Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 24

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 24, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Shock wave experiment provides the best look yet at 'Warm dense matter' at cores of giant planets
- Group creates light-emitting electrochemical cell for use in textiles
- How to myelinate a nerve
- Can perovskites and silicon team up to boost industrial solar cell efficiencies?
- Scientists build a nanolaser using a single atomic sheet
- New mass spectrometry technique studies kinetics of fast reactions
- Ice age people hunted horse and camel 13,300 years ago
- BitWhisper turns up heat on air-gap security
- NASA satellites catch 'growth spurt' from newborn protostar
- NASA's Curiosity rover finds fresh signs of ingredients for life on Mars
- Squeeze to remove heat: Elastocaloric materials enable more efficient, 'green' cooling
- 'Virtual nose' may reduce simulator sickness in video games
- Tiny bio-robot is a germ suited-up with graphene quantum dots
- Mission studies the Sun in soft X-rays
- Brain tumor cells decimated by mitochondrial 'smart bomb'

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA's Curiosity rover finds fresh signs of ingredients for life on Mars Mars's life-friendly past just got friendlier. Using samples previously collected by the NASA rover Curiosity, scientists have discovered evidence of nitrates in Martian rock: nitrogen compounds that on Earth are a crucial source of nutrients for living things.
	NASA satellites catch 'growth spurt' from newborn protostar Using data from orbiting observatories, including NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and ground-based facilities, an international team of astronomers has discovered an outburst from a star thought to be in the earliest phase of its development. The eruption, scientists say, reveals a sudden accumulation of gas and dust by an exceptionally young protostar known as HOPS 383.
	Europa's elusive water plume paints grim picture for life A meteorite may have been responsible for a water plume briefly spotted above Europa two years ago, implying it takes a very rare event to breach the ice on the Jovian moon.
	Biologist suggests carbon monoxide as an energy source for microbes on Mars (Phys.org)—Gary King, a biologist at Louisiana State University has put forth the idea that if life did exist on Mars, it very possibly could have survived by using carbon monoxide. In his paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, he discusses his study of microbes in soil samples collected here on Earth that are able to pull in carbon monoxide and why it might relate to life on Mars.
	Automation offers big solution to big data in astronomy It's almost a rite of passage in physics and astronomy. Scientists spend years scrounging up money to build a fantastic new instrument. Then, when the long-awaited device finally approaches completion, the panic begins: How will they handle the torrent of data?
	Mission studies the Sun in soft X-rays At any given moment, our sun emits a range of light waves far more expansive than what our eyes alone can see: from visible light to extreme ultraviolet to soft and hard X-rays. Different wavelengths can have different effects at Earth and, what's more, when observed and analyzed correctly, those wavelengths can provide scientists with information about events on the sun. In 2012 and 2013, a detector was launched on a sounding rocket for a 15 minute trip to look at a range of sunlight previously not well-observed: soft X-rays.
Russia to resume space tourism in 2018 Russia officials say they will resume space tourism in 2018 after years of sending into space only professional cosmonauts and astronauts.
	Dwarf galaxy that reveals the history of the universe The first galaxies were formed some 13.3 billion years ago, mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, the primary elements that emerged from the Big Bang. Their study to date has been technically very challenging due to their great distance from us, but the observation of analogous galaxies in our vicinity has turned out to be an excellent shortcut.
	Twin astronauts provide Earth-bound control for orbital health study As NASA astronaut Scott Kelly launches for the International Space Station Friday, March 27, Northwestern University scientists will be watching with more than a passing interest. Scott Kelly is half of their experiment.
	Public asked to help name features on Pluto On July 14, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will fly past Pluto, offering the first close-up look at that small, distant world and its largest moon, Charon. These denizens of the outer solar system will be transformed from poorly seen, hazy bodies to tangible worlds with distinct features.
	Galactic "rocket engine" explains unusual stellar motion in galaxies A discovery by MPIA graduate student Athanasia Tsatsi has changed astronomers' understanding of how mergers of two galaxies can produce unusual stellar motion in the resulting elliptical galaxies, with the central region rotating in the direction opposite to that of the galaxy's other stars. Previously, such differences had been thought to be the result of an opposite ("retrograde") orientation of the galaxies prior to their merger. Looking at a simulation of a galaxy merger, Tsatsi discovered a different way of bringing about such counter-rotating cores, which involve mass loss from the bodies of these galaxies acting as a primitive galactic "rocket engine."
India's frugal Mars mission extended by six months India's famously frugal Mars mission has been extended by around six months thanks to a surplus of fuel on board the spacecraft, the country's space agency said Tuesday.
	How could you capture an asteroid? Ah asteroids, those dinosaur-killing, Scrooge-McDuck-moneybins from heaven.
	NASA rover Opportunity completes marathon milestone on Mars NASA says the Opportunity rover has passed the marathon mark for driving on Mars.
	Image: Launch of first crewed Gemini flight In a span of 20 months from March 1965 to November 1966, NASA developed, tested and flew transformative capabilities and cutting-edge technologies in the Gemini program that paved the way for not only Apollo, but the achievements of the space shuttle, building the International Space Station and setting the stage for human exploration of Mars.

Technology news

	BitWhisper turns up heat on air-gap security Ben Gurion University reported Monday that researcher Mordechai Guri, assisted by Matan Munitz and guided by Prof. Yuval Elovici, uncovered a way to breach air-gapped systems—that's quite something considering that air-gapped systems, said the Daily Mail, are among the most secure computers on the planet, used in high security settings such as classified military networks, payment networks processing credit and debit card transactions for retailers, and industrial control systems for critical infrastructure.
	Designing self-healing concrete with shape memory Roads that self-repair, bridges filled with first-aid bubbles, buildings with arteries… not some futuristic fantasy but a very real possibility with 'smart' concrete.
	'Virtual nose' may reduce simulator sickness in video games Virtual reality games often cause simulator sickness – inducing vertigo and sometimes nausea - but new research findings point to a potential strategy to ease the affliction.
Prevalence of financial fraud means consumers should be proactive In a world where data breaches, credit card fraud and identity theft are becoming more common, consumers should consider ways to protect themselves. Elizabeth Kiss, faculty member in Kansas State University's Department of Family Studies and Human Services, said with mega data breaches coming from entities such as retail stores, insurance providers and restaurant chains, someone could more easily gain access to personal financial information that consumers have legitimately shared with companies.
	YouTube debuts videos for second music awards YouTube on Monday premiered videos from 14 musicians as it tried a new, virtual-only format for the second edition of its music awards.
	Are you willing to pay to watch video clips online? Would you pay to see some of the Internet's best video clips first? Vessel, a new service trying to change the way that short video pieces make money on the Internet and mobile devices, is betting on it.
As wind power booms, Texas lawmakers consider yanking support Thousands of wind turbines have sprung up across West Texas and up and down the Gulf Coast. Companies as diverse as Google and Dow Chemical are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Texas in a race to lower their carbon emissions. With almost 20 percent of the country's total capacity, Texas has become the undisputed king of wind energy.
	Fitness app connects exercisers to experts Can advanced networking and next-generation applications help solve some of our nation's most pressing health problems? Can mobile devices and high-speed Internet be used to improve our health and well-being? Showing a commitment that they can, in 2012 the National Science Foundation (NSF) launched the US Ignite initiative to demonstrate the power of apps for social good.
	Remote project a proof of concept for eco-friendly desalination In the past water desalination has been identified with industrial-scale, energy hungry plants but researchers working at a remote Indigenous community In Western Australia have proved portable, solar-powered desalination can provide cost-effective water security for a small community.
	Robot revolution will change world of work Robots will fundamentally change the shape of the workforce in the next decade but many industries will still need a human touch, a QUT Future of Work Conference has heard.
Artificial intelligence systems more apt to fail than to destroy The most realistic risks about the dangers of artificial intelligence are basic mistakes, breakdowns and cyber attacks, an expert in the field says – more so than machines that become super powerful, run amok and try to destroy the human race.
	The ongoing war against cybercrime Cybercrime is estimated to cost the global economy upwards of US$400 billion a year, and these costs are expected to continue to rise.
	Three wireless technologies that could make 5G even faster The capacity of today's wireless communications networks has increased one million-fold since the introduction of the first cellular network in 1957.
	A promised 'right' to fast internet rings hollow for millions stuck with 20th-century speeds In response to the government's recent declarations that internet speeds of 100Mb/s should be available to "nearly all homes" in the UK, a great many might suggest that this is easier said than done. It would not be the first such bold claim, yet internet connections in many rural areas still languish at 20th-century speeds.
Twitch warns users of possible hacking incident Amazon.com's video game streaming platform Twitch informed users that their accounts may have been hacked.
	Artificial hand able to respond sensitively thanks to muscles made from smart metal wires Engineers at Saarland University have taken a leaf out of nature's book by equipping an artificial hand with muscles made from shape-memory wire. The new technology enables the fabrication of flexible and lightweight robot hands for industrial applications and novel prosthetic devices. The muscle fibres are composed of bundles of ultrafine nickel-titanium alloy wires that are able to tense and flex. The material itself has sensory properties allowing the artificial hand to perform extremely precise movements. The research group led by Professor Stefan Seelecke will be showcasing their prototype artificial hand and how it makes use of shape-memory 'metal muscles' at HANNOVER MESSE – the world's largest industrial fair – from April 13th to April 17th. The team, who will be exhibiting at the Saarland Research and Innovation Stand in Hall 2, Stand B 46, are looking for development partners.
	Premature wear on WA roads caused by wet base coat The lifespan of some West Australian roads has been reduced thanks to the moisture susceptibility of a road construction material, research suggests.
	Floor washing robots revolutionising cleaning for big businesses Floor washing robots could soon be used to clean large industrial and commercial premises, following a European research collaboration totalling 4.2 million Euros.
Test trial to use computer servers to heat homes An energy company is joining forces with a tech startup to harness computing power to heat homes in the Netherlands.
	Google imports new CFO Ruth Porat from Wall Street (Update) Google has lured away Morgan Stanley's chief financial officer, Ruth Porat, to be its CFO at a time when the Internet search leader and its Silicon Valley peers are under fire for hiring and promoting too few women.
	Intermittently delivered pulsed electric fields technology could replace boiling and refrigeration of milk Milk is a key element for household food security and provides a stable income to farmers including women, who are usually in charge of taking care of the milk-producing animals in the low-income countries. Currently pathogen growth in milk is managed with refrigeration or with chemicals. Although bacterial growth in milk is managed with refrigeration in the high-income countries, a high cost of infrastructure and a demand for a permanent electricity supply prevent milk refrigeration in the rural areas in the low-income countries. Moreover, certain pathogens, for example Listeria monocytogenes, are less sensitive to low temperature; therefore, they can proliferate at refrigeration during transportation and storage.
	Amazon TV stick goes abroad, gets new features Amazon announced Tuesday its Fire TV media stick for streaming video is being sold in Britain and Germany, as part of a push to expand its online television services.
	New technique paints tissue samples with light One infrared scan can give pathologists a window into the structures and molecules inside tissues and cells, enabling fast and broad diagnostic assessments, thanks to an imaging technique developed by University of Illinois researchers and clinical partners.
HP devices to start using Bang & Olufsen audio technology Hewlett-Packard's PCs, tablets and accessories are going to start using audio technology from Denmark's Bang & Olufsen.
House unveils cyber bill and signals bipartisan compromise House intelligence committee leaders unveiled a bipartisan cybersecurity bill Tuesday amid signs of broad agreement on long-sought legislation that would allow private companies to share with the government details of how they are hacked, without fear of being sued.
	Amazon says US too late on drone rules Online giant Amazon told Congress on Tuesday the US government is lagging in implementing rules for commercial drones, making it hard to make plans for its quick delivery system by air.
FAA streamlines rules to speed up permits to fly drones (Update) Federal aviation officials, battered by complaints that bureaucratic hurdles are preventing industry from realizing the economic benefits of drones, announced Tuesday they are streamlining rules to expedite permits to fly small, commercial unmanned aircraft.
Tinder hires EBay executive as CEO Tinder has hired one of EBay's top officials as chief executive after a five-month search to replace embattled founding CEO Sean Rad, the West Hollywood, Calif., startup announced Friday.
	With Vessel, others, YouTube stars advance to charging for videos Starting Tuesday, a new online network is selling subscriptions for access to videos from some top online stars three or more days before the content becomes publicly available free of charge on YouTube.
	When the road salt seeps, sometimes the manhole covers fly Call it another form of March Madness: Not flying basketballs, but flying manhole covers.
Expert: Silicon Valley bias suit spurs closer look by firms A sex discrimination trial that has put a spotlight on gender imbalance in Silicon Valley has prompted some technology and venture capital companies to re-examine their cultures and practices—even before a jury reaches its verdict.
	Indian court rejects ban on 'offensive' Internet messages India's top court affirmed people's right to free speech in cyberspace Tuesday by striking down a provision that had called for imprisoning people who send "offensive" messages by computer or cellphone.
	Fujitsu deploys smartphone-based, participatory disaster information-sharing system for Jakarta, Indonesia Fujitsu today announced that it has built a participatory disaster information-sharing system for Jakarta's Regional Disaster Management Agency, BPBD DKI Jakarta, that lets residents share disaster information by using a smartphone app. BPBD DKI Jakarta this month commences operation and provision of the smartphone app to the city's 10 million residents.
	New technology for nuclear detection A new device created by researchers at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory is able to immediately collect airborne particles to help determine if radioactive isotopes are present. This device could prove to be a valuable asset to organizations responsible for monitoring nuclear activities worldwide.
	NTU develops mobile app to help the university reduce its energy usage Feeling too cold? With just a few taps on Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) new mobile app, the central air-conditioning temperature settings could be adjusted, helping the university save on its energy bills.
Comcast gets social to shake bad customer-service reputation Comcast is adding more social media representatives as it tries to work on its reputation for inefficient, unresponsive or just plain rude customer service.
Telefonica to sell UK phone operator O2 to Hutchison Whampoa European cell phone operator Telefonica SA said Tuesday it has reached an agreement to sell its British business, O2, to Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. for 10.25 billion pounds ($15.24 billion).
Lexmark agrees to buy software maker Kofax for $1 billion Printer maker Lexmark International will buy software developer Kofax Ltd. for about $1 billion.
Tenn. AG wants court to set aside municipal broadband ruling Tennessee's attorney general wants a federal appeals court to set aside a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission to allow cities like Chattanooga to offer municipal broadband beyond their normal service area.

Medicine & Health news

	How to myelinate a nerve (Medical Xpress)—Demyelinating diseases, like MS or ALS, attack an otherwise healthy nervous system and leave its owner a prisoner in their own body. The harder big pharma searches for—and fails to find—miracle drugs to cure these diseases, the more obvious a single fundamental truth becomes: drugs may alleviate some symptoms for a little while, but to fix these diseases we need to know what it takes physically to remyelinate axons. To do that, we need to know how they are myelinated in the first place. Many neuroscientists are now studying various molecular pathways that appear to be critical for myelination. Unfortunately they don't always tell us much about how axons are myelinated. For that, we need to watch it happen in slow-mo.
	Study of thousands of brains reveals tau as driver of Alzheimer's disease By examining more than 3,600 postmortem brains, researchers at Mayo Clinic's campuses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Rochester, Minnesota, have found that the progression of dysfunctional tau protein drives the cognitive decline and memory loss seen in Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid, the other toxic protein that characterizes Alzheimer's, builds up as dementia progresses, but is not the primary culprit, they say.
	Giant rats sniff out TB in Mozambique Giant rats may strike fear and disgust into the hearts of homeowners worldwide, but researchers in impoverished Mozambique are improbably turning some of them into heroes.
	Training your brain to pay attention A recent analysis has brought new clarity to the debate over whether brain training exercises can improve people's ability to pay attention in everyday life.
	After learning new words, brain sees them as pictures When we look at a known word, our brain sees it like a picture, not a group of letters needing to be processed. That's the finding from a Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, which shows the brain learns words quickly by tuning neurons to respond to a complete word, not parts of it.
	More schools, more challenging assignments add up to higher IQ scores More schooling—and the more mentally challenging problems tackled in those schools—may be the best explanation for the dramatic rise in IQ scores during the past century, often referred to as the Flynn Effect, according to a team of researchers. These findings also suggest that environment may have a stronger influence on intelligence than many genetic determinists once thought.
	Chemical tag marks future microRNAs for processing, study shows Just as two DNA strands naturally arrange themselves into a helix, DNA's molecular cousin RNA can form hairpin-like loops. But unlike DNA, which has a single job, RNA can play many parts—including acting as a precursor for small molecules that block the activity of genes. These small RNA molecules must be trimmed from long hairpin-loop structures, raising a question: How do cells know which RNA loops need to be processed this way and which don't?
	Genetic discovery may offer new avenue of attack against schistosomiasis Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a group of genes in one species of snail that provide a natural resistance to the flatworm parasite that causes schistosomiasis, and opens the door to possible new drugs or ways to break the transmission cycle of this debilitating disease.
	Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can adversely affect reproduction of future generations of fish Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is used in a variety of consumer products, such as water bottles, dental composites and resins used to line metal food and beverage containers. Often, aquatic environments such as rivers and streams become reservoirs for contaminants, including BPA. Now, University of Missouri researchers and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have determined that fish exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals will pass adverse reproductive effects onto their offspring as many as three generations later. These findings suggest that BPA could have adverse reproductive effects for humans and their offspring who are exposed to BPA as well.
	Leaders of a group synchronize their brain activity with that of their followers during communication Great leaders are often good communicators. In the process of communication, the relationship between leaders and their followers develops spontaneously according to new research from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and the State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research in Beijing. When a member becomes the group leader, the leader's brain activity in the left temporo-parietal junction, known as representing others' mental states, begins to synchronize with that in the same area of their followers. Based on interpersonal neural synchronization, the researchers were even able to predict who would emerge as leader of a group, and when. The findings also suggest that interpersonal neural synchronization is more likely due to the communication skills of the leader and less likely due to how much they speak. Thus, in a group of peers, ! the individual who says the right things at the right time usually emerges as the leader.
New cystic fibrosis research could help develop treatments to improve muscle function People suffering from cystic fibrosis have less ability to uptake and use oxygen in their muscles, which leads to exercise intolerance, a study published today in Experimental Physiology concluded.
	Good news for serial cereal eaters A diet high in whole grains and cereal fibers is associated with a reduced risk of premature death, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine. The results also show cereal fibers to be associated with reduced risk of deaths in varying degrees for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes.
Report: Less than half say they were told Alzheimer's diagnosis The Alzheimer's Association's 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report, released today, found that only 45 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease or their caregivers say they were told the diagnosis by their doctor. In contrast, more than 90 percent of people with the four most common cancers (breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer) say they were told the diagnosis.
Survey defines advance practice dietitians, paving way for career path A nationwide survey of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) is helping to formalize a career path for RDNs seeking more responsibility and autonomy as clinicians, according to a paper published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Lung transplant patients in the UK fare better than publicly insured Americans Publicly insured Americans who undergo lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis fare markedly worse in the long run than both publicly insured patients in the United Kingdom and privately insured Americans, according to the results of a study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and U.K. colleagues working in that nation's government-funded National Health Service.
	ADHD children may gain more from family-centered care (HealthDay)—For children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), receiving more family-centered, compassionate care may be more effective than standard care, a new study found.
	Balance compromised in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (HealthDay)—Patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) have greater maximum and range of separations of their center of mass from their center of pressure, according to a study published online March 12 in Diabetes Care.
	Shoulder dystocia maneuvers not tied to neonatal harm (HealthDay)—A variety of shoulder dystocia maneuvers are not associated with neonatal morbidity after adjusting for duration, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
	AAD: Telangiectatic photoaging distinct from rosacea subtype (HealthDay)—Telangiectatic photoaging (TP) is a distinct dermatological disorder from erythematotelangiectatic subtype of rosacea (ETR), according to a study published online March 23 in JAMA Dermatology. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 20 to 24 in San Francisco.
	AAD: Herpes zoster incidence up with combo tx for psoriasis (HealthDay)—For patients with psoriasis, combination treatment with biologic medications and methotrexate is associated with increased incidence of herpes zoster (HZ), according to a study published online March 22 in JAMA Dermatology. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 20 to 24 in San Francisco.
	Alpha-tocopherol disappearance depends on lipids (HealthDay)—Plasma α-tocopherol disappearance rates depend on lipid concentrations, not on age or sex, according to a study published online March 4 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
	Anesthesiologists implementing practice improvements (HealthDay)—Most anesthesiologists participating in a Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program simulation course are implementing practice improvements, according to research published in online March 12 in Anesthesiology.
Mental health report finds staffing problems linked to ward suicides Suicidal patients who are under observation may be put at risk by relying on inexperienced staff and agency nurses, according to a new report issued today.
Running barefoot may increase injury risk in older, more experienced athletes In recent years there has been an explosion in barefoot running, as well as the purchase and use of "minimalist" running shoes that more closely resemble barefoot running by encouraging the balls of the feet, between the arch and toes, to hit the pavement first. A new study presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), found that a significant number of experienced runners, age 30 and older (40 percent of men and 20 percent of women), maintained a heel-first running pattern—which naturally occurs when wearing a shoe with an elevated heel—when running without shoes. Maintaining a heel-toe pattern while running barefoot or in a minimalist shoe may lead to more frequent injuries.
Hip replacement patients may safely drive as early as two weeks following surgery Thanks to improved surgical, pain management and rehabilitation procedures, patients who undergo a total hip replacement (THR) may be able to safely drive as early as two weeks following surgery, according to new research presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Spinal surgery diminishes low back pain, improves sexual function Chronic low back pain can limit everyday activities, including sex. New research presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), found that 70 percent of patients consider sexual activity "relevant" to their life quality, and patients who receive surgical treatment for spinal spondylolisthesis (DS) and spinal stenosis (SS)—common degenerative conditions most often occurring in older adults—were twice as likely to report no pain during sex.
Child pedestrians more likely to be struck by motor vehicles in the spring months New research presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that most child pedestrian injuries involving a motor vehicle occurred while children were unsupervised, near schools and bus stops, and in the spring months during the afternoon and evening hours.
Men have a higher level of function before and after total knee replacement surgery While men and women have similar levels of improvement following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, men have higher levels of function before and after TKR, according to new research presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
	CDC: Uninsured drop by 11M since passage of Obama's law The number of uninsured U.S. residents fell by more than 11 million since President Barack Obama signed the health care overhaul five years ago, according to a pair of reports Tuesday from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Study indicates results of many breast biopsies may be in error Women who have breast biopsies to diagnose cancer might want to think twice about the results of the procedures, according to a new study led by University of Washington researchers.
	Educating China's elderly to fight obesity in the young Academics from the University of Birmingham, UK are engaging with grandparents in China, to help tackle the increasing problem of obesity amongst Chinese children in a trailblazing public health programme.
Angelina Jolie has ovaries removed over cancer fears Hollywood megastar Angelina Jolie announced Tuesday that she has had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed over fears of a hereditary form of cancer, following her double mastectomy two years ago.
	Hip replacement an excellent option to relieve pain in juvenile arthritis patients Hip replacement is often performed in patients with juvenile arthritis when their joints have been severely damaged by the disease. A study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) finds that the procedure is an excellent option to alleviate pain and improve function in juvenile arthritis patients under age 35 when conservative treatments fail to provide relief.
	Child with autism improves with antibiotic; prompts new investigations into autism John Rodakis, the parent of a child with autism was not looking to launch an international investigation into the microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that live on and in us) and autism, but, as he describes in his newly published article in the scientific journal Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease, when his young son's autism unexpectedly and dramatically improved while taking an antibiotic for strep throat, he began a quest to understand why.
	Potential for ALS treatment found in three proteins Where ALS comes from and how it progresses are mysteries that continue to vex medical science. But recent research at Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology has found three proteins that could shed some light on the mechanisms behind this deadly disease.
Clinical trials of VPM1002 as a tuberculosis vaccine in newborns The only tuberculosis vaccine currently approved, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, protects children from the most severe forms of the disease in most cases but does not provide protection against the most common form, pulmonary tuberculosis in adults and children. BCG has therefore been unable to contain tuberculosis worldwide. Scientists led by Stefan Kaufmann of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin are therefore working feverishly on a more effective replacement for BCG. The vaccine candidate they have developed, dubbed VPM1002, will now be tested in a large-scale phase II trial with newborns. VPM1002 is a genetically modified variant of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Moreover, another trial will test whether VPM1002 is effective in the treatment of cancer of the bladder.
For most children with HIV and low immune cell count, cells rebound after treatment Most children with HIV who have low levels of a key immune cell eventually recover levels of this cell after beginning treatment, according to a study by researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health.
	Smaller plates don't always lead to smaller portions It may have become conventional wisdom that you can trick yourself into eating less if you use a smaller plate. But a UConn Health study finds that trick doesn't work for everyone, particularly overweight teens.
	Gene therapy slows vision loss in mouse models of retinal degeneration Researchers have developed an antioxidant gene therapy that slows cone-cell death and prolongs vision in mouse models of retinal degeneration.
	No business case for skinny models in advertising France – the home of couture – is on the verge of banning very thin models from runways and fashion spreads. Should the legislation be passed the fashion industry has little to fear, says a Massey University marketing researcher.
	Scientists coax stem cells to form 3-D mini lungs Scientists have coaxed stem cells to grow the first three-dimensional mini lungs.
Pay gap between male and female RNs has not narrowed An analysis of the trends in salaries of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States from 1988 through 2013 finds that male RNs outearned female RNs across settings, specialties, and positions, with no narrowing of the pay gap over time, according to a study in the March 24/31 issue of JAMA.
Study compares outcomes for stent vs. medications for narrowed artery within the brain Among patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis (narrowing of an artery inside the brain), the use of a balloon-expandable stent compared with medical therapy (clopidogrel and aspirin) resulted in an increased of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to a study in the March 24/31 issue of JAMA.
	Mutations taking place only in the brain identified as the cause of intractable epilepsy Epilepsy is a brain disorder that afflicts more than 50 million people worldwide. Many epilepsy patients can control their symptoms through medication, but about 30% suffer from intractable epilepsy and are unable to manage the disease with drugs. Intractable epilepsy causes multiple seizures, permanent mental, physical, and developmental disabilities, and even death. Therefore, surgical removal of the affected area from the brain has been used as a treatment for patients with medically refractory seizures, but this too fails to provide a complete solution because only 60% of the patients who undergo surgery are rendered free of seizures.
	Vitamin D vital for gene expression in developing brains Vitamin D deficiency in mothers leading up to and during pregnancy has fundamental consequences for their offspring's brain development, researchers from University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute have confirmed.
	Hunting the ion channel The electrical impulse that powers the workings of the brain and the heart begins with charged particles passing through cellular structures known as ion channels. Using the same technique used to decode the structure of DNA, an Oxford University team has been able to catch snapshots of an ion channel in action. Their results, published in Science earlier this month, help explain how neurons respond to a variety of stimuli, from drugs to touch.
	Weight discrimination has major impact on quality of life Weight discrimination is linked to significantly lower quality of life, and accounts for approximately 40% of the negative psychological effects associated with obesity, finds new UCL research funded by Cancer Research UK.
	Driving tumour cells to their death B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, or B-ALL, is the most common tumour disease in children and also occurs in adults. It develops when signalling pathways in immature B cells, or pre-B cells, are dysregulated. Prof. Dr. Markus Müschen from the University of California in San Francisco, USA, and his team worked together with the BIOSS researchers Prof. Dr. Hassan Jumaa and Prof. Dr. Michael Reth to find a new approach for treating the B-ALL tumour disease. Their studies could change the way we think about clinical therapies for treating these tumour diseases. The scientists have published their research in the journal Nature.
	Milk could be good for your brain New research conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center has found a correlation between milk consumption and the levels of a naturally-occurring antioxidant called glutathione in the brain in older, healthy adults.
	More middle-aged americans are getting hips replaced (HealthDay)—More and more middle-aged Americans are replacing their hips damaged by severe arthritis—a surgery that used to be largely reserved for elderly people, a new study reports.
	Young pitchers often pressured to play despite pain, study says (HealthDay)—Young baseball players feel pressure from parents or coaches to continue playing despite arm pain, and many parents are unaware of guidelines to reduce injury risk, a pair of recent studies found.
	School dismissal a dangerous time for kids getting hit by cars (HealthDay)—Children are at greatest risk of being hit by a car at the end of the school day, as well as in the evening, a new study finds.
Norovirus candidate vaccine induces broad antibody responses in trial participants A multivalent candidate vaccine elicits broad antibody responses to a range of norovirus strains, including strains not included in the vaccine or previously encountered by participants, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The results of the study, led by Lisa Lindesmith and Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, indicate that a vaccine to norovirus may be available in the future.
	A cancer research breakthrough Queen's University cancer researcher Madhuri Koti has discovered a biomarker that will help lead to better predictions of the success of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients. This discovery could lead to better treatment options in the fight against ovarian cancer.
	Researchers find link between genetic variation and alcohol dependence Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers have discovered a biological clue that could help explain why some drinkers develop a dependence on alcohol and others do not.
New study indicates laparoscopic hysterectomy with morcellation may be safer than abdominal procedure In a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compared the relative risks of laparoscopic hysterectomy (with morcellation) with abdominal surgery for hysterectomy in premenopausal women undergoing surgery for presumed uterine fibroids. Examining short- and long-term complications, quality of life, and overall mortality, they found that abdominal surgery carries a higher risk of complications, decreased quality of life, and death.
Diabetics with ankle fractures have longer lengths of stay, more health care costs New research from NYU Langone orthopaedic surgeons finds patients with diabetes who fracture their ankle incur significantly more inpatient health care costs compared to patients who do not have diabetes.
Study shows racial and socioeconomic disparities in hip fracture care A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) finds that people in certain racial and socioeconomic groups are at a disadvantage when it comes to care they receive after fracturing a hip.
	Women with diabetes more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer Diabetes is associated with more advanced stage breast cancer, according to a new study by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and Women's College Hospital.
	Children less likely to come to the rescue when others are available Children as young as 5 years old are less likely to help a person in need when other children are present and available to help, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Jolie surgery 'dramatically' lowers cancer risk: experts It is a hard personal choice, but removing healthy fallopian tubes and ovaries effectively slashes the cancer odds for women like Angelina Jolie who carry a risk-boosting gene mutation, experts said Tuesday.
Could a tampon one day help predict endometrial cancer? Researchers says yes Researchers at Mayo Clinic have shown that it is possible to detect endometrial cancer using tumor DNA picked up by ordinary tampons. The new approach specifically examines DNA samples from vaginal secretions for the presence of chemical "off" switches—known as methylation—that can disable genes that normally keep cancer in check.
Rapid testing for gene variants in kidney donors may optimize transplant outcomes Kidney transplantation outcomes from deceased African-American donors may improve through rapid testing for apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) renal risk variants at the time of organ recovery, according to a new study led by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
'On Becoming a Teen Mom' examines life events that lead to teen pregnancy If Diane could reverse time, she never would have slammed the door—an act of teen frustration and ongoing family conflict that finally got her kicked out of her mother's house.
Patients going home after knee replacement do as well as those going to rehab facility A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) finds that patients who go home after knee replacement and receive physical therapy at home do as well as those discharged to an in-patient rehabilitation facility.
Three organic food companies recall products over listeria fears (Update) Three organic food companies that use spinach in their food have recalled hundreds of thousands of items over listeria concerns.
	Many things can be read in a newborn's gaze Experienced nannies and doctors have always known how much the visual contact with a newborn can convey. A recent Finnish study provides scientific evidence for this everyday belief. A study performed in the University of Helsinki and the Children's Hospital within Helsinki University Central Hospital shows that the visual abilities of the newborn predict childhood development of visual processing.
Marketing, prescribing testosterone and growth hormone for aging is disease mongering The marketing, prescribing and selling of testosterone and growth hormone as panaceas for aging-associated problems is disease mongering. So assert Thomas Perls, MD, MPH, FACP, a geriatrician at Boston Medical Center and professor of Geriatrics and Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine; and David Handelsman, MB BS, FRACP, PhD, professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Andrology, director of the ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney and Andrology Department, Concord Hospital. Their editorial is published in this month's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Why some HPV infections go away and others become cancer For people infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV), the likelihood of clearing the infection and avoiding HPV-related cancer may depend less on the body's disease-fighting arsenal than has been generally assumed.
	Second Tommy John surgery linked to performance decline, shortened career Major League Baseball pitchers who underwent a second Tommy John surgery saw their performance decline and their career shortened, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.
	Scientists explore a new parameter of bone quality that measures strength instead of density For people taking glucocorticoids such as prednisone, the increased risk of bone fracture is a well-documented side effect. Used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases and allergies, glucocorticoids are known to cause rapid deterioration in bone strength.
Are our schools damaging children's eyes? Shockingly, research has shown a dramatic increase in the number of students leaving secondary school with short-sightedness, or myopia, and a new study published in the Journal Perspectives in Public Health, published by SAGE, suggests lighting in schools could be a factor.
New study shows non-invasive imaging tests can detect coronary artery disease long before it strikes Adding two non-invasive imaging tests to traditional cardiovascular disease risk factor assessment more precisely predicts a healthy patient's future risk of heart attack, stroke, or premature death, according to a study led by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in the March 24 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
	Malpractice fears spurring most ER docs to order unnecessary tests (HealthDay)—Nearly all emergency room doctors surveyed order pricey MRIs or CT scans their patients may not need, mainly because they fear malpractice lawsuits, according to a new report.
	Athletes need to guard against skin woes (HealthDay)—Sprains and fractures aren't the only hazards athletes face. Certain skin problems are also common among sports enthusiasts.
New blood pump system approved (HealthDay)—The Impella 2.5 System has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to maintain stable heart function and blood circulation during high-risk cardiac operations, the agency said in a news release.
	Rotational instrument delivery OK for fetal malposition (HealthDay)—Neonatal outcomes are no worse with rotational instrumental delivery than with cesarean delivery for persistent fetal malposition, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	2015 diabetes standards focus on individualized Tx approach (HealthDay)—Therapeutic decisions for diabetes should be individualized, considering factors such as ethnicity and cardiovascular risk, according to an ideas and opinions piece published in the March 24 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Doctors may not be informing of Alzheimer's diagnosis (HealthDay)—Doctors are not telling a majority of their patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's that they have the degenerative brain disease, a new report by the Alzheimer's Association indicates.
	One in nine needs emergency revisit for kidney stones (HealthDay)—The need for repeat high-acuity care affects one in nine patients discharged from initial emergency department visits for kidney stones, according to a study published online March 16 in Academic Emergency Medicine.
Are viruses on the rise or does it just seem that way? Yes and yes The man wasn't any sicker at first than many of the other patients who arrive at University of Kansas Hospital, infectious disease specialist Dana Hawkinson recalls.
	Don't put too much of a good thing into that healthy diet Nutritionists are continually spouting the benefits of foods like tomatoes, avocados and fish, but overdoing it on these healthy foods actually can be harmful.
Dogs being used to sniff out cancer diagnoses Man's best friend may have just graduated to oncologist's best colleague.
	First study of its kind describes outcomes after thyroid surgery for pro singers A diagnosis of thyroid cancer can be devastating to professional singers, because surgical removal of the thyroid commonly causes voice changes. Massachusetts Eye and Ear surgeons developed a neural monitoring system to be used intraoperatively to improve outcomes. In the first study of its kind, they confirmed the hypothesis that the careers of singers and professional voice users are not impaired after thyroid surgery using this device. Their research is online in Thyroid.
A call for more research on brain damage in American football More research is needed to identify how athletes sustain brain injury from American football, and also to develop strategies to protect them, write experts in The BMJ today.
Cancer patients want more information about medical imaging risk A substantial gap exists between patient expectations and current practices for providing information about medical imaging tests that use radiation, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. Researchers said the findings highlight a need for better communication as medicine enters an era of patient-centered care.
	International Journal of Infectious Diseases marks World TB Day with publication of special issue To mark World TB Day, March 24, 2015, the International Journal of Infectious Diseases is publishing a Special Issue that will help raise awareness about the burden of tuberculosis and present a collection of articles by some of the world's most noted researchers and clinicians. The articles present recent successes and future challenges in the quest to eliminate TB from the planet.
	Mastectomies on the rise in Venezuela amid economic crisis Oncologist Gabriel Romero performs hundreds of life-saving surgeries a year, but he no longer takes pleasure in his work.
Diabetes, previous joint pain and overall physical health predicts arthritis pain Diabetes and previous joint pain, along with a patient's overall physical health status, may predicts arthritis pain with nearly 100 percent accuracy, in new research presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Routine bisphosphonate treatment for women over age 65 Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss affecting more than 44 million Americans and contributing to an estimated 2 million bone fractures each year. A new study presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that routine bisphosphonate treatment of women over 65 who sustain a distal radius (wrist) fracture—one of the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis—could significantly reduce the risk for additional fractures, primarily hip fractures, but at an estimated cost of more than $2 billion annually.
The price of delirium: New study finds nearly half of patients have delirium A new study presented today at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that 48 percent of hip fracture patients, age 65 and older, had delirium, or acute confusion, before, during and after surgery (perioperative), resulting in significantly longer hospital stays and higher costs for care.
VA says it will relax 40-mile rule for private medical care Responding to pressure from Congress and veterans groups, the Department of Veterans Affairs is relaxing a rule that makes it hard for some veterans in rural areas to prove they live at least 40 miles from a VA health site.
	Edible gardens in New Zealand schools promote healthier choices, according to study Edible gardens are taking off in New Zealand primary and secondary schools, presenting important new opportunities to promote fruit and vegetable consumption, new University of Otago research has found.
	Reform housing with care to reduce pressure on NHS, says expert New figures have shown that more than one million hospital beds were lost last year due to delayed discharges, resulting in a chronic lack of beds and huge strain on the NHS.
Gilead's Harvoni accepted in Canadian health plan Gilead Sciences said multiple Canadian provinces will provide access to the biotechnology company's hepatitis C drug Harvoni following a positive reimbursement recommendation from regulators.
	High nursing home bills squeeze insurers, driving rates up Thirty years ago, insurance companies had the answer to the soaring cost of caring for the elderly. Plan ahead and buy a policy that will cover your expenses.
Researchers identify red blood cell traits associated with malaria risk in children Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, have determined that certain red blood cell traits in children can increase or decrease their risk for malaria. The findings could help identify future targets for new malaria drugs and vaccines.
Higher volume of scoliosis surgeries linked to reduced reoperation rates Adolescent patients who need scoliosis surgery may benefit most from going to a hospital that performs a high volume of the procedures, according to new research from NYU Langone spine surgeons presented March 24 at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2015 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.
Quarantine yes/no? Novel decision tree to assist policy and public health officials The recent Ebola outbreak highlighted the challenges to governments and local public health authorities in determining when individuals or populations should be subjected to quarantine. While one state or country can legally enact such laws, others may not. In many instances unintended negative consequences have resulted, and the ensuing chaos has led to major frustration both for patients and medical staff, as well as for local authorities.
Listeria traced to second Blue Bell ice cream production plant (Update) A foodborne illness that contributed to the deaths of three people has been traced to a second production facility operated by Blue Bell Ice Cream, a company spokesman and health officials said Tuesday.
Official: Ebola survivor may have infected new Liberia case A woman who tested positive for Ebola in Liberia last week is dating a survivor of the disease, a health official said Tuesday, offering a possible explanation for how she became the country's first confirmed case in weeks.
Legally high? Teenagers and prescription drug abuse Legal drugs such as OxyContin now kill more people than heroin and cocaine combined. While awareness of the dangers of illegal drugs has increased, many teens are still ignorant of the significant physical danger posed by legally prescribed drugs, according to a new study in Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.
CV organizations issue recommendations for minimally invasive valve treatments for children, adults As congenital heart disease (CHD) treatment advances, children with these conditions are living into adulthood, and over time, they may need additional treatment. A new expert consensus paper released today by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), American College of Cardiology (ACC), and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) provides guidance on transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement, or tPVR, for children and adults who were previously treated for CHD.
World's first anti-organ trafficking treaty opens Starting Wednesday nations will be able to sign what backers say is the first ever international treaty to take on human organ trafficking.
Patients with asymptomatic pancreatic cysts do not need constant surveillance A new guideline from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) changes clinical practice by recommending longer surveillance periods for patients with asymptomatic pancreatic cysts and new criteria that limits surgery to those who will receive the most benefit.

Biology news

	Engineers develop new yeast strain to enhance biofuel and biochemical production Researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have used a combination of metabolic engineering and directed evolution to develop a new, mutant yeast strain that could lead to a more efficient biofuel production process that would make biofuels more economically competitive with conventional fuels. Their findings were published online in the journal Metabolic Engineering in March.
	Qualities that make bird wings efficient over a wide range of flight styles It has taken more than a million fine samples of aerodynamic force and airflow combined to determine what makes a hummingbird's wings so adept at hovering.
	Refined CRISPR/Cas genome editing accelerates generation of transgenic mice Although the genome editing system known as CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized genetic research in cell lines, its overall efficiency has been relatively poor when used to generate genetically altered animals for disease modeling.  Now Whitehead Institute scientists have altered the approach in a manner that could accelerate the production of mice carrying precise mutations of multiple genes.
	Complex genetic ancestry of Americans uncovered By comparing the genes of current-day North and South Americans with African and European populations, an Oxford University study has found the genetic fingerprints of the slave trade and colonisation that shaped migrations to the Americas hundreds of years ago.
	Supplemental feeding of wildlife can affect their risk of disease Supplemental feeding of wildlife can increase the spread of some infectious diseases and decrease the spread of others. A new study by University of Georgia ecologists finds that the outcome depends on the type of pathogen and the source of food.
	New study shows net value of seagrass to fishing in the Mediterranean Seagrass meadows could be worth around €190 million every year to commercial and recreational fishing in the Mediterranean according to a new study by marine scientists.
	Hive calculations yield better homes for migrating bees Have you ever danced for joy when you found a great place to live? How about performing that dance to persuade the rest of the family you should move there?
	Malaria-infected cells produce odors attractive to mosquitoes The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum produces chemical compounds called terpenes that give off odors that attract mosquitoes, according to new research. The study, published this week in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, might explain why the insects are more likely to bite humans or animals infected with the organism.
A vineyard's soil microbes shape the grapes' microbial community In the first study of an entire wine grapevine's microbiome, researchers have found that the microbes associated with the grapes, leaves and flowers are largely derived from the soil microbes found around the plant's roots. The findings, published in mBio the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, could help dissect how microbes affect a wine's properties and pave the way for biotechnological advances for producing hardier crops.
	High cost of lactation compromises immune processes in spotted hyenas Scientists have demonstrated that in spotted hyenas, lactation increases the chance of parasite infection. The results have been published in the scientific journal Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology.
	Spotting problems and targeting treatments to where they are needed An agricultural engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a practical, cost-effective approach for taking aerial images of cotton fields that are detailed enough to show patches of large fields in need of special attention.
	Student rescues abandoned baby gibbon Naven Hon, an ecology and biodiversity Master's student, came across the infant gibbon last week at the Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area.
	Proteins provide forces in cells by acting like microscopic gas springs Together with colleagues in Germany and Amsterdam, researchers at the Laboratory of Cell Biology of Wageningen University have shown how the disorderly movement of proteins provides directed forces in cells. The proteins work like a gas spring, and in their biological environment they behave according to one of the most important laws of physics. The researchers published their study in the journal Cell.
MPA fails to protect sharks and rays New research led by researchers at the University of Victoria raises serious concerns about the ability of marine protected areas (MPAs) to effectively protect wide-ranging iconic species, such as sharks and rays.
	US gears up for wild (Canada) goose chase Park rangers in the US capital are gearing up for a wild goose chase. Literally.

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