Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 29

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 29, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A simple technique allows robots to recognize touch and proximity

What a never-before-seen radioactive decay could tell us about neutrinos

Spinning black hole sprays light-speed plasma clouds into space

Deep learning takes Saturn by storm

Ashes of a dying star's hold clues about solar system's birth

Rapid melting of the world's largest ice shelf linked to solar heat in the ocean

Are coffee farms for the birds? Yes and no

As oceans warm, microbes could pump more CO2 back into air, study warns

Climate, grasses and teeth—the evolution of South America mammals

Swan EGGs in the sky: Astronomers conduct radio observations of free-floating evaporating gas globules in Cygnus OB2

Engineering ECM-like fibers with bioactive silk for 3-D cell culture

Magma is the key to the moon's makeup

Researchers find ice feature on Saturn's giant moon

How the bumble bee got its stripes

New polymer films conduct heat instead of trapping it

Astronomy & Space news

	Spinning black hole sprays light-speed plasma clouds into space Astronomers have discovered rapidly swinging jets coming from a black hole almost 8000 light-years from Earth.
	Deep learning takes Saturn by storm A 'deep learning' approach to detecting storms on Saturn is set to transform our understanding of planetary atmospheres, according to UCL and University of Arizona researchers.
	Ashes of a dying star's hold clues about solar system's birth A grain of dust forged in the death throes of a long-gone star was discovered by a team of researchers led by the University of Arizona.
	Swan EGGs in the sky: Astronomers conduct radio observations of free-floating evaporating gas globules in Cygnus OB2 Using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), astronomers have carried out radio observations of the so-called free-floating evaporating gas globules or (frEGGs) in the Cygnus OB2 region. Results of this observational campaign, presented in a paper published April 17 on arXiv.org, provide more details about the properties of these peculiar objects.
	Magma is the key to the moon's makeup For more than a century, scientists have squabbled over how the Earth's moon formed. But researchers at Yale and in Japan say they may have the answer.
	Researchers find ice feature on Saturn's giant moon Rain, seas and a surface of eroding organic material can be found both on Earth and on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. However, on Titan it is methane, not water, that fills the lakes with slushy raindrops.
	Extended winter polar vortices chill Saturn's strangely familiar moon, Titan Saturn's hazy moon Titan has a long-lived Earth-like winter polar vortex supercharged by the moon's peculiar chemistry, according to new research published in AGU's journal Geophysical Research Letters.
	Scientists planning now for asteroid flyby a decade away On April 13, 2029, a speck of light will streak across the sky, getting brighter and faster. At one point it will travel more than the width of the full Moon within a minute and it will get as bright as the stars in the Little Dipper. But it won't be a satellite or an airplane—it will be a 1,100-foot-wide (340-meter-wide) near-Earth asteroid called 99942 Apophis that will cruise harmlessly by Earth, about 19,000 miles (31,000 kilometers) above the surface. That's within the distance that some of our spacecraft that orbit Earth.
	Japanese startup hopes to launch a sounding rocket into space Interstellar Technologies Inc. (IST) is in final phase of preparations for its third attempt to become the first Japanese private company to launch a small sounding rocket into space. The launch is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30 at 11:15 a.m. JST (2:15 a.m. GMT).
	Gaia's first asteroid discoveries While scanning the sky to chart a billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy, ESA's Gaia satellite is also sensitive to celestial bodies closer to home, and regularly observes asteroids in our solar system.
	Soon-to-be world's most sensitive gamma ray observatory launches its first set of detectors China's Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) launched its first set of detectors on April 26, 2019. It marked the beginning of comprehensive research effort in observing and detecting very high energy cosmic rays with the anticipated world most sensitive gamma ray detection facility.

Technology news

	A simple technique allows robots to recognize touch and proximity Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire have recently proposed an easy and configurable technique that enhances a robot's ability to perceive and interact with people in its surroundings. Their technique, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, utilizes affordable Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices. Among its many possible applications, it could enhance therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), allowing robots to act as mediators and monitor children in their surroundings.
	PaintBot: A deep learning student that trains then mimics old masters Artificial intelligence has been showing us many ish tricks as apers of human-created art, and now a team of researchers have impressed AI watchers with PaintBot. They have managed to unleash their AI as a capable mimic of the old masters.
	Team studies what email users want for better automating email, proposes "YouPS" filtering tool "Inbox zero" often feels like the ultimate unattainable goal. You can spend hours organizing your email, and somehow a deluge of new messages will always emerge.
	Researchers develop secure method for sending sensitive personal data from wearable tech Smart watches. Pacemakers. Internet-connected glasses. These are devices designed to make life easier. And yet, all this wearable technology can be hacked. The devices send personal health information to your smartphone over the airways, so anyone with the know-how could scoop it up and steal it. But now, researchers at Northeastern have a better, more secure idea: Send data through your body.
	Harnessing sunlight to pull hydrogen from wastewater Hydrogen is a critical component in the manufacture of thousands of common products from plastic to fertilizers, but producing pure hydrogen is expensive and energy intensive. Now, a research team at Princeton University has harnessed sunlight to isolate hydrogen from industrial wastewater.
	Using 60% less water in paper production An EPFL researcher has developed a mathematical model for optimizing heat transfer in factories and dramatically reducing water and energy consumption. The model could, in theory, cut water use by 60 percent at a Canadian paper mill and allow the facility to produce as much as six times more power.
	Germany's Bosch powers up hydrogen cells for cars The world's biggest auto parts maker Bosch said Monday it would work with a Swedish firm to develop key components for hydrogen fuel cells designed to power cars, after backing off building electric batteries.
	Data scientists mapped supply chains of every U.S. city No matter where you are in the United States, some food in your kitchen probably started its life in Fresno, California.
	Spotify reaches 100 million paying subscribers Swedish music streaming giant Spotify said Monday it had amassed 100 million paying subscribers, but the company also fell back into the red and reported a first quarter operating loss.
	Ethane storage seen as key to revitalization of Appalachia Plans are underway in Appalachia to create two underground facilities to store ethane, a byproduct of natural gas drilling seen as integral to revitalizing a region still struggling from the loss of industrial and manufacturing jobs decades ago.
	Facebook joins research on social media impact on elections Facebook announced Monday it would make its data available to academics studying the impact of social media on elections, part of an effort to prevent manipulation of social platforms.
	WeWork, at $47 bn valuation, files for public share listing WeWork, the fast-growing office-sharing startup, said Monday it had filed documents for a stock market listing to help fuel further expansion.
	Patterns of compulsive smartphone use suggest how to kick the habit Everywhere you look, people are looking at screens. In the decade since smartphones have become ubiquitous, we now have a feeling almost as common as the smartphones themselves: being sucked into that black hole of staring at those specific apps—you know which ones they are—and then a half an hour has gone by before you realize it.
Sensor-based technologies are promising to support independent living for older women A study conducted by Assistant Professor Blaine Reeder, Ph.D., and co-authored by Catherine Jankowski, Ph.D., at the University of Colorado College of Nursing on older women's perception of technology found that more active older adult women prefer wearable sensors for themselves and smart home sensors for their older parents.
	EU fine on Google weighs on parent Alphabet profits Google parent Alphabet on Monday reported that profit in the first three months of this year sagged under the weight of a hefty antitrust fine in the European Union.
New research helps visualise sentiment and stance in social media How can you find and make sense of opinions and emotions in the vast amount of texts in social media? Kostiantyn Kucher's research helps visualise for instance public opinions on political issues in tweets over time. In the future, analysis and visualisation of sentiment and stance could contribute to such tasks as detection of hate speech and fake news.
	Shutting down social media does not reduce violence, but rather fuels it In the wake of a series of coordinated attacks that claimed more than 250 lives on April 21, the government of Sri Lanka shut off its residents' access to social media and online messaging systems, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat and Viber. The official government concern was that "false news reports were spreading through social media."
	Amazon workers from around world join forces in Berlin Amazon worker representatives from 15 countries met in Berlin on Monday to coordinate their strategy against one of the world's most powerful companies, after years of individually battling against its often-criticised employment practices.
	Boeing wins confidence of shareholders, prepares for key 737 MAX test flight Boeing executives successfully beat back shareholder challenges to their authority on Monday as the company signaled it expects regulators to take a key step next week in the effort to get the 737 MAX back in the air following two deadly crashes.
PetSmart's Chewy.com files to go public Chewy, the online pet store owned by PetSmart, is going public.
	Selling an old computer on eBay? You may also be giving away data you thought you erased You're donating an old computer storage drive or putting one up for sale on eBay. But first, you erase all the data.
	Several US airlines hit by brief computer-related outage At least three major U.S. airlines were briefly affected Monday by an outage at a technology provider that shut down ticketing and check-in online and at airport kiosks.
	Toyota to assemble Lexus in Canada: Trudeau Japanese automaker Toyota will assemble two models of its Lexus in Canada starting in 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday.

Medicine & Health news

	Autism diagnoses prove highly stable as early as 14 months Diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by trained professionals in children as young as 14 months are remarkably stable, suggesting that accurate screening and earlier treatment is feasible, report scientists at University of California San Diego School of Medicine in a study publishing online April 29, 2019 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Researchers identify biomarker for chronic fatigue syndrome People suffering from a debilitating and often discounted disease known as chronic fatigue syndrome may soon have something they've been seeking for decades: scientific proof of their ailment.
	Finally, another effective drug for kids and teens with type 2 diabetes Results of a recently completed clinical trial of a potential drug to treat Type 2 diabetes in children were announced Sunday [April 28] at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2019 meeting in Baltimore, Md. The New England Journal of Medicine also published the findings. Study coauthor Jane Lynch, M.D., FAAP, professor of pediatrics at UT Health San Antonio, said the drug, liraglutide, in combination with an existing medication, metformin, showed robust effect in treating children studied in the Ellipse trial.
	New approach could lead to a lifetime flu vaccine If the virus that causes flu were an ice cream cone, then the yearly vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize just the scoop – chocolate one year, strawberry the next. As the virus changes each year, so too must the vaccine.
	Newfound autoimmune syndrome causes muscle pain, weakness A previously unknown autoimmune muscle disease involving sudden onset of debilitating muscle pain and weakness has been identified by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The syndrome easily could be mistaken for other muscle diseases that require different treatment, so the findings are expected to help physicians treat patients appropriately, the researchers said.
	Poor sense of smell associated with nearly 50 percent higher risk for death in 10 years A new Michigan State University study suggests that older adults with poor sense of smell may see an almost 50% increase in their risk of dying within 10 years—surprisingly in healthier individuals.
	Tumor-selective angiotensin blockers may improve response to cancer immunotherapy A research team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that combining a specialized version of an antihypertension drug with immune checkpoint blockers could increase the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. As described in their report published in PNAS, the combination treatment significantly improved tumor response and survival in several mouse models of breast cancer, one of several types of solid tumor that have resisted the effects of immunotherapy.
Heavier and taller children are more likely to develop kidney cancer as adults than their average-sized peers A study of more than 300,000 individuals in Denmark, presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow, Scotland (28 April-1 May), reveals that heavier and taller children are at greater risk than their average-sized peers of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as adults.
	Single dose of targeted radiotherapy is safe and effective for prostate cancer A single high dose of radiation that can be delivered directly to the tumour within a few minutes is a safe and effective technique for treating men with low risk prostate cancer, according to a study presented at the ESTRO 38 conference.
Radiotherapy after chemo may improve survival in patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma Patients with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma who have large tumours at the time of diagnosis may benefit from radiotherapy after chemotherapy even when all traces of the cancer appear to have gone, according to late breaking results presented at the ESTRO 38 conference today.
	New approach to managing surgery will speed patient recovery but challenges current practices A review in CMAJ challenges historical surgical practices that are not research-based, outlining a multidisciplinary approach called enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) that will help patients recover more quickly from surgery. The article, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), reviews the evidence supporting the approach and how it could be implemented in Canada.
	Five things to know about loneliness in older adults Loneliness, an emotional state rather than a mental disorder, can substantially affect the health of older adults, as well as use of health care services. A "Five things to know about ..." practice article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) summarizes key points to help clinicians understand the effect of loneliness on older patients.
	Food system improvements could make it easier to eat healthier A science advisory from the American Heart Association describes system-wide innovations to the U.S. food system that are sustainable and have the potential to make it easier for consumers to choose healthy foods. The advisory is published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
	More intensive blood pressure therapy helps patients with type 2 diabetes regardless of cardiovascular risk People with type 2 diabetes who received intensive treatment to keep their blood pressure levels at 130/80 mm/Hg or below had fewer heart attacks, strokes and other diabetes complications, according to a study published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension. These patients also had lower overall risk of dying from any cause—a benefit that was observed regardless of a person's preexisting cardiovascular risk and baseline blood pressure, the research shows.
	Genetic make-up has little impact on dental health, new study finds A new study has found genetic makeup does not predispose people to tooth decay, however, the research did find that children with overweight mothers are more likely to have cavities.
	Higher weight increases risk of psoriasis Studies have linked psoriasis and higher weight, but the causal relationship between the two has been unclear. What triggers what?
	Study shows older men feel 'excluded, overlooked and cut-off' With increasing numbers of older men experiencing loneliness, a new report published April 29 calls for a better understanding of how to tackle the growing public health challenge.
	The lungs never forget: Specialised T-cells remember allergens According to a current study of the Medical University Vienna, specialised T memory lymphocytes in the lungs that react to inhaled allergens, cause attacks of allergic asthma. These T-helper 2-tissue resident memory cells, which are located in the lungs for a lifetime are known as Th2-TRMs, and are responsible for asthma sufferers having asthma attacks shortly after they come in contact with allergens that they are allergic to and that these attacks can occur throughout their entire life.
	Patent issued to device with potential to detect early symptoms of Alzheimer's, cognitive impairment The University of Maine was recently issued a patent, US 10,244,977, for a device that detects brain injury by measuring sleep movement patterns. This technology will be licensed by Activas Diagnostics, a UMaine spin-off company.
	Increasing 'grit' personality trait is possible, predicting college students' improved academic success Current psychological studies suggest that the personality trait of "grit," or strength of character, is a better predictor of academic success among college students than more commonly used measures such as standardized test scores and demographic indicators.
	Wearable motion detectors identify subtle motor deficits in children A wristwatch-like motion-tracking device can detect movement problems in children whose impairments may be overlooked by doctors and parents, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	A drug for autism? Potential treatment for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome offers clues In 2019, geeks are cool, and the idea that they might be on the autism spectrum is celebrated. Nowhere is this truer than in Silicon Valley, one of the few places in America where social quirkiness and laser focus attention to detail are more often rewarded than criticized. Often lauded as an example of a success story in autism circles, renowned scientist Temple Grandin, once told a California newspaper, "Half of Silicon Valley's got mild autism, they just avoid the labels."
	Research reveals complexity of how we make decisions While we're gathering information to make decisions, we test our findings using trial and error, and sometimes place budgetary considerations ahead of ethical ones, says a University of Alberta librarian.
	CDC: First confirmed ID of 'Kissing bug' in Delaware (HealthDay)—The first confirmed identification of the bloodsucking "kissing bug" in Delaware involves one that bit a girl on the face last summer, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
	Strong evidence for the presence of umbrella branding effects in pharmaceutical markets Umbrella branding is a practice that is common in markets for experience goods and consists in the marketing of otherwise unrelated products under the same brand name. In theory, umbrella branding allows firms to make better use of reputation to convince consumers that their products are of high quality.
	Gestational diabetes in India and Sweden Indian women are younger and leaner than Swedish women when they develop gestational diabetes, a new study from Lund University shows. The researchers also found a gene that increases the risk of gestational diabetes in Swedish women, but which, on the contrary, turned out to have a protective effect in Indian women.
	Rapidly detecting cancer markers for diagnosis Researchers at Okayama University report in the journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical that terahertz radiation can be used to rapidly detect makers for breast-cancer cells. The scientists present a technique that makes use of the binding properties of aptamers, synthetic organic molecules acting as probes for cancer cells.
	Bone abnormalities in systemic autoimmune disease An article published in Experimental Biology and Medicine details abnormalities in bone pathology that occur in systemic autoimmune disease. The study, led by Dr. Yasuhiro Kon, Professor in the Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan, reports that alterations in bone morphology, calcium homeostasis and hematopoiesis occur in a mouse model of systemic autoimmune disease.
	The old ways of reintegrating young veterans need to be abandoned The reintegration of former child soldiers is a key mandate of humanitarian organisations across the globe.
	Impaired on the job or behind the wheel? It's not just a cannabis problem The legalization of cannabis in Canada has sparked discussion about workplace and driver impairment, but what about other forms of on-the-job impairment?
	Kindness: What I've learned from 3,000 children and adolescents After asking more than 3,000 students about kindness, I've learned a lot about just how children and adolescents understand and enact kindness, especially at school. The results might surprise parents and educators.
	How to start exercising if you're out of shape Perhaps your GP has recommended you exercise more, or you've had a recent health scare. Maybe your family's been nagging you to get off the couch or you've decided yourself that it's time to lose some weight.
	Urine test could prevent cervical cancer Urine testing may be as effective as the smear test at preventing cervical cancer, according to new research by University of Manchester scientists.
	Study links gene to sleep problems in autism Up to 80 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience sleep problems. The source of these problems has been as much of a mystery as the exact causes of ASD, which scientists are still working to unravel. A new study led by a team of neuroscientists at Washington State University has brought scientists closer to identifying the causes of disturbed sleep in autism, which could open the door to future treatment that would bring relief to children with autism and their caregivers.
	Antibiotics: Why asking doctors' to prescribe less is futile An 85-year-old woman with dementia is admitted to hospital with worsening confusion, new urinary incontinence and constipation. These symptoms suggest a urinary tract infection, but the doctor treating her has a dilemma because the symptoms also suggest her dementia may be worsening or she has simple constipation. Sending a sample to a lab for analysis could confirm bacteria in the urine, but getting a result takes days, so the doctor decides to play it safe and prescribe antibiotics.
	Shiatsu massage can help induce sleep for people who suffer a concussion, study shows Young athletes who suffer concussions can gain the upper hand in getting a better sleep through a traditional Japanese massage practice, new University of Alberta research shows.
	What makes memories stronger? A team of scientists at NeuroElectronics Research Flanders reports that highly demanding and rewarding experiences result in stronger memories. By studying navigation in rats, the researchers traced back the mechanism behind this selective memory enhancement to so-called replay processes in the hippocampus, the memory-processing center of the brain. These important findings provide new insights into one of the most enigmatic brain features: memory consolidation.
Optimizing antibiotic use and combating antibiotic resistance Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest problems facing medicine today. A major threat comes from over-use of antibiotics in healthcare. A team of researchers from the University of Leicester has provided a set of recommendations about how to address the problem of antibiotic over-use.
	Are Canadians kept in the dark about new risks of medicines? Government warnings about potential drug safety risks vary significantly across countries, according to a new international study co-authored by researchers at the University of British Columbia.
	Music and mindful music listening may help people who have suffered strokes recover their impaired cognitive abilit Music and mindful music listening may help people who have suffered strokes recover their impaired cognitive abilities more effectively, new research suggests.
	Study paves way for innovative treatment of epilepsy A drug commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis may, after necessary modifications, one day be used to treat patients with epilepsy, researchers in Prof. Inna Slutsky's lab at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University have discovered.
Precision medicine for pediatric cancers: New hope for children and adolescents Five years after it was created to serve children and adolescents in Quebec, the TRICEPS team at CHU Sainte-Justice has demonstrated the feasibility of setting up a research program in pediatric oncology precision medicine, as described in a recent article published in the JAMA Network Open journal.
	Consumption of caffeinated energy drinks rises in the US According to a new study appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, energy drink consumption in the United States has increased substantially over the past decade among adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults. Energy drink consumers had significantly higher total caffeine intake compared with non-consumers and the beverages represented a majority of their total daily caffeine. While the findings indicate that daily intake among adolescents and middle-aged adults may be leveling off and overall use across all groups is relatively limited, use by young adults continues to steadily rise.
	Fecal transplants may be best answer to antibiotic-resistant bacteria Transplanting human donor fecal microbiota into the colon of a patient infected with Clostridiodes difficile (C. diff) may be the best treatment for those not helped by C. diff targeted antibiotics, according to an article in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
	Number of US measles cases rises to 704 in 2019: official The number of measles cases in the United States reached a record-setting 704 for the year last week, the greatest number of cases in 25 years, health officials said Monday.
	Suicide rates spike nationally among youth after '13 Reasons Why' release A recent study revealed approximately 195 more youth suicide deaths than expected were associated with the television series "13 Reasons Why" in the nine months immediately following the series release.
	Caffeine prevents PGE1-induced disturbances in respiratory neural control Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital presented results of a study that investigated whether there are any deleterious effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) treatment on breathing and whether these effects would be prevented via pre-treatment with caffeine.
	Earlier detection of diabetic retinopathy with smartphone AI A novel pairing of two technologies may offer a solution for better screening for diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not caught early.
	Your present self is your best future self, according to new research When thinking about the future, some people think they will change, and others expect they might remain the same. But, how do these predictions relate to happiness later on in their lives? According to new research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), expecting ourselves to remain mostly the same over the next ten years is strongly related to being happier later in life. The research is published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.
	Many smokers switch to vaping while pregnant, but safety issues remain (HealthDay)—Are many women who smoke switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy?
	Nearly 700,000 infant rocking sleepers recalled due to infant deaths (HealthDay)—The Kids II company is recalling nearly 700,000 of its Rocking Sleepers for infants, after reports of babies dying have been linked to the products' use.
	Does diet affect a child's ADHD? (HealthDay)—Parents of kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may change their child's diet in the hope it might ease the disorder's symptoms.
	Predicting heart disease, stroke could be as easy as a blood test Imagine getting a simple blood test to help doctors predict your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
	Meal swaps that save 200 calories (HealthDay)— You can often lose weight by making small yet strategic calorie cuts at every meal, rather than eliminating entire meals or cutting portions so severely that you never feel satisfied.
	Tailoring exercise to your age (HealthDay)—Exercise is a great way to stay youthful and even turn back the clock on aging. If you're new to exercise or simply want a fitness reboot, here are ideas by the decade.
	Parents, protect your kids as measles outbreaks spread (HealthDay)—As measles outbreaks spread across the United States, there are a number of things parents need to know, a leading pediatricians' group says.
	Benlysta approved for children with lupus (HealthDay)—The intravenous drug Benlysta (belimumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat children with lupus, a chronic disease that triggers inflammation and damages tissues and organs throughout the body.
Device helps doctors select lungs for transplant (HealthDay)—The Xvivo Perfusion System has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help doctors determine whether lungs are suitable for transplant, the agency said in a news release.
	Transition support program may aid young adults with type 1 diabetes (HealthDay)—Structured support for patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care for type 1 diabetes may improve outcomes, but those benefits are not sustained after completion of the intervention, according to a study published online April 22 in Diabetes Care.
US one of only eight countries where child and adolescent health improved but maternal mortality worsened since 1990 The United States is one of only eight countries in the world where decreases in child and adolescent mortality over a 27-year period haven't also been matched by reductions in maternal mortality, according to a new scientific study.
	Simple clinical features can help personalise type 2 diabetes treatment A new study from the University of Exeter Medical School has shown that a person's characteristics such as weight and age at diabetes diagnosis provide a simple way to select the diabetes drug that is likely to be best for them.
	Inhaled hydrogen could protect the brain during heart-lung bypass Newborns with life-threatening congenital heart disease often need open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, which carries a risk of damaging the brain. Critically ill newborns who are placed on ECMO are at even higher risk for brain injury. Hypothermia, or cooling the body, can improve neurologic outcomes, but has limitations.
	Study: Mindfulness may help decrease stress in caregivers of veterans Mindfulness therapy may be an effective way of mitigating the stress experienced by spouses and other informal caregivers for military veterans, a new study by researchers at the University of Illinois suggests.
	Brain region that produces emotions is larger in vets, service members with mild TBI and PTSD A new study finds that veterans and active-duty service members with combat-related PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury had larger amygdalas—the region of the brain that processes such emotions as fear, anxiety, and aggression—than those with only brain injuries.
	Morning exercise can improve decision-making across the day in older adults A study of older Australians has found a morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise improves cognitive performance like decision-making across the day compared to prolonged sitting without exercise.
	Oral cancer detection by dentists is significantly on the rise After examining data gathered over an 11-year period in a first-of-its-kind provincial study, University of Toronto clinician-scientist Marco Magalhaes has one vital message: dentists in Ontario are detecting more cases of oral cancer and pre-cancer than ever before—and it's saving lives.
	Surge in US measles cases leads to extraordinary measures Quarantines in California. Fines in New York City. Orders for some people to avoid public places in Rockland County, New York.
	Diving into the details: A lipid-binding pocket is a target for new cancer therapies Normal cells have a complex system of checks and balances that regulate cell division. In cancer, the balance is tipped in favor of cell proliferation. This imbalance arises from increased levels or activity of oncoproteins (proteins that promote cell growth) or decreased levels or activity of tumor suppressors (proteins that limit cell growth). For example, in normal cells, the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) controls cell growth, migration and immortalization to keep cells in check. Some cancers, such as lung cancer, have higher levels of an oncoprotein with the unwieldy moniker su(var)3-9, enhancer of zeste, trithorax (SET). SET binds PP2A and inhibits the normal function of PP2A, resulting in loss of the checkpoint for cancer growth.
Radiotherapy doubles survival for patients with mesothelioma Mesothelioma patients are twice as likely to survive for two years or longer, if they are treated with a high dose of radiation to the affected side of the trunk, according to research presented at the ESTRO 38 conference.
	Higher BMI linked with increased risk of serious health problems and death in study of 2.8 million UK adults A new study has shed light on the link between higher body mass index (BMI) and serious health outcomes and death in over 2.8 million adults representative of the UK population.
	Study shows a quarter of patients have never had their BMI recorded by their GP New research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow, Scotland (28 April—1 May) reveals that a quarter of patients have never had their body mass index (BMI) recorded by their GP. The study is by Kath Williamson and Professor Mike Lean of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dr. Amy Nimegeer of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK.
International study reveals disconnect between perceptions of health care providers and people with obesity worldwide The disconnect between perceptions of health care providers (HCPs) and people with obesity (PwO) is revealed in a new international study (the ACTION-IO study) presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2019) in Glasgow, UK, and published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Among the study's findings are that while 71% of HCPs believe PwO are not interested in losing weight, actually only 7% of PwO report they are not interested—a 10-fold difference.
Pregnant women who were overweight children are at increased risk of developing hypertensive disorders A study of nearly 50,000 women in Denmark, presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in in Glasgow, Scotland (28 April-1 May), reveals that those with overweight or obesity in childhood were more likely to develop hypertensive disorders during pregnancy than women of normal weight in childhood. The study is by Dorthe Corfitzen Pedersen, Ph.D. student, the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark and colleagues.
	Researchers continue efforts to lower drug-resistant hypertension without medication The Emory Heart & Vascular Center is participating in an FDA-approved pivotal trial, called CALM-2 (Controlling And Lowering blood pressure with MobiusHDÒ), of a novel catheter-based, non-surgical procedure to treat patients with drug-resistant hypertension.
	Inpatient care for young people with mental health issues varies significantly by country Access to inpatient care for young people with mental health issues varies significantly across Europe, with mental health services providing up to fifty times more beds depending upon the country you live in.
	New studies examine teen vaping association with sexual risk behavior and drug usage Electronic vapor product (EVP) usage among U.S. high school students is associated with a higher likelihood of engagement in nine out of 10 sexual risk behaviors, according to a new study which analyzed data from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A related study found that adolescent EVP use is associated with a higher likelihood of engagement in several substance-use behaviors. Findings from the studies will be presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2019 Meeting, taking place on April 24—May 1 in Baltimore.
New study aims to validate pediatric version of sequential organ failure assessment A new study aims to validate the pediatric version of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score in the emergency department (ED) setting as a predictor of mortality in all patients and patients with suspected infection. Findings from the study will be presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2019 Meeting, taking place on April 24-May 1 in Baltimore.
Plenary addresses importance of 2020 US Census and challenge of the young child undercount An estimated 5 percent of all children under the age of five were missed in the 2010 U.S. Census. A plenary during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2019 Meeting in Baltimore will address the impact this significant undercount had, how the Census relates to health care resources and the role pediatricians, clinics, hospitals and communities can play to help make sure all children are counted in the 2020 Census.
Study finds women pay more for over-the-counter moisturizers Over-the-counter facial moisturizers are a widely-used and commonly recommended skin care product, but a new study from dermatologists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) finds that, when it comes to price, men's and women's products are not considered equal. Their paper, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, reports finding significant, gender-based price discrepancies in a 2018 survey of 110 facial moisturizing products from three top online retailers—Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
	Co-use of cannabis and tobacco linked to poorer functioning among young adults More than a third of young adults report using both cannabis and tobacco or nicotine products, providing a unique challenge to public health officials as cannabis is legalized in more jurisdictions, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Keeping very low birth weight babies warm Physician-researchers at the 2019 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Baltimore presented their process of how from 2014 to 2017 they made their NICU a center of excellence for increasing the admission body temperature of their very low birth weight babies to greater than 36 degrees
First genome-wide association study (GWAS) for type 2 diabetes in youth findings Pediatric diabetes and genetic researchers with the First Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) for Type 2 diabetes in youth said they discovered seven genetic variants associated with the disease in young people.
	Widespread brain connections enable face recognition Remembering a familiar face engages a wider network of brain regions than previously thought, according to a study of healthy men and women published in JNeurosci.
	Same brain cells active during sleep and exploration in mice Researchers have mapped the activity of individual neurons deep in the brain during sleep and exploration of novel objects in male and female mice. The study, published in JNeurosci, suggests these cells may facilitate memory formation.
	E. coli outbreak tied to ground beef climbs to 177 cases (HealthDay)—U.S. health officials report that 177 cases of E. coli illness linked with tainted ground beef have now been reported across 10 states.
Demand growing for CV specialists trained to treat heart disease in cancer patients The number of cardiologists trained in cardio-oncology, or the treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients treated for cancer, does not currently meet the needs of this rapidly growing population. A review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examines the efforts of the cardio-oncology community to provide the education and training needed to deliver high-quality cardiovascular care to cancer patients and survivors.
	Research suggests strategy for more equitable Medicare reimbursement Those who were enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid were sicker, had more cognitive impairments and difficulty functioning, and needed more social support than those who were not enrolled in both government programs, Saint Louis University research found. These patients also had significantly higher healthcare costs.
New guidelines offer therapeutic approaches and treatment options for juvenile idiopathic arthritis Today, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation (AF), released two guidelines on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). One guideline aims to provide therapeutic approaches for non-systemic polyarthritis, sacroilitis and enthesitis; and the other focuses on the screening, monitoring and treatment of JIA with associated uveitis.
	African-American moms are helicopter parents too, but endgame is survival African-American moms share many traits with helicopter parents, specifically when it comes to being overprotective and hypervigilant about their children's lives. But their goal is not only to get them into college. It's survival.
	Officials declare measles outbreak in Pacific Northwest over A measles outbreak that sickened more than 70 people, mostly children, in the Pacific Northwest is finally over even as the total number of cases nationwide continues to spike to near-record levels , officials said Monday.

Biology news

	Are coffee farms for the birds? Yes and no Over 11 field seasons, between 1999 and 2010, ornithologist Cagan Sekercioglu trekked through the forests and coffee fields of Costa Rica to study how tropical birds were faring in a changing agricultural landscape. Through painstaking banding of individual birds, Sekercioglu asked whether the expansion of coffee plantations is reducing tropical bird biodiversity.
	How the bumble bee got its stripes Researchers have discovered a gene that drives color differences within a species of bumble bees. This discovery helps to explain the highly diverse color patterns among bumble bee species as well as how mimicry—individuals in an area adopting similar color patterns—evolves. A study describing the gene, which occurs in a highly conserved region of the genome that provides blueprints for segmentation, was led by researchers at Penn State and appears April 29, 2019, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	H3N2 viruses mutate during vaccine production but new tech could fix it In late March 2019, the World Health Organization and a vaccine advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration selected the final influenza strains to include in the vaccines produced for the next flu season. These include H1N1, influenza B, and H3N2 viruses.
	The last chance for Madagascar's biodiversity Scientists from around the world have joined together to identify the most important actions needed by Madagascar's new government to prevent species and habitats being lost for ever.
	For certain invasive species, catching infestation early pays off An international research team led by invasion ecologist Bethany Bradley at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has conducted the first global meta-analysis of the characteristics and size of invasive alien species' impacts on native species as invaders become more abundant.
	Screening for genes to improve protein production in yeast By silencing genes, researchers have managed to increase protein production in yeast significantly. This method can lay the grounds for engineering better yeast production hosts for industries producing biopharmaceutical proteins and industrial enzymes.
	New 3-D microscope visualises fast biological processes better than ever Researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg have combined their expertise to develop a new type of microscope. The revolutionary new light-field microscopy system makes it possible to study fast biological processes, creating up to 200 3-D images per second. Initial tests have already delivered new insights into the movement of blood cells in a heart.
	Details of the history of inner Eurasia revealed by new study An international team of researchers has combined archaeological, historical and linguistic data with genetic information from over 700 newly analyzed individuals to construct a more detailed picture of the history of inner Eurasia than ever before available. In a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, they found that the indigenous populations of inner Eurasia are very diverse in their genes, culture and languages, but divide into three groups that stretch across the area in east-west geographic bands.
	An important function of non-nucleated sperm Some animals form characteristic infertile spermatozoa called parasperm, which differ in size and shape compared to fertile sperm produced by single males. Species that have been reported to produce parasperm include snails, cottoid fish, moths and butterflies. Moths and butterflies produce fertile eupyrene sperm and anucleate non-fertile parasperm, which are known as apyrene sperm. A research team at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Japan has identified the gene involved in the formation of the apyrene sperm and has revealed the important function of the apyrene sperm in fertilization using the silk moth, Bombyx mori.
	Major findings help understand bacteria's 'superglue' The discovery, published today in Nature Communications by researchers from La Trobe University and the University of Queensland, provides details on how proteins in the outer membrane of bacteria—the bacteria's 'superglue'—are able to stick to and populate parts of the human body.
	Plant cells eat their own... membranes and oil droplets Biochemists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered two ways that autophagy, or self-eating, controls the levels of oils in plant cells. The study, published in The Plant Cell on April 29, 2019, describes how this cannibalistic-sounding process actually helps plants survive. It also provides mechanistic details scientists might leverage to get plants to accumulate more oil.
	Parasitoid wasps may turn spiders into zombies by hacking their internal code Parasitoid wasps lay their eggs on a spider's back. This team proposes that by injecting the spider host with the molting hormone, ecdysone, the wasp induces the spider to make a special web for the wasp's pupa.
	Crawling to extinction: Singapore turtle haven fights for life Hundreds of turtles and tortoises, including rare and endangered species, face an uncertain future after their Singapore sanctuary—a Guinness World Record holder—was forced to relocate due to government redevelopment plans.
	How many species on Earth? A simple question that's hard to answer You'd think it would be a simple piece of biological accounting – how many distinct species make up life on Earth?
	Latitudinal gradient of plant phylogenetic diversity explained Why are there so many species in the tropics? For centuries, scientists have been searching for the causes of the latitudinal gradient in species diversity—a pattern that has been documented for most groups of living species, including plants, insects, birds, and mammals.
	Bactericidal action of violacein revealed In an article published in the journal ACS Infectious Diseases, Brazilian researchers describe the bactericidal action mechanism of violacein, a violet pigment produced by environmental bacteria, especially Chromobacterium violaceum.
	Heatwave devastates wildlife populations in World Heritage Site Large numbers of dugongs, sea snakes and other marine animals disappeared from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shark Bay, Western Australia, after a heat wave devastated seagrass meadows, according to recently released research.
	Cute or creepy: Why humans love some species, loathe others The Chinese giant salamander, the largest amphibian in the world, is not cute.
	Is an 'insect apocalypse' happening? How would we know? Insects scuttle, chew and fly through the world around us. Humans rely on them to pollinate plants, prey on insects that we don't get along with, and to be movers and shakers for Earth's ecosystems. It's hard to imagine a world without insects.
	Wax helps plants to survive in the desert In 1956, Würzburg botanist Otto Ludwig Lange observed an unusual phenomenon in the Mauritanian desert in West Africa: He found plants whose leaves could withstand heat up to 56 degrees Celsius. At the time, the professor was unable to say which mechanisms were responsible for preventing the leaves from drying out at these temperatures. More than 50 years later, the botanists Markus Riederer and Amauri Bueno from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in Bavaria, Germany, have determined the answer.
	Researchers use a novel approach to identify a transport protein in mycobacteria A team headed by Dr. Claudia Jessen-Trefzer of the University of Freiburg's Institute for Pharmaceuticals Sciences has identified a transport protein in mycobacteria that is responsible for the uptake of the nutrient L-arabinofuranose. The lead authors of the study, Miaomiao Li of the Institute for Pharmaceuticals Sciences, Christoph Müller of the Institute for Biochemistry and Klemens Fröhlich of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research at the University of Freiburg, used a novel approach that could simplify the identification of transport proteins in mycobacteria in the future. This class of proteins could play a key role in the development of new types of medications to tackle mycobacteria and treat diseases like tuberculosis in humans. The researchers' study is published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology.
Responses to environmental tragedies often make matters worse, ethicists find Without sound decision-making, responses to seeming environmental tragedies can often make matters worse, according to ethicists who analyzed a controversial goat removal program on an Australian island.
	Ag census reveals first reports of kiwiberry production in the Northeast For the first time since the USDA began keeping statistics in 1840, farmers from several Northeast states, including New Hampshire, are reporting kiwifruit production operations. The news comes six years after the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire launched a kiwiberry research and breeding program.
Illinois governor OKs first steps on blocking Asian carp The governor of Illinois is authorizing steps toward the installation of technologies in a Chicago-area waterway to prevent Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan.
	Beluga whale with Russian harness raises alarm in Norway A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have come from a Russian military facility.
	Astronauts might soon grow SPACE tomatoes Tiny tomato plants developed at the University of California, Riverside, could one day feed astronauts on the International Space Station. The plants have minimal leaves and stems but still produce a normal amount of fruit, making them a potentially productive crop for cultivation anywhere with limited soil and natural resources.
A daunting task begins: Reducing lobster gear to save whales Fishing managers on the East Coast began the daunting process Monday of implementing new restrictions on lobster fishing that are designed to protect a vanishing species of whale.

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