Science X Newsletter Friday, Feb 28

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 28, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

An understudied cause of cancer: Mutations in regulators of cell signaling

Deep-learning system detects human presence by harvesting RF signals

Helical quantum Hall phase in graphene on strontium titanate

Chip flaw exposes billions of WiFi devices

Physicists model the supernovae that result from pulsating supergiants like Betelgeuse

Children who read books daily score higher in school tests, vast new study states

Astronomy student discovers 17 new planets, including Earth-sized world

How do zebrafish get their stripes? New data analysis tool could provide an answer

Inhalation therapy shows promise against pulmonary fibrosis in mice, rats

New platform for engineering ribosomes to 'cook new cuisines'

Researchers announce progress in developing an accurate, noninvasive urine test for prostate cancer

Not falling far from tree: Ecologists study seed-to-seedling transitions

Hunter-gatherer networks accelerated human evolution

Ecologically diverse clades dominate the oceans via extinction resistance

Stable conditions during cell division

Astronomy & Space news

	Physicists model the supernovae that result from pulsating supergiants like Betelgeuse Betelgeuse has been the center of significant media attention lately. The red supergiant is nearing the end of its life, and when a star over 10 times the mass of the Sun dies, it goes out in spectacular fashion. With its brightness recently dipping to the lowest point in the last hundred years, many space enthusiasts are excited that Betelgeuse may soon go supernova, exploding in a dazzling display that could be visible even in daylight.
	Astronomy student discovers 17 new planets, including Earth-sized world University of British Columbia astronomy student Michelle Kunimoto has discovered 17 new planets, including a potentially habitable, Earth-sized world, by combing through data gathered by NASA's Kepler mission.
	Massive protostar keeps growing despite ionization heating by ultraviolet light A gigantic embryonic star is still getting bigger, even though it propels vast plumes of hot gas away from itself, RIKEN astronomers have found. The discovery could help to solve an enduring mystery about how massive stars grow so large.
	An iron-clad asteroid Itokawa would normally be a fairly average near-Earth asteroid—a rocky mass measuring only a few hundred metres in diameter, which orbits the sun amid countless other celestial bodies and repeatedly crosses the orbit of the Earth. But there is one fact that sets Itokawa apart: in 2005 it hosted a visit from Earth. The Japanese space agency JAXA sent the Hayabusa probe to Itokawa, which collected soil samples and brought them safely back to Earth—for the first time in the history of space travel. This valuable cargo arrived in 2010 and since then, the samples have been the subject of intensive research.
	Examining ice giants with NASA's Webb telescope Far-flung Uranus and Neptune—the ice giants of our solar system—are as mysterious as they are distant. Soon after its launch in 2021, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will change that by unlocking secrets of the atmospheres of both planets.
	The caved-in roof of a lava tube could be a good place to explore on Mars Want to look inside a deep, dark pit on Mars? The scientists and engineers from the NASA's HiRISE Camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have done just that.
	Plasma jet deceleration could be caused by the interaction with the stars Manel Perucho, professor of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Valencia has proposed an explanation for the origin of the deceleration of plasma jets (loss of speed along the matter and energy channels emanating from the central regions of an active galaxy), a subject that has been debated in recent decades.

Technology news

	Deep-learning system detects human presence by harvesting RF signals Researchers at Syracuse University in New York have recently developed a system that can detect the presence of humans in a given environment by analyzing ambient radio frequency (RF) signals. This new system, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, employs a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on a vast amount of RF data.
	Chip flaw exposes billions of WiFi devices Billions of WiFi devices were exposed to potential hackers due to a chip vulnerability, security experts said in a report released Wednesday.
	How to stop an iceberg in its tracks To determine how melting icebergs could be affecting the ocean, a kayak-sized robot stopped the massive chunks of ice drifting and spinning in the waters of the North Atlantic—all by itself.
	More efficient, longer-lasting solid oxide fuel cells Solid oxide fuel cells, or SOFCs, are devices that produce both electricity and heat by oxidizing a fuel such as natural gas or biogas. This energy-efficient, zero-emission technology has the potential to meet domestic and commercial power, heating and hot water needs.
	Researcher discovers huge flaw with anthropometry, the measurement of facial features from images University of Huddersfield lecturer Dr. Eilidh Noyes was among world-leading experts in the science of face recognition who assembled in Australia for a conference that will lead to policy recommendations designed to aid police, governments, the legal system and border control agencies.
	On Leap Year Day, Raspberry Pi 4 cost is sliced The Raspberry Pi is putting a cherry on top of its 8th anniversary cake by offering its popular top-of-the-line computer module for just $35. It's a remarkable offer for a company that thrust itself onto the computer scene in 2012 with a credit-card sized Raspberry Pi 1 that featured a 700MHz ARM11 processor and 256MB of RAM. The price back in 2012: the same $35.
	Virus game 'Plague' app pulled in China: developer A popular game that allows players to create a virus and spread it worldwide has been pulled from Apple's App Store in China, its developer said, as the country battles a real-life epidemic.
	Baidu warns of big hit from coronavirus outbreak Internet search giant Baidu has warned the deadly coronavirus outbreak could drive revenues down in the first quarter, as it reported steady annual revenue growth.
	VW strikes 'dieselgate' compensation deal with German consumers German automaker Volkswagen said Friday it has struck a compensation deal with domestic consumer groups representing owners of cars caught up in its "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal.
	Robots autonomously navigate underground in DARPA challenge Whether robots are exploring caves on other planets or disaster areas here on Earth, autonomy enables them to navigate extreme environments without human guidance or access to GPS.
	Relegating 'no connection' travel frustrations to the history books Academics from Heriot-Watt University have developed an antenna which, it is believed, will end the frustrations of billions of passengers each year who lose internet connectivity on journeys globally.
	Say goodbye to power outages With the goal of eliminating brownouts and blackouts, new research from UBC's Okanagan School of Engineering is redesigning how electricity is distributed within power grids.
	Labor unions call for US probe of Amazon tactics Labor unions are urging regulators to investigate whether US tech giant Amazon is abusing its dominance in online retail, cloud computing and logistics.
	FCC proposes fines for phone companies that shared user data U.S. regulators have proposed fining the four major U.S. phone companies more than $200 million combined for improperly disclosing customers' real-time location to other companies.
	Bill to help small telecoms excise Huawei goes to Trump The Senate has passed a bill to provide $1 billion for small telecom providers to replace equipment made by China's Huawei and ZTE, sending the measure to President Donald Trump.
	LSU professor relaunches fake news and disinformation resource website LSU's Manship School of Mass Communication professor Leonard Apcar is relaunching a website designed to aggregate news, analysis and research about fake news and disinformation for students, academics and citizens to defend themselves against misinformation.
	Europe airlines chart path through coronavirus crisis European airlines are reducing flights to Italy due to coronavirus as part of drastic cost-cutting in an industry rocked by fallout from the deadly outbreak.
	New tool aims to assist military logistics in evacuating noncombatants Researchers from the U.S. Army and North Carolina State University have developed a computational model that can be used to expedite military operations aimed at evacuating noncombatants, disaster response or humanitarian relief.
	Lufthansa to cancel up to 25% of flights due to virus German airline Lufthansa on Friday announced that it expects to reduce its flights by up to 25 percent in the coming weeks due to the increasing spread of the new coronavirus.
	US Congress passes bill funding 'rip and replace' for Huawei gear US lawmakers have passed legislation offering $1 billion to help telecom carriers "rip and replace" equipment from Chinese tech firms Huawei and ZTE amid national security concerns.

Medicine & Health news

	An understudied cause of cancer: Mutations in regulators of cell signaling Mutations in a vital class of regulatory molecules are an underappreciated cause of cancer because they impair the function of "G" proteins, a versatile and vast family of signaling switches that underlie innumerable biological facets of life itself.
	Inhalation therapy shows promise against pulmonary fibrosis in mice, rats A new study from North Carolina State University shows that lung stem cell secretions—specifically exosomes and secretomes—delivered via nebulizer, can help repair lung injuries due to multiple types of pulmonary fibrosis in mice and rats. The work could lead to more effective, less invasive treatment for human pulmonary fibrosis sufferers.
	Researchers announce progress in developing an accurate, noninvasive urine test for prostate cancer Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have made significant progress toward development of a simple, noninvasive liquid biopsy test that detects prostate cancer from RNA and other specific metabolic chemicals in the urine.
	Why objects in images may appear closer—or farther—than they actually are When people remember images, they fill in the edges with details they didn't actually see. That's the idea behind the boundary extension, a term which has become widely accepted in psychology classes, textbooks and test-prep flashcards.
	Fasting at night or in the morning? Listen to your biological clock, says new research In recent years, diet trends such as Intermittent Fasting have popularized the practice of delayed or restricted eating for many individuals looking to manage caloric intake. Still, many people open to restructuring their schedules have the same question: When is the right time to avoid eating?
	Eating fruit during pregnancy boosts babies' brain development, new study confirms A follow-up to a University of Alberta study done in 2016 confirms that pregnant women who eat more fruit during pregnancy may be giving their babies' cognitive development a boost.
	Uncovering potential pathway to slowing Alzheimer's If we can overcome the loss of a process in the brain called "RNA editing," we may be able to slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease and other synaptic disorders, a new study has shown.
	Study: Mother's gut microbiota may shape metabolism of offspring A team of researchers affiliated with a large number of institutions across Japan has found that in mice, a mother's gut microbiota may shape the metabolism of her offspring in later life. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their studies with mouse models and what they learned from them. Jane Ferguson with Vanderbilt University Medical Center has published a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	A case study of three people who massively overdosed on LSD A pair of Canadian researchers, one with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, the other Vancouver Coastal Health, has made headlines with a case study of three people who accidentally massively overdosed on LSD, The study appears in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The researchers, Mark Haden and Birgitta Woods, were most surprised by the unexpectedly positive outcomes.
	Physiotherapy could be done at home using virtual reality Virtual reality could help physiotherapy patients complete their exercises at home successfully thanks to researchers at WMG, University of Warwick, who managed to combine VR technology with 3-D motion capture.
Study estimates mental health impact of welfare reform, Universal Credit, in Great Britain The 2013 Universal Credit welfare reform appears to have led to an increase in the prevalence of psychological distress among unemployed recipients, according to a nationally representative study following more than 52,000 working-age individuals from England, Wales, and Scotland over nine years between 2009-2018, published as part of an issue of The Lancet Public Health journal on income and health.
	First-ever pathology of the early phase of lung infection with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) An international team of clinicians and researchers for the first time have described the pathology of the SARS-CoV-2, or coronavirus, and published their findings in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
	Virus detected in sub-Saharan Africa as markets plunge Nigeria reported the first new coronavirus case in sub-Saharan Africa on Friday and a major global auto show was cancelled in a bid to stop contagion, as the deadly epidemic sent global stock markets and oil prices plunging.
	Northern California city at epicenter of coronavirus mystery Residents of a Northern California community are at the epicenter of what officials are calling a turning point in the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus, as investigators try to retrace the steps of a hospitalized woman they believe to be the first in the U.S. to be infected without traveling internationally or being in close contact with anyone who had it.
	Nigeria braces as coronavirus arrives in megacity Lagos Residents of Nigeria's economic hub Lagos scrambled for hygiene products Friday, after the chaotic megacity of 20 million announced the first confirmed case of new coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa.
	World harshens its virus response as epidemic worsens by day Saudi Arabia cut travel to Islam's holiest sites, South Korea toughened penalties for those breaking quarantines and airports across Latin America looked for signs of sick passengers as a new virus troubled places around the globe.
	Beijing ramps up crowd control measures on virus fears Fearing a resurgence of crowds as coronavirus cases drop, Beijing is not taking any chances, limiting numbers in parks, keeping shoppers apart in supermarkets and preventing cinemagoers from sitting close together.
	Virus epidemic growing by day hits schools, concerts, parks Japan's schools prepared to close for almost a month and entertainers, topped by K-pop superstars BTS, canceled events as a virus epidemic extended its spread through Asia into Europe and on Friday, into sub-Saharan Africa.
	Hong Kong pets face coronavirus quarantine after dog tests positive All pets of people in Hong Kong infected with the coronavirus will be quarantined, with one dog already in isolation, the city's authorities said Friday.
	US patient with coronavirus of unknown origin denied test for days Medical staff caring for a California woman with the first US case of novel coronavirus of unknown origin were unable to get her tested for five days because she had not traveled to outbreak-hit regions, a lawmaker revealed Thursday.
	Wine glass size may influence how much you drink in restaurants The size of glass used for serving wine can influence the amount of wine drunk, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge, funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). The study found that when restaurants served wine in 370ml rather than 300ml glasses they sold more wine, and tended to sell less when they used 250ml glasses. These effects were not seen in bars.
	Danone alerts parents over French cases of larvae-infested baby milk French food giant Danone said Friday it is asking parents to alert the company if they find any worm larvae in packages of its Gallia powdered baby milk, after a couple reported that their three-month-old had regurgitated a parasitic worm.
	Germany quarantines 1,000 as coronavirus cases push past 50 Around 1,000 people were in quarantine in Germany's most populous state Friday, as the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Europe's biggest economy rose above 50.
	Viral fear sparks global run on face masks Fear of the spreading coronavirus has led to a global run on sales of face masks despite evidence that most people who aren't sick don't need to wear them.
	Mexico confirms first two cases of coronavirus, linked to Italy Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first cases of coronavirus on Friday, saying two men who recently returned from Italy tested positive for the virus.
	Vulnerable continent: Africa and the coronavirus The first detected case of coronavirus in Africa highlights the vulnerability of the world's poorest continent to outbreaks of contagious diseases.
	Every coronavirus case starts a race to trace contacts It's painstaking, disruptive and yet potentially life-saving: for every confirmed coronavirus case health authorities face a race against time to identify everyone the patient has been in contact with and nip transmission in the bud.
	Old weapon, new target: Dasatinib against angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have shown by in vivo experimentation on a mouse model that angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is highly dependent on T-cell receptor signaling. Further trials also suggest that dasatinib, by targeting the TCR pathway, improved outcomes in both the mouse model and in a clinical trial of five patients who relapsed or were refractory to conventional therapy and therefore showed promise as a candidate drug for AITL treatment.
	The key role of a protein revealed in rare neurodegenerative disease affecting children Professor Stéphane Lefrançois, a researcher at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), is working on Batten disease, a neurodegenerative genetic disease that primarily affects children. His research focuses on the most common form of the disease, Batten CLN 3, which is caused by mutations in the protein of the same name and for which there is still no cure.
	Key coronavirus question: How are children affected? As coronavirus cases continue to spread around the world, American officials acknowledged this week that cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, are likely to become much more widespread across the nation. That announcement comes amid a rush of developments surrounding the outbreak, including: reports of a potential vaccine, a shift in the majority of new cases to nations outside of China for the first time, the emergence of cases in California and Germany with no obvious source of transmission, the monthlong closure of Japanese schools, and the continued decline in global financial markets over economic downturn fears. Public health officials, however, have expressed cautious optimism over evidence that China's drastic control measures, such as strict travel restrictions, lockdown of some cities, and the closure of factories, businesses, and schools, seem to have been effective.
	Alcohol minimum unit price could save almost 8,000 lives in north of England Civic leaders are calling for the urgent introduction of a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in England after new evidence from the University of Sheffield's Alcohol Research Group revealed that it could save almost 8,000 lives across the North over the next 20 years.
	Clinical factors during pregnancy related to congenital cytomegalovirus infection A group led by researchers from Kobe University has illuminated clinical factors that are related to the occurrence of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in newborns. They revealed for the first time in the world that fever or cold-like symptoms (including cough, sore throat and runny nose) during pregnancy, and threatened miscarriage or threatened premature labor in the second trimester (14-27 gestational weeks) were associated with CMV infection in newborns.
	How to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Tuesday that the novel Chinese coronavirus could soon start spreading through American communities, causing potentially "severe" disruptions to daily life. The agency urged schools, businesses, and the general public to be prepared.
	A jump in coronavirus cases is a matter of when, not if, for Australia While countries around the globe have been taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, it has now been reported in 37 countries outside China.
	Plans to fight coronavirus must pay attention to the environment The rapid onset and spread of coronavirus is proving to be a huge challenge for public health officials across the world.
	Tonsils as a testbed for anti-inflammatory agents at the cellular level Biomedical researchers at LMU have isolated immune cells from human tonsils obtained following routine surgery, and used them to analyze aspects of the immune response and test the effects of anti-inflammatory agents at the cellular level.
	Smart phone posturing: Lie on your side to avoid aches and pain It's perhaps the news lazy phone users have been dreaming of. Researchers have demonstrated that lying on your side and holding your phone is the best posture to avoid pain and problems in the upper back, arms and wrists.
	Researchers produce first physiotherapy guidance for Huntington's disease Cardiff University researchers are part of a global consortium who have published the first clinical guidance for the management of Huntington's disease through physiotherapy.
	Coronavirus is a breeding ground for conspiracy theories The novel coronavirus continues to spread around the world, with new cases being reported all the time. Spreading just as fast, it seems, are conspiracy theories that claim powerful actors are plotting something sinister to do with the virus. Our research into medical conspiracy theories shows that this has the potential to be just as dangerous for societies as the outbreak itself.
	Trouble sleeping? A dose of saffron might help you doze New research out of Murdoch University has shown that saffron can enhance the quality of sleep in adults who have been experiencing poor sleep.
	Sugar gets the red light from consumers in new study Researchers have found that sugar content is the most important factor for people when making healthy food choices—overriding fat and salt.
	Antioxidant supplements do not improve male fertility, study suggests Antioxidant supplements do not improve semen quality among men with infertility, according to a new study supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study also found that antioxidant supplements likely do not improve pregnancy and live birth rates. The study appears in Fertility and Sterility.
	Gene therapy generates new neurons to treat Huntington's disease Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare disease characterized by abnormal chorea movement and caused by the Huntingtin (Htt) gene mutation and neurodegeneration in a brain area called the striatum. A research group led by Dr. Gong Chen, a former professor at Penn State University and now leading a brain repair center at Jinan University in China, has developed a novel gene therapy to regenerate functional new neurons in mouse models of HD. The work has been published in Nature Communications on February 27, 2020.
	Artificial intelligence can scan doctors' notes to distinguish between types of back pain Mount Sinai researchers have designed an artificial intelligence model that can determine whether lower back pain is acute or chronic by scouring doctors' notes within electronic medical records, an approach that can help to treat patients more accurately, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in February.
	Eating a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables, soy linked to lower stroke risk People who eat a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables and soy may have a lower risk of stroke than people who eat a diet that includes meat and fish, according to a study published in the February 26, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	WHO raises global virus risk to maximum level The World Health Organization on Friday raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and financial markets slumped.
	Coronavirus circulated 'unnoticed for weeks' in Italy: researcher The new coronavirus had been "circulating unnoticed for weeks" in Italy, experts said Friday after studying its progression in the country.
	US schools start planning for possible spread of coronavirus Schools across the United States are canceling trips abroad, preparing online lessons and even rethinking "perfect attendance" awards as they brace for the possibility that the new coronavirus could begin spreading in their communities.
	Patients report cannabis eases spasticity in multiple sclerosis (HealthDay)—Cannabis use is common among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with spasticity, according to a research letter published online Feb. 11 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
	Inflammatory conditions of skin, bowel may be linked (HealthDay)—There appears to be a link between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a review published in the February issue of the International Journal of Dermatology.
	MRI-identified damage tied to patient-reported RA function (HealthDay)—There is a consistent association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of damage in the wrist and hand and self-reported loss of function in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in sustained clinical remission, according to a study recently published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Certified medical homes tied to better diabetes outcomes (HealthDay)—Primary care practices certified as medical homes have more practice systems and higher performance on diabetes care versus uncertified practices, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	CDC makes changes to coronavirus testing efforts (HealthDay)—Just how prepared the United States is to quell an outbreak of coronavirus on American soil came into question on Thursday, as federal officials changed guidelines for testing after a whistleblower complaint. The complaint claimed some federal health workers had been allowed to interact with quarantined Americans without proper training or protective gear.
	Could sunshine lower blood pressure? Study offers enlightenment Exposure to sunshine is linked to lower blood pressure, says a new study that included hundreds of thousands of patients at dialysis clinics across the United States. But don't use this news as an excuse to book a beach vacation just yet.
	Coronavirus strikes men, older people the hardest (HealthDay)—The coronavirus is on the cusp of becoming a global pandemic and experts say that if it does, older people and men could be most at risk for serious illness and death.
	Mayo Clinic Minute: Statins plus lifestyle equals healthy life Statins are medications that reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke by lowering your cholesterol. Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says people should combine statins with a heart-healthy lifestyle to get the most benefit.
	Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia It's important to know the the symptoms, causes, and treatment of sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder that, in the United States, is more common among African Americans.
	Taking strides to better cardiovascular health Running a marathon may sound overwhelming, but it could be the key to better health. First-time marathon runners significantly improved their cardiovascular health during training for a 26.2-mile race, according to a recent study.
	Q&A: Woman's symptoms require evaluation with health care provider DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm 19, and I think I might have a yeast infection. Or it could be trichomoniasis. My symptoms are vaginal odor, unstable periods and pain during sex. I don't feel comfortable going to the doctor about this. Is it safe to try an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment first to see if that works?
	Scientists discover three genes associated with fatal lung disease Researchers at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham have discovered parts of the DNA that put some people at higher risk of an incurable lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The findings are published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine today, after an earlier version was posted online in November 2019 prior to final review.
	Unintended pregnancy rates higher among women with disabilities, study says Pregnancies among women with disabilities are 42% more likely to be unintended than pregnancies among women without disabilities, says a new report published in the journal Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
	House approves bill to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes Moving to stem a vaping epidemic among young people, the House has approved a bill to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products.
	US reports first drug shortage tied to virus outbreak Health officials reported the first U.S. drug shortage tied to the viral outbreak that is disrupting production in China, but they declined to identify the manufacturer or the product.
	AJR: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) imaging features overlap with SARS and MERS Although the imaging features of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are variable and nonspecific, the findings reported thus far do show "significant overlap" with those of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), according to an ahead-of-print article in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).
	COVID-19 a reminder of the challenge of emerging infectious diseases The emergence and rapid increase in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, pose complex challenges to the global public health, research and medical communities, write federal scientists from NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their commentary appears in The New England Journal of Medicine.
	Even damaged livers can handle life-saving medication When you ingest a drug—whether over-the-counter Tylenol or medication prescribed by a doctor—your liver is your body's first responder. And just like other first responders, sometimes the liver gets hurt. Doctors used to make patients with drug-induced liver injury stop taking all their medications until the liver healed, but this could be dangerous. Now, researchers report in two recent papers that people with diabetes, hypertension and depression might be able to continue taking life saving medications even while they heal from drug-induced liver injuries.
	Belarus, Azerbaijan report first coronavirus cases (Update) Belarus and Azerbaijan reported Friday their first cases of the novel coronavirus, while Georgia announced its second case, saying several more people in quarantine may test positive.
	Lithuania confirms first case of coronavirus Lithuania confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus in a woman who returned from Italy, the government said on Friday.
	New Zealand confirms first coronavirus case New Zealand confirmed its first coronavirus case Friday, saying a recent arrival from Iran who travelled to Auckland via Bali had tested positive.
	Tokyo Disney parks closing for two weeks on virus fears: statement The operator of Tokyo's two Disney resorts, Disneyland and DisneySea, said Friday the parks would be closed for around two weeks on fears over the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
	New JACEP Open analyses explore coronavirus risk factors and public health concerns Emergency physician-led teams are on the frontlines of coronavirus treatment, prevention and response. JACEP Open, a new official open access journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), explores coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns in two new analyses. The first paper explores risk factors for transmission while the second outlines broad public health concerns amplified during an outbreak.
	Carnivals, cars, concerts: Swiss crack down on virus Switzerland on Friday cancelled football matches, carnival celebrations, concerts and the Geneva International Motor Show in a drastic bid to stem the country's new coronavirus outbreak in its early stages.
	Japan's Hokkaido declares state of emergency over virus The Japanese island of Hokkaido is declaring a state of emergency over the rapid spread of the new virus there.
	Japan's Hokkaido region urges people to stay home over virus fears Japan's coronavirus-hit Hokkaido region on Friday asked residents to stay at home over the weekend as the northern area struggles to contain a fast-spreading outbreak.
	Two South Africans contaminated by coronavirus in Japan Two South Africans were contaminated by the new coronavirus while serving as crew members aboard a cruise ship that was quarantined for three weeks in Japan, officials said Friday.
	First virus-free guests abandon blocked Spanish island hotel Some guests started to leave a locked-down hotel on Spain's Tenerife island on Friday after undergoing screening for a new virus that is infecting hundreds worldwide.
	Italy tries a return to some normalcy after virus closures Authorities in Italy have decided to re-open schools and museums in some of the areas less hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak in which the country has the most cases outside of Asia, as Italians yearn to go back to normal.
	Virus outbreak in Iran sickens hundreds, including leaders After facing sanctions and the risk of war amid tensions with the United States, Iran's Shiite theocracy now has an enemy in the new coronavirus that infiltrated its leadership in plain view of state-controlled media and despite repeated denials of any looming threat.
	Video: Some basic tips on staying safe from the coronavirus Nigeria has confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus disease after an Italian business traveler arrived in Lagos on the 27th of February.
British passenger of virus-hit Japan ship dies A British man who was on board a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo has died, Japan's health ministry said Friday.
	Iran reports 8 new coronavirus deaths, raising toll to 34 Iran on Friday reported eight new deaths from coronavirus, raising its toll to 34, as the number of infections jumped again in the Islamic republic, one of the worst-hit countries.
	Despite virus rout on markets, hygiene firms clean up This week's virus-related markets slump has hammered companies worldwide but some winners have emerged as an anxious public clamours for face masks, hand sanitizers and cleaning products.
	EU health ministers to hold coronavirus meeting next Friday EU health ministers will meet next Friday "to discuss measures related to the COVID19 outbreak," a European Commission spokesman announced on Twitter.
	Iceland confirms first case of new coronavirus Iceland on Friday confirmed the new coronavirus had reached the subarctic island after a man in his forties, who had recently returned from a trip to northern Italy, tested positive for COVID-19.
Divided Cyprus limits crossings over coronavirus Cyprus on Friday announced the temporary closure of half of the crossing points across the divided island's ceasefire line in an effort to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.
Brazil orders French couple hospitalized over virus A French couple traveling in Brazil and suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus have been hospitalized against their will after a court ruled Friday that authorities had the right to hold them.
	Italy moves to curb virus impact as more countries get cases Italian health authorities asked residents in northern Italy to ride out shuttered schools, closed factories and other public health measures for a little longer Friday as the country's count of coronavirus cases rose to 888, the most by far of any nation outside Asia.
	Coronavirus kills 210 in Iran: BBC Persian report At least 210 people have died in Iran from the new coronavirus, BBC Persian reported Friday citing unnamed sources in the Islamic republic's health system, promoting an angry denial from a health ministry spokesman.

Biology news

	How do zebrafish get their stripes? New data analysis tool could provide an answer The iconic stripes of zebrafish are a classic example of natural self-organization. As zebrafish embryos develop, three types of pigment cells move around the skin, eventually jostling into positions that form body-length yellow and blue stripes.
	New platform for engineering ribosomes to 'cook new cuisines' Synthetic biology researchers at Northwestern University have developed a system that can rapidly create cell-free ribosomes in a test tube, then select the ribosome that can perform a certain function.
	Not falling far from tree: Ecologists study seed-to-seedling transitions Why are there so many species of plants? Why do some plants thrive, while others don't?
	Ecologically diverse clades dominate the oceans via extinction resistance A paper on animal biodiversity pattern by a team of researchers led by the Biology Department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilos is featured in the February 28, 2020 issue of the journal Science.
	Stable conditions during cell division Errors during cell division can trigger the development of cancer. No wonder that this central process is controlled by multiple regulators and guards. Alex Bird's research group at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology has discovered a hitherto unknown key player and how it provides the necessary stability to the distribution process of the genetic information by repurposing a long-studied factor in cellular trafficking.
	This beetle got a boost when it partnered up with antifungal bacteria Life is tough if you're a beetle.
	Male-killing bugs hold key to butterflies' curious color changes It is a spectacular butterfly breed with an intriguing back story—now scientists have revealed how male-killing bacteria are helping to create a dazzling hybrid of the African monarch.
	New study reveals what fish are up to under the ice Ever wondered how fish spend the winter? Using new technology, researchers from U of T Mississauga have taken a peek beneath the winter ice to reveal surprising new information about aquatic environments in winter.
	DNA discovery can lead to new types of cancer drugs Cells can both survive and multiply under more stress than previously thought, shows research from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.
	GPS for chromosomes: Reorganization of the genome during development The spatial arrangement of genetic material within the cell nucleus plays an important role in the development of an organism. A research team from the University of Basel, in collaboration with scientists from Harvard University, has developed a method to trace the chromosomes in individual cells. Using this method, they have now been able to demonstrate that chromosomes reorganize during embryonic development. The study has recently been published in Molecular Cell.
	Taking a bite out of food waste: Scientists repurpose waste bread to feed microbes As much as a third of food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost globally every year. New research published in Frontiers in Microbiology suggests one way to take a big bite out of food waste is to use bread destined for the dumpster as a medium for cultivating microbial starters for the food industry.
	Looking through MudPIT for protein interactions The instructions of life encoded in our genes are decoded through the translation into mRNA, which then instructs the synthesis of proteins. Because mRNA translation is an essential process, it is carefully coordinated through "translational control." However, defects in translational control and protein synthesis lead to many pathologies, which makes mRNA translation an important therapeutic target for many human diseases.
	Deep-sea coral gardens discovered in canyons off Australia's South West Stunning 'gardens' of deep-sea corals have been discovered in the Bremer Canyon Marine Park by Australian and international scientists during an oceanographic expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor.
	Australia's catastrophic fish die-off: What has happened since 2019 As this summer draws to a close, it marks just over a year since successive fish death events at Menindee in Lower Darling River made global headlines.
	Bandicoot digs: The little marsupial burrows that keep Australia's soil healthy On Churchill Island, southeast of Melbourne, small cone-shaped, shallow holes (digs) puncture the grass. They're widespread, and reveal moist soil below the surface. A soil heap at the entrance of a dig is a sign it was made recently.
	Climate change threatens relationship between polar bears and ringed seals The iconic relationship between polar bears and ringed seals is changing in western Hudson Bay, and even though the bears are eating fewer ringed seals, the seals should refrain from celebrating.
	Advancing gene therapies: PIP pip hurray! A new compound has the potential to bind to DNA and activate genes, which could lead to new treatments for cancers and hereditary diseases. Zutao Yu, Ganesh Pandian Namasivayam, and Hiroshi Sugiyama of Kyoto University's Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) collaborated with colleagues in Japan and the USA to design and test a compound that could target specific DNA sequences and recruit gene-modifying molecules. Their findings were published in the journal ChemComm.
	Accidental discovery: Some cat food manufacturers regularly change ingredient composition A study that set out to measure how much wildlife domestic cats eat to supplement the food they are given by their owners was unsuccessful due to an unexpectedly high variability in cat food ingredients. This accidental discovery suggests that some cat food manufacturers regularly change ingredient composition, even within the same flavors of cat food.
	The enemy within: How a killer hijacked one of nature's oldest relationships Researchers have discovered how a notorious pathogen may have hijacked one of nature's most enduring mutual relationships.
	Genetic signature boosts protein production during cell division A research team has uncovered a genetic signature that enables cells to adapt their protein production according to their state. The researchers of the University of Basel's Biozentrum report in Genome Biology that this newly discovered mechanism plays a role in the regulation of protein production during cell division.
	Actin filaments control the shape of the cell structure that divides plant cells Using microscopic video analysis, a research group from Kumamoto University, Japan has provided deeper insight into the mechanics of plant cell division. The video reveals that the shape of phragmoplasts—cell structures that create the partition between two dividing plant cells—is controlled by actin filaments.
	From fermented foods and beverages to cosmetics: Discovering the world of yeasts Milk yeast may have originated from an accidental encounter between a fruit fly and milk thousands of years ago, eventually leading to the creation of dairy products like yogurt, a new study suggests.
	Red pandas may be two different species - this raises some tough questions for conservation Red pandas are not bears but they do mainly eat bamboo, like their much larger namesake the black and white giant panda. Officially classified as endangered, red pandas live across a stretch of the Himalayas and are in fact part of the same family as weasels and raccoons. Now, advances in fancy gene sequencing have allowed scientists to analyse their full genetic make up for the first time—with big implications for conservation.
	SUWA: A hyperstable artificial protein that does not denature in high temperatures above 100C Proteins denature, or "cook" in heat, irreversibly changing their structure, like how an egg boils or a slab of sirloin turns to steak. This prevents proteins from being used in applications where they would need to withstand heat. Scientists have had high expectations for proteins to be used in nanotechnology and synthetic biology. A new hyperstable artificial protein constructed at Shinshu University in collaboration with Princeton University hopes to make some of those aspirations possible with the successful development of SUWA (Super WA20), a nanobuilding block in the shape of a pillar, so-called in honor of the Onbashira Matsuri, also known as "the pillar" festival where men climb on and slide down a mountain side on large timber logs, a holy tradition dating back 1,200 years. The lumber is then used to build one of the main shrines of Japan, the Suwa Taisha. The hope is that these SUWA nano-pillars will go on to build things just as central to society.

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