Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Apr 16

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 17, 2015 at 3:30 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Apr 16
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

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Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 16, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- A sniff of happiness: Chemicals in sweat may convey positive emotion
- Earth ate a Mercury-like body early in its history, study finds
- Modular Robotic Vehicle developed at Johnson Space Center
- Simple method for selective bioconjugation of native proteins
- Dutch police, Kaspersky Lab fight against CoinVault
- Archeologists believe they have found the oldest example of tool use
- Hubble Space Telescope turning 25 this month
- Nanoparticle-coated bacteria can deliver cancer vaccine
- Repeated marine predator evolution tracks changes in ancient and Anthropocene oceans
- Major advance in artificial photosynthesis poses win/win for the environment
- Video: Octopuses have unique way to control their 'odd' forms
- First steps in basic biological process that could be harnessed to make therapeutic cells
- Dating the moon-forming impact event with meteorites
- Scientists discover protein that boosts immunity to viruses and cancer
- Giant galaxies die from the inside out

Physics news

Detector at the South Pole explores the mysterious neutrinos Neutrinos are a type of particle that pass through just about everything in their path from even the most distant regions of the universe. The Earth is constantly bombarded by billions of neutrinos, which zip right through the entire globe, houses, animals, people – everything. Only very rarely do they react with matter, but the giant IceCube experiment at the South Pole can detect when there is a collision between neutrinos and atoms in the ice using a network of detectors. New research results from the Niels Bohr Institute, among others have measured the neutrinos at the South Pole and have calculated some of the physical properties of the otherwise exotic and poorly understood particles. The results are published in the scientific journal Physical Review D.

Researchers develop elegant plasma pressure diagnostic method Could the mundane action of switching on an energy saving light bulb still hold secrets? It does, at least for physicists. These bulbs are interesting because they contain low-temperature plasma - a gas containing charges from ions and electrons. Now, a German team has developed a method that could be used for measuring the increase in the plasma force on the inner side of such a light bulb when the light is switched on. These findings from Thomas Trottenberg and colleagues from Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, have just been published in EPJ D. They have implications for plasma diagnostics concerning plasma-wall interactions used in surface modification and the production of thin film solar cells and microchips.

Earth news

	Earth ate a Mercury-like body early in its history, study finds A Mercury-like body smashed into a young Earth and gave our planet's core the radioactive elements necessary to generate a magnetic field, two Oxford geochemists say.
	Study finds that soil carbon may not be as stable as previously thought Increased plant growth caused by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide is associated with higher rates of carbon dioxide release from soil. If rising carbon dioxide enhances soil carbon storage at all, the effect will be small. Soil carbon may not be as stable as previously thought, and soil microbes exert more direct control on carbon buildup than global climate models represent.
	GPM sees wind shear affecting remnants of Extra-tropical Cyclone Joalane The GPM satellite showed the effects of wind shear and waning rainfall rates in Extra-tropical Cyclone Joalane as it was moving in a southeasterly direction through the Southern Indian Ocean.
	Arctic sea ice maximum reaches lowest extent on record The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. NSIDC scientists provide Arctic Sea Ice News & Analysis content, with partial support from NASA.
Rainforest protection akin to speed limit control The destruction of the Brazilian rainforest has slowed significantly. With around 5000 square kilometers annually, the loss is now about 80% lower than in 2004. Led by the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, an international team of researchers has evaluated the effectiveness of forest law enforcement in the Brazilian Amazon. In some federal states of the Brazilian Amazon region enforcement has been more effective than in others. The results are presented in the journal PLOS ONE.
	Wildfires emit more greenhouse gases than assumed in California climate targets A new study quantifying the amount of carbon stored and released through California forests and wildlands finds that wildfires and deforestation are contributing more than expected to the state's greenhouse gas emissions.
	Indian village gets 'world's cheapest bottled water' Charity workers have teamed with an impoverished village in eastern India to develop what they say is the world's cheapest bottle of drinking water—costing less than one US cent.
	37 tons of dead fish removed from Rio Olympic rowing venue Fish continued to die by the ton Thursday in a Rio de Janeiro lake that's slated to host Olympic rowing events, while city authorities and biologists argued about the cause of the die-off.
Vietnamese villagers block traffic to protest pollution Hundreds of villagers in central Vietnam blocked traffic on the country's main artery for hours to protest pollution from a coal-fired thermo power plant, a local official said Thursday.
	Why relying on tourism isn't in Vanuatu's interests after Cyclone Pam Cyclone Pam has left an indelible mark on the landscape and psyche in Vanuatu. And the famed resilience of the country's ni-Vanuatu people has been severely tested. Apart from rebuilding, attention should swiftly shift to how the country's economy can be made more resilient in the event of future crises.
	Can't pay? Won't pay!—putting a price on water It's arguably our most vital and precious natural resource, and one that is growing dangerously scarce from China to California, but no matter how much we value water, we're not that keen on paying for it.
Preparing communities to tackle extreme weather Global warming means more extreme weather, everywhere. A new research project is looking at how Norwegian communities - already experienced with harsh weather - are coping with even more difficult weather conditions.
Los Alamos radiation release could have been prevented (Update) A radiation leak that forced the indefinite closure of the federal government's only underground nuclear waste repository could have been prevented, a team of investigators said Thursday.
	EU plots future energy security: official The European Union is drawing up contingency plans to guarantee energy security for the 28-nation bloc under all circumstances, its top energy official said Thursday.

Astronomy & Space news

	Hubble Space Telescope turning 25 this month The achievements of those working on the Hubble Space Telescope (a joint U.S. and European effort) will be noted around the world next week on April 24th, the twenty fifth anniversary of its launch into orbit. Astrophysicist Mario Livio (who has been working with the telescope since 1991) has outlined some of the more memorable moments space scientists have had while working with the telescope in a Comments piece in the journal Nature, and offers suggestions for the future. The journal has also published a News Feature piece focusing on the scientists and engineers who have labored to keep the telescope working and who have analyzed the data and images sent back to Earth, along with an accompanying Nature Video series with interviews with key people on various projects associated with the telescope.
	Glitter cloud may serve as space mirror What does glitter have to do with finding stars and planets outside our solar system? Space telescopes may one day make use of glitter-like materials to help take images of new worlds, according to researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
	Astronomers reveal supermassive black hole's intense magnetic field Astronomers from Chalmers University of Technology have used the giant telescope Alma to reveal an extremely powerful magnetic field very close to a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy. The results appear in the 17 April 2015 issue of the journal Science.
	Giant galaxies die from the inside out A major astrophysical mystery has centred on how massive, quiescent elliptical galaxies, common in the modern Universe, quenched their once furious rates of star formation. Such colossal galaxies, often also called spheroids because of their shape, typically pack in stars ten times as densely in the central regions as in our home galaxy, the Milky Way, and have about ten times its mass.
	Dating the moon-forming impact event with meteorites Through a combination of data analysis and numerical modeling work, researchers have found a record of the ancient Moon-forming giant impact observable in stony meteorites. Their work will appear in the April 2015 issue of the Journal Science. The work was done by NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) researchers led by Principal Investigator Bill Bottke of the Institute for the Science of Exploration Targets (ISET) team at the Southwest Research Institute and included Tim Swindle, director of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.
	Russia to build own space station by 2023, says Putin Russia plans to build its own orbiting space station by 2023, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday during a marathon call-in session with the nation.
	Spacecraft circling Mercury will crash into planet April 30 After years of orbiting Mercury, NASA's Messenger spacecraft will crash into the planet at the end of this month.
	Protosuns teeming with prebiotic molecules Complex organic molecules such as formamide, from which sugars, amino acids and even nucleic acids essential for life can be made, already appear in the regions where stars similar to our Sun are born. Astrophysicists from Spain and other countries have detected this biomolecule in five protostellar clouds and propose that it forms on tiny dust grains.

Technology news

	Modular Robotic Vehicle developed at Johnson Space Center We all know Google's star act for driving's future with its self-driving car. What if NASA were to step up and give us its rendition of a self-driving vehicle? A new video reveals how NASA handles the role. NASA actually has been working on something autonomous and has posted a video of its electric robotic prototype wonder on YouTube. The Modular Robotic Vehicle (MRV) has been created by NASA at the Johnson Space Center.
	Dutch police, Kaspersky Lab fight against CoinVault Dutch police obtained CoinVault cryptokeys and in turn victims may find their way out of the mess, reports Loek Essers, Amsterdam correspondent, IDG News Service. Computer users hit by this extortion version of ransomware—they find it blocks their access to their computer system or encrypts data on a disk—may be able to decrypt their files thanks to a tool from Kaspersky Lab. The app makes use of the keys that were found by the police, said IDG's Essers.
	World-record electric motor for aircraft Siemens researchers have developed a new type of electric motor that, with a weight of just 50 kilograms, delivers a continuous output of about 260 kilowatts – five times more than comparable drive systems. The motor has been specially designed for use in aircraft. Thanks to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time.
Intellectual property in 3D printing The implications of intellectual property in 3D printing have been outlined in two documents created for the UK government by Bournemouth University's Dinusha Mendis and Davide Secchi, and Phil Reeves of Econolyst Ltd.
Thumbnail track pad: Unobtrusive wearable sensor could operate digital devices Researchers at the MIT Media Lab are developing a new wearable device that turns the user's thumbnail into a miniature wireless track pad.
Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America, talks 'civic hacking' Jennifer Pahlka captains a brigade of 16,000 volunteer programmers who are using technology to make government better, one city at a time.
	Jawbone banks on smart fashion trend beyond watches On the one hand, or wrist, there may be an eye-catching Apple Watch, while the other will sport with more discreet jewelry packed with Internet Age smarts.
Etsy prices shares at $16 for stock market debut Etsy priced its shares at $16 ahead of its Thursday Wall Street debut for the online marketplace known for handicrafts and strong social values.
	Blending realities to create a truly global workforce The globalisation of business already means many companies have their workforce scattered across the world.
	Human and technical ingenuity will be required to defeat shape-shifting malware The FBI and Europol recently brought down a criminal botnet – a network of remotely-controlled PCs – powered by Beebone, an advanced, polymorphic malware capable of shape-shifting up to 19 times a day to prevent detection by antivirus scanners.
	Apple digs in on green with China solar, US forest projects In a quest to be more green, Apple says it is investing in Chinese solar power and preserving forests that make environmentally friendly paper.
	European privacy watchdogs join forces to probe Facebook European data protection authorities have joined forces to probe Facebook's privacy controls, a French watchdog said Thursday, putting the popular US social media giant under fresh pressure.
	Microsoft, Yahoo update search agreement Microsoft and Yahoo have updated their search partnership to allow more flexibility in searches and end Yahoo's exclusive sales force role with advertisers.
	New video-streaming apps turn TV stars into phone friends "Scandal" star Joshua Malina has a brand-new video gig. So do "Today" weathercaster Al Roker, "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt and CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter.
	Fighting the next generation of cyberattacks The next generation of cyberattacks will be more sophisticated, more difficult to detect and more capable of wreaking untold damage on the nation's computer systems.
	Iran poses growing cyber threat to US Iran poses a growing threat to America's computer networks and has launched increasingly sophisticated digital attacks and spying on US targets, according to a new report released Thursday.
	EU clears massive German wind farms investment The EU on Thursday approved German government support for a massive investment of nearly 30 billion euros in new offshore wind farms, a key project as the country phases out nuclear energy.
	Twitter out to crack down on abusive tweets Twitter said Thursday that it is cracking down on mean, hateful or menacing tweets that cross the red line from free speech into abuse.
	EU says eager to 'finalize' probe into Google market abuse The European Union said Thursday formal charges were filed in an anti-trust case against Google to speedily resolve allegations the tech titan abuses its search engine's market dominance, and that the case could lead to further probes.
Startups put digital technology in the grocery aisles Mike Hansen, a resident of this small, southeastern Wisconsin town, got a computer six years ago but has yet to set up an online connection.
WikiLeaks creates online archive of hacked Sony documents Sony's hacking problems aren't over yet.
	Facebook users' wishful thinking: Cyberbullying, depression won't happen to me Facebook users with so-called optimistic bias think they're less likely than other users to experience cyberbullying, depression and other negative social and psychological effects from using the site, a Dartmouth-Cornell study finds.
Target settles data breach lawsuit with MasterCard for $19M Target and MasterCard say they've agreed to settle lawsuits over the discounter's pre-Christmas 2013 massive data breach.
	House uses Tax Day to pass bills to 'rein in IRS abuse' House leaders used Wednesday's tax filing deadline to pass a package of bills designed to protect taxpayers from potential abuse by the IRS, a response to recent scandals at the agency.
	Netflix enthralls viewers in 1Q with original programming Netflix is enthralling viewers and investors alike as popular original programming such as "House of Cards" lure subscribers at a quickening pace.
	New software analyses the effect of climate change on buildings from the cloud Large Spanish construction companies have begun to use a simulation software package, developed by two researchers at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, which analyses for the first time the entire life cycle of a building, from creation to deconstruction. The tool, which can be used in the cloud, includes aspects such as energy consumption, materials and social repercussions. It also allows scenarios to be simulated, enabling the effect of global warming on constructions to be identified.
	UnitedHealth hikes forecast, shares edge to new heights UnitedHealth hiked its 2015 forecast after soaring past Wall Street's first-quarter expectations with a performance fueled partially by growth outside health insurance.
	Stock of online marketplace Etsy surges in trading debut The place where you can buy handmade dresses and crocheted dog costumes has a new hot seller: its own stock.
India's TCS yearly profits muted on FX volatility India's biggest outsourcing firm Tata Consultancy Services Thursday reported only a marginal rise in its earnings for the just-ended financial year citing volatile currency markets and a sluggish global economy.
Mass. police chiefs favor discretion in issuing concealed gun permits Who decides who can carry concealed firearms legally? Should local police chiefs have a say? Massachusetts police chiefs think so. A new survey finds that a large majority of Massachusetts police chiefs favor continuing to give local police discretion in whether or not to grant concealed carry hand gun permits in their jurisdiction. Massachusetts is one of nine states with a "may-issue" concealed carry permit law, which gives a police chief discretion in issuing a gun permit; most other states have "shall-issue" laws that limit police discretion. In about half of those states, police have no discretion at all and a police chief must issue a permit if the applicant passes a computerized federal background check.
Shares of high-speed trading company Virtu rise in debut Shares of high-speed trading company Virtu Financial Inc. rose nearly 17 percent in their stock market debut Thursday.

Chemistry news

Simple method for selective bioconjugation of native proteins Whether it is for pharmaceuticals, or imaging, or proteomics, many scientists are interested in finding better ways to chemically tweak proteins. However, proteins are chemically complex, and targeting one particular place on the protein surface without also chemically modifying the surrounding amino acids can be tricky.
	Project for computational screening of molecules could accelerate electrolyte discovery A new breakthrough battery—one that has significantly higher energy, lasts longer, and is cheaper and safer—will likely be impossible without a new material discovery. And a new material discovery could take years, if not decades, since trial and error has been the best available approach. But Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientist Kristin Persson says she can take some of the guesswork out of the discovery process with her Electrolyte Genome.
	Chemistry set pencils can turn life-saving tests into child's play If you've ever sat opposite a doctor and wondered what she was scribbling on her notepad, the answer may soon not only be medical notes on your condition, but real-time chemical preparations for an instant diagnostic test.
	Discovery changes how scientists examine rarest elements of periodic table A little-known element called californium is making big waves in how scientists look at the periodic table.
	Major advance in artificial photosynthesis poses win/win for the environment A potentially game-changing breakthrough in artificial photosynthesis has been achieved with the development of a system that can capture carbon dioxide emissions before they are vented into the atmosphere and then, powered by solar energy, convert that carbon dioxide into valuable chemical products, including biodegradable plastics, pharmaceutical drugs and even liquid fuels.
	New materials repel oil underwater, could better clean up oil spills University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have announced a significant step forward in the development of materials that can ward off oil—a discovery that could lead to new protective coatings and better approaches to cleaning up oil spills.
A new 'metrics toolkit' to measure and evaluate how green a chemical reaction is Chemists at the University of York have developed a new 'metrics toolkit' to measure and evaluate how green a reaction is.
	Kimchi-based preservative used in cosmetics is not so natural Some consumer groups concerned about the safety of synthetic preservatives such as parabens have pushed for natural alternatives. Industry has responded with a slew of options, including preservatives from kimchi, a popular Korean staple made out of fermented cabbage and radish. But scientists are now reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that at least one commercial, kimchi-based preservative marketed as "all-natural" contains synthetic ingredients.
Biocompatible, antimicrobial coating shown to limit bacterial growth A Purdue University innovation that has been shown to limit long-term bacterial growth is being developed for commercialization by Poly Group LLC, a technology company located in the Purdue Research Park of Southeast Indiana.

Biology news

	Inhibitor for abnormal protein points the way to more selective cancer drugs Nowhere is the adage "form follows function" more true than in the folded chain of amino acids that makes up a single protein macromolecule. But proteins are very sensitive to errors in their genetic blueprints. One single-letter DNA "misspelling" (called a point mutation) can alter a protein's structure or electric charge distribution enough to render it ineffective or even deleterious.
How to make trees grow bigger and quicker Scientists at The University of Manchester have discovered a way to make trees grow bigger and faster, which could increase supplies of renewable resources and help trees cope with the effects of climate change.
	Fish type, body size can help predict nutrient recycling rates The nutrients excreted by fish in their "pee" may be critical to the health of coastal ecosystems. But knowing whether generalizations can be made about how to predict these nutrient levels in various ecosystems has vexed researchers – until now.
	Parasite load influences outcome of animal fights, study finds University of Georgia ecologist Andy Davis and his students studied beetles and their parasite loads last summer as part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates program at UGA, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Their results—that infected beetles were slightly more likely to lose fights—were published earlier this month in the journal PLOS One.
	Error-correction strategy allows precise measurement of transcriptome in single cells Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) scientists have devised a method of visualizing RNA molecules inside cells so that the identity, location, and abundance of more than 1,000 different RNA species can be determined at the same time. The developers of the new technology say it should be possible to scale up the approach so that tens of thousands of RNA species can be imaged and identified in a single cell.
	First steps in basic biological process that could be harnessed to make therapeutic cells Understanding the molecular signals that guide early cells in the embryo to develop into different types of organs provides insight into how tissues regenerate and repair themselves. By knowing the principles that underlie the intricate steps in this transformation, researchers will be able to make new cells at will for transplantation and tissue repair in such situations as liver or heart disease.
New transitional stem cells discovered Pre-eclampsia is a disease that affects 5 to 8 percent of pregnancies in America. Complications from this disease can lead to emergency cesarean sections early in pregnancies to save the lives of the infants and mothers. Scientists believe pre-eclampsia is caused by a number of factors, including shallow placentas that are insufficiently associated with maternal blood vessels. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri, in an effort to grow placenta cells to better study the causes of pre-eclampsia, serendipitously discovered a previously unknown form of human embryonic stem cell.
	Video: Octopuses have unique way to control their 'odd' forms The body plan of octopuses is nothing if not unique, with a sophisticated brain in a soft, bilaterally symmetrical body, encircled by eight radially symmetrical and incredibly flexible arms. Now, researchers reporting the first detailed kinematic analysis of octopus arm coordination in crawling show that the animals have a unique motor control strategy to match their "odd" form. The researchers report their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on April 16.
Diversity is key to stability, grassland study finds Biological diversity brings beauty and variety to our lives and to the world around us. It also could be the key to keeping ecosystems strong, according to a new University of Minnesota study published April 17 in the journal Science.
Repeated marine predator evolution tracks changes in ancient and Anthropocene oceans For more than 250 million years, four-limbed land animals known as tetrapods have repeatedly conquered the Earth's oceans. These creatures—such as plesiosaurs, penguins and sea turtles—descended from separate groups of terrestrial vertebrates that convergently evolved to thrive in aquatic environments.
	Humans can't resist those puppy-dog eyes (HealthDay)—When humans and their four-legged, furry best friends look into one another's eyes, there is biological evidence that their bond strengthens, researchers report.
	The mechanics of life An interdisciplinary research team formed by Otger Campàs, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and colleague Jérome Gros, group leader the Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, has received one of the prestigious 2015 Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Young Investigators grants.
Plight of imperiled Montana insect draws lawsuit Wildlife advocates asked a judge Wednesday to force federal officials to decide if a rare aquatic insect that's found only in Montana's Glacier National Park should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
	World's second most endangered turtle on road to recovery Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) announced today that 60 captive-raised Myanmar roofed turtles—a species once thought extinct—have been released into their native habitat in Myanmar. More than 350 villagers, government representatives, and religious leaders attended ceremonies for the release.
	Researcher wants to know if cockroaches turn genes off and on to protect their young The next time you squish a cockroach, consider that you may be killing an opportunity to learn how genes for diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes get passed down to some generations and not others.
	How come the plant hormone auxin functions one way in one location, and a different way elsewhere? Auxin is a simple yet powerful hormone which, depending on where it accumulates, controls a large number of growth mechanisms in plants. Dolf Weijers, Professor in Biochemistry of Plant Development at Wageningen University, is trying to discover how this multifunctionality develops and how it works. He was awarded a Vici grant worth €1.5 million for his research.
	What agriculture can learn from termites and fungi Other living creatures were involved in agriculture way before humans. Termite species in Africa and Asia have been cultivating fungi for consumption for tens of millions of years. And they do it well as the harvests of a colony retain the same high yield level for up to several decades. How do termites achieve this? Millions of years of symbiosis between termites and fungi may hold the key to higher agricultural yields, according to evolutionary biologist Duur Aanen of Wageningen University. His research proposal was awarded with a Vici grant of 1.5 million euros from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
	Strategy to derive a sequence assembly for plant genome of bread wheat Through a combination of high-throughput sequencing, high performance computing, and genetic mapping, DOE JGI researchers have derived a sequence assembly for the highly repetitive plant genome of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum).
	Crickets aren't the miracle source of protein Crickets are not all that they're cracked up to be as an alternative, global source of protein in the human diet to supplement or replace livestock consumption, according to newly published research completed at the University of California, Davis.
	Stop fruit flies by removing rotten fruit Three years after they were first detected, the number of spotted-wing drosophila fruit flies in the Netherlands has exploded. "There are still ways to combat the harmful Drosophila suzukii in soft fruit," says Herman Helsen, fruit entomologist at Wageningen UR. "Farmers of fast-ripening soft fruit, such as strawberries and raspberries, have several ways to control the problem."
Surviving the heat for a good beer Researchers at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University have collaborated with scientists from Dijon, France to try to solve the problem of bad tasting beer.
	Novel online bioinformatics tool significantly reduces time of multiple genome analysis UK research collaboration develops a new bioinformatics pipeline that enables automated primer design for multiple genome species, significantly reducing turnaround time.
Important study of how climate affects biodiversity How does climate change affect the occurrence and distribution of species? This is a key question in the climate debate, and one that is hard to answer without information about natural variation in species abundance. Now researchers from Uppsala University can, for the first time, give us a detailed picture of natural variation through a major study published today in the leading scientific journal Current Biology.
	Rare monkey photographed in Congo's newest national park, Ntokou-Pikounda Two primatologists working in the forests of the Republic of Congo have returned from the field with a noteworthy prize: the first-ever photograph of the Bouvier's red colobus monkey, a rare primate not seen for more than half a century and suspected to be extinct by some, according to WCS (the Wildlife Conservation Society).
	Roundworm parasite targets canine eyes (HealthDay)—A small number of dogs and cats across the United States have been infected by a roundworm parasite that targets the eye, according to a new report.
	Model offers more ease, precision for managing invasive Asian carp The likelihood of Asian carp eggs being kept in suspension and hatching in the St. Joseph River in Michigan has been further evaluated using a model that examines a range of multiple flow and water temperature scenarios. Results illustrate the highest percentage of Asian carp eggs at risk of hatching occurs when the streamflow is low and when the water temperature is high. This new study by the University of Illinois and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.
Study finds that maize roots have evolved to be more nitrogen efficient Selective breeding of maize over the last century to create hybrids with desirable shoot characteristics and increased yield may have contributed indirectly to the evolution of root systems that are more efficient in acquiring nutrients, such as nitrogen, from the soil, according to researchers.
	Tri-Country Park set to become landscape laboratory The Tri-Country Park (Drielandenpark) is the name for the cross-border landscape area between Maastricht, Hasselt, Heerlen, Liège and Aachen. The area is home to some 4 million people and attracts many visitors every year. A proposal put forward will turn the Tri-Country Park into an innovative cross-border landscape laboratory, intended as an incentive to the joint development of the area.
	California goose with arrow piercing neck dies after surgery An Egyptian goose that lived for at least a week with an arrow piercing its neck as it evaded capture by animal control workers in Southern California died after it was wrangled and taken to surgery.
	A new online resource on the Asian longhorned beetle The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a wood-boring insect that is capable of destroying 30% of the urban trees in the United States at an economic loss of $669 billion. Infestations of this invasive beetle have been found in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois, and they have been shown to feed on more than 100 different tree species, with a preference for maples, poplars, aspens, cottonwoods, and willows.
	Standards for organic seafood coming this year, USDA says After more than a decade of delays, the government is moving toward allowing the sale of U.S.-raised organic fish and shellfish. But don't expect it in the grocery store anytime soon.

Medicine & Health news

	A sniff of happiness: Chemicals in sweat may convey positive emotion Humans may be able to communicate positive emotions like happiness through the smell of our sweat, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The research indicates that we produce chemical compounds, or chemosignals, when we experience happiness that are detectable by others who smell our sweat.
	Nanoparticle-coated bacteria can deliver cancer vaccine Marking an important step in the development of immunotherapy cancer treatment, scientists have demonstrated that nanoparticle-coated bacteria can effectively deliver an oral DNA vaccine that stimulates the body's own immune system to destroy its cancer cells. This is the first time that a nanoparticle coating has been used for bacterial delivery of oral DNA vaccination in vivo. Compared with uncoated bacteria, coated bacteria can bypass many of the roadblocks that have so far limited the immune response and that currently pose the biggest challenge to DNA vaccinations against cancer.
	Researchers identify molecular mechanism responsible for making malaria parasites drug-resistant University of Notre Dame researchers led an international team to identify a molecular mechanism responsible for making malaria parasites resistant to artemisinins, the leading class of antimalarial drugs.
Study shows that use of statins increases risk of developing diabetes by 46% New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) shows that use of statins is associated with a 46% increase in the risk of developing diabetes, even after adjustment for confounding factors. The study is by Professor Markku Laakso, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Finland, and colleagues.
Encountering a wall corrects 'GPS' in mouse brains, study finds By analyzing the activity of "GPS" neurons in mice, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that the mental maps created by these cells accumulate errors, which are corrected when the animal encounters a wall.
	Mapping language in the brain The exchange of words, speaking and listening in conversation, may seem unremarkable for most people, but communicating with others is a challenge for people who have aphasia, an impairment of language that often happens after stroke or other brain injury. Aphasia affects about 1 in 250 people, making it more common than Parkinson's Disease or cerebral palsy, and can make it difficult to return to work and to maintain social relationships. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications provides a detailed brain map of language impairments in aphasia following stroke.
	How do we hear time within sound? How does our auditory system represent time within a sound? A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology investigates how temporal acoustic patterns can be represented by neural activity within auditory cortex, a major hub within the brain for the perception of sound.
Scientists discover protein that boosts immunity to viruses and cancer Scientists have discovered a protein that plays a central role in promoting immunity to viruses and cancer, opening the door to new therapies.
Cell type responsible for scarring, skin-cancer growth identified A skin cell responsible for scarring, and a molecule that inhibits the cell's activity, have been identified by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Increasing evidence points to inflammation as source of nervous system manifestations of Lyme disease About 15% of patients with Lyme disease develop peripheral and central nervous system involvement, often accompanied by debilitating and painful symptoms. New research indicates that inflammation plays a causal role in the array of neurologic changes associated with Lyme disease, according to a study published in The American Journal of Pathology. The investigators at the Tulane National Primate Research Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center also showed that the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone prevents many of these reactions.
Major new research study to demonstrate value of PET scans in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis A new four-year research study, with an estimated budget of $100 million, was announced today by the Alzheimer's Association and the American College of Radiology (ACR). The Imaging Dementia - Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) Study will determine the clinical usefulness and value in diagnosing Alzheimer's and other dementias in certain situations of a brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan that detects a core feature of Alzheimer's disease.
With biosimilar drug development on the rise, researchers explore efficacy In the emerging biosimilar market, biosimilar antibodies are being developed to treat conditions currently addressed by their original, targeted biological therapy. Only a few biosimilars are approved by the EMA, and just one has been approved by the FDA. In a review article, researchers used the clinical development data from one drug to explore the broader benefits and risks of these cost-effective, but as yet unfamiliar treatment options. The article focuses on the first biosimilar monoclonal antibody to be approved in Europe, and appears in the current edition of Immunotherapy, an online, peer-reviewed title from the Future Medicine imprint of Future Science Group.
Teaching children in schools about sexual abuse may help them report abuse Children who are taught about preventing sexual abuse at school are more likely than others to tell an adult if they had, or were actually experiencing sexual abuse. This is according to the results of a new Cochrane review published in the Cochrane Library today. However, the review's authors say that more research is needed to establish whether school-based programmes intended to prevent sexual abuse actually reduce the incidence of abuse.
Breastfeeding may prevent postpartum smoking relapse While a large number of women quit or reduce smoking upon pregnancy recognition, many resume smoking postpartum. Previous research has estimated that approximately 70% of women who quit smoking during pregnancy relapse within the first year after childbirth, and of those who relapse, 67% resume smoking by three months, and up to 90% by six months.
After prostate cancer, start walking: Walking routine improves health-related quality of life Walking at an easy pace for about three hours every week may be just enough physical activity to help prostate cancer survivors reduce damaging side effects of their treatment, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
New assay helps determine lymphoma subtypes simply, quickly, and inexpensively With the advent of targeted lymphoma therapies on the horizon, it becomes increasingly important to differentiate the two major subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These are germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC), which differ in management and outcomes. A report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics describes use of the reverse transcriptase?multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (RT-MLPA) assay for differentiating DLBCL subtypes. RT-MLPA is as accurate as the current gold standard technology and offers advantages such as simplicity, flexibility, short turnaround time, low cost, and efficiency.
Acapulco fumigates against chikungunya Authorities in Mexico's Pacific resort of Acapulco are fumigating streets and homes to combat an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, but some crime-weary residents refuse to open their doors.
	Powdered alcohol creator tries to get ahead of state bans The creator of powdered alcohol is furiously trying to fend off efforts to ban the product in Maine and across the country before it even hits stores.
	At Manila's autism-friendly cafe, it's A-OK to be different Guided by a therapist and cue cards, Jose Canoy carefully removed a waffle from the griddle, turned off the waffle maker and asked for a serving plate from the kitchen staff at Manila's brightly-decorated Puzzle Cafe. Each of Canoy's next moves were similarly laid out in index cards with pictures: A script for greeting customers, offering them the menu, serving the food and finally handing out the bill.
8 nutrients to protect the aging brain Brain health is the second most important component in maintaining a healthy lifestyle according to a 2014 AARP study. As people age they can experience a range of cognitive issues from decreased critical thinking to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In the March issue of Food Technology published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), contributing editor Linda Milo Ohr writes about eight nutrients that may help keep your brain in good shape.
	Flashbulb memories – why do we remember learning about dramatic events so vividly? It isn't surprising that many Bostonians have vivid memories of the 2013 Marathon bombing, or that many New Yorkers have very clear memories about where they were and what they were doing on 9/11.
	Study examines heat-related illness and hyperthermia in elderly A Penn State Abington biology professor and two student researchers have identified a cellular pathway that might improve outcomes in elderly populations suffering from heat-related illness or hyperthermia.
	Botox makes unnerving journey into our nervous system New research might bring a frown to even the most heavily botoxed faces, with scientists finding how some of the potent toxin used for cosmetic surgery escapes into the central nervous system.
Innovative study aims to quench alcohol cravings A McMaster addictions researcher has developed a novel treatment with the potential to stop cravings in people with alcohol dependency.
	Working toward better outcomes for patients with severe obesity Obesity researcher Mary Forhan has a vision of what the care of people with obesity should be like. Sadly, the reality is very different.
	Scientists decipher key steps in cancer development to improve treatment Francis Crick Institute (link is external)scientists, funded by Cancer Research UK, have discovered the timing of key genetic mistakes that fuel tumour growth, according to research published in the journal Science Translational Medicine today.
Cutting prices can be an effective way to get people to buy more fresh produce Researchers from Deakin University's Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN) have highlighted the importance of lower prices as a mechanism to promote the purchase and consumption of fruit and vegetables, after providing the first Australian evidence that cutting prices can be an effective way to get people to buy more fresh produce.
	Blaming the bloke but not the booze Is alcohol-fuelled violence caused by the booze itself or by the macho culture in which the drinking occurs? If we are to believe a recent study commissioned by the alcohol company Lion, it's the culture that's to blame. That's a rather convenient conclusion for the alcohol industry. But it hinges on a fallacy and has the potential to cause much damage.
	Novel neurodegenerative disease and gene identified with the help of man's best friend A breakthrough study performed in an international collaboration led by Professor Tosso Leeb from the University of Bern and Professor Hannes Lohi from the University of Helsinki together with the veterinary neurologists and neuropathologists at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Helsinki has identified a gene mutation that causes a novel type of neurodegenerative disease in dogs. The results of the study shed light into the function of neurons, provide a new gene for human neurodegenration, and may aid in developing better treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. The study was published in the prestigious journal PLoS Genetics on 15.4.2015.
	Evidence that synthetic drugs can cause cancer Almost weekly, a new synthetic psychoactive drug comes onto the market somewhere in Europe that can be ordered legally and easily, for example as an incense blend, via the Internet. Synthetic cannabinoids are difficult to identify chemically and the possible unwanted toxic effects that can occur following their consumption have so far barely been investigated. As part of the international EU project "SPICE II Plus", which is now coming to an end, scientists from the MedUni Vienna's Institute for Cancer Research have now also found evidence that synthetic substances damage the DNA of human cells and can therefore possibly have cancer-causing effects.
Bilingual people take greater risks when feedback is given in their native language Recent research from Bangor University has revealed that Chinese-English bilingual individuals take more risk in gambling when feedback is given to them in Chinese, their native language, than in English, their second language.
	Study finds perception of food available to mother can affect birthweight in mice While studies have shown that what a mother eats during pregnancy can affect her offspring, it could be that what she sees others eating can also affect her offspring. New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health explores the influence it has in a new mouse study.
	Novel nanoparticles could save soldiers' lives after explosions Soldiers who suffer internal trauma from explosions might one day benefit from a new treatment now under development. Researchers report in the journal ACS Macro Letters that injecting a certain type of nanoparticle helped reduce lung damage in rats experiencing such trauma. The potential treatment, which could be given at the most critical moment immediately after a blast, could save lives.
	Developing ice cream that forgoes traditional sugar What happens when you mix UConn's renowned Creamery and its top-notch Chemical Engineering department? If things go right, you get an ice cream that forgoes traditional sugar, but still earns a place along with the famously delicious ice creams at the Dairy Bar.
Rejecting Vitamin K at birth predicts child vaccination refusal New Zealand parents who turn down vitamin K for their newborns are more than 14 times more likely to not get their children immunised, a new University of Otago study has found.
	Child development scholar suggests strategies to build foundation for empathy, tolerance When a child feels valued, he sees values in others. When he realizes he has his own thoughts and emotions, he understands that others do, too. When his ideas and feelings are respected, he learns to respect them in others.
Systems-wide genetic study of blood pressure regulation in the Framingham Heart Study A genetic investigation of individuals in the Framingham Heart Study may prove useful to identify novel targets for the prevention or treatment of high blood pressure. The study, which takes a close look at networks of blood pressure-related genes, is published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology.
	New method helps establish South Asian perceptions of dementia Dementia care for south Asian people could be improved after researchers from The University of Manchester adapted a commonly used tool for judging perceptions of the disease.
	Antidepressant use in pregnancy associated with anxiety symptoms in 3-year-olds Three-year-old siblings exposed to antidepressants in pregnancy show increased anxiety symptoms compared to their unexposed siblings.
Victorian baby teeth could help predict future health of children today The team from the Universities of Bradford and Durham analysed the teeth of children and adults from two 19th century cemeteries, one at a Workhouse in Ireland where famine victims were buried and the other in London, which holds the graves of some of those who fled the famine.
	Correlation between firearm-related hospitalizations and US stock market performance Over 2001-2011, the national incidence of firearm-related hospitalizations has closely tracked the national stock market performance, suggesting that economic perturbations and resultant insecurities might underlie the perpetuation of firearm-related injuries, according to a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine. Although the fatality rates have remained stable over the last two decades, the average length of stay and hospitalization costs have increased, imposing additional burden on existing healthcare resources.
Obesity significantly increases prostate cancer risk in African-American men, study finds Obesity has a profoundly different effect on prostate cancer risk in African-American as compared to non-Hispanic white men. Obesity in black men substantially increases the risk of low- and high-grade prostate cancer, while obesity in white men moderately reduces the risk of low-grade cancer and only slightly increases the risk of high-grade cancer, according to the first large, prospective study to examine how race and obesity jointly affect prostate cancer risk. The findings, published April 16 in JAMA Oncology, were based on a nationwide study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington.
More analysis from the women's health initiative on hormones, breast cancer Analysis of the longer-term influence of menopausal hormone therapy on breast cancer incidence in two Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials suggests a pattern of changing influences over time on breast cancer, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
Angiogenesis inhibitors undermined by immune cells, says study Angiogenesis inhibitors—a widely used class of cancer drugs designed to shrink tumors by preventing them from forming new blood vessels—often work in the short term, but usually become ineffective within months. Now, a team led by UC San Francisco scientists has discovered a possible reason, one that could lead to a way to address the problem and prevent cancer relapse.
	Molecular spies sabotage a protein's activities in specific cellular compartments The enzyme AMPK initiates a dizzying array of cellular activities, from breaking down worn-out cellular parts to turning on energy production. How does a single protein, activated by a single switch, fulfill so many different tasks without getting them mixed up? To get at such a complex question, cell biologists at Johns Hopkins designed several molecular tools that allowed them to watch, measure and manipulate the activity of the enzyme AMPK in individual compartments within the cell. The new tools have confirmed that at least some of AMPK's ability to multitask comes from variations in its activity level in each cellular compartment.
	Study reveals possible new avenues for breast cancer therapy An exhaustive analysis has been conducted of more than 12,000 distinct proteins present in an often aggressive and difficult to treat form of breast cancer, called triple-negative breast cancer.
A new mouse model for the study of neurofibromatosis The research group of the neurofibromatosis of the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), the Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and the Institute of Medicicina Predictive and Personalized Cancer (IMPPC) has developed new mouse models for the study of principal malignant tumor associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Watch where you're going—new study reveals how people avoid bumping into each other A new study is a rare look into the delicate dynamics of social movement, and shows how people avoid bumping into each other while doing complementary, coordinated tasks such as dancing. The research reveals that people fall into a specific pattern to avoid a collision. The study led by Michael J. Richardson, a University of Cincinnati associate professor of psychology, is published in the highly ranked Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, a journal of the American Psychological Association.
Inducing labor at full term not associated with higher C-section rates As cesarean section rates continue to climb in the United States, researchers are looking to understand the factors that might contribute. There has been debate in the field about whether non-medically required induction of labor leads to a greater likelihood of C-section, with some studies showing an association and others demonstrating that inductions at full term can actually protect both the mothers and babies. In order to tease apart the evidence, a new analysis pooled the results from five randomized controlled trials including 844 women, and found no link between induction and rates of C section in uncomplicated pregnancies of singleton babies at full term. The results were published online April 13th in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Scientists use brain stimulation to boost creativity, set stage to treat depression A UNC School of Medicine study has provided the first direct evidence that a low dose of electric current can enhance a specific brain pattern to boost creativity by an average of 7.4 percent in healthy adults, according to a common, well-validated test of creativity.
	Virtual reality may be effective tool for evaluating balance control in glaucoma patients April 16, 2015 - Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and morbidity in older adults, especially those with a chronic eye disease such as glaucoma. To investigate this problem, a multidisciplinary group of researchers has become the first to use virtual reality technology to develop a new method for measuring balance control in those with glaucoma. The results of their study, published online today by Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, demonstrate that virtual reality provides a more realistic testing environment compared to traditional testing methods.
	The phthalate DEHP undermines female fertility in mice Two studies in mice add to the evidence that the phthalate DEHP, a plasticizing agent used in auto upholstery, baby toys, building materials and many other consumer products, can undermine female reproductive health, in part by disrupting the growth and function of the ovaries.
Research identifies barriers in tracking meals and what foodies want Eating healthy is sometimes a challenge on its own, so technology should ease that burden - not increase it - according to new research from the Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Washington. Researchers studied how mobile-based food journals integrate into everyday life and specific challenges when using food journaling technology. Their research suggests how future designs might make it easier and more effective.
	Adverse childhood events appear to increase the risk of being a hypertensive adult Children who experience multiple traumatic events, from emotional and sexual abuse to neglect, have higher blood pressures as young adults than their peers, researchers report.
New approach to muscle regeneration restores function after traumatic injury without need for donor tissue Loss of muscle volume is a common and often debilitating outcome of traumatic orthopedic injury, resulting in muscle weakness and suboptimal limb function. A new therapeutic approach in which small pieces of autologous muscle can be expanded in a collagen hydrogel and used to regenerate functional muscle at the sight of injury, instead of relying on a donor muscle graft, would be especially beneficial for repairing large areas of muscle loss. A study demonstrating the feasibility of using autologous minced tissue grafts for muscle regeneration is published in BioResearch Open Access, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the BioResearch Open Access website.
Revised guidelines on reducing risk, treatment options for thromboembolic disease in pregnancy Advice on preventing and treating venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pregnancy, birth and following delivery is outlined in two new revised guidelines published today (13 April) by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and launched at the RCOG World Congress in Brisbane, Australia.
Housework keeps older adults more physically and emotionally fit, researcher finds Older adults who keep a clean and orderly home—because of the exercise it takes to get the job done—tend to feel emotionally and physically better after tackling house chores, according to new findings by a Case Western Reserve University school of nursing researcher.
An electronic micropump to deliver treatments deep within the brain Many potentially efficient drugs have been created to treat neurological disorders, but they cannot be used in practice. Typically, for a condition such as epilepsy, it is essential to act at exactly the right time and place in the brain. For this reason, the team of researchers led by Christophe Bernard at Inserm Unit 1106, "Institute of Systems Neuroscience" (INS), with the help of scientists at the École des Mines de Saint-Étienne and Linköping University (Sweden) have developed an organic electronic micropump which, when combined with an anticonvulsant drug, enables localised inhibition of epileptic seizure in brain tissue in vitro. This research is published in the journal Advanced Materials.
Could maple syrup help cut use of antibiotics? (w/ Video) A concentrated extract of maple syrup makes disease-causing bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics, according to laboratory experiments by researchers at McGill University.
Breath taking: Sensory neuron subtypes control different respiratory functions A nerve neglected in today's era of molecular and genetic analysis has yielded a surprising secret. A handful of neurons control breathing in a fine-tuned but powerful way, scientists have discovered in mice. Among these sensory neurons, two types are dedicated to two specific respiratory functions.
	Western lifestyle may limit the diversity of bacteria in the gut Bacteria that naturally reside in the gut are important for health, but recent studies consistently show that a modern lifestyle depletes the gut's collection of microbes. How lifestyle affects the diversity of this gut "microbiome" is unclear, but an analysis of the gut microbiomes of Papua New Guinean and US residents in Cell Reports now suggests that western lifestyle may diminish the variety of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract by limiting their ability to be transmitted among humans.
Genetics overlap found between Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular risk factors An international team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, have found genetic overlap between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and two significant cardiovascular disease risk factors: high levels of inflammatory C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma lipids or fats. The findings, based upon genome-wide association studies involving hundreds of thousands of individuals, suggest the two cardiovascular phenotypes play a role in AD risk - and perhaps offer a new avenue for potentially delaying disease progression.
Drug strategy agency mixing health, safety proposed in NYC A new drug policy agency would focus as much on health as on policing under a proposal a lawmaker plans to formally introduce Thursday to shift how the nation's biggest city approaches illegal drug use.
	Subsidies key in improving sanitation, new study finds With poor sanitation estimated to cause 280,000 deaths per year worldwide, improving sanitation is a key policy goal in many developing countries. Yet governments and major development institutions disagree over how to address the problem. A new study released in Science today found that in Bangladesh, a community-motivation model that has been used in over 60 countries to increase use of hygienic latrines had no effect, yet latrine coverage expands substantially when that model is combined with subsidies for hygienic latrines targeted to the poor.
Osteoporosis diagnosis contributes to hearing loss risk People who have osteoporosis face a 1.76-fold higher risk of developing sudden deafness than those who do not have the bone disease, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Survey shows half of older adults in US now taking aspirin A national survey suggests that slightly more than half of the older adults in the United States are now taking a daily dose of aspirin, even though its use is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration for most people who have not yet had a heart attack or stroke.
	Zinc deficiency linked to activation of Hedgehog signaling pathway Zinc deficiency - long associated with numerous diseases, e.g. autism, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancers - can lead to activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway, a biomolecular pathway that plays essential roles in developing organisms and in diseases, according to new research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Study finds major vascular anomalies in the brains of people with Huntington's disease An international study led by researchers from Université Laval and CHU de Québec-Université Laval has identified significant vascular changes in the brains of people with Huntington's disease. This breakthrough, the details of which are published in the most recent issue of Annals of Neurology, will have significant implications for our understanding of the disease and could open the door to new therapeutic targets for treating this fatal neurodegenerative condition.
New review recognizes the importance of counselling in those affected by infertility The psychological impact and private agony of infertility must be carefully considered by healthcare professionals, suggests a new review, published today (Friday 10 April) in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG). The review identifies infertility as a complex state and life crisis and sets out the dangers of neglecting the emotional impact of involuntary childlessness and viewing it solely in biological or medical terms.
	'Plaque Bank' launches a new model for noninvasive disease prediction, treatment Scraped from the gums, teeth and tongue in the form of plaque, the researchers behind Canada's first plaque bank are betting that the bacterial content of plaque will open up a new frontier of medicine. By collecting and analyzing plaque samples gathered from the fecund bacterial environment of the mouth, researchers at the newly formed Oral Microbiome and Metagenomics Research Lab (OMMR) at the Faculty of Dentistry argue that plaque can be used can be used to predict, identify and even treat disease.
Sugar-sweetened beverages suppress the body's stress response Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can suppress the hormone cortisol and stress responses in the brain, but diet beverages sweetened with aspartame do not have the same effect, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	160 people die of rabies every day, says major new study A global study on canine rabies, published today (16 April 2015), has found that 160 people die every single day from the disease. The report is the first study to consider the impact in terms of deaths and the economic costs of rabies across all countries. Even though the disease is preventable, the study says that around 59,000 people die every year of rabies transmitted by dogs.
	New synthetic drug 'Flakka' triggers crazed behaviors (HealthDay)—A potent new designer drug called "flakka" is making headlines across the United States, driving many users into fits of screaming, naked rage accompanied by vivid hallucinations.
	Substance abuse reported by about 1 in 10 american workers (HealthDay)—Nearly one in 10 full-time workers in the United States has had a recent substance abuse problem, a new government study reveals.
	Modified timolol agent effective for infantile hemangiomas (HealthDay)—A new modified timolol-based cream seems effective for infantile hemangiomas (IHs), according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Dermatology.
	Ethical implications for looking up applicants on facebook (HealthDay)—Looking up students on Facebook and social networking sites (SNS) is associated with serious ethical concerns, according to a perspective piece published in the March issue of the Journal of Graduate Medical Education.
	Fish oil supplementation tied to lower atherothrombotic risk (HealthDay)—Fish oil supplementation (FOS) is associated with atherothrombotic risk reduction in suspected coronary artery disease (sCAD), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Aerosolized measles vaccine inferior to subcutaneous vaccine (HealthDay)—With respect to seropositivity, aerosolized vaccination against measles is inferior to the subcutaneous vaccine, according to a study published in the April 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Synthetic drug 'Flakka' causes hallucinations, fits of rage (HealthDay)—A potent new designer drug called "flakka" is making headlines across the United States, driving many users into fits of screaming rage accompanied by vivid hallucinations.
	New study finds genetic predisposition for noise-induced hearing loss In a new genome-wide association study, an international team led by Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) neuroscientists has found evidence that some people may be more genetically susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss than others.
Harsh Northeast winter no hindrance to hungry ticks The Northeast may have just escaped one of the coldest and snowiest winters to date, but that still will not reduce the risk of Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses.
MERS infections more widespread, less deadly than thought, study finds The viral respiratory disease MERS, first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, is apparently more widespread but less deadly than originally thought, according to a German study.
A shot in the eye: Researchers may have a cure for colorblindess For the more than 10 million Americans with colorblindness, there's never been a treatment, let alone a cure, for the condition that leaves them unable to distinguish certain hues.
Patient's own fat cells transplanted to treat osteoarthritis found may be effective Osteoarthritis (OA), a debilitating and painful degenerative disease, strikes an estimated 14 percent of adults 25 years of age and older, a third of adults age 65 and older in the U.S. alone. Those who suffer from OA may one day have a new and effective cell therapy, thanks to a team of Czech researchers who studied the effectiveness of using an OA patient's own adipose (fat) cells in a unique transplant therapy aimed at reducing the symptoms of this prevalent and difficult to treat condition as well as healing some of the damage caused by OA.
Meningitis epidemic kills 75 in Niger A meningitis epidemic that broke out in January in Niger has killed 75 people so far, the health minister said on Thursday.
Playing a wind instrument could help lower the risk of sleep apnea A new study has found that wind instrument players have a reduced risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea.
Cancer-related PTS linked to very limited cognitive impairment among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients Cancer-related post-traumatic stress is associated with very limited cognitive impairment before treatment among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, according to a new study published April 16 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Smokers who use e-cigarettes less likely to quit The rapid increase in use of e-cigarettes has led to heated debates between opponents who question the safety of these devices and proponents who claim the battery-operated products are a useful cessation tool. A study, published online on April 16 in the American Journal of Public Health, suggests proponents are in error.
Research finds no correlation between regulatory T cells and survival in glioblastoma Using a novel methodology of epigenetic quantitative analysis, Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center's interdisciplinary team of investigators led by Camilo Fadul, MD, found no correlation between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and survival in the tumor microenvironment or blood, even when adjusting for well-known prognostic factors. Titled, "Regulatory T Cells Are Not a Strong Predictor of Survival for Patients with Glioblastoma," the findings were published in Neuro-Oncology.
Ophthalmologists uncover autoimmune process that causes rejection of secondary corneal transplants April 16, 2015 - UT Southwestern Medical Center ophthalmologists have identified an important cause of why secondary corneal transplants are rejected at triple the rate of first-time corneal transplants.
	Today is [Insert Health Issue Here] Awareness Day—is that making us healthier? "We contend that the health awareness day has not been held to an appropriate level of scrutiny given the scale at which it has been embraced," write Jonathan Purtle, DrPH and Leah Roman, MPH in a peer-reviewed commentary published online ahead of print today in the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers show that A3 adenosine receptor can activate 'off signals' for pain In a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, Saint Louis University scientists led by professor of pharmacological and physiological sciences Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D., discovered that drugs targeting the A3 adenosine receptor can "turn off" pain signals in the spinal cord to provide relief from chronic pain.
New research agenda provides roadmap to improve care for hospitalized older adults Older adults with complex medical needs are occupying an increasing number of beds in acute care hospitals, and these patients are commonly cared for by hospitalists with limited formal geriatrics training. These clinicians are also hindered by a lack of research that addresses the needs of the older adult population. A new paper published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine outlines a research agenda to address these issues.
Ebola-hit Liberia rebuilds devastated child healthcare system Estella Verdier keeps vigil by her sick four-month-old grandson's hospital bed, praying for his recovery but placing her faith in the earthly healing powers of Liberia's first ever children's hospital.
	Research informs HIV treatment policy for inmates A national, five-year study of care for inmates with HIV brought strangers together, produced policy change in the Delaware Department of Corrections and documented the importance of good communication and coordinated care for those who return to the community. But many challenges remain in preventing, detecting and treating HIV in offender populations.
A novel mechanism involved in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Researchers at the Angiocardioneurology Department of the Neuromed Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care of Pozzilli (Italy), have found, in animal models, that the absence of a certain enzyme causes a syndrome resembling the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study, published in the international journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, paves the way for a greater understanding of this childhood and adolescent disease, aiming at innovative therapeutic approaches.
French court OKs adoption by lesbian partners A French court has authorized four lesbian women to adopt children born to their wives abroad through artificial insemination.
	The CNIO links telomeres to the origins of liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis Telomeres are DNA regions at the ends of our chromosomes that protect the genetic data of cells, preventing mutations and alterations in the DNA that could potentially cause disease. Telomeres shorten throughout life in a process involving both genetic and environmental factors. Telomere dysfunction —alterations in the structure and/or functioning of telomeres— is one of the molecular mechanisms underlying a number of age-related diseases but, to date, little is known about its possible role in pathologies of the liver such as cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer.
Government paying most doctors full Medicare fees Legislation preventing immediate, deep cuts in doctors' Medicare reimbursements hasn't been signed into law yet, but the government is paying most physicians their full fees anyway.
Study finds health risk in vaping fluid flavor chemicals, urges regulation In a study out today in Tobacco Control, a publication of the British Medical Association, a team led by Portland State University professor James F. Pankow found high levels of flavor chemicals in some e-cigarette fluids. Some of the flavor chemicals may pose health concerns for daily e-cigarette users, or "vapers."
More individuals discussing end-of-life wishes with loved ones Discussing end-of-life wishes with loved ones can be difficult, but new research from the University of Missouri shows more individuals are engaging in advance care planning. Advance care planning includes discussing end-of-life care preferences, providing written end-of-life care instructions and appointing a durable power of attorney for health care.
Financial incentives OK'd for workplace wellness programs (Update) In a victory for business, federal regulators said Thursday that employers can continue to use financial penalties and rewards to nudge staff to participate in fast-growing workplace wellness programs.
Socioeconomic factors affect odds of death after a lung cancer operation People with limited education and low income have higher odds of death within 30 days after undergoing an operation for lung cancer than those who are more educated and financially better off, according to new research published as an article in press on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in advance of print publication later this year.
Florida governor says he'll sue Obama over hospital money Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he is suing the Obama administration for withholding federal money for hospitals that serve the poor, saying they are doing so because the state won't expand Medicaid.
Family history increases the risk of cardiac arrest in patients on dialysis The increased risk of cardiac arrest experienced by patients with kidney failure may, in part, be inherited, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Uncovering the genes that are involved may point to new treatments to protect patients' heart health.
	Georgia Gov. Deal signs medical marijuana bill into law An emotional Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Thursday that immediately legalizes the use of medical marijuana in Georgia to treat eight serious medical conditions.

Other Sciences news

Archeologists believe they have found the oldest example of tool use A team of archeological researchers, led by Sonia Harmand of Stony Brook University, has announced that they believe they have found tools used by human ancestors approximately 800,000 years before the current record holder. Harmand made the announcement at this year's Paleoanthropology Society meeting held in San Francisco.
Faculty in doctoral programs more responsive to white male prospective students, research finds Faced with requests to meet with potential doctoral students of easily identifiable gender, race or ethnicity, faculty in almost every academic discipline are significantly more responsive to white males than to women and minorities, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Men donate competitively on women's fundraising webpages Men give more money through fundraising websites after seeing that other men have donated large amounts and when the fundraiser is an attractive woman, according to new UCL and University of Bristol research.
	Lack of legal rights makes raising 2 teens more stressful Like many dads, when his spouse is traveling out of town, Greg Bourke takes on the role of single parent, shuttling their two teenagers to basketball practice and other activities while working a full-time job. But Bourke has an extra worry when his husband, Michael DeLeon, is away.
	As student tests move online, keyboarding enters curriculum Seven-year-old Ja'Niyah Smith's first-grade class filed into a computer lab at a suburban San Francisco school recently and, as they do every week, practiced using mouses to pop bubbles with a cartoon pickle, catch flies with a frog's tongue and arrange virtual blocks into words.
	How ancient species survived or died off in their old Kentucky home "The answers to extinction, survival and evolution are right here in the dirt," says University of Cincinnati Quaternary science researcher Ken Tankersley, associate professor of anthropology and geology. "And we are continually surprised by what we find."
A scientific look at the art of teacher talk It has long been said teaching is both an art and a science. In a new study that uses a scientific lens to look at the conversational art of instruction, a team of researchers identify specific ways teachers talk to students that measurably impact literacy skills.
The difference between "use-by" "sell-by" and "best-by" dates Confusion over date labeling leads to billions of pounds of food waste every year. Bob Brackett, PhD CFS, Director of the Institute for Food Safety and Health at the Illinois Institute of Technology and IFT spokesperson explains the difference between "use-by," "sell-by," and "best-by" dates.
	Discrimination keeps Muslim women out of the workplace, according to study Discrimination by employers has meant that Muslim women are much more likely to be unemployed than white Christian women even when they have the same qualifications and language abilities, new research from the University of Bristol shows.
	Measuring the value of science Reports about the worthy contributions of science to national economies pop up regularly all around the world – from the UK to the US and even the developing world.

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