Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Apr 3

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 3, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

An interpretable model to predict the sequential motions of interacting agents

Atomic switches by plasmonic heating of metallic contact points

Which came first, the lizard or the egg?

Transparent wood can store and release heat

Keeping genetic engineering localized

Giant molecular outflow detected from the quasar PDS 456

Physicist applies statistical mechanics theories to explain how children learn a language

Scientists discover first organism with chlorophyll genes that doesn't photosynthesize

It's a one-way street for sound waves in this new technology

Blocking protein's activity restores cognition in old mice, study shows

UCI scientists are first to observe, image all-important molecular vibrations

Agriculture: Machine learning can reveal optimal growing conditions to maximize taste, other features

Biology may make certain PTSD patients unresponsive to behavioral therapy

Optical tweezers achieve new feats of capturing atoms

Plentiful females keep male crickets young

Astronomy & Space news

	Giant molecular outflow detected from the quasar PDS 456 Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, astronomers have detected a galaxy-wide molecular outflow from the quasar PDS 456. The findings are presented in a paper published March 25 on arXiv.org, in which the authors investigate the properties of this outflow.
	A possible explanation for one of Saturn's moons having an underground ocean A pair of researchers, one with the University of Maryland the other with Southwest Research Institute, has found what they believe is a plausible explanation for the existence of the ocean beneath the surface of one of Saturn's moons. In their paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, Marc Neveu and Alyssa Rhoden describe the computer model they built to replicate conditions near Saturn over time and what they showed.
	Researchers pinpoint origin of photons in mysterious gamma-ray bursts Scientists from the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research and collaborators have used simulations to show that the photons emitted by long gamma-ray bursts, among the most energetic events to take place in the universe, originate in the photosphere—the visible portion of the "relativistic jet" that is emitted by exploding stars.
	Journey to the Big Bang through the lithium of a Milky Way star Researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the University of Cambridge have detected lithium in a primitive star in our galaxy. The observations were made at the VLT, at the Paranal Observatory of ESO in Chile.
	Image: Space antenna Unlike traditional satellite dishes used to pick up television signals, this antenna has to work in space itself. Rather than being clamped to an apartment balcony, it will be installed on the exterior of Europe's Columbus laboratory, becoming part of the International Space Station.
	More delays for Boeing's new space capsule for astronauts Boeing's new space capsule for astronauts faces more launch delays.
	Dark Energy Instrument's lenses see the night sky for the first time On April 1, the dome of the Mayall Telescope near Tucson, Arizona, opened to the night sky, and starlight poured through the assembly of six large lenses that were carefully packaged and aligned for a new instrument that will launch later this year.
	Busy week on the International Space Station Look again at that space station. That's there. That's home for a crew of six astronauts. That's us, too. On board, astronauts perform science and maintain the spacecraft with the support of a whole team on Earth.

Technology news

	An interpretable model to predict the sequential motions of interacting agents Researchers at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, have recently developed a generative model that can predict the sequential motions of pairs of interacting agents, including self-driving vehicles as well as vehicles with human drivers. Their method, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, is interpretable, which means that it can explain the logic behind its predictions, leading to greater reliability and generalizability.
	Agriculture: Machine learning can reveal optimal growing conditions to maximize taste, other features What goes into making plants taste good? For scientists in MIT's Media Lab, it takes a combination of botany, machine-learning algorithms, and some good old-fashioned chemistry.
	Animal intelligence and AI: Competition is in the wings Stay tuned for the upcoming Animal-AI Olympics, brought to you by researchers at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence in Cambridge, UK, and GoodAI, a Prague-based research institute.
	Advance boosts efficiency of flash storage in data centers MIT researchers have designed a novel flash-storage system that could cut in half the energy and physical space required for one of the most expensive components of data centers: data storage.
	Teaching machines to reason about what they see A child who has never seen a pink elephant can still describe one—unlike a computer. "The computer learns from data," says Jiajun Wu, a Ph.D. student at MIT. "The ability to generalize and recognize something you've never seen before—a pink elephant—is very hard for machines."
	GPS has its own 19-year cicada problem Most people of a certain age remember the Y2K problem that worried digitalists worldwide when we transitioned from 1999 to 2000 on the night of Dec. 31, 1999. What would happen to computers and systems when the last two digits on the date went from 99 to 00?
	Ethiopian 737 pilots followed Boeing guidelines before crash: WSJ The pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX plane that crashed last month initially took the emergency steps outlined by the manufacturer but still could not regain control, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
	South Korea to launch world's first national 5G networks South Korea on Friday launches the world's first nationwide 5G mobile networks—a transformational leap that has superpowers sparring for control of an innovation that could potentially change the day-to-day lives of billions of people.
	Edmunds examines costly side effect of safety tech: repairs Vehicle safety technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Today's cars can watch your blind spot, help keep you in your lane, automatically hit the brakes in an emergency, and more. But while the technology helps prevent accidents, there is a potential side effect: increased repair costs.
	Why we shouldn't ban 'tiny vehicles' E-scooter mania is sweeping cities around the world. Fun, accessible and cheap to rent, shared electric scooters are one of the biggest technology stories this year.
	Two-armed 3-D printing Twin robotic arms work together as part of a project to construct what will be the largest, most complex object ever 3-D printed in titanium: a test version of the 3-m diameter 'optic bench' at the heart of ESA's Athena X-ray observatory.
	Defects enable RoHS-compliant, high-performance infrared photodetectors A study led by ICFO researchers reports on a highly sensitive CMOS-compatible broadband photodetector by tailoring material defects.
	Solving the decision-making problem with information described in natural language Computing with words is a computational method where the objects of computation are words and propositions drawn from a natural language rather than the ones and zeroes of binary. Computing with words is perhaps what makes humanity a unique animals species in many regards allowing us to communicate detailed abstract concepts, to reason, to make predictions based on experience and observation. Moreover, we can do those things even with a lack of empirical data, with imprecise, or fuzzy, information, and other deficits.
	Highly economical LED street lights tested in practice Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a novel, even more economical LED street light. They replaced conventional high-performance diodes by a special array of weaker LEDs and, thus, succeeded in reducing power consumption by another 20%. As a result, CO2 emission is decreased and municipalities might save millions of power costs. Pfalzwerke Netz AG, the local utility company, for the first time equipped street lights with the new light heads in the municipality of Maxdorf, Rhineland Palatinate.
	Electrical engineers look to the human immune system for clues on how to best protect digital networks Engineers at the University of South Florida have developed a new type of cybersecurity software that mimics the human immune system.
	Car-sharing offers ways to profit from or ditch personal car While a growing number of Americans are struggling to make payments on their auto loans, a new crop of companies is offering alternative ways for car owners to get rid of costly vehicles or earn money while their cars would normally sit idle.
	Austria proposes taxing internet giants 5 percent of ad revenue Austria on Wednesday proposed taxing internet giants such as Google and Facebook five percent of their digital advertising revenue, a higher rate than France and other EU countries are seeking.
	Walmart, Google make grocery shopping easier with new voice ordering, which launches today Ordering groceries from Walmart is about to get easier.
	Tesla to show self-driving car progress to investors Tesla announced on Wednesday that it will give investors an up-close look at its self-driving car in a bid to bolster confidence in the progress of the nascent technology.
	Face recognition researcher fights Amazon over biased AI Facial recognition technology was already seeping into everyday life—from your photos on Facebook to police scans of mugshots—when Joy Buolamwini noticed a serious glitch: Some of the software couldn't detect dark-skinned faces like hers.
	Bill introduced to help publishers bargain with tech giants News publishers would gain greater power to negotiate terms with Facebook and Google under terms of a bill filed Wednesday in the House of Representatives.
	Pentagon refuses Boeing tanker deliveries over quality issues More bad news for US aviation giant Boeing: the US Air Force said Tuesday it had halted for a second time the acceptance of new KC-46 tankers due to ongoing quality issues.
	Google to require benefits, minimum wage for contractors Google said Tuesday it will require staffing companies it works with to pay workers at least $15 an hour and give them health benefits.
Tapping into 100-year supply of natural gas It is a figure that has been thrown around quite a bit lately in the energy debate – the United States has enough energy in shale to provide all of the nation's transportation fuels for 100 years. But two challenges remain – how to tap into that supply and how to process it into fuel at a reasonable price.
	Amazon awards 100 computer science scholarships Amazon will provide $4 million in scholarships for 100 high school students as part of its new program to support computer science education.
Amazon slashes prices at Whole Foods Market, offers $10 off Amazon is lowering prices at Whole Foods Market and will offer even more savings for Prime members.
Verizon's new 'Just Kids' plan aims to become your child's first smartphone plan A child's first cell phone is increasingly becoming an earlier, and pricier, decision for parents.
Epic Games breaks venture capital records in a banner year for North Carolina companies When Epic Games, the maker of the popular "Fortnite" video game, raised $1.25 billion from investors last year, it made the Cary, N.C.-based company one of the most valuable private companies in the United States.

Medicine & Health news

	Blocking protein's activity restores cognition in old mice, study shows By blocking a protein's activity with antibodies, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators were able to improve cognitive behavior in aging mice.
	Biology may make certain PTSD patients unresponsive to behavioral therapy How well-connected a particular brain network is, and how successfully memories are formed, may determine which patients with post-traumatic stress disorder benefit from behavioral therapy, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found.
	Study debunks 'depression genes' hypotheses Over the past quarter-century, researchers have published hundreds of studies suggesting a small set of particular genes or gene-variants plays a substantial role in boosting susceptibility to depression. Such papers fueled hopes that clinicians could soon use genetic testing to simply identify those at risk, and drug companies could develop medications to counteract a few genetically-driven culprits.
	New role for a driver of metastatic cancers Metastatic ovarian, prostate and breast cancers are notoriously difficult to treat and often deadly. Now, Salk Institute researchers have revealed a new role for the CDK12 protein. The findings were published in the print version of Genes & Development on April 1, 2019.
	A soft spot for stem cells helps cornea healing New research led by scientists at Newcastle University, UK reveals a potential revolutionary way to treat eye injuries and prevent blindness—by softening the tissue hosting the stem cells which then helps repair wounds, inside the body.
	Targeting triple-negative breast cancer with new drug design The type of breast cancer most likely to affect young people and African Americans is also one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat.
	New approach to tackle Ebola and other deadly infections Medical Research Council scientists have isolated therapeutic antibodies from healthy volunteers exposed to the Ebola vaccine but not Ebola virus itself, suggesting that protective therapies could be developed from people who are disease-free.
	Leukocytes use their nucleus as a ruler to choose path of least resistance How do mobile cell types like leukocytes or metastatic cancer cells reach their place of action during immune surveillance or cancer dissemination, respectively? The research group around Michael Sixt at IST Austria has now shown that leukocytes use their nucleus as a ruler to screen their surroundings for the largest pores—and thereby find the path of least resistance.
	Examination of individual cells leads to new understanding of prenatal immune system A ground-breaking study of the prenatal immune system conducted by researchers from Leiden University Medical Center and Delft University of Technology has made it to the March cover of Nature Immunology. The result was achieved using an advanced technique that enables researchers to examine individual cells. The technology was developed in ImaGene, a Perspectief-program which received funding from the NWO domain Applied and Engineering Sciences (AES).
	The brain's auto-complete function When looking at a picture of a sunny day at the beach, we can almost smell the scent of sun screen. Our brain often completes memories and automatically brings back to mind the different elements of the original experience. A new collaborative study between the Universities of Birmingham and Bonn now reveals the underlying mechanisms of this auto-complete function. It is now published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Sunscreen application has better face coverage than SPF moisturizers Application of sun protection factor (SPF) moisturizers tends to miss more of the face, especially around the eyelid regions, compared with sunscreen application, according to a study published April 3 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Kevin Hamill of the University of Liverpool, and colleagues. Moreover, people applying these products are unaware that they are failing to cover regions vulnerable to skin cancer.
	Study illuminates the brain's inner workings Like instruments in an orchestra, different parts of the human brain work together to help us perform the functions of daily life, ranging from breathing and sleeping to reading, walking and learning.
	Discovery shows how mucus build-up, not infections, triggers cystic fibrosis lung damage The build-up of abnormally thick mucus and the associated inflammation appear to be the initiating cause of damage to the lungs of children with cystic fibrosis (CF), rather than bacterial infections, according to a UNC School of Medicine study published in Science Translational Medicine.
	Scientists decipher 3-D structure of a promising molecular target for cancer treatment Columbia University scientists, in collaboration with researchers from Nimbus Therapeutics, have demystified a metabolic enzyme that could be the next major molecular target in cancer treatment.
	Forever young: study uncovers protein that keeps skin youthful Beauty might only be skin deep, but for those wondering how to keep that skin young, scientists may have found an answer in the form of a protein that encourages cell competition.
	Is your melanoma hot enough for immunotherapy? Melanomas tend to be "hot" or "cold—if they're hot, immunotherapy lights melanoma tumors like beacons for elimination by the immune system; but 40-50 percent of melanomas are cold, making them invisible to the immune system, and patients with cold tumors tend to show little benefit from immunotherapies. The problem is that it's been impossible to distinguish a hot melanoma from a cold one—the solution has been to administer immunotherapy and hope for the best, often leading to wasted time and resources. Now a University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2019 identifies a possible way to predict which melanomas are hot and cold: Tumors with mutations in genes leading to over-activation of the NF-kB signaling pathway were more than three times as likely to respond to anti-PD1 immunotherapy compared with tumors in which these changes were absent.
	A 'low dose aspirin' for dementia? Drug ready for first in-human testing Alzheimer's disease wreaks emotional havoc on patients, who are robbed of their memories, their dignity, and their lives. It's financially devastating as well: care for Alzheimer's patients is predicted to top $1 trillion by about the time children born today are having children of their own.
	Gene levels could help predict prognosis for colorectal cancer Levels of a gene that helps the immune system differentiate the good cells from the bad could be a good indicator of prognosis in people with colorectal cancers, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
Shorter stays in a skilled nursing facility tied to higher risk for readmission High hospital readmission rates indicate that many elderly heart failure patients may be sent home too soon from skilled nursing facilities, a new study suggests.
	Study identifies potential fix for hospital star rating program Allowing for more quality measures in the federal government's Quality Star Rating program would create a fairer and more equitable model for assessing the level of quality at U.S. acute-care hospitals, according to a Henry Ford Health System study.
	Stress in childhood and adulthood have combined impact on hormones and health Adults who report high levels of stress and who also had stressful childhoods are most likely to show hormone patterns associated with negative health outcomes, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Blue light could treat superbug infections Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium that causes infection in various parts of the body, is often called a "superbug" thanks to its ability to dodge many common antibiotics. Although most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be life-threatening, sometimes resulting in amputation of the infected appendage.
	Shift work increases diabetes and heart disease risk With over 20% of the population in industrial countries engaging shift work—in sectors such as healthcare and transportation—we urgently need to understand its health burden.
	Researchers discover why men are more likely to develop liver cancer Researchers in Spain have discovered that a hormone secreted by fat cells that is present at higher levels in women can stop liver cells from becoming cancerous. The study, which will be published April 3 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, helps explain why hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is more common in men, and could lead to new treatments for the disease, which is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.
	Poll: Pets help older adults cope with health issues, get active and connect with others A curled-up cat, a tail-wagging dog, a chirping parakeet or even a serene goldfish may help older adults cope with mental and physical health issues, according to a new national poll.
	Do minerals play a role in development of multiple sclerosis? Some studies have suggested that minerals such as zinc and iron may play a role in how multiple sclerosis (MS) progresses, once people have been diagnosed with it. But little was known about whether zinc, iron and other minerals play a role in the development of the disease. A new study shows no link between dietary intake of several minerals and whether people later develop MS. The study is published in the April 3, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This article will also be published in the April 30 print issue of Neurology which is largely dedicated to null hypothesis studies with negative or inconclusive results. These results have the potential to inform future research efforts and to save study participants from avoidable risks.
	Let's be blunt about marijuana Marijuana and its active components (THC and CBD) exist in many forms and strengths and can affect people in different ways.
	Decades-old misconception on white blood cell trafficking to spleen corrected Contrary to prior belief, white blood cells enter the spleen primarily via vessels in the red pulp. The research results contradict ideas regarding how the spleen produces antibodies vital for the human body.
	Artificial intelligence enables recognizing and assessing a violinist's bow movements Gestures are extremely important in playing music, in part because they are directly related to the sound and the expressiveness of the musicians. Today, technology exists that captures movement and is capable of detecting gestural details very precisely. In a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, David Dalmazzo and Rafael Ramírez, members of the Music and Machine Learning Lab of the Music Technology Group of UPF, apply artificial intelligence to the automatic classification of violin bow gestures according to the performer's movement.
	Therapies must become more intensive Conventional physical therapy for stroke survivors is not intensive enough, says Robert Riener. Therapy robots could help patients get back on track more quickly.
	Alcohol-induced brain damage continues after alcohol is stopped Although the harmful effects of alcohol on the brain are widely known, the structural changes observed are very heterogeneous. In addition, diagnostic markers are lacking to characterize brain damage induced by alcohol, especially at the beginning of abstinence, a critical period due to the high rate of relapse that it presents.
	People with obesity often 'dehumanised', study finds New research published in Obesity has found that people with obesity are not only stigmatised, but are blatantly dehumanised.
	Advanced breast cancer drug combo approved for NHS in England A new drug combo has been made available to some patients with advanced breast cancer on the NHS in England.
	Against gut instinct By turning a pathogenic yeast into an immunity-conferring symbiont, a team of A*STAR researchers is unraveling mysteries behind gut evolution and universal vaccines
	Micro-computed tomography provides new insights into Paget's disease A MedUni Vienna study group led by Peter Pietschmann from the Institute of Pathophysiologyand Allergy Research in cooperation with the University of Vienna and the Museum of Natural History Vienna has made a detailed analysis of the microarchitecture of bones affected by the bone metabolic disease known as Paget's disease. High-resolution micro-computed tomography techniques offer insights into the course of the disease.
	Artificial intelligence to assess treatment response of brain tumors A team from Heidelberg University Hospital and the German Cancer Research Centre has developed a new method for the automated image analysis of brain tumors. In their recent publication, the authors show that machine learning methods carefully trained on standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are more reliable and precise than established radiological methods in the treatment of brain tumors. Thus, they make a valuable contribution to the individualized treatment of tumors. In addition, the validated method is an important first step toward automated, high-throughput analysis of medical image data of brain tumors.
	The myth of 'no place like home' when it comes to end of life She died at home, but it wasn't the romantic scene found in movies, where the family held her hand and she simply closed her eyes. In reality, there was a night when she had diarrhea 12 times. In reality, every time she had to be moved she was in pain. This was how a caregiver described caring for her mother as she died at home to social scientists studying end-of-life decision-making.
	How health care facility characteristics affect HIV viral suppression among NYC patients Health care facility characteristics such as the type of clinical setting, the travel distance from the patient's home, the support services offered, and physician experience have been shown to influence health outcomes among persons with HIV, but few studies have explored how these factors influence HIV viral suppression among patients.
	Slight decline in hepatitis C diagnoses in Europe European surveillance data show a 10 percent decrease in newly reported hepatitis C cases between 2016 and 2017. However, with more than 31,000 recorded cases in 2017, diagnoses remain at a high level in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). In addition, variation in national testing practices and widespread under-reporting of diagnosed cases do not provide an accurate picture of the true epidemiological burden.
	Guinea pigs cured of Ebola with antibodies, raising hopes for treatment in humans The Ebola virus outbreak of 2014 in West Africa caused more than 11,000 deaths. At the time, scientists were working on several experimental vaccines and treatments but none were licensed for use in humans.
	New study identifies biomarkers to predict the risk of atrial fibrillation Scientists at the University of Navarra (Spain), in collaboration with clinicians from the University Hospital of Donostia, have identified two biomarkers associated with the risk of suffering atrial fibrillation, a cardiac ailment that affects more than 33.5 million people globally. In the European Union, it is present in 8.8 million people over 55 years of age and in Spain, it affects more than 4 percent of the population over 40 years of age. The World Health Organization considers this disease as an epidemic due to its high morbidity and mortality, and a public health problem due to its high prevalence.
	Genes and genealogy and making the most of famous relations Digging up one's genealogical roots is second only to gardening in popularity as a hobby and can be much more exciting. I have known the joy of discovery and the pleasure of sharing the news.
	Want to understand accented speakers better? Practice, practice, practice Conversation is at the heart of people's lives. We use language to communicate our hopes and dreams to our closest friends, to ask for help from colleagues at work and to describe our ailments to medical professionals. Typically this process of communication goes fairly smoothly.
Research recommends graduated return to work after prostatectomy New UBC research cautions men recovering from a radical prostatectomy to take it easy when returning to work.
	Researchers identify how light at night may harm outcomes in cardiac patients In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, West Virginia University neuroscientists linked white light at night—the kind that typically illuminates hospital rooms—to inflammation, brain-cell death and higher mortality risk in cardiac patients.
	Pollen is getting worse, but you can make things better with these tips from an allergist Blooming spring flowers signal the beginning of spring, but for millions of people, they also signal the onset of the misery: allergy and asthma season. Itchy, watery eyes; sneezing, runny nose; cough and wheezing are triggered by an overreaction of the body to pollen.
	Vitamin B12 identified as the inhibitor of a key enzyme in hereditary Parkinson's disease Iban Ubarretxena, an Ikerbasque researcher and director of the Biofisika Institute (CSIC-UPV/EHU), participated in a study that identified new inhibitors that could be used to develop drugs to combat Parkinson's. The research has been published in Cell Research.
	US investigates seizure risk with electronic cigarettes U.S. health officials are investigating whether electronic cigarettes may trigger seizures in some people who use the nicotine-vaping devices.
	New study identifies genetic variant that could help reduce need for liver transplants A new study from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research has identified a genetic variant associated with liver fibrosis (scarring) in chronic hepatitis C patients. This finding is a step toward reducing the number of patients requiring liver transplants.
	FDA-approved drug effectively treats rare chronic immune disorders A drug approved to treat a severe form of asthma dramatically improved the health of people with rare chronic immune disorders called hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) in whom other treatments were ineffective or intolerable. This finding comes from a small clinical trial led by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and conducted through a partnership with the global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The results were published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Scientists outline the promises and pitfalls of machine learning in medicine A 49-year-old man notices a painless rash on his shoulder but doesn't seek care. Months later, during a routine physical, his doctor notices the rash and diagnoses it as a benign skin condition. More time passes, and during a routine screening test, a nurse points out the rash to another physician who urges the patient to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist performs a biopsy of it. The pathology report reveals a noncancerous lesion. The dermatologist seeks a second reading of the pathology slides. This time, a drastically different verdict: invasive melanoma. The patient is immediately started on chemotherapy. Weeks later, a physician friend asks him why he's not on immunotherapy instead.
	Routine HPV vaccination linked to dramatic reduction in cervical disease among young women Routine vaccination of girls aged 12 or 13 years with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Scotland has led to a dramatic reduction in cervical disease in later life, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
	Immunotherapy kicks and kills HIV by exploiting a common virus In a first on the quest to cure HIV, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health scientists report today in EBioMedicine that they've developed an all-in-one immunotherapy approach that not only kicks HIV out of hiding in the immune system, but also kills it. The key lies in immune cells designed to recognize an entirely different virus.
Secure relationship with new parents reduces anxiety in adopted children In children who have experienced early institutional care, a strong relationship with their adoptive parents plays a positive role in brain development and the child's long-term mental health, according to a new study, published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. Childhood is a time when parents play a central role in influencing their child's emotional reactivity and response to stress. The study showed that children who demonstrated reduced brain activity in a region important for emotion, the amygdala, in response to their adoptive parents had lower anxiety levels later in life.
	Abnormalities in a protein affecting how nerve cells change shape Since 1993, when the gene that causes Huntington's disease (HD) was identified, there has been intense focus on understanding how this genetic mutation causes the disease's severe progressive neural deterioration. In a new study published in the Journal of Huntington's Disease, investigators have discovered that the HD mutation may alter the interactions of Huntingtin, the large protein produced by the HD gene, with Rac1, a protein that directs changes in cell shape. In HD, this interaction may result in abnormalities in the pathway controlling neural cell shape and dendritic growth, which can affect how well nerve cells communicate with one another.
	More policy work needed to reduce use of smokeless tobacco, say researchers Researchers at the University of York have shown that regulations on smokeless tobacco are still lacking, despite 181 countries agreeing to a common approach to controlling the demand and supply.
	Birth control pills may protect against most serious ovarian cancer: study (HealthDay)—The protection that birth control pills offer against ovarian cancer is strongest with the most aggressive forms of the disease, a new study says.
	Teaching kids the importance of an apology (HealthDay)—"Say you're sorry." It's almost a natural reflex to ask this of your child when he or she hurts or wrongs someone. But at what age do kids really understand the meaning of an apology, and should you make a child repeat the words if they don't yet have real meaning?
	Easy ways to reap the benefits of extra virgin olive oil (HealthDay)—When it comes to healthy oils, extra virgin olive oil—EVOO for short—is the top choice for your healthy pantry.
Strong link between air pollution in Southwestern Ontario and adverse birth outcomes A study by researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University and Brescia University College has found evidence of a strong association between exposure to sulfur dioxide during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes.
New formula better predicts speed of tumor growth in 12 cancers University at Buffalo researchers have developed a new method to more accurately predict tumor growth rates, a crucial statistic used to schedule screenings and set dosing regimens in cancer treatment.
	Study finds lower death rates for TAVR centers that do more procedures Hospitals that perform the highest volume of transcatheter-aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures have significantly lower mortality rates than centers that do fewer of the minimally invasive surgeries, according to an analysis by a collaboration that included the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
	NIH begins first-in-human trial of a universal influenza vaccine candidate The first clinical trial of an innovative universal influenza vaccine candidate is examining the vaccine's safety and tolerability as well as its ability to induce an immune response in healthy volunteers. Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, developed the experimental vaccine, known as H1ssF_3928.
	Racial disparities persist in access to kidney transplants In a new study of patients awaiting kidney transplants, Yale researchers found significant racial disparities. This occurred despite a new system designed to reduce inequities, the researchers said.
	Pancreatic cancer treatments show promise in studies University of Pennsylvania researchers are reporting early but encouraging results from two small ongoing studies of experimental treatments for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
	Q&A: Evaluation can determine cause, guide treatment for knee pain Dear Mayo Clinic: One year ago, I fell and broke my arm. While my arm has healed, my knees also have been bothering me since I fell. I have arthritis in both knees and a slight tear in the meniscus on one knee, but both knees are extremely painful when I walk. Is it possible that arthritis is causing this much pain, or could there be another reason, perhaps related to my fall? I am 59.
How long does it take to see a doctor in a nursing home? Some patients never do, Penn study finds When Kira Ryskina works in Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, she usually sees her patients every day.
Integrating infant mental health into the neonatal intensive care unit Bringing a baby into the world involves many firsts—mothers and fathers are discovering their new roles, babies are learning what it means to live outside the womb, and the family is forging a relationship and bonding. What happens when this time of uncertainty is complicated by medical issues?
A step toward recovering reproduction in girls who survive childhood cancer Leukemia treatments often leave girls infertile, but a procedure developed by researchers at the University of Michigan working with mice is a step toward restoring their ability to be biological mothers.
	Researchers test new imaging method for first time on human patients A new study by biomedical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas could significantly improve methods for detecting and diagnosing congenital heart disease in infants and small children.
Widely used public health surveys may underestimate global burden of childhood diarrhea Public health surveys used in as many as 90 countries may be missing the number of recent diarrhea episodes among children by asking parents and caregivers to recall events two weeks versus one week out, suggests a study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	Government subsidies could be key to containing hospital-born infections Healthcare-associated infections—illnesses that people contract while being treated in a hospital or other healthcare facility—sicken millions of people each year and cost billions of dollars in additional treatment. While there has been some improvement over the years, on any given day, about three percent of the hospitalized population in the United States has at least one healthcare-associated infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Opioid epidemic is increasing rates of some infectious diseases The United States faces a converging public health crisis as the nation's opioid epidemic fuels growing rates of certain infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, heart infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. Infectious disease and substance use disorder professionals must work together to stem the mounting public health threat, according to a new commentary in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The article was co-authored by officials from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
France to ban popular breast implants over cancer risk: media France is to ban a popular type of breast implant which has been linked to a rare form of cancer, Le Monde newspaper and French public radio reported Wednesday, citing a letter from health authorities to implant manufacturers.
	Population mortality affects long-term follow-up of AlloHCT (HealthDay)—For older patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT), a considerable part of total nonrelapse mortality (NRM) is attributable to population mortality, according to a study recently published in Leukemia.
	Late preterm steroid therapy found to be cost-effective (HealthDay)—In women at high risk for late preterm delivery, antenatal treatment with betamethasone is a cost-effective strategy, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Want to stop smoking? Gums, patches, sprays or counseling may help (HealthDay)—Many Americans who want to quit smoking aren't sure how, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
	Computational model of a human kinase may provide insights for cancer treatment Researchers have developed a computational model for human MEK1, a protein with potential as a drug target for a variety of human cancers.
Somatic symptom disorder linked to changes in brain functional connectivity Alterations in functional connectivity of the brain may help in understanding the neurobiological changes leading to somatic symptom disorder (SSD), reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society.
	Patent-pending probiotic could disrupt Crohn's disease biofilms Probiotics typically aim to rebalance bacteria populations in the gut, but new research suggests they may also help break apart stubborn biofilms. Biofilms are living microbial communities—they provide a haven for microbes and are often resistant to antibiotics. A new study describes a specific probiotic mix that could help patients with gastrointestinal diseases avoid harmful biofilms that can worsen their symptoms.
Researchers address travails of navigating metastatic cancer survivorship Due to advances in treatment, an ever-increasing number of patients are living longer as metastatic cancer survivors. They and their doctors face a host of new challenges that require immediate attention.
	Burger King goes... vegan? The meatless Whopper is here For decades, fast-food giant Burger King has been the undisputed Home of the Whopper—the chain's signature sandwich featuring one of its flame-grilled, "no nonsense" 100 percent beef patties.
	New insights on liver injury in men taking body building supplements In a study reported in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 44 men with liver injury, attributed to over-the-counter bodybuilding supplements, experienced a uniform and distinctive pattern of signs and symptoms that were often prolonged, difficult to treat, and accompanied by disability and weight loss.
Study identifies gender differences in reported adverse drug reactions In a British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study, investigators uncovered numerous gender differences in reports of adverse drug reactions sent to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre in the Netherlands.
	Psychostimulants play a major role in fatal strokes among young adults An estimated 76 million people use psychostimulants, which include illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, as well as prescription stimulants. A new Journal of Forensic Sciences study from Australia is the first to present national data of psychostimulant use in young adults who experienced a fatal stroke.
Inflammatory arthritis may negatively affect intimate relationships and sexual function A systematic review and analysis of published studies found consistent links between inflammatory arthritis and impacts on intimacy and sexual function for both men and women. The Arthritis Care & Research analysis included 55 studies.
	Sleeping pill use linked to greater need for blood pressure medications In a Geriatrics & Gerontology International study of 752 older adults with hypertension followed from 2008-2010 through 2012-2013, using sleeping pills on a regular basis was linked with use of an increasing number of blood pressure medications over time.
Anti-inflammatory plant-based diet helps reduce gingivitis A plant-based whole food diet reduced gingivitis in a recent randomized trial published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.
Counselors may find that focusing on the human-nature connection may help clients The concept of "ecowellness" encompasses a sense of appreciation, respect, and awe of nature that can contribute to holistic wellness. A new study described in the Journal of Humanistic Counseling examines the relationships between ecowellness measures and overall wellness among 749 participants aged 19-84 years.
Difficulty hearing may keep older patients from participating in their health care In a Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study of 13,940 adults age 65 years and older, nearly half reported difficulty hearing, and those reporting difficulty said that they had lower levels of active participation in their health care.
Discrimination may affect adolescents' sleep quality In a Child Development study of daily diary descriptions of discrimination by minority adolescents, experiencing discrimination during the day was associated with compromised sleep quality that night, as well as feelings of greater daytime dysfunction and sleepiness the following day.
	Cholera vaccination drive starts in Mozambique after cyclone A cholera vaccination campaign is kicking off to reach nearly 900,000 cyclone survivors in Mozambique as officials rush to contain an outbreak of the disease.
	Mathematician helps surgeon save those injured in explosive blasts An applied mathematician and a military doctor have developed the first simulator to test treatments for patients with blast lung injury caused by explosions.
	Book traces 'abortion regret' narrative from origins to center of anti-abortion movement One of the primary arguments of the U.S. anti-abortion movement is that women who have abortions will experience a profound sense of regret, mental anguish, anxiety and all manner of problems stemming from the decision.
HPV infection high in minority men who have sex with men despite available vaccine The rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is high among young minority gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men despite the availability of a vaccine that can prevent the infection, a Rutgers School of Public Health study found.
	Is adenosine the missing link in restless leg syndrome? Researchers have identified a common mechanism implicating adenosine in the cause of restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms—the periodic limb movements characteristic of RLS and the state of enhanced arousal that both disrupt sleep. Preclinical findings in a rat model of RLS and clinical results in humans together suggest that targeting the pathogenetic downregulation of adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) may be a promising therapeutic strategy, according to an editorial published in Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine Research.
Dermatology students improve Wikipedia entries on skin disease A group of medical students recruited to improve Wikipedia articles on skin-related diseases, saw millions more views of those stories following their editing, highlighting the value of expert input on the popular web encyclopedia.
Cyclone-hit Mozambique launches mass cholera vaccination blitz A vaccination campaign was launched in Mozambique's central city of Beira on Wednesday after a cyclone slammed into the region and unleashed an outbreak of cholera, authorities said.
	Americans borrowed $88 billion in past year to pay for health care (HealthDay)—About one in eight Americans borrowed a total of $88 billion in the past year to pay for health care, a new West Health-Gallup survey shows.
First clinical trial of reformulated epileptic drug to treat medically refractory epilepsy A currently approved epileptic drug to treat seizures has been modified by a University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus professor and is currently being used in a clinical trial in Australia for medically refractory epilepsy.
Q&A: Revealing the cause of unexplained fainting Dear Mayo Clinic: I had a fainting spell the other day, which had never happened to me before in my 64 years. I don't feel unwell, but a friend I was with at the time insists I should see my doctor. Is that necessary? What would they be looking for?
Health hacks from motherhood through menopause The pain hit one morning when Dr. Darria Long Gillespie tried to get out of bed. Her hands and feet were swollen and aching. At the time, she was in residency for emergency medicine at Yale. She had to see patients, but had trouble walking or standing for long periods of time. Long Gillespie was eventually diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis that would require biweekly injections of medication to control the symptoms. The moment marked a turning point in her life.
Canadian province to presume consent for organ donations Canada's province of Nova Scotia has proposed a law that would presume all citizens consent to being organ donors unless they opt out, breaking new ground in North America.
	New plan limits out-of-pocket costs for insulin (HealthDay)—Out-of-pocket costs for insulin could be restricted to $25 a month for people under a drug benefit plan announced Wednesday by Express Scripts.

Biology news

	Which came first, the lizard or the egg? In a world first, researchers at the University of Sydney have observed a normally live-bearing Australian lizard lay three eggs and then weeks later, give birth to a live baby from the same pregnancy. This is the first time such an event has been documented in a single litter of vertebrate babies.
	Keeping genetic engineering localized Genetic engineering tools that spread genes within a target species have the potential to humanely control harmful pests as well as eradicate parasitic diseases such as malaria.
	Scientists discover first organism with chlorophyll genes that doesn't photosynthesize For the first time scientists have found an organism that can produce chlorophyll but does not engage in photosynthesis.
	Plentiful females keep male crickets young Male crickets age more slowly if they have access to plenty of females, new research shows.
	Hybrid species could hold secret to protect Darwin's finches against invasive parasite A hybrid bird species on the Galapagos Islands could help scientists find a way to stop an invasive fly which is killing off the hatchlings of famous Darwin's finches at an alarming rate, according to new research.
	Fatal chirps: Nocturnal flight calls increase building collisions among migrating birds Birds that produce faint chirps called flight calls during nighttime migration collide with illuminated buildings much more often than closely related species that don't produce such calls, according to a new analysis of a 40-year record of thousands of building collisions in the Midwest.
	Reality TV: Camera-toting sharks hunt seals in kelp forests Great white sharks fitted with cameras on their dorsal fins have been filmed for the first time stalking prey in dense kelp forests long thought to be no-go zones for the top-level predators.
	New protein for gene editing may improve disease treatment, sustainable manufacturing Gene editing has been a much sought after and controversial technology. Last month, part of the World Health Organization called for an international registry to track all research into editing the human genome.
	More than seed plants, moss has had dynamic evolution In a Nature Communications paper published today, an international research team including UConn's Bernard Goffinet used DNA-sequencing technology to reconstruct the family tree of mosses, which go back at least 400 million years.
	Zooming in on an inner-cell DNA repair shop Inside every cell in your body are molecular machines that help package, read, and repair DNA. These protein assemblies are essential to survival, yet we know little about how they function because, until recently, it was impossible to accurately describe their structure.
	High throughput method to produce and screen engineered antimicrobial lanthipeptides Nature provides lots of antimicrobials. However, given the rapid increase of antimicrobial resistance, there is a need for the development of synthetic antibiotics. Lantibiotics are an interesting option. Molecular biologists from the University of Groningen and their colleagues in Switzerland and Germany have now developed a pipeline to create and screen large numbers of new lantibiotic peptides. A description of the method and the first results were published on 1 April in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
	Researchers advance in the development of 'papaya sugarcane' When the papaya (Carica papaya) is ripening, its cell walls separate, making the tissue softer and more digestible. The cell contents become accessible and the sucrose in the fruit is more easily extracted. Sugarcane roots have recently been found to undergo a similar process. Their cell walls are modified during development to form gas-filled intercellular spaces in a type of tissue known as aerenchyma.
	Hermit crabs found to use vibration to ward off would-be shell evictors A pair of researchers with Dartmouth College has found that Pacific hermit crabs use vibration to ward off other crabs trying to steal their shells. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Louise Roberts and Mark Laidre describe their study of hermit crabs attempting to protect their shells and what they found.
	Newly discovered mechanism of plant hormone auxin acts contrarily Increased levels of the hormone auxin usually promote cell growth in plant tissues. Chinese scientists, together with researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), have now shown that in special areas of the seedling, increased auxin levels trigger a different gene expression pathway leading to growth inhibition. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, helps to explain the formation of the typical bend or so called apical hook that helps the seedling to break through the soil following germination.
	Spider monkeys lower their 'whinnies' when making long-distance calls Isolated spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) likely lower the pitch of their calls to improve the chances of re-establishing contact with their group, according to a study published April 3, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by José D. Ordóñez-Gómez from the German Primate Center, Germany, and colleagues.
	Insect-deterring sorghum compounds may be eco-friendly pesticide Compounds produced by sorghum plants to defend against insect feeding could be isolated, synthesized and used as a targeted, nontoxic insect deterrent, according to researchers who studied plant-insect interactions that included field, greenhouse and laboratory components.
	Canada gives nod to farm for genetically-modified salmon Canada's first commercial farm for genetically-modified salmon received environmental approval on Tuesday—the final hurdle in a decades-long push to bring the fast-growing fish to market, amid strong opposition.
	Fungal mating: Next weapon against corn aflatoxin? It's not fun when a fungus contaminates crops. Safe native fungi, however, show promise in the fight against toxic fungal contamination.
	Doing more with less in the study of plant chemical defense Plants can't run away to avoid being eaten, so instead they employ a variety of chemical defenses to keep herbivores at bay. Understanding plant chemical defenses is critical for keeping crops healthy, and for answering a variety of more academic questions about ecology and evolution. However, current techniques for assessing plant chemical defenses are time consuming and require impractically large amounts of plant tissue. In research presented in a recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, Dr. Chandra Jack and colleagues devised a new technique for assessing plant chemical defenses that is less laborious and more practical for a variety of experimental applications.
Brightly-colored fairy wrens not attacked by predators more than their dull counterparts In "Conspicuous Plumage Does Not Increase Predation Risk: A Continent-Wide Test Using Model Songbirds," published in the American Naturalist, Kristal E. Cain examines the factors that drive the predation levels of Australia's fairy wrens. After measuring attack rates on both conspicuously and dull colored 3-D fairy wren models in various habitats, Cain found that bright or "conspicuous" plumage is not associated with an increase in predation.
	Exotic signaling mechanism in pathogens The unicellular parasite that causes sleeping sickness differs from other eukaryotes in the mode of regulation of an essential cellular signaling pathway. This provides a promising point of attack for drug development.
	How understanding animal behavior can support wildlife conservation Researchers from EPFL and the University of Zurich have developed a model that uses data from sensors worn by meerkats to gain a more detailed picture of how animals behave in the wild.
	Origin of the saffron crocus traced back to Greece The origin of C. sativus has long been the subject of speculation and research, as this knowledge would enable breeders to introduce genetic diversity into the otherwise genetically uniform plant species. Two new studies have now shown that the saffron crocus originated from a Greek ancestor.
	Metabolically engineered organisms could sustainably produce ingredients for natural foods, flavors and fragrances metabolically engineered organisms could sustainably produce ingredients for natural foods, flavors and fragrances
	Study sheds light on social drivers of animal dispersal Why would male and female animals choose different reproductive strategies? For golden lion tamarins in the Brazilian rain forest, the answer may offer clues to help save this neotropical primate.
	Loss of habitat causes double damage to species richness Loss and fragmentation of habitat are among the main reasons why biodiversity is decreasing in many places worldwide. Now, a research team with participation of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) has established that the destruction of habitat causes double damage to biodiversity; if habitat patches disappear, not only do the species living there become extinct, but species richness in neighbouring patches also declines. The reason for this additional species loss is the large physical distances between the remaining habitat patches, the researchers write in the journal Ecology Letters.
	Machine learning for measuring roots Researchers from the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) and La Salle-Ramon Llull University, both in Barcelona, Spain, have developed software that uses image processing and machine learning to semi-automate the analysis of root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings growing directly in agar plates. The software, named MyRoot, is available to the research community free of charge. CRAG researchers have already saved significant labor and time using MyRoot. The high efficiency and accuracy offered by MyRoot has been demonstrated in an article in The Plant Journal.
	Rwanda's gorillas have figured out where to find their sodium fix—but it's dangerous Mountain Gorilla conservation in Rwanda is a great success story. A number of extreme conservation measures – like daily monitoring and protection, veterinary interventions and controlled ecotourism – have enabled the population to bounce back after a precarious low in the 1960s and 1970s that was brought about by habitat destruction and poaching.
	Here's why you need to keep your voice down when on a wildlife tour Anyone who has ever spent time observing wild animals in nature will know that silence is golden. Wildlife tours recommend that people stay quiet in order to see more, but research on Tibetan macaques suggests that high levels of noise from tourists can also lead to more aggressive behaviour.
	As climate change erodes US coastlines, an invasive plant could become an ally Many invasive species are found along U.S. coasts, including fishes, crabs, mollusks and marsh grasses. Since the general opinion is that invasives are harmful, land managers and communities spend a lot of time and resources attempting to remove them. Often this happens before much is known about their actual effects, either good or bad.
	Wild bees flock to forested areas affected by severe fire A groundbreaking two-year study in southern Oregon found greater abundance and diversity of wild bees in areas that experienced moderate and severe forest fires compared to areas with low-severity fires.
	Global eradication of 'fly of death' not ethically justified, researchers conclude The tsetse fly, also known as the "fly of death" and the "poverty fly," is the primary means of transmission for the parasite that causes trypanosomosis.
	Think the tick threat grows with the grass? Not necessarily When Susannah Lerman talked with fellow researchers and friends about her study of the effects of less frequent lawn mowing to improve habitat for native bees, the response she heard most had nothing to do with bees. "The first thing people said was that letting the grass get longer would invite ticks," said Lerman, a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station. "It was clear that before we could make the case for promoting lawns as bee habitat, we had to understand the tick risk."
	Researchers' breakthrough in tackling challenge of antifungal resistance Ground-breaking work by university experts in Tennessee, Texas and Swansea is helping develop a better understanding of the growing threat posed by antifungal drug resistance.
	New study questions effects of reintroducing top predators For years, scientists have assumed that when top predators are reintroduced to an ecosystem, the effects are predictable: The ecosystem will return to how it was before the predators were wiped out.
	Gorillas gather around and groom their dead It is now known that many animals exhibit unique behaviors around same-species corpses, ranging from removal of the bodies and burial among social insects to quiet attendance and caregiving among elephants and primates. Researchers in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo have been able to take a close look at the behavioral responses to the deaths of three individuals—both known and unknown—in gorillas and have reported their findings in PeerJ—the Journal of Life and Environmental Sciences.
	New Metascape platform enables biologists to unlock big-data insights For the modern biologist, large-scale OMICs studies—which map all of the genes, proteins, RNA and more that underlie a biological system—are standard tools of the trade. But interpreting these big-data outputs to generate meaningful information is far from routine: Analyzing the results requires sophisticated tools and highly trained computational scientists. These efforts can be costly and time intensive even for experts—taking anywhere from days to weeks to generate actionable information.
Bid to beat rabies could benefit from oral dog vaccine, study finds Vaccines hidden in dog food could help curb the spread of rabies in countries with large populations of stray dogs, research suggests.
	Berlin-born polar bear cub named after football club Hertha Berlin's latest zoo celebrity, a fluffy polar bear cub, has been named "Hertha" after the capital's football club, it was announced Tuesday.
	Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, hypothyroidism could lower risk of T-zone lymphoma in dogs Dogs that receive omega-3 fatty acid supplements or have hypothyroidism may be less likely to develop T-zone lymphoma (TZL). Those are two findings from Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at Colorado State University, who studied associations of environment and health history of the disease among golden retrievers. They published their results in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
	Saving bees, protecting forests and improving livelihoods Imagine you are standing in a beautiful mosaic of meadow and forest habitats – buzzing bees flying from flower to flower. You are in the Zarand landscape corridor in Romania. As well as having rich floral diversity, this landscape corridor provides an element of wilderness through which brown bears, grey wolves and Eurasian lynx can move between the Western and Southern Carpathian Mountains.
	Spider surprise: Philippines seizes 750 smuggled tarantulas Philippine authorities said Wednesday they cracked open a gift-wrapped package shipped from Poland to discover 757 tarantulas crammed into plastic containers.
	German state to accept environmentalists' bee-saving plan The German state of Bavaria is set to accept in large part a plan by environmentalists to save bees and protect biodiversity, averting a referendum on the issue.

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