Science X Newsletter Monday, Mar 18

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 18, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new method for understanding ancient coin images

Turning an organic molecule into a coherent two-level quantum system

Engineers copy snapping shrimp to produce underwater plasma

Alligator study reveals insight into dinosaur hearing

Mammals' unique arms started evolving before the dinosaurs existed

Researchers create hydrogen fuel from seawater

Prenatal testosterone linked to long-term effects in females who share womb with male twin

On-chip, electronically tunable frequency comb

Advances point the way to smaller, safer batteries

Materials could delay frost up to 300 times longer than existing anti-icing coatings

Supercrystal: A hidden phase of matter created by a burst of light

Semimetals are high conductors

Algal library lends insights into genes for photosynthesis

Apple Watch may spot heart problem but more research needed

Rock, scissors, flower, box. Lookout informs blind

Astronomy & Space news

	Bright X-ray galactic nuclei All massive galaxies are believed to host supermassive black holes (SMBH) at their centers that grow by accreting mass from their environment. The current picture also imagines that the black holes grow in size as their host galaxy evolves, perhaps because galaxy evolution includes accretion triggered, for example, by galaxy mergers. This general picture has been substantiated by two lines of data.
	Earth is a less volatile version of the Sun, study finds ANU scientists have found that Earth is made of the same elements as the Sun but has less of the volatile elements such as hydrogen, helium, oxygen and nitrogen.
	Spiraling giants: Witnessing the birth of a massive binary star system Scientists from the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research in Japan, Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University of Virginia in the USA and collaborators have made observations of a molecular cloud that is collapsing to form two massive protostars that will eventually become a binary star system.
	Japan to make crater on asteroid to get underground samples Japan's space agency said Monday that its Hayabusa2 spacecraft will follow up last month's touchdown on a distant asteroid with another risky mission—dropping an explosive on the asteroid to make a crater and then collect underground samples for possible clues to the origin of the solar system.
	New Horizons team unravels the many mysteries of Ultima Thule The farthest object ever explored is slowly revealing its secrets, as scientists piece together the puzzles of Ultima Thule – the Kuiper Belt object NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew past on New Year's Day, four billion miles from Earth.
	A new Einstein cross is discovered This study, which has combined images from the Hubble Space Telescope with spectroscopic observations from the GTC, has confirmed the existence of a new example of a gravitational lens, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity. In this case, the observed effect is due to the alteration caused by a galaxy that acts like a magnifying glass amplifying and distorting, in four separate images in the form of a cross, the light of another galaxy located 20,000 million light years away.

Technology news

	A new method for understanding ancient coin images Two researchers at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland, have recently developed a new machine learning-based method for understanding images of ancient coins. Their study, pre-published on arXiv applies computer vision and machine learning to ancient numismatics.
	Engineers copy snapping shrimp to produce underwater plasma A team of mechanical engineers at Texas A&M University has found a way to generate plasma underwater by copying the snapping action of shrimp. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes how they created a mechanical snapping shrimp claw in their lab and how well it worked.
	Advances point the way to smaller, safer batteries People don't ask too much from batteries: Deliver energy when it's needed and for as long as it is wanted, recharge quickly and don't burst into flames.
	Apple Watch may spot heart problem but more research needed A huge study suggests the Apple Watch can detect a worrisome irregular heartbeat at least sometimes—but experts say more work is needed to tell if using wearable technology to screen for heart problems really helps.
	Rock, scissors, flower, box. Lookout informs blind It looks as if Microsoft and Google are making 2019 the year of impressive gains in maximizing AI as a technology enabler for people with low vision and blindness. Microsoft and Google have both recently sent out good news about apps that can help millions navigate the world around them.
	With streaming move, Google eyes future of gaming Google is looking to transform internet-age game play, with an expected launch of a streaming service which uses the tech giant's power in the internet cloud.
	No worries, go catch your flight, a robot is parking your car Many air travelers, whether frequent or infrequent, find that boarding, checking luggage and clearing documents at busy airports are not as stressful as one more experience—trying to find a parking space.
	Researchers create water-resistant electronic skin with self-healing abilities A team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have taken inspiration from underwater invertebrates like jellyfish to create an electronic skin with similar functionality.
	Robot-guided video game gets older adults out of comfort zone, learning and working together Two residents of Elmcroft Senior Living sat side-by-side facing a large screen, raising their hands in tandem as the watch-style devices on their wrists controlled the avatars in front of them. Every so often, a squat little robot off to the side would remind them the object of the game: Get your avatar's books into the right bin, and earn extra points by helping the other player.
	Moment of truth: tech firms in tennis line-call battle A behind-the-scenes battle at the world's top tennis tournaments pits an upstart newcomer and an established star.
	Paris investigators start studying Ethiopian jet's recorder Investigators have started studying the cockpit voice recorder of the crashed Ethiopian Airlines jet.
	Ethiopia crash investigation needs 'considerable' time: minister Identifying the cause of the deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people and caused the worldwide grounding of a brand-new Boeing aircraft model will take "considerable time," an Ethiopian government minister said Saturday.
	Virginia county approves Amazon incentives despite protests Protesters repeatedly shouted "shame" as a northern Virginia county board Saturday unanimously approved a $23 million incentives package for Amazon to build a new headquarters there.
	Streaming wars heat up as rivals queue up to challenge Netflix Some of the biggest names in media and tech are gearing up to move into streaming, in what could be a major challenge to market leader Netflix.
New Zealand wants answers from tech giants after mosque attack livestream New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday said she would be looking for answers from Facebook and other social media firms about how an attack that killed 50 mosque-goers was livestreamed on their platforms.
	737 MAX disaster pushes Boeing into crisis mode After a second air disaster involving the 737 MAX 8, aviation giant Boeing swung into crisis mode, losing $25 billion of market capitalization and suffering a severe hit to its reputation.
	Be Kind, Please Rewind: Oregon Blockbuster is last on Earth There are challenges that come with running the last Blockbuster Video on the planet.
	Facebook scrubs 1.5mn Christchurch attack videos but criticism goes viral Facebook says it removed a staggering 1.5 million videos showing harrowing viral footage of the Christchurch mosque rampage but criticism of social media giants for failing to block images of the "real-time terror attack" is also spreading fast.
	'Clear similarities' between Boeing crashes in Ethiopia, Indonesia Flight recorder data recovered from the wreckage of Boeing 737 MAX planes that crashed in Ethiopia and Indonesia shows "clear similarities," Addis Ababa said Sunday as the US maker announced it was finalizing a software update for its under fire anti-stall system.
	Boeing 'finalizing' anti-stall update after Ethiopia crash Boeing is finalizing a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes, the company's CEO said on Sunday.
	Ethiopian Airlines crash: What is the MCAS system on the Boeing 737 Max 8? Similarities between the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes, confirmed by black box data, have focused attention on an anti-stalling system used in the new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.
	Hackers are making personalised ransomware to target the most profitable and vulnerable Once a piece of ransomware has got hold of your valuable information, there is very little you can do to get it back other than accede to the attacker's demands. Ransomware, a type of malware that holds a computer to ransom, has become particularly prevalent in the past few years and virtually unbreakable encryption has made it an even more powerful force.
	No lie! FSU researcher developing world's first online polygraph Can you spot a liar?
	Lyft revs up for an IPO seeking to raise $2.4bn Lyft said Monday it would seek to raise as much as $2.4 billion in its public share offering, in the first major listing in the fast-growing ride-hailing sector.
	Facebook says service hindered by lack of local news Facebook's effort to establish a service that provides its users with local news and information is being hindered by the lack of outlets where the company's technicians can find original reporting.
	Boeing crashes cast spotlight on US aviation regulator Was the United States complacent in its certification of the Boeing 737 MAX?
	Counterfeit and pirated goods represent 3.3% of global trade: report Global sales of counterfeit and pirated goods have soared to 460 billion euros ($522 billion) a year, amounting to a whopping 3.3 percent of world trade, according to a report published Monday.
US fintech giant FIS acquires payment firm Worldpay US financial technology giant FIS will acquire British payment processing company Worldpay for an estimated $43 billion (38 billion euros), the two firms said Monday, creating an international payments powerhouse.
	Strength in numbers for 3-D printing Additive manufacturing, also called 3-D printing, is commonly used to build complex three-dimensional objects, layer by layer. A*STAR researchers have shown that the process can also help to make a high-performance alloy even stronger.
	Fisker relaunches Tesla rivalry with $40k electric car Fisker, the electric car brand which was an early rival to Tesla, announced Monday it would produce a new sport utility vehicle priced below $40,000 that will be available next year.
Green tech startups see boost in patents and investment when partnering with government Latest research on hundreds of new green technology companies in the US shows the patenting activity of a startup climbs by over 73% on average every time they collaborate with a government agency on "cleantech" development—from next-generation solar cells to new energy storage materials.
Micro-robots could go inside the body and track vital signs, professor says Every time University of Pennsylvania engineer Marc Miskin speaks about his research on miniature robots, someone asks the question: How does it compare to the submarine in "Fantastic Voyage"?
	Apple refreshes iPad lineup, with larger entry-level model Apple has unveiled a new iPad that's thinner and slightly larger than its current entry-level tablet.
	Boeing: 737 MAX certification followed US rules Boeing said Monday that the flight stabilization system under scrutiny following two deadly 737 MAX plane crashes, met all US regulations.
Foxconn says Wisconsin factory will be operational in 2020 Foxconn Technology Group said Monday that its manufacturing facility in Wisconsin will be producing flat-screen panels by the end of 2020, with construction starting later this year.
	US probing certification of Boeing 737 MAX Boeing and US aviation regulators are coming under intense scrutiny over the certification of the 737 MAX aircraft after news that two recent crashes of share similarities.
	Nevada considers technology to scan cellphones after crashes Most states ban texting behind the wheel, but a legislative proposal could make Nevada one of the first states to allow police to use a contentious technology to find out if a person was using a cellphone during a car crash.
	Blockchain: sharing data and breaking with traditional networks Blockchain as a technology is seeing tremendous innovation and is impacting almost all industries from supply chain to gaming and, perhaps the most recognizable, cryptocurrency.
	EasyJet withdraws from potential Alitalia consortium rescue British no-frills airline easyJet said Monday it had withdrawn from a possible partnership with Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and Delta Air Lines to rescue troubled national carrier Alitalia.
	From dollars to bytes: Digital payment tech companies merge Fidelity National Information Services is buying Worldpay for about $35 billion to combine forces as financial transactions increasingly move online.

Medicine & Health news

	Experimental blood test accurately spots fibromyalgia For the first time, researchers have evidence that fibromyalgia can be reliably detected in blood samples—work they hope will pave the way for a simple, fast diagnosis.
	Solution sought to 'sticky' staph situation David Heinrichs faces a potentially deadly adversary found on the skin of almost 30 per cent of the population – and the battle just got a whole lot stickier.
	Are there Zika reservoirs in the Americas? Most emerging infectious diseases affecting people are zoonotic—they make the jump from other animals to humans. Transmission, however, is a two-way street. These zoonotic diseases can also jump from humans to other animals. Even if a disease is eradicated in humans, it can live on in animals that act as reservoirs, ensuring that the risk of human infection is never entirely eradicated.
	Higher consumption of sugary beverages linked with increased risk of mortality The more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) people consumed, the greater their risk of premature death—particularly death from cardiovascular disease, and to a lesser extent from cancer, according to a large long-term study of U.S. men and women. The risk of early death linked with drinking SSBs was more pronounced among women.
	Protective antibodies also found in premature babies Even premature babies carry anti-viral antibodies transferred from the mother, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden report in a paper on maternal antibodies in newborns, published in the journal Nature Medicine. The results should change our approach to infection sensitivity in newborns, they say.
	New proof that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered autoreactive cells in persons suffering from narcolepsy. This is a new, important proof that the sleep disorder is an autoimmune disease. This knowledge may lead to better treatment of the chronic condition, the researchers behind the new discovery believe.
	Oscillation in muscle tissue When a muscle grows or a muscle injury heals, some stem cells develop into new muscle cells. A research team at the MDC led by Carmen Birchmeier has now described in the journal Genes & Development how this process is regulated by two proteins produced in an oscillatory manner.
	Team finds key to common cancer pathway Scientists have long known that the protein p53, when mutated, is a critical factor in the onset of many different kinds of cancer. In its unmutated form, however, it is known to protect against cancer.
	Researchers advance craniofacial surgery with 3-D implants made inside the patient The jawbone is not typically connected to the rib bone, but it might be in an emergency.
	'Inflamm-aging' causes loss of bone healing ability in the elderly Increases in chronic inflammation—not the passage of time—is the main reason why injured bones do not heal as well with age. This is the finding of a study in mice and humans published March 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Meningitis changes immune cell makeup in the mouse brain lining Meningitis, a group of serious diseases which infect the brain's lining, leaves its mark and can affect the body's ability to fight such infections in the future. According to a new study published in Nature Immunology, infections can have long-lasting effects on a population of meningeal immune cells, replacing them with cells from outside the meninges that then change and become less likely to recognize and ward off future attacks. The research was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
	Scientists hunt down the brain circuit responsible for alcohol cravings Scientists at Scripps Research have found that they can reverse the desire to drink in alcohol-dependent rats—with the flip of a switch. The researchers were able to use lasers to temporarily inactivate a specific neuronal population, reversing alcohol-seeking behavior and even reducing the physical symptoms of withdrawal.
	Brain research reveals a circuit for cocaine relapse Approximately 1.5 million Americans use cocaine in a given year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Many are repeat users. Unfortunately, there are currently no FDA-approved medicinal treatments for cocaine addiction.
	New research identifies potential PTSD treatment improvement Researchers may have found a way to improve a common treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by changing how the brain learns to respond less severely to fearful conditions, according to research published in Journal of Neuroscience.
	Even younger nightshift workers shown to need to pee more, worsening quality of life Millions of people work nights, but increasingly scientists are finding that night work is associated with health problems. Now a group of Italian scientists has found that nightshift workers also need to pee more, leading to a deteriorating quality of life for many workers, including care workers. This is also true of younger subjects, who would not normally be expected to report an overactive bladder. This work is reported at the European Association of Urology Congress in Barcelona.
	Strength training may reduce the risk of diabetes in obesity Strength training over a short time period can reduce fat stores in the liver and improve blood glucose control in obese mice, according to a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology. The study reports that strength training over a short time-period, less than would be enough to change body fat composition in humans, was sufficient to reduce the accumulation of liver fat and improve regulation of blood glucose in obese mice, even without overall loss of body weight. These findings suggest that strength training may be a fast and effective strategy for reducing the risk of fatty liver disease and diabetes in obese people.
	Study reveals how motivation affects nutrition and diet New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests that people with a positive attitude are more likely to eat healthily.
Patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears may have another surgical option The arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) surgical technique offers patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears restored shoulder function and the opportunity to return to sports and physically-demanding work, according to research presented today at the AOSSM/AANA Specialty Day in Las Vegas, Nevada. The study, which examined patient outcomes up to five years after surgery, built upon earlier research which examined short-term patient results.
Early sports specialization tied to increased injury rates in college athletes Sixty million kids participate in organized athletics each year with ever increasing amounts of children specializing in one sport before the age of 14 with hopes of a college scholarship or professional career on the line. However, researchers presenting their work at the AOSSM/AANA Specialty Day today reveal that this early intense participation might come at the cost of increased injuries during their athletic careers.
	Children's noses hold clues to serious lung infections, study shows Tiny organisms in a child's nose could offer clues to improving the diagnosis and treatment of severe lung infections, research shows.
Blood flow restriction therapy may protect against bone loss following ACL reconstruction Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction patients often face bone and muscle loss immediately following the procedure. Researchers presenting their work today at the AOSSM/AANA Specialty Day note that combining blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy with traditional rehabilitation efforts may slow bone loss and reduce return to function time.
	Calcium in arteries is shown to increase patients' imminent risk of a heart attack About six million people come into an emergency department every year with chest pain, but not all of them are having a heart attack—and many are not even at risk or are at very low risk for having one.
	In study, TAVR is superior to surgery for low-risk patients with aortic valve stenosis A multicenter clinical trial has found that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) performed better than open-heart surgery in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. The study found that one year after the procedure, the rate of death, stroke, or rehospitalization was significantly lower with TAVR than with surgery.
	Key to successful care of pregnant women in heart failure? Team-based care, study finds Any time a pregnant woman presents in heart failure there are risks to both mother and baby. What does it take to protect the mother and her growing baby for the best possible outcome?
	Taking statins for heart disease cuts risk in half, yet only six percent of patients taking as directed A new study has found that patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease cut their risk of a second major adverse cardiovascular event by almost 50 percent, if they adhere to taking a statin medication as prescribed by their doctors.
	Novel electrocardiogram uses signals from ear and hand to check heart rhythm A novel electrocardiogram (ECG) method which uses signals from the ear and hand to check heart rhythm is revealed today at EHRA 2011 a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. The ECG does not require two hands and could be used by drivers, athletes, and the military.
Commonly used heart drug associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest A drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain) is associated with an increased risk of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest, according to results from the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network (ESCAPE-NET) presented today at EHRA 2019.
	Catheter ablation reduces dementia risk in A-Fib, heart disease patients more than medications Even though most medical practitioners may opt not to perform procedures on higher-risk patients, new research finds that it may be a good idea for those who suffer from both atrial fibrillation and heart disease.
	New cardiac pump clinically superior, safer for patients The final results are in for MOMENTUM 3, the largest left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) trial ever conducted. The study of more than 1,000 patients with severe heart failure not only confirms that the HeartMate 3, a next-generation LVAD device, markedly reduced the need for re-operations due to pump malfunctions, but also found that it lowered risk of bleeding events and strokes, compared to the HeartMate II. Results were presented in a Late Breaking Clinical Trial at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session by Mandeep R. Mehra, MD, executive director of the Center for Advanced Heart Disease and medical director of the Heart & Vascular Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and published simultaneously online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Absorbable antibiotic envelope can significantly cut cardiac device infections A Cleveland Clinic-led research team has found that using an absorbable, antibiotic-eluting envelope when implanting cardiac devices like pacemakers and defibrillators can cut the rate of major infections by 40 percent.
	Study suggests painkillers taken during pregnancy not a cause of asthma in kids A study of almost 500,000 women indicates that taking paracetamol or other painkillers during pregnancy is not responsible for increasing the risk of asthma in children.
Fast-acting agent shows promise in reversing effects of ticagrelor In patients with acute coronary syndromes, coronary artery stenting, or a history of prior heart attacks, antiplatelet therapy can be lifesaving. Ticagrelor, in combination with aspirin, is commonly prescribed for patients to help prevent blood clotting and subsequent cardiovascular events. But ticagrelor increases these patients' bleeding risk, and its effects linger even several days after a patient stops taking the medication. This is an important concern for patients who are at risk for major bleeding, such as intracranial or gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and for patients who may need urgent or emergency surgery. Currently, no fast-acting agent is available to reverse the effects of ticagrelor. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 1 study of healthy volunteers, a group led by Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, executive director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs at the Brigham and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, reported promising results on a potential reversal agent. Bhatt and his colleagues' findings suggest that this agent, known as PB2452, provides immediate and sustained reversal of ticagrelor's effects. Their results were presented at a Featured Clinical Research session at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
	New tool better at predicting death after cardiac admission than current indexes A new tool designed for patients with heart disease is better at predicting death after hospital admission than current tools, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Scientists identify compounds in coffee which may inhibit prostate cancer For the first time, scientists have identified compounds found in coffee which may inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. This is a pilot study, carried out on drug-resistant cancer cells in cell culture and in a mouse model; it has not yet been tested in humans. This work is presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona, after publication in the peer-reviewed journal The Prostate.
Tilt training prevents fainting Tilt training effectively prevents fainting, according to research presented today at EHRA 2019, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. The programme also improved quality of life, reduced the worry and fear about future fainting and enabled patients to return to work.
Pharmacists have wider clinical role in casualty, concludes study The first evaluation of pharmacists based in accident and emergency departments has concluded that with additional clinical skills, they are able to take on overall clinical responsibility for patients.
	Apple Heart Study demonstrates ability of wearable technology to detect atrial fibrillation Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine today presented preliminary results of the Apple Heart Study, an unprecedented virtual study with over 400,000 enrolled participants. The researchers reported that wearable technology can safely identify heart rate irregularities that subsequent testing confirmed to be atrial fibrillation, a leading cause of stroke and hospitalization in the United States.
	Our brains may ripple before remembering A sound, a smell, a word can all flood our minds with memories of past experiences. In a study of epilepsy patients, researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that split seconds before we recall these events tiny electrical waves, called ripples, may flow through key parts of our brains that help store our memories, setting the stage for successful retrieval.
	ACC/AHA guidance for preventing heart disease, stroke released The choices we make every day can have a lasting effect on our heart and vascular health. Adopting a heart healthy eating plan, getting more exercise, avoiding tobacco and managing known risk factors are among the key recommendations in the 2019 Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease guideline from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Also, it is recommended that aspirin should only rarely be used to help prevent heart attacks and stroke in people without known cardiovascular disease.
Study recommends new ways to treat musculoskeletal pain A new study led by The University of Western Australia has identified 11 recommendations to help health professionals and patients better manage musculoskeletal problems. The study comes after the team found many musculoskeletal problems were not being managed effectively.
	Women can build positive body image by controlling what they view on social media Social media use is often described as being problematic for mental health and body image. But is all social media use bad?
Depression screening does not impact quality of life after heart attack After suffering a heart attack or unstable angina (chest pain caused by blocked arteries), patients who were systematically screened for depression and referred for treatment when appropriate did not show a significant improvement in quality of life compared with those who received no depression screening, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
'Back to basics' atrial fibrillation procedure could slash waiting lists A day case catheter ablation procedure which includes only the bare essentials and delivers the same outcomes could slash waiting lists for atrial fibrillation patients, according to late-breaking results from the AVATAR-AF trial presented today at EHRA 2019, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. With the simplified protocol, 30% more patients could receive catheter ablation for the same cost.
Transcatheter valve replacement safe in those with unusual valve anatomy Compared with patients who had a typical tricuspid aortic valve, patients with a more unusual bicuspid aortic valve had a similar rate of death but a higher likelihood of stroke after undergoing a procedure to replace the valve by threading surgical equipment through an artery, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
TAVR as good as surgery for patients at low surgical risk A new trial comparing self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to standard open-heart surgery for valve replacement—this time in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are considered low surgical risk—found no difference in the combined rate of disabling stroke or death from any cause at two years. The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. These events occurred in 5.3 percent of TAVR patients and 6.7 percent of patients undergoing traditional surgery.
	Liver cancer: Discovery of new biomarker for liver dysfunction following partial hepatectomy Postoperative liver dysfunction (failure) is the most serious complication that can occur following liver resection (full or partial hepatectomy) to remove liver tumours. Hitherto, the only tests available for preoperative risk stratification are both time-consuming and expensive. A MedUni Vienna research group has now shown that a particular microRNA signature has the potential to serve as a rapid and reliable predictor. The results of this study were recently published in the specialist journal Hepatology.
	New practice corrects pump function in heart failure Late-breaking results from the ElectroCRT trial presented today at EHRA 2019 a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress, pave the way for a new standard of care to improve the heart's pump function in selected patients with heart failure.
Remote monitoring keeps heart failure patients out of hospital Remote monitoring keeps heart failure patients out of hospital, according to late-breaking findings from the RESULT trial presented today at EHRA 2019, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. The set-up is so effective that it has won reimbursement from the national health system.
	A new model for heart valve disease drug discovery An article published in Experimental Biology and Medicine describes a new model for heart valve physiology. The study, led by Dr. Carla Lacerda, from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University reports that 10% cyclic radial strain on isolated mitral valve anterior leaflets provides a true physiological environment that can be used for mechanistic studies and drug discovery.
Repairing leaky valve improves heart failure patients' quality of life Patients with heart failure and a leaking heart valve reported feeling better and experiencing fewer heart failure symptoms if they underwent a procedure to repair their valve than patients who received standard treatment alone, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
Partial oral antibiotic therapy safe and effective in infectious endocarditis Patients with an infection of the inner lining on the left side of the heart (endocarditis) who were switched from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy had better long-term survival and fewer complications than similar patients who remained on conventional intravenous antibiotic therapy, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
CardioMEMS sensor reliably safe, cuts hospitalizations by more than half In the year following placement of a CardioMEMS heart failure sensor—designed to wirelessly measure and monitor pulmonary artery pressures that can signal worsening heart failure—patients experienced a 58 percent reduction in hospitalization for heart failure, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. Reductions in hospitalizations were seen in both men and women, across all ejection fraction ranges and regardless of race.
	Apixaban plus P2Y12 inhibitor and no aspirin safest for patients with both AFib and ACS Patients at high risk for heart attacks, strokes and blood clots who were treated with a novel blood thinner (apixaban) and an antiplatelet drug such as clopidogrel had a significantly lower risk of bleeding and being hospitalized compared with patients who received an older blood-thinning medication such as warfarin, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. In addition, patients who received clopidogrel without concurrent aspirin, which has been standard for these patients, had an additional 47 percent reduction in bleeding events with no increase in heart attacks, strokes or blood clots when compared with patients who received aspirin.
Antibiotic envelope markedly cuts risk of cardiac device-related infection Encasing cardiac devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators in an "envelope" —a mesh sleeve embedded with antibiotics—reduces the risk of major device-related infection by 40 percent within one year with no increase in complications, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
	Editing genes shouldn't be too scary—unless they are the ones that get passed to future generations Gene editing is one of the scarier things in the science news, but not all gene editing is the same. It matters whether researchers edit "somatic" cells or "germline" cells.
	How South Africa can improve community-based HIV services South Africa introduced a community-based primary health care programme in 2012. The aim of the programme, which includes a large HIV component, is to improve access to health care.
	Boys' attention and prosocial behaviour linked to earnings 30 years later New research, published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, shows that boys from low-income backgrounds who were inattentive in kindergarten had lower earnings at age 36 while boys who were prosocial earned more.
	EPA proposal will allow antibiotic spraying of citrus crops (HealthDay)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal to allow use of the antibiotic streptomycin to treat citrus disease should be withdrawn because it poses a risk to human health and the environment, Consumer Reports says.
	Young child goes to ED for medicine poisoning every 10 minutes (HealthDay)—The number of children younger than age 6 years treated at U.S. emergency departments for medicine poisonings has declined in recent years, but there were still nearly 52,000 cases in 2017, a new report says.
	Physician burnout rate increased from 2014 to 2017 (HealthDay)—From 2014 to 2017, there was an increase in physician burnout, with early-career physicians being the most susceptible, according to a study published online March 15 in JAMA Network Open.
	Knives: Essential equipment for healthy food prep (HealthDay)—Every home chef will find that cooking healthfully is easier with a well-made set of knives. When shopping, let quality, not quantity, be your guide.
	Healthy cooking on a budget (HealthDay)—Cooking healthy at home is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. And your budget doesn't have to take a hit when you stock up on this list of good-for-you foods.
	Hate those stressful office parties? Just fake it, study suggests (HealthDay)—Though they often dread social events, many introverts find they're not as bad as feared and some have learned to fake an outgoing personality to get through the experience.
	Exposing baby to foods early may help prevent allergies (HealthDay)—New parents worry about a lot of things, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says one thing they can cross off that list is concern about giving high-allergy foods too early in life.
	Prescription fish oil pill lowers heart attack risk in those already on statins (HealthDay) —Patients who have high triglycerides and take cholesterol-lowering statins to lower their risk for heart attack or stroke can cut that risk by another 30 percent by adding a high-dose omega-3 fatty acid pill, investigators report.
	Tapeworm drug targets common vulnerability in tumor cells A drug used to treat tapeworm infections could also be used to fight a wide range of cancers, an A*STAR study suggests.
	Spinal organoids mimic neurodegenerative disease 'Organoids' that mimic the developing spinal cord could assist research and drug development for neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
	Sweetening the deal on bone repair By replacing or replenishing injured tissue with biomimetic structures, scientists can help initiate stem cell-driven repair cascades throughout the body. Insights from an A*STAR-led study of the interactions between bone growth proteins and sugar analogues of the tissue components could lead to new bone repair methods.
	Reprograming T cells to attack solid tumors An attractive approach to liver cancer treatment is to bolster the body's own immune defenses. Now an international team involving A*STAR researchers has genetically engineered human T cells to endow them with both specificity against liver cancer cells in patients with Hepatitis B, and the potential for long-term antitumor efficacy.
Holocaust survivors with PTSD transmit negative views on aging to their adult offspring Favorable views on aging promote a general sense of wellbeing, increase self-efficacy, and motivate older adults to maintain a healthy lifestyle, ultimately influencing their own physical and biological aging. But exposure to trauma, directly or indirectly, may significantly impact these views, according to a new study.
Icosapent ethyl drug reduces risk of recurrent cardiovascular events At a Late Breaking Clinical Trial at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session, Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, executive director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs at Brigham and Women's Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, presented results that extend and expand the scope of the projected protective effects of icosapent ethyl—a pure and stable prescription form of the omega-3 acid known as EPA. Bhatt and colleagues looked beyond a patient's first cardiovascular event, including heart attack, stroke, revascularization or hospitalization for chest pain, and evaluated all subsequent cardiovascular events, including death from cardiovascular causes. The team reports that compared to placebo, icosapent ethyl provided a 30 percent relative risk reduction in total (first and subsequent) cardiovascular events. The team's findings are published simultaneously in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	The robots that dementia caregivers want: robots for joy, robots for sorrow Building robots that can help people with dementia has been a longtime goal for roboticists. Yet until now, no one has sought to survey informal caregivers, such as family members, about what characteristics and roles these robots should have.
	Most teens report using marijuana less often after legalization Only one group of teenagers used marijuana more often after retail sales were legalized in Washington than they did before—high school seniors who work 11 or more hours per week, according to new research led by a WSU College of Nursing professor.
Abnormal heart rhythm detected by smartwatch: What does it mean? 16 March 2019: Should an abnormal heart rhythm detected by a smartwatch in otherwise healthy young adults be treated? Are the benefits of this new technology worth the risks? Where is the technology headed?
	Researchers find eight new unique gene mutations in patients with hereditable heart muscle disease In a new study from the Intermountain Healthcare Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, researchers have identified eight new gene mutations that may cause or contribute to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease not caused by known external influences, such as high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, or diseased coronary arteries.
	Common treatment for multiple sclerosis may prolong life Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have found that a widely prescribed drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with longer survival for patients.
	Evidence for ancient magnetic sense in humans The human brain can unconsciously respond to changes in Earth's magnetic fields, according to a team of geoscientists and neurobiologists.
	Ukraine measles outbreak kills 11, infects 30,000 Eleven people have died and more than 30,000 have been infected this year in a major measles outbreak in Ukraine, the European country worst hit by the disease, Kiev said Monday.
Novel heart pump shows superior outcomes in advanced heart failure Severely ill patients with advanced heart failure who received a novel heart pump—the HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD)— suffered significantly fewer strokes, pump-related blood clots and bleeding episodes after two years, compared with similar patients who received an older, more established pump, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
Pure Omega-3 prescription drug markedly reduces first, repeat and total CV events Taking a high dose of icosapent ethyl—a pure and stable prescription form of the omega-3 fatty acid known as EPA—significantly reduces the occurrence of first, subsequent and total ischemic events, including heart attacks, strokes and related deaths, among people at high cardiovascular risk despite already being on statin therapy, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
Prophylactic cranial irradiation: Improvements for advanced NSCLC Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), a technique used to prevent the clinical development of brain metastases, is established as a standard approach for many patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) after initial therapy. While studies established that PCI decreases the incidence of brain metastases for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), there is no established indication for its use for such NSCLC patients.
	Lowering blood pressure prevents worsening brain damage in elderly Elderly people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, who took medicine to keep their 24-hour systolic blood pressure around 130 mm Hg for three years showed significantly less accumulation of harmful brain lesions compared with those taking medicine to maintain a systolic blood pressure around 145 mm Hg, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. However, the reduction in brain lesions, visible as bright white spots on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, did not translate to a significant improvement in mobility and cognitive function. Researchers said it is likely that three years was too short a time for such benefits to become apparent.
Ticagrelor is as safe and effective as clopidogrel after heart attack Patients given clot busters to treat a heart attack fared equally well if they were given the standard blood thinning medication clopidogrel versus the newer, more potent drug ticagrelor, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
	Research ties common heartburn medications to kidney disease and failure Common medications prescribed to treat heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers are linked to increased risks for kidney failure and chronic kidney disease, found a recent University at Buffalo study.
Two-drug combos using popular calcium channel blocker show superiority in lowering BP In the largest randomized controlled trial of treatment for high blood pressure ever conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, two frontline two-drug combinations that included the long-acting calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, were able to drive down blood pressure levels more than a third two-drug combination that did not include amlodipine, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. Nearly half of adults in Africa have high blood pressure, a higher proportion than on any other continent, according to the World Health Organization. Yet many receive either no treatment or ineffective treatment, leaving them at high risk for complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
	Refugee women have healthier pregnancies than US women—why? An unhealthy US culture African refugee women experience healthier pregnancies than women born in the United States, despite receiving less prenatal care, found a recent University at Buffalo study.
Surgery using ultrasound energy found to treat high blood pressure A one-off operation that targets the nerves connected to the kidney has been found to maintain reduced blood pressure in hypertension patients for at least six months, according to the results of a clinical trial led in the UK by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust, and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Fast-acting psychedelic associated with improvements in depression/anxiety Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that use of the synthetic psychedelic 5-methocy-N,-N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) appears to be associated with unintended improvements in self-reported depression and anxiety when given in a ceremonial group setting. 5-MeO-DMT is a psychedelic that is found in the venom of Bufo Alvarius toads, in a variety of plants species, and can be produced synthetically.
	The story of GARP: a potential target for cancer immunotherapy Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. Despite significant advances in therapies for this particular cancer, the five-year survival rate is 12 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
Low-risk patients may benefit from less invasive transcatheter valve replacement A new study by a team of cardiologists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) led by senior and corresponding author Jeffrey Popma, MD, suggests that a minimally invasive procedure currently reserved for patients too frail to undergo surgery may in fact be a safe and effective alternative for healthier patients. The findings were presented this weekend at the American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans and concurrently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
	Have sleep apnea? Using your CPAP device consistently may slow memory loss Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to having problems with your memory and decision-making abilities. Usually, people with MCI experience few if any problems with performing their daily activities. Experts say that MCI could be a stage between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Radial, femoral access for PCI found equal in terms of survival Doctors can use either an artery in the arm (the radial approach) or in the groin (the femoral approach) to safely perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients presenting with a heart attack, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. The research, which was stopped early, suggests the radial and femoral approach are equivalent in terms of the risk of death at 30 days.
Stopping DAPT after one-month improved outcomes in stent patients Patients who stopped taking aspirin one month after receiving a stent in the heart's arteries but continued taking the P2Y12 inhibitor clopidogrel fared significantly better after one year compared with those who followed the standard practice of continuing both medications, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. Stopping aspirin early was found to be superior in terms of the trial's primary endpoint, a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, heart attack, clotting near the stent, stroke and major bleeding.
Fertility app 'Dot' found to be as effective as other family planning methods Results of a first-of-its-kind prospective study with a family planning app find it to be as effective as other modern methods for avoiding an unplanned pregnancy.
	Breastfeeding can erase effects of prenatal violence for newborns How infants adjust in their first months of life depends on many factors, including what their mothers experienced while they are in utero. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 4 women in the U.S. will experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime and that risk increases during pregnancy, but surprisingly few longitudinal studies have been conducted on the effects of IPV during pregnancy.
Angiography timing does not impact survival after cardiac arrest for NSTEMI patients In patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest who do not show evidence of the type of heart attack known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), receiving immediate coronary angiography did not improve survival at 90 days compared to waiting a few days before undergoing the procedure, based on findings presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
Stopping aspirin three months after stenting does not increase risk of death Patients who stopped taking aspirin three months after receiving a stent to open the heart's arteries but continued taking a P2Y12 inhibitor—clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor—did not experience higher rates of death from any cause, heart attack or stroke after a year compared with those receiving standard therapy, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. Furthermore, patients who stopped taking aspirin after three months had a significantly lower rate of bleeding.
Statin add-on may offer new/another option for reducing LDL-C in high-risk patients Patients at high risk for a heart attack or stroke who took an investigational drug in addition to a statin had significantly lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, after 12 weeks compared to similar patients who took a placebo in addition to statin therapy, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
Diabetes drug effective against heart failure in wide spectrum of patients The cardiovascular benefits of the diabetes drug dapagliflozin extend across a wide spectrum of patients and are especially pronounced in those with reduced ejection fraction, a measure of the heart's pumping ability indicative of poor heart functioning, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
	Adenocarcinoma, high-grade dysplasia up with barrett esophagus (HealthDay)—The prevalence of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has significantly increased since 1995 in patients with Barrett esophagus (BE), according to a study published in the February issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
	Fewer complications after MIRS introduced for endometrial cancer (HealthDay)—The introduction of minimally invasive robotic surgery (MIRS) is associated with a significantly lower risk for severe complications among patients with early-stage endometrial cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in JAMA Surgery.
	2011 to 2015 saw increase in psychiatric ED visits for youth (HealthDay)—From 2011 to 2015, there was an increase in visits to the emergency department for psychiatric purposes among youth across the United States, according to a study published online March 18 in Pediatrics.
	Outcomes for AMI improved during 1995 to 2014 (HealthDay)—Short-term mortality and readmissions improved from 1995 to 2014 for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to a study published online March 15 in JAMA Network Open.
	Reported cases of spotted fever rickettsioses rarely confirmed (HealthDay)—Only 1.0 percent of reported cases of spotted fever rickettsioses (SFR) meet the confirmed case definition, according to research published in the March 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Google research shows how AI can make ophthalmologists more effective As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, diagnosing disease faster and potentially with greater accuracy than physicians, some have suggested that technology may soon replace tasks that physicians currently perform. But a new study from the Google AI research group shows that physicians and algorithms working together are more effective than either alone. It's one of the first studies to examine how AI can improve physicians' diagnostic accuracy. The new research will be published in the April edition of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	Study finds test of protein levels in the eye a potential predictor of (future) Alzheimer's disease Low levels of amyloid-β and tau proteins, biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), in eye fluid were significantly associated with low cognitive scores, according to a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center, the study is the first to connect these known AD protein biomarkers in the eye to mental status. These findings indicate that proteins in the eye may be a potential source for an accessible, cost-effective test to predict future Alzheimer's disease.
	Where are teens getting e-cigarettes? It depends. University of Cincinnati research on adolescent use of electronic cigarettes was featured prominently at the American Academy of Health Behavior 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting on Monday, March 11, in Greenville, South Carolina.
	Case study: Bartonella and sudden-onset adolescent schizophrenia In a new case study, researchers at North Carolina State University describe an adolescent human patient diagnosed with rapid onset schizophrenia who was found instead to have a Bartonella henselae infection. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that Bartonella infection can mimic a host of chronic illnesses, including mental illness, and could open up new avenues of research into bacterial or microbial causes of mental disorders.
Ultrasound provides precise, minimally invasive way to measure heart function in children Currently, a practical, precise, minimally invasive way to measure cardiac output or heart function in children undergoing surgery does not exist. New research published in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), illustrates how a novel minimally invasive method using catheter-based ultrasound to measure heart function performed with similar precision to a traditional highly invasive device.
	Nearly four in 10 US HIV infections from people unaware of infection Almost 40 percent of new HIV cases in the US occur because people do not know they are infected, while a similar proportion know but are not in treatment, according to a study released Monday.
Study suggests personality tests may improve care for prostate cancer patients Scientists have found that men with high neuroticism—between a quarter and a fifth of men in developed countries—are significantly more likely to suffer from adverse events such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence, which may put their recovery from prostate cancer surgery at risk. The researchers say that this means cancer teams may need to consider testing for personality types to try to ensure that patients being treated for prostate cancer receive the best care. This work is presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Barcelona.
	Testosterone slows prostate cancer recurrence in low-risk patients In the largest such study so far undertaken, US researchers have shown that testosterone replacement slows the recurrence of prostate cancer in low-risk patients. This may call into question the general applicability of Nobel-Prize winning hormonal prostate treatment. The work is presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona.
Mental health state associated with higher death rates for prostate and urological cancers Patients with prostate, bladder or kidney cancers are at greater risk of dying if they have had psychiatric care prior to the cancer treatment. In addition, patients with these cancers show greater suicide risk than the general population, even once the data is corrected for previous psychiatric care. These are the main findings of a new study presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona. They highlight the need for psychiatric care to be integrated into cancer treatment.
Clinical guidelines from specialty societies often biased Clinical practice guidelines issued by specialty societies in North America often recommend health care services linked to their specialties, in contrast with European guidelines and those from independent organizations, argues a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Hormonal treatment may trigger depression in men with prostate cancer Men who receive anti-hormonal treatment after having their prostate removed are 80% more likely to suffer from depression than men who don't receive this treatment. This leads researchers to suggest that patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy should be monitored for post-surgical depression. This is presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona.
	Group with consumer-friendly vibe pushes drugmakers' message As ominous music plays in the background, the narrator of a radio ad warns that a Trump administration proposal to apply international pricing to certain Medicare drugs would be a nightmare for seniors.
Echocardiograms may help with patient selection for transcatheter mitral valve repair Clinicians should use echocardiography, an ultrasound that shows the heart's structure and function, when determining whether patients with heart failure and a leaking heart valve are likely to benefit from valve repair, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.
	Healthy fats improve nerve function in obese mice Swapping dietary saturated fats for monounsaturated fats reverses nerve damage and restores nerve function in male mice, finds new preclinical research published in JNeurosci. These data support further investigation of diets rich in healthy fats as a potential treatment for the nerve damage that occurs with diabetes, known as diabetic neuropathy.
	CDC researchers report on trends in hospital breastfeeding policies A new study from the CDC showed modest improvement in optimal hospital breastfeeding policy from 2009 to 2015, with more than 2 times as many hospitals having a model breastfeeding policy and increases in early initiation of breastfeeding and limitation of non-breast milk feeds of breastfed infants. Despite a nearly 4 times increase in the percentage of hospitals not receiving free infant formula, more than 70% still do, according to the article published in Breastfeeding Medicine.
Blood pressure control reduces dementia risk in mid-life patients with atrial fibrillation Dementia risk in mid-life patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can be reduced by controlling high blood pressure, according to a study presented today at EHRA 2019, a congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
	New research explores value-based medicine, integrative health, and whole systems research Two decades ago, the popular movement for integrative health practices prompted researchers to advance "whole systems research" (WSR). As dominant medical delivery moves to embrace Triple Aim outcomes, a remarkable convergence is apparent. This convergence is at the center of the philanthropically-funded Special Issue on Multimodal Approaches in Integrative Health: Whole Persons, Whole Practices, Whole Systems published in JACM, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
	TGen and ABL pursue global rollout of advanced TB test In an important step toward eradicating tuberculosis (TB), the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, has signed a licensing agreement with an international biomedical firm, Advanced Biological Laboratories (ABL), to market and distribute TGen's patented Next Generation Sequencing based TB test technology.

Biology news

	Alligator study reveals insight into dinosaur hearing To determine where a sound is coming from, animal brains analyze the minute difference in time it takes a sound to reach each ear—a cue known as interaural time difference. What happens to the cue once the signals get to the brain depends on what kind of animal is doing the hearing.
	Mammals' unique arms started evolving before the dinosaurs existed Bats fly, whales swim, gibbons swing from tree to tree, horses gallop, and humans swipe on their phones—the different habitats and lifestyles of mammals rely on our unique forelimbs. No other group of vertebrate animals has evolved so many different kinds of arms: in contrast, all birds have wings, and pretty much all lizards walk on all fours. Our forelimbs are a big part of what makes mammals special, and in a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have discovered that our early relatives started evolving diverse forelimbs 270 million years ago—a good 30 million years before the earliest dinosaurs existed.
	Algal library lends insights into genes for photosynthesis It isn't easy being green. It takes thousands of genes to build the photosynthetic machinery that plants need to harness sunlight for growth. And yet, researchers don't know exactly how these genes work.
	Ram sperm frozen for 50 years successfully used to impregnate 34 ewes Semen stored since 1968 in a laboratory in Sydney has been defrosted and successfully used to impregnate 34 Merino ewes, with the resulting live birth rate as high sperm frozen for just 12 months.
	Climate change negatively affects waterbirds in the American West New research shows that recent climate change is having profound effects on wetlands across the American West – affecting birds that use these wetlands for breeding, migration and wintering.
	Researchers find bee species where males perform babysitting duties A team of researchers with Charles University and the Czech Academy of Science has discovered a species of bee where males guard a nest while females are off gathering food for their young. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of Ceratina nigrolabiata and what they found.
	Tasty or putrid? A repellent odor inhibits the perception of a pleasant odor in vinegar flies In nature, vinegar flies are exposed to a wide variety of odor mixtures, which contain both attractive and repellent odors. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have now discovered that repellent odors suppress the perception of pleasant smells. This happens because certain brain structures that respond to attractive odors are inhibited by a repellent one. These processes in the brain are also reflected in the behavior of the flies: The flies avoid attractive odor sources when a repellent odor is added. This helps them to avoid spoiled or infected food sources, which would have fatal consequences for the flies and their offspring.
	Chemical probe can regulate signaling pathway and block cell invasion by arboviruses Cells in humans and other vertebrates, as well as invertebrates, have signaling pathways that play essential roles in embryo development, cell proliferation and tissue structuring. Dysregulation in one of these signaling pathways, known as the beta-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling pathway, can cause embryo malformation and diseases such as breast cancer and cervical cancer.
	Zika study may 'supercharge' vaccine research Scientists looking at the genetics of Zika virus have found a way to fast-track research which could lead to new vaccines.
	Hepatitis B virus sheds light on ancient human population movements into Australia Australian researchers have used current hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome sequences to deduce ancient human population movements into Australia, adding weight to the theory that the mainland Aboriginal population separated from other early humans at least 59 thousand years ago and possibly entered the country near the Tiwi Islands.
	Back to the drawing board for conservationists battling against infectious parrot disease A study into the effectiveness of disinfecting birds' nests, carried out by the University of Kent, has led to a breakthrough in the understanding of biosecuity measures for the endangered echo parakeet in Mauritius. The research team found that annual disinfection of parakeet nest sites prior to the breeding season, intended to reduce the spread of infectious disease in endangered parrot species, didn't have the impact conservationists expected leading to recommendation for a different approach.
	When it comes to monarchs, fall migration matters Scientists studying monarch butterflies have traditionally focused on two sources for their decline—winter habitat loss in Mexico and fewer milkweed plants in the Midwest.
	It's a boy! April the Giraffe gives birth again April the Giraffe gave birth once again in front of an enthralled YouTube audience on Saturday.
	Where eagles flirt: A DC tale of love, loss and raccoons It's a tale with everything you'd need for a soap opera: star-crossed lovers, a stable relationship threatened by younger suitors, pregnancy and loss, and a hungry raccoon.
Grafting tomatoes protects plants, increases yields Grafting vegetables is a time-tested way for growers to protect plants from soil-borne diseases as well as potentially improve yields, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
	Powerful machine-learning technique enables biologists to analyze enormous data sets Researchers at A*STAR have compared six data-analysis processes and come up with a clear winner in terms of speed, quality of analysis and reliability. The top performer took large, complex biological data sets and spat out key relations between parameters (such as grouping blood and marrow cells according to cell type) in a fraction of the time of the other techniques.
	Seafood mislabeling rate less than 1 percent for products with MSC ecolabel vs. global average of 30 percent DNA barcoding of more than 1400 Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) labelled products has shown that less than 1% were mislabelled, compared with a reported average global seafood mislabelling rate of 30 percent. These results published in the journal Current Biology suggests that the MSC's ecolabelling and Chain of Custody program is an effective deterrent for systematic and deliberate species substitution and fraud.
	Who should Fido fear? Depends on relationship As states around the country move to stiffen punishments for animal cruelty, Michigan State University researchers have found a correlation between the types of animal abuse committed and the perpetrator's relationship to an animal and its owner.
	Pandanomics is a grey area, but to us the value of giant pandas is black and white Wang Wang and Funi came to Australia from China a decade ago. Their relationship is best described as complicated. Despite considerable medical assistance, they have never managed to produce offspring. It has put a big question mark over whether they will be permitted to remain in Australia.
	Cyprus bird trapping hits record low, says NGO The mass killing of migratory birds in Cyprus has reached a record low mainly due to a clampdown on illegal trapping in British military-controlled areas, a conservationist group said Monday.
Bromethalin is poisoning the parrots of Telegraph Hill Bromethalin, a common rat poison, is the agent responsible for a neurological disease that has sickened or killed birds from a popular flock of naturalized parrots that reside primarily in the Telegraph Hill area in north San Francisco, according to a new study led by the University of Georgia Infectious Diseases Laboratory and funded by Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue.
	Orangutan recovers after shot with 74 airgun pellets in Indonesia An orangutan is slowly recovering after being shot with 74 airgun pellets in Indonesian, an official said Saturday.
	Belgian pigeon flies high in record 1.25 million euros auction A star racing pigeon named Armando has fetched a record 1.25 million euros in an online auction, Belgian media reported Sunday.
	Curious Kids: why bats sleep upside down, and other stories of animal adaptation Why do bats sleep upside down? - Questions from Year 5 at Brandon Park Primary School, Victoria. The class has been studying animal adaptation.
Why you shouldn't bury your pet in the backyard Companion animals are part of our families, but inevitably the time comes for us to say goodbye to them due to old age or disease.

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