Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 11

HOT!

Video: The Principia mission so far

Lockheed Martin readies one of the most sensitive IR instruments ever made for NASA telescope

E-cigarettes have immediate effects on pulmonary function

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 3:42 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 11
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 11, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Microbots can clean up polluted water
- Spinning cells could attract each other across surprisingly long distances, study shows
- For some diseases, 'genetic destiny' can be averted, study says
- Neanderthals may have been infected by diseases carried out of Africa by humans
- Best of Last Week – New state of matter, flaws in superconductor theory and role of heart and mind in developing wisdom
- Researchers generate clean energy using bacteria-powered solar panel
- Astronomers in South Africa discover mysterious alignment of black holes
- Reprieve for NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft
- Why you might soon text robots as often as your friends
- Marriage may be a cancer fighter
- Today's global climate models do not capture the effects of climate change on islands' aridity
- New tool refines exoplanet search
- Three-way battles in the quantum world
- Wealth of unsuspected new microbes expands tree of life
- Biologists discover new strategy to treat central nervous system injury

Nanotechnology news

	Microbots can clean up polluted water (Phys.org)—A new study shows that a swarm of hundreds of thousands of tiny microbots, each smaller than the width of a human hair, can be deployed into industrial wastewater to absorb and remove toxic heavy metals. The researchers found that the microbots can remove 95% of the lead in polluted water in one hour, and can be reused multiple times, potentially offering a more effective and economical way to remove heavy metals than previous methods.
	Research pioneers nanotechnology for gas sensing A team of scientists from the University of Exeter have created a new type of device that could be used to develop cost-effective gas sensors.
Research team develops ultra-high sensitivity nanoscale microwave detectors By using innovative magnetic materials, an international collaborative of researchers has made a breakthrough in the development of microwave detectors – devices that can sense weak microwave signals used for mobile communications, radar, and other applications. The team's detectors are compact and provide record-high sensitivity. They are known as spin-torque microwave detectors (STMDs), as they use the spin of electrons to detect microwave signals, unlike existing detectors, which use the electron charge. The SINANO team's improved detector has great potential to be used in future telecommunications, sensor networks, and internet of things.
	Photochemical metallization allows the manufacture of touchscreens in a single step In order for touchscreens on smartphones and tablets to function, microscopically fine conductor paths are required on their surfaces. When the users' fingers tip on or wipe over them, electrical circuits open and close, thus making the different functions of the smartphone possible. At the edges of the appliances, these microscopic circuit paths come together to form larger conductive paths. Until now, these different conductive paths had to be manufactured in several steps in time-consuming processes. The research scientists at INM – Leibniz-Institute for New Materials are now presenting a new process that, in a single step, allows manufacture of conductive paths that are just a few micrometers in width on carrier materials such as glass but also on flexible foils. On plastic foil, in particular, manufacture using the roll-to-roll process thus becomes particularly efficient. As a result, new designs for appliances with flexibl! e or even rollable displays will be possible.

Physics news

	Spinning cells could attract each other across surprisingly long distances, study shows Moving bodies can be attracted to each other, even when they're quite far apart and separated by many other objects: That, in a nutshell, is the somewhat unexpected finding by a team of researchers at MIT.
	Three-way battles in the quantum world In phase transitions, for instance between water and water vapor, the motional energy competes with the attractive energy between neighboring molecules. Physicists at ETH Zurich have now studied quantum phase transitions in which distant particles also influence one another.
	Physicists discover new type of material that may speed computing Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory have discovered a topological metal, PtSn4 (platinum and tin), with a unique electronic structure that may someday lead to energy efficient computers with increased processor speeds and data storage.
	Topology explains queer electrical current boost in non-magnetic metal Insights from pure mathematics are lending new insights to material physics, which could aid in development of new devices and sensors. Now an international team of physicists has discovered that applying a magnetic field to a non-magnetic metal made it conduct 70% more electricity, even though basic physics principles would have predicted the opposite.

Earth news

	Today's global climate models do not capture the effects of climate change on islands' aridity Island nations could be forgiven for feeling slighted. They already face the brunt of the effects of climate change: Rising sea levels, dwindling resources, threats to infrastructure and economic foundations. But to add insult to injury, thousands of these islands are too small to be accounted for in the global climate models (GCMs) used by scientists to measure the effects of climate change.
	Research finds massive phosphorus buildup The world's total human population has jumped to over 7.4 billion just this year. Feeding the human species takes a tremendous toll on our natural resources including water, soil and phosphorus—a chemical element in fertilizer essential for food production.
	Researchers define links within two supercontinents A University of Wyoming researcher contributed to a paper that has apparently solved an age-old riddle of how constituent continents were arranged in two Precambrian supercontinents—then known as Nuna-Columbia and Rodinia. It's a finding that may have future economic implications for mining companies.
	US water systems repeatedly exceed federal standard for lead This railroad town promotes its ties to Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and the poet Carl Sandburg. But Galesburg's long history also shows in a hidden way: Aging pipes have been leaking lead into the drinking water for decades.
	Drought threatens California despite El Nino Last winter, El Nino-driven storms dumped much-needed snow and rain over California, boosting reservoir levels and fueling hopes the parched state's four-year drought might end.
	Drowning history: Sea level rise threatens US historic sites With scientists forecasting sea levels to rise by anywhere from several inches to several feet by 2100, historic structures and coastal heritage sites around the world are under threat. Some sites and artifacts could become submerged.
	Heatwave shuts more than 250 Malaysian schools: reports More than 250 Malaysian schools were closed on Monday due to a heatwave brought on by the El Nino weather phenomenon which is severely affecting food production and causing chronic water shortages in many countries.
	NASA study solves two mysteries about wobbling Earth Using satellite data on how water moves around Earth, NASA scientists have solved two mysteries about wobbles in the planet's rotation—one new and one more than a century old. The research may help improve our knowledge of past and future climate.
	Ocean-bound scientists drilling for new clues about dinosaur extinction event On April 14, scientists will begin collecting new samples from the Chicxulub impact crater, remnant of an asteroid that crashed into Earth 66 million years ago and caused the extinctions of 75 percent of the planet's species, including the dinosaurs. The international team includes two Penn State researchers, Tim Bralower, professor of geosciences, and Heather Jones, Ph.D. candidate in geosciences.
	Severe fires turning forest to shrubland in California Large tracts of forest in California are being destroyed by severe fires and some may struggle to recover, instead being replaced by dense shrubland, according to researchers.
	Cultural costs of building dams People must be a consideration when building dams, according to FIU researchers.
	Hi-tech opens up Earth's secrets A JCU scientist has developed a hi-tech animation of millions of years of tectonic plate movements that could lead to new mineral discoveries and help predict volcanic eruptions.
	International network to spy on trees A scientist from The Australian National University (ANU) is helping set up an international network to use surveillance camera networks and drone data to spy on trees.
	Hunger, power cuts in Zimbabwe, Zambia as lake hits record low Lake Kariba on the Zambezi River border between Zimbabwe and Zambia used to be dotted with hundreds of commercial fishing rigs, while local fishermen in small makeshift boats would catch enough bream for their livelihood.
	Virginia continues to lead in clam and oyster aquaculture Virginia shellfish farmers sold $48.3 million in clams and oysters in 2015, with hard clam sales of $32.3 million once again leading the nation and $16 million in oyster sales tops among U.S. East Coast states.

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers in South Africa discover mysterious alignment of black holes Deep radio imaging by researchers in the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape, in South Africa, has revealed that supermassive black holes in a region of the distant universe are all spinning out radio jets in the same direction – most likely a result of primordial mass fluctuations in the early universe. The astronomers publish their results in a new paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	SpaceX launches futuristic pop-up room, lands rocket at sea SpaceX resumed station deliveries for NASA on Friday, and in a double triumph, successfully landed its booster rocket on an ocean platform for the first time.
	Saturn spacecraft not affected by hypothetical Planet 9 Contrary to recent reports, NASA's Cassini spacecraft is not experiencing unexplained deviations in its orbit around Saturn, according to mission managers and orbit determination experts at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
	SpaceX delivers world's first inflatable room for astronauts SpaceX has made good on a high-priority delivery: the world's first inflatable room for astronauts.
	NASA's planet-hunting Kepler Spacecraft in emergency mode (Update) NASA is trying to resuscitate its planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft, in a state of emergency nearly 75 million miles away.
	Hot super-Earths stripped by host stars: 'Cooked' planets shrink due to radiation Astrophysicists at the University of Birmingham have used data from the NASA Kepler space telescope to discover a class of extrasolar planets whose atmospheres have been stripped away by their host stars, according to research published in the journal Nature Communications today (11 April 2016).
	Image: Hubble frames a unique red rectangle The star HD 44179 is surrounded by an extraordinary structure known as the Red Rectangle. It acquired its moniker because of its shape and its apparent color when seen in early images from Earth. This strikingly detailed Hubble image reveals how, when seen from space, the nebula, rather than being rectangular, is shaped like an X with additional complex structures of spaced lines of glowing gas, a little like the rungs of a ladder.
	Pulsation-driven winds in giant stars Nearly all stars have winds. The Sun's wind, which originates from its hot outer layer (corona), contains charged particles emitted at a rate equivalent to about one-millionth of the moon's mass each year. Some of these particles bombard the Earth, producing radio static, auroral glows, and (in extreme cases) disrupted global communications. The winds of stars more evolved than the Sun (like the so-called giant stars that are cooler and larger in diameter than the Sun) often contain dust particles which enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements. These winds also contain small grains on whose surfaces chemical reactions produce complex molecules. The dust also absorbs radiation and obscures visible light. Understanding the mechanism(s) that produce these winds in evolved stars is important both for modeling the wind and the character of the stellar environment, and for predicting the future evolution of the star.
	New tool refines exoplanet search Planet-hunting is an ongoing process that's resulting in the discovery of more and more planets orbiting distant stars. But as the hunters learn more about the variety among the tremendous number of predicted planets out there, it's important to refine their techniques. New work led by Carnegie's Jonathan Gagné, Caltech's Peter Gao, and Peter Plavchan from Missouri State University reports on a technological upgrade for one method of finding planets or confirming other planetary detections. The result is published by The Astrophysical Journal.
	Reprieve for NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft To astronomers' relief, NASA's planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft has won another reprieve.
	Slovakia to send its first ever satellite into space Slovakia is gearing up to launch its first satellite into orbit with the aim of demonstrating the country's ability to carry out scientific experiments in space. The pocket-sized, one-unit CubeSat, named skCUBE, is currently slated for liftoff in June atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The central European state is one of the last countries on the continent to have its own satellite.
	Busy spacecraft and experiment schedule on Space Station With less than two months left aboard the International Space Station, ESA astronaut Tim Peake has been exceptionally busy with experiments and arriving spacecraft. Tonight, the third supply vessel for the space laboratory in three weeks will be launched and Tim will be at the helm to berth it on Sunday.
	Video: SDO spies an elongated coronal hole A long coronal hole can be seen right down the middle of the sun in this video captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on March 23-25, 2016. Coronal holes are areas on the sun where the solar magnetic field extends up and out into interplanetary space, sending solar material speeding out in a high-speed stream of solar wind.
	Image: Saturn's past and present moons Saturn's beautiful rings form a striking feature, cutting across this image of two of the planet's most intriguing moons.
	NASA's next great space telescope Assembly of the next great space observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is now underway at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Launch target: 2018.
Last space shuttle fuel tank in existence begins its journey to LA The journey began early Sunday when crews delicately pushed the 15-story space shuttle fuel tank from its outdoor perch outside NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility onto an ocean barge bound for Los Angeles.
Video: The Principia mission so far ESA astronaut Tim Peake shares his views of Earth and his six-month Principia mission while on the International Space Station.
	Lockheed Martin readies one of the most sensitive IR instruments ever made for NASA telescope The ultra-sensitive, highly precise Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb telescope) beat its most stringent requirements during Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) testing, which is now complete. Lockheed Martin built the instrument for the University of Arizona and NASA to serve as both the primary science instrument and the primary mirror-alignment sensor aboard the telescope.

Technology news

	Researchers generate clean energy using bacteria-powered solar panel Researchers have taken the next step in the evolution of bacteria-powered energy.
	Bipedal rethink: Who said it had to mimic mighty humans? A ready to reveal bipedal robot? All eyes usually search for signature signs of merit: moves like a human, bends like a human, climbs like a human, survives tripping like a human, all the challenges for which robotics experts must at least show good attempts.
	Mumblehard Linux botnet no longer active, takedown declared (Tech Xplore)—The Mumblehard Linux botnet is out of the way. Malware researcher Marc-Etienne M. Léveillé trumpeted the good news on WeLiveSecurity from security company ESET: Mumblehard has been struck down, which means an end to spamming as a result of Mumblehard for an army of Linux servers. He said, "we are pleased to report that it is no longer active," referring to the Linux botnet.
	DeepArt, the computer that paints your portrait What would you say to having your selfie turned into a Van Gogh or Matisse painting? That's exactly what you can do with DeepArt, an algorithm that can generate a digital painting from any photo. It is now available for the first time on a platform designed at EPFL.
	Research brings 'smart hands' closer to reality Using your skin as a touchscreen has been brought a step closer after UK scientists successfully created tactile sensations on the palm using ultrasound sent through the hand.
	Research team creates robust 'white graphene' electrolyte and separator for lithium-ion batteries Rice University materials scientists have introduced a combined electrolyte and separator for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that supplies energy at usable voltages and in high temperatures.
	Researchers say new generation of ransomware emerging An unusual strain of virus-like hacker software that exploits computer server vulnerabilities without requiring human interaction is a leading example of a new generation of "ransomware," according to a new report by Cisco Systems Inc.
	Why you might soon text robots as often as your friends The robots are coming—to help run your life or sell you stuff—at an online texting service near you.
	EMIEW3 robot will go on duty in customer service role (Tech Xplore)—EMIEW3—the name does not easily roll off the tongue but it is the name of a people-friendly robot. Hitachi showed the robot along with its associated customer service platform earlier this month. The red and white cutie was designed to be helpful to customers, for providing service and guidance at public facilities as well as stores.
	How stealthy is Navy's new destroyer? It needs reflectors The future USS Zumwalt is so stealthy that it'll go to sea with reflective material that can be hoisted to make it more visible to other ships.
Appeals court rules Mississippi can resume Google inquiry Mississippi's attorney general can resume an investigation into whether Google facilitates illegal behavior, an appeals court ruled.
	UK's Daily Mail in early talks over bid for Yahoo The owner of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper and media group is in early talks over a bid for the ailing U.S. internet company Yahoo.
Tesla recalls 2,700 Model X SUVs for seat problem Tesla Motors is recalling 2,700 Model X sport utility vehicles to fix a locking hinge that could allow third-row seat backs to fold forward, the automaker said Monday.
	Could robot submarines replace the ageing Collins class? The decision to replace Australia's submarines has been stalled for too long by politicians afraid of the bad media about "dud subs" the Collins class got last century.
	Robots can help young patients engage in rehab Anyone who has undergone any intensive physical rehabilitation knows the frustration, boredom and discomfort that comes with repeated exercises over days, weeks and even months. For young children and their families, rehabilitation is often a traumatic and emotional time.
	Automation helps us in many ways, but does it steal our sense of self? The vast global trend toward computer-driven automation is usually discussed in terms of technological capabilities and their economic consequences. Navigation systems tell you where to drive, and Siri gives you quick answers, but technology's ability to replace people's jobs means there are usually some trade-offs when innovations take hold.
	Sweden military servers hacked, used in 2013 attack on US banks Swedish military computers were hacked and used in an attack targeting major US banks in 2013, the armed forces said on Monday.
Kerosene subsidies slow transition to clean energy Billions of people around the world rely on polluting and inefficient kerosene lamps for household lighting. Yet transitioning away from kerosene and reducing the associated impacts is more complicated than simply supplying an electricity connection, since many families supplement unreliable or inadequate electric lights with kerosene lamps, according to the study, which was published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
	New imaging technology could help save UK/EU steel industry A researcher from the University of Bath has been awarded a new grant to develop an innovative way of assessing a key stage of the production of steel, greatly benefitting the competitiveness of the UK and EU steel industry.
New report calls for ban on 'killer robots' amid UN meeting Technology allowing a pre-programmed robot to shoot to kill, or a tank to fire at a target with no human involvement, is only years away, experts say. A new report called Monday for a ban on such "killer robots."
PC sales slump for sixth consecutive quarter Sales of personal computers slid for the sixth consecutive quarter at the start of 2016, falling to levels not seen since 2007, a market tracker said Monday.
In online first, 'exploding watermelon' takes the cake In an online world where viral trends can shift in an instant, the "exploding watermelon" video may have set a high-water mark.
Using smartphones to improve quality of city life Mobile devices such as smartphones are now so widely and intensely used that they have almost become extensions of the human body. Can we take advantage of this connectivity to save time, improve quality of life, and make cities run more efficiently?
	New robotic gripping surface for sensitive devices adds a new dimension to handling: a boost for Industry 4.0 Components with highly sensitive surfaces are used in automotive, semiconductor, display and optical technologies.
	3-D printing creates knee model for evaluating patellar disorders and surgical approaches A new, low-cost approach to building a knee model for studying knee pain and impaired mobility caused by abnormal movement of the patella uses a 3D printer to create a femur, tibia, patella, and the navigation system to guide knee reconstruction. The reconstructed knee model closely simulates the movement of the patella observed in cadaver knee models, as reported in the study published in 3-D Printing and Additive Manufacturing.
	Luxembourg offers cash to help close ageing French nuke plant Luxembourg offered on Monday to chip in financing to close an ageing French nuclear power plant near its border, saying the tiny nation could be obliterated if the station malfunctioned.

Chemistry news

	How defects influence efficiency in concrete manufacture  Because concrete, the world's most-used construction material, is such a major contributor to climate change, it's worth knowing every detail about how it's manufactured, according to Rice University scientists.
Shining new light on diabetes treatment Researchers have developed a light-activated tool to show how drugs need to be adapted to combat type 2 diabetes.
	Breakthrough may stop multiple sclerosis in its tracks An international research team has demonstrated that a new plant-derived drug can block the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Biology news

	World's wild tiger count rising for first time in a century The world's count of wild tigers roaming forests from Russia to Vietnam has gone up for the first time in more than a century, with some 3,890 counted by conservation groups and national governments in the latest global census, wildlife conservation groups said Monday.
	Beta cells from love handles Researchers at ETH Zurich have managed to use a synthetic genetic program to instruct stem cells taken from fatty tissue to become cells that are almost identical to natural beta cells. This brings them a major step closer to a personal repair kit for diabetes sufferers.
	Researchers uncover what makes plants 'clot' University of Delaware researchers have identified two novel molecular players necessary to regulate plasmodesmata—communication channels in plants that bridge individual cells with their neighboring cells for distribution and exchange of nutrients, minerals and cellular signals—under both biotic and abiotic stress conditions, shining light on what is considered one of the mysteries of plant biology and a fundamental structure essential for plant survival and body formation.
	Wealth of unsuspected new microbes expands tree of life The tree of life, which depicts how life has evolved and diversified on the planet, is getting a lot more complicated.
	Some frogs are adapting to deadly pathogen, according to study Some populations of frogs are rapidly adapting to a fungal pathogen called Batrachochrytrium dendrobatridis (Bd) that has decimated many populations for close to half a century and causes the disease chytridiomycosis, according to a new study.
	Antibiotics don't promote swapping of resistance genes Researchers have shown that, outside of a few specific examples, antibiotics do not promote the spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance through genetic swapping, as previously assumed.
	Researchers find key to zinc rich plants to combat malnutrition A milestone has been reached in the research of zinc loading in crop seeds with large potential benefits to people in the developing world. A team of scientists, led by Professor Michael Broberg Palmgren from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at University of Copenhagen, has just published an article about their findings in Nature Plants, which might well lead the way to growing crops with more zinc accumulated in the seeds.
	Building Immunity: Team recreates a T-cell receptor signaling pathway The front line of the human immune system is made up of T-cells: white blood cells that circulate in the body and scan for foreign invaders and infections. If a T-cell surface receptor detects a threat during its surveillance, it relays a signal to the interior of the cell and activates it to attack.
	Important messenger substance in human cells measured 'live' for the first time Scientists have succeeded in making real-time measurements of changes in the concentration of the important messenger substance nitric oxide (NO) in human cells for the first time. The breakthrough, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications, was achieved by fusing two special proteins which then acted as a measurement probe. The fusion protein can be genetically coded and thus directly produced in the cells to be tested. This development paves the way for completely new insights into the dynamics of NO, which plays an important role in the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems.
	Selection pressures push plants over adaption cliff New simulations by researchers at the University of Warwick and UCL's Institute of Archaeology of plant evolution over the last 3000 years have revealed an unexpected limit to how far useful crops can be pushed to adapt before they suffer population collapse. The result has significant implications for how growers, breeders and scientists help agriculture and horticulture respond to quickening climate change.
	Veterinary medicine researchers pave way to identify antiviral treatment for deadly infectious cat disease A new research project in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University has been successful in treating a deadly cat disease that has previously been nearly 100 percent fatal.
	Shark population threatened due to fin harvesting The world's largest shark fin industry lies in the heart of the Coral Triangle, a region of the Indian and Pacific Oceans home to the world's most diverse coral reefs and known as the Amazon of the seas. This idyllic-sounding environment sustains an industry responsible for the deaths of over 3 million sharks a year. With a reported annual catch of 100,000 tons, Indonesia's shark fishery contributes more to the international shark fin trade than any other nation.
	New way to smell a rat means end for rodents Simon Fraser University scientists have developed a new way to exterminate rats by identifying and synthetically replicating the male brown rat's sex pheromone. The chemical is a powerful attractant for luring female brown rats into traps.
Copper sulfate found to be toxic to stingless bees Copper sulfate has been used in agriculture since the 1800s, at least. In the U.S. it is widely used as a fungicide on organic and conventional crops, and it is also found in some fertilizer products.
	Combined effects of copper, climate change can be deadly for amphibians, research finds Researchers at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory warn that the extinction to two amphibian species—the southern toad and the southern leopard frog—may be hastened by the combined effects of climate change and copper-contaminated wetlands.
	Suit: US grouse protections driven by politics, not science Rural Nevadans suing to block the Obama administration's greater sage grouse protection plan say a trail of internal government documents shows politics drove a pre-determined policy that conflicts with scientific findings.
	Consumers bite into new Bravo red apple It's a bold vintage red that is set to take the WA market by storm, but it's not a Grange Hermitage.

Medicine & Health news

	For some diseases, 'genetic destiny' can be averted, study says Scientists said Monday they had found a handful of healthy people each carrying a genetic mutation that should have condemned them to crippling disease or death.
American doctors make new esophagus using stents and skin American doctors have made a new esophagus for a young man, using donated skin tissue and metal stents, in the latest example of scientists creating body parts in the lab to help patients with few other options.
	Millions of maternal and child lives could be saved every year for less than $5 a person By spending less than $5 per person on essential health care services such as contraception, medication for serious illnesses and nutritional supplements, millions of maternal and child lives could be saved every year, according to a new analysis led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	Zika virus may now be tied to another brain disease The Zika virus may be associated with an autoimmune disorder that attacks the brain's myelin similar to multiple sclerosis, according to a small study that is being released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 68th Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, April 15 to 21, 2016.
	New front opens in war on superbugs: experts A newly-discovered antibiotic-resistant gene is threatening to open a new front in the war against superbugs by rendering a last-resort drug impotent, experts warn.
	Neuronal structures associated with memory sprout in response to novel molecules Chemists at the University of California San Diego have designed a set of molecules that promote microscopic, anatomical changes in neurons associated with the formation and retention of memories. These drug candidates also prevent deterioration of the same neuronal structures in the presence of amyloid-beta, a protein fragment that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
	Central nervous system inflammation—a pathway and possible drug target Scientists have long known that the central nervous system (CNS) has a remarkable ability to limit excessive inflammation in the presence of antigens or injury, but how it works has been unclear. Now, Yale researchers have identified a mechanism that offers this new insight into this protective effect. The findings were described in the April 8 journal of Science Advances.
Biologists discover new strategy to treat central nervous system injury Neurobiologists at UC San Diego have discovered how signals that orchestrate the construction of the nervous system also influence recovery after traumatic injury. They also found that manipulating these signals can enhance the return of function.
	A common brain cell shapes the nervous system in unexpected ways More than half of our brains are made up of glial cells, which wrap around nerve fibers and insulate them—similarly to how the plastic casing of an electric cable insulates the copper wire within—allowing electrical and chemical impulses to travel faster. In the past, neuroscientists considered the glial cell an essential yet passive helper of nerve cells. But scientists in Rockefeller's Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, headed by Shai Shaham, have accumulated compelling evidence that this cell type plays a much more active and dynamic role in the brain than previously thought.
	Researchers find single gatekeeper guarding path to cold-induced pain Cold can hurt. The onset of inflammation following an injury or as a result of disease can heighten pain response to cold, just as it can for pressure and heat sensitivity.
	Chinese team uses CRISPR to genetically modify human embryo (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers at Guangzhou Medical University in China has published a paper in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics describing their efforts to genetically modify a human embryo using CRISPR/Cas9, the gene editing technique. The research, the team reports, was carried out on embryos that carried an extra set of chromosomes, and thus were not viable.
	Researchers reveal how two types of immune cells can arise from one The fates of immune cells can be decided at the initial division of a cell. Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered that the production of daughter cells with different roles in the immune system is driven by the lopsided distribution of the signaling protein c-Myc. Nudging c-Myc in one direction or the other could make vaccines more effective or advance immunotherapies for cancer treatment. The research appears online today in the scientific journal Nature.
	Marriage may be a cancer fighter (HealthDay)—A wedding band may be powerful medicine against cancer, a new study suggests.
	The brain on LSD revealed: First scans show how the drug affects the brain Researchers from Imperial College London, working with the Beckley Foundation, have for the first time visualised the effects of LSD on the human brain. In a series of experiments, scientists have gained a glimpse into how the psychedelic compound affects brain activity. The team administered LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) to 20 healthy volunteers in a specialist research centre and used various leading-edge and complementary brain scanning techniques to visualise how LSD alters the way the brain works.
	Discovery in roundworms may one day help humans with spinal cord injury and paralysis A newly discovered pathway leading to the regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) brain cells (neurons) in a type of roundworm (C. elegans) sheds light on the adult human nervous system's ability to regenerate.
	New insights into how the brain adapts to stress Stress is a major burden in many people's lives affecting their health and wellbeing. New research led by the University of Bristol has found that genes in the brain that play a crucial role in behavioural adaptation to stressful challenges are controlled by epigenetic mechanisms.
	Macrophages surrounding lymph nodes block the progression of melanoma, other cancers Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have identified a type of immune cell that appears to block the progress of melanoma and other cancers in animal models. These subcapsular sinus (SCS) macrophages form a protective coating around lymph nodes, preventing the entry of tiny structures that transport bits of tumor tissue and help the cancer to grow and spread. However, the SCS macrophage barrier appears to be temporary, as it breaks down as the tumor progresses and in response to some cancer treatment drugs.
	New findings reveal social thinking in the infant brain An innovative collaboration between neuroscientists and developmental psychologists that investigated how infants' brains process other people's action provides the first evidence that directly links neural responses from the motor system to overt social behavior in infants.
	Same immune-system proteins may first giveth, then taketh away motor control Princeton University researchers have found that a family of proteins with important roles in the immune system may be responsible for fine-tuning a person's motor control as they grow—and for their gradual loss of muscle function as they age. The research potentially reveals a biological cause of weakness and instability in older people, as well as a possible future treatment that would target the proteins specifically.
	Team eveals, to single-cell resolution, network of circadian neurons that communicate to re-establish synchronization Honed over millions of years of evolution, our circadian rhythms are responsible for the adaptation of our bodies to cycles of light and dark. One need only experience a bout of jetlag to appreciate how we resynchronize various bodily functions to a new time zone.
	Promising new blood test is first of its kind to detect liver scarring Newcastle scientists and medics have developed a new type of genetic blood test that diagnoses scarring in the liver - even before someone may feel ill.
	Refugees escape war, but face new threat in Europe - germs Having survived perilous escapes from war zones, refugees find themselves assailed anew in Europe by germs proliferating in crowded, unsanitary camps that could become outbreak hotspots, infectious disease experts have warned.
	Exposure to cigarette smoke and flu virus may prevent lung medications working properly New study backs up observations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients showing reduced effectiveness of symptom-reliever medication (β2-adrenoceptor agonists) in flare-ups linked to cigarette smoking and infection with viruses such as influenza.
	Hormone Tx no harm after nonserous epithelial ovarian CA (HealthDay)—For women with nonserous epithelial ovarian cancer, hormone therapy (HT) after treatment does not reduce survival, according to a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Diabetes weight loss diets improve emotional measures (HealthDay)—Among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), weight loss diets, regardless of composition, improve psychological measures, including depression, mood, and quality of life, according to a study published online March 23 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
	Niacin-ER may be overlooked cause of thrombocytopenia (HealthDay)—Extended-release (ER) niacin is associated with progressive and reversible thrombocytopenia, according to a letter to the editor published online March 25 in the American Journal of Hematology.
	Propranolol use tied to increased mortality in child-pugh B, C (HealthDay)—For patients with Child-Pugh B and C, propranolol use is associated with increased mortality, according to a letter to the editor published online March 26 in Hepatology.
Research uncovers the effects of traumatic childbirth on midwives and obstetricians When complications arise in the delivery room that lead to traumatic childbirth, clinicians providing care may feel upset and experience secondary traumatic stress. A new study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that feelings of blame and guilt dominate when midwives and obstetricians struggle to cope with the aftermath of a traumatic childbirth, but such events also made them think more about the meaning of life and helped them become better midwives and doctors.
Man and life: How marriage, race and ethnicity and birthplace affect cancer survival Previous studies have shown that married patients with cancer fare better than unmarried cancer patients, surviving more often and longer. In a new study, published April 11 in the journal Cancer, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that the benefits of being married vary by race and ethnicity, with male non-Hispanic white bachelors experiencing the worst outcome. This group had a 24 percent higher mortality rate than their married counterparts.
	Why do people with Alzheimer's stop recognizing their loved ones? Alzheimer's not only steals people's memories but also their ability to recognize faces, which widens the gulf between people with this disease and their loved ones. A recent study has demonstrated that, beyond causing memory problems, Alzheimer's disease also impairs visual face perception. This finding may help families better understand their loved one's inevitable difficulties and lead to new avenues to postpone this painful aspect of the disease. Research in this area by the team of Dr. Sven Joubert, PhD, a researcher at the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal and a professor with the Department of Psychology at Université de Montréal, will be published tomorrow in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Mymetics' HIV vaccine candidate confirms promise in preclinical study Mymetics Corporation, a pioneer in the research and development of virosome-based vaccines to prevent transmission of human infectious diseases across mucosal membranes, announced today that its innovative HIV vaccine candidate has shown to generate significant protection in groups of twelve female monkeys against repeated AIDS virus exposures during part of the preclinical study.
	Face- and eye-muscle research sheds new light on Duchenne muscular dystrophy In a new study, a research team at Basel University Hospital in Switzerland investigates the biochemical and physiological characteristics of orbicularis oculi, a group of facial muscles that control the eyelids and are selectively spared or involved in different neuromuscular disorders. What they found also helps to explain why another set of muscles—the extraocular muscles that control the movement of the eye—are not affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy, and aging.
Protective effect of genetically modified cord blood on spinal cord injury in rats Transplantation of genetically modified cells carrying a transgene has a greater stimulating effect on the central nervous system after traumatic injury. During spinal cord injury, the extensive area adjacent to the epicenter of the injury is involved in the pathological process. In order to achieve complete therapeutic action, the transgene must be delivered not only to the epicenter of traumatic injury but also to those surrounding areas.
Trial shows paper tape can help prevent foot blisters Ten years ago, Grant Lipman, MD, an emergency medicine physician, was working as a doctor for endurance athletes who were running 25 to 50 miles a day in various parts of the world, from China to Antarctica to Chile.
	Small nerve fibers defy neuropathy conventions Results of a small study of people with tingling pain in their hands and feet have added to evidence that so-called prediabetes is more damaging to motor nerves than once believed, in a report on the study published online in JAMA Neurology on April 11.
	Smokers have harder time getting jobs, study finds A one-year longitudinal study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine strongly suggests that smokers remain unemployed longer than nonsmokers. And when smokers do find jobs, they earn substantially less than nonsmokers.
	Effect of national minimum wage 'similar to prescribing antidepressants' A new study finds that low-paid workers who received the national minimum wage in April 1999 reported a decline in symptoms of depression for at least 22 months afterwards.
	Prosocial behaviour can be measured Irrespective of whether we offer someone a cookie, give up a seat to a pensioner, or receive refugees – the broader the variety of prosocial behaviour, the more diverse the methods used to investigate it, employing different scientific disciplines. So far, what has been generally measured as prosocial behaviour has been found to be underpinned by totally different motivations. Following a large-scale study, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have now pinpointed which tests provide the most accurate information about specific intentions. This could be used to people to be more specifically altruistically motivated.
New compounds have potential to combat Lyme disease When physicians diagnose Lyme disease, they usually prescribe standard antibiotics—and for many patients, that's enough. But for 10 to 20 percent of patients, the disease persists, causing joint paint, neurological difficulties and fatigue, among other symptoms.
	Data on long-term pain provided by patients adds up to better care Fifteen years ago, when professor of anesthesiology Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, began working in pain medicine, he found himself hampered by the lack of data available for each patient.
	Lipid helps lymphocytes patrol The mechanism of efficient lymphocyte motility within lymphoid tissues has remained unknown. A research group led by Osaka University and the University of Turku has found for the first time that a lipid called lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) plays a vital role in regulating lymphocyte motility within lymph nodes. Targeting LPA and its receptors may provide novel strategies to control immune responses.
	Scientists create giant neural connections in culture for the first time How does memory occur? And what about movement, or thinking? One key element to understand all these brain functions are the synapses. A synapse is the contact point between two neurons, where a signal is transmitted one-way, from one neuron to another. Specifically, from the pre-synaptic part of one neuron, to the post-synaptic part of another neuron. This communication process involves many types of proteins, and allows us, for example, to memorize a friend's name. Moreover, synapses do not just pass 'messages' from one neuron to another, but also keep the strength of transmitting such 'messages' for a short or a long period of time, thus playing a main role in memory formation.
	Helping people with Parkinson's get a better night's sleep A new study at The University of Western Australia may offer hope in alleviating some of the memory and thinking skills problems associated with the debilitating movement disorder, Parkinson's.
	Researcher uses eye tracking to study linguistics For Clara Cohen, language is all about patterns. The postdoctoral psychology researcher has been interested in linguistic patterns since she was an undergraduate learning Russian, and now, thanks to advances in technology, she can study patterns in language as they occur in real time.
	Nature and nurture both matter for children's early behavior problems Parents often worry about whether their child's early behavior is just the "terrible twos" or behavior that will escalate to aggression, stealing, and fighting over time.
Positive psychology helps people to flourish People who 'flourish' are resilient and have the mental capacity needed to survive in our competitive society. They are not only happier, but they are also more productive, are less often absent from work and have a lower risk of developing mental disorders. Recently, a population study from the Trimbos Institute showed that around two-thirds of Dutch adults are currently not flourishing. Professor Bohlmeijer, professor of mental health: "The results of a nationwide experimental study conducted by the University of Twente now shows that we can achieve a lasting increase in the number of people who are flourishing by giving them a self-help course based on positive psychology." This is one of the first intervention studies worldwide in the field of 'flourishing'.
Summer is coming to Europe and US, and maybe Zika with it: experts With summer approaching, Zika may find its way into virus-carrying mosquitoes in Europe or the United States, disease experts have warned, but any outbreaks are likely to be small and short-lived.
	Zika virus reduces growth and induces cell death and malformations in human neurospheres and brain organoids Brazilian researchers from the D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) have demonstrated the harmful effects of ZIKA virus (ZIKV) in human neural stem cells, neurospheres and brain organoids. Since ZIKV has been gradually established as a direct cause of central nervous system malformations, this study help to elucidate the etiological nature of the recently increasing number of microcephaly cases in Brazil.
	Your income, hometown may be key to your lifespan (HealthDay)—Where they live and how much they earn significantly affects the average American's longevity, a new study suggests.
	More male babies than expected born to Indian-born women in Canada, research papers find More male babies than expected are born to Indian-born women living in Canada who already have two or more children, according to a study published today in the journal CMAJ Open.
Can more fiber restore microbiome diversity? Scientists are pushing to restore human health in Western countries by changing our diet to restore the microbial species lost over the evolution of Western diet. In a Commentary published April 11 in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers at the University of Alberta advocate for strategically increasing dietary fiber intake as one path forward in regaining microbial biodiversity.
	Mapping the routes to drug resistance in cancer When a freeway shuts down because of an accident or construction, drivers find another road to take them where they're going. Likewise, when a targeted therapy blocks a pathway that enables tumors to grow, the cells usually manage to get around that obstacle. The result is drug resistance. Researchers have now found a way to map those alternate routes by studying individual cancer cells, suggesting approaches for developing more effective combination therapies. The results are published April 11 in Cancer Cell.
	Rural kids face special challenges when seriously ill: study (HealthDay)—Sick children from rural areas in the United States have more complex medical problems and cost more to treat than urban or suburban kids, a new hospital study finds.
Fantasy sports fueling a rise in online gambling addiction Poison comes in many forms for addicts: Alcohol and drugs usually come first to mind, but gambling - often overlooked - is of increasing concern to state officials and rehab centers.
	Hormone therapy for prostate cancer may increase risk of depression A new study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has found a significant association between depression and patients being treated for localized prostate cancer (PCa) by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
	Pericardial window operation less efficient in cases of lung cancer than any other cancer Pericardial window operation, a procedure, where abnormal quantity of malignant fluid, or malignant pericardial effusion (MPE), surrounding the heart, is drained into the neighbouring chest cavity through a surgically placed tube, is commonly applied to patients diagnosed with cancer.
New hybrid drug plugs the hole in malaria drug resistance A combination of artemisinin and another drug (artemisinin combination therapy, ACT) is currently the best malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization. In early 2015, artemisinin-resistant malaria was confirmed in five countries in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Even more worrying, malaria cases that are resistant to practically all drugs have begun to emerge along the Thailand-Cambodia border. Such cases do not respond to ACT; thus, new therapies that are effective for resistant malaria are urgently needed.
Highly-sensitive detection method makes close monitoring of HDL kinetics possible High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often referred to as good cholesterol: high levels of HDL are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. But many clinical outcome trials for drugs that raise HDL levels have failed to show significant benefits for trial participants. However, current HDL detection methods usually measure only total HDL cholesterol - a more sensitive detection method could allow investigators to measure the subfractions of HDL, and more precisely pinpoint which of these subfractions should be raised to help protect against cardiovascular events.
New public repository of patient-derived cancer models aims to improve drug testing Testing experimental cancer drugs in mouse models with patient-derived tumors could reduce the high failure rate of drugs in early clinical trials, according to a report from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists performed in collaboration with investigators at multiple other centers.
	Benefits of regular aspirin use outweigh harms for some patients, including those at high risk for cardiovascular diseas The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that the benefits of regular aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer can outweigh the bleeding risks for some patients, including those with higher risk for CVD. The recommendation was informed by three systematic evidence reviews and a modeling paper, all published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Lothian scheme boosts uptake of food and vitamin vouchers for families living in poverty An improvement project in Lothian is boosting uptake of food and vitamin vouchers for low income pregnant women in the area.
Handwashing gets skipped a third of the time in outpatient healthcare Despite having policies in place to prevent infections, staff at outpatient care facilities fail to follow recommendations for hand hygiene 37 percent of the time, and for safe injection practices 33 percent of the time, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
	Hepatitis B and C could be eliminated as public health problems in US, says new report It is possible to end the transmission of hepatitis B and C and prevent further sickness and deaths from the diseases, but time, considerable resources, and attention to various barriers will be required, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. However, controlling the diseases by reducing the number of new and overall cases in the U.S. is more feasible in the short term. This is the first report of a two-phase study; the second report, to be released in early 2017, will outline a strategy for meeting the goals discussed in this report.
	Blood processing methods affect microparticles and mtDNA linked to transfusion reactions Scientists from Blood Systems Research Institute in San Francisco, California, and Canadian Blood Services' Centre for Innovation lab in Edmonton, Alberta, report for the first time that specific red blood cell manufacturing methods may be less damaging to cells than others. This finding could help reduce adverse reactions in transfusion recipients and may impact the future of how blood is collected in North America and around the world.
	Breakthrough toothpaste ingredient hardens your teeth while you sleep A new toothpaste ingredient which puts back the lost minerals from tooth enamel and helps prevent decay and treat sensitivity while you sleep is available online and from specialist dental distributors now. It is expected to be available through high street stores by the end of the year.
	Researchers identify root of chronic pain as potential new drug target When we are in pain, we reach for painkillers as we try to "turn off" the pain. Unfortunately, this does not always work, and this problem has prompted researchers around the world to seek the "main switch" that can promptly and effectively conduct this switching off.
	Definition of prolonged third-stage labor may be outdated (HealthDay)—Postpartum hemorrhage risk is significantly elevated with a third-stage labor duration of 20 minutes or more, according to research published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Exenatide twice daily deemed efficacious across BMI ranges (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, exenatide twice daily added to insulin glargine is efficacious across body mass index (BMI) ranges, according to a study published online March 29 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Colonic diverticular disease linked to dementia risk (HealthDay)—Colonic diverticular disease appears to be associated with increased risk of dementia in a population from Taiwan, according to a study published online March 31 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Vitamin D supplementation doesn't change lean mass, BMD (HealthDay)—For postmenopausal women with vitamin D insufficiency completing a structured weight-loss program, vitamin D3 supplementation is not associated with changes in lean mass or bone mineral density (BMD), according to a study published online April 5 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Hydrolyzed egg preparation safe for egg-allergic children (HealthDay)—A low allergenic hydrolyzed egg (HydE) preparation seems to be safe for use in egg-allergic children, according to a study published online April 5 in Allergy.
	Nurses play crucial role in identifying victims of trafficking (HealthDay)—Recommendations have been developed for emergency nurses in terms of recognizing and responding to the needs of victims of human trafficking; the position statement was published in the March issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
	Progesterone attenuates drug-induced QT interval lengthening (HealthDay)—For healthy females, oral progesterone administration attenuates drug-induced QT interval lengthening, according to a study published online April 6 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
	Newly discovered proteins may protect against aging's illnesses A group of six newly discovered proteins may help to divulge secrets of how we age, potentially unlocking new insights into diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, and other aging-related diseases.
	Kidney stone patients hospitalized on the weekend may get delayed treatment Patients with severe cases of kidney stones are 26 percent less likely to receive timely treatment when they're admitted to the hospital on the weekend, according to a study by researchers at Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
	More than three percent of men on active surveillance for prostate cancer may have metastases Radical treatment such as surgery and radiation for localized prostate cancer may cause significant side effects. Active surveillance is increasingly accepted as an option for treating patients with clinically insignificant disease to maintain their quality of life. Despite close monitoring, however, metastatic disease develops in a small number of men on active surveillance. About three percent of patients on surveillance had metastasis by a median of seven years after diagnosis. This risk increased to ten percent in patients with Gleason score (GS) 7, according to new research published in the Journal of Urology.
	Solving a genetic mystery in type 1 diabetes In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the body's own insulin-producing cells. Scientists understand reasonably well how this autoimmune attack progresses, but they don't understand what triggers the attack or how to stop it, says Stephan Kissler, Ph.D., Investigator in the Section on Immunobiology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
	Whites receive more state funding for autism services than other racial / ethnic groups Whites with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in California receive more state funding than Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and others, new research from UC Davis Health System has found. The study also showed that state spending on ASD increases dramatically with age.
Omega factor: Novel method measures mortality risk when multiple diseases threaten Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have developed a novel method for assessing mortality risk in elderly patients with cancer who also suffer from other serious diseases or conditions. The prognostic model, they say, is more precise and provides a more useful tool for determining the best treatments when more than one disease is involved.
Maryland's 2011 alcohol sales tax reduced alcohol sales, study suggests Maryland's 2011 increase in the alcohol sales tax appears to have led to fewer purchases of beer, wine and liquor in the state, suggesting reduced alcohol use, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research indicates.
	Dysfunctional endosomes are early sign of neurodegeneration Writing in the April 11 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say abnormalities in a protein that helps transport and sort materials inside cells are linked to axonal dysfunction and degeneration of neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down syndrome (DS).
	Imagery effective way to enhance memory, reduce false memories, psychology study finds Using imagery is an effective way to improve memory and decrease certain types of false memories, according to researchers at Georgia State University.
Angiogenesis factor found to promote three age-related diseases of the eye A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigator has found that increased expression of the angiogenic factor VEGF-A promotes three common aging-related eye conditions - both versions of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and also cataracts - in an animal model. While VEGF-A was known to be associated with neovascular or 'wet' AMD, whether it was a direct cause of the condition was unknown. Its role in 'dry' AMD was even less certain, and its contribution to cataract formation was totally unexpected.
	Anorexia-like condition in mice triggered by combination of genetic risk, stress, dieting In a new study, researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) described a new mouse model featuring a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors that can trigger the compulsive restriction of food intake seen in patients with anorexia nervosa. The findings may help to identify new prevention and treatment strategies for the eating disorder in humans.
	US officials: The more we learn about Zika, scarier it is The more researchers learn about the Zika virus, the scarier it appears, federal health officials said Monday as they urged more money for mosquito control and to develop vaccines and treatments.
	Study suggests brain damage in 40 percent of ex-NFL players (HealthDay)—Two out of five retired National Football League players may suffer from traumatic brain injuries, a small study suggests.
	Mom was right: A good night's sleep helps keep you healthy (HealthDay)—In news that's sure to have mothers everywhere saying, "I told you so," scientists have confirmed that a good night's sleep may keep colds and other infections at bay.
Venclexta approved for specific genetic blood cancer (HealthDay)—Venclexta (venetoclax) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) characterized by a specific chromosomal abnormality called the 17p deletion.
	At the store or work, a to-do list helps (HealthDay)—You're less likely to forget grocery items if you take a list when shopping rather than relying on your memory, a new study finds.
	PET scans guiding chemo boosts remission for Hodgkin patients Using PET imaging to guide chemotherapy treatment significantly increases the number of people who go into remission and also decreases toxic side effects for people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma, according to research conducted by SWOG and two other National Cancer Institute research groups.
	Even low levels of air pollution appear to affect a child's lungs Dramatic improvements in air quality in U.S. cities since the 1990s may not be enough to ensure normal lung function in children, according to new research published in the April 15 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care, a journal of the American Thoracic Society.
	Researchers identify tissue biomarker for dementia with lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease Accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, and the related disease "dementia with Lewy bodies," can be difficult in the early stages of both conditions. While brain biopsies can be more accurate, the risk of complications has been considered too high. New research published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease indicates that a biopsy of the submandibular gland can help identify the same pathology that is seen in the brain, providing some of the increased accuracy of brain biopsy, but not the increased risk.
Study provides new understanding of diabetic peripheral neuropathy A research team from Wayne State University recently published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that provides a paradigm shift in the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and wound healing in the treatment of corneal and skin diabetic ulcers.
	Application of novel alignment-free sequence descriptors in Zika virus characterization The recent epidemic of Zika virus infections in South and Latin America has raised serious concerns on its ramifications for the population in the Americas and spread of the virus worldwide. The Zika virus disease is a relatively new phenomenon for which sufficient and comprehensive data and investigative reports have not been available to date. Although first recognized as a new virus in 1947 in Uganda's Zika forest animals, its debilitating effect on human fetuses leading to babies being born with smaller braincases (microcephaly) was not known or well investigated until its epidemic form in Yap Island, Micronesia, in 2013 and now in the South American countries in 2015-16. The concern is so high that public health authorities in some countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica have asked their women to avoid pregnancies until the virus is better understood. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled the o! utbreak of such abnormalities as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
	Vermont to target 'willful violations' of GMO labeling law As Vermont is set to become the first state in the country on July 1 to require the labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients, the state's attorney general says his office will enforce the law by targeting "willful violations" by manufacturers and not products that were produced before that date that are still on store shelves.
	Medicare payment plan on cancer drugs sparks furious battle A Medicare proposal to test new ways of paying for chemotherapy and other drugs given in a doctor's office has sparked a furious battle, and cancer doctors are demanding that the Obama administration scrap the experiment.
Sierra Leone on alert after new W.Africa Ebola cases Sierra Leone called Sunday for increased vigilance to prevent a resurgence of the Ebola virus after new cases in neighbouring Liberia and Guinea, but cautioned against shutting off borders between the west African states.
	Pot-in-schools debate returns to Colorado A new Colorado law allowing medical marijuana use at public schools is getting a second look Monday in a House committee.
	Low-level drug offenders find new source of addiction help When pondering how to keep low-level drug offenders out of jail, officials in Albany, New York, faced a challenge: How could they pay for a case manager to coax addicts onto the straight and narrow, sometimes by tracking them down on the streets?
	Understanding reproductive health choices in low and middle income countries Dr Lalage Katunga holds a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology and a Masters in Public Health. Her research is focused on understanding factors that influence health outcomes in understudied populations. She has experience working in the sub-Saharan Africa and is currently a Research Fellow at Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO. This week she stresses the importance of championing the full -picture of women's empowerment and agency in LMICs, not just reproductive rights.
Scientists investigate a sperm-boosting nutrient which may help infertile couples Scientists at the University of Sheffield are launching a pioneering study to investigate if a simple extra nutrient can boost male fertility.
	New hope for spinal cord injuries esearchers from Hokkaido University in Japan together with an international team of scientists implanted specialized embryonic stem cells into the severed spinal cords of rats. The stem cells, called neural progenitor cells, were taken from rat embryos and directed to develop as spinal cord tissue. The implants, or "grafts", promoted extensive regeneration of the severed nerve fibres, with the rats showing improvement in their ability to move their forelimbs. The team also used grafts of human neural stem cells in injured rats with similar results, demonstrating the potential of the success of this method across species.
	A high-intensity workout with electro-stimulation can help burn up to 30 percent more calories Practicing high intensity interval training, or HIIT, together with integral electro-stimulation generates up to 30% higher consumption of calories than conventional aerobic exercise.
	Has Haiti's cholera epidemic become a permanent problem? On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing thousands of people and displacing millions more.
Variations in gene expression may underlie increased food intake in obesity Large-scale genetic studies have identified a number of variations in genes that increase an individual's susceptibility to obesity.
Fatty liver disease is common Researchers have characterized the prevalence and risk factors of fatty liver disease in patients who undergo liver transplantation. The findings, which are published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, could have important implications for safeguarding transplant recipients' health.
Vascular Medicine editorial on PAD recommendations to MEDCAC panel The Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM) is a part of a coalition of five leading nonprofit professional societies that has made recommendations for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) panel. The coalition's recommendations are explained in an editorial that appears in Vascular Medicine, the official journal of SVM. The editorial was made available on April 10, 2016 on the Vascular Medicine website.
A novel mechanism of crizotinib resistance in a ROS1+ NSCLC patient Molecular analysis of a tumor biopsy from a proto-oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase positive (ROS1+) patient with acquired crizotinib resistance revealed a novel mutation in the v-kit Hardy Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) that can potentially be targeted by KIT inhibitors.
	VA commission on care: Eliminate VA medical centers (HealthDay)—A radical proposal has been suggested for eliminating all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and outpatient facilities in the next 20 years, floated by seven of 15 members of the VA Commission on Care, according to an article published in the Military Times.
CB measurement with PET could improve evaluation of suspicious lung lesions Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is used commonly in the diagnosis of suspected lung cancer. Computed bioconductance (CB) being investigated as a non-invasive way to predict whether an suspicious abnormality in the lung is benign or malignant. In this study, researches found that CB combined with PET before biopsy of suspicious lesions could improve diagnostic effectiveness of potentially cancerous lesions detected by CT scan.
NPPV can enhance efficiency of pulmonary rehab in patients with COPD Patients with severe but stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can face many obstacles when it comes to exercising and staying healthy. Patients usually experience shortness of breath and a reduced ability to exercise. But, there's hope for patients with COPD with the help of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation.
E-cigarettes have immediate effects on pulmonary function E-cigarette smoking is increasingly promoted as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking, but a growing body of evidence points to its potential dangers. Adding to the evidence, researchers will report at CHEST World Congress this month on a study of e-cigarettes and the immediate effects on pulmonary function in healthy and mild asthmatic young smokers.
Bronchial thermoplasty improves asthma regardless of socioeconomic status Among people with asthma, lower socioeconomic status, education level, and ethnic minority status clearly have undesirable effects on their care and outcomes. Patients with severe disease who attend county (public) hospitals in the United States tend to have less access to resources, which, in addition to environmental and compliance issues, may contribute to poorer disease control. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a new and effective treatment option for patients with uncontrollable and severe asthma, but it is very expensive and rarely offered to this population of patients.
Large number of patients admitted through ED with sepsis not given a formal diagnosis code A large number of patients admitted through the emergency department with severe sepsis or septic shock are not given a specific International Classification of Disease (ICD) code used around the world to collect data on epidemiology, morbidity and mortality statistics and reimbursement. According to research being presented at CHEST World Congress this month, patients who are identified with the ICD code often had a higher ICU admission rate and longer length of stay when compared to patients identified by clinical criteria only.
Study: Point-of-care ultrasound saves nearly $20,000 per patient in early shock According to research being presented at CHEST World Congress this month, patients in early shock evaluated with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) spent less time on medications that support blood pressure and showed trends toward fewer days being supported by mechanical ventilation and time in the ICU. This was associated with calculated cost savings of about $20,000 per patient.
Michigan finds two more Legionnaires' deaths in Flint area Michigan health authorities reported Monday they have identified two more fatal cases of Legionnaires' disease in the Flint area last year amid an outbreak some outside experts have linked to the city's water emergency.

Other Sciences news

	Neanderthals may have been infected by diseases carried out of Africa by humans A new study suggests that Neanderthals across Europe may well have been infected with diseases carried out of Africa by waves of anatomically modern humans, or Homo sapiens. As both were species of hominin, it would have been easier for pathogens to jump populations, say researchers. This might have contributed to the demise of Neanderthals.
	Best of Last Week – New state of matter, flaws in superconductor theory and role of heart and mind in developing wisdom (Science X)—It was a big week in physics as an international team of researchers announced that a new state of matter had been detected in a two-dimensional material—first predicted 40 years ago, the state is known as a "quantum spin liquid," and it causes electrons to break into individual pieces. Also, a team of researchers at the University of Houston reported that they had discovered flaws in superconductor theory—they ran experiments and found results that had "significant deviations" from the Critical State Model. And a combined team of researchers from Princeton and MIT announced that they had developed a formula describing the ghostly transfer of heat that occurs at nano-scale in electronics and solar cells. A team with the National Research Council of Canada and the University of Waterloo described a process for changing the color of single photons in a diamond quantum memory—a step that is viewed as necessary for! hooking components together in a quantum network.
	New study shows rich, poor have huge mortality gap in US Poverty in the U.S. is often associated with deprivation, in areas including housing, employment, and education. Now a study co-authored by two MIT researchers has shown, in unprecedented geographic detail, another stark reality: Poor people live shorter lives, too.
	Handwriting analysis provides clues for dating of old testament texts Scholars have long debated how much of the Hebrew bible was composed before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE. While scholars agree that key biblical texts were written starting in the 7th century BCE, the exact date of the compilation of these books remains in question.
Rating the teacher education rating systems: New study finds leading programs fall short State and federal regulators use a variety of evaluation systems intended to improve teacher quality by "holding teacher education accountable" through assessments and ratings or rankings - of states, institutions, programs and teacher candidates themselves.
	172 year old Saiwan boundary marker stone found Teachers and students of Department of Real Estate and Construction of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) discovered a long forgotten boundary marker stone from the very earliest days of the British presence in Hong Kong. This B.O. No4, boundary stone, is located in the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village in Sai Wan Shan.
	The sharing economy comes to scientific research My husband is a brilliant man with a deep love for home improvement shows. I could do that! he says. I just need a fancy saw, some tool, this other thing, wood and a plan. Sometimes these projects turn out great, but as often, we find we wasted money on equipment we can't properly use, a plan we can't follow and a project abandoned before it has taken shape.
Roman Imperial leaders had wine empire away from the battlefield, study suggests Archaeologists from the University of Sheffield have uncovered a unique insight into the life of one of the Roman Empire's most prominent landowners.
Hybrid strategy works best when high-technology companies go global Following a hybrid competitive strategy leads to superior financial performance in the internationalisation of high-technology companies, shows a new Finnish study in the field of marketing. The study challenges the traditional viewpoint according to which companies can successfully go international by adhering to a single competitive strategy alone.
	Employment status affects our morals around money In the study 'Moral consequences of becoming unemployed', endorsed by the prestigious scientific journal PNAS, researchers at the UPV/EHU's Faculty of Economics and Business and at the University of Nottingham (UK) have analysed a moral consequence of unemployment that together with the effects it has on people's mental health, could explain why these people become disengaged from the labor market. 151 young adults in Córdoba and Bilbao were involved in the study.
Intelligent transaction tax could help reduce systemic risk in financial networks A new IIASA study proposes a solution for mitigating the increasingly risky nature of financial markets, based on an analysis of systemic risk in financial networks.
Humanoid robotics and computer avatars could help treat social disorders A collaborative research team has found humanoid robotics and computer avatars could help rehabilitate people suffering from social disorders such as schizophrenia or social phobia. It is thanks to the theory of similarity, which suggests that it is easier to interact socially with someone who looks, behaves or moves like us.
Fathers plays a critical role in family values for Mexican-origin youth Past research has indicated that Latino families, particularly Mexican-origin families, tend to be more family oriented and place a significant emphasis on family time. New research from the University of Missouri found that a father's family values can predict family values held by Mexican-origin youth as well as family time for late adolescents. Research also indicated that the link between family time and young adults' depressive symptoms depended on parental acceptance and warmth.
Buying high in the stock market caused by overconfidence The golden rule for investing has always been "buy low, sell high." Past research has shown that many people make the common investing mistake of selling stocks at a low price after the stock market has experienced a decline. However, little is known about what causes people to make mistakes on the other end of the spectrum: buying stocks at a high price.
	Popular vote better than Electoral College, Stanford scholars say It is time to abolish the Electoral College in favor of a single national popular vote where all votes count equally, Stanford political experts say.
Illmuminating gender biases in US presidential race When sophomore Colin Sheehan was enrolling for the fall 2015 semester, he needed one more class that fit his schedule.
	Mothers say middle-class status little protection against gendered racism for black boys Middle-class African American mothers must parent differently than their white counterparts. African American middle-class mothers bear the added weight of preparing their children—particularly their sons—to navigate "gendered racism," or discrimination based on both race and gender, from a very young age. This is according to a new research study published in the April 2016 issue of Gender & Society, a top-ranked journal in Gender Studies and Sociology. While there has been anecdotal evidence regarding the phenomenon, this is the first rigorous analysis of what has been colloquially referred to as "The Talk" or the "Black Man's Code," a set of socially circumscribed rules black boys and men feel compelled to follow to protect themselves from suspicion, criminalization as "thugs," and harm—regardless of class status. It provides more evidence that the phenomenon is widespread, and gives deeper insights regarding the nature o! f the problem and the role of mothers in addressing it.

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