Science X Newsletter Wednesday, May 18

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 18, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Researchers design six-state magnetic memory

Study shows people have an upper limit on the number of friends they can add to their social network

At sea, scientists drill into crater for dino clues

Superjet technology nears reality after Australia test

Smart-home speaker, VR system, chat service from Google

Hand strap makes use of taps to get the message out

Team develops bio-mimicry method for preparing and labeling stem cells

A beautiful instance of stellar ornamentation

High-efficiency power amplifier could bring 5G cell phones

Photonics advances allow Earth to be seen across the universe

Chance finding could transform plant production

New world record in 5G wireless spectrum efficiency

Robots get creative to cut through clutter

Host birds only tolerate parasitic cuckoo eggs in their nests when they fear retaliation

How depression and antidepressant drugs work

Astronomy & Space news

	A beautiful instance of stellar ornamentation In this image from ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), light from blazing blue stars energises the gas left over from the stars' recent formation. The result is a strikingly colourful emission nebula, called LHA 120-N55, in which the stars are adorned with a mantle of glowing gas. Astronomers study these beautiful displays to learn about the conditions in places where new stars develop.
	Photonics advances allow Earth to be seen across the universe Looking up at the night sky—expansive and seemingly endless, stars and constellations blinking and glimmering like jewels just out of reach—it's impossible not to wonder: Are we alone?
	Cometary belt around distant multi-planet system hints at hidden or wandering planets Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio observatory in Chile have made the first high-resolution image of the belt of comets (a region analogous to the Kuiper belt in our own Solar System, where Pluto and may smaller objects are found) around HR 8799, the only star where multiple planets have been imaged directly. The shape of this dusty disk, particularly its inner edge, is surprisingly inconsistent with the orbits of the planets, suggesting that either they changed position over time or there is at least one more planet in the system yet to be discovered. The astronomers report their results in a paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	Stellar cannibalism transforms star into brown dwarf Astronomers have detected a sub-stellar object that used to be a star, after being consumed by its white dwarf companion.
	Supernova reserve fuel tank clue to big parents Some supernovae have a reserve tank of radioactive fuel that cuts in and powers their explosions for three times longer than astronomers had previously thought.
	Jupiter blasted by 6.5 fireball impacts per year on average Jupiter is hit by an average of 6.5 objects per year that create impacts large enough to be visible from Earth, according to preliminary results from a worldwide campaign by amateur astronomers to observe the giant planet. The estimate was presented at an international workshop on Jupiter for professional and amateur astronomers organized by Europlanet 2020 Research Infrastructure at the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.
	Stellar mystery deepens Using recent advancements in Australian telescope technology, a Monash University-led research team has made an unexpected discovery that a large group of stars are dying prematurely, challenging our accepted view of stellar evolution.
	Space shuttle external tank to be displayed in Los Angeles (Update) NASA has shipped its last space shuttle external propellant tank to California to join the retired orbiter Endeavour on display in Los Angeles. The plan is to mount the winged spaceship vertically on the massive tank as if ready for launch, complete with a real pair of solid rocket boosters.
	NASA small satellite duo deploys from space station into Earth orbit After a five-month stay aboard the International Space Station, NASA's two Nodes satellites were deployed on May 16 from the NanoRacks platform and into low-Earth orbit to begin their much anticipated technology demonstration. These tiny satellites have dimensions of only four by four by six inches. The ground controllers for the Nodes mission received confirmation that both satellites are transmitting and are in good health when they passed over the tracking station for the first time, soon after deployment. The first transmission of science data is expected by May 18.
	Mars is within reach, says German tapped for space command (Update) Humans could set foot on Mars within decades if they wanted to, according to the German astronaut who has been tapped to become his country's first commander of the International Space Station.
	NASA super pressure balloon begins globetrotting journey NASA successfully launched a super pressure balloon (SPB) from Wanaka Airport, New Zealand, at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2016 (7:35 p.m. EDT Monday, May 16, 2016) on a potentially record-breaking, around-the-world test flight.
Video: Spacewalk to catwalk ESA and the Science Museum in London are working with five leading fashion schools around Europe to design clothes for the space age with their 'Couture in Orbit' project.
	EU researchers set to create world's first semi-commercial space mission An EU-funded project is aiming to raise private sector funds for a new space telescope to study exoplanets, potentially becoming the world's first semi-commercial space mission.

Technology news

	Superjet technology nears reality after Australia test A two-hour flight from Sydney to London is a step closer to reality after the latest successful test Wednesday of hypersonic technology in the Australian desert.
	Smart-home speaker, VR system, chat service from Google Google is showing off a new smart-home speaker, a virtual-reality system called Daydream and a chat service called Allo.
	Hand strap makes use of taps to get the message out (Tech Xplore)—We need to send information including words and numbers across the wires but researchers are thinking about alternatives as to how we do so, and are pondering the future of the keyboard and mouse.
	High-efficiency power amplifier could bring 5G cell phones A new highly efficient power amplifier for electronics could help make possible next-generation cell phones, low-cost collision-avoidance radar for cars and lightweight microsatellites for communications.
	New world record in 5G wireless spectrum efficiency A team of 5G engineers from the Universities of Bristol and Lund has once again set a new world record for wireless spectrum efficiency, less than two months after setting the first one.
	Robots get creative to cut through clutter Clutter is a special challenge for robots, but new Carnegie Mellon University software is helping robots cope, whether they're beating a path across the Moon or grabbing a milk jug from the back of the refrigerator.
	Google virtual home assistant to challenge Amazon Echo (Update) Google on Wednesday unveiled a virtual home assistant device that will challenge Amazon Echo as the Internet giant laid out a future rich with artificial intelligence.
	Google payment service Android Pay expands to UK Google's mobile payment service, Android Pay, arrived in the U.K. on Wednesday, marking its first expansion outside the U.S.
	Apple chief Cook unveils app design centre in India Apple chief executive Tim Cook announced Wednesday a new app design centre in India as he kicked off his first visit to the Asian giant seeking to tap into its roll-out of 4G networks.
The complexity and security of a widely-used cryptography scheme are lower than previously thought The equations used to construct a digital security scheme based on the 'hidden field equation' (HFE) theory can be solved much more easily than originally believed, an A*STAR-led mathematical and computational study has shown.
	The future of chatbots is more than just small-talk Human communication goes beyond words. It is complex, rich in nuances and frequently includes non-verbal signs. Yet despite our technological limitations it is not impossible for some aspects of communication to be emulated by a machine with surprising effect.
	Virtual reality sex is coming soon to a headset near you The 1992 film Lawnmower Man generated a lot of buzz at the time of its release.
	How would IBM's quiz-show computer, Watson, do as a competitor in the National Science Bowl? "This is one of the smartest audiences to whom I have ever presented," said Eric Brown, after a question-and-answer session with the hundreds of students gathered for the plenary lecture at the 2016 U. S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl Science Day.
	Nokia says will re-enter mobile, tablet markets Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia said Wednesday it plans a global comeback into its former goldmine of handsets and tablets, by licensing its brand to a newly-created Finnish company.
	Uber launches carpooling service in traffic-choked Jakarta Uber launched Wednesday a carpooling service in Jakarta allowing commuters to share journeys, as competition between ride-hailing apps intensifies in the traffic-choked Indonesian capital.
	The Latest: Google seen ahead in some areas, no so in others The Latest from Google's software conference (all times local):
	Say goodbye to Time Warner Cable: sale leads to name change Time Warner Cable is going away, and that means you might have a new cable company to hate. But you might find one you like better instead.
	Google echoes Amazon's Echo, opens new virtual-reality door (Update) Google wants to play an even bigger role in managing people's daily lives, while also nudging them into an alternate reality, as the Internet company responds to competitive threats posed by Facebook, Amazon and Apple.
	New study tallies environmental and public health benefits of solar power Solar power could deliver $400 billion in environmental and public health benefits throughout the United States by 2050, according to a study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Pondering the store's future in an age of web buying What's the future of the physical store?
LinkedIn confirms 2012 hack exposed 117M user passwords LinkedIn said Wednesday that a 2012 breach resulted in more than 100 million of its users' passwords being compromised—vastly more than previously thought.
	Tesla raising cash to fund accelerated production Luxury electric carmaker Tesla Motors announced Wednesday it planned to raise $1.4 billion in new capital to help fund stepped-up production of its new Model 3 car.
	Hoping for a blockbuster, studios plan movie on Tetris game It lacks the building blocks of characters and a plot for now, but a Chinese-American studio hopes to turn the Tetris video game into a blockbuster movie.
China's Midea makes $5.2B offer for German robot maker Kuka (Update) Chinese appliance maker Midea made a $5.2 billion takeover offer Wednesday for German industrial robot maker Kuka, a move that it says would help it capture a larger share of the "future service robots market."
	Innovative rail system 'has real potential' Flinders University is keen to work towards a world-first autonomous rail transport system that has the potential to make its Bedford Park campus more accessible then ever before.
	Variable speed Pumped Storage Hydro Plants offer a new era of smarter energy management The EU-funded ESTORAGE project has presented a range of options for increasing energy storage capacity across Europe, whilst also building flexibility into grids to better integrate renewables.
	WeChat operator Tencent reports surge in Q1 profit Chinese Internet giant Tencent on Wednesday reported a 33 percent surge in net profit for the first quarter, as its popular messaging app WeChat added more users.
	Facebook's Zuckerberg holds meeting on bias claim Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg meets Wednesday with leading US conservatives to try to head off a storm over allegations that the social network suppressed right-leaning political viewpoints.
First industrial internet solution for a printed electronics plant VTT's printed electronics pilot plant in Finland has moved into a new era - an industrial internet-based solution, the first for the printed electronics production in the world, has been installed for the control of the plant.. Environmental conditions affecting sensitive roll-to-roll production can be monitored, and temperature, humidity and pressure measurements can be performed. The measurement results are collected wirelessly to a cloud service, enabling the analysis and presentation of data on mobile devices. This enables the faster and lower-risk introduction of new products and services onto the market.
	Innovations are needed if Big Data is to boost jobs, says new research Phenomenal quantities of valuable data are now being collected and created by UK businesses but much of its commercial potential remains untapped.
	US intelligence: Foreign hackers spying on campaigns (Update) The United States sees evidence of hackers, possibly working for foreign governments, snooping on the presidential candidates, the nation's intelligence chief said Wednesday. Government officials are assisting the campaigns to tighten security as the race for the White House intensifies.

Medicine & Health news

	How depression and antidepressant drugs work New research demonstrates the effectiveness of ketamine to treat depression in a mouse model of the disease and brings together two hypotheses for the cause of depression. The research, led by Bernhard Lüscher, professor of biology and of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State University, is in press and will be published in the September 15, 2016, print edition of the journal Biological Psychiatry.
	Rhythm of 'detox' and feeding genes in fruitflies and mice coordinated by neuropeptide A 24-hour rhythm of cellular detoxification in flies and mammals is coordinated by a neuropeptide that also drives feeding in both organisms, found a team led by Amita Sehgal, PhD, a professor of Neuroscience and director of the Chronobiology Program, in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Their findings were published this month in eLife. Sehgal is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator.
	Cancer cell growth linked to nervous system in study Cancer cells divide with more frequency and are more resilient when they are closer to the brain, indicating a potential link between cell growth and the nervous system, according to new research from Professor Néstor J. Oviedo of the University of California, Merced.
	How your brain learns to ride the subway—and why AI developers care In machine learning, a programmer might develop an AI that can calculate all possible consequences of a single action. Humans, however, don't have the same raw computational power; we have to efficiently create and execute a plan. We mentally invent different "layers" to organize our actions and then think about the higher levels rather than individual steps, according to a Neuron study from members of Google DeepMind and the University of Oxford publishing May 18.
	New generation mTOR inhibitors aim to combat drug-resistant tumors Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists have designed a potential cancer therapy that uses a unique strategy to block mTOR, a molecule that helps drive the growth of many tumors. In animal experiments, the drug reduces the size of tumors that are resistant to earlier-generation mTOR inhibitors.
	How antibodies access neurons to fight infection Yale scientists have solved a puzzle of the immune system—how antibodies enter the nervous system to control viral infections. Their finding may have implications for the prevention and treatment of a range of conditions, including herpes and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which has been linked to the Zika virus.
	New drug combination shows promise for resistant leukaemia Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) can look forward to the development of new therapies following the discovery by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers of a new way to kill cells that are dangerously multiplying.
Infants exposed to SSRI antidepressants are more likely to have decreased birth weight A new study, published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, has found that prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has a significant association with lower birth weight and gestational length. This was found to be in cases where mothers had taken the drug for two or more trimesters.
Differences in individuals' immune responses linked to flu vaccine effectiveness For the first time, scientists have identified how differences in individuals' immune responses might be linked to the effectiveness of the seasonal influenza vaccination programme. The findings are published in the journal, Immunology.
First national study of US parks finds low use by adults, seniors and females Neighborhood parks across the United States are geared primarily toward younger people, limiting their use by adults and seniors, but surprisingly attract fewer female youth as well, according to a new RAND Corporation study that offers the first national examination of parks, what they offer, who uses them and how they are used.
Researchers develop novel, non-toxic approach to treating variety of cancers A team of researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine recently discovered a novel, non-toxic approach to treating a wide variety of cancers. The treatment approach is based on a combination therapy of the sugar 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and fenofibrate, a well-studied cholesterol medication. The study was published in the journal Oncotarget.
Leading sexual health specialist calls for HIV prevention PrEP to be 'available now' Following the decision by NHS England to not make pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) available to HIV-negative persons in England at risk of acquiring HIV, Dr Michael Brady, Medical Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, in an editorial published today in the SAGE journal Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease responds and outlines how:
	Sleep disorders underreported, commonly untreated among cerebral palsy patients When people think of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), images of middle aged adults likely come to mind. However, a recent study by Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare sheds light on another population of people who are affected by the disorder: children who have cerebral palsy (CP).
	Hard water linked to risk of eczema in infants High levels of water hardness in the home may be linked to the development of eczema early in life, according to a new study led by King's College London.
	Granddaughter of Parkinson's patient invents 'smart' walking stick to help thousands of sufferers A student entrepreneur whose grandfather was debilitated by Parkinson's disease has created a mobility aid to improve the lives of other patients with the condition.
	Sexual transmission involved in tail-end of Ebola epidemic Some of the final cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone were transmitted via unconventional routes, such as semen and breastmilk, according to the largest analysis to date of the tail-end of the epidemic.
	UN: Risk of Zika outbreak across Europe is "low to moderate" The World Health Organization says the risk of a Zika outbreak across Europe is "low to moderate," in a new risk assessment.
	New research shows that financially incentivising GPs does not extend life for patients By comparing UK mortality data with that of other high-income countries, researchers from The University of Manchester's Health eResearch Centre have shown that a £10 billion incentive programme has no direct impact on reducing mortality.
	How to win friends and influence people? Be kind Rarely in U.S. history has a presidential campaign given ambition a worse rap. But in his timely new book, The Power Paradox, UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner posits that our influence is based not on veiled or naked power grabs, but on virtues such as empathy, generosity and cooperation.
	Study explains link between heavy alcohol use and suicides during economic downturns While economic downturns have been linked previously to increased suicide risk in the United States, new research from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs sheds light on the role alcohol use may play in the complex relationship between economic conditions and suicide.
	Hand washing stops infections, so why do health care workers skip it? Hospital infections affect almost two million people in the United States every year, 100,000 of whom die. Up to 70 percent of these infections could be prevented if health care workers follow recommended protocols, which include hand hygiene.
Life-extending benefits of liver cancer drug Sorafenib not realistic for many patients For advanced liver cancer, there's a single approved drug shown to offer patients a chance at longer life. But a new study from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center shows that this drug was notably less effective in patients who likely had more extensive cancer and serious liver disease than did patients included in previous clinical trials.
	Students design low-cost otoscope to help diagnose hearing loss in developing countries According to the World Health Organization 360 million people in the world suffer from hearing loss. A large portion of those affected live in developing countries, particularly South Asia, Asia Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa. Experts say at least half of all hearing loss cases are avoidable through primary prevention. In developing countries, however, primary prevention is hard to come by.
	Fecal microbial transplants reduce antibiotic-resistant genes in patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection Clostridium difficile is a very common type of infection to which all of us are potentially exposed. However, some people find it harder to heal and traditional antibiotic treatments do not seem to have good results for everybody. A new study published in journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, led by Karen Madsen and Dina Kao from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry's Division of Gastroenterology, sheds some light on the benefits of fecal microbial transplants as a prospective way to overcome this recurrent health problem.
	First elbow transplant performed between same patient's arms UCSF Health doctors have performed a first-of-its-kind elbow transplant between the same patient's arms. Experts say the April 2016 surgery could transform treatment for trauma patients, injured veterans and others with elbow and joint conditions.
	Enhanced hippocampal-cortical coupling improves memory For the first time, scientists in the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CNRS/INSERM/Collège de France) have produced direct evidence that the long-term storage of memories involves a dialogue between two brain structures, the hippocampus and cortex, during sleep; by enhancing this dialogue, they succeeded in triggering the consolidation of memories that would otherwise have been forgotten. This work is published in Nature Neuroscience on 16 May 2016.
	What is love? Here's the science We've all felt it at some time in our lives. Poets write about it, singers sing about it – and a whole industry has grown up around finding it, expressing it and maintaining it. But what is love? Where does it reside? What triggers it? And what's really going on in our minds and bodies when we fall "head over heels"?
	Portable ultrasound brings help for heart failure patients Detecting fluid retention in patients early is important to prevent their heart failure from getting worse. Nurses who are trained in the use of hand-held pocket ultrasound devices can dispense diuretic drugs more precisely. These medications prevent harmful fluid retention in patients with heart failure.
	Racial and ethnic differences found in psychiatric diagnoses and treatment, according to researchers Non-Hispanic blacks are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, but they're significantly less likely to receive medication for treatment, according to researchers.
Newly diagnosed diabetes increases risk of heart attack, stroke even among statin users Postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed diabetes have a significantly increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease whether or not they take statin drugs, according to the results of a new study led by researchers at UMass Medical School and published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
New findings on the role of the mother in type 2 diabetes Research from Lund University in Sweden can explain why type 2 diabetes is inherited to a greater extent from an individual's mother. The heredity of a previously known risk gene, THADA, has proven to be dominant if it comes from the mother, whereas it has little or no effect on the child's risk of disease if it originates from the father. "Our research contributes to increased knowledge about the role of the mother and father in the heredity of type 2 diabetes," says Rashmi Prasad.
Experts urge more research to discover how many babies die from antibiotic resistance No one knows how many newborns are dying each year due to antibiotic resistant infections, because of a lack of funding to research the issue fully, Professor Mike Sharland from St George's, University London said.
	Cisplatin may cause more permanent hearing loss in people with Cockayne syndrome The chemotherapy drug cisplatin can kill cancer, but it can also cause permanent hearing loss.
WHO urges European vigilance against Zika virus (Update) The World Health Organization on Wednesday urged Europe to be vigilant ahead of a possible summer outbreak of the Zika virus, especially in the Black Sea coastal areas of Georgia and Russia.
	Simple screening test can predict heart failure severity Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have shown that a simple screening method could quickly and easily diagnose the severity of heart disease. The method was originally developed to diagnose sarcopenia, a disease that causes a loss of muscle mass and strength. People naturally have varying degrees of muscle mass and strength loss as they age, but a large loss can be especially bad for patients of cancer or heart disease. Traditionally, sarcopenia was diagnosed via CT or MRI, however, a simple screening test for the disease was recently developed.
	Less decline than expected in brain, spine defects after folic acid fortification program Fortifying the U.S. food supply with folic acid was not associated with a decline in certain birth defects that researchers expected to see in California, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	ADHD may emerge after childhood for some people, according to new study While it is well established that childhood ADHD may continue into adulthood, new research by King's College London suggests that for some people the disorder does not emerge until after childhood.
Digital health intervention does not lower heart attack risk In a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Sonia S. Anand, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.C., of McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues examined whether a digital health intervention using email and text messages designed to change diet and physical activity would improve heart attack risk among a South Asian population.
Compared with men, women with AFib have more symptoms, worse quality of life, although higher survival In a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Jonathan P. Piccini, M.D., M.H.S., of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., and colleagues examined whether symptoms, quality of life, treatment, and outcomes differ between women and men with atrial fibrillation.
	HIV: Identification of receptors in patients spontaneously controlling infection A small number of patients infected by HIV spontaneously control viral replication without antiretroviral therapy, and do not develop the disease. The ability of these rare patients, known as "HIV controllers", to suppress HIV replication appears to be down to a highly effective immune response. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and Inserm observed that CD4+ T immune cells in these patients, recruited from the ANRS CO21 CODEX cohort, were capable of recognizing tiny quantities of the virus. This highly sensitive detection is dependent on the expression of specific T cell receptors on the surface of immune cells, which target the HIV capsid protein with high affinity. The preferential expression of these receptors appears to keep the immune system on a constant state of alert, thereby enabling the patients to control HIV. These findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
	Kids who text and watch TV simultaneously likely to underperform at school The more time teenagers spend splitting their attention between various devices such as their phones, video games or TV, the lower their test scores in math and English tend to be. More time spent multitasking between different types of media is also associated with greater impulsivity and a poorer working memory in adolescents, says Amy S. Finn of the University of Toronto. Finn was one of the leaders of a study on the topic published in Springer's journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.
High blood pressure linked to vascular dementia High blood pressure could significantly raise the risk of developing the second most common form of dementia, according to a new study from The George Institute for Global Health.
New study evaluates nicotine's relationship to body weight and food intake A study published today in Nicotine & Tobacco Research demonstrates in a carefully controlled series of studies that the self-administration of nicotine by rats suppresses body weight gain independent of food intake.
Throwing fastballs may be linked to Tommy John surgery in MLB pitchers Contrary to conventional wisdom, Major League Baseball pitchers who throw a high percentage of fastballs may be at increased risk for Tommy John surgery, according to research at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Conventional radiation therapy may not protect healthy brain cells A new study shows that repeated radiation therapy used to target tumors in the brain may not be as safe to healthy brain cells as previously assumed. The findings, which appear in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, show that the treatment also kills important support cells in the brain and may cause as much, if not more damage, than single dose radiation therapy.
Pain study links children's fear of needles to parent behaviour More than half of children are scared of needles; York University researchers have found a strong connection between this fear in anticipation of a jab and their parents' behaviour during infant vaccinations.
Novel lab test may advance diagnosis of rare but dangerous pregnancy condition A laboratory blood test developed at Johns Hopkins for the diagnosis of a rare genetic red blood cell disorder also shows promise in identifying HELLP syndrome, a life-threatening high blood pressure condition affecting 1 percent of all pregnant women that causes hypertension along with end organ damage, researchers report in the May issue of the journal Experimental Hematology.
	How to calm an anxious mind Anxiety disorders and related problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are among the most common mental health conditions. At least one in four Canadians will have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.
	Colours of autism spectrum described by researchers Children with autism have a wide range of ability to talk with other people, but it has been difficult to group children by their specific skills.
	Could hepatitis C treatments help prevent virus transmission? An international team of researchers has shed light on the potential impact of new drugs for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
	Team develops new antibiotic formulation to fight MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria A University of Oklahoma team of chemists has developed a new antibiotic formulation to fight the sometimes deadly staph infection caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus or MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant infectious bacteria. The new drug to treat MRSA combines traditional Food and Drug Administration-approved antibiotics, such as methicillin, with the polymer BPEI.
	Hydroxyurea improves lung function in children with sickle cell disease For the first time, researchers were able to demonstrate that children diagnosed with sickle cell disease showed improvement in lung function after treatment with hydroxyurea, a treatment that is underused despite its demonstrated benefits. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	Antimicrobial in common toothpaste doesn't impact gut, oral microbiome Personal hygiene products such as soaps and toothpastes that contain the antibiotic triclosan do not have a major influence on microbial communities or endocrine function, according to a small, randomized trial. The study findings were published online this week in mSphere, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Pursuing the destruction of HIV-infected cells An oral drug used to treat an illness unrelated to HIV eradicated infectious HIV-producing cells in lab cultures while sparing uninfected cells - and suppressed the virus in patients during treatment and for at least eight weeks after the drug was stopped, according to results of a clinical pilot trial and researchers at Rutgers University and Dartmouth College.
	Two-pronged attack on chemotherapy-resistant leukemia cells Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood cancer in Switzerland. Despite intensive chemotherapy, one fifth of the patients suffer a relapse, which usually goes hand in hand with a poor prognosis. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the Children's Hospital Zurich have now found a way to kill off resistant leukemia cells: via necroptosis.
	Common antimicrobial agent triclosan rapidly disrupts gut bacteria A new study suggests that triclosan, an antimicrobial and antifungal agent found in many consumer products ranging from hand soaps to toys and even toothpaste, can rapidly disrupt bacterial communities found in the gut.
	Research suggests new contributor to heart disease Medical professionals have long known that the buildup of plaque in arteries can cause them to narrow and harden, potentially leading to a whole host of health problems—including heart attack, heart disease and stroke. While high blood pressure and artery stiffness are often associated with plaque buildup, new research from engineers at Washington University in St. Louis shows they are not the direct causes.
Database launched to gather, study DNA from Midwestern twins Researchers who study how genes and the environment influence people's health are hoping that twins who live in the Midwest will contribute DNA to a new database that might provide insight about traits and diseases specific to the region.
	FDA OKs immunotherapy drugs for bladder, blood cancers (Update) U.S. regulators have approved the first drug for bladder cancer that harnesses the body's immune system, the first major advance in three decades against the most common type of bladder cancer.
	New penis recipient looks forward to being a 'complete' man The recipient of the nation's first penis transplant says he is looking forward to walking out of the hospital a "complete" man.
	Experts rank America's 'fittest cities'—is yours one of them? (HealthDay)—Washington, D.C., is the fittest city in the United States for the third straight year, a new report shows.
	Why pleasant mealtimes could be key to Alzheimer's care (HealthDay)—Making meals more enjoyable for people with dementia might reduce their risk of malnutrition and dehydration, researchers report.
	Age-adjusted D-dimer testing improves ability to rule out PE (HealthDay)—Compared with fixed D-dimer testing, age-adjusted D-dimer testing is associated with an increase in the proportion of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in whom imaging can be withheld, according to a review published online May 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	ATS: Reintubation more likely for nighttime extubations (HealthDay)—Patients extubated at nighttime are more likely to be reintubated and have higher mortality than those extubated during the day, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society, held from May 13 to 18 in San Francisco.
	Skeletal muscle TRIB3 mediates diet-induced insulin resistance (HealthDay)—Skeletal muscle TRIB3 mediates glucose-induced insulin resistance (GIIR) in a mouse model of diabetes, according to a study published online May 10 in Diabetes.
	Rehab beneficial in spontaneous coronary artery dissection (HealthDay)—Many patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), and most patients report benefit, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Diabetic ketoacidosis can occur post bariatric surgery in T2DM (HealthDay)—Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can occur after bariatric surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a report published online May 10 in Diabetes Care.
	Early-capture HIV study allows for characterization of acute infection period Acute HIV infection (AHI) contributes significantly to HIV transmission and may be important for intervention strategies seeking to reduce incidence and achieve a functional cure. In a study by the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, scientists enrolled and intensively followed a cohort of high-risk individuals, tracking their HIV status and characterizing the disease through the acute stages of HIV infection.
Biomarker may predict endometrial cancer recurrences Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. Most cases are diagnosed at early stage and have good prognosis. Unfortunately, some patients with early stage and low grade endometrial cancer experience recurrence - and the reasons are not entirely clear. When recurrence happens, the cancer is often resistant to chemotherapy and has a high rate of mortality.
Drug used for pain, anxiety may be linked to birth defects A drug commonly used to treat pain, epilepsy, anxiety and other brain health disorders may be associated with an increased risk of major birth defects, according to a study published in the May 18, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Researchers shed light on pathway from virus to brain disease Why people on immunosuppressant drugs for autoimmune conditions have a higher incidence of an often-fatal brain disease may be linked to a mutation in a common virus, according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine.
Calcium channels team up to activate excitable cells Voltage-gated calcium channels open in unison, rather than independently, to allow calcium ions into and activate excitable cells such as neurons and muscle cells, researchers with UC Davis Health System and the University of Washington have found.
	Immune drug for deadly skin cancer shows long-term survival (Update) A new kind of drug for the deadliest form of skin cancer helped some patients survive for at least three years, a study shows. It's a remarkable advance for patients who until recently faced dismal chances of living for more than a few months.
	House to vote on scaled-back Zika bill despite veto threat Republicans controlling the House are ignoring protests from Democrats and a White House veto threat as they speed legislation funding the battle against the Zika virus to a vote.
	Colombia battles world's biggest drugmaker over cancer drug Colombia's government is giving pharmaceutical giant Novartis a few weeks to lower prices on a popular cancer drug or see its monopoly on production of the medicine broken and competition thrown open to generic rivals.
Feds hire contractor to run ERs at hospitals on reservations The emergency room at the only hospital on a Native American reservation in South Dakota could reopen after federal health officials on Tuesday hired a contractor to provide emergency services at that and two other government-run hospitals.
	First heart operations performed using a novel software platform The UK's first heart operations using a novel software platform to pinpoint the source of the heart condition have been carried out in Leicester thanks to research at the University of Leicester.
Study findings could help prevent female genital mutilation in U.K., researchers say Researchers from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and City University London say the findings of a study on female genital mutilation could help prevent the practise in the UK.
	New partnership to study link between olfaction and neurodegenerative disease Deterioration in a person's ability to smell can sometimes be an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. Now, researchers at the Monell Center have established a collaboration with the Brain Health Registry (BHR) to gain better insight into how changes in a person's sense of smell may relate to their health status and cognitive function. The partnership will lead to greater understanding of the relationship between olfactory decline and brain-related diseases.
	Personal experience adds new dimension to elder care researcher's work For more than thirty-five years Laura Katz Olson has studied the impact of elder care policy on vulnerable populations in the U.S. But, not even her deep knowledge of the subject could prepare her for her appalling encounters with the system when her own aged mother, Dorothy Katz, became incapacitated by Parkinson's disease and a gradual loss of vision requiring full-time care.
	Syphilis infections on the rise in Europe New data released in ECDC's Annual Epidemiological report show that since 2010, the overall syphilis rates have been going up across Europe, particularly among men. In 2014, the reported syphilis numbers were six times higher in men than in women. Almost two-thirds (63%) of the syphilis cases reported with information on transmission category were recorded in men who have sex with men (MSM).
Queen's researcher leads study on using selenium to aid recovery from cardiac surgery Queen's University researcher Daren Heyland is leading a study that aims to reduce the risk of complications and improves recovery of cardiac surgery patients. The "SodiUm SeleniTe Administration IN Cardiac Surgery" (SUSTAIN) study will test the effect of high-dose selenium on patient recovery, as well as on the occurrence of post-surgical complications such as infections or other quality of life concerns.
	Altered brain connectivity may explain cognitive impairment in pediatric leukemia survivors The neurotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on the developing brains of young patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may impair their cognitive functioning by disrupting the formation of neural networks that connect brain regions and transfer information. A study showing reduced connectome organization in the brains of ALL survivors is published in Brain Connectivity, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Brain Connectivity website until June 18, 2016.
Transsexual people are frequently victims of aggression and discrimination The process of gender reassignment in transsexual individuals is complex. A new study analyses the characteristics of this collective as well as the psychological adjustment they must undergo during the process. Of the sample studied, 81.75% suffered from some type of physical aggression during their lifetime, 31.16% perceived discrimination in the workplace and 22.84% attempted suicide at least once.
	Middle East Respiratory Syndrome associated with higher mortality, more severe illness Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) develop more severe critical illness and have higher mortality than patients with non-MERS severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), according to investigators involved with the largest study of critically ill patients with MERS. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
UK govt, junior doctors reach deal after days of strikes Britain's government and the trade union representing junior doctors have sealed an agreement on resolving a contract dispute that has prompted 10 days of strikes this year, mediators ACAS said Wednesday.
	Novel gene therapy shows potential for lung repair in asthma A new study has demonstrated a way to deliver a nanoparticle-based gene therapy, in order to repair lungs damaged by chronic allergic asthma and to reduce inflammation that causes asthma attacks. The potential therapy, tested in mice, may hold promise for asthma patients whose disease is not controlled by the most commonly used treatments. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	Early introduction of allergenic foods reduces risk of food sensitization Children who had a diet that included cow's milk products, egg and peanut before age one were less likely to develop sensitization to the corresponding foods, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference. Early introduction of eggs appeared to be especially beneficial, as it decreased the risk of sensitization to any of the three tested foods.
Large HIV vaccine study planned in South Africa this fall Scientists are planning a major study of an experimental HIV vaccine in South Africa later this year.
Educational debt for emergency medicine bigger than average mortgage The average educational debt carried by emergency medicine residents is approximately 25 percent higher than the average mortgage in the United States, according to the results of a study published online last Thursday in Annals of Emergency Medicine, and has profound effects on their career and life choices.
Formerly conjoined twins released from Texas hospital Twin girls who were formerly conjoined below the waist have been released from a South Texas hospital.
	Candidate for UN health chief eyes global tax to help WHO A French diplomat competing to be the world's top health official says a tiny international tax can help fill the World Health Organization's coffers, a proposal aimed at bringing order to the U.N. agency's fragmented budget.
	Heart failure patients with predominant central sleep apnea at higher risk for serious complications Chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with predominant central sleep apnea (CSA) are at higher risk for death and unplanned hospitalization than those who have both CSA and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), whether or not they receive adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy. These interim results from the ongoing FACE Multicentre National Cohort Study, a French prospective observational study, were presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	Inhaled steroids may increase risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease Patients with obstructive lung disease who take inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may be at greater risk for nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM PD), according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.

Biology news

	Team develops bio-mimicry method for preparing and labeling stem cells Researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University Professor of Biological Sciences Chien Ho have developed a new method for preparing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that not only leads to the production of more native stem cells, but also labels them with a FDA approved iron-oxide nanoparticle (Ferumoxytol). The technology could allow researchers to track the cells in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during preclinical and clinical trials. The findings are published by Scientific Reports.
	Chance finding could transform plant production An almost entirely accidental discovery by University of Guelph researchers could transform food and biofuel production and increase carbon capture on farmland.
	Host birds only tolerate parasitic cuckoo eggs in their nests when they fear retaliation The brown-headed cowbird is nothing short of a nightmare for its hosts: If they eject the brood parasite's eggs from the nest, it punishes them by destroying their entire clutch. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön and Harvard University have designed a mathematical model for analyzing the interaction between avian brood parasites and their hosts. The model calculations show that birds only accept a brood parasite's eggs in their nests if they are forced to do so by retaliation on the part of the invader.
	Parasitic infection helps sea snails survive acidified seawater Flatworm-infected sea snails survive better in more acidified seawater than non-infected ones, surprising new University of Otago research has found.
	For cells, some shapes are easier to swallow than others Scientists have probed the process that allows cells to swallow up particles, finding that some shapes are easier to swallow than others. Cells take in small particles and other objects such as bacteria in a process called engulfment. Single-celled organisms use engulfment to take in food, while in humans it forms the first line of immune system defence, as white blood cells engulf harmful bacteria and other foreign bodies.
	Scent guides hawk moths to the best-fitting flowers That the morphology of many pollinators corresponds strikingly to the shape of the flowers they pollinate was observed more than 150 years ago by Charles Darwin. He described this perfect mutual adaptation of flowers and pollinators as the result of a co-evolutionary process. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have now provided further proof of the famous naturalist's theory. They were able to show that Manduca sexta moths acquired the highest energy gain when they visited flowers that matched the length of their proboscis. The moths were supported in their choice of the best-fitting nectar sources by an innate preference for the scent of matching flowers.
	Testing proves giant eyes of net-casting spider help with nocturnal foraging (Phys.org)—A pair of researchers has tested the theory that the enormous eyes sported by net-casting spiders are to help the spider capture walking prey at night. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Jay Stafstrom and Eileen Hebets, both with the University of Nebraska, describe field and lab experiments they carried out that showed the purpose of the oversized eyes.
	Genital size doesn't matter—for fish Big isn't always better when it comes to the size of male genitals.
	How viruses infect bacteria: A tale of a tail Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Using state-of-the-art tools, EPFL scientists have described a million-atom "tail" that bacteriophages use to breach bacterial surfaces. The breakthrough has major implications for science and medicine, as bacteriophages are widely used in research.
	No junk-food diet: Even in cities, bees find flowers and avoid processed sugars New research from North Carolina State University finds that bees in urban areas stick to a flower-nectar diet, steering clear of processed sugars found in soda and other junk food.
	Panda poop study provides insights into microbiome, reproductive troubles A stomachache can put a real damper on your love life—especially if you're a giant panda.
	Scientists discover the evolutionary link between protein structure and function Proteins are more than a dietary requirement. This diverse set of molecules powers nearly all of the cellular operations in a living organism. Scientists may know the structure of a protein or its function, but haven't always been able to link the two.
Habitat quality drives birds' reproductive success Five songbird species in California's oak woodlands each seek out a different habitat to maximize their reproductive success, according to new research in The Auk: Ornithological Advances.
	Evolution of mitochondria Mitochondria are the power stations of human cells. They provide the energy needed for the cellular metabolism. But how did these power stations evolve, and how are they constructed? Researchers from the University of Freiburg studied the role of so-called oxidase assembly machinery, or OXA, in the development of the inner membrane of mitochondria and the energy supply of cells. Dr. Jan Höpker, Dr. Silke Oeljeklaus, Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Pfanner, Dr. Sebastian Stiller, Prof. Dr. Bettina Warscheid, Prof. Dr. Nils Wiedemann and their team of researchers have demonstrated that this protein complex is essential for the integration of certain proteins into the inner membrane of mitochondria - proteins that play a role in cellular respiration and other processes. The results of the scientists' research have now been published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
How forest-loving moose learn to thrive on farmland While populations of moose have been declining in much of their North American range, research from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) shows how these icons of the northern boreal forest are finding success by moving south into farmers' fields.
	Candid wildlife shots aid conservation of African wildlife These photographs are some of the 30,000 intriguing images of wildlife in Botswana taken using camera traps set up by ecologist Lindsey Rich of Virginia Tech. Her results – published in the new issue of the Journal of Applied Ecology – will help wildlife authorities in Botswana to target their conservation work more precisely.
	Assessing the positive and negative claims about genetically engineered crops Genetic engineering in general, and genetically engineered (GE) crops in particular, stir strong feelings from both critics and supporters. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have just released a report, "Genetically Engineered Crops: Experience and Prospects," that examines the evidence behind positive and negative claims about GE crops, and the research challenges that lie ahead.
	What can extinct species do to help conservation? The dodo, the passenger pigeon and the Tasmanian tiger are well-known victims of extinction caused by human behaviour, but could their status be used to help conservation efforts from beyond the grave?
	Clean sweep for lung cells A molecule discovered by A*STAR researchers to switch on the formation of brush-like projections on cells may explain how cells lining the airways of lungs develop. This factor, identified in zebrafish and tadpoles, but also present in humans, could shed light on respiratory disease and provide a new therapeutic strategy.
	A path away from reliance on oil The dream of replacing petrochemicals with renewable resources in the manufacture of synthetic fibers and plastics has moved a step closer. A*STAR researchers have genetically modified the bacterium Escherichia coli to produce a compound that can be converted into a base material for manufacturing nylon and other synthetic products.
	Luminous proteins offer new method to discover viral infections Researchers at Umeå University have developed a new method to directly follow viral infections in living organisms. This method can make infected cells produce fluorescent proteins, which means that they light up and become easier to identify. The method, which is described in the journal Scientific Reports, also makes it possible to activate other functions in infected cells, for instance to enhance the immune system.
	Mechanism for herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth identified Corn and soybean farmers might as well be soldiers locked in an ever-escalating war against the weeds that threaten their crops. New weapons—herbicides—only work for so long before the enemy retaliates by developing resistance and refusing to die. So farmers attack with new herbicides or new mixtures of existing herbicides until the cycle starts again. This has been the case for decades for two familiar enemies, waterhemp and its aggressive cousin, Palmer amaranth.
Researchers develop new way to decode large amounts of biological data In recent years, the amount of genomic data available to scientists has exploded. With faster and cheaper techniques increasingly available, hundreds of plants, animals and microbes have been sequenced in recent years. However, this ever-expanding trove of genetic information has created a problem: how can scientists quickly analyze all of this data, which could hold the key to better understanding many diseases, and solving other health and environmental issues.
	Ocelot density in the Brazilian Amazon may be lower than expected The population density of ocelots in the Brazilian Amazon may be stable but lower than expected, according to a study published May 18, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Daniel Gomes da Rocha from the University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues.
	Hornbills in the Kalahari desert may keep cool by losing heat through their beaks When temperatures are scorching, southern yellow-billed hornbills in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa dilate blood vessels in their beaks to thermoregulate and cool off, according to a study published May 18, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Tanja van de Ven from the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues.
	Fish can adapt some to warmer ocean waters, but not necessarily to extreme heat Fish can adjust to warmer ocean temperatures, but heat waves can still kill them, a team of researchers from Sweden, Norway and Australia reports in an article published this week in Nature Communications.
	To catch a poacher: GIS, drones can improve elephant conservation Applying a suite of geographical information system (GIS) tools can improve monitoring for elephant poaching, according to Penn State researchers. Investigating Tsavo, a region in southwest Kenya that is home to that country's largest elephant population, the researchers tried to identify methods that local conservation groups could use to reduce poaching.
	Chinese panda in Belgium 'probably' pregnant A female panda on loan to Belgium from China is showing telling signs of pregnancy, the Pairi Daiza zoo said on Wednesday.
	Bell Museum launches the midwest's first comprehensive online 'Biodiversity Atlas' The Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota has launched the first web portal providing access to all of its biodiversity collections. The Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas is an online digital resource offering public access to hundreds of thousands of plant and animal specimens, from algae to zebras. The Atlas—the midwest's first portal to integrate such disparate collections—houses over 5 terabytes of data from the museum's botanical and zoological collections. More than 16,000 species from Minnesota and around the world are represented such as the calypso orchid and the emerald shiner.

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