Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 18

HOT!

30 years after Chernobyl, camera study reveals wildlife abundance in CEZ

Report suggests famous radio telescope signal was caused by comets

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 3:40 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 18
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 18, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Smart skin is powered by the objects it touches
- Best of Last Week—Usefulness of quantum weirdness, using CRISPR on a human embryo and butter found to be not so harmful
- Researchers can identify you by your brain waves with 100 percent accuracy
- Dinosaurs 'already in decline' before asteroid apocalypse
- How long a virgin? It's written in your genes: study
- New nanodevice shifts light's color at single-photon level
- Derailed train of thought? Brain's stopping system may be at fault
- Inverse spin Hall effect: A new way to get electricity from magnetism
- System predicts 85 percent of cyber-attacks using input from human experts
- Fermi telescope poised to pin down gravitational wave sources
- Thanks, actin, for the memories: Theorists model complex interactions that allow for long-term memory
- Team devises new technique to probe 'noise' in quantum computing
- HAWC Gamma-ray Observatory reveals new look at the very-high-energy sky
- New optogenetic tool moves proteins within cells to study biological changes
- Newly discovered vulnerability in breast tumor cells points to new cancer treatment path

Nanotechnology news

	Smart skin is powered by the objects it touches (Phys.org)—Researchers have fabricated a smart skin that is self-powered by its frictional contact with the objects that it touches. When a honeybee crawls across the smart skin, the skin not only senses the insect, it also uses the spontaneous triboelectric charge that builds up between the honeybee and the smart skin to power its sensing ability, eliminating the need for batteries. The smart skin could have applications for robots, artificial intelligence systems, and bionic limbs for amputees.
	Nanomaterial to drive new generation of solar cells Physicists have discovered radical new properties in a nanomaterial which opens new possibilities for highly efficient thermophotovoltaic cells, which could one day harvest heat in the dark and turn it into electricity.
	Nanoparticle acts like Trojan horse to halt asthma In an entirely new approach to treating asthma and allergies, a biodegradable nanoparticle acts like a Trojan horse, hiding an allergen in a friendly shell, to convince the immune system not to attack it, according to new Northwestern Medicine research. As a result, the allergic reaction in the airways is shut down long- term and an asthma attack prevented.
	Drug particles can be directed to a specific area using ultrasound Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have invented a new way to deliver cancer drugs deep into tumour cells.

Physics news

	Inverse spin Hall effect: A new way to get electricity from magnetism By showing that a phenomenon dubbed the "inverse spin Hall effect" works in several organic semiconductors - including carbon-60 buckyballs - University of Utah physicists changed magnetic "spin current" into electric current. The efficiency of this new power conversion method isn't yet known, but it might find use in future electronic devices including batteries, solar cells and computers.
	New nanodevice shifts light's color at single-photon level Converting a single photon from one color, or frequency, to another is an essential tool in quantum communication, which harnesses the subtle correlations between the subatomic properties of photons (particles of light) to securely store and transmit information. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have now developed a miniaturized version of a frequency converter, using technology similar to that used to make computer chips.
	Quantum computing closer as researchers drive towards first quantum data bus RMIT University researchers have trialled a quantum processor capable of routing quantum information from different locations in a critical breakthrough for quantum computing.
	New technique could improve detection of concealed nuclear materials Researchers have demonstrated proof of concept for a novel low-energy nuclear reaction imaging technique designed to detect the presence of "special nuclear materials"—weapons-grade uranium and plutonium—in cargo containers arriving at U.S. ports. The method relies on a combination of neutrons and high-energy photons to detect shielded radioactive materials inside the containers.
	Controlling integrated optical circuits using patterns of light Researchers from the University of Southampton (UK), and the Institut d'Optique in Bordeaux (France) have devised a new approach for controlling light in a silicon chip by bringing the concept of spatial light modulation to integrated optics.
	Better tests for Schrodinger cats While Bell inequalities have been proven to be an optimal tool for ruling out local realism in quantum experiments, Lucas Clemente and Johannes Kofler from the Theory Division of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) in Garching, Germany, have now shown that inequalities can never be optimal for tests of macroscopic realism.
Team devises new technique to probe 'noise' in quantum computing Dartmouth College and Griffith University researchers have devised a new way to "sense" and control external noise in quantum computing.
	What screens are made of: New twists (and bends) in LCD research Liquid crystals, discovered more than 125 years ago, are at work behind the screens of TV and computer monitors, clocks, watches and most other electronics displays, and scientists are still discovering new twists—and bends—in their molecular makeup.
	Magnetic vortices defy temperature fluctuations Magnetic nanovortices in magnetite minerals are reliable witnesses of the earth's history, as revealed by the first high-resolution studies of these structures undertaken by scientists from Germany and the United Kingdom. The magnetic structures are built during the cooling of molten rock and reflect the earth's magnetic field at the time of their formation. The vortices are unexpectedly resilient to temperature fluctuations, as electron holographic experiments in Jülich have verified. These results are an important step in improving our understanding of the history of the earth's magnetic field, its core and plate tectonics.
	Technology for growth of single crystals leads to an eye-safe laser A team of scientists at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Belarusian National Technical University has created a unique laser. It's a compact light source with wavelengths harmless to the human eye. The device can be used in medicine, communications systems and also in research. The works are published in Journal of Crystal Growth and Optics Letters.
	Researchers transmit data through animal tissues at HD video rates via ultrasound Using animal tissue samples—store-bought pork loin and beef liver—researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated the possibility of real-time video-rate data transmission through tissue for in-body ultrasonic communications with implanted medical devices.

Earth news

	International team gets a seismic look at North Korean/Chinese volcano (Phys.org)—A team with members from the U.K., the U.S., China and the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, has worked together to learn more about a volcano sitting on the North Korea/Chinese border. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes how they set up seismic monitors and collected data for a two year period and what that data revealed.
	Intensive farming in the tropics could require huge phosphorus 'tax' From the Amazon to Africa, tropical regions are widely expected to play a growing role in supplying food to the world. With global population on the rise, many policy experts and conservationists see agricultural intensification as a winning strategy to produce more food per acre while sparing tropical forests from being converted to farmland. Just pour on the fertilizer.
	Could global warming's top culprit help crops? Many scientists fear that global warming will hit staple food crops hard, with heat stress, extreme weather events and water shortages. On the other hand, higher levels of carbon dioxide—the main cause of ongoing warming—is known to boost many plants' productivity, and reduce their use of water. So, if we keep pouring more CO2 into the air, will crops fail, or benefit? A new study tries to disentangle this complex question. It suggests that while greater warmth will reduce yields of some crops, higher CO2 could help mitigate the effects in some regions, unless other complications of global warming interfere.
	Copper gives an answer to the rise of oxygen A new study presents evidence that the rise of atmospheric oxygenation did indeed occur 2.4-2.1 billion years ago. It also shows that biological usage of copper became prominent after the so called 'Great Oxidation Event.' An international team of researchers has recently published the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Study identifies tree traits that may contribute to drought vulnerability Two hundred-twenty-five million trees dead in the southwest in a 2002 drought. Three hundred million trees in Texas in 2011. Twelve million this past year in California. Throughout the world, large numbers of trees are dying in extreme heat and drought events. Because mass die-offs can have critical consequences for the future of forests and the future of Earth's climate, scientists are trying to understand how a warming climate could affect how often tree mortality events occur - and how severe they could become.
	Into the belly of a glacier Dropping into an ice cave is like entering another world: There's no wind, no ambient sound, and no discernible smell—unless you're eating a peanut butter sandwich; then the scent tends to overwhelm the cold, dark space. Headlamps light up sparkling rooms of ice crystals, towering waterfalls, and narrow passages, while heavy ski boots leave footsteps behind where no other human has ventured.
	East Coast should expect active hurricane season, researchers say The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season will be significantly more active than the overall averages from 1950 to the present, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
	Vegetables irrigated with treated wastewater expose consumers to drugs A new study by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center shows that eating vegetables and fruits grown in soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater exposes consumers to minute quantities of carbamazepine, an anti-epileptic drug commonly detected in wastewater effluents.
Combating climate change from the trenches Land degradation is a serious cause for concern in sub-Saharan Africa where it affects more than two-thirds of its territory. The heavy reliance on an agriculture that is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the ever-increasing pressure on soil and water resources from growing population are posing severe constraints on food security to those already at high risk of poverty and chronic food shortages. In view of the widespread degradation caused by agricultural activities in semi-arid environments, soil and water conservation measures were introduced in East Africa in the late 1960's. The measures most commonly used in that region are the Fanya-juu terraces, which are constructed using a combination of trenches and mounds.
	Post-wildfire erosion can be major sculptor of forested western mountains Erosion after severe wildfires can be the dominant force shaping forested mountainous landscapes of the U.S. Intermountain West, suggests a new research paper by two University of Arizona geoscientists.
	30 years after Chernobyl, camera study reveals wildlife abundance in CEZ Thirty years ago, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, became the site of the world's largest nuclear accident. While humans are now scarce in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, continued studies—including a just-published camera study conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory—validate findings that wildlife populations are abundant at the site.
	Livestock manure provides mineral fertilizers and soil conditioners In regions with intensive livestock production, manure management is a problem. Nevertheless manure can become a valuable resource when its components are recovered as specific fertilizers and soil conditioners. For a year now a pilot plant for the processing of livestock manure – constructed under the leadership of Fraunhofer IGB – has been producing mineral nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers as well as organic soil conditioners. On June 14, 2016 the partners of the EU project BioEcoSIM will present their results and give a live demonstration of the plant.
	Inner microbial ecosystems keep reef-building corals and other animals 'in the pink' Humans are made up of millions of microbes, collectively called our microbiomes. These microbial "ecosystems" contribute to keeping us healthy.
	When environmental oversight takes a back seat The mining industry accounts for 12 percent of the Peruvian economy and 60 percent of Peru's total exports. The government of Peru faces significant pressure to encourage growth and investment in this sector, especially in the face of falling commodity prices. But this has also put pressure on the government's ability to properly assess environmental impacts.
Defying radiation, elderly residents cling on in Chernobyl Defying radioactive contamination and a government evacuation order, Yevgeny Markevich returned to his beloved Chernobyl shortly after it suffered the world's worst nuclear accident 30 years ago this week.
	Gripped by drought, Ethiopia drills for water With Ethiopia in the grip of its worst drought in decades, the government has appealed for aid to help the 10 million people living in Africa's second most-populous nation.
	ExxonMobil, Rockefellers face off in climate battle US energy giant ExxonMobil is facing an onslaught from environmentalists and some shareholders alleging it hid what it knew about the effects of fossil fuels on climate change.
	Natural disasters since 1900—over 8 million deaths and 7 trillion US dollars damage More than seven trillion US dollars economic damage and eight million deaths via natural disasters since the start of the 20th century: These figures have been calculated and collected by the risk engineer Dr. James Daniell from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His database CATDAT looks at examining socioeconomic indicators as well as collecting and evaluating socioeconomic loss data through time, and has built a massive base for his post-disaster risk model which helps governments and aid organisations with catastrophe management and assessing rapidly the scale of a disaster. James will present his results today at the 2016 European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna.
	NASA examines Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Fantala near Madagascar Tropical Cyclone Fantala has become a major tropical cyclone in the Southern Indian Ocean reaching Category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. NASA's RapidScat instrument observed powerful winds wrapped tightly around the eye, and NASA's Aqua satellite saw the well-structured storm with a wide eye as it was due north of Madagascar early on April 18.
US grant of $20 million will study Lake Champlain resiliency Scientists from a number of Vermont colleges and universities will be using a $20 million federal grant to study what makes some sections of the Lake Champlain watershed bounce back faster than others after extreme weather, officials announced Monday.
	Extreme rain triggered health crisis on South Pacific island Extreme weather events are expected to strike more often due to climate change, and a study published Monday detailed how a 2014 storm triggered a health crisis on the Solomon Islands.

Astronomy & Space news

	Fermi telescope poised to pin down gravitational wave sources On Sept. 14, waves of energy traveling for more than a billion years gently rattled space-time in the vicinity of Earth. The disturbance, produced by a pair of merging black holes, was captured by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) facilities in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. This event marked the first-ever detection of gravitational waves and opens a new scientific window on how the universe works.
	Hubble peers into the mouth of Leo A At first glance, this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image seems to show an array of different cosmic objects, but the speckling of stars shown here actually forms a single body—a nearby dwarf galaxy known as Leo A. Its few million stars are so sparsely distributed that some distant background galaxies are visible through it. Leo A itself is at a distance of about 2.5 million light-years from Earth and a member of the Local Group of galaxies; a group that includes the Milky Way and the well-known Andromeda galaxy.
	Little lander that could—the legacy of Philae Philae, the little lander that was declared lost by the European Space Agency (ESA), has achieved a lot despite its relatively short operational life on the surface of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Future comet landing missions could be built upon the legacy that this small, wayward probe leaves behind.
	HAWC Gamma-ray Observatory reveals new look at the very-high-energy sky The United States and Mexico constructed the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-ray Observatory to observe some of the most energetic phenomena in the known universe—the aftermath when massive stars die, glowing clouds of electrons around rapidly spinning neutron stars, and supermassive black holes devouring matter and spitting out powerful jets of particles. These violent explosions produce high-energy gamma rays and cosmic rays, which can travel large distances—making it possible to see objects and events far outside our own galaxy.
	All of humanity should share in the space mining boom One solitary asteroid might be worth trillions of dollars in platinum and other metals. Exploiting these resources could lead to a global boom in wealth, which could raise living standards worldwide and potentially benefit all of humanity.
Video: Towering magnetic arches seen by NASA's SDO Arches of magnetic field lines towered over the sun's edge as a pair of active regions began to rotate into view in this video captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on April 5-6, 2016. Active regions are areas of very concentrated magnetic field.
	Applying Zipf's Law to galaxies In the last century, the linguist George Zipf noticed that the second most common word in English ("of") was used about half as often as the most common word ("the"), the third most common word ("and") occurred about one-third as often, and so on. This curious behavior, that the frequency of any word is inversely proportional to its ranking in the list of words, became known as Zipf's Law.
	Report suggests famous radio telescope signal was caused by comets Comets get blamed for everything. Pestilence in medieval Europe? Comets! Mass extinctions? Comets! Even the anomalous brightness variations in the Kepler star KIC 8462852 was blamed for a time on comets. Now it looks like the most famous maybe-ET signal ever sifted from the sky, the so-called "Wow!" signal, may also be traced to comets.

Technology news

	Researchers can identify you by your brain waves with 100 percent accuracy Your responses to certain stimuli—foods, celebrities, words—might seem trivial, but they say a lot about you. In fact (with the proper clearance), these responses could gain you access into restricted areas of the Pentagon.
	System predicts 85 percent of cyber-attacks using input from human experts Today's security systems usually fall into one of two categories: human or machine. So-called "analyst-driven solutions" rely on rules created by living experts and therefore miss any attacks that don't match the rules. Meanwhile, today's machine-learning approaches rely on "anomaly detection," which tends to trigger false positives that both create distrust of the system and end up having to be investigated by humans, anyway.
	New headphones can pick and choose outside noises A tiny hearing device roughly the size and shape of an earbud will make it possible to select which parts of the outside world part become part of your earphone experience.
	Virtual reality headset gang gets yet another entrant: Huawei (Tech Xplore)—A 360-degree sound field is one of the attributes of the newly announced Huawei VR headset. The Chinese manufacturer, said Forbes, " claims that its VR mobile headset is the first to support 3D sound." Engadget agreed, saying these are apparently the first VR headsets to offer 360-degree sound field on the go.
	Oculus reacts to virtual reality privacy questions An executive from virtual reality company Oculus says consumers shouldn't be concerned about an invasion of their privacy when using the Oculus Rift.
	'Pee power' turns urine into sustainable power source for electronic devices Researchers at the University of Bath have developed an innovative miniature fuel cell that can generate electricity from urine, creating an affordable, renewable and carbon-neutral way of generating power.
	Google wins long US court battle on book-scanning (Update) Google's massive book-scanning project cleared its final legal hurdle Monday as the US Supreme Court denied an appeal contending it violates copyright law.
	EU anti-trust chief targets Google's Android The EU's top anti-trust chief Margrethe Vestager said Monday she was taking aim at Google's Android mobile phone platform in a potentially major setback for the Silicon Valley giant.
	Renewable energy storage possible thanks to chemical conversions An unexpected discovery has led to a rechargeable battery that's as inexpensive as conventional car batteries, but has a much higher energy density. The new battery could become a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative for storing renewable energy and supporting the power grid.
	World split on how to regulate 'killer robots' Diplomats from around the world met in Geneva last week for the United Nations' third Informal Expert Meeting on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), commonly dubbed "killer robots".
	Animal-inspired whiskers key to new navigation technology Researchers have developed artificial whiskers that allow robots to "see" the surroundings in dark and murky places by analysing the way the whiskers respond to water and air flow.
	Television viewers shun mobile devices when watching favourite shows Television viewers are turning their noses up at using mobile devices to enhance their favourite programmes, according to research carried out at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).
	Insomniac Games to release a trio of VR games in 2016 Insomniac Games is ratcheting up its work in virtual reality.
Bangladesh says 20 foreigners involved in theft from NY Fed Bangladesh investigators have determined that at least 20 foreigners were involved in the cybertheft of $101 million from the Bangladesh central bank's account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a senior investigator said Monday.
	It's on ... Amazon's stand-alone streaming targets Netflix Amazon.com Inc. is taking on Netflix and Hulu with its own stand-alone video streaming service, just weeks before Netflix raises prices for longtime subscribers.
	Researchers scale up ocean wave energy harvester The world's oceans contain an enormous amount of energy in the form of waves, and researchers are trying to harness that energy for human use. However, most wave power stations today are still in the early stages of development, with only a handful of commercial systems having been implemented in the past few years.
	Drone collision with jet highlights growing aviation danger A collision between a British Airways passenger jet and a drone over London has left the plane undamaged but the aviation industry deeply shaken.
	Study says smartphones are eroding personal privacy Private v. public, virtual v. real have converged in a world saturated by information technology. It seems impossible to divide the public from the personal. But when and where do we choose to share information about ourselves? How do we perceive public space and virtual space? And how do these perceptions influence our practices of seeing and being seen?
3D printer used to create new feet for duck A duck who lost its feet to frostbite is waddling again thanks to a Wisconsin middle school teacher and a 3D printer.
	Netflix is getting so original, it's overtaken HBO Look out, HBO. Last year, Netflix produced more original programming than cable's premium-network leader, according to numbers from both companies. The Internet video service isn't slowing down either, even if means risking subscribers with price increases needed to help pay for more exclusive TV shows and movies.
Chinese Twitter users concerned over executive appointment Chinese Twitter users have expressed concerns over the company's appointment of a China regional executive who has a background working with the country's military and state security apparatus.
SteamBio enabling sustainable carbon for industry To create a more secure and sustainable future we need to use carbon from nature: "biocarbon"; using it to create biodegradable bioplastics, other biochemicals and for renewable energy generation that is available when required. Steambio is a collaboration of eleven partners from industry and academia with a common purpose: to create a viable business based on superheated steam torrefaction of forestry and agricultural residues.
	Engine design takes a major leap at Argonne The search for a truly revolutionary engine design that can make dramatic gains in efficiency requires deep scientific understanding and tools. Lots and lots of tools.
Novel technology improves protection for vulnerable road users EU-funded researchers have studied and piloted a variety of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to ascertain which will best improve the safety, comfort and mobility for vulnerable road users (VRUs).
Florida teen's science project catches Obama's eye A 14-year-old Florida girl's science project caught the eye of President Obama during the White House Science Fair.
Euologies pour in for Silicon Valley tech world 'coach' Silicon Valley on Monday mourned the death of Bill Campbell, nicknamed "The Coach" for precious advice he dispensed to top figures at companies such as Apple, Google and Amazon
	Twitter's new China head wants to 'work together' with state media The new head of Twitter in China has called for "closer partnership" with Communist Party-backed state media, leading many of the social network's users to question her appointment.
Manhattan DA, law officials push for encryption legislation Calling it an issue of victims' rights, the Manhattan district attorney urged Congress to pass legislation that would require tech companies to give law enforcement a way to access information on encrypted phones and other devices.

Chemistry news

	Nanostructures grown on fabric can mop up oil spills Oil spills at sea, on the land and in your own kitchen could one day easily be mopped up with a new multipurpose fabric covered with semi-conducting nanostructures, developed by a team of researchers from QUT, CSIRO and RMIT.
	Study provides structural basis for development of new antibiotics Antibiotic-resistant infections are a growing threat to public health, striking about 2 million Americans each year and killing at least 23,000 of them. Microbes are rapidly evolving resistance to existing drugs, making the need for newer, more potent antibiotics greater than ever.
	Reader of epigenetic marks could be 'game changer' for certain cancers If genes form the body's blueprint, then the layer of epigenetics decides which parts of the plan get built. Unfortunately, many cancers hijack epigenetics to modulate the expression of genes, thus promoting cancer growth and survival. A team of researchers led by Tatiana Kutateladze, PhD, University of Colorado Cancer Center investigator and professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Brian Strahl, PhD, professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, published a breakthrough report in the journal Nature Chemical Biology describing the essential role of YEATS domain proteins in reading epigenetic marks that regulate gene expression, DNA damage response, and other vital DNA-dependent cellular processes. This newly discovered player in epigenetic regulation is closely related to known cancer promoters, including the bromodomain proteins, a handful of which are targeted in current human clinical trials.
New optogenetic tool moves proteins within cells to study biological changes Scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have developed a way to embed light-responsive switches into proteins so that researchers can use lasers to manipulate protein movement and activity within living cells and animals.
Exfoliating thinner flakes of phosphorene at higher yield In the past two years, phosphorene has attracted increased attention due to its potential in thin, flexible electronics. And because it is naturally a semi-conductor, phosphorene holds promise where miracle material graphene falls short.
	Researchers create super stretchy, self-healing material that could lead to artificial muscle If there's such a thing as an experiment that goes too well, a recent effort in the lab of Stanford chemical engineering Professor Zhenan Bao might fit the bill.
	Diagnostic device that quickly measures gas components in people's breath Fujitsu Laboratories today announced that it has developed a portable breath sensor that can extract and quickly measure the concentration of only specified gas components, such as ammonia, that are included at low concentrations in people's breath and are suggested to be correlated with lifestyle diseases.
	Discovery of enzyme in the sleeping sickness parasite streamlines drug development Researchers from Umeå University in Sweden have discovered that the single-celled parasite causing African sleeping sickness has a defence mechanism against potential pharmaceuticals under development against the disease. The deadly parasite has an enzyme that can cleave and hence disarm adenosine analogue pharmaceuticals. This according to a study recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Great willow herb as an antitode in therapies against multi-drug resistant bacteria Although often considered a weed, due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, willow herb has long enjoyed a solid reputation for easing problems of the prostate gland and urinary tract. New tests confirm that combining some of the commonly used antibiotics with great willow herb extracts may be beneficial in treating bacterial and fungal infections as well.

Biology news

	Kangaroos chew over evolutionary theory What if snakes could grow legs, or chickens develop teeth, or humans re-evolve tails like our primate ancestors?
	Study shows songbird travels nonstop for migration over Sahara (Phys.org)—A pair of researchers, both with the University of Groningen in The Netherlands, has found that a certain songbird flies for 40 to 60 hours straight when it crosses the Sahara Desert as part of its diurnal migration pattern. In their paper published in Biology Letters, Janne Ouwehand and Christiaan Both describe attaching light and temperature sensors to several of the birds, retrieving the sensors and what the data revealed.
	Comparative analysis highlights impacts of previous breeding programs on cassava genome For nearly a billion people around the world, cassava is a staple crop and a primary source of calories. The plant is easy to cultivate—cuttings grow well on marginal land—and it is very tolerant of drought. For the U.S. Department of Energy, these traits and its starchy qualities make cassava of interest as a potential feedstock for biofuel production.
	Bees are born with the ability to collect pollen by buzzing—but practice makes perfect At a time when the need to understand how declining bee populations influence the environment has never been more urgent, University of Stirling scientists have discovered that wild bumblebees are born with the ability to remove pollen from nectarless flowers using high-frequency vibrations.
	Scientists discover C4 photosynthesis boosts growth by altering size and structure of plant leaves and roots Plants using C4 photosynthesis grow 20-100 per cent quicker than more common C3 plants by altering the shape, size and structure of their leaves and roots, according to a new study.
	Bigger brains led to bigger bodies in our ancestors New research suggests that humans became the large-brained, large-bodied animals we are today because of natural selection to increase brain size. The work, published in the journal Current Anthropology, contradicts previous models that treat brain size and body size as independent traits responding to separate evolutionary pressures. Instead, the study shows that brain size and body size are genetically linked and that selection to increase brain size will "pull along" body size. This phenomenon played a large role in both brain- and body-size increases throughout human evolution and may have been solely responsible for the large increase in both traits that occurred near the origins of our genus, Homo.
	Raft-building ants exhibit memory and repeatedly occupy the same position when forming rafts A team of scientists has found that a species of ant that clusters together to form rafts to survive floods exhibits memory and repeatedly occupies the same position during raft formation, according to a just published paper.
	Vocal sequences of monkeys and humans follow a common pattern A new study of geladas – a species of monkey living in the highlands of Ethiopia – has revealed that their long and complex vocal sequences follow a pattern seen in many human languages: the longer the overall sequence, the shorter are the sounds within it. This work not only reveals similarities between our communication system and that of our primate relatives, it may also shed new light on the fundamental organisation of diverse biological systems.
California plans to unleash fly to crush ivy invasion Coastal Californians battling pervasive Cape ivy have been waiting years for a helpful fly with a regal name.
	Australia's new bush tucker seed bank DEMAND for WA's native plant seeds is increasing for purposes ranging from revegetating former mine sites to high-end restaurants which use Aboriginal food plants in their cuisine.
	Ambergris—how to tell if you've struck gold with 'whale vomit' or stumbled upon sewage When walking along the beach, some objects might seem unusual because they are neither pebble nor shell nor seaweed. They can be covered with a soft white layer that looks a bit like cotton wool. They may appear hard or waxy, and sometimes have objects trapped within. And a smell that has been described as "a cross between squid and farmyard manure". Dogs with their keen sense of smell often find these objects first.
	Investigation of simple model cells resolves deformation mechanisms Living cells must alter their external form actively, otherwise functions like cell division would not be possible. At the Technical University of Munich (TUM) the biophysicist Professor Andreas Bausch and his team have developed a synthetic cell model to investigate the fundamental principles of the underlying cellular mechanics.
	Gun hunting could lead to extinction of threatened primates on African island Gun hunting may be driving some of the most threatened primates toward extinction on Bioko Island off the coast of Africa, according to a new study by a team led by Drexel University researchers.
	Asynchronous cell cycle phase key to critical stage of animal embryonic development Cell division of a mother cell to produce two identical daughter cells is known as mitosis. This underlies the early embryonic development of sea squirts, when it changes from being highly synchronized to displaying a distinct spatial pattern that accompanies neural tube formation. However, researchers did not understand what controlled this switch in mitotic timing. A recent study from the University of Tsukuba reveals that the change represents the beginning of a mitotic wave that passes from the back to the front of the embryo following loss of asynchrony of a gap phase of the cell cycle, which had until now masked an asynchronous synthesis phase. The study was reported in Developmental Cell.
	New computer program can help uncover hidden genomic alterations that drive cancers Cancer is rarely the result of a single mutation in a single gene. Rather, tumors arise from the complex interplay between any number of mutually exclusive abnormal changes in the genome, the combinations of which can be unique to each individual patient. To better characterize the functional context of genomic variations in cancer, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the Broad Institute developed a new computer algorithm they call REVEALER.
First computer program developed to detect DNA mutations in single cancer cells Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a new method for detecting DNA mutations in a single cancer cell versus current technology that analyzes millions of cells which they believe could have important applications for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The results are published in the April 18 online issue of Nature Methods.
	Tracking elephants as new railway cuts Kenya Dangling from a helicopter with a high powered rifle, a Kenyan vet fires drugged darts at elephants to sedate them so they can be fitted with satellite collars.
	Neonicotinoid seed treatments produce higher soybean yields in the Southern US Scientists from Mississippi State University have found that treating soybean seeds with neonicotinoid pesticides (imidacloprid or thiamethoxam) provides higher yields in southern U.S. states. The results of their study, which are published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, contrast with a 2014 report from the U.S. Environmnental Protection Agency, which stated that neonicotinoid seed treatments offered no economic benefits.
	One 'snapshot' at a time, scientists make a film featuring RNA Using an original technique based on experimental data, SISSA scientists have created short animations predicting the transition of RNA strands from one conformation to another. The results have been published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research.
Colombia resumes anti-coca spray dropped over cancer fears Colombia will resume using weed killer to destroy illegal coca crops less than a year after suspending its use due to cancer concerns.

Medicine & Health news

	Derailed train of thought? Brain's stopping system may be at fault Have you had the experience of being just on the verge of saying something when the phone rang? Did you then forget what it is you were going to say? A study of the brain's electrical activity offers a new explanation of how that happens.
	Thanks, actin, for the memories: Theorists model complex interactions that allow for long-term memory Thank the little "muscles" in your neurons for allowing you to remember where you live, what your friends and family look like and a lot more.
	How long a virgin? It's written in your genes: study A DNA study of more than 380,000 people has uncovered a rather surprising role for human genes: helping to determine the age at which you first have sex.
	Scorpion venom yields clues for developing better pharmaceuticals Normally, people consider scorpions to be dangerous because of their venomous sting, but an international group of researchers recently discovered that a particular family of toxins, the calcins, found in some venom, might also have a unique beneficial function.
	Trying, and failing, to forget has lasting effects Listening to a traffic report before leaving for work or school may be part of your daily routine. But how does your brain sort through the entire report and only recall the fastest route to your destination, and then forget that information the next day when listening to a new report?
	New class of small molecule drug, SI-2, has potential for improving cancer treatment Cancer cells communicate with their environment through cell molecules that pass on signals to the inside of the cell. The signals help cancer cells multiply and migrate, spreading the disease. One strategy to fight cancer is with drugs that block the cell molecules that pass on the signals that lead to cancer growth. But cancer cells can quickly adapt to this tactic by ramping up the production of the blocked molecules. Baylor College of Medicine researchers are fighting cancer with a different approach. Instead of blocking messenger molecules, they accelerate their destruction. Their results, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have the potential for improving cancer treatment.
	SPF30 sunscreens delay melanoma incidence in preclinical model Application of sun protection factor 30 (SPF30) sunscreen prior to exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) light delayed melanoma onset in a mouse model of the disease, according to data from a team at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. This data suggest that the mouse model can be used to identify new, more effective melanoma-preventing agents, according to principal investigator Christin Burd, PhD.
	Fewer romantic prospects may lead to riskier investments Encountering information suggesting that it may be tough to find a romantic partner shifts people's decision making toward riskier options, according to new findings from a series of studies published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Technique could help identify patients who would suffer chemo-induced heart damage Cancer patients who receive a particular type of chemotherapy called doxorubicin run a risk of sustaining severe, lasting heart damage. But it is not possible to predict who is likely to experience this serious side effect. It is also unknown exactly how the drug damages heart muscle.
	Protein found to play key role in the spread of pancreatic cancer Researchers from the University of Liverpool working with colleagues from around the globe have found an explanation for how pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver. These findings potentially hold the key to stopping this disease from spreading.
	Brain caught 'filing' memories during rest Memories formed in one part of the brain are replayed and transferred to a different area of the brain during rest, according to a new UCL study in rats.
	Brain scans link physical changes to cognitive risks of widely used class of drugs Older adults might want to avoid a using class of drugs commonly used in over-the-counter products such as nighttime cold medicines due to their links to cognitive impairment, a research team led by scientists at Indiana University School of Medicine has recommended.
	New method allows surgeons to identify brain tumors in real time When operating on cancer, surgeons want to remove tumors and not healthy tissue. This is especially important and challenging when dealing with brain tumors, which are often spread out and mixed in with the healthy tissue. Now, researchers have shown that a well-established optics technique can reveal exactly where brain tumors are, producing images in less than a minute—unlike conventional methods that can take a whole day.
	Lowered birth rates one reason why women outlive men Using unique demographic records on 140,600 reproducing individuals from the Utah Population Database, a research team led from Uppsala University has come to the conclusion that lowered birth rates are one reason why women outlive men in today's societies. The study is published in Scientific Reports.
	Researchers find possible treatment for suppressed immunity from spine injuries Scientists report in Nature Neuroscience they have identified an underlying cause of dangerous immune suppression in people with high level spinal cord injuries and they propose a possible treatment.
	Tuberculosis bacteria build 'edible' havens in immune cells Bacteria that cause tuberculosis trick immune cells meant to destroy them into hiding and feeding them instead. This is the result of a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and published online April 18 in Nature Immunology.
	Psilocybin reduces psychological pain after social exclusion Social problems are key characteristics in psychiatric disorders and are insufficiently targeted by current treatment approaches. By applying brain imaging methods, researchers at the University of Zurich now show that a small amount of psilocybin changes the processing of social conflicts in the brain. As a result, participants experienced social exclusion and social pain as less stressful. This could help to improve therapy of social problems.
	Metastasis-promoting circulating tumor cell clusters pass through capillary-sized vessels Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have found that circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters—which are more efficient in spreading cancer throughout the body than are single CTCs—can pass through capillary-sized blood vessels. Their findings, which contradict the widely-held belief that CTC clusters are too large to pass through capillaries, are being published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and suggest potential strategies to reduce clusters' metastatic potential.
	New study finds shifted sleep-wake cycles affect women more than men A new study from the Surrey Sleep Research Centre at the University of Surrey, published today in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) has found that shifted sleep-wake cycles affect men and women's brain function differently.
	Newly discovered vulnerability in breast tumor cells points to new cancer treatment path Cancer cells often devise ways to survive even in the presence of toxic chemotherapy. Now, a research team led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found a way to attack a process that tumor cells use to escape the effects of standard cancer drugs. The discovery is published online today in the journal Nature Cell Biology.
	New HPV vaccine could curb cervical cancers and health costs if adopted widely A Yale-led study finds that a new vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) would significantly reduce both cervical cancer incidence and healthcare costs if states coordinated policies to improve coverage.
	When inhaling media erodes attention, exhaling provides focus People who often mix their media consumption—texting while watching TV, or listening to music while reading—are not known for being able to hold their attention on one task. But sharpening their focus may be as simple as breathing.
	One patient's quest to end ominous ringing in her ear It started with a small but persistent noise in her right ear.
	New study examines the effect of ecstasy on the brain Researchers from the University of Liverpool have conducted a study examining the effect ecstasy has on different parts of the brain.
Older rheumatoid arthritis drug is more effective against MS than newer, costlier drug Mabthera, when used outside the intended indications, rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoma, is more effective than one of the more recent drugs for multiple sclerosis. This according to an observation study by researchers from Sweden´s Karolinska Institutet, which is in published in Annals of Neurology.
	The role of astrocytes in chronic pain With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, the neurophysiologist Ruth Drdla-Schutting is investigating the role astrocytes play in the genesis of chronic pain. With the help of innovative gene technology (DREADDs), scientists are tailoring treatment specifically to these cells that are the most numerous found in the central nervous system.
Proportion of cancer stem cells can increase over the course of cancer treatment Stem cells in the bone marrow constantly give rise to new blood cells and are responsible for the maintenance of all vital blood components. However, errors during proliferation can change stem cell properties and cause tumours . Over the course of treatment, the number of these cancerous stem cells barely declines while the rest of the tumour shrinks. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön have developed a mathematical model with which they can calculate the proportion of cancer stem cells present over the course of treatment – those cells that maintain the supply of new tumour cells and thus promote tumour growth. While the number of tumour cells often declines during the treatment of certain types of leukaemia, the relative number of cancer stem cells remains more or less constant. The model developed by the Max Planck researchers could help doctors to predict tumour development in future and! support them in the selection of suitable treatments.
	Delhi government bans all forms of chewing tobacco India's capital has banned chewing tobacco in an effort to lower the high incidence of mouth and throat cancers.
	Most US adults say today's children have worse health than in past generations More than half of adults believe children today are more stressed, experience less quality family time and have worse mental and emotional health than children in past generations, according to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.
	Everyone lies, but politicians do it more often This is the season of lies. We watch with fascination as candidates for the world's most powerful job trade falsehoods and allegations of dishonesty.
	Metformin may reduce cancer mortality risk (HealthDay)—Metformin may reduce the risk of dying from some cancers for postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the April 15 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
	Spotting a lie isn't easy, but there are clues Spotting a lie isn't as quick and easy as it looks on television.
	2016 Match marks record highs for registrants, matching (HealthDay)—The 2016 Match was the largest ever recorded by the National Resident Matching Program, with a higher match rate that 2015, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
	No racial difference in prognostic value of cardiorespiratory fitness (HealthDay)—Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) predicts all-cause mortality, with no racial differences in its prognostic value, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Simulation helps residents prepare for global rotations (HealthDay)—Simulation can help pediatric residents prepare for global health electives (GHE), according to an article published online April 13 in Pediatrics.
	Telephone follow-up effective for stage I endometrial cancer (HealthDay)—For women treated for stage I endometrial cancer, telephone follow-up (TFU) is noninferior to hospital-based follow-up (HFU), according to a study published online April 7 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
	AAN: Using entire shape of CBFV waveform IDs concussion (HealthDay)—A machine-learning platform that uses the entire shape of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) waveforms acquired via transcranial Doppler (TCD) imaging is more accurate for diagnosing concussion, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, held from April 15 to 21 in Vancouver, Canada.
	Study shows how TRK-fusion lung cancer escapes LOXO-101, offering new treatment strategies A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2016 pinpoints ways that cancer cells evolve to resist the drug LOXO-101, a kinase inhibitor of the TRK-fusion genes that drive a subset of cancers. The drug is currently being evaluated in promising phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials.
	Life-preserver microbubbles float tumor cells for analysis A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2016 demonstrates the use of gas microbubbles to selectively attach to and float circulating tumor cells from blood samples, allowing analysis of the isolated cells.
	A bigger appetite for dessert—not salty foods—predictor of body mass index for low income children, study suggests Some say there's always room for dessert - but those who follow that motto young may be more likely to gain unhealthy weight, a new study suggests.
Study drug LOXO-101 shows tumor regression in varied cancers A phase I study of the drug LOXO-101 appears to significantly reduce tumors in patients with varied types of genetically defined cancer, according to a study led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Smoking and schizophrenia—understanding and breaking the cycle of addiction Smoking addiction in schizophrenia can be explained by significantly increased activation of the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), a region involved in the brain reward system. These new data, the result of a study by researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CIUSSS EST, Montreal) and the University of Montreal confirms the tendency to smoke and low smoking cessation rates of people with schizophrenia.
Demand for radiotherapy expected to rise substantially in the next 10 years The demand for radiotherapy across all European countries will increase by an average of 16% between 2012 and 2025, with the highest expected increase being for prostate cancer cases (24%), according to a new study published in Radiotherapy and Oncology.
Exposure to violence during pregnancy increases risk of prematurity and low birthweight, research suggests In a recent paper published in the Journal of Development Economics, researchers Professor Marco Manacorda (Queen Mary University of London) and Dr Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner (University of Leicester) focused on evidence from the exposure of day-to-day violence in Brazil by analysing the birth outcomes of children whose mothers were exposed to local violence, as measured by homicide rates in small Brazilian municipalities and the neighbourhoods of the city of Fortaleza.
	How children perceive faces—seven-year-olds show different brain activities than adults Humans are experts in facial perception. But not from birth. At which point do children become as skilled at it as adults?
	Research shows hospital bullying cases rarely resolved For her Ph.D. thesis, Dr Kate Blackwood completed a series of 34 in-depth interviews with nurses who had been targets of workplace bullying. She found only one of these cases was ever completely resolved.
Managing drug risks at youth music festivals Education and harm minimisation strategies such as pill testing should be considered as a means of reducing the most risky behaviour of illicit drug use at large music and youth festivals, a Flinders University public health and safety expert says.
	Breakthrough discovery in cause of motor neurone disease and dementia In an international study led by Dr Kelly Williams and Associate Professor Ian Blair from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Macquarie University, researchers have linked the cause of two seemingly unrelated diseases: motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia.
	Breast cancer stem cells radicalize normal neighbors for purpose of metastasis A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2016 shows that stem-like breast cancer cells secrete molecules that allow neighboring, otherwise anchored cells to metastasize. The work also implicates the hedgehog signaling pathway as an essential conduit for this information, implying that interfering downstream in this pathway could reduce the metastatic potential of the disease.
	Study reveals role for oxidized mitochondrial DNA in lupus Researchers at the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research have discovered that the neutrophils of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients release oxidized DNA from their mitochondria that can stimulate an unwanted immune response. The study "Oxidized mitochondrial nucleoids released by neutrophils drive type I interferon production in human lupus," which will be published online April 18 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that targeting the pathways that lead to the accumulation of this DNA and/or facilitate its removal could be new ways to treat this chronic autoimmune disease.
	Scientists reveal how osteopontin ablation ameliorates muscular dystrophy Removing an immunomodulatory protein called osteopontin improves the symptoms of mice with muscular dystrophy by changing the type of macrophages acting on damaged muscle tissue, according to a paper published in The Journal of Cell Biology. The study, "Osteopontin ablation ameliorates muscular dystrophy by shifting macrophages to a pro-regenerative phenotype" by Joana Capote and colleagues, adds support to the idea that osteopontin inhibitors could be used to treat patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Patients triaged as nonurgent in ED get diagnostics, procedures, admitted Some patients triaged as nonurgent in emergency departments (EDs) still received diagnostic services, had procedures performed and were admitted, including to critical care units, all of which could signal overuse, a lack of primary care physicians or a degree of uncertainty by patients and physicians, according to a new study published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis use, appropriateness varies in children's hospitals A new study found substantial variability in the use and appropriateness of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis for commonly performed operations at children's hospitals in the United States, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Preeminent experts provide roadmap for future melanoma research Recently the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) convened a summit of internationally-renowned melanoma experts for an in-depth discussion on the current understanding of, and future recommendations for, melanoma research. The result of the comprehensive process is a new white paper entitled, "The State of Melanoma: Challenges and Opportunities," published in the latest edition of the premier melanoma journal, Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. In the white paper, the melanoma experts, including researchers, clinicians and patient advocates, identify the critical issues related to prevention, detection and early diagnosis, dormancy, metastasis and therapy.
First-ever nivolumab study to treat aggressive anal cancer appears promising A rare malignancy known as squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) is on the increase, and now researchers have reported results of the first-ever phase II clinical trial results for treatment with the immunotherapy drug nivolumab.
Why do older asymptomatic patients have carotid imaging Most of the patients who had carotid revascularization for asymptomatic carotid disease were diagnosed on the basis of carotid imaging tests ordered for uncertain or inappropriate indications, according to a new study published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Palliative care viewed as a stigma, despite improving quality of life The term palliative care carries a stigma for patients and their caregivers, who regard it as synonymous with impending death. Education, and possibly a name change, will be necessary to be able to integrate palliative care into routine advanced cancer care, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Evidence show new drug combination may improve outcomes for women with advanced breast cancer Results from the I-SPY 2 trial show that giving patients with HER2-positive invasive breast cancer a combination of the drugs trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and pertuzumab before surgery was more beneficial than the combination of paclitaxel plus trastuzumab. Previous studies have shown that a combination of T-DM1 and pertuzumab is safe and effective against advanced, metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, but in the new results, investigators tested whether the combination would also be effective if given earlier in the course of treatment. Results of the study are presented by trial investigators from the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania at the AACR Annual Meeting 2016, April 16-20.
Results from clinical trial of personalized cellular therapy in brain tumors Immune cells engineered to seek out and attack a type of deadly brain cancer known as glioblastoma (GBM) were found to have an acceptable safety profile and successfully migrate to and infiltrate tumors, researchers from Penn Medicine and Harvard University reported at the AACR Annual Meeting 2016 (Abstract LB-083).
	Cellular trojan horse yields potential cancer treatment A collaborative Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) co-led team has found proof-of-concept evidence for a potential cancer treatment that leverages microparticles and mesenchymal stem cells. The researchers devised an approach to stably internalize chemotherapy loaded microparticles into cells. With the help of a powerful prodrug - developed by collaborators at JHU - that is specifically activated by prostate cells, the researchers effectively targeted and killed prostate cancer tumor cells in proof of concept experiments. The researchers' results were recently published in Biomaterials.
Researchers find method that could resurrect an abandoned pancreatic cancer targeted drug Pancreatic cancer is on track to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2020. These statistics are due, in part, to pancreatic cancer's resistance to most targeted cancer therapies. Working with pancreatic cancer cells, researchers have now found a mechanism that could be responsible for the cancer's resistance to at least one targeted approach. If the results hold true in animal models and eventually clinical trials, the approach could help researchers develop more effective combination therapies and breathe new life into forgotten and failed cancer drugs.
	Immune study offers treatment hope for arthritis patients Arthritis and other inflammatory conditions could be helped by new insights into how the immune response is switched off.
Reasons for hospital-level variations in bleeding post-angioplasty are unclear The use of bleeding avoidance strategies has only a modest effect on the variation in bleeding rates post-angioplasty among hospitals performing this procedure, leaving about 70 percent of the causes for this variation unexplained, according to a study published today in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
	Islet transplantation restores blood sugar awareness and control in type 1 diabetes New clinical trial results show that transplantation of pancreatic islets—cell clusters that contain insulin-producing cells—prevents severe, potentially life-threatening drops in blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes. Researchers found that the treatment was effective for people who experienced episodes of severe hypoglycemia—low blood sugar levels that can lead to seizures, loss of consciousness and death—despite receiving expert care.
Monitoring sugar metabolism in liver may be a key to cancer diagnosis Scientists may have discovered a significant new diagnostic marker for liver cancer, according to a paper published in the April 18 online issue of Nature Cell Biology.
	Vocal signals reveal intent to dominate or submit, study finds You may not win friends, but a new study finds that you can influence people simply by lowering the pitch of your voice in the first moments of a conversation.
Researchers find females more resistant to organ damage following kidney transplant After a kidney transplant, women may experience decreased kidney damage from ischemia reperfusion injury compared to men due to the impact of gender-specific hormones, suggests a new preclinical study and an analysis of patient data published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
	Researchers discover new pathway that may trigger asthma Asthma is an enormous public health problem that continues to grow larger, in part because scientists don't fully understand how it is caused. Existing therapies don't cure the disease and often don't even significantly alleviate the symptoms. Now, scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University have identified a biological pathway that potentially explains why current asthma therapies don't work well in many cases—and might be targeted to help those patients.
Healthy diet may reduce high blood pressure risk in pregnancy-related diabetes Women with pregnancy-related diabetes (gestational diabetes) are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure later in life; however, a healthy diet may significantly reduce that risk, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
Study ties recently discovered immune cell to disease Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have unraveled the workings of an important type of immune cell whose existence was unknown just a few years ago.
Diabetes drug, metformin, lowers risk of heart disease deaths better than sulfonylureas A new analysis of 204 studies involving more than 1.4 million people suggests that metformin, the most frequently prescribed stand-alone drug for type 2 diabetes, reduces the relative risk of a patient dying from heart disease by about 30 to 40 percent compared to its closest competitor drug, sulfonylurea.
	Do we judge distance based on how a word sounds? Marketers and brand managers responsible for naming new products should be interested to learn that people associate certain sounds with nearness and others with distance, say researchers from the University of Toronto, whose new study adds to the body of knowledge about symbolic sound.
	Research shows 98 percent cure rate for prostate cancer using SBRT A five-year study shows that Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) to treat prostate cancer offers a higher cure rate than more traditional approaches, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.
	Team publishes research on use of disclaimer labels to combat negative effects of media on body image Extensive exposure to slender and attractive models who have been digitally altered to appear flawless has negative effects on how many women feel about their bodies. Researchers at Chapman University tested if adding disclaimers or "subvertisements" to these images counteracts the negative effects of this media. Subvertisements are changes that body image activists make to advertisements to counter or "subvert" the message of the ads. The researchers exposed women to media images of bikini models, and added either disclaimers or subvertising messages to them.
	Precision prevention of colorectal cancer Precision medicine's public face is that of disease—and better treatments for that disease through targeted therapies.
	Three years and counting on atezolizumab for stage 4 CRC patient, Rodney Bearfoot A symposium presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2016 offers updated results on the ongoing phase 1b clinical trial of anti-PDL1 immunotherapy atezolizumab in advanced stage colorectal cancer patients. Treated at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, one of the earliest trial participants is Rodney Bearfoot, who remains on trial with stable disease three years after being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.
	UAlberta & Little Warriors change the trajectory of child sexual abuse victims Today, the University of Alberta and Little Warriors announced the highly anticipated preliminary results of the clinical trials performed at the Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch, confirming that the four-week intervention program significantly reduces the psychological impacts of child sexual abuse. As the first intensive program to demonstrate such clinical impact, these results suggest a breakthrough for the lasting mental health of child sexual abuse survivors and for the far-reaching outcomes of this severe trauma.
Colorado pot report: More adults using drug, but not kids Colorado kids are not smoking more pot since the drug became legal—but their older siblings and parents certainly are, according to a long-awaited report giving the most comprehensive data yet on the effects of the state's 2012 recreational marijuana law.
	Study identifies specific work factors that predict sleep problems A new study found that specific psychological and social work factors were associated with sleep problems both concurrently and two years after exposure, indicating prolonged consequences.
	Still many questions about Zika's threat to pregnant women Zika may stand convicted of causing devastating birth defects but there still are lots of questions about how much of a threat the virus poses to pregnant women, and what to do about it.
	Doctors may be ordering too many neck artery scans: study (HealthDay)—A new study suggests that many heart patients are scanned for potential blockages in their carotid arteries for uncertain or inappropriate reasons.
	Drug seems to extend survival for advanced melanoma patients (HealthDay)—More than one-third of advanced melanoma patients were still alive five years after starting therapy with the cancer drug nivolumab (Opdivo), researchers are reporting.
	Many breast cancer patients may not need chemo: study (HealthDay)—Many breast cancer patients receive chemotherapy they don't need, according to the results of a long-awaited clinical trial.
	Regular exercise may boost prostate cancer survival (HealthDay)—Sticking to a moderate or intense exercise regimen may improve a man's odds of surviving prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
Novel e-skin may monitor health, vital signs (HealthDay)—In a bid to take high-performance wearable electronics to a new level, Japanese researchers have developed an "e-skin" that may be a noninvasive way to monitor patients' health and vital signs.
	Xanthohumol in lab tests lowers cholesterol, blood sugar and weight gain A recent study at Oregon State University has identified specific intake levels of xanthohumol, a natural flavonoid found in hops, that significantly improved some of the underlying markers of metabolic syndrome in laboratory animals and also reduced weight gain.
	Testosterone undecanoate cuts anemia in hypogonadal men (HealthDay)—Testosterone undecanoate reduces anemia in patients with subnormal testosterone levels, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Single three-minute freeze beneficial in paroxysmal A-fib (HealthDay)—For patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), a single 3-minute freezing approach is as effective as a conventional 4-minute approach plus bonus application using second-generation cryoballoon (CB-Adv), according to a study published online April 11 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
Antithrombotic rx could be optimized for older A-fib patients (HealthDay)—A considerable proportion of older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are not prescribed antithrombotics, according to a study published online April 7 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
	ACOG responds to CDC update on Zika causing microcephaly (HealthDay)—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has referred to Zika virus as causing microcephaly and other birth defects, according to a report published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
	Discordance for radiologic, goniometric measures in RA (HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is discordance between radiological and goniometric measurements of ulnar deviation (UD) at the metacarpophalangeal joints, according to a study published online April 6 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
	Genetic vitamin K1 levels linked to heart disease (HealthDay)—Genetically determined vitamin K1 is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Key committee votes to create task force on pregnant and lactating women The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine announced today that the Senate Health Education Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee has approved bill S. 2745 by voice vote, a bill intended to promote the inclusion of minorities in clinical research. This legislation includes a key provision that would create a Task Force on Pregnant Women and Lactating Women.
	Medicare's 'Innovation Center' rebalancing quality and cost They work for the government and even their closest relatives have no idea what they do. It's not because they're spies or nuclear scientists, but because their jobs are so arcane: trying to reinvent Medicare to improve it, and maybe save taxpayers money.
Observational study of Zika virus infection during pregnancy begins in Brazil An observational study of pregnant women in Brazil to further understand Zika virus and its impact on reproductive health and fetus development have been launched. William Britt, M.D., professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, leads the study, which complements his current research in Brazil on cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy. CMV infection can lead to hearing and vision impairment in babies. Suresh Boppana, M.D., and Karen Fowler, M.D., professors in the UAB Department of Pediatrics, are co-investigators on this project.
	Accelerating tuberculosis research The results one of the largest and most rigorous tuberculosis (TB) drug trials ever conducted in the modern era, led by researchers at the University of St Andrews, will be made available to the wider research community from today (18 April 2016) with the launch of a new data-sharing platform.
ICGCmed launches today, will link genomics to clinical information and health The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) today announced plans to launch the International Cancer Genome Consortium for Medicine (ICGCmed), a new phase in the Consortium's evolution that will link genomics to clinical information and health.
New TB clinical trial data-sharing platform available for researchers The Critical Path Institute (C-Path), the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), TB Alliance, and St. George's, University of London, are pleased to announce the launch of the TB-Platform for Aggregation of Clinical TB Studies (TB-PACTS).
	America's love affair with lips is leading to a boom in cosmetic procedures A record number of patients underwent lip augmentation procedures in 2015, making them the second-fastest growing facial procedure in the United States since 2000. Only dermabrasion procedures have grown faster.
	3 tips for a better, easier breakfast in bed on Mother's Day Breakfast in bed is a love language in our home. Anytime there is a special occasion to celebrate—a birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, whatever—the rest of the family follows an unspoken agreement to meet early in the kitchen to craft a breakfast-in-bed tray. I'm always first to the kitchen, and as I get the project rolling my daughters show up one at a time, bleary-eyed and clutching handmade crafts or cards and some flowers picked from the garden.
Senate Democrats press for $1.9B to fight Zika virus Democrats are pressing top Senate Republicans to stop dragging their feet and act immediately on President Barack Obama's request for $1.9 billion to combat the Zika virus.
	Engineering T cells to treat pancreatic cancer Dr. Sunil Hingorani, a member of the Clinical Research and Public Health Sciences divisions at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will present recent groundbreaking developments in treating pancreas cancer with engineered T-cells at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2016 in New Orleans on April 16.
Investigating plasma levels as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease A Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) paper published in Current Alzheimer Research presents the first detailed study of the relationship between plasma levels of two amyloid beta peptides (Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42), brain volumetrics (measures studying the size of brain, which shrinks with Alzheimer's disease) and cognitive performance in an investigation of the usefulness of plasma levels as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Clinical trial using bone marrow cells to treat heart failure Using a multi-cell therapy called Ixmyelocel, produced from a patient's (autologous) own bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs), an ongoing clinical trial named "ixCELL-DCM" is being conducted in various locations in the U.S. for patients with heart failure. Because BM-MNC therapy requires a large number of cells, the cells are biologically enhanced to provide immune therapy to the myocardium for patients with heart failure.
AAN updates guidelines: Botulinum toxin for spasticity, headache, other brain disorders The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has updated its 2008 guidelines on the use of botulinum toxin for spasticity, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm and migraine headache, based on recent research. The guideline is published in the April 18, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and will be presented at the 68th AAN Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, April 15 to 21, 2016.

Other Sciences news

	Best of Last Week—Usefulness of quantum weirdness, using CRISPR on a human embryo and butter found to be not so harmful (ScienceX)—It was another good week for physics as a team at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory announced that they had discovered a new type of material that may speed computing—called PtSn4, it is a topological metal that might lead to highly efficient computers. A team with members from MIT and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México found that spinning cells could attract each other across surprisingly long distances, even when they were placed at distances up to ten times their size. And an international team of researchers published two papers attempting to quantify the usefulness of 'quantum weirdness,' such as the degree of usefulness of coherence in creating quantum computers.
	Dinosaurs 'already in decline' before asteroid apocalypse Dinosaurs were already in an evolutionary decline tens of millions of years before the meteorite impact that finally finished them off, new research has found.
	Deceptive feathered dinosaur finally gets a name Solving one of the longest cases of mistaken identity, University of Alberta PhD candidate Greg Funston recently described a new genus and species of toothless dinosaur from Alberta. Long thought to be a more common ornithomimid, Apatoraptor pennatus instead turned out to be a member of the notoriously enigmatic caenagnathid family.
	Women with greatest need may face more obstacles to full-time work In the last half of the 20th century we've witnessed a seismic shift in women's employment, but paid work is a limited resource, and not all women have equal access to it, according to a Penn State researcher.
An acoustic analysis of Freddie Mercury's voice Freddie Mercury, lead singer of legendary rock band, Queen, gave the world one of the most famous and recognisable singing voices in music history. But how did he manage to achieve such vocal range?
Most Americans pray for healing; more than one-fourth have practiced 'laying on of hands' Nearly nine of 10 Americans have relied upon healing prayer at some point in their lives, praying for others even more than for themselves, according to a study by a Baylor University epidemiologist.
Presidential elections: Electoral College increases ad spending in typical election The advertising landscape during presidential elections could look a whole lot different if each American were to vote for his or her own preferred candidate, instead of having to do so collectively through the current Electoral College system. This is according to Brett Gordon of Northwestern University and Wesley Hartmann of Stanford Graduate School of Business in the US, in a study published in Springer's journal Quantitative Marketing and Economics.
	'Mobilization fatigue' leads to diminishing returns for labor-backed voter turnout drives Between now and the presidential election in November, political pundits of all stripes will be trumpeting the importance of voter turnout for both political parties. But according to a new paper from a University of Illinois labor expert who studies unions and politics, repeated voter contact across multiple election cycles can yield diminishing returns and eventually lead to "mobilization fatigue" if voters are contacted too often.
Is my brand image green or healthy? No need for costly surveys, just ask Twitter What do Toyota, Aveda, and Clif Bar have in common? A forthcoming article in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science finds that Twitter fans of these brands are all more likely to follow accounts that tweet about the environment. This in turn creates a greener image than other brands in their sectors.
American teacher panel surveys teachers' knowledge and perceptions of state standards A new RAND Corporation survey of American teachers provides several key areas where states and school districts can do more to help teachers engage in instruction that will most help students meet state standards.

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