# drugs: how to socialize octopuses (O. bimaculoides)

<< By studying the genome of a kind of octopus not known for its friendliness toward its peers, then testing its behavioral reaction to a popular mood-altering drug called MDMA or "ecstasy," scientists say they have found preliminary evidence of an evolutionary link between the social behaviors of the sea creature and humans, species separated by 500 million years on the evolutionary tree. >>

<< What our studies suggest is that certain brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that send signals between neurons required for these social behaviors are evolutionarily conserved. >> Gul Dolen

Octopuses given mood drug 'ecstasy' reveal genetic link to evolution of social behaviors in humans. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Sept 20, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-octopuses-mood-drug-ecstasy-reveal.html

Eric Edsinger, Gul Dolen. A Conserved Role for Serotonergic Neurotransmission in Mediating Social Behavior in Octopus. Curr Biol. Sep 20, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.061 

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(18)30991-6

# evol: life as a product of molecular self-assembly

<< There are currently two main schools of thought regarding the origins of RNA. In one school, RNA is considered to be a product of nonenzymatic, prebiotic reactions. In the other, RNA is considered to be a product of chemical and/or biological evolution. >>

AA << report progress toward finding a proto-RNA that is the product of molecular self-assembly. >>

Cafferty B.J., Fialho D.M., Hud N.V. (2018) Searching for Possible Ancestors of RNA: The Self-Assembly Hypothesis for the Origin of Proto-RNA. In: Menor-Salvan C. (eds) Prebiotic Chemistry and Chemical Evolution of Nucleic Acids. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, vol 35. Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-93584-3_5

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-93584-3_5

Joelle Renstrom. New study identifies possible ancestors of RNA. Astrobiol  Mag. Sep 17, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-ancestors-rna.html 

# acad: oops! half of all EU trials are non-compliant

<< Of 7274 trials where results were due, 49.5% (95% confidence interval 48.4% to 50.7%) reported results. >>

<< Compliance with the European Commission requirement for all trials to post results on to the EUCTR [EU Clinical Trials Register] within 12 months of completion has been poor, with half of all trials non-compliant. >>

Ben Goldacre, Nicholas J DeVito, et al. Compliance with requirement to report results on the EU Clinical Trials Register: cohort study and web resource. BMJ 2018;362:k3218. Sep 12, 2018.

https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3218

<< "chaos, rather than malice" is behind academics’ poor reporting of trial results. >> Ben Goldacre

Inga Vesper. Europe’s academics fail to report results for 90% of clinical trials. But nearly 70% of industry-sponsored trials report their results within a year of ending. Nature doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-06676-8 Sep 13, 2018.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06676-8

# brain: seeing "ghosted" images

<< the human eye and brain are together capable of seeing "ghosted" images >>

<< it is possible to create ghost images with a technique using light to make an image without reflecting it off the original object. The technique is called "ghosting," >>

Bob Yirka. Human eye capable of seeing 'ghosted' images. Sep 4, 2018

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-human-eye-capable-ghosted-images.html

<< Computational ghost imaging relies on the decomposition of an image into patterns that are summed together with weights that measure the overlap of each pattern with the scene being imaged. These tasks rely on a computer. Here [AA] demonstrate that the computational integration can be performed directly with the human eye. >>

Alessandro Boccolini, Alessandro Fedrizzi, Daniele Faccio. Ghost imaging with the human eye. arXiv:1808.05137 [q-bio.NC] Aug 13, 2018.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1808.05137

# behav: a small fish (the cleaner wrasse L. dimidiatus) passes self-awareness test

AA << show that the cleaner wrasse fish, Labroides dimidiatus, passes through all phases of the mark test: (i) social reactions towards the reflection, (ii) repeated idiosyncratic behaviours towards the mirror (contingency testing), and (iii) frequent observation of their reflection. >>

Masanori Kohda, Hatta Takashi, et al.  Cleaner wrasse pass the mark test. What are the implications for consciousness and self-awareness testing in animals?  BioRxiv  doi: 10.1101/397067 Aug 21, 2018

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/08/21/397067

<< Since the 1970s, a test developed by Gordon Gallup has been the gold standard for testing for self-awareness - researchers make a mark on a creature's face and introduce a mirror. If the animal makes some attempt to touch or remove the mark, they are deemed to have self-awareness. Since the test first came into use, only a few animals have ever passed the test. Besides humans, the list currently includes chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, dolphins, elephants and pigeons. >>

Bob Yirka. Small fish passes classic self-awareness test. Sep 4, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-small-fish-classic-self-awareness.html

# gst: how to detect a sinkhole

<< It comes as quite a shock when the ground beneath your feet, your house or your field suddenly disappears leaving a hole. [..] We call these sinkholes, and they are a global problem. >>

<< These voids may eventually come to the surface over time as the roof progressively collapses. These collapses can be gradual, or can happen suddenly, with surface depressions appearing overnight without warning. >>

Peter Styles, Jamie Pringle. How to detect a sinkhole - before it swallows you up. Keele University. Sep 4, 2018.

https://theconversation.com/how-to-detect-a-sinkhole-before-it-swallows-you-up-101543

# zen: "walking doesn't get the respect it deserves"

<< Walking is one of the things that distinguishes us from all other animals and, according to a Harvard Medical School Review, "walking doesn't get the respect it deserves". >>

<< Our genome has been evolving over millennia and we still have the same genomes as our hunter-gather ancestors who were active and not obese. >> Anthony Hannan.

Jill Margo. Science shows how walking keeps the brain developing deep into old age.

https://www.afr.com/lifestyle/health/science-shows-how-walking-keeps-the-brain-developing-deep-into-old-age-20180820-h147re

Also

Kinhin

https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinhin