Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, May 13

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Astrology and celebrity: Seasons really do influence personality

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, May 14, 2015 at 3:52 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, May 13
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 13, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists develop atomic-scale hardware to implement natural computing
- NASA research reveals Europa's mystery dark material could be sea salt
- Cause of galactic death: Strangulation
- Researchers build new fermion microscope
- Three-decade quest backs physics' 'Standard Model'
- New nanomaterials inspired by bird feathers play with light to create color
- Physicist finds mysterious anti-electron clouds inside thunderstorm
- Cutting a bugs' penis shorter found to reduce reproduction chances
- Brain compass keeps flies on course, even in the dark
- Water was plentiful in the early universe
- Scientists identify interferon beta as likely culprit in persistent viral infections
- New evidence helps explain why some soft tissue fossilizes better than others
- 'Supercool' material glows when you write on it
- Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains
- Survey: More than 40 percent of bee hives died in past year

Nanotechnology news

	Scientists develop atomic-scale hardware to implement natural computing (Phys.org)—Despite the many great achievements of computers, no man-made computer can learn from its environment, adapt to its surroundings, spontaneously self-organize, and solve complex problems that require these abilities as well as a biological brain. These abilities arise from the fact that the brain is a complex system capable of emergent behavior, meaning that the system involves interactions between many units resulting in macroscale behavior that cannot be attributed to any individual unit.
	New nanomaterials inspired by bird feathers play with light to create color Inspired by the way iridescent bird feathers play with light, scientists have created thin films of material in a wide range of pure colors—from red to green—with hues determined by physical structure rather than pigments.
	Nanomaterials in sunscreens and boats leave marine life vulnerable Nanomaterials commonly used in sunscreens and boat-bottom paints are making sea urchin embryos more vulnerable to toxins, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The authors said this could pose a risk to coastal, marine and freshwater environments.
	Researchers develop new way to manufacture nanofibers Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed an inexpensive way to manufacture extraordinarily thin polymer strings commonly known as nanofibers. These polymers can be made from natural materials like proteins or from human-made substances to make plastic, rubber or fiber, including biodegradable materials.
	Exposing breast cancer using nanoscale polymers Photoacoustic imaging is a ground-breaking technique for spotting tumors inside living cells with the help of light-absorbing compounds known as contrast agents. A*STAR researchers have now discovered a way to improve the targeting efficacy and optical activity of breast-cancer-specific contrast agents using conjugated polymer nanoparticles.
	Highly confined transport of light energy over long distances using networks of gold nanoparticles A way to transport highly confined light energy over long distances using extended networks of partially fused gold nanoparticles has been demonstrated by an international team of researchers. This demonstration raises the possibility of new options for information processing by realizing extremely miniaturized light guidance and may lead to advances in sensors and telecommunication systems.
	Nano-policing pollution Pollutants emitted by factories and car exhausts affect humans who breathe in these harmful gases and also aggravate climate change up in the atmosphere. Being able to detect such emissions is a critically needed measure.

Physics news

	Physicist finds mysterious anti-electron clouds inside thunderstorm A terrifying few moments flying into the top of an active thunderstorm in a research aircraft has led to an unexpected discovery that could help explain the longstanding mystery of how lightning gets initiated inside a thunderstorm.
	Researchers build new fermion microscope Fermions are the building blocks of matter, interacting in a multitude of permutations to give rise to the elements of the periodic table. Without fermions, the physical world would not exist.
	Three-decade quest backs physics' 'Standard Model' Scientists on Wednesday said that after a nearly three-decade bid they had detected a telltale change in a sub-atomic particle, further backing a key theory about the Universe.
Silicon photonics technology ready to speed up cloud and big data applications IBM today announced a significant milestone in the development of silicon photonics technology, which enables silicon chips to use pulses of light instead of electrical signals over wires to move data at rapid speeds and longer distances in future computing systems.
Team devises use of food dye, near infrared light to aid in breast resection Roughly 1 in 4 women having breast conserving surgery (BCS) return to the surgical suite for further resection because of cancerous tissue left behind due to unclear margins. Investigators at the Optics in Medicine Lab at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, led by Brian W. Pogue, PhD and Keith Paulsen PhD, with first author and PhD candidate David M. McClatchy III, devised a novel approach to perform near infrared (NIR) optical measurements of resected breast tissue after the margins have had their traditional marking by the surgeon to preserve information about their orientation for potential follow-up surgeries. Their findings are presented in a Letter in the Journal of Biomedical Optics titled, "Molecular dyes used for surgical specimen margin orientation allow for intraoperative optical assessment during breast conserving surgery."
	An expression for droplet deformation simplifies calculations for a wide range of applications A simple formula that describes the initial deformation of a droplet as it hits a solid surface is likely to help to model droplet behavior in a variety of different contexts, shows new research by A*STAR.
	F4E awards AMEC Foster Wheeler one of the largest robotics contracts ever in the field of fusion energy ITER is the world's biggest international collaboration designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. The machine will consist of an unprecedented number of high-technology components that will require a vast range of bespoke devices for operation and maintenance. F4E, the European Union's organisation managing Europe's contribution to ITER, has awarded one of the largest robotics contracts to date in the field of fusion energy to Amec Foster Wheeler, a UK innovation leader with a proven track record in energy.
	UK's first superconducting quantum bit foundry Professor Oleg Astafiev, jointly appointed Professor at Royal Holloway and Visiting Professor at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and his team of researchers, have designed, built and operated the first working superconducting qubit devices in the UK.
Blind signatures using offline repositories Digital signatures are mechanisms for authenticating the validity or authorship of a certain digital message and they aim to be digital counterparts to real (or analog) signatures. The concept was introduced by Diffie and Hellman in 1976. Notice that, when certified, digital signatures have the same legal power as traditional signatures.
	Performance degradation mechanism of a helicon plasma thruster A part of the performance degradation mechanism of the advanced, electrodeless, helicon plasma thruster with a magnetic nozzle, has been revealed by the research group of Dr. Kazunori Takahashi and Prof. Akira Ando at Tohoku University's Department of Electrical Engineering.

Earth news

	New study shows Antarctic ice shelf is thinning from above and below A decade-long scientific debate about what's causing the thinning of one of Antarctica's largest ice shelves is settled this week (Wednesday 13 May) with the publication of an international study in the journal The Cryosphere.
	Historical land use important factor for carbon cycling in northern lakes The historical past is important when we seek to understand environmental conditions as they are today and predict how these might change in the future. This is according to researchers from Umeå University, whose analyses of lake-sediment records show how lake-water carbon concentrations have varied depending on long-term natural dynamics over thousands of years, but also in response to human impacts over the past several hundred years. The study has been published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
	Study reveals how rivers regulate global carbon cycle Humans concerned about climate change are working to find ways of capturing excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and sequestering it in the Earth. But Nature has its own methods for the removal and long-term storage of carbon, including the world's river systems, which transport decaying organic material and eroded rock from land to the ocean.
	Wetlands continue to reduce nitrates Wetlands created 20 years ago between tile-drained agricultural fields and the Embarras River were recently revisited for a new two-year University of Illinois research project. Results show an overall 62 percent nitrate removal rate and little emission of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.
	Policy brief recommends ways to track California's coastal climate change preparedness In light of the serious challenges posed by rising sea levels, the California Legislature recently enacted a bill that directs the California Natural Resources Agency and Ocean Protection Council to develop an online database to keep track of actions taken by state agencies and selected other entities to plan for sea level rise.
	Study attributes varying explosivity to gaseous state within volcanic conduits The varying scale and force of certain volcanic eruptions are directly influenced by the distribution of gases within magma inside a volcano's conduit, according to a new study.
	Fracking may affect air quality and human health People living or working near active natural gas wells may be exposed to certain pollutants at higher levels than the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for lifetime exposure, according to scientists from Oregon State University and the University of Cincinnati.
	Satellite mapping reveals agricultural slowdown in Latin America For the first time, satellite mapping of Latin America shows that the continent's agricultural expansion has waned in the wake of the global economic downturn, according to UBC research.
	Study shows widespread contamination in central NSW and other areas from use of lead in water supply pipelines A new study has found use of lead solder joints in an above ground water supply pipeline has resulted in environmental contamination across a 70km stretch of land in central New South Wales.
	Shell to Seattle: oil drill rigs are coming Royal Dutch Shell says it has a valid lease for Seattle terminal space and a tight timeline to prepare its fleet for exploratory oil drilling in Arctic waters so it plans to move its drill rigs to this city despite the protests of activists and a port commission request that it wait.
	Many feared dead as second quake hits devastated Nepal The second earthquake to hit Nepal in less than a month caught local disaster relief agencies unaware and, despite being six times weaker than the massive quake on April 25, it is still thought to have caused hundreds of casualties.
	Tide gauge network to be updated after 30 years at sea The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has been awarded funding to upgrade the South Atlantic Tide Gauge Network. This network has now been continuously operating in some of Earth's most remote places for 30 years, including open ocean islands, such as Ascension, and the hostile Antarctic environments of Rothera and Vernadsky.
	Seven ecosystem services valued at more than EUR100 million annually The annual contribution of seven ecosystem services to the economy of Limburg, the southernmost province of the Netherlands, can be estimated at around €112 million. This was the conclusion of a study conducted by Roy Remme, Matthias Schröter and Lars Hein of Wageningen University, in collaboration with Bram Edens. The aim of the study was to develop knowledge about the monetary contribution of ecosystems to the regional economy. The study has been published in the journal Ecological Economics.
	UTSA geoscientists prepare for October trip to the Arctic In October, UTSA College of Sciences faculty members Stephen Ackley and Blake Weissling wlll travel to the Arctic as a part of a project funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to study the diminishing ice cover. The pair will join a team of nearly 20 scientists from around the world for the 42-day trip from Nome, Alaska into the Arctic Ocean.
	Duke to provide water to NC residents with tainted wells Duke Energy says it will begin delivering bottled water to homeowners living near its coal ash pits in North Carolina, even as the nation's largest electricity company denies responsibility for its neighbors' tainted wells.
	GPM, AIRS, and RapidScat view Typhoon Dolphin headed for Guam Typhoon Dolphin (strengthened overnight on 5/12 from Tropical Storm status) formed south of Pohnpei in the western Pacific Ocean on May 7, 2015. Dolphin's power has oscillated from a weak tropical depression to typhoon intensity over the past five days. Dolphin is now an intensifying typhoon headed westward.

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA research reveals Europa's mystery dark material could be sea salt NASA laboratory experiments suggest the dark material coating some geological features of Jupiter's moon Europa is likely sea salt from a subsurface ocean, discolored by exposure to radiation. The presence of sea salt on Europa's surface suggests the ocean is interacting with its rocky seafloor—an important consideration in determining whether the icy moon could support life.
	Cause of galactic death: Strangulation As murder mysteries go, it's a big one: how do galaxies die and what kills them? A new study, published today in the journal Nature, has found that the primary cause of galactic death is strangulation, which occurs after galaxies are cut off from the raw materials needed to make new stars.
	Astrophysicists prepare weather forecasts for planets beyond our solar system "Cloudy for the morning, turning to clear with scorching heat in the afternoon."
	Scientists simulate gravity waves propagating toward space Just as waves ripple across a pond when a tossed stone disturbs the water's surface, gravity waves ripple toward space from disturbances in the lower atmosphere.
	Researchers obtain spectrum information for nearby exoplanet Scientists at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canaries (IAC), together with collaborators at the Centre of Astrobiology (CAB) and the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), have obtained an image of a giant planet of some 11 times the mass of Jupiter orbiting a red dwarf star 40 light years away. These results have been published in The Astrophysical Journal.
	VLT discovers new kind of globular star cluster Observations with ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile have discovered a new class of 'dark' globular star clusters around the giant galaxy Centaurus A. These mysterious objects look similar to normal clusters, but contain much more mass and may either harbor unexpected amounts of dark matter, or contain massive black holes—neither of which was expected nor is understood.
	Water was plentiful in the early universe Astronomers have long held that water—two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom—was a relative latecomer to the universe. They believed that any element heavier than helium had to have been formed in the cores of stars and not by the Big Bang itself. Since the earliest stars would have taken some time to form, mature, and die, it was presumed that it took billions of years for oxygen atoms to disperse throughout the universe and attach to hydrogen to produce the first interstellar "water."
Clooney, astronauts mark 45th anniversary of Apollo 13 George Clooney has joined astronauts Jim Lovell, Tom Stafford and Eugene "Gene" Cernan at a gala in Texas to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission.
	Image: Samantha Cristoforetti's shot of fishing boats at night This abstract picture taken from the International Space Station shows fishing boats illuminating the sea to attract fish into their nets. In this case, the lights attracted ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti to take this image while circling Earth 400 km above the sea. She commented: "Fishing boats… what intriguing visual effects as the light shines through a cloud layer!"
	International Space Station partners adjust spacecraft schedule NASA and its international partners agreed Tuesday to set a new schedule for spacecraft traffic to and from the International Space Station.
	Kepler's six years in science (and counting) NASA's Kepler spacecraft began hunting for planets outside our solar system on May 12, 2009. From the trove of data collected, we have learned that planets are common, that most sun-like stars have at least one planet and that nature makes planets with unimaginable diversity.
	High-tech analysis of Orion heat shield underway at NASA's Marshall Center Engineers from three NASA field centers are partnering this month at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to remove and analyze some 180 small squares of an ablative material called Avcoat—the outer coating of the heat shield that protected the Orion crew module during its 2014 flight test. NASA is developing the spacecraft to carry future astronauts on new missions of discovery to an asteroid and on to Mars.
	Subaru Telescope observes superflare stars with large starspots A team of astronomers has used the High Dispersion Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope to conduct spectroscopic observations of Sun-like "superflare" stars first observed and cataloged by the Kepler Space Telescope. The investigations focused on the detailed properties of these stars and confirmed that Sun-like stars with large starspots can experience superflares.
	A guide to Saturn through opposition 2015 The month of May generally means the end of star party season here in Florida, as schools let out in early June, and humid days make for thunderstorm-laden nights. This also meant that we weren't about to miss the past rare clear weekend at Starkey Park. Jupiter and Venus rode high in the sky, and even fleeting Mercury and a fine pass of the Hubble Space Telescope over central Florida put in an appearance.
	NASA's multi-purpose NICER/SEXTANT mission on track for 2016 launch NASA mission that embodies the virtues of faster, less expensive access to space has sailed past all major development milestones and is scheduled to be delivered to Cape Canaveral on time for its October 2016 launch.
	Samantha's longer stay on space station ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti's mission on the International Space Station has been extended until the beginning of June. It was planned to end this week with a return to Earth together with NASA astronaut Terry Virts and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov.
	NASA image: Early morning sunrise over the Grand Canyon From the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Terry Virts (@AstroTerry) took this photograph of an early morning sunrise over the Grand Canyon and posted it to social media on May 10, 2015.

Technology news

	Samsung announces new push into Internet-connected gadgets Samsung wants to sell the digital brains that will go into billions of "smart" home appliances, industrial sensors and other Internet-connected gadgets—even if the gadgets aren't made by Samsung.
	Skype opens door to real-time translation feature Microsoft-owned Skype on Tuesday cleared the way for anyone to use a new feature that translates video chats or instant messages in real time.
	SolaRoad cycle path electricity yield exceeds expectations What a concept for a pilot project. Can't we change our roads into gigantic solar panels? Harvest energy from them? Get solar electricity from them, fed into the electricity grid and used for street lighting, traffic systems, households and electric cars?
	Throw-and-go Lily captures actions, to ship February Lily Robotics, based in Menlo Park, California, on Tuesday unveiled the Lily throw-and-shoot camera. Lily can start following you and record video as soon as you throw it in the air. Its makers say it can shoot "stunning" HD pictures and videos.
	Uber offers helicopter rides to Cannes Film Festival Uber is pulling out all the stops to get noticed at the glitzy Cannes Film Festival opening Wednesday by offering not only its usual taxi-hail car service—but also helicopter rides.
Fiat Chrysler adds nearly 69K Jeeps to side air bag recall Fiat Chrysler is adding almost 69,000 Jeep Cherokees to a recall to fix software that can cause side air bags to inflate without a crash.
Ride-sharing service Sidecar adds marijuana delivery Ride-sharing service Sidecar on Tuesday added medical marijuana to the list of goods it will promptly deliver to customers in San Francisco.
	Review: What to do if phones fill up with photos Shoot enough photos and videos, and your phone will eventually fill up.
	Facebook dives deep into news with publisher deal (Update) Facebook moved deeper into the media business Wednesday by crafting a deal with news publishers which allows the social network to deliver articles directly to readers.
	Training teachers for deaf children gets a robotic helping hand Deaf education lecturers at The University of Manchester are using the Swivl robot in school classrooms in a UK first for teacher training.
Japan heading for toilet diplomacy Japan is readying to lift the lid on what could be its most effective global marketing gimmick yet: the high-tech toilet seat.
	Soft robot to swim through Europa's oceans An amphibious robot that can swim through the oceans of distant moons and planets could be the next iteration of self-sustaining, robotic space exploration.
	A counterintuitive approach yields big benefits for high-dimensional, small-sized dataset problems Extracting meaningful information out of clinical datasets can mean the difference between a successful diagnosis and a protracted illness. However datasets can vary widely both in terms of the number of 'features' measured and the number of independent observations taken. Now, A*STAR researchers have developed an approach for targeted feature selection from datasets with small sample sizes, which tackles the so-called class imbalance problem.
	How parents threaten children's online privacy Most parents go to great lengths to keep their children safe online—but what if parents themselves, through the simple act of posting photos to Facebook and Instagram, are putting their own kids at risk every day?
Nuclear modernization programs threaten to prolong the nuclear era In the latest issue of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, published by SAGE, experts from the United States, Russia, and China present global perspectives on ambitious nuclear modernization programs that the world's nuclear-armed countries have begun.
	Twitter founder feeling 'Super' as he heads in new direction Biz Stone knows abandoning a struggling project to try something else can be a smart move. After all, he was part of a team that dumped the seldom-heard podcasting service Odeo nearly a decade ago to work on a new idea called Twitter that transformed how people communicate and made him a multimillionaire.
	'Minecraft' most streamed video game in YouTube's history "Minecraft" has built a big reputation on YouTube.
	If passwords can't protect your account, can fingerprints do the trick? High on the White House's hit list: The series of letters, numbers and symbols you type in when you access everything from your bank account to your Netflix list.
New audio technology allows ALS victim to preserve voice for his kids An incurable, degenerative disease slowly is robbing David Stuczynski of his ability to walk, talk and breathe.
Mellower Microsoft now clicks with its rivals Todd McKinnon, the chief executive of a San Francisco technology startup, has no illusions about how the Microsoft of an earlier era would have viewed his firm.
Technology revolutionizes voter registration for 2016 When President Barack Obama was first elected in 2008, only two states offered a website where citizens could register to vote.
	Toyota, Mazda announce 'long-term partnership' in technology (Update) Toyota Motor Corp. and Japanese rival Mazda are expanding their partnership to a long-term one focusing on technologies in the areas of safety and fuel efficiency.
	Robotic technology promises to improve mining safety A new piece of mining technology developed by Joshua Marshall (Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining) and his Mining Systems Laboratory has positioned the Queen's researchers as leaders in the field of mining robotics.
	Perth commuters face cyber threat via free wi-fi In light of the proposal to introduce free wi-fi throughout Perth's public transport network be aware that there are increased cyber security risks, warns ECU computer security expert Professor Andrew Woodward.
	How cooperative research is shaping the future internet The EU FELIX (Federated Test-Beds for Large-Scale Infrastructure Experiments) project was launched in April 2013 with the aim of helping universities and research centres in the EU and Japan to test new network technologies. This will be achieved through the establishment of joint experimental platforms, which users in both regions of the world can request, monitor and manage.
	How power network components behave when subjected to extreme water pressures At a unique lab in Trondheim, Norway, Siemens researchers are examining how power network components behave when subjected to extreme water pressures. In 2020, such a system will begin supplying energy to large oil and natural gas production sites at a depth of 3,000 meters.
	Partnership creates all-new, nanoscale chemical imaging technique A leading innovator in the field of thermal analysis – vital in many fields of advanced manufacturing – has teamed up with the University of Huddersfield for research that will lead to the development of a number of completely new analytical techniques.
	Blog site Tumblr launches anti-bullying support campaign Actress Elizabeth Banks, singer Jordin Sparks and Vice President Joe Biden are among those helping Tumblr establish a safe place from bullies online.
Tech professionals gravitate toward high-altitude mountaineering The slow slog through thin air atop a glacier-capped Himalayan peak is about the farthest you can get from Silicon Valley's fast-paced tech world, where digital screens are often the only view and the instruments for survival are lines of code.
Facebook pushes to improve benefits, pay for contractors Facebook is pushing for higher pay and improved benefits for the janitors, cooks and other workers who support its employees.

Chemistry news

	A metal composite that will (literally) float your boat Researchers have demonstrated a new metal matrix composite that is so light that it can float on water. A boat made of such lightweight composites will not sink despite damage to its structure. The new material also promises to improve automotive fuel economy because it combines light weight with heat resistance.
	'Supercool' material glows when you write on it A new material developed at the University of Michigan stays liquid more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit below its expected freezing point, but a light touch can cause it to form yellow crystals that glow under ultraviolet light.
	New shortcut to solar cells: Discovery employs electrodes as catalysts to make black silicon Rice University scientists have found a way to simplify the manufacture of solar cells by using the top electrode as the catalyst that turns plain silicon into valuable black silicon.
	Artificial photosynthesis: New, stable photocathode with great potential A German team has developed a new composite photocathode for generating hydrogen using sunlight. The photocathode consists of a thin film of chalcopyrite produced by HZB/PVcomB coated with a newly developed thin film of titanium dioxide containing platinum nanoparticles. This layer protects the chalcopyrite thin film from corrosion, it acts as a catalyst to speed-up formation of hydrogen even shows photoelectric current density and voltage comparable to those of a chalcopyrite-based thin film solar cell.
Science-based response lacking in chemical disasters Three new studies suggest that when communities are hit with disasters that contaminate drinking water the official decision-making and response often lack scientific basis.
	Light it up: Materials crystallize with surprising properties Think about your favorite toys as a child. Did they light up or make funny noises when you touched them? Maybe they changed shape or texture. Today in ACS Central Science, researchers report a new material that combines many of these characteristics. Beyond being fun, these materials, called organic "supercooled" liquids, may be useful for optical storage systems and biomedical sensors.
	Catalyst for green biodiesel production from unrefined feedstock Biodiesel is a sustainable liquid fuel originated from biomass. However, traditional liquid biodiesel catalyst generates a huge amount of waste water in the final purification procedure.
Pure industrial chemicals by gasifying lignocellulosic biomass VTT has demonstrated that lignocellulosic biomass can be successfully converted into pure BTX chemicals: benzene, toluene and xylene. The aim of this research is to enable the use of wood-based chemicals to replace crude oil in, for example, plastics, fuels, medicine and paints.

Biology news

	Cutting a bugs' penis shorter found to reduce reproduction chances (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers from the University of St Andrews and one from the University of Bristol, both in the UK has found, not surprisingly, that snipping a certain bugs' penis caused it to have less success in producing offspring. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Liam Dougherty, Imran Rahman, Emily Burdfield-Steel, E. V. Greenway and David Shuker describe their experiments with Lygaeus simulans bugs and what they learned through their efforts.
	Baboons prefer to spend time with others of the same age, status and even personality New research shows that chacma baboons within a troop spend more of their time with baboons that have similar characteristics to themselves: associating with those of a similar age, dominance rank and even personality type such as boldness. This is known as homophily, or 'love of the same'.
	Male hormones help lemur females rule Lemur girls behave more like the guys, thanks to a little testosterone, according to a new study.
	Molecular switch that promotes heart cell maturation discovered A molecular switch that seems to be essential for embryonic heart cells to grow into more mature, adult-like heart cells has been discovered.
	Bacteria shown to suppress their antibiotic-resistant cousins Researchers studying a dangerous type of bacteria have discovered that the bacteria have the ability to block both their own growth and the growth of their antibiotic-resistant mutants. The discovery might lead to better ways to fight a class of bacteria that have contributed to a growing public health crisis by becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatments.
	Bacteria on shoes could help forensic teams catch suspects Prospective criminals should take note: bacteria are everywhere. A small pilot study has shown that the germs on personal belongings such as shoes and mobile phones are actually a useful way of tracing a person's whereabouts – something that may prove useful in forensic investigations.
	When extra X chromosome won't stay silent, rogue RNA may be to blame Each baby girl starts out with two X chromosomes, but to be healthy she only needs the genes from one. The extra X chromosome gets trussed up and shut down in the earliest stages of development.
Revolutionary discovery could help tackle skin and heart conditions Scientists at The University of Manchester have made an important discovery about how certain cells stick to each other to form tissue.
	Survey: More than 40 percent of bee hives died in past year More than two out of five American honeybee colonies died in the past year, and surprisingly the worst die-off was in the summer, according to a federal survey.
	Climate change boosts a migratory insect pest The potato leafhopper is a tiny insect—barely half the size of a grain of rice—with a bright lime green color that helps it blend in against plant leaves. Despite its unassuming appearance, this little pest causes big headaches for farmers across the eastern half of the United States. By feeding voraciously on many crops, including potatoes, green beans and alfalfa, the migratory potato leafhopper causes untold millions of dollars in damage every year.
	Trap-jaw ants jump with their jaws to escape the antlion's den Some species of trap-jaw ants use their spring-loaded mandibles to hurl themselves out of harm's way when an ant-trapping predator stalks, researchers report in the journal PLOS ONE. This dramatic maneuver doubles the ants' survival when other escape methods fail, the researchers found.
Dedicated scientists and volunteers working to better understand now rare abalone species The sun was just beginning to rise as two men headed down to the beach to board a small inflatable boat. Searching for abalone was on their agenda for the day. Their excitement was difficult to contain as they surveyed the coastline looking for sand ridges—an important clue that abalone may be near. The two men, David Witting and Bill Hagey, share a passion for finding the now rare white abalone and understanding the movement and feeding behaviors of all abalone species.
	Seminal plugs cost red-sided garter snakes dearly Bubbling out of their hibernation burrows as the temperature begins to rise, male red-sided garter snakes only have one thing on their mind: mating. And with females in short supply, the pressure is on. But how much effort do these males invest in reproduction? The expense is clear for females, but how costly is seminal fluid production for males? Christopher Friesen from the University of Sydney, Australia, explains that male red-sided garter snakes are clearly exerting themselves as the seminal plugs left inside the females after copulation – to avoid sperm leakage and prevent the female from mating with other males – are massive. Also, the males' blood lactate levels soar, suggesting that seminal fluid production could be costly. Knowing that males produce and store their sperm in late summer, while the majority of the seminal fluid components are produced in spring, Friesen and his thesis advisor Robert Mason from Oregon S! tate University, realised that they could tease apart the males' investment in seminal fluid production from the cost of sperm production to begin understanding how costly reproduction is for red-sided garter snake males.
	The world's biodiversity in the palm of your hand Never has knowledge of the world's biodiversity knowledge been more at your fingertips, thanks to a new smartphone app: the Map of Life. No matter where you are, the app can tell you what species of plants and animals are nearby.
	Sequencing technique unveiling the realm of viral mutations Researchers at A*STAR have devised a sequencing technique that can track specific viral variants produced when viruses such as hepatitis B rapidly mutate within individual patients. The breakthrough allows an unprecedented view of evolving virus population structures, and could help in the creation of new drugs that prevent the development of strains resistant to drugs and immune responses.
	Scientists use 3D reconstructions to study animal jaw mechanics Studying the muscles that animals use to bite and chew can tell us a lot about their eating habits. In the past, researchers often undertook painstaking dissection of animal specimens by hand to visualize the muscles used for specific tasks like chewing. Physical damage from the separation of muscle layers during dissection and the effects of dehydration post-mortem can limit the accuracy of manual dissection, making this option less than ideal. In two recent PLOS ONE studies, researchers show us that modern "digital dissection" technologies can be used to avoid the problems associated with traditional dissections in two very different animals, one cute and cuddly and one slimy and giant.
Koalas have a funny diet—do they have funny bacteria? With their specialized diet of almost exclusively Eucalyptus leaves, do koalas require specialist microbes to help them digest their food? Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) investigated the composition of bacterial communities in different digestion-associated organs but found no unusual or special microbial communities when they compared these with those of other mammals.
	Solving the seagrass mystery The waters of the Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protection Area (IPA), 160km north of Broome, are paradise for seagrass: warm water, lots of light and a pristine, protected environment means these seagrasses grow fast, so why are they so short?
	Spores for thought: Study provides new insights into Clostridium spores Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have established how clostridia bacteria emerge from spores. This could help them understand how these bacteria germinate and go on to produce the deadly toxin responsible for botulism, a lethal form of food poisoning, or cause food spoilage.
	Fusion protein controls design of photosynthesis platform Chloroplasts are the solar cells of plants and green algae. In a process called photosynthesis, light energy is used to produce biochemical energy and the oxygen we breathe. Thus, photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on the planet. A central part of photosynthesis takes place in a specialized structure within chloroplasts, the thylakoid membrane system. Despite its apparent important function, until now it was not clear how this specialized internal membrane system is actually formed. In a collaborative project, researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have now identified how this membrane is generated. According to their findings, a protein called IM30 plays a major role by triggering the fusion of internal membranes. The study elucidating the role of IM30 involved biologists, chemists, biochemists, and biophysicists at Mainz University and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research. Their results have recently been published in the journal Nature Communications.
	A bucketful of new Eugenia plant species from Madagascar The spigot for plant discoveries in Madagascar continues to flow steadily, with no signs of slowing down in the near future.
Disposable wipes are costing sewage systems millions of dollars Several class-action lawsuits filed recently against the makers of flushable wet-wipes have brought to light a serious—and unsavory—problem: The popular cleaning products might be clogging sewer systems. But whether the manufacturers should be held accountable is still up in the air, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
	Vitamin D levels predict survival chances for sick cats, study finds Cats may hold vital clues about the health benefits of vitamin D, a study suggests.
Burmese long-tailed macaque stone-tool use catalogued Eighty percent of a population of Burmese long-tailed macaques on an island in southern Thailand use stone and shell tools to crack open seafood, and do so using 17 different action patterns, according to a study published May 13, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Amanda Tan from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and colleagues, under an 8 year field project led by Michael D Gumert, also from NTU.
	Mexico seizes food made from threatened iguana Authorities in central Mexico have seized 32 liters (8.5 gallons) of food made with Mexican spiny-tailed iguanas, a protected and threatened species in the country, officials said Tuesday.
	New begonia germplasm lines both beautiful and sturdy Two new begonia germplasm lines developed by Agricultural Research Service and collaborating scientists are now available for use in breeding elite varieties of the ornamental crop that can tolerate the heat and humidity of a Gulf Coast summer.
How used coffee grounds could make some food more healthful Coffee has gone from dietary foe to friend in recent years, partly due to the revelation that it's rich in antioxidants. Now even spent coffee-grounds are gaining attention for being chock-full of these compounds, which have potential health benefits. In ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers explain how to extract antioxidants from the grounds. They then determined just how concentrated the antioxidants are.
	Don't let the slobber fool you, your dog could be a brainiac When her muscles locked and left her unable to move or speak, Wallis Brozman was glad she had a genius for a service dog.
JRC thematic report: Science for food The JRC has released a new report on its scientific support to EU's "from farm to fork" policy which ensures Europeans enjoy safe and nutritious food, while facilitating the food industry to work under the best possible conditions. It also presents JRC research on global food security - a growing challenge for researchers and policymakers alike when over 800 million people face hunger worldwide and food demand is expected to rise by 60% by 2050.
	It's a girl! Zoo finds baby hippo's gender after seven weeks It's a girl! Finally.

Medicine & Health news

	Brain compass keeps flies on course, even in the dark If you walk into a dark room, you can still find your way to the light switch. That's because your brain keeps track of landmarks and the direction in which you are moving. Fruit flies also boast an internal compass that works when the lights go out, scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have discovered. Their findings suggest that dissecting how fruit flies navigate through the world could help researchers understand how humans and other mammals achieve that task.
Huntington's disease monkeys display progressive clinical changes and neurodegeneration Transgenic Huntington's disease monkeys show similarity to humans with Huntington's in their progressive neurodegeneration and decline of motor control, scientists from Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, report.
	Wearing red can make you appear angry and dominant Men who wear red clothes send out a signal that they are angry and aggressive, in much the same way as if their face had reddened, suggests research published today by Durham University in England.
	Team discovers molecules that could kill cancer while protecting healthy cells Researchers have identified new molecules that kill cancer cells while protecting healthy cells and that could be used to treat a variety of different cancers. The research shines a light on what happens to cells at the moment they become cancerous.
	Memory code for flu-killing 'assassin' cells cracked in quest for one-shot flu 'jab' for life A University of Melbourne-led research team has cracked the riddle of how flu-killing immunity cells memorise distinct strains of influenza, which could lead to novel cellular memory-implant technologies resulting in a one-shot flu jab for life.
	Researchers find some rare diseases are caused by the destruction of functional boundaries within DNA Recent investigations have shown that our genome and those of other mammals is partitioned into large functional units called topologically associated domains, or TADs for short. TADs are very long DNA sections containing one or more genes and their regulatory elements. An important function of TADs appears to be the formation of self-contained areas of gene regulation, and, at the same time, to isolate these from neighbouring areas. On the basis of three rare diseases in humans, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now shown that shifts in the boundaries of TADs can lead to significant disruptions in the regulation of associated genes. TADs are therefore crucial for the proper functioning of genes. The researchers' findings show that hereditary diseases can be caused not only by changes in coding genes themselves but also, surprisingly, by changes in non-coding regions located far from those genes.
	Drug perks up old muscles and aging brains Whether you're brainy, brawny or both, you may someday benefit from a drug found to rejuvenate aging brain and muscle tissue.
	Scientists identify interferon beta as likely culprit in persistent viral infections Interferon proteins are normally considered virus-fighters, but scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found evidence that one of them, interferon beta (IFNβ), has an immune-suppressing effect that can help some viruses establish persistent infections.
	New blood test quickly reveals severity of radiation injury A novel blood test could greatly improve triage of victims of radiation accidents by rapidly predicting who will survive, who will die, and who should receive immediate medical countermeasures, according to scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
	Can drinking alcohol harm the child before the mother knows she is pregnant? Alcohol drunk by a mouse in early pregnancy changes the way genes function in the brains of the offspring, shows the recent study conducted at the University of Helsinki. The early exposure was also later apparent in the brain structure of the adult offspring. The timing of the exposure corresponds to the human gestational weeks 3-6 in terms of fetal development.
	Scientists find genetic signature enabling early, accurate sepsis diagnosis Investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a pattern of gene activity that could help scientists create a blood test for quickly and accurately detecting whether patients are experiencing a deadly immune-system panic attack.
Can diet and exercise prevent muscle loss in old age? Scientists at the University of Southampton have shown that although some studies find diet can enhance the effects of exercise to prevent muscle loss in later life, current evidence about what works is inconsistent.
A sobering thought: One billion smokers and 240 million people with alcohol use disorder, worldwide A new study published today in the journal Addiction has compiled the best, most up-to-date evidence on addictive disorders globally. It shows that almost 5% of the world's adult population (240 million people) have an alcohol use disorder and more than 20% (1 billion people) smoke tobacco. Getting good data on other drugs such as heroin and cannabis is much more difficult but for comparison the number of people injecting drugs is estimated at around 15 million worldwide.
	Breakthrough in tinnitus research could lead to testable model Tinnitus is the most common service-related disability for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Often described as a ringing in the ears, more than 1.5 million former service members, one out of every two combat veterans, report having this sometimes debilitating condition, resulting in more than $2 billion dollars in annual disability payments by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Discovery provides insight into development of autoimmunity Joslin researchers have uncovered the action of a gene that regulates the education of T cells, providing insight into how and why the immune system begins mistaking the body's own tissues for targets. The gene, Clec16a, is one of a suite of genes associated with multiple autoimmune disorders, suggesting it is fundamental to the development of autoimmunity. When the researchers turned the Clec16a gene off, mice genetically prone to diabetes were protected from developing the disease.
Using decisional bias as an implicit measure of moral judgment The act of identifying a perpetrator does not just involve memory and thinking, but also constitutes a moral decision. This is because, by the act of identifying or not identifying someone, the eyewitness runs the risk of either convicting an innocent person or letting a guilty person go free.
	Study finds repetitive brain injuries may accelerate aging, dementia risk Repetitive head injuries that occur during contact sports and military service may accelerate the aging process by increasing the build-up of beta-amyloid in the brain, leading to worse disease and an increased likelihood of developing dementia. In particular, boxers fared the worst among athletes and military veterans with a history of head injuries.
	A trigger that likely unleashes autoimmune disease Australian researchers believe they have discovered a group of cells that trigger autoimmune disease, as well as the molecular 'trigger guard' that normally holds them in check.
Challenges of developing obstetric medicines discussed in scientific opinion paper The development of new drugs for use in obstetrics is long overdue. A Scientific Impact Paper (SIP) published today (13 May) by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) addresses the reasons for this and suggests ways that barriers to finding new treatments could be overcome.
	Research finds differences in the brains and behavior of girls and boys with autism New research conducted by the UC Davis MIND Institute on a large cohort of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder has found differences in the underlying biology of their brains, and in their behavior, that may help explain how the condition affects a little-studied and poorly understood population of children: girls.
	New test could identify resistant tuberculosis faster The time needed to genetically sequence the bacteria causing tuberculosis (Mtb) from patient samples has been reduced from weeks to days using a new technique developed by a UCL-led team. This could help health service providers to better treat disease, control transmission of this infection, and monitor outbreaks.
MRI—prostate cancer screening for the future? A screening method that combines a traditional PSA test with an MRI detects a significantly greater number of prostate cancer cases and improves diagnostic accuracy. The study was conducted as part of the largest international research project on prostate cancer. The method will now be tried with 40,000 subjects in Gothenburg.
How men and women express masculinity and femininity in bathroom graffiti A new article recently published in Gender, Place & Culture examines how men and women express masculinity and femininity in the seemingly private and anonymous spaces of public bathrooms.
	Disc degeneration tied to severe abdominal aortic calcification (HealthDay)—Greater abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) severity, faster AAC progression, and higher mortality are seen for older men with severe disc degeneration, according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Scientists are able to take immortality from cancer Scientists from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have discovered a new strategy to fight cancer, which is very different from those described to date. Their work shows for the first time that telomeres—the structures protecting the ends of the chromosomes—may represent an effective anti-cancer target: by blocking the TRF1 gene, which is essential for the telomeres, they have shown dramatic improvements in mice with lung cancer.
Physicians can play key role in preventing foodborne illness Food safety awareness is key to understanding the food safety issues on the horizon, and clinicians at hospitals and doctors' offices play a key role in ensuring consumers are aware of the threats of foodborne illness, said the University of Georgia's Michael Doyle.
	Research shows noisy environments influence taste perception Airline passengers who eat meals vary in their ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavors. In studying how airplane noise affects the palate, Cornell food scientists have found sweetness suppressed and a tasty, tender tomato surprise: umami.
Study shows elevated risk for eating disorders among transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual students Transgender and non-transgender lesbian, gay and bisexual students are at greater risk for eating disorders, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	Blocking the spliceosome delays the progression of lymphoma in mice A widespread cancer-causing protein called MYC promotes the growth of tumor cells in part by ensuring that RNA transcripts are properly spliced, according to latest work from A*STAR researchers. Drugs that block parts of the cell's splicing machinery may provide a new way to halt the proliferation of MYC-driven cancers.
Cochlea model reveals inner workings of the ear PhD student Mohammad Ayat's research involved developing a model of the cochlea, a snail-shaped chamber in the human ear, focused on the cochlear microphonic (CM)—an electrical signal generated inside the cochlea in response to sound.
Older patients receive less evidence-based cardiac care than younger patients People in their 80s and 90s are more likely to develop acute coronary syndrome than their younger counterparts. Despite this, they receive less therapy and fewer diagnostic procedures. A doctoral thesis at Sahlgrenska Academy has explored the topic.
	Be sunscreen-savvy and lessen a main skin cancer risk factor Selecting the correct sunscreen from a sea of choices may seem daunting, but dermatology experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say there are key components the right choice will contain.
	Drug target for asthma discovered The over-active immune cells responsible for asthma depend on the gene BCL11B to develop into mature cells, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. The identification of this gene's role could help in the search for asthma therapies.
	Starving cancer instead of feeding it poison A patent application for a drug that could destroy the deadly childhood disease known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia—and potentially other cancers as well—has been submitted by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, the University of Maryland and the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Recovery from trauma is different for everybody The very public trials of the Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and the Colorado theater shooting suspect, James Holmes, put images and stories about these traumatic events once again in front of the public.
Single low-magnitude electric pulse successfully fights inflammation The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, the research arm of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, and SetPoint Medical Inc., a biomedical technology company, today released the results of research on the therapeutic potential of vagus nerve stimulation. In a paper published by Bioelectronic Medicine, Kevin J. Tracey, MD, and his colleagues at the Feinstein Institute, explore how low-level electrical stimulation interacts with the body's nerves to reduce inflammation, a fundamental goal of bioelectronic medicine.
	Brains of smokers who quit successfully might be wired for success Smokers who are able to quit might actually be hard-wired for success, according to a study from Duke Medicine.
	Study shows that playing games can shift attitudes A Dartmouth research laboratory is working to quantify the effects of playing games. In a study published online last month by the Games for Health Journal, Professor Mary Flanagan and her team found that attitudes toward public health issues shift to be more accepting and understanding after playing a game they developed called RePlay Health.
Researchers say androgen deprivation therapy may lead to cognitive impairment Cognitive impairment can occur in cancer patients who are treated with a variety of therapies, including radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. After chemotherapy treatment it is commonly called "chemo brain." Signs of cognitive impairment include forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, problems recalling information, trouble multi-tasking and becoming slower at processing information. The number of people who experience cognitive problems following cancer therapy is broad, with an estimate range of 15 to 70 percent.
	'Extreme' exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke causes mild intoxication Secondhand exposure to cannabis smoke under "extreme conditions," such as an unventilated room or enclosed vehicle, can cause nonsmokers to feel the effects of the drug, have minor problems with memory and coordination, and in some cases test positive for the drug in a urinalysis. Those are the findings of a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study, reported online this month in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
	Novel biomarkers may provide guide to personalized hepatitis C therapy A simple blood test can be used to predict which chronic hepatitis C patients will respond to interferon-based therapy, according to a report in the May issue of Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the basic science journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
Recreational drug use on weekends often morphs into daily use, study finds More than half of patients who report "weekend-only" drug use end up expanding their drug use to weekdays, too—suggesting that primary care clinicians should monitor patients who acknowledge "recreational" drug use, says a new study by Boston University public health and medicine researchers.
	Potential obesity treatment targets the two sides of appetite: Hunger and feeling full Our bodies' hormones work together to tell us when to eat and when to stop. But for many people who are obese, this system is off-balance. Now scientists have designed a hormone-like compound to suppress hunger and boost satiety, or a full feeling, at the same time. They report in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry that obese mice given the compound for 14 days had a tendency to eat less than the other groups.
	No link found between PTSD and cancer risk In the largest study to date that examines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a risk factor for cancer, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), have shown no evidence of an association.
No difference in post-op complications for pregnant women undergoing general surgery Pregnant women who undergo general surgical procedures appear to have no significant difference in postoperative complications compared with women who are not pregnant, according to a report published online by JAMA Surgery.
	The infant gut microbiome: New studies on its origins and how it's knocked out of balance A fecal sample analysis of 98 Swedish infants over the first year of life found a connection between the development of a child's gut microbiome and the way he or she is delivered. Babies born via C-section had gut bacteria that showed significantly less resemblance to their mothers compared to those that were delivered vaginally.
	Astrology and celebrity: Seasons really do influence personality People's personalities tend to vary somewhat depending on the season in which they are born, and astrological signs may have developed as a useful system for remembering these patterns, according to an analysis by UConn researcher Mark Hamilton. Such seasonal effects may not be clear in individuals, but can be discerned through averaging personality traits across large cohorts born at the same time of year. Hamilton's analysis will be published in Comprehensive Psychology on 13 May.
Depression intensifies anger in veterans with PTSD The tendency for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to lash out in anger can be significantly amplified if they are also depressed, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Memory and the hippocampus New work by the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'île-de-MontréalI) computational neuroscientist Mallar Chakravarty, PhD, and in collaboration with researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) challenges in a thrilling way the long-held belief that a larger hippocampus is directly linked to improved memory function.
Highly competitive geographic areas have a higher annual number of liver transplants The annual number of liver transplantation operations increases when transplantation centers are concentrated in geographic areas that are highly competitive, according to findings from a new study published as an "article in press" in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). The study, believed to be the first one to demonstrate a link between the volume of liver transplantation and competition for organs and geographic density, will appear in the print edition of the Journal this summer.
	Guidance offered to help doctors deal with 'Dr. Google' (HealthDay)—Good communication is the key to resolving conflicts between the tests and treatment a patient may want based on online searches and those a physician believes are necessary, according to an article published online in Medical Economics.
Asthma app helps control asthma: Alerts allergists when sufferers need assistance The adage, "There's an app for that" is even more true in light of an app that sends an alert to your allergist's office when your asthma may be out of control.
Antipsychotic drug use in pregnant women appears to pose minimal risk, new study suggests Antipsychotic medication use during pregnancy does not put women at additional risk of developing gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders or major blood clots that obstruct circulation, according to a new study led by researchers at Women's College Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
National study finds lower depression, better mental health during the Great Recession Men and women in the U.S. had lower odds of depression diagnoses and better mental health during the Great Recession of 2007-09 compared to pre-recession according to a University of Maryland (UMD) study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Post-recession, however, women were more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders, while men were less likely to suffer from psychological distress, as measured by a standard test called Kessler 6—post-recession compared to pre-recession. Led by Dr. Rada K. Dagher, assistant professor of health services administration in the UMD School of Public Health, this large, national study is the first in the U.S. known to examine the association between the Great Recession and mental health at the population level.
Protein FGL2 may have potential as therapy target for brain cancer Blocking FGL2, a protein known to promote cancer, may offer a new strategy for treating brain cancer, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	A SMARTer approach to stroke care Time is critical when it comes to stroke, and early treatment is associated with better outcomes. According to the Screening with MRI for Accurate and Rapid stroke Treatment (SMART) study, small changes in quality improvement procedures enabled clinicians to use MRI scans to diagnose stroke patients before giving acute treatment, within 60 minutes of hospital arrival. MRI scans provide detailed images but take longer to complete than CT scans, which are commonly used in most centers. The findings, published in Neurology, were supported in part by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
	Long-term depression may double stroke risk for middle-aged adults Adults over 50 who have persistent symptoms of depression may have twice the risk of stroke as those who do not, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Researchers found that stroke risk remains higher even after symptoms of depression go away, particularly for women.
	How the tumor microenvironment contributes to drug-resistant neuroblastoma Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have made an important step toward finding a target in the fight against drug-resistant neuroblastoma (NBL), the most common solid malignancy found, outside of the skull, in children.
	Medical marijuana pill may not be effective in treating behavioral symptoms of dementia A new study suggests that medical marijuana pills may not help treat behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, pacing and wandering. The research is published in the May 13, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. However, researchers did find that the drug dosage used in the clinical trial was safe and well-tolerated.
	X-linked gene mutations cause some cases of male infertility, study says Some cases of male infertility are due to mutations in the maternal X chromosome that prevent development of viable sperm, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI). The study was published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Economic burden of cancer extends into survivorship A new study finds the economic burden of cancer extends beyond diagnosis and treatment, and concludes that cancer survivors face thousands of dollars of excess medical expenses every year as well as excess employment disability and loss of production at work. The study abstract is being presented at the upcoming ASCO Annual Meeting and was released online today.
	Drug extends survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer A drug developed 50 years ago and abandoned because it was considered to be too toxic has gained a second life in an international clinical trial. Research led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute showed the drug and a potentiating agent lengthened the lives of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, all of whom had exhausted available standard treatments.
	Study finds that various financial incentives help smokers quit Four different financial incentive programs, each worth roughly $800 over six months, all help more smokers kick the habit than providing free access to behavioral counseling and nicotine replacement therapy. Further, the way in which equally-sized payouts are structured influences their effectiveness. The findings are the result of a year-long randomized trial among CVS Caremark (now CVS Health) employees that was conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is published online first in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Anemia distorts regular method of diabetes diagnosis and questions its reliability The use of glycated haemoglobin (sugar-bound haemoglobin, or HbA1c) is now in almost universal use to assist doctors in the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. However new research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) highlights how anaemia—a common condition in the general population, especially in women—can lead to a false diagnosis of diabetes based on HbA1c, when a person's blood sugar control is actually normal. The research is by Dr Emma English, University of Nottingham, UK, and colleagues.
Infant antibiotic use linked to adult diseases A new study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota has found a three-way link among antibiotic use in infants, changes in the gut bacteria, and disease later in life. The imbalances in gut microbes, called dysbiosis, have been tied to infectious diseases, allergies and other autoimmune disorders, and even obesity, later in life.
	Study connects increased diabetes risk and higher levels of testosterone to prostate enlargement Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—or, simply, prostate enlargement—is one of the most common diseases of aging among men in the United States. In fact, by the time they hit 80 or above, upwards of 90 percent of all men in the U.S. experience some degree of prostate enlargement. And of those, 40 percent require medical treatment.
	Research shows how antibodies produce vaccine-like effect against tumors The problem with traditional cancer treatments is that their effects don't always last: Stop the therapy and the disease may return. That's why antibody therapy—which not only kills tumors, but also appears to train the body's own defenses to recognize them—has such promise. New research at Rockefeller University, published May 11 in Cell, shows how this happens, with the destruction of tumor cells prompting a patient's immune system to form immunological memory that can suppress the same tumor should it try to return.
No laughing matter: Some perfectionists have a dark side The type of perfectionist who sets impossibly high standards for others has a bit of a dark side. They tend to be narcissistic, antisocial and to have an aggressive sense of humor. They care little about social norms and do not readily fit into the bigger social picture. So says Joachim Stoeber of the University of Kent in the UK, who compared the characteristics of so-called other-orientated perfectionists against those of perfectionists who set the bar extremely high for themselves. The study is published in Springer's Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment.
	Nurse becomes Italy's second Ebola case An Italian nurse who had recently been working in Sierra Leone with medical charity Emergency tested positive for Ebola on Tuesday in the country's second case of the virus.
FDA releases plan to ease restrictions on gay blood donation The Food and Drug Administration is outlining its plan to end the nation's lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 32-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists say is no longer justified.
Judge throws out part of suit against Louisiana abortion law A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Louisiana's law requiring abortion clinic doctors to gain hospital admitting privileges could pose too great an obstacle to abortions even though there's a rational reason for the law.
Mexico says vaccine not to blame for baby deaths Mexican health authorities on Tuesday said a bacteria was responsible for the deaths last weekend of two babies and for sickening 29 others—not a vaccine as initially feared.
	Stainless staining provides a new tool for clinicians and researchers Histopathology is a cornerstone of modern biomedical research. Yet, the practice of histopathology has evolved just a few times—non-specific stains in the late 19th century, immunohistochemical staining in the mid-to-late 20th century and digital imaging/computerized analysis at the turn of the 20th century. In all cases, prepared biopsy samples are stained and examined under a light microscope. This study reports a new approach to histology in which a team of engineers, pathologists and surgeon report the development of label-free chemical imaging to provide the same information as molecular stains. Led by Rohit Bhargava at the University of Illinois, the study is based on using infrared spectroscopic imaging for microscopy.
Frequent drinkers are more likely to neglect supervising their children Adults who drink alcoholic beverages frequently are more likely to inadequately supervise their children, according to a study led by a UCLA researcher.
Augmented reality with spatial contiguity principle in learning sight words Researchers from the faculty of Computer Science & Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA, have proposed prototype takes advantage of the principle on how the human mind works to innovate learning strategies for those with Learning Disabilities (LDs).
	Researchers develop novel computer intelligence system for acute stroke detection The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a novel computer-aided detection system for acute stroke using computer intelligence technology. Reading 80-100 computer images, the system is able to detect if the patient was struck by ischemic stroke or haemorrhagic stroke. The detection accuracy is 90%, which is as high as that conducted by specialists, but at a much reduced time from 10-15 minutes to 3 minutes. The new system serves as a second opinion for frontline medical doctors, enabling timely and appropriate treatment for stroke patients.
A European project aims to increase life expectancy in the EU by two years The University of Valencia leads Focus, a European project with a budget of EUR 2.4 million until 2018, that aims to increase life expectancy in the European Union by two years over the coming decade and to create the first community-wide map of fragility to improve the quality of the population's ageing process.
Mayo Clinic to study 10,000 patients for drug-gene safety Mayo Clinic, in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, is planning to launch a study of 10,000 Mayo biobank members for potential risk of drug reactions or lack of drug effect based on each individual's genome. Researchers will be sequencing the DNA of the biobank members for 69 different genes that can influence how patients' metabolize or react to different drugs. The goal is to determine which "pharmacogenomic" findings are relevant to that individual patient and to insert that information into their medical records - providing an "early warning system" to prevent adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatments.
	New health care index reports increases in consumer costs (HealthDay)—A new Health Care Index shows increases in consumer costs, according to a report published by U.S. News & World Report.
	New study on acupuncture to reduce pain and inflammation in children with acute appendicitis Acupuncture was shown to lessen pain and reduce the underlying inflammation in pediatric patients with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis, according to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
	Cybersecurity and the artificial pancreas—what are the risks? An artificial pancreas, designed for blood glucose control in diabetes, is controlled by software that runs on mobile computing platforms such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, and operates over wireless networks under local or remote medical supervision. As optimal function is critical to an individual's health, safety, and privacy, the risk of security threats targeting an artificial pancreas is of paramount concern and has not been sufficiently considered in the research and development of these emerging medical devices, according to a Perspective article published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT).
GOP pushes late-term abortion ban toward House OK Republicans predicted House passage Wednesday of a late-term abortion ban after dropping rape provisions that angered female GOP lawmakers and forced party leaders into an embarrassing retreat.

Other Sciences news

	New evidence helps explain why some soft tissue fossilizes better than others (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with the University of Bristol in the UK and another with Uppsala University in Sweden has found a reason for why soft tissue in some species fossilizes better than others. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Aodhán Butler, John Cunningham, Graham Budd and Philip Donoghue describe a study they carried out that involved analyzing how a type of shrimp decays.
	Ancient skeleton shows leprosy may have spread to Britain from Scandinavia An international team, including archaeologists from the University of Southampton, has found evidence suggesting leprosy may have spread to Britain from Scandinavia.
	Game intelligence can be learned New theories on game intelligence could change the world of team sports forever. Game intelligence is not necessarily something you are born with but something you can learn, according to the authors of the article "Game Intelligence in Team Sports". Co-author and former NHL player Nicklas Lidström embodies the evidence.
	Male leaders judged less competent when asking for help There might be no such thing as a stupid question, but new research suggests male leaders may be judged harshly if they ask any questions at all.
	Are those jerks at work dragging you down? Sometimes co-workers can enliven your day and even inspire, while others...well, some can be downright soul-crushing.
	Science literacy isn't as bad as the statistics make it look Read the catchy one-line statistics that circulate in the headlines and on social media and you'd be forgiven for thinking that public understanding of science is in a sorry state. A few months back, we heard that 80% of Americans want a warning label on any food that "contains DNA". Earlier on, a poll found that 65% endorse the good old you-only-use-one-tenth-of-your-brain myth. And here in the UK, teachers seem to believe all kinds of brain myths, including a substantial minority (29%) who think that failing to drink enough water will literally shrink your brain.
Where do the happiest children live? Children in European countries tend to report higher levels of satisfaction with their friendships while children in African countries tend to be happier with their school lives. Children in northern European countries are particularly dissatisfied with their appearance and self-confidence. Most of the 50,000 children in the 15 countries rated their satisfaction with life as a whole (on a scale from zero to ten) positively, but the percentage of children with very high well-being (10 out of 10) varied from around 78% in Turkey and 77% in Romania and Colombia to around 40% in South Korea. The percentage with low well-being (less than 5 out of 10) varied from less than 2% in Romania and Colombia to over 7% in South Korea and South Africa.
	Latin-American immigrants 'social climate' is more tolerant to intimate partner violence Spanish researchers have conducted studies to find out if there are any differences between Latin American immigrants and Spaniards who have been convicted of violence against women, with regard to their attitudes toward, among other things, aggression and the risk of re-offending. The results show significant disparities in their perceptions of the severity of the crime, its acceptance and victim blaming. However, Latin American and Spanish men respond to batterer intervention programmes in the same way.
	Research suggests average-sized models could sell more fashion New research from the University of Kent suggests the fashion industry could benefit from using average-sized models rather than size zero in marketing campaigns.
Stephen Hawking to appear at Glastonbury music festival Stephen Hawking is a scientific superstar. Now he's going to mix with rock stars, taking the stage at the Glastonbury Festival.
'Segregated' Britain more diverse and unequal than thought Fifty years on from the first Race Relations Act, new research from The University of Manchester and UCL finds that so-called 'segregated' Britain is both more diverse - and home to far wider inequalities – than originally thought.
Threat assessment teams are making a positive impact in Virginia schools, says study The presence of threat assessment teams in Virginia's public schools is making a positive impact, according to a report released today that analyzed the teams during the first year they were required by state law.
	Improved fire safety and evacuation safety of mining personnel The results of a research study performed by Rickard Hansen at Mälardalen University (MDH) in Sweden may lead to improved fire and evacuation safety of mining personnel. The most common form of subterranean fires is vehicle fires in mines. Richard Hansen has discovered how to predict how these fires behave and develop.
	Learning entrepreneurship: Starting a business is a matter of adequate training Entrepreneurship as vocation? As a talent, which reveals itself early on and is the requirement for a successful start-up? This is the prevailing - yet wrong - view. Entrepreneurship is an acquired skill. The capacity to think and act in entrepreneurial terms is present in many people - unbeknown to most of them. Action-oriented entrepreneurship training sessions can unlock dormant potential and awaken entrepreneurial spirit. This is the findings of a research team, comprised of scholars from Leuphana University of Lüneburg, the University of Singapore, as well as various universities in Uganda and Tanzania under the leadership of Michael Gielnik, Professor for Human Resources and Personnel Development in Lüneburg.
Researchers urge caution in using measures of students' 'non-cognitive' skills for teacher evaluation Policymakers and practitioners have grown increasingly interested in measures of personal qualities other than cognitive ability—including self-control, grit, growth mindset, gratitude, purpose, emotional intelligence, and other beneficial personal qualities—that lead to student success. However, they need to move cautiously before using existing measures to evaluate educators, programs, and policies, or diagnosing children as having "non-cognitive" deficits, according to a review by Angela L. Duckworth and David Scott Yeager published in Educational Researcher, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association.

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