Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 18

RESPEKT!

More than a million stars are forming in a mysterious dusty gas cloud in a nearby galaxy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 4:23 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 18
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

The Phys.org team would like to share a valuable resource from this month's content sponsor, COMSOL.

Join COMSOL for this free webinar on "Postprocessing Simulation Results" to explore postprocessing tools in COMSOL Multiphysics and discuss how to analyze simulation results. Register here: http://goo.gl/aGMZlH

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 18, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Detection of mini black holes at the LHC could indicate parallel universes in extra dimensions
- Mudskipper fish may offer clues about development of tongue in land animals
- Robot model for infant learning shows bodily posture may affect memory and learning
- Protein sequencing solves Darwinian mystery of 'strange' South American mammals
- Scientists develop cool process to make better graphene
- More than a million stars are forming in a mysterious dusty gas cloud in a nearby galaxy
- New optical materials break digital connectivity barriers
- An improved method for coating gold nanorods
- Invasive Burmese pythons shown to be reducing marsh rabbit population in Everglades
- Tabletop robot UR3 can be worker's third-hand helper
- Shape-shifting animals reveal secrets of why energy use changes during growth
- Dawn breaks over distant Ceres ... and perhaps signs of habitability
- Researchers find instance of parasites fueling cannibalism
- Extent of Moon's giant volcanic eruption is revealed
- Amazon's carbon uptake declines as trees die faster

Nanotechnology news

	Scientists develop cool process to make better graphene A new technique invented at Caltech to produce graphene—a material made up of an atom-thick layer of carbon—at room temperature could help pave the way for commercially feasible graphene-based solar cells and light-emitting diodes, large-panel displays, and flexible electronics.
	An improved method for coating gold nanorods Researchers have fine-tuned a technique for coating gold nanorods with silica shells, allowing engineers to create large quantities of the nanorods and giving them more control over the thickness of the shell. Gold nanorods are being investigated for use in a wide variety of biomedical applications, and this advance paves the way for more stable gold nanorods and for chemically functionalizing the surface of the shells.
	Researchers fine-tune quantum dots from coal Graphene quantum dots made from coal, introduced in 2013 by the Rice University lab of chemist James Tour, can be engineered for specific semiconducting properties in either of two single-step processes.
	Buckyballs become bucky-bombs In 1996, a trio of scientists won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their discovery of Buckminsterfullerene - soccer-ball-shaped spheres of 60 joined carbon atoms that exhibit special physical properties.
	Biomedical engineer developing nanomaterial for healing broken bones A new material that triggers stem cells to begin forming bone could enable a more effective treatment for hard-to-heal bone breaks and defects, says a Texas A&M University biomedical engineer who is part of the team developing the biomaterial.
	Nano packages for anti-cancer drug delivery Cancer stem cells are resistant to chemotherapy and consequently tend to remain in the body even after a course of treatment has finished, where they can often trigger cancer recurrence or metastasis. A new study by researchers from the A*STAR Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology has found that using nanoparticles to deliver an anti-cancer drug that simultaneously kills cancer cells and cancer stem cells significantly reduces the recurrence and metastasis of lung cancer.
	Fullerene chemistry with silicon Goethe University chemists have managed to synthesise a compound featuring an Si20 dodecahedron. The Platonic solid, which was published in the Angewandte Chemie journal, is not just aesthetically pleasing, it also opens up new perspectives for the semiconductor industry.

Physics news

	Detection of mini black holes at the LHC could indicate parallel universes in extra dimensions (Phys.org)—The possibility that other universes exist beyond our own universe is tantalizing, but seems nearly impossible to test. Now a group of physicists has suggested that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest particle collider in the world, may be able to uncover the existence of parallel universes, should they exist.
	Beating cyber criminals with quantum solutions As hackers get more sophisticated in their cyber crime efforts, we need to look to new technology to make our systems more secure, and potentially unhackable.
	New optical materials break digital connectivity barriers From computers, tablets, and smartphones to cars, homes, and public transportation, our world is more digitally connected every day. The technology required to support the exchange of massive quantities of data is critical. That's why scientists and engineers are intent on developing faster computing units capable of supporting much larger amounts of data transfer and data processing.
Light as puppeteer Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have demonstrated a more robust method for controlling single, micron-sized particles with light.
Superradiant matter: A new paradigm to explore dynamic phase transitions If you put water in the freezer to make ice, you trigger a dynamic phase transition.
	The new frontier in plasma medicine Applications of plasmas in medicine are a new frontier in therapeutic treatment. For example, they can help in stimulating tissue regeneration in the contexts of wound healing and dermatology. Before these and further applications can be developed, it is essential to understand the processes at work in plasmas - a unique kind of gas-like state of matter containing charged particles. Now a study published in EPJ D by a team led by Zoran Petrovi? from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, provides previously unavailable data on oxygen ion transport and the likelihood of such ions interacting with water molecules. These could contribute to new models of plasmas in liquids which account for how discharges are created in water vapour.

Earth news

	Scientists find tropical cyclone size controlled by relative sea-surface temperatures A team of scientists including Minghua Zhang, Dean and Director of Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), have found that the size of tropical cyclones is controlled by their underlying sea-surface temperatures (SST) relative to the conditions of the mean SST within the surrounding tropical zone of the storms. Their findings, published early online in Nature Communications, imply that under a warmer climate, the size of tropical cyclones (including hurricanes), are not based on the absolute value of SST alone.
	Cascades study may rewrite the textbook on forest growth and death A century-long study in the Oregon Cascades may cause scientists to revise the textbook on how forests grow and die, accumulate biomass and store carbon.
	Amazon's carbon uptake declines as trees die faster The most extensive land-based study of the Amazon to date reveals it is losing its capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. From a peak of two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year in the 1990s, the net uptake by the forest has halved and is now for the first time being overtaken by fossil fuel emissions in Latin America.
	Computer sims: In climatic tug of war, carbon released from thawing permafrost wins handily There's a carbon showdown brewing in the Arctic as Earth's climate changes. On one side, thawing permafrost could release enormous amounts of long-frozen carbon into the atmosphere. On the opposing side, as high-latitude regions warm, plants will grow more quickly, which means they'll take in more carbon from the atmosphere.
Strong undersea earthquake hits eastern Indonesia A strong undersea earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, but there are no immediate reports of injuries or damage and no tsunami warning was issued.
Forest managers hindered in efforts to use prescribed burns to control costly wildfires Forest managers would prefer to use prescribed burns every few years to help prevent costly wildfires and rebuild unhealthy ecosystems, but hurdles like staffing, budget, liability and new development hinder them, a new University of Florida study shows.
	Deep-sea robot, caught in underwater avalanche, yields new scientific insights Exploring the deep sea, and especially submarine canyons, is a risky business. The floors of many submarine canyons are periodically scoured by fast-moving underwater avalanches known as "turbidity currents." In 2013, one of MBARI's remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) was literally swept away by a turbidity current. Fortunately, the vehicle survived, giving researchers their first close-up view of one of these enigmatic events. The resulting video and data suggest that conceptual models and even textbook descriptions of turbidity currents may need to be revised.
	Submarine groundwater discharge adds as much nutrients as rivers to the Mediterranean Sea Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) consists of a mixture of continental freshwater and seawater, which recirculates through the coastal aquifer. In addition to its importance in the water cycle, as a potentially exploitable water resource and a source of water for brackish coastal environments such as marshes and coastal lagoons, it also can serve as an important source of dissolved chemical compounds such as nutrients and trace and toxic metals.
	Winter sets global heat record despite US East's big chill Federal records show that this winter and the first two months of 2015 were the hottest on record globally, with a chilly U.S. East sticking out like a cold thumb in a toastier world.
	Data gathering expedition using coordinated groups of underwater robotics In a first of its kind study, an international research team onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor will conduct a data gathering expedition using coordinated groups of underwater robotics.
	Working with communities to keep drinking water safe When we think about unsafe drinking water, our minds may leap to contaminated wells in developing nations or flood damage to sewage systems. It's easy to feel removed from these issues. Yet each year viruses, bacteria and parasites from our drinking water cause documented illness right here in North America.
	A microbial risk assessment framework for wastewater reuse Water, water every where, Nor any drop to drink.
	Iron rain fell on early Earth, new Z machine data supports Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories' Z machine have helped untangle a long-standing mystery of astrophysics: why iron is found spattered throughout Earth's mantle, the roughly 2,000-mile thick region between Earth's core and its crust.
Dairy industry making strides toward reducing its carbon footprint Agricultural greenhouse gases (GHG) make up 8.1% of total U.S. GHG emissions. The dairy cattle farming industry is being challenged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining or increasing profitability. In a study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers report that farms with lower carbon footprints and higher-producing cows are more profitable, a win-win situation for everyone, including the cows.
	NOAA plans increased 2015 Arctic nautical charting operations As commercial shipping traffic increases in the Arctic, NOAA is taking major steps to update nautical charts in the region. NOAA's Office of Coast Survey will use data collected by two of its own ships, Rainier and Fairweather, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy and a private sector hydrographic contractor to cover nearly 12,000 nautical miles in the Arctic for use in updating its navigational charts.
	New rural struggles in platinum areas The rise in platinum mining by major mining companies in formerly densely populated rural areas has ushered a new wave of rural struggles with rural communities fighting for self-determination and land control. These struggles are captured in a Working Paper titled, "No chief ever bought a piece of land!' Struggles over property, community and mining in the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela Traditional Authority Area, North West Province."
	From coastlines to the Everglades, researchers tackle sea level rise Under the streets of Miami Beach, seeping up through the limestone, water creeps into storm drains and pours into the streets. It happens once a year when the sun and moon align in such a way that gravity pulls at Earth's water. The phenomenon is known as King Tide. It is the highest of high tides, and every year, it puts Miami Beach at risk of major flooding.
	Eiffel tower shrouded in smog as Paris pollution spikes The Eiffel Tower disappeared behind a brown smog on Wednesday as Paris and much of northern France suffered a spike in pollution.
Toward better agricultural fertilization management A new study led by researchers from UPM shows that ammonia emissions associated with crop fertilization could be reduced by up to 82% with a minimum impact on agricultural production.
	Cloud research may lead to improved precipitation forecasts From light, airy, and spotless white to threatening and grey-black: Clouds are encountered in various forms. At the AIDA "cloud chamber", scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) study how clouds form and which influence they have on weather and climate. The modernized facility and the new extension building AIDA-2 on Campus North were opened officially today. The celebration also marked the start of an international measurement campaign focusing on the investigation of ice-nucleating aerosols. These smallest particles influence the formation of clouds and precipitation.
Measuring the effect of urban planning changes With a population likely to grow 27% by 2031, putting an end to urban sprawl in Greater Montreal appears impossible for the short to medium term. But it is possible to slow the pace of urban sprawl by harnessing the full development potential of central areas, according to forecasts by Guillaume Marois, a recent Ph.D. from INRS who has developed a spatial microsimulation model called Local Demographic Simulations (LDS).
Finding out what's in 'fracking' wastewater In early January, almost 3 million gallons of wastewater from a hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") operation in North Dakota spilled into nearby creeks. The accident highlighted ongoing concerns about what's in fracking fluids and wastewater, and whether they pose a threat to human health or the environment. An article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, details what scientists are doing to answer these questions.
	NASA's RapidScat sees waning winds of Tropical Depression Bavi Tropical Cyclone Bavi weakened to a depression and NASA's RapidScat instrument measured its waning winds from space.
	GPM satellite close-up of Cyclone Pam's rainfall As one of the strongest cyclones every recorded in the South Pacific Ocean, Cyclone Pam devastated the island archipelago of Vanuatu. The Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM core observatory provided data on rain rates throughout the storm. At the end of Pam's life on March 17, NASA's RapidScat provided a look at the winds of the waning storm.
House passes GOP bills targeting EPA's 'secret science' The House has passed two Republican-backed bills that would place new restrictions on the Environmental Protection Agency.
	NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Nathan sporting hot towers, heavy rainfall The TRMM satellite revealed that Tropical Cyclone Nathan had powerful thunderstorms known as "hot towers" near its center which are indicative of a strengthening storm.
	Ag-tech startup helps farmers analyze water use Water usage may be California's No. 1 topic in 2015—and last year and the one before that. As the state enters its fourth year of drought, everyone is seeking new options for monitoring and usage of this precious resource.

Astronomy & Space news

	More than a million stars are forming in a mysterious dusty gas cloud in a nearby galaxy More than a million young stars are forming in a hot, dusty cloud of molecular gases in a tiny galaxy near our own, an international team of astronomers has discovered.
	Planets in the habitable zone around most stars, calculate researchers Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets in our galaxy, the Milky Way, using the Kepler satellite and many of them have multiple planets orbiting the host star. By analysing these planetary systems, researchers from the Australian National University and the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen have calculated the probability for the number of stars in the Milky Way that might have planets in the habitable zone. The calculations show that billions of the stars in the Milky Way will have one to three planets in the habitable zone, where there is the potential for liquid water and where life could exist. The results are published in the scientific journal, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	Irish Mars trip finalist casts doubt on project An Irish finalist for the audacious Mars One project to start a human colony on the red planet predicted the plan would fall "on its face" on Tuesday.
	MARSDROP microprobes could expand spacecraft mission capabilities Microprobes that piggyback on Mars-bound spacecraft could investigate areas currently unavailable to surface instruments, a Planetary Science Institute researcher said.
	Researchers study fluctuations in solar radiation The Sun is the Earth's principal source of energy and climate driver. Yet sometimes it sends more light to the Earth than other times. Astronomers working with Natalie Krivova at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen take these fluctuations in solar radiation into account in their models to find out whether they contribute to global warming or counteract it.
	LROC images reveal intricate details of lunar impacts The moon is pelted with cosmic debris all the time, but the largest explosion on its surface that we've actually recorded occurred two years ago today. On March 17, 2013, an object the size of a small boulder hit the surface in Mare Imbrium and exploded in a flash of light nearly 10 times as bright as anything ever recorded before.
	Extent of Moon's giant volcanic eruption is revealed Scientists have produced a new map of the Moon's most unusual volcano showing that its explosive eruption spread debris over an area much greater than previously thought.
	Dawn breaks over distant Ceres ... and perhaps signs of habitability NASA's Dawn spacecraft is about to start its investigation of the largest member of the asteroid belt, 1 Ceres. It will take detailed images of the dwarf planet, and produce a geological map of its entire surface. But even before the spacecraft has reached its optimum orbit, the preliminary results just released are already surprising and delighting planetary scientists.
	Dust cloud, aurora detected around Mars A NASA spacecraft circling Mars has detected a mysterious dust cloud and a vibrant aurora, both unexpected phenomena on Earth's neighboring planet, researchers said Wednesday.
Mexico to inaugurate powerful new space observatory Perched atop a volcano in Mexico, a new generation observatory capable of detecting exploding stars, black holes and solar flares will begin operating this week, scientists said Tuesday.
	'Supermoon' to make mischief with sun and sea Norse legend has it that two giant wolves roam the sky—with Skoll chasing the moon and its brother Hati going after the sun.
	Seeking the dark, eclipse junkies head for the Arctic Die-hard eclipse junkies from around the world are expected to brave polar bears and frostbite in the Arctic on Friday to savour three minutes of total darkness when the moon totally blocks the sun.
	ESA's CHEOPS satellite to hunt transits of suspected exoplanets Just like the Pharaoh Cheops, who ruled the ancient Old Kingdom of Egypt, ESA's CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) could be someday ruling in the field of exoplanet hunting. It will be the first mission dedicated to search for transits by means of ultrahigh precision photometry on bright stars already known to host planets. "CHEOPS looks at stars that are already known to host planets and attempts to observe transits. I say attempts because its main targets are planets that have been discovered through Doppler techniques," Don Pollacco of the University of Warwick, UK spokesperson for the CHEOPS mission, told astrowatch.net.
	NASA's SDO sees two coronal holes NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, captured this solar image on March 16, 2015, which clearly shows two dark patches, known as coronal holes. The larger coronal hole of the two, near the southern pole, covers an estimated 6- to 8-percent of the total solar surface. While that may not sound significant, it is one of the largest polar holes scientists have observed in decades. The smaller coronal hole, towards the opposite pole, is long and narrow. It covers about 3.8 billion square miles on the sun - only about 0.16-percent of the solar surface.
	The Milky Way's new companion galaxies When we think of cosmology, we often imagine the largest telescopes peering into the deepest space, collecting the feeble light from exploding stars or the first galaxies.
	The first space walk happened 50 years ago, and nearly ended in disaster It is 50 years since humans first encountered space – not Sputnik's first orbit, nor Yuri Gagarin's first spaceflight – but the first time a crew member stepped out from their spacecraft's relative protection and immersed themselves in the cold, hostile emptiness of the vacuum.
	Helicopter drones on Mars NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory recently announced that it is developing a small drone helicopter to scout the way for future Mars rovers. Why would Mars rovers need such a robotic guide? The answer is that driving on Mars is really hard.
	Image: New Norcia deep-space ground tracking station Twelve years ago this month, in March 2003, ESA inaugurated a new deep-space ground tracking station 8 km south of the town of New Norcia, which is about 150 km north of Perth, in Western Australia.
	Image: Vanguard satellite, 1958 One of the Vanguard satellites is checked out at Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1958. Vanguard 1, the world's first solar-powered satellite, launched on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) 1958. It was designed to test the launch capabilities of a three-stage launch vehicle and the effects of the environment on a satellite and its systems in Earth orbit.
	Green and red auroras light up St. Patrick's day dawn A strong G3 geomagetic storm surged across the planet this morning producing a spectacular display of the northern lights. Some of you may who may have risen to see the new nova were no doubt as surprised as the NOAA space weather folks, whose overnight forecast did not include an alert for even a minor storm.
	Image: Hi-res stereo pair of Jupiter and the GRS Cross your eyes and take a look at this image. If you're lucky, you will be treated to a wonderfully clear 3-D view of Jupiter and its Great Red Spot, without the aid of a stereoscope. Or—if you haven't quite mastered the art of viewing stereo pairs—you might end up with eyestrain.

Technology news

	Robot model for infant learning shows bodily posture may affect memory and learning An Indiana University cognitive scientist and collaborators have found that posture is critical in the early stages of acquiring new knowledge.
	TED Prize winner wishes for archive of human wisdom StoryCorps founder Dave Isay unveiled a wish to use smartphone applications to archive the spoken wisdom of humanity.
	Design your world – online robots, 3D printers at CeBIT Need a copy of your wedding ring, a new name tag for the dog, or a spare part for the washing machine? Just print it, is the message at the CeBIT IT fair in Germany.
	Goodyear introduces tire concepts at Geneva motor show A key motivator to attend motor shows is to see what engineers are cooking up, even at the vision stage, as cars of the future. At this year's Geneva International Motor Show, which wrapped up on March 15, Goodyear was there to offer its glimpse of the tires of the future, and the tires would do far more than ever before. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced its "concept tires.'' They have tires playing additional roles; the tires are integrated components with the rest of the car.
	Playing a video game using thoughts The start-up MindMaze has opened up a new dimension in the world of video games: moving with thoughts through a virtual environment or even directly interacting through certain emotions. Introduced earlier this month at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, the MindLeap system is a big hit. The company has also just raised 8.5 million francs, and its CEO, Tej Tadi, was today named among the Young Global Leaders.
Better products and services for winter maintenance and traffic safety VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has participated as a research partner in a project in which Finnish companies have developed increasingly better road weather and winter maintenance services, and combined them into product and service packages. Consequently, information is available on wintry road conditions and changing weather that is more accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive than ever before. The new services are applicable in any country struggling with winter, including Northern Europe, North America and Russia.
	New research suggests insect wings might serve gyroscopic function Gyroscopes measure rotation in everyday technologies, from unmanned aerial vehicles to cell phone screen stabilizers.
	Tabletop robot UR3 can be worker's third-hand helper Collaborative robot company Universal Robots has a new addition to the family. The birth announcement on Tuesday said that a lightweight 6-axis tabletop robot has emerged to work with humans as third-hand helper. UR3 is its name. Esben Oestergaard, co-founder of the company and CTO, said, "a single worker can accomplish what traditionally would be a two-person task by having the UR3 robot as a third-hand helper." This is a small robot for light assembly work, in small-format precision tasks—in gluing applications, UR3 doses the same amount of glue with constant and steady pressure along a narrowly defined path; tightens screws with correct torque—generally, assists in assembly, polish, glue, and screw applications requiring uniform product quality.
	GOP says Obama aides meddled in 'net neutrality' Congressional Republicans on Tuesday accused the Federal Communications Commission of bowing to White House pressure on its "net neutrality" decision, which has angered the nation's cable and wireless giants. They said the agency's inspector general has opened an investigation into whether the FCC had violated any rules.
	Round-the-world solar pilot flies into Indian red tape tangle A pilot who is trying to make history by flying a solar-powered plane around the world launched an angry attack on Indian bureaucracy on Wednesday after a lengthy hold-up in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.
	Google's moonshots, gender bias at South by Southwest Music flooded into the streets around Austin's convention center as South by Southwest's music festival kicked off and the interactive portion wrapped up. The head of Google's (X) division talked about testing driverless cars and delivery drones, gender bias in tech was a hot topic and event-goers checked out the latest products and companies on the trade show floor.
	Liquid metal 'Terminator' robot inspires 3D printer A terrifying killer liquid metal robot from a blockbuster "Terminator" science fiction film has inspired what was heralded here as a revolution in 3D printing.
Ford, Microsoft extend partnership on Sync 3 Ford dropped Microsoft for the operating system for its next-generation infotainment system but the long-time partnership continues with Tuesday's announcement Microsoft will provide cloud support to remotely update Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
	Microsoft addresses Band shortages, will sell devices at Amazon, Best Buy The Microsoft Band, which has adorned the wrists of company executives and celebrity spokespeople but been regularly unavailable to the wider public, is set for a broader release.
	Nintendo shares rocket 21% on smartphone gaming plan Nintendo shares shot up more than 21 percent Wednesday after the videogame giant said it will enter the booming market for games on smartphones, in a U-turn long sought by investors.
	Smashed your HTC One? No problem, they'll replace Cracked your screen or dropped your phone in the toilet? No problem, if you buy HTC's new One smartphone.
	Socially intelligent computers can turn difficult online negotiations into win−win situations Programming fundamental 'social intelligence' skills into software agents can make humans substantially more trusting of online negotiations, which can lead to superior outcomes in e-commerce transactions, finds an A*STAR-led team of technology researchers, business experts and cognitive scientists.
	Are you afraid of technology? You shouldn't be Nary a week goes by that doesn't see a new mainstream media story on the dangers of technology use. Just the other day I spotted one talking about how smartphones are making us dumber.
	We are right to fear spy 'database of everything' if even politicians know little about it The recently released Intelligence Service Committee's report suggested an overhaul of the laws governing the work of the intelligence and security agencies. But beyond the headline announcement were buried details and admissions to questions that have gone unanswered for more than 40 years.
	Windows 10 coming in 190 countries, 111 languages Microsoft says its new Windows 10 operating system will be coming "this summer" in 190 countries and 111 languages.
	Farmers of the future will utilize drones, robots and GPS Today's agriculture has transformed into a high-tech enterprise that most 20th-century farmers might barely recognize.
German court bans Uber's ridesharing service (Update) A German court has banned Uber from offering its ridesharing service nationwide, adding to the company's troubles in Europe.
	Sony launches US subscription TV, competing with cable Sony announced Wednesday it was launching an Internet subscription television service that includes live feeds from major broadcast networks, mounting a challenge to the cable TV model.
	UK opens talks on world's first tidal lagoon power scheme The British government said Wednesday it was opening talks on plans to build the world's first man-made tidal lagoon in Wales to generate green energy.
	Review: Can you really save money by cutting the cord? There are more ways to watch television online than ever. Even HBO and ESPN—two channels often cited as reasons people keep expensive cable or satellite TV packages—will be available for streaming on their own. All these offerings make it possible to drop your pay-TV service without giving up favorite shows.
T-Mobile targets smaller businesses with new plans, offers T-Mobile wants to change how businesses buy phones and wireless services—two years after it changed how consumers do so in abolishing long-term contracts.
Location, location, location: Bike-sharing systems need revamp to attract more riders Although bike-sharing systems have attracted considerable attention, they are falling short of their potential to transform urban transportation.
	Tech firms 'will win' encryption battle: Google chief Technology firms will ultimately prevail in their efforts to use strong encryption on devices that cannot be accessed by the government, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt said Wednesday.
	As Explorer loses ground, Microsoft readies new web browser Look out, Internet Explorer. After 20 years of competing against rival web browsers, Microsoft is gearing up to launch its own alternative to its once-dominant Internet surfing program.
	World's top museums open doors on Twitter with #MuseumWeek The Louvre, New York's MoMA, the National Gallery of Australia, the Tokyo National Museum, Shakespeare's Globe in Britain and more than 1,400 other museums around the world are coming to Twitter next week.
	China's Tencent 2014 net profit up 54 percent Chinese Internet giant Tencent said its net profit was up 54 percent at 23.81 billion yuan ($3.82 billion) in 2014 helped by "rapid development" of mobile gaming and social networking.
	World's smallest transponder coils for automotive electronics TDK Corporation presents new EPCOS SMT transponder coils with extremely compact dimensions: Measuring just 4.5 mm x 3.2 mm x 3.2 mm, the TC1812 has an inductance of 2.38 mH and is designed for operation in the Z-axis. The TC1210 coil is available with an inductance value of 1.08 mH or 1.34 mH, depending on type, and is suitable for operation in either the X- or Y-axis. Furthermore, both TC1210 versions are currently the smallest transponder coils in the world as they measure just 3.2 mm x 2.5 mm x 2.2 mm.
	Towards "printed" organic solar cells and LEDs Flexible optoelectronic devices that can be produced roll-to-roll – much like newspapers are printed – are a highly promising path to cheaper devices such as solar cells and LED lighting panels. Scientists from "TREASORES" project present prototype flexible solar cell modules as well as novel silver-based transparent electrodes that outperform currently used materials.
	Researchers obtain substitute for natural gas generated from waste The Center for Research and Technological Development in Electrochemistry (CIDETEQ) in Mexico has obtained biogas from "garbage or organic waste", having replaced part of the natural gas used by the Pilgrim's company in the state of Querétaro, which produces chicken, and in Xaquixe, a company that makes glass art in the state of Oaxaca.
	New 3-D simulator generates training, expertise on subs The Navy's Virginia-class submarines are among the most technically advanced vessels ever built. But even these cutting-edge, fast-attack, nuclear-powered boats need emergency generators on hand—and Sailors trained to operate and repair them.
	Mexico's own 'WikiLeaks' already making waves Mexico's WikiLeaks-inspired whistleblower website is already making waves just days after its launch, even though it has yet to expose any government scandals.
2014 music business flat as streaming offset CD sales drop The U.S. retail music business was essentially flat in 2014 as growth in streaming revenue helped offset further decline in sales of CDs, a report from the Recording Industry Association of America said Wednesday.

Chemistry news

	From graphene hydrogels to high-performance anodes How can the electrodes of batteries be made more efficient? In the journal Angewandte Chemie, American scientists describe a powerful approach that uses solvated graphene frameworks as the anode material. Assembled in a lithium coin cell, the as-made electrode excelled with capacities surpassing the values of typically used graphite.
	Chemists claim to have solved riddle of how life began on Earth (Phys.org)—A team of chemists working at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, at Cambridge in the UK believes they have solved the mystery of how it was possible for life to begin on Earth over four billion years ago. In their paper published in the journal Nature Chemistry, the team describes how they were able to map reactions that produced two and three-carbon sugars, amino acids, ribonucleotides and glycerol—the material necessary for metabolism and for creating the building blocks of proteins and ribonucleic acid molecules and also for allowing for the creation of lipids that form cell membranes.
	Oxide/carbon composites could power green metal-air batteries Electrochemical devices are crucial to a green energy revolution in which clean alternatives replace carbon-based fuels. This revolution requires conversion systems that produce hydrogen from water or rechargeable batteries that can store clean energy in cars. Now, Singapore-based researchers have developed improved catalysts as electrodes for efficient and more durable green energy devices.
	Study could lead to improved catalysts for producing hydrogen fuel from waste biomass Experimental analysis and computer simulations reveal new insights into the process by which ethanol produced from waste biomass can be converted into hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. These insights should aid the design of more efficient catalysts for hydrogen production.
	Many plastics labeled 'biodegradable' don't break down as expected Plastic products advertised as biodegradable have recently emerged, but they sound almost too good to be true. Scientists have now found out that, at least for now, consumers have good reason to doubt these claims. In a new study appearing in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, plastics designed to degrade didn't break down any faster than their more conventional counterparts.
	How green tea could help improve MRIs Green tea's popularity has grown quickly in recent years. Its fans can drink it, enjoy its flavor in their ice cream and slather it on their skin with lotions infused with it. Now, the tea could have a new, unexpected role—to improve the image quality of MRIs. Scientists report in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces that they successfully used compounds from green tea to help image cancer tumors in mice.
	Explosive Destruction System begins first stockpile project This week Sandia National Laboratories' Explosive Destruction System (EDS) began safely destroying stockpile chemical munitions for the U.S. Army.
	Development of a novel water-splitting photocatalyst operable across the visible light spectrum A research group led by Chengsi Pan, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Tsuyoshi Takata, NIMS Special Researcher, at the Global Research Center for Environment and Energy Based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN; Director-General: Kohei Uosaki) of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS; President: Sukekatsu Ushioda), and Kazunari Domen, a professor of the Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (President: Junichi Hamada) newly developed a water-splitting photocatalyst that is operable over a wider range of the visible light spectrum than before.
	The ecstasy and the agony: Compression studies of MDMA MDMA (3,4-methyenedioxymethamphetamine), a Class A substance that is usually found in a tableted form, is a psychoactive drug which is structurally similar to methylamphetamine and acts as a central nervous system stimulant, producing mood enhancement, increased energy and other empathetic effects. MDMA was first synthesized by Merck as far back as 1912 as a potential appetite suppressant; however, the company never marketed it as such.

Biology news

	Mudskipper fish may offer clues about development of tongue in land animals (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Universiteit Antwerpen in Belgium has uncovered the mechanism by which mudskippers, a type of fish that feed on land, obtains its food. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B the team describes how they filmed the fish using a variety of techniques to determine how it caught and swallowed prey.
	Plants' defensive responses have downstream effects on nearby ecosystems Chemical changes that occur in tree leaves after being attacked by insects and mammals can impact nearby streams, which rely on fallen plant material as a food source, report scientists from the University of Chicago Department of Ecology and Evolution. The study, published March 17 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, shows how interactions between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are an essential part of understanding ecological responses to climate change.
	Natural sleep cycles identified in rural community, new study finds A new study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, has identified a rural community in Brazil that still follows the earlier sleep and wake times similar to pre-industrial times.
	Rich diversity of present-day beetles may be due to extinction resistance Today's rich variety of beetles may be due to an historically low extinction rate rather than a high rate of new species emerging, according to a new study. These findings were revealed by combing through the fossil record.
	Predatory snails evolved diverse venoms to subdue a wide range of prey species A new study by University of Michigan biologists suggests that some predatory marine cone snails evolved a highly diverse set of venoms that enables them to capture and paralyze a broad range of prey species.
	A single-cell breakthrough The human gut is a remarkable thing. Every week the intestines regenerate a new lining, sloughing off the equivalent surface area of a studio apartment and refurbishing it with new cells. For decades, researchers have known that the party responsible for this extreme makeover were intestinal stem cells, but it wasn't until this year that Scott Magness, PhD, associate professor of medicine, cell biology and physiology, and biomedical engineering, figured out a way to isolate and grow thousands of these elusive cells in the laboratory at one time. This high throughput technological advance now promises to give scientists the ability to study stem cell biology and explore the origins of inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal cancers, and other gastrointestinal disorders.
	Shape-shifting animals reveal secrets of why energy use changes during growth Scientists at the University of Liverpool and Queen Mary University, London, have shown that changes in body shape in 'skin-breathing' aquatic animals could explain why animals use energy more slowly as they grow.
	Scientists confirm first North American record of East Asian Joro spider When Wesley Huffmaster spotted a big, brightly colored and boldly patterned spider near his home in Colbert last fall, he knew it was unusual. Analysis of its physical characteristics and DNA by scientists at the Georgia Museum of Natural History at the University of Georgia have proven him right, confirming the first known occurrence in North America of Nephila clavata, the East Asian Joro spider. Their findings appear in the online open access journal PeerJ.
	Researchers find instance of parasites fueling cannibalism (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with members from institutions in the U.K. and South Africa, has found evidence that suggests parasites infecting a certain type of shrimp leads to a higher incidence of cannibalism. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, the team discusses their study of a type of shrimp that lives off the coast of Ireland and what they discovered about parasites that infest them.
	Invasive Burmese pythons shown to be reducing marsh rabbit population in Everglades (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers working in the Florida Everglades, with affiliations to several institutions in the state, has found that an invasive species of snake, the Burmese python, appears to be responsible for a drastic decline in marsh rabbit populations in the park. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how they placed rabbits in a section of the park and monitored how they were killed to finger the culprit.
	Insulin tells young planthoppers whether to develop short or long wings Each year, rice in Asia faces a big threat from a sesame seed-sized insect called the brown planthopper. Now, a study reveals the molecular switch that enables some planthoppers to develop short wings and others long—a major factor in their ability to invade new rice fields.
	Who do you think you really are? The first fine-scale genetic map of the British Isles Many people in the UK feel a strong sense of regional identity, and it now appears that there may be a scientific basis to this feeling, according to a landmark new study into the genetic makeup of the British Isles.
	Anthropologists study hormonal basis of affiliation and competition among hunters in Bolivian Amazon Absence, it seems, really does make the heart grow fonder. That's according to research conducted by UC Santa Barbara anthropologists, who found that levels of the "love" hormone oxytocin increases among Tsimane men when they come home to their families after a day of hunting. The researchers also found that the increase in oxytocin was greater for those men who were absent longer, and it positively correlated with changes in testosterone. Their findings are published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.
	New iPad game uses Citizen Science to track endangered species in the wild Today, a new app for the iPad was released that could change the way wildlife is monitored in the future.
	Light pollution influences the seasonal start of bird vocalisations Under the influence of artificial night lighting, four out of six studied songbird species started dawn and dusk singing earlier in the year. This was shown by scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology when they studied bird vocalizations from winter to spring in dark sites and in sites exposed to light pollution. An earlier seasonal start of dawn and dusk singing was particularly noticeable in the early risers among the species, suggesting that they are influenced the most by artificial night lighting. Whether the observed effects have consequences for the fitness of the animals remains unknown and needs further investigation.
	Unique animal communities may need special protection New Zealand's underwater mountains are home to unique animal communities which need careful environmental management, research from Victoria University of Wellington and the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric (NIWA) reveals.
	Wild relatives vital to crop improvement Wild relatives of the nutritious pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) legume should be more actively collected and conserved as a genetic resource for improving crop yields, research suggests.
	Technology helps unlock secrets of rare bacteria In the last decade, the study of microbes in soil and water has advanced through new DNA technology. Through this, studies of marine waters have found many types of astonishingly rare bacteria in the oceans - the so called 'rare biosphere.'
	Evolution of the back-to-belly axis Most animals have a dorso-ventral (back-to-belly) body axis, which determines for instance the localized position of the central nervous system, dorsal in humans, ventral in insects. Surprisingly, despite enormous morphological differences, the same signaling molecules of Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) molecules establishes the dorso-ventral axis including the central nervous system in both insects and vertebrates, which led to the conclusion that this molecular mechanism was already present in the common ancestor.
	Passive acoustic monitoring method for the detection of chimpanzees and two monkey species Traditionally, censusing of wild primates has been conducted using transect methodology where teams of human surveyors walk kilometers of line transects to collect data on primate sightings and vocalizations. Motivated by the increasing availability of cost-efficient audio-visual technologies, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, investigated to what extent autonomous recording devices, combined with an automated data processing approach, could be used to monitor wild forest primates. To achieve this goal they used an interdisciplinary team of sound engineers, biomonitoring specialists, statisticians, and primate vocalization experts.
	Leaf odor attracts Drosophila suzukii In 2014, more spotted-wing Drosophila suzukii than ever before were observed in Germany. This pest lays its eggs in fresh and ripening fruits before they are harvested. Infested fruits are often additionally infected with bacteria and fungi, and become unsuitable for sale and further processing. Currently, the only way to effectively control this pest insect is through the use of insecticides. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have now identified a leaf odor which is highly attractive to Drosophila suzukii. Beta-cyclocitral lures the spotted-wing drosophila but no other related drosophilids. Researchers were able to measure the olfactory specialization of the insect to this leaf odor on the basis of the response of a certain sensillum.
	Heated debate in Uganda over super bananas With his half-acre banana plantation, Charles Semakula can put his family's favourite food on the table every day.
Male fish dig pits and build sand castles at the bottom of Lake Malawi to attract females New research shows that courtship rituals evolve very fast in cichlid fish in Lake Malawi. Whenever species evolve to feed at different depths, their courtship evolves as well. In the shallows where the light is good, males build sand castles to attract females. Males of deep-dwelling species dig less elaborate pits and compensate with longer swimming displays. The results are published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
	Pesticides not the sole culprit in honey bee colony declines Colony declines are a major threat to the world's honey bees, as well as the many wild plants and crops the bees pollinate. Among the lineup of possible culprits—including parasites, disease, climate stress and malnutrition—many have pointed the finger squarely at insecticides as a prime suspect. However, a new study from the University of Maryland shows that the world's most common insecticide does not significantly harm honey bee colonies at real-world dosage levels.
	Bats are surprisingly fast decision makers Bats are not as stereotyped when they hunt as previously believed. New research shows that these flying mammals are capable of making ultra-fast decisions about how to attack their prey - or maybe even call off the attack. It takes only milliseconds.
	Study opens doors for increases in Texas corn yields, aflatoxin resistance A ground-breaking Texas A&M AgriLife Research-led study on corn has identified useful gene variations for yield increases, drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance that could make a real difference to Texas producers in the years to come, according to researchers.
New molecular tool assesses vaginal microbiome health, diagnoses infections—fast A new microarray-based tool, called VaginArray, offers the potential to provide a fast, reliable and low-cost assessment of vaginal health and diagnoses of infections. The research is published ahead of print March 2, in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Lab creates bioinformatics tool for metagenome analysis Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new method for DNA analysis of microbial communities such as those found in the ocean, the soil, and our own guts.
	Scientists discover mechanism that may help parasites manipulate their hosts Rodents infected with a common parasite lose their fear of cats, resulting in easy meals for the felines. Now IU School of Medicine researchers have identified a new way the parasite may modify brain cells, possibly helping explain changes in the behavior of mice—and humans.
Study claims forensic examiners—and not plant ecologists—first to recognize 'ecological succession' For generations, students have been taught the concept of "ecological succession" with examples from the plant world, such as the progression over time of plant species that establish and grow following a forest fire. Indeed, succession is arguably plant ecology's most enduring scientific contribution, and its origins with early 20th-century plant ecologists have been uncontested. Yet, this common narrative may actually be false. As posited in an article published in the March 2015 issue of The Quarterly Review of Biology, two decades before plant scientists explored the concept, it was forensic examiners who discovered ecological succession.
	Nearly 150 trafficked animals flown to Amazon freedom A Colombian Air Force plane whose cargo hold looked more like the hull of Noah's Ark delivered nearly 150 trafficked animals back to the Amazon on Tuesday following months of rehabilitation.
	Native fish species under pressure in the Engadine and Poschiavo From 2010 to 2014, a total of 26 prealpine lakes were studied as part of Projet Lac, with over 60 fish species being recorded. In 2012, in cooperation with Canton Graubünden's Hunting and Fishery Office, surveys were carried out on Lake Sils in the Engadine and Lago di Poschiavo. The results, now available, show that both of these lakes harbour a commercially attractive salmonid community. However, both lakes' historical diversity has been significantly affected by the introduction of fish species from several other catchments – in particular, the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), Canadian lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Genetic analyses indicate that the non‑native fish have interbred with indigenous species, leading to substantial losses of biodiversity. The distinctiveness of the original Lake Poschiavo trout, for example, has largely been lost. In Lake Sils, however, an indigenous populat! ion of Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax) seems to have survived despite stocking with brown trout.
	New online tracker allows you to watch spring start A new online tracker that allows you to watch the start of spring is based on the work of a UWM researcher.
	Researchers describe five new species of marine invertebrates In a paper published in the January issue of the journal Zootaxa, Brazilian researchers described five new species of ascidians. Commonly known as sea squirts, ascidians are marine invertebrates that generally form permanently submerged colonies.
EU ban on ditching unwanted fish 'will be difficult for industry to comply with' The fishing industry will have difficulty complying with new EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rules banning the throwing away of unwanted fish, according to research at the University of Strathclyde.
	World's first method for continuous purification of valuable antibodies Imagine a loved relative suffering from cancer - and you could not afford a treatment because the drugs are too expensive. The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (acib) developed a method with the power to reduce production costs of highly valued drugs significantly.
	DNA tests help California shelter speed up dog adoptions A quarter of the dogs taken in by one California animal shelter look like Chihuahuas. So how do you make a pet stand out when it's similar to so many other dogs at the shelter? Check the DNA.
	Landscape-level habitat connectivity is key for species that depend on longleaf pine Preserving isolated patches of habitat isn't enough to save species such as Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) that depend on longleaf pine; habitat connectivity at the landscape level is also crucial. That is the message of a new paper by Paul Taillie, M. Nils Peterson, and Christopher Moorman of North Carolina State University, published this week in The Condor: Ornithological Applications.
	Britain to create world's biggest protected marine reserve Britain on Wednesday said it intended to create what will be the world's biggest fully-protected marine reserve, covering an area nearly the size of France and Germany put together in the Pacific Ocean.

Medicine & Health news

	Longer duration of breastfeeding linked with higher adult IQ and earning ability Longer duration of breastfeeding is linked with increased intelligence in adulthood, longer schooling, and higher adult earnings, a study following a group of almost 3500 newborns for 30 years published in The Lancet Global Health journal has found.
	Researchers show how fatty acids can fight prostate cancer Washington State University researchers have found a mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the growth and spread of prostate cancer cells. The findings, which are at odds with a 2013 study asserting that omega-3s increase the risk of prostate cancer, point the way to more effective anti-cancer drugs.
	Study links stress to chromosomal damage A new wildlife preserve in India recently became a laboratory for Colorado State University researchers who studied not endangered animals but villagers displaced by the preserve. They found that such stress takes a measurable toll on people's health.
	Researcher explores decoding of complex neural circuits A University of Wyoming faculty member is part of a research team that created a method, using laser, to better decode complex neural circuits in the brain—a process that eventually may help unlock the mysteries of epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer's in humans.
	Minimal device maximizes macula imaging A smart and simple method developed at Rice University to image a patient's eye could help monitor eye health and spot signs of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, especially in developing nations.
Structure of genetic messenger molecules reveals key role in diseases Messenger RNAs (mRNA) are linear molecules that contain instructions for producing the proteins that keep living cells functioning. A new study by UCL researchers has shown how the three-dimensional structures of mRNAs determine their stability and efficiency inside cells. This new knowledge could help to explain how seemingly minor mutations that alter mRNA structure might cause things to go wrong in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
	Researchers describe new approach to promote regeneration of heart tissue The heart tissue of mammals has limited capacity to regenerate after an injury such as a heart attack, in part due to the inability to reactivate a cardiac muscle cell and proliferation program. Recent studies have indicated a low level of cardiac muscle cell (cardiomyocytes) proliferation in adult mammals, but it is insufficient to repair damaged hearts.
	Researchers identify protein needed for repair of injured kidney cells Cardiovascular researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have shown that a protein known as MG53 is not only present in kidney cells, but necessary for the organ to repair itself after acute injury. Results from this animal model study are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Use of anti-clotting drug more than three hours after stroke should be re-evaluated, say researchers Advice to use the anti-clotting drug alteplase more than three hours after an acute stroke should be re-evaluated, say researchers writing in The BMJ this week.
	Study suggests precision medicine for adrenal cancer A new international study gives a glimmer of hope for personalizing treatment for one of the most rare and aggressive forms of cancer.
	Phase 2b trial results of novel TB regimen show potential to shorten treatment A new tuberculosis (TB) drug regimen designed to improve options for TB therapy eliminated more bacteria from sputum than standard therapy and did so at a faster rate, according to data from a phase 2b clinical trial published today in The Lancet. These results are published just as the global phase 3 clinical trial, designed to bring this regimen through the last stage of testing, has begun.
Pediatrician discusses when to keep kids home from school For many reasons, a child being home from school while sick can be stressful. Parents worry about the severity of their child's illness and about the child missing school, all while trying to shuffle work schedules to be home.
	Childhood trauma linked to early psychosis later in life Research showing that patients with early psychosis report high rates of childhood trauma has important implications for clinicians, a University of Queensland psychologist has found.
	Ease allergy symptoms without injections It's been a winter to remember in the Tristate, complete with snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures. But with temperatures finally warming up, spring is in sight with challenges of its own: seasonal allergies.
	Study sheds new light on asthma, COPD In diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the body produces too much mucus, making breathing difficult. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis provides clues to potentially counteract inappropriate mucus production.
	Predicted deaths of young women with breast cancer underestimated by a quarter An online computer programme that helps to predict the most suitable treatment for breast cancer has been found to underestimate the number of women under 40 who will die from the disease by 25 per cent, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer today.
	Breakthrough for leukaemia suffers A research team has found a way to ensure people suffering from leukaemia are not subjected to chemotherapy if it is unlikely to help them.
	Potential treatment for most common form of muscular dystrophy A doctor who was one of the discoverers of the gene responsible for myotonic muscular dystrophy has now identified a drug that could slow the progression of muscle damage and muscle dysfunction associated with the disease – issues that cause patients significant disability and deterioration in quality of life.
	Shp1 protein helps immune system develop its long-term memory A protein called Shp1 is vital to the immune system's ability to remember infections and fight them off when they reappear, researchers at A*STAR have found.
GenomeNext achieves unprecedented throughput of 1,000 genomes analyzed per day GenomeNext, LLC, a leader in genomic data management and integrated analysis, announced today that, through the "Intel Heads In The Clouds Challenge on Amazon Web Services (AWS)" with support from JHC Technology, and in conjunction with Nationwide Children's Hospital, has benchmarked whole genome sequencing analysis at an unprecedented 1,000 genomes per day.
Clinical guidelines study finds potentially serious drug clashes Blindly following recommendations for drug prescriptions in national clinical guidelines for conditions including diabetes, depression and heart failure will often result in potentially serious drug interactions, according to a new study.
	New research into perfectionism discovers links with OCD Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire have found that people with 'perfectionist' personality traits show remarkably similar problems in their thinking to those diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
	New lead against HIV could finally hobble the virus's edge Since HIV emerged in the '80s, drug "cocktails" transformed the deadly disease into a manageable one. But the virus is adept at developing resistance to drugs, and treatment regimens require tweaking that can be costly. Now scientists at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) are announcing new progress toward affordable drugs that could potentially thwart the virus's ability to resist them.
	Changes in health care delivery essential to combat chronic disease Chronic disease accounts for 7 of every 10 deaths in the United States and more than 75% of total health care costs. Among people 65 years old and older, over 92% suffer from one or more chronic diseases. By 2020, it is estimated that 48% of the total population will have chronic disease. In an article published in The American Journal of Medicine, researchers discuss how existing health care delivery models are poorly constructed to manage chronic disease, and how a reengineering of the health care system might offer some hope in meeting this challenge.
	Fatal uncoupling in the epileptic brain Epilepsy is a very prevalent neurological disorder. Approximately one-third of patients are resistant to currently available therapies. A team of researchers under the guidance of the Institute of Cellular Neurosciences at the University of Bonn has discovered a new cause to explain the development of temporal lobe epilepsy: At an early stage, astrocytes are uncoupled from each other. This results in the extracellular accumulation of potassium ions and neurotransmitters, which cause hyperexcitability of the neurons. The results are being published in advance online in the journal Brain. The print version will be published in May.
	MRI measurement tools to help diagnose veterans' traumatic brain injuries More than 300,000 U.S. veterans have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in recent years, a legacy of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. But these numbers don't tell the whole story. While severe TBI can be obvious, milder cases involving symptoms such as memory loss or inability to concentrate are difficult to confirm and treat.diffusion
	Understanding proteins involved in fertility could help boost IVF success Women who have difficulty getting pregnant often turn to in-vitro fertilization (IVF), but it doesn't always work. Now scientists are taking a new approach to improve the technique by studying the proteins that could help ready a uterus for an embryo to implant in its wall. Their report could help researchers develop a new treatment that could potentially increase the success rate of IVF.
	Brain networks differ among those with severe schizophrenia, study shows People with a severe form of schizophrenia have major differences in their brain networks compared to others with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy individuals, a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) shows.
Are antipsychotic drugs more dangerous to dementia patients than we think? Drugs aimed at quelling the behavior problems of dementia patients may also hasten their deaths more than previously realized, a new study finds.
Unconscious race and social class biases appear unassociated with clinical decisions While unconscious race and social class biases were present in most trauma and acute-care clinicians surveyed about patient care management in a series of clinical vignettes, those biases were not associated with clinical decisions, according to a report published online by JAMA Surgery.
	Healthy diet reduces risk of cardiovascular disease by a third in over-40s Men and women who adapt their daily diet to meet current UK dietary guidelines could reduce their risk of a heart attack or a stroke by up to a third, according to a new study by King's College London.
	Antibiotic resistance linked to corruption Researchers have linked antibiotic resistance with poor governance and corruption around the world.
	Is it dementia, or just normal aging? New tool may help triage Researchers at Mayo Clinic developed a new scoring system to help determine which elderly people may be at a higher risk of developing the memory and thinking problems that can lead to dementia. The study is published in the March 18, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Promising new target may treat pulmonary fibrosis By uncovering the mechanism by which fibrous tissue cells in the lung multiply, researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), along with colleagues in Mexico and Canada, have identified a promising new approach for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Study may explain low blood oxygen for cystic fibrosis patients with infected lungs Researchers have defined a new bodily process in mice that may explain why blood oxygen levels are lower for patients with cystic fibrosis when they get a lung infection.
	Study uncovers mechanisms of cancer-causing mutations Researchers at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) and the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, have described for the first time the molecular mechanism of cancer development caused by well-known "resistance" mutations in the gene called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Ras protein regulates circadian rhythm Biochemists at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum have gained new insights into the generation and maintenance of circadian rhythms. They demonstrated that the Ras protein is important for setting the phase of such a circadian clock, as its activity determines the period length of the rhythm. Ras is also contributing to induce phase-shifts in circadian rhythms in response to external time cues such as light. The team headed by Prof Dr Rolf Heumann published their results in the magazine Molecular Neurobiology.
mHealth app ideal for breast cancer risk assessment, prevention Interviewing women at a breast-imaging center in an urban safety net institution before and after they used a "mHealth" mobile health app on a tablet, Elissa Ozanne, PhD from Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center and colleagues concluded that older, diverse, and low income women found it easy to use and acceptable. Published in the Journal of Health Disparities Research Practices, the paper with these findings is "Can mHealth Improve Risk Assessment in Underserved Populations? Acceptability of a Breast Health Questionnaire App in Ethnically Diverse, Older, Low-Income Women."
Finding support for surgery on Facebook For many, Facebook connects friends, family, and others with common interests. Despite the popularity of social networking sites like Facebook, scientists are only beginning to learn how they affect human interaction.
	Low vitamin D levels and depression linked in young women, study shows A new study from Oregon State University suggests there is a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and depression in otherwise healthy young women.
MeMed's blood test accurately distinguishes bacterial and viral infections, research shows MeMed today announced publication of the results of a large multicenter prospective clinical study that validates the ability of its ImmunoXpert in-vitro diagnostic blood test to determine whether a patient has an acute bacterial or viral infection. The study enrolled more than 1,000 patients and is published in the March 18, 2015 online edition of PLOS ONE. Unlike most infectious disease diagnostics that rely on direct pathogen detection, MeMed's assay decodes the body's immune response to accurately characterize the cause of the infection.
	Is too much artificial light at night making us sick? Modern life, with its preponderance of inadequate exposure to natural light during the day and overexposure to artificial light at night, is not conducive to the body's natural sleep/wake cycle.
Bloomberg, Gates launch anti-tobacco industry fund Billionaire philanthropists Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates launched a joint fund in Abu Dhabi Wednesday to help developing countries pass tobacco-control laws in their legal battle with industry giants.
	Doctors' racial biases may not influence patient care, survey suggests (HealthDay)—A new survey finds that hospital doctors don't treat patients differently because of race or income level, even though it detected unconscious bias in some clinicians.
	Recess: An essential part of the school day (HealthDay)—Recess is an essential part of children's school days that can help set students up for success once they head back to the classroom, a new study suggests.
Cholbam approved for rare metabolic disorders (HealthDay)—Cholbam (cholic acid) capsules have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults and children with bile acid synthesis disorders and peroxisomal disorders, the agency said in a news release.
	Cardiovascular screening in men with ED could save billions (HealthDay)—Screening men presenting with erectile dysfunction (ED) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors can potentially cut future cardiovascular events and save billions of dollars over 20 years, according to a study published online March 2 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
	WBC, neutrophil counts predict stroke risk in older Asian men (HealthDay)—Higher total white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts are independent predictors of stroke in older Japanese-American men, according to a study published online March 4 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Lack of agreement for meds reconciliation responsibilities (HealthDay)—There is a lack of agreement among clinicians about who is responsible for specific roles in the medication reconciliation process, according to a research letter published in the March issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Interventions up blood culture ordering in pediatric pneumonia (HealthDay)—Interventions can increase blood culture ordering in children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with no effect on length of stay (LOS), according to a study published online March 16 in Pediatrics.
	C-reactive protein independent prognostic marker in melanoma (HealthDay)—C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are an independent prognostic marker in melanoma, according to a study published online March 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
28 people test positive for tuberculosis at Kansas school More than two dozen cases of tuberculosis have been detected at an eastern Kansas high school after widespread screening, state and county health officials announced Wednesday.
Cardiometabolic risk factors harden arteries early in Mexican-Americans Cardiometabolic risk factors, such as high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar, appear to have a bigger effect than obesity on hardening arteries early among Mexican-Americans, according to research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Two commonly used antibiotics have similar cure rates for uncomplicated skin infections Two antibiotics frequently prescribed to treat serious skin infections - clindamycin and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) - had similar rates of success in curing uncomplicated infections in outpatients, according to a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Why people with diabetes can't buy generic insulin A generic version of insulin, the lifesaving diabetes drug used by 6 million people in the United States, has never been available in this country because drug companies have made incremental improvements that kept insulin under patent from 1923 to 2014. As a result, say two Johns Hopkins internist-researchers, many who need insulin to control diabetes can't afford it, and some end up hospitalized with life-threatening complications, such as kidney failure and diabetic coma.
	Discovery of how malaria kills children will lead to life-saving treatments Malaria kills a child every minute. While medical researchers have successfully developed effective drugs to kill the malaria parasite, efforts to treat the effects of the disease have not been as successful. But that soon may change.
	Sense of smell may reveal weight bias Could our reaction to an image of an overweight or obese person affect how we perceive odor? A trio of researchers, including two from UCLA, says yes.
Video: A new bird flu threat? A new strain of avian flu is causing concern among health officials because it exhibits different characteristics from other strains and may mutate further, causing a pandemic.
Early recall rates decline after second round of lung cancer screening The German Lung Cancer Screening Intervention Trial (LUSI) shows that the early repeat scan rate for suspicious findings decreased by more than 80% with the second and subsequent low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screens, but emphasizes the need to have an organized screening program with the baseline scan available for comparison.
	Blood test replaces surgery for bowel tumor assessment A new study at the MedUni Vienna's Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) is assessing patients with metastasised bowel cancer to determine whether it is possible to characterise tumour and better control resistance mechanisms with a blood test. The aim of this is to spare patients the stress of having tissue removed via biopsies and to make the targeted use of therapy easier.
Poultry expert says avian influenza strain not harmful to humans or poultry products A highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in four states can be very deadly for birds, but a Kansas State University poultry expert says humans don't need to worry about their own health or contaminated poultry products.
WHO chief wants tobacco firms pushed 'out of business' World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan urged global action Wednesday to drive tobacco companies "out of business" and hailed progress in tackling smoking in many countries.
	When it comes to health care, young gay men are falling through the cracks Emerging adulthood is a complex time for anyone. It ranges from late adolescence to one's mid-twenties – ages when we are seeking to establish our identities in social contexts, and transition from childhood to the expectations and responsibilities of adulthood.
Frequency of blood tests in heart surgery patients may lead to anemia, transfusions Laboratory testing among patients undergoing cardiac surgery can lead to excessive bloodletting, which can increase the risk of developing hospital-acquired anemia and the need for blood transfusion, according to an article in the March 2015 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
An antihypertensive drug improves corticosteroid-based skin treatments Basic research on blood pressure has led researchers from Inserm (Inserm Unit 1138, "Cordeliers Research Centre") to obtain unexpected results: drugs used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) reduce side effects from corticosteroid-based creams used to treat certain skin diseases.
Scientists test Actual Reality in functional assessment post-TBI A recent article by Kessler Foundation researchers describes Actual Reality; as a new tool for assessing performance of activities of everyday life (ADL) in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The article, "Actual Reality: Using the Internet to assess everyday functioning after traumatic brain injury," was epublished on February 19 in Brain Injury. This is the first study examining the use of Actual Reality in the TBI population. The authors are Yael Goverover, PhD, OT, of New York University and Kessler Foundation, and John DeLuca, PhD, senior VP of Research & Training at Kessler Foundation, and professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Sierra Leone plans another shutdown to stop Ebola's spread Sierra Leone is planning another three-day, countrywide shutdown later this month to ferret out Ebola cases, remind people how to protect themselves from the disease and control its transmission.
	Health care law paperwork costs small businesses thousands Complying with the health care law is costing small businesses thousands of dollars that they didn't have to spend before the new regulations went into effect.
Doctors say women with aytpia or DCIS should seek second opinions after breast biopsies While doctors almost always agree on a pathological diagnosis of invasive breast cancer, there is room for improvement when diagnosing atypia (or atypical ductal hyperplasia-ADH) and DCIS (ductal carcinoma in-situ), Anna Tosteson, ScD and Tracy Onega, PhD from Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center have found. The Dartmouth investigators, and national collaborators, published the study, "Diagnostic Concordance Among Pathologists Interpreting Breast Biopsy Specimens," today in JAMA.
WHO chief says 'tremendous progress' made in Ebola fight The world has made "tremendous progress" in combatting the deadly Ebola virus, the UN's World Health Organization chief told AFP on Wednesday.
Following gestational diabetes, obese women who put on 5 kg much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) shows that in women who have developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy, being obese before the pregnancy and putting on more weight after it massively increases the risk of later developing type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Other Sciences news

	Protein sequencing solves Darwinian mystery of 'strange' South American mammals Scientists have resolved pieces of a nearly 200-year-old evolutionary puzzle surrounding the group of mammals that Charles Darwin called the "strangest animals ever discovered." New research led by the American Museum of Natural History, the Natural History Museum in London, and the University of York shows that South America's so-called "native ungulates"—the last of which disappeared only 10,000 years ago—are actually related to mammals like horses rather than elephants and other species with ancient evolutionary ties to Africa as some taxonomists have maintained. Published today in the journal Nature, the findings are based on fossil protein sequences, which allow researchers to peek back in time up to 10 times farther than they can with DNA.
	Scientists unknowingly tweak experiments A new study has found some scientists are unknowingly tweaking experiments and analysis methods to increase their chances of getting results that are easily published.
Buyer's remorse: Model shows people demand all that bad news Bad news in the media got you down? News consumers have only themselves to blame, says new research showing that it's actually buying habits that drive negative press.
	What food firms and investors should know about meat and poultry recalls Food safety is top-of-mind among many consumers and producers of food. It is also a continuum, because the more a food firm spends on effective technologies and protocols to ensure safe food, the greater chance the foods are protected against contamination.
	Bright but disadvantaged students are less likely to take university-favored courses Bright but disadvantaged students are far less likely to take the subjects favoured by Russell Group universities than their more advantaged counterparts, according Oxford University research.
	For preschoolers, math means more than counting to 10 Effectively teaching mathematics in preschool is becoming increasingly important.
Understanding democracy and development traps using a data-driven approach Why do some countries seem to develop quickly while others remain poor? This question is at the heart of the so-called poverty or development trap problem. Using mathematics on open data sets researchers now present new insights into this issue, and also suggest which countries can be expected to develop faster. The paper is published in the journal Big Data.
	Family stability, not family structure, is key to education success, says study Young people in stable lone-parent households are just as likely to stay in education as their counterparts in stable married families, a new University of Sussex–led study has revealed.
	Traffic fatalities spike during spring break Come spring break, college students from all over the country travel to warmer climates for time off from school and to escape the cold weather. However, it's not all fun in the sun. At popular spring break destinations, fatalities from car crashes are significantly higher during the spring break weeks compared to other times of the year, according to a recent study published in the journal Economic Inquiry.
	The rise of the new celebrity scientists Are you wondering how a biopic about a scientist, The Theory of Everything, garnered five Oscar nominations - or even got made in the first place? American University's School of Communication professor Declan Fahy explains it all in his latest book, The New Celebrity Scientists: Out of the Lab and Into the Limelight. Declan Fahy profiles eight celebrity scientists and investigates how they achieved celebrity in the United States and internationally.
	Out-of-wedlock childbearing increasingly common among educated women in Latin America "Consensual unions," two people living in the same dwelling in a relationship akin to marriage, have been an integral part of family life in Latin America for centuries. In fact, in Latin America, legal marriages and consensual unions are seen as similarly acceptable family arrangements for bearing and raising children. However, consensual unions have historically been more common among disadvantaged populations and in rural areas than among more advantaged populations and in urban areas—indicating that such unions are rooted in limited economic and social opportunities. But a study in the March 2015 issue of Population and Development Review finds that childbearing within a consensual union among highly educated women has transitioned from rare to increasingly common in 13 Latin American countries.
	Could your email address keep job recruiters from reading your online resume? Job recruiters may review hundreds of online resumes for a position, often screening them quickly and discarding those that are not appropriate. An applicant's email address can greatly impact first impressions and affect ones chances of getting hired according to a new study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
What motivates men who kill police? Who intentionally seeks to kill a policeman and why? In 2014 the rate of policemen purposely killed in the line of duty in the U.S. was nearly 1.5 times greater than in 2013. These incidents and what may have motivated the killers is the focus of an in-depth article in the peer-reviewed journal Violence and Gender.

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