Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 22, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Columbia team has research robot ironing cloth
- NASA releases strange 'music' heard by 1969 astronauts
- Study shows plants appear able to forget memories when they are not useful
- Best of Last Week – New ways to measure entanglement, hobbit mystery perhaps solved and how stress impacts longevity
- Clock gene may connect mood and sleep
- Scientists measure methyl alcohol emission from comet C/2012 K1 (PanSTARRS)
- Researchers explore how infants infer social dominance relationships
- Extinct glyptodonts really were gigantic armadillos, ancient DNA shows
- New evidence for the vibration theory of smell
- Global Internet population grows to 3.2 billion: study
- 5G key to unlocking Internet of Things... but not yet
- In obese patients, five percent weight loss has significant health benefits
- Seeing cancer cells in 3-D (w/ Video)
- Sea level mapped from space with GPS reflections
- JAQ charger is socket-free thanks to water and salt PowerCard

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists measure methyl alcohol emission from comet C/2012 K1 (PanSTARRS) (Phys.org)—An international team of researchers led by Martin Cordiner of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has conducted measurements of CH3OH (methanol) emission from comet C/2012 K1 (PanSTARRS) that could yield invaluable information about cometary compositions and provide insights on the formation of our solar system. The results were published online on Feb. 16 in the arXiv journal.
	NASA releases strange 'music' heard by 1969 astronauts NASA has made public a recording of strange "music" that astronauts reported hearing in 1969 while on the far side of the Moon, out of radio contact with the Earth.
	Pluto's 'Hulk-like' moon Charon: A possible ancient ocean? Pluto's largest moon may have gotten too big for its own skin.
	Alpha Centauri—our first target for interstellar probes? With the completion of New Horizons' Pluto fly-by, its primary mission, should we now set our sights even higher, ambitiously taking aim at other star systems? If so, Alpha Centauri would probably be considered as the best target for an interstellar spacecraft due to its "proximity" to Earth. This system, consisting of three stars and possible planetary companions, is the nearest to the solar system, located "only" about 4.3 light years from the sun. The problem is that getting there within a human lifetime is still a mission impossible—or is it?
	Galaxy trailed by stunning plume of gas Astronomers have discovered a spectacular tail of gas more than 300,000 light years across coming from a nearby galaxy.
	Hitomi spacecraft to enable unprecedented views of the violent universe Although the star-covered night sky is regarded by many as a synonym of serenity, the cosmos is in fact a rather hostile place. It hosts many extreme environments that would instantaneously eradicate any life nearby. A new space mission is about to reveal this violent nature in greater detail than ever before: On Feb. 17, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched its ASTRO-H satellite – a very precise and sensitive eye for X-rays emerging from hot and energetic processes in space. After its successful lift-off, the spacecraft was renamed "Hitomi," which means "pupil of the eye" in Japanese.
	Image: Jarosite in the Noctis Labyrinthus Region of Mars This image, acquired on Nov. 24, 2015 by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows the western side of an elongated pit depression in the eastern Noctis Labyrinthus region of Mars. Along the pit's upper wall is a light-toned layered deposit. Noctis Labyrinthus is a huge region of tectonically controlled valleys located at the western end of the Valles Marineris canyon system.
	How a NASA team turned a smartphone into a satellite business Satellites aren't small or cheap. The Solar Dynamics Observatory launched by NASA in 2010 weighs about 6,800 pounds and cost $850 million to build and put into orbit.
	Mir set a precedent for collaboration in space – but its legacy is now at risk The Soviet space station Mir, launched 30 years ago, was the biggest and most complex space station of its era, lasting three times as long as expected – until 2001. Mir in Russian means "peace", which is fitting given that it brought together a number of different countries to collaborate in space – an approach we have almost come to take for granted.
After the discovery: Researchers study implications of gravitational waves Rochester Institute of Technology researchers continue exploring gravitational waves in a series of upcoming papers. Their reports follow the first direct detection of these waves, predicted by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity.
	NASA invites public to send artwork to an asteroid NASA is calling all space enthusiasts to send their artistic endeavors on a journey aboard NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft. This will be the first U.S. mission to collect a sample of an asteroid and return it to Earth for study.
	Filipino scientists complete 50kg microsatellite with help from researchers in Japan Tohoku and Hokkaido universities have successfully guided nine Filipino engineers in building the Philippines' first microsatellite, as part of a collaborative research contract with the Philippines Department of Science and Technology.
	Scott Kelly returns to earth, but science for NASA's journey to Mars continues NASA astronaut Scott Kelly paved the way for future missions when he embarked on a one-year mission in space along with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. Kelly will be the first American to complete such a long-duration mission, and one of the first humans in more than 15 years to embrace the challenge. Russian cosmonaut Sergei Avdeyev was the last person to spend a year in microgravity in 1999. The 2015-2016 mission builds upon that past knowledge.

Technology news

	Columbia team has research robot ironing cloth Can a piece of cloth be properly ironed autonomously? Can a robot handle a regular iron and remove wrinkles?
	US would let Apple keep software to help FBI hack iPhone The Obama administration told a U.S. magistrate judge on Friday it would be willing to allow Apple Inc. to retain possession of and later destroy specialized software it has been ordered to design to help the FBI hack into an encrypted iPhone used by the gunman in December's mass shootings in California.
	Virtual reality promises to transform film Chris Milk stepped onto a TED Conference stage and took the audience on an awe-inducing trip into the future of movies.
	Google Cloud Vision API beta release is announced Google has machine learning technologies and this week took one more step to make sure the world knows about them and to make the work of developers that much more satisfying.
	Synaptics tiny, thin fingerprint sensor fits in volume rocker A slim area touch fingerprint sensor has been introduced. The news out of San Jose is that Synaptics is rolling out the Natural ID FS4304 biometric fingerprint sensor. It has the flexibility to fit in small spaces, including the edge of smartphones or tablets.
	Smartphones to replace cards at bank machines Here's another use for the smartphone as it invades daily life: in place of your debit card at your bank cash machine.
	Camera boost, virtual reality in new Samsung, LG gadgets To revive interest in smartphones, Samsung and LG are improving their cameras and embracing the nascent world of virtual reality.
	Common software would have let FBI unlock shooter's iPhone The county government that owned the iPhone in a high-profile legal battle between Apple Inc. and the Justice Department paid for but never installed a feature that would have allowed the FBI to easily and immediately unlock the phone as part of the terrorism investigation into the shootings that killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California.
	Human champion certain he'll beat AI at ancient Chinese game The world champion of the ancient board game Go, South Korean Lee Sedol, expects to prevail in a match with Google's computer program AlphaGo next month, but he's not so sure he will be able to do so a year later.
	Bioengineers make open-source laser sintering printer for biomaterials fabrication Rice University bioengineering researchers have modified a commercial-grade CO2 laser cutter to create OpenSLS, an open-source, selective laser sintering platform that can print intricate 3-D objects from powdered plastics and biomaterials. The system costs at least 40 times less than its commercial counterparts and allows researchers to work with their own specialized powdered materials.
	Researchers devise method to safely share password data An unfortunate reality for cybersecurity researchers is that real-world data for their research too often comes via a security breach. Now computer scientists have devised a way to let organizations share statistics about their users' passwords without putting those same customers at risk of being hacked.
	5G key to unlocking Internet of Things... but not yet 5G will massively speed up the Internet and unlock the Internet of Things—making driverless cars and talking fridges a reality—but experts warn plenty of hurdles remain.
	Global Internet population grows to 3.2 billion: study The number of people worldwide with Internet access reached 3.2 billion at the end of 2015, but the remaining 4.1 billion still could not get online, a Facebook-sponsored study showed.
	JAQ charger is socket-free thanks to water and salt PowerCard Swedish knowhow at the Mobile World Congress is being talked up, in the form of the pocket-sized fuel charger JAQ—"green" power is always interesting and the spotlight is what the company behind JAQ, myFC, can bring to the table for trouble-free smartphone and tablet charging.
Oregon man pleads guilty to hacking celebrity emails An Oregon man who accessed hundreds of email accounts and stole explicit photos of celebrities pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony hacking charge in Los Angeles.
	Samsung mobile-pay service will expand, starting with China Samsung's mobile-payment service will expand beyond the U.S. and South Korea this year.
Protests planned across US to back Apple in battle with FBI Protesters are preparing to assemble in more than 30 cities to lash out at the FBI for obtaining a court order that requires Apple to make it easier to unlock an encrypted iPhone used by a gunman in December's mass shootings in Southern California.
Chinese-owned brand Volvo is recalling 59,000 cars Sweden's Volvo Cars says it is recalling 59,000 cars in 40 markets because of faulty software that can briefly shut down the engine and electric system while driving.
	Google boss heading to Brussels for antitrust talks: source Google chief executive Sundar Pichai will meet with the European Union's competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager in Brussels in the coming week, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.
	LG launches new smartphone to counter rival Samsung South Korea's handset maker LG on Sunday unveiled its first modular smartphone, the G5, in Barcelona in a bid to counter competition from its major rival Samsung.
	China's Huawei unveils first PC aimed at businesses Chinese electronics giant Huawei on Sunday unveiled its first personal computer, a convertible tablet aimed at the premium business market that will compete with Apple's iPad Pro and the Microsoft Surface.
	Apple encryption fracas about 'victims and justice': FBI chief A court order the US government requested to force Apple to unlock an iPhone linked to the San Bernardino shooting rampage is about "the victims and justice," FBI Director James Comey said.
	Facebook's Zuckerberg at crossroads in connecting the globe Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg likes to boast that his 3-year-old effort to bring the developing world online has reached millions of people in some of the world's poorest nations.
Entrepreneur inspired by video game competition is launching Global Poker League Hordes of screaming fans are turning up at arenas or tuning in through apps to watch video game players duel each other. Now a veteran gambling entrepreneur is betting he can bring a huge, frenzied fandom to poker too.
	Self-driving cars promise a 'revolution,' but not necessarily a positive one With self-driving car technology rapidly advancing and such vehicles already driving on city streets, the time is ripe to start talking about how they might change more than just how we get around.
	Pentagon plans huge, swift upgrade to Windows 10 The Department of Defense is embarking on a program to update millions of its computers to Windows 10, an unusually quick move for one of Microsoft's massive government customers.
Kids ride services HopSkipDrive and Shuddle click with customers — and investors When Kelly Aluise first heard of HopSkipDrive, a transportation service that parents use to book rides for their kids, she had some concerns.
How Intel is approaching wearable tech The fast-growing field of "wearables" - apparel and accessories that contain some sort of connected technology - is forcing chipmakers to find common ground with the fashion world.
	Apple tells employees why it won't help hack shooter's phone (Update) Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook acknowledged to employees Monday that "it does not feel right" to refuse to help the FBI hack a locked iPhone used by a gunman in the San Bernardino mass shootings. But he said that to do so would threaten data security for millions and "everyone's civil liberties."
	Imagine what we could learn if we put a tracker on everyone and everything We can learn a remarkable amount of information about an individual, such as their health or safety, and about the surrounding environment simply by placing a tracking device on them.
	Why big tech companies are open-sourcing their AI systems The world's biggest technology companies are handing over the keys to their success, making their artificial intelligence systems open-source.
	Ford CEO looks to autonomous cars, sharing economy Ford CEO Mark Fields says the 112-year-old company is tripling its investment in new technologies that will ultimately lead to self-driving vehicles—but will keep making cars for drivers who want to keep their hands on the wheel.
	All eyes on Zuckerberg at Barcelona fair as security debate rages Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes to the stage Monday at the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona just as US tech giants clash with authorities in the latest debate pitting privacy against security.
	Apple says expert panel should take up encryption issue Apple said Monday it supports the idea of a panel of experts to consider access to encrypted devices if US authorities drop legal efforts to force it to help break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino attackers.
	Zuckerberg to press on with Internet access despite setback Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg vowed Monday to press on with his 3-year-old effort to bring the developing world online, even after Indian regulators banned one of the pillars of the campaign.
	Some highlights from the Barcelona wireless show Several smaller phone makers are using this week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, to unveil new smartphones targeting the lower-end and mid-range markets.
	Block Yik Yak? Researchers suggest doing the research first Some colleges have called for the banning of Yik Yak, a social media application to which users centered around a geographic area can post anonymously. But University of Florida Health researchers have found that the decision to ban the app may be a little hasty.
	Facebook's Zuckerberg 'sympathetic' with Apple's fight with US authorities Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg said Monday he was "sympathetic" with Apple's chief executive Tim Cook in his stand-off with the US government over breaking into the iPhone of a mass shooter.
Majority of Americans back FBI in battle with Apple A majority of Americans support the US government's efforts to force Apple to help unlock an iPhone in the probe of last year's deadly San Bernardino attacks, a poll showed Monday.
	Experts: The FBI's iPhone-unlocking plan for Apple is risky In its battle with Apple over an extremist's iPhone, the FBI says neither the company nor anyone else has anything to fear. Although they want to compel assistance from Apple to unlock a phone used by San Bernardino mass shooter Syed Farook, officials say the techniques they propose are limited in scope and pose no risk to the privacy of other iPhone users.
Tesla suing over Utah sales, says new bill has unfair limits Tesla Motors said Monday that a new proposal to let the company sell its electric cars at a sleek Salt Lake City showroom puts unfair limits on their business and they're taking the fight to court.
	Initiatives aim at getting children and young people interested in robots It all starts with the notion of building a robot according to your own ideas. What should it be able to do, what should it look like and what is needed to make it work? "The robot is just there for me and can do all that needs to be done in my room: clearing up, watering the flowers and taking care of the terrarium. It should be social and a bit like a pet. It must not harm people. It needs to do anything I say and look after itself." This is how 12-year-old Ronja from Vienna imagines her own, personal high-tech companion. Ronja is one of the pupils who participated in a project by the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) that started in the autumn of 2014. With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, the research group "Vision for Robotics" developed the educational project "Crazy Robots" for schools with the aim of getting children to develop an interest in technology and science and their applications.
Verizon to buy fiber-optic business for about $1.8 billion Verizon says it will pay $1.8 billion to buy the fiber-optic network business of XO Communications, in a deal that the wireless phone company said would improve service for its customers.
	Luxury fashion world upending tradition to join digital age Buying luxury clothes online right off the runway. Trying them on virtually. Not having to wait months for the new collection to ship.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers explore how infants infer social dominance relationships (Medical Xpress)—The adaptive advantage of dominance relationships is obvious: In competition for food, mates and other resources, humans and animals try to minimize the cost of fighting by predicting their chances of succeeding in a conflict. Many species specifically exploit this sensitivity; for example, there are birds and animals that express postures under threat that make them appear to be larger. Biologists and anthropologists broadly accept that evolution has favored sensitivity to dominance relationships, but how these ancient perceptual functions work is still a subject of research.
	Clock gene may connect mood and sleep If you pull an all-nighter or stay up late to binge watch Game of Thrones, you will probably be grumpy the next day. But if you don't get enough sleep for weeks or months on end, you may develop depression or other lasting mood problems, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers have now discovered a possible reason why.
	Irradiated mosquitoes to help zap Zika's power The atmosphere inside the laboratory on the outskirts of Vienna is literally buzzing with armies of male mosquitoes locked up inside net-covered boxes. Their sole mission in life: stop females from breeding.
	Language characterizes humans The ability to produce and understand language makes humans unique. Not just humans but also monkeys and dogs can learn words. What is the key difference to our human language? And how does this medium in which we speak, write, think and write poetry actually develop?
	In obese patients, five percent weight loss has significant health benefits For patients with obesity trying to lose weight, the greatest health benefits come from losing just 5 percent of their body weight, according to a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	Researchers uncover potential target for treating autoimmune disease Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a molecule that appears to be a cause of autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Elevated levels of the molecule allow self-reactive immune cells to escape into the blood stream and attack the body's own tissues.
	Some distractions while driving are more risky than others, researchers say Drivers more than double their crash risk for more than half of their trips when they choose to engage in distracting activities, according to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute researchers writing in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Longer, intense rehabilitation boosts recovery after brain injury Cognitive and functional recovery after a stroke or traumatic injury requires intense rehabilitative therapy to help the brain repair and restructure itself. New findings by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that not only is rehabilitation vital - in an animal model, rats with cortical injury that did not receive intensive rehab did not rebuild brain structure or recover function - but that a longer, even more intense period of rehabilitation may produce even greater benefit.
	Worm study may resolve discrepancies in research on aging In matters of the fundamental molecular biology of aging, we mammals are not so different from tiny C. elegans worms. Some of the biggest differences only serve to make them convenient research models. But one distinction - their ability to asexually reproduce exact copies of themselves - may have led to many research discrepancies. The reason, according to a new Brown University-led study, is that the drug scientists use prevent such confusing reproduction turns out to help aging worms rebound from stress, thereby significantly lengthening their lifespan in some cases.
	Bat 'super immunity' could help protect people For the first time researchers have uncovered a unique ability in bats which allows them to carry but remain unaffected by lethal diseases.
	New theorem helps reveal tuberculosis' secret A new methodology developed by researchers at Rice and Rutgers universities could help scientists understand how and why a biochemical network doesn't always perform as expected. To test the approach, they analyzed the stress response of bacteria that cause tuberculosis and predicted novel interactions.
	Add neck problems to reasons not to smoke (HealthDay)—Here's yet another reason to snuff out that cigarette: Smoking can damage the cervical discs in your neck, a new study contends.
	Seven steps toward a healthier heart (HealthDay)—Heart disease is the leading cause of death for U.S. adults, but a healthy lifestyle can reduce that risk, a heart expert says.
Briviact approved for epileptic seizures (HealthDay)—Briviact (brivaracetam) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat partial onset seizures in people aged 16 and older with epilepsy.
	ASA: certain factors up odds of post-stroke bowel obstruction (HealthDay)—Gastrointestinal bowel obstruction (GIBO) is associated with worse prognosis for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), according to a study presented at the annual American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference, held from Feb. 17 to 19 in Los Angeles.
	Most peds subspecialists find positions matching their goals (HealthDay)—Most pediatric subspecialists find initial positions that match their professional and clinical goals, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Pediatrics.
	Botulinum toxin ups physical, mental health in hyperhidrosis (HealthDay)—For patients with hyperhidrosis, botulinum toxin treatment is associated with significant improvements in mental and physical health, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in the Journal of Dermatology.
Senate bill would block mandatory labeling of GMOs A Senate committee is moving forward on legislation that would prevent states from requiring labels on genetically modified foods.
Bangladesh's 'Tree Man' undergoes successful surgery A Bangladeshi father dubbed "Tree Man" for massive bark-like warts on his hands and feet on Saturday underwent a successful operation to remove some of the growths, a hospital said.
Patients benefit from one-on-one education prior to joint replacement surgery A study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) finds that patients benefit from a one-on-one education session provided by a physical therapist and access to a custom web portal prior to knee or hip replacement surgery. The patients indicated they were more satisfied with their pre-surgery education and felt better prepared to leave the hospital after joint replacement, compared to those who did not participate in the session or have access to the website.
Colombia reports 37,000 Zika cases, over 6,300 in pregnant women Colombia has now registered more than 37,000 cases of people infected with Zika, including more than 6,300 pregnant women, the country's National Institute of Health reported Saturday.
Sharp rise of dengue on Chile's Easter Island Chile's remote Easter Island over the past two weeks has seen a dramatic increase in dengue, with a total now of 16 confirmed cases, including one serious enough to require hospitalization.
First European advice launched for deadly acute heart failure The first European advice on emergency care for patients with acute heart failure is published today in European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care. Acute heart failure carries a higher risk of death than heart attack but care lags 30 years behind.
Patients with no schooling benefit least from blood thinning medications Patients with no schooling benefit least from blood thinning medications, reveals a European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) / European Society of Cardiology (ESC) survey published today in Europace. The poll of more than 1100 patients with atrial fibrillation found those with no schooling missed treatment targets more often, were less aware of bleeding risks, and did not know they could continue normal daily activities.
Weight and height during adolescence may impact future risk of developing Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma A new analysis indicates that higher body weight and taller stature during adolescence increase the risk of developing Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer of the lymphatic system. The findings are published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
	Experiencing financial stress may lead to physical pain People who feel that their financial outlook is shaky may actually experience more physical pain than those who feel financially secure, according to new research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings indicate that the link may be driven, at least in part, by feeling a lack of control over one's life.
	Review articles examine early-life risk factors, interventions for childhood obesity As the rate of obesity in the U.S. population has risen dramatically, more and more children are becoming overweight at younger and younger ages. Understanding the factors that contribute to childhood obesity and identifying ways to prevent its development are critical to stemming the historically high prevalence of childhood obesity and of associated health problems like type 2 diabetes. Two articles receiving online publication in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine describe systematic reviews of the results of studies investigating either risk factors that contribute to childhood obesity or interventions that could prevent it during the first 1,000 days of life - from conception to age 2.
Despite Zika threat, plan to test 'Franken-fly' remains in federal review limbo At the epicenter of the Zika outbreak in Latin America, Brazil and world health officials have embraced a lab-engineered "Franken-fly" as a potential weapon to control a frightening virus suspected of causing horrific birth defects in newborns.
Study finds lower-back MRIs overused at VA Between 30 and 50 percent of lumbar spine MRIs conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs are inappropriate, according to a study by researchers at the School of Medicine and the VA.
	Gene therapy for Parkinson's disease to be tested Experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are leading the second arm of a clinical trial using gene therapy to relieve the symptoms of tremor and mobility impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease. The technique shows promise in prolonging the effectiveness of levo-dopa, the mainstay treatment for the progressive neurodegenerative condition, by increasing production of a key enzyme essential to convert the drug into the neurotransmitter dopamine.
	Virtual reality study examines GP response when patients demand antibiotics Both trainee and senior GPs prescribed antibiotics without clinical need when faced with a virtual reality (VR) scenario where patients angrily demanded them, finds new UCL research.
	Program tackles obesity through nutrition literacy and soccer Nearly 20 percent of children in the United States are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The problem is especially acute among minority children, particularly Hispanics and blacks, whose obesity rates hover at about 22 percent compared to 14 percent for white children.
	Anti-inflammatory drug may prevent rapid aging in people with HIV New research from the University of Alberta's School of Dentistry shows that a commonly used cholesterol-lowering drug could help people with HIV live longer and enjoy an improved quality of life.
	Does being dehydrated increase your pain perception and reduce your brain blood flow? New research from the College of Health has shed light on the impact dehydration has on our perception of pain, and our blood pressure and brain blood flow response.
	The Charlie Sheen effect on HIV prevention On November 17, 2015 actor Charlie Sheen on NBC's Today Show publicly disclosed he was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. For some time scientists and advocates have recognized the importance of celebrity in public health. Could Sheen's disclosure, albeit tragic, generate renewed national attention for HIV and HIV prevention, providing an important public health benefit?
	New Canadian recommendation against colonoscopy for routine screening of colorectal cancer Physicians should screen for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic, low-risk adults aged 50 to 74 years every two years using fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), or flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years, rather than colonoscopy, according to a new Canadian guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Common macrolide antibiotics show no increased risk of serious heart arrhythmia or death Macrolide antibiotics such as azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin are commonly used to treat respiratory tract infections worldwide, with more than 57 million outpatient prescriptions written in 2010 in the United States.
	Realistic fitness goals key for lung disease sufferers People with lung disease should exercise in small intervals throughout the day in order to safely maximise their physical activity, a review of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) studies has advised.
Using sugar to detect malignant tumours Ordinary sugar could become a contrast agent of the future for use in magnetic resonance tomography examinations of tumours. Malignant tumours show higher sugar consumption than surrounding tissue.
Supply of GPs and detection of hypertension in England associated with premature mortality rates, study suggests General practitioner numbers appear to have a small but important influence on premature mortality rates in England, according to research by the University of Leicester.
Insulin-secreting cells report on insulin resistance Diabetes researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet have developed a novel technique that makes it possible to monitor insulin resistance in a non-invasive manner over time in mice. The new method, presented in the journal Scientific Reports, can be used to assess insulin resistance during progression and intervention of metabolic diseases.
	Significant new study shows importance of help for childhood sexual abuse victims While the sexual abuse of children is currently an issue at the forefront of public life, concern has focused on the protection of children and the identification of perpetrators. However, a new study by the Universities of Bristol and Durham for the NSPCC, hopes to refocus attention on what can be done to help the victims of childhood sexual abuse.
	Team develops inhalers to treat lung diseases Heidi M. Mansour, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, is working to develop advanced dry powder inhalers to treat and prevent pulmonary diseases.
Researchers use Botox-like injection to treat runners and cyclists with knee pain A painful knee condition that affects more than one in eight active people has been treated effectively with a botulinum toxin injection and physiotherapy.
Uninsured children most at risk for insufficient health care experiences Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) examined medical home trends in children's primary care from 2003 to 2012 and found that while this specific healthcare model has improved children's primary care overall, certain aspects of children's patient care experience have worsened. Moreover, upon analyzing various at-risk profiles, the team found that uninsured children were subject to more insufficient levels of care.
	Venezuela takes on Zika amid shortages, information blackout This is what the Zika outbreak looks like in Venezuela, a country whose medical system has teetered for months on the brink of collapse:
	Couples' lifestyle choices impact on obesity risk, study finds The lifestyle a person shares with their partner has a greater influence on their chances of becoming obese than their upbringing, research suggests.
	New genetic cause of gastric and prostate cancer identified Researchers at Hiroshima University have opened the door to finding a new class of cancer-causing genetic variations.
Promising respiratory drug focus of new clinical trial for Parkinson's disease A medication approved to treat various respiratory diseases and that has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies is the focus of a new clinical trial for Parkinson's disease.
Researchers pinpoint potential enzyme for T-cell leukemia treatment For the first time, researchers at Boston University have shown that T-cell leukemia cells use a particular cycle, called the TCA or Kreb cycle, to support their growth and survival.
	Brain integrates features directly to patterns Does our brain perceive objects initially as a conglomeration of shapes, colours and patterns or does it instantly recognise the entire structure? An article by RUB philosopher Prof Dr Albert Newen provides the answer.
Squirm with purpose: Research shows fidgeting is helpful for ADHD patients Teachers have long struggled to get children to sit still at their desks. But for children with ADHD, those orders might be counterproductive.
	Crafting a better T cell for immunotherapy T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy that uses a patient's own immune cells to attack their cancer, has been making waves recently. The "living" therapy involves engineering the patient's T cells in the laboratory to carry new proteins that guide the immune cells directly to tumor cells, allowing the engineered T cells to attack and kill the cancer.
	Analysis finds differences in pain coping between black and white Americans Researchers led by Adam T. Hirsh of the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis report that black and white Americans cope with pain differently and that blacks employ pain coping strategies more frequently than whites. The IUPUI review and analysis of 19 studies is the first to examine the entire published literature and quantify the relationship between race and the use of pain-coping strategies.
India's Tata renames 'Zica' hatchback as 'Tiago' India's biggest carmaker Tata Motors announced Monday it had rechristened its new hatchback Tiago, changing it from the initial 'Zica' after an outbreak of the identical-sounding Zika virus.
	Vaccine has cut HPV infection rate in teen girls by two-thirds: study (HealthDay)—Ten years of vaccinating against human papillomavirus (HPV) has cut infections from this cancer-causing virus by 64 percent among teen girls, U.S. health officials report.
	More hospitals offer donor breast milk to help preemie babies (HealthDay)—More hospitals give tiny preemies donated breast milk instead of formula, and the babies appear to benefit from it, a new study suggests.
	Estrogen for vaginal symptoms OK for breast cancer survivors: experts (HealthDay)—Women who've battled or survived an estrogen-dependent form of breast cancer often encounter vaginal symptoms linked to their treatment, especially around the time of menopause.
	Only half of kidney stone patients compliant with Tx (HealthDay)—Just over half of kidney stone patients are adherent to preventive pharmacological therapy, and adherent patients have lower levels of health care utilization, according to a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Exercise no aid to functioning with advanced breast cancer (HealthDay)—Exercise does not appear to result in significant improvements in physical functioning in women living with advanced breast cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Cancer.
	Exercise may offer benefit in adult, juvenile myositis (HealthDay)—Exercise may benefit patients with adult and juvenile myositis, according to research published online Feb. 8 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
	Are lung cancer survivors getting too many costly scans for no reason? Study suggests so Once you've made it through lung cancer treatment, you want to make sure you catch it early if it comes back again.
	Pre-pregnancy heart abnormalities may predict recurrent preeclampsia risk Women who had pregnancy-related high blood pressure multiple times had recognizable heart abnormalities between pregnancies that could help predict their risk for heart and blood vessel disease during subsequent pregnancies and even later in life, according to new research in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.
FDA-approved ALK IHC CDx superior to another IHC assay for patient selection The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved VENTANA anti-ALK(D5F3)CDx performed more accurately than another commonly used immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay, based on the use of the 5A4 clone, for the selection of patients eligible to receive ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment.
	Potential new drug therapy for peripheral nerve damage announced The Mount Desert Island (MDI) Biological Laboratory has announced that assistant professor Sandra Rieger, Ph.D., has identified two drugs that could potentially be used to reverse peripheral nerve damage, or peripheral neuropathy, resulting from chemotherapy treatment for ovarian, breast, lung, pancreas and other cancers. The drugs also have potential applications for the treatment of peripheral nerve damage caused by diabetes, traumatic injuries and other conditions.
	Vision scientists discover potential treatment for adults with lazy eye A new treatment for adults with lazy eye, a condition previously thought to be treatable only in childhood, is one step closer as a result of research from the University of Waterloo in Canada and Sun Yat-sen University in China.
One drug used to prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy shows evidence of developmental effects The antiretroviral (ARV) drug atazanavir—sometimes included in treatments to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission during pregnancy—may have small but significant effects on infant development, reports a study in the journal AIDS.
Phase 2 clinical trial to treat rare hereditary muscle disease shows promise Researchers present the first clinical study that provides evidence that an extended-release sialic acid supplement may stabilize muscle strength in patients with GNE myopathy (GNEM), a rare hereditary, progressive, adult-onset muscle disease.
Meningitis A nearly eliminated in Africa through vaccination, reaching over 235 million people Global vaccine experts and officials from all 26 African "meningitis belt" countries have convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to celebrate one of Africa's biggest public health achievements—the introduction of a vaccine, MenAfriVac, designed, developed, and produced for use in Africa, that in five years of use has nearly eliminated serogroup A meningococcal disease from meningitis belt countries and is now being integrated into routine national immunization programs.
	Parents rate flu vaccine less important, effective, safe than other childhood vaccines Parents who do not get their children flu shots rate the flu vaccine less favorably than other childhood vaccines, a national poll finds.
	New surgical technique improves biological hip joint replacement According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 300,000 total hip replacements are performed in the United States each year. The procedure reduces pain and restores mobility. However, for younger, more active patients, an artificial hip has a limited lifetime and usually requires restricted activity. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have tested a new biological technique that may provide better and longer-lasting joint function.
Non-destructive technique measures oxygen levels in 3-D cells used for toxicity testing A non-destructive technique which can measure the concentration and consumption of oxygen in 3D models of biological cells has been developed by Plymouth University in partnership with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
	Which discipline or reward is best for your child? A new study lends insight into how children react to discipline practices used by parents and teachers, and sheds light on their view of what's fair.
	Toddler screening essential for autism detection despite national task force's reservation Stating that "the evidence is insufficient," the United States Preventive Services Task Force declined to recommend or discourage early screening for autism in all children, although experts believe it remains an essential technique for diagnosing and treating children during their developmental years.
	Dapivirine vaginal ring helped protect women against HIV in ASPIRE Phase III trial A vaginal ring containing an antiretroviral (ARV) drug called dapivirine that women use for a month at a time was safe and helped protect against HIV in a large-scale clinical trial involving more than 2,600 women in Africa, researchers who conducted the trial, known as ASPIRE, reported today.
ARDS appears to be underrecognized, undertreated and associated with high risk of death Among nearly 460 intensive care units (ICUs) in 50 countries, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) appeared to be underrecognized, undertreated, and associated with a high mortality rate, according to a study that appears in the February 23 issue of JAMA, which is being released to coincide with the Society of Critical Care Medicine's 45th Critical Care Congress.
	Graphic images may not scare smokers off cigarettes, says study Images of disease and suffering should move smokers to kick the habit - at least, that's the thinking behind graphic warning labels used on cigarette packages in much of the world, and maybe someday in the U.S.
New definitions created for sepsis and septic shock Updated definitions and clinical criteria for sepsis should facilitate earlier recognition and more timely management of patients with or at risk of developing sepsis. The report, which appears in the February 23 issue of JAMA, is being released to coincide with its presentation at the Society of Critical Care Medicine's 45th Critical Care Congress.
	G-pen may aid hypoglycemia with type 1 diabetes (HealthDay)—Mini-dose glucagon administered using a stable, ready-to-use G-Pen Mini glucagon may be an effective option for mild to moderate hypoglycemia in adults with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Diabetes Care.
	Quality of life after DCIS diagnosis doesn't decline (HealthDay)—Quality of life (QoL) after a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosis is generally comparable to that of similarly aged women without the diagnosis, according to a study published online Feb. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Topical Rx restores testosterone levels to normal in men (HealthDay)—Application of once-daily topical testosterone effectively restores normal testosterone levels in men, according to a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Fever not associated with primary tooth eruption (HealthDay)—Gum irritation, irritability, and drooling, but not fever, are the most frequent signs of primary tooth eruption, according to a meta-analysis published online Feb. 18 in Pediatrics.
	Chewing gum improves colonoscopy preparation (HealthDay)—Chewing gum relieves discomfort associated with ingestion of the polyethylene glycol solution for colonoscopy preparation, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	New mutations help predict survival in RARS-T (HealthDay)—New mutations have been identified with next-generation sequencing (NGS) in refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (RARS-T), which are prognostic for survival, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the American Journal of Hematology.
	Birth defects not up significantly with anti-TNFs in pregnancy (HealthDay)—Birth defects are not significantly more prevalent among women receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents during pregnancy, according to a study published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Early administration of beta-blockers ups survival in ACS (HealthDay)—For patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), early administration of β-blockers is associated with increased short-term survival and improved left ventricular function, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Combination treatment for acne may be best in most cases (HealthDay)—An evidence-based guideline for the management of acne vulgaris has been published online Feb. 17 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Almond joy: Eating just a handful a day boosts diet health, study shows Just add a handful of almonds: a University of Florida study suggests that improving one's diet can be as simple as that.
	Stroke patients' speech loss linked to loss of brain interconnections When brain regions that control speech and reading comprehension are destroyed due to blockage of blood flow, patients are often unable to speak or comprehend spoken or written language. These difficulties with language, or "aphasia," are a common symptom in the aftermath of stroke. However, in a new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, researchers report that damage to the underlying connections among different areas of the brain can also affect the severity of aphasia.
	Recombinase Brec1 trend-setting for future HIV therapy Researchers at the Medical Faculty of the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) and the Heinrich Pette Institute (HPI), Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology succeeded in developing a designer recombinase (Brec1) that is capable of specifically removing the provirus from infected cells of most primary HIV-1 isolates. The results have now been published in the renowned journal Nature Biotechnology.
Mexican woman with Zika gives birth to healthy child A woman with a confirmed case of the Zika virus in the southern state of Chiapas gave birth to a "clinically healthy" baby boy, Mexico's health ministry said.
Black market hormones one of many hurdles for Thai transgenders Chalit Pongpitakwiset has always felt like a man. Now the 25-year-old wants everyone else to see it too.
Cambodia probes new village HIV outbreak Cambodia health officials on Monday were screening hundreds of villagers for HIV after 14 locals tested positive for the virus, sparking fears of a fresh outbreak.
Toronto's first peer cancer education program for black women improving awareness and screening Public health researchers created a first-of-its-kind peer education project targeting black women to improve breast and cervical cancer awareness and screening for black women living in Toronto's Malvern community.
Program explores ethical issues in global health innovation What if you could eliminate one of the many species of mosquito in sub-Saharan Africa and significantly reduce the incidence of malaria, possibly saving thousands of human lives?
	CDC team kicks off Zika study in Brazil focused on Zika A 16-member team of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is starting work on a "case-control" study aimed at determining whether the Zika virus really does cause babies to be born with the devastating birth defect microcephaly, as Brazilian researchers strongly suspect.
	Train police to adapt to autism, urge researchers Seven out of ten autistic adults were dissatisfied with their experiences with the police, reporting discrimination, a lack of clarity and feeling that their needs were not met, according to a new study published by psychologists from our University with colleagues at City University London.
	Benefits of taking the natural pigment astaxanthin With the recent rise in popularity of naturally-derived supplements to maintain a healthy body, there has been a great deal of attention toward development of the so-called "brain foods", which can enhance brain function. Of particular importance is the natural red pigment astaxanthin (ASX) abundant in both salmon and in crustaceans such as shrimp and crab. ASX has a powerful antioxidant effect, and it holds promise as a next-generation natural supplement. ASX is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier,entering the brain, where it acts directly on nerve cells. ASX is also known to have a neuroprotective effect in neurological animal disease model. However, there are many unanswered questions as to the effects of ASX on hippocampal function, especially whether or not it can increase the neuroplasticity of the hippocampus.
Home health care, post-acute care in a facility infrequent for hospitalized kids Hospitalized children infrequently used home health care (HHC) and facility-based post-acute care (PAC) after they were discharged, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Pakistan to import 'game-changing' Hepatitis-C drug: officials Pakistan has authorised the import of an expensive Hepatitis-C drug from the United States to improve treatment for the estimated eight million people carrying the blood infection, officials said Monday.
	Saving lives with better flu diagnosis in Mongolia Mongolia, a country of rugged, windswept expanses, is home to three million people and 50 million horses, camels, sheep and cattle. It is there that Greg Gray, professor of global health, infectious diseases and environmental sciences, has set up a remote research outpost that could detect the next global infectious disease pandemic.
	Research warns about the necessity of studying the sleep disturbances in patients with cancer Researchers from the Hospital Inmaculada ONCOSUR-Granada hospital and the University of Granada (UGR) prove that sleep problems are very significant among patients with cancer prior to undergoing radiotherapy
Consuming omega-3 during pregnancy enhances fetal iron metabolism A research has proven, for the first time, that maternal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 essential polyunsaturated fatty acid, enhances fetal iron metabolism thanks to a greater expression of key genes regulating its transfer through the placenta. This research has been carried out by scientists from the University of Granada (UGR) and King's College London, in collaboration with the infant and maternity hospitals from Granada and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria along with the dairy company Lactalis Puleva.
Epidemiologic Reviews devotes special issue to research on gun violence The journal Epidemiologic Reviews, a leading review journal in public health, today released a special issue of the journal focused entirely on gun violence prevention and policy research. Many of the nation's top academics in gun violence research are authors of the nine different review articles included in the special issue, which cover topics ranging from the relationship between firearm access and violence to the relationship between substance abuse and gun violence. It is the first time that the journal has devoted an entire issue to the topic of gun violence in its 23 year history.
Yellow fever death toll hits 99 in Angola An ongoing yellow fever epidemic in Angola has killed 99 people out of 462 suspected cases since December 30, statistics showed Monday, despite government attempts to quell the outbreak.
	ACC releases 2016 lifelong learning competencies (HealthDay)—The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has released a report outlining lifelong learning competencies for general cardiologists. The report was published online Feb. 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Results of Raltegravir plus combination antiretroviral therapy in early HIV infection Addition of the integrase strand transfer inhibitor raltegravir (RAL) to standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) in ART-naive patients with early HIV infection was not associated with a difference in the quantity of HIV DNA, residual virus in the blood, or CD4+ T-cells containing replication-competent virus, according to a new study published in BioResearch Open Access.
	Can gene therapy provide a breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease? Therapeutic gene transfer to specific brain regions in animal models of Alzheimer's disease has uncovered multiple potential treatment approaches that deserve to be considered as candidates for clinical applications, according to the article "Gene Therapy Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview"), published in Human Gene Therapy.
Permit female genital 'nicks' that respect culture/religion but don't harm, say experts A small surgical 'nick' or minimalist procedures that slightly change the look, but not the function or sensory capacity of a young woman's external genitalia, should be legally permitted as a compromise solution to the vexed issue of FGM, argue gynaecologists in the Journal of Medical Ethics.

Biology news

	Study shows plants appear able to forget memories when they are not useful (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with Australian National University Canberra, has found evidence that suggests that plants are able to reset a memory that has not been proven to be useful, in essence, forgetting things after they have been stored. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes genetic studies they undertook with plants and what they found as a result.
	Shedding light on the evolution of whale vision Eyes are the window between an animal and its environment, and if your environment has changed as much as a whale's has over the last 50 million years, they tell an intriguing story about your evolutionary history. As marine mammals that descended from terrestrial ancestors, whales and dolphins have many adaptations for aquatic living, including underwater vision, but we still know very little about how these adaptations evolved at the genetic level.
	Zebrafish embryos exposed to atrazine pass on health problems to their young Atrazine exposure during embryonic development could cause later reproductive problems for female zebrafish, as well as physical deformations in their offspring, according to new research from Purdue University.
	Alien plants and animals drive native species to extinction Accidentally or deliberately introduced species are the second most common threat associated with recent global extinctions of animals and plants, a new study from the University of Adelaide and UCL, in the UK, has found.
	Researchers reveal maternal, paternal conflicts on a genetic level Researchers within the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech have demonstrated that eggs actively silence hundreds of paternal genes that encode ribosomal RNA, the protein factories of the cell, and that this suppression is maintained throughout the organism's life.
	Researchers trace peanut crop back to its Bolivian roots Researchers at the University of Georgia, working with the International Peanut Genome Initiative, have discovered that a wild plant from Bolivia is a "living relic" of the prehistoric origins of the cultivated peanut species.
	Scientists pave way for new generation of superbug drugs Scientists at the University of East Anglia are getting closer to solving the problem of antibiotic resistance. New research published today in the journal Nature reveals the mechanism by which drug-resistant bacterial cells maintain a defensive barrier.
Newly discovered HIV genome modification may put a twist on vaccine and drug design Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that HIV infection of human immune cells triggers a massive increase in methylation, a chemical modification, to both human and viral RNA, aiding replication of the virus. The study, published February 22, 2016 in Nature Microbiology, identifies a new mechanism for controlling HIV replication and its interaction with the host immune system.
	Seeing cancer cells in 3-D (w/ Video) Cancer cells don't live on glass slides, yet the vast majority of images related to cancer biology come from the cells being photographed on flat, two-dimensional surfaces—images that are sometimes used to make conclusions about the behaviour of cells that normally reside in a more complex environment. But a new high-resolution microscope, presented February 22 in Developmental Cell, now makes it possible to visualize cancer cells in 3D and record how they are signaling to other parts of their environment, revealing previously unappreciated biology of how cancer cells survive and disperse within living things.
	E. coli survives predatory bacteria by playing hide and seek The majority of disease-causing bacteria in the body are rendered harmless by the protective effects of the immune system. Those that manage to escape the immune system can be killed by antibiotics, but bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to more and more antibiotics. Meet Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a bacterial predator that is an efficient killer of Gram-negative bacteria, such as the prevalent E. coli bacterium. It is present in soil and, just like E. coli, it can also be found in the human gut, where a complex ecosystem of bacterial inhabitants exists.
	Museum samples of extinct butterfly populations show how populations rise and fall Researchers at the University of Helsinki have analysed genetic variation in the now extinct populations of the Glanville fritillary butterfly in south-west Finland using old museum samples. The populations used to live in highly fragmented habitat where local populations went frequently extinct and new ones were established by dispersing butterflies.
	Microbiologists advance CRISPR research The research of two Montana State University microbiologists into how bacteria fend off attacks from viruses is included in a new paper published in the scientific journal Nature.
	Massachusetts plans rattlesnake colony on uninhabited island A plan by the state to establish a colony of venomous timber rattlesnakes on an off-limits island in Massachusetts' largest body of water has some rattled by visions of dangerous serpents slithering through the surrounding woods, attacking hikers, fishermen and hunters.
	Whale of a job collecting spout samples in wild Australia's humpback whale population is increasing by more than 10 per cent a year, and University of Queensland researchers are going to extreme lengths to find out why.
	New wheat genetic advancements aimed at yield enhancement Texas A&M AgriLife Research is closing in on specific genetic traits in wheat that can help increase yields in the future.
	When humans split from the apes When and where did humans split from the apes to become a separate branch of bipeds? Are we an ape or not? If so, which of the living Great Apes is the closest to humans?
	Taste sensors in fly legs control feeding Feeding is essential for survival. Senses such as smell or sight can help guide us to good food sources, but the final decision to eat or reject a potential food is controlled by taste. Scientists have examined the anatomy of the taste-sensing neurons to reveal their role in the stages of feeding.
A new way of fighting bacteria? In bacteria, toxin-antitoxin systems consist of a set of two closely linked genes. Situated on the same chromosome, they encode both a protein 'poison' and a counteracting 'antidote'. Under normal conditions, the antitoxin protein binds the toxin protein and prevents it from acting. But in response to environmental stress, the antitoxin proteins are broken down, which allows the toxins to poison the cells. Microbiologists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, studied the toxin-antitoxin system HigBA, which can be found in many pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, and found a novel regulatory mechanism. When acting on the toxin, this mechanism works like a "suicide button" that kills the cell. This discovery could open the door to potential new treatments of bacterial infections. The results is published in Nature Microbiology.
	Reef sharks prefer bite-size meals Sharks have a reputation for having voracious appetites, but a new study shows that most coral reef sharks eat prey that are smaller than a cheeseburger.
	Gaps in reporting leave turtles vulnerable A James Cook University study has called for a change in the way we manage bycatch - to better monitor the unintentional catching of sea turtles by commercial fishers.
Accelerating genome analysis An international team of scientists, led by researchers from A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the Bioinformatics Institute (BII), have developed SIFT 4G (SIFT for Genomes) - a software that can lead to faster genome analysis. This development was published in the scientific journal Nature Protocols.
	New research reveals surprising social networks of sharks Although historically seen as solitary animals, new research being presented here shows sharks may have a more complex social structure than previously thought. Using tracking devices to trace the movements of individual animals in the open ocean, researchers found that Sand Tiger sharks form complex social networks that are typically seen in mammals but rarely observed in fish.
	Spanish conquest left its imprint on men's genes in Panama The Spanish conquest of the Americas was devastating for native peoples. Many native men died in conflicts with the invaders. Male Spanish colonists often came without their wives and took native women as partners. A new genetic analysis of Panamanian men by a team including a Smithsonian scientist shows this historical legacy: only 22 percent had Y-chromosomes of native origin, even though most Panamanians are of female indigenous ancestry.
	Researchers sequence seagrass genome, unlocking valuable resource The University of Delaware's Pamela Green is part of an international consortium of researchers from 35 laboratories that have published the genome of the seagrass Zostera marina. It is believed to be the first marine angiosperm to be fully sequenced.
Species groups follow patterns reacting to climate change on US northeast shelf Researchers studying marine fishery species grouped by similar depth and temperature distribution have found that those groups have similar responses to the effects of climate change. Interactions between individual species in those groups, however, may be affected by the amount of available habitat, predator-prey relationships, and competition for food resulting from shifts in range and distribution.
New tool helps model forest traits and evolution Researchers have developed plant, a software framework, to investigate how plant species differing in traits may be able to coexist with one another.
Large-scale environmental variation affects reproduction and survival of plants A new analysis looks at how rates of reproduction and survival of 26 shrub species with fire-dependent life cycles in the Cape Floristic Region in South Africa respond to environmental variation.
New model may improve population management of species facing local extinction By developing a new model, researchers have provided the first detailed mortality estimates for male African lions. A comparison of two populations, including the one of Cecil, exposed the signature that human impact leaves on male lion mortality.
	Indonesia sinks 27 foreign boats to stop illegal fishing Indonesia sank 27 impounded foreign boats on Monday, a minister said, as the world's largest archipelago nation stepped up a campaign against illegal fishing in its waters.
	Tuk-tuks trump elephants at Sri Lanka polo match A elephant polo tournament in Sri Lanka which was scrapped after one of the beasts went rogue has been revived with tuk-tuk taxis taking their place, to the relief of animal lovers.
Individual macromolecule motion in a crowded living cell The research article embraces the status of the experimental situation and touches obstacles that still hinder the applications of single molecules in the cellular environment.
	Prediction: High death rates from unnatural causes for male lions in Cecil the Lion's park When Cecil the Lion was killed last year by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe, it caused an international outcry. Now researchers from the Universities of Southern Denmark and Oxford have calculated that many more males from the same park are likely to die in conflicts with humans.
	Nearly 20% of Finland's wolves killed during month-long cull Nearly one fifth of Finland's endangered wolf population was killed in a controversial month-long cull which ended Sunday, authorities said on Monday.

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