible for our own happiness. But in challenging situations, a UC Riverside study not only demonstrates the benefits of positive reframing—finding a "silver lining—but also suggests our partners can be more adept at finding that silver lining than we are.
	People with osteoporosis should avoid spinal poses in yoga, study says Yoga postures that flex the spine beyond its limits may raise the risk of compression fractures in people with thinning bones, according to research from Mayo Clinic. The results appear in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
	Tools to help seriously ill patients near death make decisions about their care aren't commonly used in routine practice Many seriously ill people in the United States—and around the world—are not dying as they would like. Yet, a new study by researchers from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice found that although there are dozens of tools available to help people make difficult decisions near the end of their lives, they are of varying quality and very few are actually available for patients and families to use in hospitals.
	Firearm homicide rate higher in US counties with greater income inequality Counties in the United States with greater gaps between rich and poor have a higher rate of homicide deaths involving firearms, according to a national study by researchers at the University of Washington School of Public Health. These same counties experienced higher levels of crime and poverty, and lower levels of community social networks.
Unnecessary testing for UTIs cut by nearly half Tests to detect urinary tract infections (UTI) often are performed routinely in hospitals, even when patients don't have symptoms. Such testing "just to be safe" can return results that lead doctors to prescribe antibiotics when there's little to no evidence to warrant such treatment.
Free patient case management tool accurately measures physicians' diagnostic abilities Assessing the accuracy and value of an increasingly popular and free online patient management app, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and other institutions say that physicians with more training and experience perform better in selecting appropriate diagnoses for sample patient scenarios.
	Women with more social support are less likely to die, new study finds Women aged 50-79 who believed they had more social support were less likely to die during the course of the study, according to a new study led by Dr. Nancy Freeborne, adjunct professor in George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services.
	Study links unhealthy diet to mental illness in California adults A study has found that poor mental health is linked with poor diet quality—regardless of personal characteristics such as gender age, education, age, marital status and income level.
	First cellular atlas of the primate retina offers valuable foundation for future research When it comes to understanding how neurons connect to form circuits in the brain, scientists for decades have turned to the retina of the humble laboratory mouse as an ideal model organism. But as a model for vision and vision-related diseases, mice simply aren't equipped.
	How to treat depression in prison—and why it matters Of the 4 million prisoners released each year, 23 percent have suffered from major depressive disorder. Due to resource shortages, many go without adequate treatment while in prison. Oftentimes they rejoin society in worse mental shape than before their incarceration—which could be prevented with the right care. A team led by Michigan State University has found a cost-effective way to improve mental health in prisons.
	PET scans show biomarkers could spare some breast cancer patients from chemotherapy In an effort to further individualize therapy and avoid over-treating patients, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center report a new study using PET scans has identified a biomarker that may accurately predict which patients with one type of HER2-positive breast cancer might best benefit from standalone HER2-targeted agents, without the need for standard chemotherapy.
New drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy clears phase 1 clinical trial testing in boys Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have few treatment options. Medications currently available or in development either target only a subset of DMD patients with a particular genetic mutation or cause significant side effects. The investigational drug edasalonexent, an oral NF-κB inhibitor, has the potential to slow the progression of the disease for all patients with DMD. The results of a Phase I clinical trial published in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases indicate that the drug was well tolerated with no safety issues in boys with DMD, paving the way for further clinical testing.
	Researchers discover a genetic defect linked to pediatric liver disease Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, in collaboration with several other institutions, have discovered a genetic defect linked to Biliary atresia (BA), the most common pediatric cause of end-stage liver disease, and the leading indication for liver transplantation in children.
	Height gap with parents, not genetics, determines onset of puberty Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have found that the age puberty hits is based on the gap between the parents' and child's ultimate height, not genetics.
	Smartphones help researchers better understand the nature of depression and anxiety Decades of research into anxiety and depression have resulted in the development of models that help explain the causes and dimensions of the two disorders.
	Panicked Hawaiians swarmed social media during nuke attack false alarm (HealthDay)—First came confusion, shock and fear, as people struggled to process the emergency warning they'd received.
	Brain condition CTE seen in H.S. football players: study (HealthDay)—Crippling brain injury from football can start early, even among high school players, a new study suggests.
	FDA aims to strengthen sunscreen rules (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took steps Thursday to tighten regulation of over-the-counter sunscreen products.
	Wellness problems prevalent among ob-gyn residents (HealthDay)—Wellness problems are prevalent among obstetrics and gynecology residents, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Leg amputation in ESRD patients should prompt palliative care discussion (HealthDay)—Nearly one in 10 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoes lower-extremity amputation in their last year of life, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
	Studies promising for sensory feedback for hand prostheses (HealthDay)—By triggering sensory stimulation, transradial amputees are able to regain proprioception; and a slippage simulation strategy can detect slipping in a patient with hand amputation, according to two small studies published online Feb. 20 in Science Robotics.
	Troubling extent of trauma and PTSD in British young people revealed New research from King's College London suggests one in 13 young people in the UK have had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before reaching age 18. The first UK-based study of its kind, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found 31% of young people had a traumatic experience during childhood, and those who were exposed to trauma were twice as likely as their peers to have a range of mental health disorders.
	Two types of HPV linked to cervical cancer have declined since the advent of the HPV vaccine An analysis of cervical precancers over a period of seven years showed that two strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that have been targeted by vaccination since 2006 have declined, accounting for a smaller proportion of cervical disease. The study offers evidence that HPV vaccination reduced the incidence of infections that can lead to cervical cancer
	Researchers demonstrate the efficiency of producing stem cells from the tissues of the umbilical cord RUDN researchers have proposed freezing parts of human umbilical cord, among other things, to obtain stem cells. Unlike conserved umbilical blood, the perivascular tissue of the umbilical cord (Wharton's jelly) is an effective and safe source of mesenchymal stem cells. An article describing the results of the work was published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy.
	A new method to evaluate the impact of therapies in social anxiety The effectiveness of psychotherapies for social anxiety disorder (SAD) is typically evaluated using self- and clinician-reported symptom change, while biomarkers of treatment response are rarely measured.
	A new neuro-inspired system for pattern detection A scientific team comprising researchers from the Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB) at UPM, University of La Laguna (ULL) and Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex System (IFISC, CSIC-UIB) has developed a new method to detect temporal patterns which is based on a neuro-inspired system and is used to classify brain activity using magnetoencephalography. This methodology, which has been validated and applied to real data, could shed light on some mechanisms of information storage in the brain.
	Experimental test may quickly diagnose sepsis (HealthDay)—A blood test that can quickly diagnose dangerous sepsis infections has been developed, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
	New Kaiser Permanente medical school plans to waive tuition (HealthDay)—A new medical school to be opened by California-based health system Kaiser Permanente will waive tuition for all students in its first five graduating classes.
	Consuming garlic and onions may lower colorectal cancer risk Consumption of allium vegetables—which include garlic, leeks, and onions—was linked with a reduced risk of in colorectal cancer in a study of men and women in China.
	How obesity affects vitamin D metabolism A new Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study confirms that vitamin D supplementation is less effective in the presence of obesity, and it uncovers a biological mechanism to explain this observation.
Measles epidemic in Madagascar kills more than 900, says WHO The World Health Organization says that an epidemic of measles in Madagascar has caused more than 900 deaths.
Complex medication regimens are common and sometimes dangerous in patients with lung disease Patients with interstitial lung disease—a group of disorders causing progressive scarring of lung tissue—are often prescribed various medications that specifically target their disease and others that treat their symptoms. A new Respirology study found that patients often experience significant burden associated with the treatment and management of their illness, and some are at risk of experiencing drug-disease interactions, or adverse outcomes that arise after receiving a drug that exacerbates their disease.
Being overweight in adolescence may increase kidney cancer risk later in life Being overweight has been linked with a higher risk of developing a form of kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma (RCC) among adults, but it's unclear if this risk is present during adolescence. In an International Journal of Cancer study of adolescents who were followed for 37 years, researchers observed a trend for higher RCC risk with increasing body mass index during adolescence, where one-unit increase in body mass index conferred a six percent increased risk of RCC.
Health burden of glaucoma has risen worldwide The health burden of glaucoma has continuously increased around the globe in the past 25 years, according to an Acta Opthalmologica study.
	Social connectedness may help victims of cyberbullying A new Psychology in the Schools study found that social connectedness may act as a protective buffer against the negative mental health effects of cyberbullying.
	Could saffron be as effective as stimulant medicines in treating ADHD? A new short-term pilot study in children and teens 6-17 years old with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has shown saffron to be as effective at controlling symptoms as methylphenidate, the commonly prescribed drug Ritalin. Saffron may be a promising herbal alternative for treating ADHD, particularly for the 30% of patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate stimulants like methylphenidate, as reported in an article published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
	Hesperos' multi-organ 'human-on-a-chip' found effective for long-term toxicology testing The replacement of animals as test subjects is one step closer to reality with the successful testing of multi-organ "human-on-a-chip" models to recapitulate the 28-day experiments typically used in animals to evaluate the systemic toxicity of drug and cosmetic compounds. As published and featured as a frontispiece in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Advanced Functional Materials, the microfluidic device with interlinking modules containing human-derived heart, liver, skeletal muscle and nervous system cells was able to maintain cellular viability and record cellular function in real-time for 28 days.
Report offers evidence-based recommendations aimed at reducing Illinois gun violence Ilinois could reduce the number of people killed each year by gun violence by implementing ten policies supported by available research, according to a new report authored by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research. The center is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Current tools have low accuracy for predicting delayed ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage Both CT angiography and transcranial Doppler have limited accuracy in detecting cerebral vasospasm and predicting delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured aneurysm, reports a study in the inaugural edition of Critical Care Explorations, the official open-access journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM).
Price transparency helps Arizona health system achieve financial turnaround Efforts to understand costs and openly share information on healthcare prices played a key role in a major Arizona health system's successful turnaround from a financial crisis, according to a feature article in the Spring issue of Frontiers of Health Services Management, an official publication of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
	Up-and-coming Texas singer lucky to be alive and still singing the blues A few years ago, Texas country-blues singer Charley Crockett wrote "How Long Will I Last" about an uncertain love affair. Little did he know the song title would also apply to his struggle with heart disease.
	With new heart, mom of four competes in transplant games Kristen Patton was settling in to feed her newborn on Christmas Eve as her three older children went to bed.
	Evidence-based care may improve outcomes for patients with acute kidney injury Acute kidney injury (AKI), an abrupt or rapid decline in kidney function, is an increasingly prevalent and potentially serious condition that often arises due to certain health problems or medical treatments that deprive the kidneys of normal blood flow or damage kidney tissue. A new study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) may help improve the diagnosis and treatment AKI.

Biology news

	Female golden snub-nosed monkeys share nursing of young An international team of researchers including The University of Western Australia and China's Central South University of Forestry and Technology has discovered that female golden snub-nosed monkeys in China are happy to feed other monkeys' offspring.
	Yeasts reach across tree of life to domesticate suite of bacterial genes An insect's gut might seem an inhospitable place to settle in, but diverse microbes nonetheless make their home there. Yet in the gut, there's a struggle for the nutrients needed to survive among the resident bacteria and fungi—not to mention the insect.
	Fruit fly wing research reshapes understanding of how organs form How do fruit flies grow their wings? Rutgers scientists discovered a surprising answer that could one day help diagnose and treat human genetic diseases.
	How bird feather patterns form Feathers evolved in dinosaurs and are a key characteristic of birds today. They are arranged in a precise hexagonal pattern in a bird's skin, but it has been unclear how this happens. According to a new study published February 21 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, led by Dr. William Ho and Denis Headon of the University of Edinburgh, and collaborative colleagues, the patterning of bird feathers relies on signaling through ectodysplasin (EDA) and its receptor EDAR—the same signaling pathway known to be crucial for the formation of hair follicles, teeth and scales in fish, lizards and mammals.
	The smell of food controls cellular recycling and affects life expectancy The smell of food induces a variety of physiological processes in our body. Thus, the production of saliva and digestive enzymes is stimulated before the actual food intake in order to prepare the gastrointestinal tract for the upcoming digestive process. In a healthy organism, this coordination depends on a dynamic balance between formation and degradation of proteins (proteostasis). This plays an important role for the recycling of cells and during the aging process.
	Complete world map of tree diversity Biodiversity is one of Earth's most precious resources. However, for most places in the world, scientists only have a tiny picture of what this diversity actually is. Researchers at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have now constructed from scattered data a world map of biodiversity showing numbers of tree species. With the new map, the researchers were able to infer what drives the global distribution of tree species richness. Climate plays a central role; however, the number of species that can be found in a specific region also depends on the spatial scale of the observation, the researchers report in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. The new approach could help to improve global conservation.
	Ocean acidification shown to have negative impact on fish skeletons For more than a century, the world's oceans have been becoming steadily more acidic as they soak up ever-increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and the impacts can be fatal for invertebrates such as shellfish, plankton, and corals that rely on dissolved minerals to build their shells and exoskeletons.
	Serendipity reveals sex bias in embryo development New published research from the College of Veterinary Medicine shows that heightened levels of genomic instability can prove fatal to female embryos in mice.
	Life-changing magic of tidying up—complex structural organization studied in slime mold Researchers in Japan think they have found an answer to the fundamental biological question of how individual cells know which way to position themselves within a complex, multicellular body. Depending on a cell's purpose in the larger structure, contact or diffuse chemical signals direct it to its final destination.
	Origins of giant extinct New Zealand bird traced to Africa Scientists have revealed the African origins of New Zealand's most mysterious giant flightless bird – the now extinct adzebill – showing that some of its closest living relatives are the pint-sized flufftails from Madagascar and Africa.
	Bacteria can survive starvation in zombie mode Bacteria that are exposed to a hostile environment, for example with antibiotics or very few nutrients, can sometimes survive by 'going to sleep." Biologists from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) have discovered an unknown, alternative survival strategy: a kind of zombie mode, in which the bacteria do not sleep, but slow down extremely. Their discovery has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Dermal disruption: Amphibian skin bacteria is more diverse in cold, variable environments Amphibians are victims of lethal skin-disease epidemics. In the first global-scale study, researchers from 31 universities and research centers, including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), collected skin bacteria from more than 2,300 healthy frogs and salamanders from 12 countries to describe microbes on a wide range of host animals to improve knowledge of the distribution of frog-skin bacteria, known to be important in maintaining amphibian health.
	'Flying bulldog': world's largest bee refound The world's largest bee—a giant insect roughly the size of a human thumb—has been rediscovered in a remote part of Indonesia in its first sighting in nearly 40 years, researchers said Thursday.
	New 'interspecies communication' strategy between gut bacteria and mammalian hosts uncovered Bacteria in the gut do far more than help digest food in the stomachs of their hosts, they can also tell the genes in their mammalian hosts what to do.
	Giant tortoise thought extinct is found on Galapagos Conservationists in the Galapagos Islands have found a giant tortoise from a species thought to have become extinct more than a century ago.
	Sharks reel in fans in Eastern Mediterranean winter waters The wind was blowing, clouds blocked the sun and the sea was choppy and cold, but Hagai Mayer and his two friends didn't care. They wanted to see the sharks.
	Fat bats withstand the effects of white-nose syndrome, study finds Although white-nose syndrome (WNS) has pushed some bat populations to extinction, researchers have found that higher fat stores are helping some little brown bats to survive this deadly disease. The study, led by scientists at UC Santa Cruz, was published February 19 in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
	New study—how to save a seabird In the 1990s, the endangered status of the short-tailed albatross catalyzed efforts to reduce the number of birds accidentally killed as bycatch in Alaska, home to the country's biggest fisheries. Marine fisheries scientist Ed Melvin, at Washington Sea Grant at the University of Washington, and research associate Kim Dietrich, an independent contractor, were at the forefront of a collaborative research effort that led to Alaska's longline fisheries adopting streamer lines in 2002, a technology that is towed behind vessels to create a visual barrier that keeps seabirds away from the baited hooks below.
	One tiny step for a nematode, one big step toward sustainable agriculture in space An exciting collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Pheronym (Alachua, FL), will send nematodes (small round worms) into space to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission represents a look into the future where food crops will be grown in space.
	Cell division in plants: How cell walls are assembled Plant researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) are providing new insights into basic cell division in plants. The scientists have succeeded in understanding how pivotal processes are coordinated in properly separating daughter cells during cell division. In The EMBO Journal, they describe the tasks of certain membrane building blocks and how plants are impacted when these building blocks are disrupted.
	How plants learned to save water Tiny pores on the leaves of plants, called stomata, have a huge influence on the state of our planet. Through the stomata, plants absorb carbon dioxide, which is incorporated into carbohydrates, and release oxygen. But they also lose water through open pores, which can be life-threatening for plants in dry conditions.
	New mechanisms regulating neural stem cells The use of stem cells to repair organs is one of the foremost goals of modern regenerative medicine. Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) have discovered that the protein Akna plays a key role in this process. It controls, for example, the behavior of neural stem cells via a mechanism that may also be involved in the formation of metastases. The study was published in the renowned journal Nature.
	Rules of inheritance rewritten in worms The idea that children inherit half of their DNA from each parent is a central tenet of modern genetics. But a team led by KAUST's Christian Frøkjær-Jensen has re-engineered this heredity pattern in roundworms, a commonly used model organism in biology, and created animals with an unusual pedigree that are beginning to help scientists better understand nongenetic modes of inheritance and molecular signaling events between tissues and genomes.
	Radio-tracking dolphins reveals intimate details about their behavior Using telemetry units in hospitals to monitor patient health is standard practice. Now, a similar approach is proving to be invaluable for dolphins, too. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute and collaborators have conducted the most extensive radio-tracking effort of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) using radio-telemetry.
	Understanding peppers and chilis from around the world A comprehensive and multinational review of peppers/chilis (Capsicum species) with academic and scientific input from points across the globe, such as Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan, Mexico, Italy, Hungary, Austria, and the United States sets out to explore various aspects of interest concerning this horticulturally important crop.
	Ecosystem responses to dam removal complex, but predictable In the United States, the removal of dams now outpaces the construction of new ones—with more than 1,400 dams decommissioned since the 1970s—and a new study suggests that the ecosystem effects of dam removal can be predicted.
	Pioneering study could offer protection to patients with rare genetic disease Skin cells taken from patients with a rare genetic disorder are up to ten times more sensitive to damage from ultraviolet A (AVA) radiation in laboratory tests, than those from a healthy population, according to new research from the University of Bath.
	How to keep stink bugs out this winter Every winter stink bugs infiltrate homes across the United States and two new studies published in the Journal of Economic Entomology by Virginia Tech researchers may shed some light on ways to keep the pests away.
	Planting small seeds simply: The allure of the slide hammer seeder Planting small seeds simply: The allure of the slide hammer seeder
Biodegradable Mardi Gras beads update LSU Department of Biological Sciences Professor Naohiro Kato is refining the process to make biodegradable Mardi Gras beads. He has patent applications pending on various formulations and methods of making the biodegradable beads that could help prevent tens of thousands of pounds of plastic Mardi Gras beads from entering the environment every year.
	Method assesses health and size of lizard populations Monitoring programs that survey many wildlife species at the same time across large geographic regions are important for informing conservation decisions, but reptiles are often missing from these efforts because they are difficult to survey. As described in a new Ecology & Evolution study, researchers have now developed a way to provide accurate estimates of lizard populations.
	New strategy improves efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing The efficiency of CRISPR genome editing tools targeted to the site of interest by Cas9 nucleases varies considerably and a new CMP-fusion strategy, called CRISPR-chrom, enhances the activity up to several-fold. CRISPR-chrom works by fusing a Cas9 to chromatin-modulating peptides (CMPs), as described in an article published in The CRISPR Journal.
	Recent drought may provide a glimpse of the future for birds in the Sierra Nevada How wildlife respond to climate change is likely to be complex. To better understand the effects of climate change on the bird community in the Sierra Nevada region, new research published today from Point Blue Conservation Science examines the impacts to birds from a recent extreme drought (2013-2016). The drought resulted in the widespread death of pine trees due to attacks by bark beetles, potentially impacting wildlife habitat. While the results were varied, researchers found that many bird species responded positively to the climate conditions associated with the drought, potentially offsetting the negative habitat impacts of the dead trees.

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