Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 7

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 7, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Circular all-or-nothing: A new approach to protect data from key exposure

Studies lend support to 'grandmother hypothesis,' but there are limits

Biologists answer fundamental question about cell size

New findings could make mosquitos more satisfied—and safer to be around

Earliest known seed-eating perching bird discovered in Fossil Lake, Wyoming

First identification of brain's preparation for action

Butterflies are genetically wired to choose a mate that looks just like them

Shape of structure that nerve cells use to sense cold and menthol could be new target for chronic pain and migraine

Capsule that releases insulin in the stomach could replace injections for patients with type 2 diabetes

Researchers chart path to cheaper flexible solar cells

Scientists develop first fabric to automatically cool or insulate depending on conditions

Bioplotting bone-mimetic 3-D tissue scaffolds with osteogenic effects

Hubble reveals dynamic atmospheres of Uranus, Neptune

Liberal sprinkling of salt discovered around a young star

Research details sticky situations at the nanoscale

Astronomy & Space news

	Hubble reveals dynamic atmospheres of Uranus, Neptune During its routine yearly monitoring of the weather on our solar system's outer planets, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered a new mysterious dark storm on Neptune and provided a fresh look at a long-lived storm circling around the north polar region on Uranus.
	Liberal sprinkling of salt discovered around a young star New ALMA observations show there is ordinary table salt in a not-so-ordinary location: 1,500 light-years from Earth in the disk surrounding a massive young star. Though salts have been found in the atmospheres of old, dying stars, this is the first time they have been seen around young stars in stellar nurseries. The detection of this salt-encrusted disk may help astronomers study the chemistry of star formation as well as identify other similar protostars hidden inside dense cocoons of dust and gas.
	Gaia clocks new speeds for Milky Way-Andromeda collision ESA's Gaia satellite has looked beyond our Galaxy and explored two nearby galaxies to reveal the stellar motions within them and how they will one day interact and collide with the Milky Way – with surprising results.
	Researchers find evidence for a new fundamental constant of the Sun New research undertaken at Northumbria University, Newcastle shows that the sun's magnetic waves behave differently than currently believed.
	Image: X-ray eye of Athena This 'mirror module' – formed of 140 industrial silicon mirror plates, stacked together by a sophisticated robotic system – is destined to form part of the optical system of ESA's Athena X-ray observatory.
	ESA's Mars rover has a name – Rosalind Franklin The ExoMars rover that will search for the building blocks of life on the Red Planet has a name: Rosalind Franklin. The prominent scientist behind the discovery of the structure of DNA will have her symbolic footprint on Mars in 2021.
	Zwicky Transient Facility nabs several supernovae a night The results are rolling in from Caltech's newest state-of-the-art sky-surveying camera, which began operations at the Palomar Observatory in March 2018. Called the Zwicky Transient Facility, or ZTF, the new instrument has so far discovered 50 small near-Earth asteroids and more than 1,100 supernovae, and it has observed more than 1 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. One of the near-Earth asteroids discovered by ZTF, called 2019 AQ3, has an orbital period of just 165 days, the shortest known "year" for any asteroid.

Technology news

	Circular all-or-nothing: A new approach to protect data from key exposure A team of researchers at Telecom ParisTech has developed a new method to protect encrypted data against key exposure. Their algorithm, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, transforms, fragments and disperses data so that it remains protected, unless all storage nodes are compromised.
	Researchers chart path to cheaper flexible solar cells There's a lot to like about perovskite-based solar cells. They are simple and cheap to produce, offer flexibility that could unlock a wide new range of installation methods and places, and in recent years have reached energy efficiencies approaching those of traditional silicon-based cells.
	Will moving to the commercial cloud leave some data users behind? As part of their missions, federal agencies generate or collect massive volumes of data from such sources as earth-observing satellites, sensor networks and genomics research. Much of that information is useful to commercial and academic institutions, which now can usually access this publicly-generated data from agency servers at no charge.
	AAA: Cold weather can cut electric car range over 40 percent Cold temperatures can sap electric car batteries, temporarily reducing their range by more than 40 percent when interior heaters are used, a new study found.
	German competition watchdog demands more control for Facebook users Facebook users should be asked for consent before data collected by the group's subsidiaries Whatsapp and Instagram and on third-party websites is combined with their social network account, Germany's competition authority said Thursday.
	Thomas Cook launches review of airline division British travel firm Thomas Cook on Thursday launched a review of its airline after posting a worsening quarterly loss on challenging trade.
	New design improves firefighting robots, increases maneuverability to fight fires better, save lives A new design in firefighting robots, already successfully tested in the field, could make firefighters' jobs less dangerous and address one of the biggest challenges with firefighting robots – the ability to maneuver in a burning structure.
	Refillable' technology could provide enough energy to drive an electric car up to 3,000 miles A new type of electric vehicle power using "refillable" technology has taken another giant leap in advancing alternative energy with testing that shows it could provide enough energy to run a car for about 3,000 miles.
	Supercapacitor material with energy density 2.7 times higher than conventional materials A research team led by Tohoku University in Japan has developed new materials for supercapacitors with higher voltage and better stability than other materials. Their research was recently published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.
	For the love of technology! Sex robots and virtual reality Sex as we know it is about to change.
	Twitter user base decline overshadows upbeat profit report Twitter shares took a pounding Thursday as an unsettling update on its global user base offset upbeat figures on revenues and profits in the past quarter.
	Developing a moral compass from human texts Artificial Intelligence (AI) translates documents, suggests treatments for patients, makes purchasing decisions and optimises workflows. But where is its moral compass? A study by the Centre for Cognitive Science at TU Darmstadt shows that AI machines can indeed learn a moral compass from humans. The results of the study have been presented at this year's ACM/AAAI Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (AIES).
	AI technology addresses parts accuracy, a major manufacturing challenge in 3-D printing Imagine using machine learning to ensure that the pieces of an aircraft fit together more precisely, and can be assembled with less testing and time. That is one of the uses behind new technology being developed by researchers at Purdue University and the University of Southern California.
	How metrics are changing editorial decisions in African newsrooms New digital technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp have significantly shaped news production, distribution and consumption practices around the world. This has led to changes in the ways in which news is gathered by citizens and professional journalists as well as the ways in which it's consumed.
	Dislike: Facebook will appeal German data-use ruling German authorities ruled Thursday that Facebook should not be allowed to use customer data from other apps and websites to help target advertisements shown on their Facebook pages without their explicit consent, saying it was exploiting its dominant position in social media.
	Future of Airbus's A380 superjumbo in doubt as demand fades A decision by Australian airline Qantas on Thursday to cancel an order for Airbus A380 superjumbos raised fresh questions about the future of the world's largest passenger jet, which has struggled to find enough buyers to justify its production.
	Apple releases update to prevent FaceTime eavesdropping Apple has released an iPhone update to fix a software flaw that allowed people to eavesdrop on others while using FaceTime.
	Amazon invests in self-driving car startup Aurora A self-driving car technology startup founded by former Google, Tesla and Uber executives said Thursday it secured $530 million in new funding that included a "significant" investment from Amazon.
	Airbnb eyes the sky with hire of aviation exec Airbnb on Thursday said that it hired airline industry veteran Fred Reid away from an autonomous flight vehicle startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page.
	German ruling could impede Facebook's data-combo moves Facebook is pushing back against a German ruling that could make it harder for the company to combine data from all the services it runs in order to target ads even more precisely.
	Qantas confirms cancellation of Airbus order Australian flag carrier Qantas on Thursday confirmed it would not take up eight Airbus A380s already ordered—the latest blow for the European airspace firm.
	Norwegian cuts back on growth after turbulent year Struggling low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Thursday it would sacrifice growth in a bid to return to profitability after posting losses for the second year in a row.
	Game behavior can give a hint about player gender Researchers from ITMO University report that they have predicted personality features such as gender using data from an online gaming platform. This is one of the first studies of machine learning applied to a large amount of game data. The approach could improve personal game recommendation systems. It can also be used to identify gaming addiction. The results were presented at the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence.
Defending against adversarial artificial intelligence Today, machine learning (ML) is coming into its own, ready to serve mankind in a diverse array of applications – from highly efficient manufacturing, medicine and massive information analysis to self-driving transportation, and beyond. However, if misapplied, misused or subverted, ML holds the potential for great harm – this is the double-edged sword of machine learning.
	Swiss govt offers reward for hacking its electronic vote system The Swiss government has issued a 150,000 Swiss franc (US$149,790) challenge to online hackers; break into our new generation electronic voting system and we'll reward you.

Medicine & Health news

	Studies lend support to 'grandmother hypothesis,' but there are limits Humans are unusual in that women go through menopause and stop reproducing long before reaching the end of their life expectancy. One theory holds that this aspect of human life history may be explained by the evolutionary benefits associated with the role of grandmothers in helping their grandchildren. Now, two studies reported in Current Biology on February 7 add to evidence for this so-called "grandmother hypothesis." However, they also show that there are limits.
	First identification of brain's preparation for action Neuroscientists at Bangor University and University College London have for the first time, identified the processes which occur in our brains milliseconds before we undertake a series of movements, crucial for speech, handwriting, sports or playing a musical instrument. They have done so by measuring tiny magnetic fields outside the participants' head and identifying unique patterns making up each sequence before it is executed. They identified differences between neural patterns which lead to a more skilled as opposed to a more error-prone execution.
	Capsule that releases insulin in the stomach could replace injections for patients with type 2 diabetes An MIT-led research team has developed a drug capsule that could be used to deliver oral doses of insulin, potentially replacing the injections that people with type 2 diabetes have to give themselves every day.
	Male Y chromosomes not 'genetic wastelands' When researchers say they have sequenced the human genome, there is a caveat to this statement: a lot of the human genome is sequenced and assembled, but there are regions that are full of repetitive elements, making them difficult to map. One piece that is notoriously difficult to sequence is the Y chromosome.
	Folliculin mutations disrupt embryo implantation New information is unfolding on the genetic controls of an early turning point in pregnancy. As the tiny, dividing cell mass, the blastocyst, travels from the oviduct and lodges in the wall of the uterus, the cells must exit their pre-implantation state and be ready for post-implantation development.
	Mosaic-like gene deletion and duplication pattern shaping the immune system discovered The field of genetic sequencing has undergone a dramatic revolution over the past 20 years. In 2001 the first copy of the three billion base pairs that assemble the human genome was published. Since then, the price of genetic sequencing has dramatically declined, and sequencing of DNA fragments has become routine in biology and medical laboratories. Many studies focus on identification of genetic patterns and genes related to normal functions and disease. However, certain genomic regions are still poorly characterized.
	Circular RNA holds promise as cancer biomarker As new technology allows researchers to plunge deeper into the genome and exome, a new class of RNA called circular RNA may play an intriguing role.
	Scientists generate functional, transplantable B cells from mice Functional B-1 cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells are capable of long-term engraftment and secrete natural antibodies after transplantation in mice, researchers report February 7th in the journal Stem Cell Reports. Scientists are interested in B-1 cells generated from pluripotent stem cells because they could be tested as a therapeutic for a broad range of immunological disorders.
	Engineered DNA vaccine protects against emerging Mayaro virus Infections by the mosquito-borne Mayaro virus (MAYV) have largely been restricted to people who ventured into the heavily forested areas of Trinidad and Tobago and neighboring regions of South America. However, recent laboratory studies showing additional mosquito vectors can transmit MAYV as well as a reported case of MAYV infection in Haiti in 2015, reveal the potential for the virus to expand its range further into tropical regions of the Caribbean and Central and South America. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have developed a novel vaccine capable of inducing protective immunity against MAYV.
	Lab discovers how the immune system 'thinks' New research from the laboratory of cancer scientist Dr. Tak Mak, renowned for cloning the human T-cell receptor, has demonstrated that immune cells make brain chemicals to fight off infections.
	Prior dengue infection protects against Zika The higher a person's immunity to dengue virus, the lower their risk of Zika infection, an international team of scientists led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Yale School of Public Health and University of Florida report today in the journal Science.
	How we identified brain patterns of consciousness Humans have learned to travel through space, eradicate diseases and understand nature at the breathtakingly tiny level of fundamental particles. Yet we have no idea how consciousness – our ability to experience and learn about the world in this way and report it to others – arises in the brain.
	How do metastatic tumor cells grow in lymph nodes? The spread of cancer to a new part of the body accounts for about 90 percent of cancer deaths. Cancer cells can spread from sites of origin to other parts of the body through blood vessels (blood-borne metastasis) or the lymphatic system (LN metastasis). By invading surrounding lymph vessels, cancer cells migrate to adjacent lymph nodes and become a colonized tumor, leading their way to other organs. If they adapt and grow in lymph nodes, the cancer cells can easily reach other organs, resulting in a worse outlook for patient's survival.
	A possible blood test for detecting Alzheimer's disease before symptoms show A team of researchers from Australia, the U.K. and Sweden has found a possible method to test blood samples for Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their testing system and its performance.
	Researchers find differences in gut microbiomes in people with schizophrenia A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China and one in the U.S. has found that people with schizophrenia have differences in their gut biomes compared to people without the mental disorder. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes testing schizophrenia patients and experiments they conducted with mice, and what they found.
	Prostate cancer: Starving out the enemy An old military tactic, widely used in Roman and medieval times, is now being put to good use in cancer research.
	Breast cancer cells shifted into HER2 positive status with bold new strategy When women or men receive the worrisome diagnosis of breast cancer, that news comes with an important piece of information, namely, whether their cancer is HER2-positive or HER2-negative. It can be especially difficult to hear that one's cancer is HER2-negative, because it means an effective group of targeted anti-cancer drugs isn't available.
	New methods for understanding the immune system and how to boost it The human body's immune system is like a vast team of special agents. Certain cells called T cells each individually specialize in recognizing a particular intruder, such as the influenza virus or salmonella. Determining a given T cell's target is a critical step in designing personalized treatments for cancers and developing vaccines. Now, a team of Caltech scientists has developed two new methods for rapidly determining T cell targets.
	Tests suggest scientists achieved first 'in body' gene editing Scientists think they have achieved the first gene editing inside the body, altering DNA in adults to try to treat a disease, although it's too soon to know if this will help.
	Study 'strongly supports' extending cervical screening intervals Screening for high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection works well in practice and is more sensitive than cytology (smear) testing—offering greater protection against cervical cancer, confirm researchers in The BMJ today.
	Expert panel strongly recommends against surgery for the most common shoulder pain Surgery should not be performed in almost all patients with a common cause of shoulder pain known as subacromial pain syndrome or SAPS (also called shoulder impingement or rotator cuff disease), say a panel of international experts in The BMJ today.
	Vitamin D helps treat lethal drug-resistant TB Vitamin D has been found to speed up the clearance of tuberculosis (TB) bacteria from the lungs of people with multi-drug resistant TB, according to a study of 1,850 patients receiving antibiotic treatment, led by Queen Mary University of London.
More than enough on our plates A smaller portion of fish and chips has been embraced by takeaway owners and customers, research has found and may well be healthier for us.
	Being kind to yourself has mental and physical benefits, research shows Taking time to think kind thoughts about yourself and loved ones has psychological and physical benefits, new research suggests.
Injuries pile up with e-scooter craze: survey More than 1,500 people have been treated for injuries from using battery-powered electric scooters in the United States since the craze began in late 2017, a Consumer Reports survey showed.
Cerebral palsy patients' lung disease death risk 14 times higher Adults with cerebral palsy in England are 14 times more likely to die from respiratory conditions, reveals a new study backed by Brunel University London.
	Philippines hit by deadly measles outbreak A growing measles outbreak in the Philippines killed at least 25 people last month, officials said Thursday, putting some of the blame on mistrust stoked by a scare over an anti-dengue fever vaccine.
	High-risk sexually transmitted HPV virus associated with increased CVD risk Infection with high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which have been linked to cancer, might increase the risk of heart and blood vessel or cardiovascular disease, especially among women with obesity or other cardiovascular risk factors, according to new research in Circulation Research, an American Heart Association journal.
	Researchers develop prostate cancer prediction tool that has unmatched accuracy A team of researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) have developed a novel machine-learning framework that distinguishes between low- and high-risk prostate cancer with more precision than ever before. The framework, described in a Scientific Reports paper published today, is intended to help physicians—in particular, radiologists—more accurately identify treatment options for prostate cancer patients, lessening the chance of unnecessary clinical intervention.
	Could omega-3 fatty acids help prevent miscarriages? Compounds found in fish oil prevent pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, neonatal death, and stillbirth, in mice when the complications are caused by a common oral bacteria, according to research published today in the journal JCI Insight.
	Study finds HIV+ cancer patients benefit from immunotherapy The immunotherapy that has revolutionized treatment of many cancers appears to offer similar benefit to cancer patients living with HIV, say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
	What happens when sand fleas burrow in your skin? Tungiasis, a tropical disease associated with poverty, is caused by the penetration of female sand fleas into a person's skin, usually in their toes or feet. This week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers report five cases of severe tungiasis to illustrate how the disease may develop into a life-threatening condition.
	Why Asian horses don't get sick with the flu Avian influenza viruses infect horses in Mongolia but do not cause large outbreaks of disease because they failed to acquire key genetic changes to enable greater cross-species transmissibility, according to a study published February 7 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Pablo Murcia of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, and colleagues. Future studies aiming at understanding those blocks to cross-species transmission using avian and equine influenza viruses will provide insight on the mechanisms and determinants that underpin influenza emergence in mammals.
	Deadly drug-resistant TB a 'blinking red' global threat Deadly, drug-resistant tuberculosis—as lethal as Ebola and tough to treat in even the best hospitals—is a "blinking red" worldwide threat, the head of a global health fund warned in an interview with AFP.
	Drug microdosing effects may not measure up to big expectations Taking very small amounts of psychedelic substances on a regular basis – called 'microdosing' – may improve psychological and cognitive functioning, but the effects do not exactly match users' expectations, a new study from Macquarie University suggests.
	Are disclosure laws the cure for conflicts created by pharma payments to physicians? A law meant to shame doctors who receive payments and gifts from drug companies in exchange for prescribing their medications to patients has given rise to some unexpected consequences.
	Improving pregnancy outcomes for black women In June of 2018, tennis champion Serena Williams stunned the world by revealing the terrifying aftermath of giving birth to her daughter Olympia. With a history of blood clots, Williams was acutely aware of the post-delivery complications for which she was at risk. When she communicated those concerns to her doctor and the nursing staff, her concerns were dismissed. The next day, Williams nearly succumbed to a pulmonary embolism and other complications.
	Study shows need for thrombectomy-capable stroke centers remains high in 64 percent of communities studied The need for thrombectomy-capable stroke centers (TSC) certification remains high as 64 percent of communities are beyond the maximum drive time of 30 minutes, according to a study presented today presented in Honolulu at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.
	Target: Stroke program demonstrates substantially improved outcomes in adherence to guidelines Hospitals implementing the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Target: Stroke Phase II strategies decreased the median door-to-needle time from 66 minutes to 51 minutes, according to a study presented today presented in Honolulu at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.
	Japanese study finds concerning trends in cervical cancer and treatment response Cervical cancer rates can be greatly reduced through preventive measures against the human papillomavirus (HPV) along with proactive cancer screening. Japan may be showing how ignoring that knowledge could prove hazardous, as it is the only advanced economy in which the cervical cancer rate is increasing. New research adds further nuance to this situation.
	Touch biographies reveal transgenerational nature of touch The way we feel about being touched—and the way we touch others—is shaped by our personal and generational affective history. Touch inequalities, too, are often transmitted through generations, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Tampere shows. For the study, the researchers analysed a unique set of data, namely touch biographies.
	Vulnerable migrants and well-being study highlights barriers to healthcare for migrants A pilot study by the University of Birmingham has identified major barriers to healthcare access for migrants, including denial of entitlements, administrative issues, lack of understanding, language barriers and fears of being arrested.
	Voluntary control of brainwaves in deep brain of patients with Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease is associated with abnormal beta wave activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN), but a direct connection between this activity and movement difficulties has not yet been established.
	Endocannabinoid system, a target to improve cognitive disorders in models of Down syndrome A study by the Neuropharmacology Laboratory-NeuroPhar of the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS) at UPF reveals the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in cognitive disorders in mouse models of Down syndrome. The work, led by Andrés Ozaita and Rafael Maldonado, which has been published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease, also identifies cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1) as a potential treatment target.
	Monitoring obesity risk from space In public health research, like obesity studies, spatial technologies can add very valuable information. Combining remote sensing, geo-information systems and GPS will enable us to identify typical obesogenic environments. Until now, only part of this type of information is used, while the combination – also called 3S technology—has a large potential, according to researcher Peng Jia of the University of Twente (ITC). He publishes about current applications and future promise of 3S technologies in his paper in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism.
	Expert discusses the intersection of meat, protein and the environment Vegetarians may be on to something: It's entirely possible to get the National Academy of Medicine's recommended amount of protein without eating meat.
	Performing artists must protect their bodies like athletes Whether amateur or professional, performing artists have unique health needs specific to their art form. Musicians, singers, dancers, actors and other performers should always consider their own physical limitations and the dangers of their genre so they can continue to do their best on stage.
	One in six Australian women in their 30s have had an abortion – and we're starting to understand why Abortion is a common experience for Australian women. Around one in six have had an abortion by their mid-30s, according our new research published today in the Australia New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
	Big data approach shown to be effective for evaluating autism treatments Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who developed a blood test to help diagnose autism spectrum disorder have now successfully applied their distinctive big data-based approach to evaluating possible treatments.
	After the floods come the mosquitoes – but the disease risk is more difficult to predict We're often warned to avoid mosquito bites after major flooding events. With more water around, there are likely to be more mosquitoes.
	What 'Into the Spider-Verse' can teach us about resilience What can the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse teach us about child development?
	A simulator allows patients to experience how their vision will improve before surgery For the first time, patients will be able to experience how their vision will improve after cataract surgery, just before surgery. Thanks to a new wearable visual simulator developed by scientists from the National Research Council (CSIC), patients and surgeons are able to see the effects of an intraocular multifocal lens, which allows seeing at different distances, in a realistic way before being implanted.
	Sitting in front of the TV puts kids in the obesity hotseat The simple act of switching on the TV for some downtime could be making a bigger contribution to childhood obesity than we realise, according to new research from the University of South Australia.
	Artificial muscle power Think about the way your leg muscles work. At rest, the muscles are relaxed and stretched out. When in use, the muscles tighten to perform any number of movements, from lifting your foot to walking, dancing and more.
	Triazavirin defeats tick-borne encephalitis The drug triazavirin, developed by the researchers of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Chemical Engineering of Ural Federal University, has proved to be an effective remedy against tick-borne viral encephalitis (TBE). Clinical trials conducted by Krasnoyarsk State Medical University led to this conclusion. The results are published in an article titled "On the possibility of using triazavirin in the complex treatment of tick-borne viral encephalitis in adults" in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology.
	Interaction between two immune cell types could be key to better dengue vaccines, study shows Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School have demonstrated for the first time a physical interaction between two types of immune cells that plays an important role in the early fight against dengue virus infection.
	Aspirin to prevent colon cancer underutilized in high-risk patients Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States and advanced colorectal polyps are a major risk factor. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 40 percent as well as recurrence of advanced polyps. Their guidelines suggest that, without a specific contraindication, health care providers should routinely prescribe aspirin to all patients with advanced colorectal polyps.
	Promising results for new acute porphyria treatment Acute porphyria is a group of uncommon diseases that can cause severe, potentially life-threatening attacks of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and paralysis. Liver transplantation is currently the only effective treatment available for the most seriously afflicted patients. A clinical trial conducted in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now shows that a new drug candidate can prevent attacks in these patients. The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CPR can save lives in dialysis clinics, but it's underused New research indicates that when kidney failure patients experience cardiac arrest at outpatient dialysis facilities, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save lives, but it is not always performed by dialysis staff. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), indicate that addition research is needed to understand the barriers to providing CPR in dialysis clinics.
	The reality of watching reality TV (HealthDay)—When it comes to analyzing the effects of watching reality TV, well, it's complicated. While some see these shows as a brief escape from daily life, they can have negative effects on some viewers, including impressionable teens.
	Cutting calories can boost your sex life and your sleep (HealthDay)—The benefits of eating fewer calories may go far beyond losing weight.
	FDA approves cablivi for rare blood-clotting disorder (HealthDay)—Cablivi (caplacizumab-yhdp) injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP).
Sun damages skin of older black people, finds research Premature ageing in the skin of white people caused by repeated exposure to the sun also occurs in black skin—though about 50 years later, according to new research.
	As U.S. measles outbreaks spread, why does 'anti-vax' movement persist? (HealthDay)—Measles outbreaks across the United States—including one in Washington state where 50 cases have now been identified—have again shone the spotlight on parents who resist getting kids vaccinated.
	Normal brain aging patterns occur at a faster rate in people with psychosis Patients with psychosis have accelerated aging of two brain networks important for general cognition—the frontoparietal network (FPN) and cingulo-opercular network (CON)—according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry. Efficiency of the FPN network was normal in early psychosis but reduced in chronic patients, indicating that the decline happens after illness onset. The findings support the idea that intervention to boost these brain networks after early signs of psychosis may help patients have better functional outcomes later in life.
	LGBTQ teens face high rate of weight-based bullying Adolescents who identify as LGBTQ often face victimization and bullying because of their sexual and gender identity. New University of Connecticut research indicates that high percentages are also teased and bullied because of their body weight – in some cases at higher rates than previous reports of weight-based bullying in heterosexual youth.
	Blood leukocytes mirror insufficient sleep An insufficient amount of sleep and qualitatively poor sleep are common among the general population. Prior studies have indicated that prolonged insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality are associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases, dementia and psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this connection are not well known.
	The involvement of the gut in Parkinson's disease: hype or hope? There is growing evidence that at least in some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), the disease may begin in the gut. Writing in a special supplement to the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, experts explore the last two decades of research about the gut-brain axis in PD and look ahead at the possible development and impact of these research areas in the next two decades.
	Vegan or Mediterranean diet – which is better for heart health? Cardiovascular disease is responsible for more than 30% of the total number of deaths worldwide, and every year more people are being diagnosed with the condition. In 2015, more than 85m people in Europe were living with cardiovascular diseases.
	Body building supplement could be bad for the brain People taking the protein supplement L-norvaline should be aware of its potential for harm, scientists say. L-norvaline is an ingredient widely used in body building supplements and is promoted as a compound that can boost workouts and aid recovery. Similar compounds have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and a study on human cells, by scientists from the University of Technology Sydney, suggests L-norvaline may also cause damage to brain cells.
Smartphone use risks eye examination misdiagnosis Clinicians who use smartphones to capture photographs of patients' eyes risk misdiagnosis if they base their decisions on objective data extracted from non-calibrated cameras, according to new research published this week in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
	Two studies reveal pregnant women bear greater risk of hemorrhagic stroke Pregnant women face a much greater risk of having a fatal, but less common, type of stroke caused by bleeding into the brain, according to results of two studies presented by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) at the International Stroke Conference 2019.
	Immunotherapy drug used as first-line therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma improved survival A multi-center phase II clinical trial investigating pembrolizumab as a first-line and programmed cell death-1 therapy in patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma reports lasting tumor control, generally manageable side effects and improved overall survival. The results are published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	HPV infection may be behind rise in vocal-cord cancers among young nonsmokers A remarkable recent increase in the diagnosis of vocal-cord cancer in young adults appears to be the result of infection with strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) that also cause cervical cancer and other malignancies. Investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) describe finding HPV infection in all tested samples of vocal-cord cancer from 10 patients diagnosed at age 30 or under, most of whom were non-smokers. Their report appears in a special supplement on innovations in laryngeal surgery that accompanies the March 2019 issue of Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology.
	Choosing indulgent dessert first may lead to eating lower-calorie meals, study finds If you're going to choose dessert first, then the high-calorie option might lead to your eating a healthier meal, unless you have a lot on your mind, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Two independent mechanisms are involved in tuberous sclerosis The current idea about how tuberous sclerosis occurs places mTORC1, a protein complex that regulates cell metabolism, as the major driving force behind the disease. But according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, the development of this rare condition also involves a second mechanism that is independent of mTORC1. The findings can potentially lead to new treatments that might benefit patients who partially respond to current therapies focused on mTORC1.
	Nicotine works inside cells to reinforce addiction: study When a person takes a puff on a cigarette, nicotine floods into the brain, latching onto receptors on the surface of neurons and producing feelings of happiness. But nicotine does not simply stay on the surface of cells—the drug actually permeates into neural cells and alters them from the inside out. Now, a team of scientists has developed a protein sensor that glows in the presence of nicotine, allowing the researchers to observe nicotine's movements in cells and reveal more about the nature of nicotine addiction.
	Simple drug combination creates new neurons from neighboring cells A simple drug cocktail that converts cells neighboring damaged neurons into functional new neurons could potentially be used to treat stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and brain injuries. A team of researchers at Penn State identified a set of four, or even three, molecules that could convert glial cells—which normally provide support and insulation for neurons—into new neurons. A paper describing the approach appears online in the journal Stem Cell Reports on February 7, 2019.
	Parenting in the age of legal pot: Household rules, conversations help guide teen use When Washington voters legalized marijuana in 2012, many parents found themselves with a new teachable moment.
	Therapy derived from parasitic worms downregulates proinflammatory pathways A therapy derived from the eggs of parasitic worms helps to protect against one of chemotherapy's debilitating side effects by significantly downregulating major proinflammatory pathways and reducing inflammation, indicates the first transcriptome-wide profiling of the bladder during ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.
FDA alerts more doctors of rare cancer with breast implants U.S. health officials say doctors should be on the lookout for a rare cancer linked to breast implants after receiving more reports of the disease.
	Study ties cancer-causing HPV to heart disease, too (HealthDay)—Certain strains of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer and other types of tumors. Now, a new study raises the possibility that they might also contribute to heart disease.
	Many women plagued by anxiety after stroke Angie Read Doyal was unsure if she'd be the same after her stroke. So, when she felt ready to return to work after only seven weeks of intense physical, speech and occupational therapy, she was confident.
	Postconditioning during PCI for STEMI shows delayed benefits (HealthDay)—The benefits of postconditioning (PostC) balloon inflations in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may not be apparent immediately, according to a study recently published in Circulation Research.
	Conservative management feasible for adnexal masses (HealthDay)—The risk for malignancy and acute complications is low for patients with an adnexal mass with benign ultrasound morphology who are managed conservatively, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the The Lancet Oncology.
Relationship counseling encourages couples HIV testing It's long been known that couples HIV testing and counseling is an effective way to mutually disclose HIV status and link to health care—unfortunately, couples don't use it even though it's widely available.
	Phthalates may impair fertility in female mice A phthalate found in many plastic and personal care products may decrease fertility in female mice, a new study found.
	Thirdhand smoke residue exposes children to chemicals The harmful effects of exposure to tobacco smoke have been known for many years. Cigarette and cigar smokers are at significantly higher risk of contracting all sorts of respiratory maladies, and research linking secondhand smoke to cancer goes back nearly three decades.
	Blood cells could hold master clock behind aging Blood cells could hold the key to aging, according to new research out of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. In a study published in Aging Cell, researchers found human blood cells have an intrinsic clock that remains steady even after transplant. The researchers say the clock could control human aging and may underlie blood cancers.
	Aggressive clearance key to best outcome after a brain hemorrhage In the first study to identify specific surgical goals for the treatment of an intracerebral hemorrhage—the deadliest and most disabling type of stroke—a team of neurosurgeons found that at least 70 percent of the hemorrhage has to be removed for patients to make a meaningful recovery.
	Stanford probes faculty ties to China gene-edited baby work Stanford University has started a review of interactions that some faculty members had with He Jiankui, the Chinese scientist who claims to have helped make gene-edited babies.
	New 'Trojan horse' cancer treatment shows early promise in multiple tumour types A brand new type of cancer drug that acts as a 'Trojan horse' to get inside tumour cells has shown promise in patients with six different cancer types.
Ambulance nitroglycerin patch to lower blood pressure did not improve stroke outcomes Lowering blood pressure in the ambulance with a nitroglycerin patch for suspected stroke didn't lessen post-stroke disability, according to late breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019.
Intense IV blood sugar control doesn't improve stroke outcomes Intravenous (IV) insulin did not improve stroke outcomes compared to standard blood sugar (glucose) control using insulin shots—answering a worldwide debate about the best way to control glucose in stroke patients. These primary late-breaking findings were presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019.
	Cilostazol-combo antiplatelet therapy reduced risk for recurrent stroke Stroke survivors taking a combination of the blood thinner cilostazol with aspirin or clopidogrel had a lower risk of ischemic stroke recurrence than those who received aspirin or clopidogrel alone, according to late breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.
China says tests on plasma products negative for HIV Chinese investigators said Thursday tests on a batch of a plasma product feared to have been contaminated with HIV have turned up negative for the virus that causes AIDS.
New study aims to empower teen girls and young women with choices in HIV prevention AIDS is already the leading cause of death among girls and young women in much of Africa, and matters could only get worse, given that for every day that passes, 1,000 more girls ages 15 to 24 are likely to become infected with HIV.
Professional classical musicians are not protected from dementia Listening and practicing music have been reported to have many beneficial effects on human health. The effect of music on human brain has been previously studied in young professionals but studies on the long-term effects of music on human health are largely missing.
Intelligent healing for complex wounds Blast injuries, burns, and other wounds experienced by warfighters often catastrophically damage their bones, skin, and nerves, resulting in months to years of recovery for the most severe injuries and often returning imperfect results. This long and limited healing process means prolonged pain and hardship for the patient, and a drop in readiness for the military. However, DARPA believes that recent advances in biosensors, actuators, and artificial intelligence could be extended and integrated to dramatically improve tissue regeneration. To achieve this, the new Bioelectronics for Tissue Regeneration (BETR) program asks researchers to develop bioelectronics that closely track the progress of the wound and then stimulate healing processes in real time to optimize tissue repair and regeneration.
	Anti-microRNAs are possible new therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes Researchers have shown that targeted silencing of microRNA-132, which is over-expressed in type 2 diabetes, can result in improved insulin secretion and reduced blood glucose in mice and increased insulin secretion in isolated human islet cells. The new study and promising findings are reported in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.
Erenumab in migraine: Indication of considerable added benefit for certain patients Erenumab was the first drug of a new drug class for the prophylaxis of migraine to enter the German market in November 2018. In an early benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined whether erenumab has an added benefit. As the data presented by the drug manufacturer showed, erenumab can reduce the burden from migraine in those patients for whom other substances used for prophylaxis have failed or have not been an option.
New medical bankruptcy study: Two-thirds of filers cite illness and medical bills as contributors to financial ruin Medical problems contributed to 66.5% of all bankruptcies, a figure that is virtually unchanged since before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a study published yesterday as an editorial in the American Journal of Public Health. The findings indicate that 530,000 families suffer bankruptcies each year that are linked to illness or medical bills.
Lassa fever outbreak scare in Guinea Medical services in Guinea are on alert after a man died from Lassa fever, health officials said on Thursday, with some 80 people being monitored for the deadly disease.
	Johnson & Johnson will list drug prices in TV commercials Johnson & Johnson said Thursday it will start giving the list price of its prescription drugs in television ads.
The American College of Chest Physicians updates guidelines on PAH The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) announced the publication of updates to the evidence-based guidelines on therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a progressive disease that affects the small arteries in the lungs, which can lead to right-sided heart failure and death. There is no cure for PAH; there are several medications approved for the treatment of the disease. In the latest evidence-based guideline, Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Adults: Update of the CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report, experts provide 78 evidence-based recommendations for appropriate use in treating patients with PAH.
Report looks to biological 'pillars of aging' Medical care for older adults has long focused on preventing and treating chronic diseases and the conditions that come with them. But now, geriatrics researchers and clinicians hope a new understanding—one honed at a prestigious conference hosted by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation—can lead to better and more effective interventions by targeting the aging process itself rather than discrete conditions or concerns.

Biology news

	Biologists answer fundamental question about cell size MIT biologists have discovered the answer to a fundamental biological question: Why are cells of a given type all the same size?
	New findings could make mosquitos more satisfied—and safer to be around She weighs less than one ten-thousandth of an ounce and her top speed is less than two miles per hour. Nonetheless, the female mosquito is one of the most dangerous animals on the planet. For as she flies from person to person, biting us to draw the blood she needs to lay her eggs, this tiny creature transmits microbes that sicken and kill millions of people every year.
	Butterflies are genetically wired to choose a mate that looks just like them A team of academics from the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, observed the courtship rituals and sequenced the DNA from nearly 300 butterflies to find out how much of the genome was responsible for their mating behaviour.
	Do fish recognize themselves in the mirror? A species of fish, the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), responds to its reflection and attempts to remove marks on its body during the mirror test—a method held as the gold standard for determining if animals are self-aware. The finding, publishing on February 7 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, suggests that fish might possess far higher cognitive powers than previously thought, and ignites a high-stakes debate over how we assess the intelligence of animals that are so unlike ourselves.
	Competent chimpanzee nutcrackers Humans consider themselves as the tool user par excellence. Previous work comparing human tool use skills to that of other species tended to place the animals in artificial conditions far removed from their natural environments. Such comparisons disadvantage the animals and lead to underestimating the tool use demonstrated by wild populations. In a first comparison between individuals of two groups of humans and chimpanzees cracking nuts in their natural environment, researchers recently tested how quickly and how completely a technique was acquired by the offspring of the two species.
	Researchers uncover mechanism of protein transport in mitochondria The research labs of Dr. Thomas Becker and Dr. Nikolaus Pfanner from the Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Freiburg have reported a function of the metabolite channel of the mitochondrial outer membrane in protein transport. The researchers published their findings in Molecular Cell.
	How plants expand their capacity to use solar energy Green plants capture light that spans the visible solar spectrum, and while a broad spectral range is required for sufficient absorption, the process requires energy to be funneled rapidly and efficiently downhill to drive charge separation and water splitting. Carotenoids, the accessory pigments in photosynthesis, play light harvesting, photoprotective, and structural roles.
	Research explains how snakes lost their limbs Snakes and lizards are reptiles that belong to the order Squamata. They share several traits but differ in one obvious respect: Snakes do not have limbs. The two suborders diverged more than 100 million years ago. Identification of the genetic factors involved in this loss of limbs is a focus of an article titled "Phenotype loss is associated with widespread divergence of the gene regulatory landscape in evolution," published by Juliana Gusson Roscito and collaborators in Nature Communications.
	A scientific study reveals the enigmas on social behaviour of western lowland gorillas A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences reveals one of the enigmas related to the social behaviour of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the heart of the African equatorial rainforest. These primates show a dynamic social structure –individuals change frequently between families, and have a high degree of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among the members, according to the new article by experts José Domingo Rodríguez Teijeiro, Magdalena Bermejo, Guillem Molina Vacas, from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute of the University of Barcelona (IRBio).
	Viral communications hacking boosts Leishmania infections New research from McGill University has found that a virus infecting the Leishmania parasite spreads by exploiting a mechanism used for cell-to-cell communication, a discovery that could pave the way to new vaccines against infections that cause severe disfiguration.
	New technique pinpoints milestones in the evolution of bacteria Bacteria have evolved all manner of adaptations to live in every habitat on Earth. But unlike plants and animals, which can be preserved as fossils, bacteria have left behind little physical evidence of their evolution, making it difficult for scientists to determine exactly when different groups of bacteria evolved.
	The physics underlying complex biological architectures A building's architectural plans map out what's needed to keep it from falling down. But design is not just functional: often, it's also beautiful, with lines and shapes that can amaze and inspire.
	Mosquitoes can hear from longer distances than previously thought While most hearing experts would say an eardrum is required for long distance hearing, a new study from Binghamton University and Cornell University has found that Aedes aegypti mosquitos can use their antennae to detect sounds that are at least 10 meters away.
	Sand fiddler crabs have home advantage in competition for breeding burrows Sand fiddler crabs that reside in a burrow usually prevail if challenged by another, intruding crab, provided their claw pinching strength is similar to that of the competing crab, a study suggests.
	It's time to ratchet up bonefish conservation, scientists say Anglers are catching fewer bonefish in South Florida. Florida International University scientists say there are many factors that could be behind the drop in catches, with warmer temperatures, more predators, fishing and contaminants among them.
	Researchers map ferocious speed and likely cause of woody weed spread across Ethiopia CABI scientists have helped map the ferocious speed and probable cause of a devastating spread of the invasive alien tree Prosopis juliflora (Swartz DC) across an area equivalent to half of neighbouring Djibouti in the Afar Region of north eastern Ethiopia.
	India's 'granny' elephant dies aged 88 An Asian elephant believed to be the oldest ever in captivity has died aged 88 in the southern Indian state of Kerala, officials said Thursday.
	More nutritious, natural flavor, non-GMO 'orange corn' launches in US markets "Orange corn," a more nutritious, naturally selected variety of corn is now available in the U.S. markets through Purdue-affiliated startup NutraMaize LLC.
	Desert bacteria protect food crops from salt toxicity Bacteria isolated from the Saudi desert have demonstrated plant-growth-promoting properties that could make them useful as biofertilizers.
	Larger datasets unravel deep roots Comparative genome content analyses provide insight into the early evolution of animals. A novel method that permits the use of larger datasets in such studies yields results that are consistent with classical views of animal phylogeny.
Study finds experimental extreme draining of reservoir has unexpected ecological impacts The experimental extreme draining of a reservoir in Oregon to aid downstream migration of juvenile chinook salmon is showing benefits but also a mix of unintended consequences, including changing the aquatic food web and releasing potential predators downstream.
	Choosy Amphipods Amphipods of the species Gammarus roeselii guard their chosen mates, often carrying them with them for days and defending them against potential rivals. This behaviour requires a lot of time and energy, so that the males make their choice with care. Scientists at Goethe University have now investigated under which circumstances males are prepared to revise their decision.
	Study explores new way to increase conservation impact A study led by researchers at the University of Southampton reveals huge variations in the similarity and breadth of animal roles in nature across different parts of the world.
	First study of black bear population in 30 years identifies need for safer, habitable public land in Alberta A new study by University of Alberta biologists shows black bear populations are lowest on Crown land and most dense on national park land, followed by private land, highlighting issues for management and conservation efforts.
	Sunda clouded leopard under threat from habitat fragmentation The Sunda clouded leopard in Sabah, Malaysia, is under threat from habitat fragmentation and a lack of forest connectivity, finds a study by Cardiff University and the Danau Girang Field Centre.
	Could theatre be way forward in communicating conservation messages? Theatre performances in zoos can be effective in increasing knowledge of important conservation messages, a study at the University of York has revealed.
	Bee dispersal ability may influence conservation measures The abilities of various bee species to disperse influences the pattern of their population's genetic structure, which, in turn, can constrain how they respond to environmental change, as reported by an international team of researchers.
	I fight anti-GMO fears in Africa to combat hunger As a child, I remember feeling hungry most of the time. Growing up in rural Tanzania, I walked to school barefoot and most of the time had one meal a day. After school, I helped my mother with various farming chores, including feeding the animals, weeding, harvesting and planting. I often heard my mother express concerns about the lack of ways to protect our crops from drought, pests and diseases. I wanted to help my mother but was too young to understand what the solution might be.
Major new report on impact of hunting A new report – commissioned by a leading international organisation – promotes the creation of a sustainable wild meat sector to protect disadvantaged people and endangered species from hunting.

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