Science X Newsletter Monday, Mar 28

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 28, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week – Demonstration of a quantum Fredkin gate, ultra-fast winds near a black hole and reversing diabetes
- Hydroxyl radicals speed up zeolite formation
- Scientists discover another design principle for building nanostructures
- Researchers produce stunning 4D map of somatosensory processing in the brain
- New nanoparticle reveals cancer treatment effectiveness in real time
- Computer model explains sustained eruptions on icy Enceladus
- Quantum effects at work in the world's smelliest superconductor
- Research on largest network of cortical neurons to date profiled
- Scientists resurrect an abandoned drug, find it effective against human viruses
- Multilingual circuit: 'Optomechanical transducer' links sound, light, radio waves
- A view of the colorful microcosm within a proton
- Nanocones may boost solar cell efficiency by 15 percent
- Reflection-removing camera: Device uses depth sensor and signal processing to capture clear images through windows
- Researchers identify age-related differences in human blood metabolites
- Scientists find 'outlier' enzymes, potential new targets to treat diabetes, inflammation

Astronomy & Space news

	Computer model explains sustained eruptions on icy Enceladus The Cassini spacecraft has observed geysers erupting on Saturn's moon Enceladus since 2005, but the process that drives and sustains these eruptions has remained a mystery. Now, scientists at the University of Chicago and Princeton University have pinpointed a mechanism by which cyclical tidal stresses exerted by Saturn can drive Enceladus's long-lived eruptions.
	Cargo ship reaches space station on resupply run An unmanned cargo ship packed with science experiment materials plus food, water and clothes successfully docked at the International Space Station on Saturday, NASA partner Orbital ATK said.
	Japan: Trouble reaching innovative new space satellite Japan's space agency says communication has failed with a newly launched, innovative satellite with X-ray telescopes meant to study black holes and other space mysteries.
	New Horizons imagery reveals small, frozen lake on Pluto NASA's New Horizons spacecraft spied several features on Pluto that offer evidence of a time millions or billions of years ago when – thanks to much higher pressure in Pluto's atmosphere and warmer conditions on the surface – liquids might have flowed across and pooled on the surface of the distant world.
	Image: Hubble looks into a cosmic kaleidoscope At first glance, this cosmic kaleidoscope of purple, blue and pink offers a strikingly beautiful—and serene—snapshot of the cosmos. However, this multi-colored haze actually marks the site of two colliding galaxy clusters, forming a single object known as MACS J0416.1-2403 (or MACS J0416 for short).
	Possible signature of dark matter annihilation detected We live in a dramatic epoch of astrophysics. Breakthrough discoveries like exoplanets, gravity waves from merging black holes, or cosmic acceleration seem to arrive every decade, or even more often. But perhaps no discovery was more unexpected, mysterious, and challenging to our grasp of the "known universe" than the recognition that the vast majority of matter in the universe cannot be directly seen. This matter is dubbed "dark matter," and its nature is unknown. According to the latest results from the Planck satellite, a mere 4.9% of the universe is made of ordinary matter (that is, matter composed of atoms or their constituents). The rest is dark matter, and it has been firmly detected via its gravitational influence on stars and other normal matter. Dark energy is a separate constituent.
	Observations of an extreme-weather planet raise questions about hot Jupiters' origins For centuries, the solar system was viewed as a standard blueprint for planetary systems in the universe, with a star (our sun) at the center of a circular track, and a planet orbiting within each lane. Smaller, rockier planets fill the interior lanes, and larger gas giants orbit further out.
	Easter delivery: Cargo ship arrives at space station The six astronauts at the International Space Station got an early Easter treat this weekend with the arrival of a supply ship full of fresh food and experiments.
	Preparing for Cassini's last act SETI Institute researcher Matt Tiscareno will continue to be on the front lines as the famed Cassini spacecraft embarks on its final mission.  NASA has announced that Tiscareno will be a Participating Scientist as Cassini prepares to take the best images of Saturn's rings ever made.
	USC, JPL to launch fungi in journey to develop space meds Researchers at USC and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory say they will be the first team in the world to launch fungi into space for the purpose of potentially developing new medicine for use both in space and on Earth.
	New NASA launch control software late, millions over budget Launch control software under development for NASA's deep-space exploration program is more than a year behind schedule and tens of millions of dollars above projected costs, according to an internal audit released Monday.
Scientific roadmap for European astrobiology The first scientific Roadmap for European Astrobiology was published on 21 March 2016. This strategic landmark for European astrobiology was produced through the European Commission-funded AstRoMap project (2013-2015). In putting this research roadmap document together, the 19 authors relied on the outcome and findings of the AstRoMap project as well as on wide community consultation and four disciplinary workshops organised between 2013 and 2014. The AstRoMap European Astrobiology Roadmap considers astrobiology in a wide context: it is understood as the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the context of cosmic evolution; this includes habitability in the Solar System and beyond. This makes this roadmap a transdisciplinary document of relevance for many communities, from astronomers to planetary scientists and from atmospheric physicists to life scientists.

Technology news

	Reflection-removing camera: Device uses depth sensor and signal processing to capture clear images through windows In recent years, computer scientists have been investigating a range of techniques for removing reflections from digital photographs shot through glass. Some have tried to use variability in focal distance or the polarization of light; others, like those at MIT, have exploited the fact that a pane of glass produces not one but two reflections, slightly offset from each other.
	USB malware goes after air-gapped computers Uh-oh. USB malware trouble again. Earlier this week, iTWire and other sites reported on USB-based malware that steals data. "USB Thief" is also described as Win32/PSW.Stealer.NAI affecting computers.
	Hydrogen-fueled drone taken for test run A drone aircraft taking off from an airport in Scotland earlier this year for a 10-minute test run at 200 feet and then making a successful landing may not seem like a big deal but the power system on this one has made it newsworthy.
	Microsoft spreads word on holoportation: look who's by your side The year was 2012 and the concert crowd was dazzled, amazed. Even for an anything can happen Coachella event this was mind-boggling. An image of Tupac had come on stage, so real, that seemingly the artist had returned to life to perform alongside live hip-hop artists.
	Metal foam handles heat better than steel, study finds A new study from North Carolina State University researchers finds that novel light-weight composite metal foams (CMFs) are significantly more effective at insulating against high heat than the conventional base metals and alloys that they're made of, such as steel. The finding means the CMF is especially promising for use in storing and transporting nuclear material, hazardous materials, explosives and other heat-sensitive materials, as well as for space exploration.
	Team catalogs patterns of vibration on the skin of the hand that are part of how we sense the world through touch Type an email on your computer. Raise a glass to your lips. Feel for the light switch in a dark room. Simple, everyday tasks can demand subtle interactions between our hands and our surroundings, but, surprisingly, much remains unknown about the mechanics of the sense of touch.
	Oculus Rift begins shipping; reviews suggest waiting is OK The first consumer-ready Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset was delivered to a real person over the weekend, and reviewers got their first taste. The initial feedback: It's a beautiful, wonderful device that immerses you, yet it still has a ways to go.
	Dung, offal make clean gas at Costa Rica slaughterhouse Imagine tons of stinking dung, blood and offal, tipped into a giant tub for germs to feed on.
	Law enforcement investigators seek out private DNA databases Investigators are broadening their DNA searches beyond government databases and demanding genetic information from companies that do ancestry research for their customers.
	Facebook apologizes for Safety Check glitch after Pakistan blast Facebook apologized on Sunday for a bug that sent a Safety Check notification to users around the world following a deadly suicide bombing in Pakistan.
	Traffic backed up? Bridge out? More states deploying drones That buzzing sound overhead may soon signal the arrival of the 21st-century version of a guy in a hardhat and bucket truck.
	Microsoft's racist chatbot Tay highlights how far AI is from being truly intelligent t has been a nightmare of a PR week for Microsoft. It started with the head of Microsoft's Xbox division, Phil Spencer, having to apologise for having scantily clad female dancers dressed as school girls at a party thrown by Microsoft at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). He said that having the dancers at this event "was absolutely not consistent or aligned to our values. That was unequivocally wrong and will not be tolerated"
	Can we replace politicians with robots? If you had the opportunity to vote for a politician you totally trusted, who you were sure had no hidden agendas and who would truly represent the electorate's views, you would, right?
	Do energy-efficient LED lights cause unexpected ecological damage? Planet earth runs on light energy. Light energy from the sun powers photosynthetic processes in plants and different wavelengths of light cue these plants to flower, move their leaves, and grow taller. These same cues influence animals as well. Insects are attracted to narrow range UV lights, based on the evolved sensitivities to UV light in their eyes. Some birds are adapted to only sing mating calls at night based on the light quality from a full moon. High light levels can increase the mating behaviors of some frogs and changes in the quality of light can affect bird nesting behaviors. With so much of the natural world dictated by fine-tuned associations with light quantity and quality, how does the constant light pollution of cities affect the behavior of these organisms? Can different types of light pollution (street lights, billboards, or cars) affect ecological interactions in different ways? And can we design citie! s to interfere less with these naturally evolved relationships?
	Chinese researchers develop new battery technology A Chinese research team has developed a novel, environmentally friendly, low-cost battery that overcomes many of the problems of lithium ion batteries (LIB). The new aluminum-graphite, dual-ion battery (AGDIB) offers significantly reduced weight, volume, and fabrication cost, as well as higher energy density in comparison with conventional LIBs. AGDIB's electrode materials are composed of environmentally friendly, low cost aluminum and graphite, while its electrolyte is composed of conventional lithium salt and carbonate solvent.
	Athletes look for an edge in virtual reality Virtual reality (VR) appears ready to take the entertainment world by storm in 2016. In addition to the much-hyped Oculus Rift, major corporations such as Facebook, Sony and Samsung are poised to release high-quality VR headsets to the public this year. After years of VR being discussed as the "next big thing," this may be the year consumers will be able to get their hands on actual products.
An online tech shopping service called Enjoy set to expand Enjoy, an online concierge service for gadgets, is expanding beyond San Francisco and New York City nearly a year after it was launched.
	US company to sell smartphone-shaped gun Americans will soon be able to buy a smartphone-shaped gun that can hold two bullets and easily slip into a pocket.
FBI probing virus behind outage at MedStar Health facilities Hackers crippled computer systems Monday at a major hospital chain, MedStar Health Inc., forcing records systems offline for thousands of patients and doctors. The FBI said it was investigating whether the unknown hackers demanded a ransom to restore systems.
	Robo-dogs to the rescue Scientists in Japan have developed a system using information technology to augment and enhance the capabilities of canine search and rescue (SAR) teams. Outfitted with special suits, these cyber-enhanced SAR dogs can transmit information about disaster sites and victims to their handlers and rescue workers.
Pandora co-founder Tim Westergren returns as CEO Pandora, which is facing increasing competition from Apple Music, Spotify and other music streaming services, said CEO Brian McAndrews has left the company and has been replaced with co-founder Tim Westergren.
Dell selling IT unit to NTT Data for more than $3 billion Dell Inc. is selling its Dell Services information technology unit to NTT Data Inc. for just over $3 billion as part of its ongoing reorganization plan.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers produce stunning 4D map of somatosensory processing in the brain (Medical Xpress)—It goes without saying that the brain is an unbelievably complex piece of biological architecture, but the depth of that complexity is often unaddressed. Applying network theory to the brain has clarified many neural functions and led to the discovery that brain structures function as hubs for a number of interrelated brain networks. But to date, no fine-grained map of the brain's spatiotemporal dynamics exists.
	Research on largest network of cortical neurons to date profiled Even the simplest networks of neurons in the brain are composed of millions of connections, and examining these vast networks is critical to understanding how the brain works. An international team of researchers, led by R. Clay Reid, Wei Chung Allen Lee and Vincent Bonin from the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Harvard Medical School and Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders (NERF), respectively, has published the largest network to date of connections between neurons in the cortex, where high-level processing occurs, and have revealed several crucial elements of how networks in the brain are organized. The results are published this week in the journal Nature.
	Men with Zika should wait six months before unprotected sex: CDC Men who have been diagnosed with the Zika virus or have symptoms of the illness should wait at least six months before having unprotected sex, US health authorities said Friday.
	Wearable tech takes aim at health care costs Stroll around the office or neighborhood six times a day, and earn $1.50 toward your health insurance. Step up activity a bit more and bring the total to $1,400 annually.
	The 'Not Face' is a universal part of language, study suggests Researchers have identified a single, universal facial expression that is interpreted across many cultures as the embodiment of negative emotion.
	Researchers find mutation that causes rare disease, confirm a role for nucleic acids UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have discovered a mutation that causes a rare systemic disorder known as X-linked reticulate pigmentary disorder (XLPDR) and, significantly, the unexpected cellular mechanism by which the mutation causes the disease.
	Improved 'liquid biopsy' technique enhances detection of tumor DNA in blood Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a way to significantly increase the sensitivity of a technique to identify and sequence DNA from cancer cells circulating in a person's blood.
	Study results suggest cell-free DNA may be involved in inflammation in obese patients (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers affiliated with multiple facilities in Japan has found that as fat cells die due to an increase in obesity, more cell-free DNA is released into tissue causing inflammation. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes their study of mice, inflamed tissue and Toll—like receptor 9 (TLR9).
Stem cells used to successfully regenerate damage in corticospinal injury Writing in the March 28, 2016 issue of Nature Medicine, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, with colleagues in Japan and Wisconsin, report that they have successfully directed stem cell-derived neurons to regenerate lost tissue in damaged corticospinal tracts of rats, resulting in functional benefit.
	How cancer stem cells thrive when oxygen is scarce Working with human breast cancer cells and mice, scientists at The Johns Hopkins University say new experiments explain how certain cancer stem cells thrive in low oxygen conditions. Proliferation of such cells, which tend to resist chemotherapy and help tumors spread, are considered a major roadblock to successful cancer treatment.
	New target makes end run against therapy-resistant prostate cancer Researchers at UC Davis, in collaboration with the other institutions, have found that suppressing the nuclear receptor protein ROR-γ with small-molecule compounds can reduce androgen receptor (AR) levels in castration-resistant prostate cancer and stop tumor growth.
	Researchers identify age-related differences in human blood metabolites Metabolites—substances that are created during metabolism—can provide a wealth of information about individual health, disease, diet, and life-style. Now, they can tell us even more. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) researchers and collaborators at Kyoto University have recently discovered metabolites that are specifically related to aging and shed light on how the human body ages. The team, led by OIST's Professor Yanagida, published their results in PNAS.
	GI tract bacteria help decrease stroke Certain types of bacteria in the gut can leverage the immune system to decrease the severity of stroke, according to new research from Weill Cornell Medicine. This finding can help mitigate stroke—which is the second leading cause of death worldwide.
	Expectation may be essential to memory formation A theory that links memory encoding to expectations of future relevance may better explain how human memory works, according to a team of Penn State psychologists.
	New drug combinations could significantly improve tuberculosis treatment Researchers from UCLA and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have made an important step toward a substantially faster and more effective treatment for tuberculosis, which infects some 10 million people and causes 1.5 million deaths each year.
	Want a second date? 'Welcoming' body language may be key (HealthDay)—Sit up straight to get a date? That's the message of a new study that suggests good posture and welcoming body language boost the odds of a romantic spark in online or speed dating.
Choosing to die at home does not hasten death for patients with terminal cancer A large study from Japan found that cancer patients who died at home tended to live longer than those who died in hospitals. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings suggest that oncologists should not hesitate to refer patients for home-based palliative care simply because less medical treatment may be provided.
Chile reports first case of sexually transmitted Zika Authorities Saturday reported the first sexually transmitted case of Zika in mainland Chile, where there is no known presence of the mosquito generally blamed for passing on the virus suspected of causing birth defects.
First locally acquired Zika case confirmed in Chile Chilean health officials say they've registered the first locally acquired case of the Zika virus, which was sexually transmitted within the country.
Disgraced celebrity surgeon's spoiled dreams of fame Dreams of fame and fortune turned into a nightmare for a once-renowned Italian surgeon who compared himself to Doctor Frankenstein and now stands accused of using patients as guinea pigs.
Israel sees heady future for medical marijuana With its moat, wall, barbed wire, armed guards and security cameras, the facility could be mistaken for a military base if it weren't for the pungent odour of marijuana in the air.
Looking for calorie labels on menus? Not until 2017 Wondering how many calories are in that hamburger? Chain restaurants still don't have to tell you, despite a 6-year-old law requiring calorie labels on menus.
New York's stringent paperless-prescribing law takes effect New York is putting an end to most paper prescriptions for medicine as the nation's toughest electronic-prescribing law takes effect.
	Federal officials, advocates push pill-tracking databases The nation's top health officials are stepping up calls to require doctors to log in to pill-tracking databases before prescribing painkillers and other high-risk drugs.
	Breastfeeding, vaccinations help reduce ear infection rates in babies In what would be considered good news for many parents a new study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston finds the rates of ear infections during a baby's first year have declined; the investigators suggested that higher rates of breastfeeding, use of vaccinations and lower rates of smoking may be the major contributors. The study was recently published in Pediatrics.
	Cigarettes cheaper than e-cigarettes in 44 of 45 countries studied Combustible tobacco cigarettes cost less to purchase than equivalent amounts of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in 44 of 45 countries sampled around the world, according to a new American Cancer Society study. The study, appearing in Tobacco Control, concludes the gap exists despite the fact that e-cigarettes are not yet widely subjected to comparable excise taxes as combustible cigarettes.
	Development of low cost oral inactivated vaccines for dysentery Okayama University researchers, in collaboration with colleagues in India, have developed inactivated vaccines, a promising candidate for the production and commercialization of a low-cost oral dysentery vaccine for use in developing countries.
	Breast cancer resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors arises in many ways Breast cancer cells became resistant to therapeutics targeting CDK4/6, such as palbociclib (Ibrance), in multiple ways, and preclinical studies suggested different combinations of therapeutics may prevent and overcome the acquisition of resistance to these anticancer agents, according to research published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
	Nutritionists report low-cost way to reduce global infant mortality Eating a biscuit fortified with resistant starch every day could prove a low-cost way to reduce infant mortality rates from malnutrition and common diseases around the world.
	Men more vulnerable to developing depression from long-term stress It's long been believed that women suffer more of the stresses of life, and research has shown that repeated stress can translate into depression.
	If we don't own our genes, what protects study subjects in genetic research? On February 25, the White House hosted a forum on the National Institute of Health's Precision Medicine Initiative. This is an ambitious research study that aims to develop targeted drugs and treatments that would vary from individual to individual.
Oregon's new birth control law increases access, but more still to be done Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, University of Minnesota School of Public Health and George Mason University applaud Oregon's new birth control law which allows women age 18 or older to obtain some methods of hormonal contraception directly from pharmacies, without having to visit a prescribing clinician, yet note how the law could go even further to improve access to all forms of contraception, according to a viewpoint article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association today.
	Simple blood test can detect evidence of concussions up to a week after injury Researchers at Orlando Health detected evidence of concussions in patients up to 7 days after their injury using a simple blood test, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology. The discovery could greatly expand the window for diagnosing concussions, especially in patients who experience a delayed onset of symptoms.
Wearable defibrillator may be an alternative to ICD for some patients A wearable automatic defibrillator may be an option for patients who are at risk for life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities but are not good candidates for an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), according to an advisory from the American Heart Association, published in its Circulation journal.
Reports suggest osteopathic manipulative treatment resolves concussion symptoms Two case reports published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association document improvements in concussion-related symptoms following an initial session of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
	New hope for a type 2 diabetes cure The cancer treatment drug Imatinib, otherwise known as Gleevec is approved to treat various forms of cancer, mostly notably chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, researchers have stumbled onto another possible use for it, curing type 2 diabetes.
	Fewer ERCPs needed to treat benign biliary obstructions with use of self-expandable stents Placement of a single covered, self-expanding metallic stent (cSEMS) via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) resolved benign obstructions of the pancreatic and biliary ducts as well as placement of multiple plastic stents, the current standard of care, and required fewer ERCP sessions, according to the results of a randomized controlled trial reported in the March 22, 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Enzyme may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease caused by HIV medications According to the World Health Organization, approximately 37 million people are living with HIV. Antiviral medications are used to control the disease and prevent its progression to AIDS. Although antivirals improve health and increase survival for people with HIV, their use also has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have identified an enzyme that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease caused by HIV medications.
Autism intervention studies lack diversity, researcher says Autism affects children from all walks of life, and education professionals need scientifically based interventions to help those affected develop reading and other life skills. However, a recent study has found that the research used to identify "evidence-based practices" very rarely reports racial and ethnic status of its participants.
	'Transient contractions' in urinary bladder may lead to therapeutic interventions for bladder dysfunction Researchers at the University of Vermont College of Medicine have made a discovery that helps explain how we know when to empty our bladders and may lead to new therapeutic interventions for bladder dysfunction.
	Researchers discover early indicators of pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, is often diagnosed at a late stage, when curative treatment is no longer possible. A team led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has now identified and validated an accurate 5-gene classifier for discriminating early pancreatic cancer from non-malignant tissue. Described online in the journal Oncotarget, the finding is a promising advance in the fight against this typically fatal disease.
Researchers to explore ability of compounds to protect brain against HIV infection Antiretroviral drugs can greatly increase life expectancy for patients infected with HIV, the AIDS-causing virus, but one thing the drugs cannot do is completely eliminate the virus from the body. Hidden away in cells, latent HIV eventually gains access to the brain, causing a debilitating syndrome known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Remarkably, however, a group of compounds known as cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonists may be able to stop HAND from developing, and now, thanks to new funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University are poised to investigate that possibility.
Patients with skin infections fail to complete antibiotics, leading to poor outcomes In the first study of its kind, researchers found patients with S. aureus skin and soft tissue infections took, on average, just 57% of their prescribed antibiotic doses after leaving the hospital, resulting in nearly half of them getting a new infection or needing additional treatment for the existing skin infection.
Study shows cardiac fibrosis reversal through gene targeting in heart failure models CCN5, a matricellular protein, has been found to reverse established cardiac fibrosis in heart failure models, according to a study led by Roger J. Hajjar, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Woo Jin Park, PhD, Professor of Life Sciences at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea. This study was published online today in the Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC).
Vascular brain injury is evident in people in their 40s A large, multi-center study led by the UC Davis School of Medicine for the first time has shown that people as young as their 40s have stiffening of the arteries that is associated with subtle structural damage to the brain that is implicated in cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease later in life.
Researchers assess accuracy of commercially available lab tests Scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai performed an in-depth comparison of basic blood tests run by commercial laboratories to assess comparability of the tests among the different laboratories, finding that testing service and time of collection significantly influenced results. Given that lab tests are used to help decide everything from disease diagnosis to whether a patient needs medicine or whether that medication is working, this study highlights the importance of knowing the accuracy and variability of test results.
Studies show high out-of pocket costs limit access to lifesaving specialty drugs "Specialty drugs" have become important treatment options for many serious and chronic diseases, and in some conditions like cancer they represent the only chance for long-term survival. But, insurers increasingly require patients to share the high costs of these medications. Two new studies led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found evidence that such cost-sharing arrangements are associated with significant reductions in access to these drugs. Both papers are published online in the American Journal of Managed Care.
	Study offers efficient alternative for Ebola screening program for travelers As of January 31, 2016, a total of 28,639 cases and 11,316 deaths have been attributed to Ebola, figures that are assumed to significantly underestimate the actual scope of the 2014 Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever outbreak in West Africa. In the United States, there were also two imported cases and two locally acquired cases reported in September/October 2014.
	New mouse model for Zika virus to enable immediate screening of potential drugs and vaccines Efforts to combat the rapid spread of Zika virus got a boost this week as researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (UTMB) announced the first peer-reviewed publication of a mouse model for Zika infection reported in decades. Several research institutions and companies have vaccine and drug candidates nearly ready to test, but until now a mouse model - a critical stage in preclinical testing - has not been available. The study, published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (AJTMH), removes a bottleneck that was delaying treatment screening.
ACP policy paper recommends ways to stem the rising cost of prescription drugs The American College of Physicians (ACP) today released a new policy paper calling for changes that could slow the rising cost of prescription drugs. The paper, Stemming the Escalating Cost of Prescription Drugs, was published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Acupuncture may ease hot flashes for breast cancer patients (HealthDay)—Acupuncture can help alleviate the often-debilitating hot flashes that afflict many breast cancer patients, new Italian research says.
	World's senior population forecast to boom by 2050 (HealthDay)—The percentage of the world's population aged 65 and older is expected to double by 2050, a new report says.
	Skipping meds greatly ups heart patients' risk of stroke: study (HealthDay)—People at risk for heart disease are much more likely to die from a stroke if they don't take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and blood pressure medications as prescribed, a new study reports.
	CDC: Federal anti-smoking campaign still paying off (HealthDay)—More than 1.8 million Americans tried to quit smoking in 2014 as a result of a federal anti-smoking ad campaign and 104,000 quit for good, a U.S. government survey found.
	On-the-job training funds for pediatricians lagging: experts (HealthDay)—Funding for graduate medical education (GME) for doctors-in-training needs to be changed to deal with a shortage of pediatric specialists, the American Academy of Pediatrics says in an updated policy statement.
	Mediterranean diet may help lower hip fracture risk in older women (HealthDay)—Eating a Mediterranean diet may at least slightly lower an older woman's risk for hip fracture, a new study suggests.
	2011 criteria facilitate diagnosis of long QT syndrome (HealthDay)—The 2011 criteria improve diagnosis of long QT syndrome (LQTS), according to a study published online March 23 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
	Teens with autism more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (HealthDay)—Adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published online March 22 in Diabetes Care.
	Standard precautions advised in labor and delivery to prevent Zika (HealthDay)—Standard Precautions should be used in all health care settings, including labor and delivery, in order to minimize the potential risk of transmission of Zika virus to health care personnel or other patients, according to research published in the March 25 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Gender leadership bias in academic medicine Although women are gradually joining the leadership ranks of U.S. academic medical centers, a gap remains. Just 16 percent of deans and 15 percent of department chairs are women, according to a 2014 report by Association of American Medical Colleges. A study published the same year estimated that in academic medicine, women won't hold as many full professorships as men for several decades.
	Elucidation of how abnormalities in intracellular protein trafficking interfere with higher brain functions A group of researchers led by Nakazawa Takanobu (Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University), KANO Masanobu (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo), and HASHIMOTO Ryota (Associate Professor, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui) found the mechanism for regulating synaptic functions via intracellular protein trafficking and revealed that abnormalities in intracellular protein trafficking interfere with higher brain functions such as memory and learning.
	Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) shown to form multiple types of functional lymphocytes in vivo A new study demonstrates that iPSC have the potential to differentiate into multiple lineages of functional lymphocytes, including CD4+ T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, without bias. The ability to generate truly functional lymphocytes from somatic cell-derived hematopoietic stem cells supports the clinical application of iPSC technology to develop treatments for hematological disorders, as concluded in the study published in Stem Cells and Development.
	Uric acid, gout and kidney disease: The chicken or the egg? The increasing prevalence of both gout and chronic kidney disease has led to a growing interest in the association between hyperuricemia (an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood) and kidney disease.
	As crisis rages, hospital works to reduce opioids in the ER Mark Rosenberg doesn't need to go to his job as chairman of emergency medicine at New Jersey's busiest emergency room to get a bracing insight into the mushrooming problem of opioid abuse.
Personalized doctor office interventions show small potential for preventing depression Personalized primary care-delivered interventions may hold some promise for preventing major depression in adults, according to an article published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Utah governor eyes bill requiring abortion anesthesia The governor of Utah is considering whether to sign a bill this week that would make Utah the first state to require doctors to give anesthesia to women having an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later.
Puerto Rico sees rise in Zika cases, paralyzing condition Puerto Rico says more than 100 new cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus have been reported in the past week.

Biology news

	Songbirds 'teach chicks before they hatch' Many birds learn their songs from their parents, but what if they could get a head start? A new paper, published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, expands Flinders University research into how Australian fairy-wrens start learning to imitate their parents before they even hatch.
	qPAINT counts biomolecules inside cells Many biological and pathological processes are not strictly controlled by the presence, absence or function of biomolecules such as proteins or nucleic acids but rather by subtle changes in their numbers at specific locations within cells. However, despite the recent revolution of optical imaging technologies that has enabled the distinction of molecular targets residing less than 200 nm apart from each other, modern super-resolution techniques still face the challenge to accurately and precisely count the number of biomolecules at cellular locations.
	Water bears do not have extensive foreign DNA, new study finds Tardigrades, also known as moss piglets or water bears, are eight-legged microscopic animals that have long fascinated scientists for their ability to survive extremes of temperature, pressure, lack of oxygen, and even radiation exposure.
	An ancient killer: Ancestral malarial organisms traced to age of dinosaurs A new analysis of the prehistoric origin of malaria suggests that it evolved in insects at least 100 million years ago, and the first vertebrate hosts of this disease were probably reptiles, which at that time would have included the dinosaurs.
	Researchers use new technology to sequence mosquito sex chromosome A team of researchers with the Fralin Life Science Institute at Virginia Tech, working with a large international consortium, has sequenced the Y chromosome—the genetic driver of sex-determination and male fertility— in a family of malaria spreading mosquitoes.
	Gene blocking lettuce germination also regulates flowering time Like most annuals, lettuce plants live out their lives in quiet, three-act dramas that follow the seasons. Seed dormancy gives way to germination; the young plant emerges and grows; and finally in the climax of flowering, a new generation of seeds is produced. It's remarkably predictable, but the genetics that coordinates these changes with environmental cues has not been well understood.
	Stressed out: Scientist details cells' response to lesions In a recent review paper published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, SLU scientist Alessandro Vindigni, Ph.D., describes the strategies cells use when their DNA faces replication stress, challenges that may derail a cell's ability to reproduce. In this do-or-die situation, cells have several tactics that can help them overcome lesions or other obstacles in order to ensure faithful transmission of their genetic information.
	Bison coming 'home' to Montana Indian reservation Descendants of a bison herd captured and sent to Canada more than a century ago will be relocated to a Montana American Indian reservation next month, in what tribal leaders bill as a homecoming for a species emblematic of their traditions.
	Researchers begin tracking crape myrtle bark scale populations Black, sooty splotches pepper a line of 10 crape myrtle trees along Broadway Avenue in Tyler. The popular ornamental trees wear the tell-tale signs of bark scale infestations.
	Where to find WA's most fertile marron Next time you're hoping to snare a marron in the South West, spare a thought for the fertility of the animals in the murky water below.
	Next-generation holographic microscope for 3-D live cell imaging Professor YongKeun Park of the Physics Department at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and his research team have developed a powerful method for 3D imaging of live cells without staining. The researchers announced the launch of their new microscopic tool, the holotomography (HT)-1, to the global marketplace through a Korean start-up that Professor Park co-founded, TomoCube.
	Biological mechanism passes on long-term epigenetic 'memories' According to epigenetics—the study of inheritable changes in gene expression not directly coded in our DNA—our life experiences may be passed on to our children and our children's children. Studies on survivors of traumatic events have suggested that exposure to stress may indeed have lasting effects on subsequent generations. But how exactly are these genetic "memories" passed on?
Global ocean's fish populations could double while providing more food and income Groundbreaking research being published in the March 29th issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows the majority of the world's fisheries could be recovered in just 10 years, and that global fish populations could double by 2050 with better fishing practices compared to business as usual. The peer-reviewed study is authored by researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara, The University of Washington and Environmental Defense Fund.
	Federal oil, gas leases stall over bird concerns in US West Concerns over a bird that ranges across the American West continue to delay federal oil and gas lease sales, five months after Interior Secretary Sally Jewell proclaimed the Obama administration had found a way to balance drilling and conservation.
	Empowering stakeholders: EU BON project shares know-how on biodiversity data policies Engagement with relevant political authorities and other stakeholders is of crucial importance for a research project, making sure its objectives are in tune with the real-world problems and its results provide adapted solutions. The EU FP7 project Building the European Biodiversity Observation Network (EU BON) shares the outcomes, lessons learned and conclusions from a series of three roundtable meetings designed to identify stakeholder needs and promote collaboration between science and policy.
	Researcher studies high-value vegetable crop production under high tunnels When planting season comes around this summer, Dr. Charlie Rush, Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathologist in Amarillo, won't be planting traditional crops or in traditional fields.
Researchers identify SH2 domains as lipid-binding modules for cell signaling Majority of human Src homology 2 domains not only bind to proteins, but also interact with membrane lipids with high affinity and specificity. The SH2 domain-containing proteins play important roles in various physiological processes and are involved in cancer development. This study reveals how lipids control SH2 domain-mediated cellular protein interaction networks and suggests a new strategy for the therapeutic modulation of pY-signaling pathways.
	A new function of the chromosomal terminus, vital for human health, discovered DNA forms chromosome by combining with various proteins and other matters. Telemere, the chromosome ends, is playing an inevitable role in maintaining the life including germ cells or cell senescence. Besides, the function of subtelomere, the telomere-adjacent region, has not yet been clarified although abnormal telomere structure such as multiple malformation and mental retardation exists.
US wildlife officials to soon decide on manatee status A proposal to drop Florida's signature sea mammal from the endangered species list may come down to science versus public opinion.
Impacts of salinity determined for agave As groundwater levels decline, identifying plants that can thrive in low water conditions is increasingly important. A new study focused on Agave, a species that has the ability to be highly water-use efficient in hot, drought-prone environments. The authors said that Agave, traditionally used as a source of food, beverages, and fiber, has the potential to be cultivated more widely to produce alternative sweeteners, bioenergy, and for other end uses. They said that determining how Agave species respond when grown in saline soils in semiarid regions could help increase production.
	Restoring the American chestnut The American chestnut was once a mainstay in hardwood forests as far north as Maine and as far south as Georgia and Mississippi. A massive chestnut blight in the early part of the 20th century ended the mighty chestnut's domination, wiping out billions of mature trees. Scientists are now working to restore the American chestnut's place in U.S. forests. A study published in the February issue of HortScience provides new recommendations that can help increase the stock of blight-resistant trees.
Heirloom dry beans suitable for small-scale organic production Consumer demand for organic heirloom dry beans is on the rise. According to the authors of a new study, the number of acres of land used for certified organic dry bean production has increased significantly in recent years, and a similar trend is occurring across the United States. In a study published in the January 2016 issue of HortScience, researchers Hannah Swegarden, Craig Sheaffer, and Thomas Michaels offer essential recommendations to small-scale vegetable growers about heirloom dry bean cultivar choices for distribution to local markets in Minnesota and the Midwest.
	Citrus scion/rootstock combinations show tolerance to huanglongbing The citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB) is endemic in Florida, where it is estimated that more than 80% of citrus trees are currently infected. Largely as a result of this devastating disease, Florida citrus production in 2014-15 was the lowest recorded in the past 50 years. Sweet orange and grapefruit, which account for more than 95% of Florida citrus production, appear to be especially compromised by HLB. Understandably, there is an urgent need to identify citrus varieties that can resist the widespread disease. A new study in HortScience identified some scion/rootstock combinations that show potentially valuable tolerance to huanglongbing.
Cloning of Northern Mexico cactus proves useful in conservation Endangerment of certain cacti species is caused by multiple factors, most notably illicit extraction. In an effort to curb this endangerment and plan for repopulation of threatened species, scientists have been researching the most efficient methods of cloning. Recently, tests on Turbinicarpus valdezianus (Möller) Glass & Foster (Cactaceae), a species of cactus endemic to Northern Mexico suffering from habitat loss, proved very successful at inducing shoot proliferation and roots through in vitro cloning. Raúl Cárdenas Navarro, in an article published in HortScience (January 2016), says that the successful tests prove to be a good option for rescuing wild populations of the species that are suffering from habitat loss.

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