Science X Newsletter Thursday, Mar 17

Over 700 technical papers and presentations featuring ground-breaking applications from research, engineering, and industry are now available online. Get instant access here: http://goo.gl/VJ8rHQ

***************************************************

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 17, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers find ancient DNA preserved in modern-day humans
- New strategy helps quantum bits stay on task
- Preventing sperm's 'power kick' could be key to unisex contraceptive
- Hubble unveils monster stars
- Variability of major oceanic currents driven by climate change
- Galapagos lakes reveal tropical Pacific climate since Biblical times
- Could bread mold build a better rechargeable battery?
- Subset of E. coli bacteria linked to deadly disease in pre-term infants
- A new glimpse into working memory
- New technique for rapidly killing bacteria using tiny gold disks and light
- New cytoplasmic role for proteins linked to neurological diseases, cancers
- Autonomous cars aren't perfect, but how safe must they be?
- Beyond record hot, February was 'astronomical' and 'strange'
- Calcium controls sleep duration in mice
- For first time, scientists use CRISPR-Cas9 to target RNA in live cells

Astronomy & Space news

	Hubble unveils monster stars Astronomers using the unique ultraviolet capabilities of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have identified nine monster stars with masses over 100 times the mass of the Sun in the star cluster R136. This makes it the largest sample of very massive stars identified to date. The results, which will be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, raise many new questions about the formation of massive stars.
	Astronomers see black hole raging red Violent red flashes, lasting just fractions of a second, have been observed during one of the brightest black hole outbursts in recent years.
	VLA shows earliest stages of planet formation New images of a young star made with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) reveal what scientists think may be the very earliest stages in the formation of planets. The scientists used the VLA to see unprecedented detail of the inner portion of a dusty disk surrounding the star, some 450 light-years from Earth.
	Dust counter got few 'hits' on Pluto flyby A student-built University of Colorado Boulder instrument riding on NASA's New Horizons spacecraft found only a handful of dust grains, the building blocks of planets, when it whipped by Pluto at 31,000 miles per hour last July.
	Pluto reveals more secrets Eight months after its encounter with the New Horizons spacecraft, Pluto continues to surprise the scientists who study this distant world.
	What the 'weather' is like on a star can help in the search for life Scientists are studying the "weather" around young sun-like stars in an attempt to understand the conditions needed for a system to have planets that would stand a chance of hosting life.
	Jason-3 begins mapping oceans, sees ongoing El Nino Just over a month after its launch, Jason-3 has produced its first complete science map of global sea surface height, capturing the current signal of the 2015-16 El Niño in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Early morning meteor lights up Britain's skies A bright "fireball" meteor has lit up British skies.
School being renamed in honor of astronaut twin brothers Scott Kelly, the astronaut who has spent a U.S.-record 520 days in space, will have his name on a New Jersey elementary school—and so will his twin brother, Mark.
	Star astronaut Scott Kelly: Time right to retire from NASA After 20 years with NASA, America's star astronaut Scott Kelly says it's time to move on.

Technology news

	Virtual reality girds for test in marketplace A middle-aged white man sees himself as a young black woman being taunted by a racist.
	Startup makes virtual reality intuitive with eye-tracking No more fiddling with remote-controller buttons or a mouse. Just look. San Francisco-based startup Fove has developed eye-tracking for virtual reality—that kernel of technology many feel is key for the illusion of becoming immersed in a setting.
	Patterns in Islamic arts inspire stretchy metamaterials (Tech Xplore)—Scholars have recognized that Medieval Islamic tiling reveals more than beauty; it also reveals mathematical prowess. A report in New Scientist in 2007 discussed how Medieval Islamic designers used elaborate geometrical tiling patterns at least 500 years before Western mathematicians developed the concept.
	Communicating vehicles could ease through intersections more efficiently Imagine a scenario where sensor-laden vehicles pass through intersections by communicating with each other, rather than grinding to a halt at traffic lights. A newly published study co-authored by MIT researchers claims this kind of traffic-light-free transportation design, if it ever arrives, could allow twice as much traffic to use the roads.
	High-tech bird watching for shapeshifting airplane wings An international team of engineers and biologists will gain unprecedented insights into how birds fly so efficiently and then turn that knowledge to building unmanned aircraft with shapeshifting wings.
	Perovskite solar cells hit 21.1 percent efficiency and record reproduciblity EPFL scientists achieve the highest yet reproducibility for perovskite solar cells combined with a boundary-pushing 21.1% efficiency at normal operating conditions.
	Drones revolutionize ecological monitoring New Monash University research has paved the way for drones to revolutionise ecological monitoring.
	Paying attention to words not just images leads to better image captions A team of University and Adobe researchers is outperforming other approaches to creating computer-generated image captions in an international competition. The key to their winning approach? Thinking about words - what they mean and how they fit in a sentence structure - just as much as thinking about the image itself.
	Autonomous cars aren't perfect, but how safe must they be? As autonomous car technology rapidly progresses, makers of the cars face the difficult question of how safe they must be before they're ready to move people on highways and city streets.
	Nike unwraps new self-tying shoe US sporting goods giant Nike unveiled Wednesday its first shoe that ties itself, the HyperAdapt 1.0, which will go on sale at the end of 2016.
	Broomstick flying or red-light ping-pong? Gadgets at German fair Virtual reality and 3D printing are among top technologies showcased by thousands of IT companies attending this year's technology show CeBIT in the northern German city of Hanover.
Uber to give drivers option to be paid instantly Uber is launching a pilot program intended to help the ride-hailing service's drivers draw their pay faster, an effort that may also fend off emerging payday lenders who are targeting the service's drivers.
Developer drops lawsuit against Facebook's Zuckerberg A real estate developer has dropped his lawsuit against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over a deal involving property behind Zuckerberg's home in Palo Alto, California. Zuckerberg's attorney says the case was dismissed with no payment to the developer, Mircea Voskerician.
	Scandal-plagued Toshiba sells medical unit to Canon Scandal-plagued Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. sold its medical unit to Japanese camera maker Canon Inc. for 665.5 billion yen ($5.9 billion) on Thursday, both sides said.
	Lightweight x-ray machines set to revolutionise market Making X-ray machines smaller and lighter with carbon nanotube technology is revolutionizing the market in the medical devices industry.
	Size doesn't matter in Big Data, it's what you ask of it that counts Big Data is changing the way we do science today. Traditionally, data were collected manually by scientists making measurements, using microscopes or surveys. These data could be analysed by hand or using simple statistical software on a PC.
	Acura brings NSX specialty car production to US The next generation of Acura's top-of-the-line NSX is ready to begin full production in Ohio in late April—the first time in the car's 27-year history that it will be made outside of Japan.
	Nintendo providing Mii time with first mobile app (Update) For its inaugural lunge into the mobile gaming business, Nintendo isn't relying on bouncy plumber Mario or sword-wielding hero Link. Instead, the Japanese gaming giant is looking to its legions of cutesy avatars.
	Opinion: Computer's Go victory reminds us that we need to question our reliance on AI The victory of a computer over one of the world's strongest players of the game Go has been hailed by many as a landmark event in artificial intelligence. But why? After all, computers have beaten us at games before, most notably in 1997 when the computer Deep Blue triumphed over chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov.
	Beyond today's crowdsourced science to tomorrow's citizen science cyborgs Millions of citizen scientists have been flocking to projects that pool their time and brainpower to tackle big scientific problems, from astronomy to zoology. Projects such as those hosted by the Zooniverse get people across the globe to donate some part of their cognitive surplus, pool it with others' and apply it to scientific research.
Giant UK battery launched to tackle challenges in energy storage One of the UK's largest battery-based energy storage facilities has been connected to the grid as part of new research led by the University of Sheffield on the growing area of energy storage.
Automakers agree to put automatic braking in cars by 2022 (Update) Automatic braking will be standard in most cars and light trucks within six years and on heavier SUVs and pickup trucks within eight years under an agreement that transportation officials and automakers announced on Thursday.
	Alexa voice software to offer Fitbit progress updates Alexa, what can you tell me about my health?
	Wrangler supercomputer speeds through big data Handling big data can sometimes feel like driving on an unpaved road for researchers with a need for speed and supercomputers.
YouTube now on T-Mobile's 'Binge On' after earlier spat T-Mobile and YouTube have come to terms after a public spat over the phone company's "Binge On" video streaming service.
	Hawaii Air Force unit getting own power grid that uses trash The Air Force unit that defends Hawaii skies will get experimental energy technology that uses trash to generate power and relies on its own small electrical grid—a system intended to keep the unit operating if a bomb, cyberattack or natural disaster knocks out the local utility.
	Homeland Security begins sharing cyberthreats with business The Homeland Security Department on Thursday formally began sharing details of new digital threats with private business and other government agencies, a culmination of a longtime effort to improve cybersecurity.
Google gives federal plan for self-driving car Google wants Congress to create new federal powers that would let the tech giant receive special, expedited permission to bring to market a self-driving car that has no steering wheel or pedals.
	'Her Story' rules Game Developers Choice Awards "Her Story" captured the most trophies at the Game Developers Choice Awards.
	The flexible way to greater energy yield Biogas is an important energy source that plays a central role in the energy revolution. Unlike wind or solar energy, biogas can be produced around the clock. Could it soon perhaps even be produced to meet demand? A team of international scientists, including microbiologists from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), scientists from Aarhus University and process engineers from the Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ), have been studying the feasibility of this kind of flexible biogas production. Among their findings, for example, is the discovery that biogas production can be controlled by altering the frequency at which the reactors are fed. If the intervals are longer, more biogas is produced, according to the researchers' paper in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal.
Slots technology aims to help gamblers know when to stop For some people, it's easy to get carried away at a casino. So, imagine sitting at a slot machine and being able to track and limit your betting using an onscreen display.

Medicine & Health news

	Preventing sperm's 'power kick' could be key to unisex contraceptive University of California, Berkeley, biologists have discovered the switch that triggers the power kick sperm use to penetrate and fertilize a human egg, uncovering a possible source of male infertility but also a potential target for contraceptives that work in both men and women.
	3-D technology enriches human nerve cells for transplant to brain National Institutes of Health-funded scientists have developed a 3D micro-scaffold technology that promotes reprogramming of stem cells into neurons, and supports growth of neuronal connections capable of transmitting electrical signals. The injection of these networks of functioning human neural cells—compared to injecting individual cells—dramatically improved their survival following transplantation into mouse brains. This is a promising new platform that could make transplantation of neurons a viable treatment for a broad range of human neurodegenerative disorders.
	Research suggests new model for cancer metastasis Scientists at UC San Francisco have been able to directly observe, for the first time, how invasive cancer cells create a beachhead as they migrate to the lung in a mouse model of metastatic cancer. What they saw was utterly surprising: early "pioneer" cancer cells that lodge in the lung generally die, but first they shed zombie-like particles that move around on their own and get gobbled up by waves of immune cells. Many of these immune cells, as if infected by the cancer particles, then burrow into the lung tissue, opening up space for future cancer cells floating through the blood to settle down safely and form new metastatic colonies.
	Gene discovery reveals mechanism behind how we think Our brains are marvels of connectivity, packed with cells that continually communicate with one another. This communication occurs across synapses, the transit points where chemicals called neurotransmitters leap from one neuron to another, allowing us to think, to learn and to remember.
	Two potential therapeutic avenues for spasticity Following spinal cord injury, most patients experience an exaggeration of muscle tone called spasticity, which frequently leads to physical disability. A team at the Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université) has just identified one of the molecular mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. It has also proposed two therapeutic solutions that have proved conclusive in animals, one of which will be tested during phase II clinical trials as early as this year. This work, published in Nature Medicine on 14 March 2016, thus opens new therapeutic avenues to reduce this physical disability.
	An implant to prevent Alzheimer's In a cutting-edge treatment for Alzheimer's disease, EPFL scientists have developed an implantable capsule that can turn the patient's immune system against the disease.
	A new glimpse into working memory When you hold in mind a sentence you have just read or a phone number you're about to dial, you're engaging a critical brain system known as working memory.
	Calcium controls sleep duration in mice University of Tokyo and RIKEN researchers have identified seven genes responsible for causing mice to stay awake or fall asleep based on a theoretical model of sleep and on experiments using 21 different genetically-modified mice, some of which showed different sleep durations. Researchers hope that their research will contribute to the understanding and treatment of sleep disorders and associated neurodegenerative diseases.
	Subset of E. coli bacteria linked to deadly disease in pre-term infants Necrotizing enterocolitis is an intestinal disease that afflicts about one in ten extremely premature infants and is fatal in nearly one-third of cases. The premature infant gut is believed to react to colonizing bacteria, causing damage to the intestinal walls and severe infection. In a study appearing March 17 in Cell Reports, researchers describe an association between necrotizing enterocolitis and a subset of E. coli bacteria, called uropathogenic E. coli, that colonize the infant gut.
	Researchers discover how RNA editing may promote tumor growth A new study provides insight on the potential role played by RNA (ribonucleic acid) editing in cancer.
	Immune study shows how gut keeps deadly infections at bay Treatment and prevention of life-threatening infections could be improved by research that reveals how bacteria are kept in check.
	Tailored protein binding opens possibilities for nerve, tissue treatments Spinal cord injuries don't heal like cuts or broken bones. Why? Part of the reason is the formation of scar tissue that acts as both a chemical and physical barrier to nerve regeneration.
Researchers find that immune cells play unexpected role in Lou Gehrig's disease Cedars-Sinai research scientists have found that immune cells in the brain play a direct role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, offering hope for new therapies to target the neurodegenerative disease that gradually leads to paralysis and death.
	Portion control: Cells found in mouse brain that signal 'stop eating' While researching the brain's learning and memory system, scientists at Johns Hopkins say they stumbled upon a new type of nerve cell that seems to control feeding behaviors in mice. The finding, they report, adds significant detail to the way brains tell animals when to stop eating and, if confirmed in humans, could lead to new tools for fighting obesity. Details of the study will be published by the journal Science on March 18, 2016.
	Study shows how Paralympic track sprinters are slowed by curves A University of Colorado Boulder study shows that when rounding curves, Paralympic sprinters wearing left-leg prostheses are slowed more than athletes with right-leg amputations—a disadvantage that could cost them dearly in official competition.
Health effects of sit-stand desks, interventions aimed to reduce sitting at work are still unproven An updated Cochrane Review, published today in the Cochrane Library, says that the benefits of a variety of interventions intended to reduce sitting at work are very uncertain.
Increased dementia risk in women—a matter of proteins? Gender-specific differences between the levels and structures of proteins present in the white matter and the mitochondria of the brains of men and women suffering from dementia have been revealed for the first time in a study published in the open access journal Molecular Brain.
Parent mentors insure more uninsured children, improve access, eliminate disparities Randomized trial reveals that Parent Mentors insure more children faster than traditional Medicaid/CHIP outreach, and children's access to healthcare and parental satisfaction improve, quality of well-child care is enhanced, thousands of dollars are saved per child, jobs are created, disparities are eliminated, and the intervention potentially could save our nation billions of dollars.
Prenatal exposure to air pollution linked to impulsivity, emotional problems in children Exposure to common air pollutants during pregnancy may predispose children to problems regulating their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors later on, according to a new study led by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health within Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and New York State Psychiatric Institute. The new study is the first of its kind to examine the effects of early life exposure to a common air pollutant known as PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) on self-regulating behaviors and social competency that incorporates multiple assessment points across childhood. Children with poor self-regulation skills have difficulty managing disruptive thoughts, emotions, and impulses; poor social competency limits their ability to get along with others. The study appears in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Public transport, walking and cycling Adults who commute to work via cycling or walking have lower body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) measures in mid-life compared to adults who commute via car, according to a new study in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.
Physical activity found to decrease risk of dying in COPD Any amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity can effectively reduce the risk of dying after hospitalisation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study.
Immune cells' bacteria may fight chronic inflammation A population of bacteria inhabits human and mouse immune cells and appears to protect the body from inflammation and illness, Weill Cornell Medicine scientists discovered in a new study. The findings challenge conventional wisdom about the relationship between bacteria and the human body – and about how the microbes influence health and disease.
	Railway suicide rates climb despite industry efforts Railway suicide rates in England and Wales have risen since the year 2000 despite measures aimed at reducing them, researchers from the University of Bristol have warned.
S. Leone Ebola flare-up over, virus halted in West Africa: WHO The latest flare-up of Ebola in Sierra Leone has ended with no confirmed cases of the virus now in West Africa, the UN said Thursday, as the country celebrated a "joyous" milestone.
	Blood test for tuberculosis Together with AIDS, tuberculosis ranks among those infectious diseases with the highest global mortality rate, claiming the lives of between 1.5 and two million people every year. However, not everyone infected with the bacterium develops tuberculosis. In fact, fewer than ten percent of those infected go on to manifest the disease. An international team of scientists, including researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, have now developed a tuberculosis test that can reliably predict whether an individual will develop active tuberculosis. Doctors may be able to use this test in future to predict the progression of the disease and initiate medical care early.
	Highly specialized high school athletes more likely to have certain injuries, study says There is a sense among those who pay attention to youth and high school athletics that more and more young athletes today are focusing on excelling at a single sport instead of playing a variety.
	Cannabis use leaves society searching for answers A University of Queensland researcher is a major contributor to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report on the adverse health effects of nonmedical cannabis use.
	'Germ trap' could save us from flu virus A remarkable new technology developed by Manchester biochemists has found a way to restrict the spread of flu.
Many patients in urban clinics need mental health treatment The American health care system must do a better job of systematically detecting and treating mental health problems within outpatient primary care clinics, especially those that serve vulnerable populations, finds a study led by Darrell Hudson, assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Study estimates transmission of deadly C. diff infection A severe disease caused by the C. difficile bacteria affects more than 250,000 patients in hospitals each year, but little is known about how it is transmitted. A Yale-led study estimates transmission rates inside and outside of hospitals, providing insight into different sources of the infection and how it might be better controlled.
	New test for early detection of eye disease A new eye chart test for early detection of an age-related eye disease has been developed by researchers in Auckland, Ulster and London.
Belief in God strengthened by imagining how life would be different New research shows a person's belief in God is strengthened when thinking of "what might have been" especially in reflecting on a major life event that could have turned out poorly. Importantly, the study shows how believers can come to perceive evidence for their religious conviction via deliberate and rational cognitive processes. The study, "But for the Grace of God: Counterfactuals Influence Religious Belief and Images of the Divine," is published in the April issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science.
School breakfasts contribute to healthy weight, study finds Middle school students who eat breakfast at school—even if they have already had breakfast at home—are less likely to be overweight or obese than students who skip breakfast, says a new study by the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE) at the Yale School of Public Health and the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut.
Britain defends new sugar tax following criticism British finance minister George Osborne on Thursday defended his plans to introduce a new sugar tax to tackle obesity, criticised as "absurd" by the soft drinks industry.
	Remember—a bad memory is actually good for you It's not uncommon to hear people wishing that they had a better memory. "If only I weren't so forgetful", they complain. "If only I could reliably remember my computer password, and that my neighbour's name is Sarah, not Sandra." If this sounds familiar then I know how you feel. As a psychologist who studies the science of remembering, it's especially embarrassing to me that my memory is frequently dreadful. When asked whether I had a good weekend, I often struggle to immediately recollect enough details to provide an answer.
	Build your biceps to help maintain your brain Just like the rest of you, your brain needs physical exercise, so take a break from Sudoku and master some dance moves instead.
Mortality risk for elderly UK emergency surgery admissions has improved by 40% in last 15 years An article recently published in the International Journal of Surgery highlights some of the challenges that England's NHS faces regarding emergency care for elderly patients.
	Roots of opioid epidemic can be traced back to two key changes in pain management Abuse of opium products obtained from poppy plants dates back centuries, but today we are witnessing the first instance of widespread abuse of legal, prescribed drugs that, while structurally similar to illicit opioids such as heroin, are used for sound medical practices.
Antibodies from unconventional B cells less likely to neutralize HIV, study finds Antibodies derived from a type of immune cell found in unusually high numbers in HIV-infected individuals with chronically uncontrolled virus levels are less effective at neutralizing HIV than antibodies derived from a different type of immune cell more common in people without HIV, scientists report. The findings help explain why people infected with HIV cannot sufficiently clear the virus with effective antibodies. The study was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
	Manipulators less convincing online than in person, research shows If you have to negotiate business with a narcissist or psychopath, you're better off doing it on Facebook, research from UBC's Okanagan campus shows.
Research proves it—the smell of alcohol makes it hard to resist The smell of alcohol may make it harder for people to control their behaviour according to a team of Edge Hill University researchers whose findings were published today in the Psychopharmacology journal.
Homosexuality as common in Uganda as in other countries The results are based on a survey with nearly 3,000 participating students in south-western Uganda. The students responded to a number of questions, including aspects concerning sexuality, physical and mental health, sexual risk behaviour, and experiences with drugs. The questions about homosexuality pertained to the students' emotions as well as their actions. The results showed that one in three had been in love with a person of the same sex; almost one in five had been sexually attracted to a person of the same sex; and one in ten had been sexually active with someone of the same sex. In terms of percentages, 6-8 per cent of the men and 10-16 per cent of the women had engaged in homosexual relations.
Study shows spinal cord stimulation reduces emotional aspect of chronic pain Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have shown that patients who have chronic pain can reduce their emotional response to the pain through spinal cord stimulation.
Scientists develop computer models simulating stem cell transplant recovery Scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University have developed computer models that can simulate the recovery of the immune system in patients undergoing stem cell transplants. In two recent studies, they reinforce the potential of using DNA sequencing and computer modeling to predict which stem cell transplant recipients might suffer complications such as graft-versus-host-disease, a condition where the donor's immune system attacks the recipient's body. The studies build upon prior research by scientists at VCU Massey Cancer Center, the VCU Center for the Study of Biological Complexity and VCU's Department of Psychiatry and Statistical Genomics that found evidence that the immune system may be modeled as a dynamical system.
	Temporary disconnects shed light on long-term brain dysfunction Will we ever be able to understand the cacophonous chatter taking place between the 80 million neurons in our brains? Dr. Ofer Yizhar and his group in the Weizmann Institute of Science's Neurobiology Department have taken a large step in this direction with a new research method that can provide scientists with targeted control over vital parts of the brain's communications.
Stem cell therapy reverses age-related osteoporosis in mice Imagine telling a patient suffering from age-related (type-II) osteoporosis that a single injection of stem cells could restore their normal bone structure. This week, with a publication in Stem Cells Translational Medicine, a group of researchers from the University of Toronto and The Ottawa Hospital suggest that this scenario may not be too far away.
	Keep an eye on children's calories, researchers say Most children overeat significantly when served large portions of calorie-dense popular foods, according to a Penn State study. The results suggest that manipulating calorie content and portion size can substantially reduce children's overall caloric consumption.
	Neutralizing a tumor's acidic environment improves activity of immune-targeting cancer therapies Cancer cells have the ability to grow in an acidic tumor environment that is detrimental to other cells, including immune cells. In a Cancer Research cover article published this week, Moffitt Cancer Center reported that neutralizing the acidic tumor environment increases the efficacy of several immune-targeting cancer therapies.
	New compounds discovered as candidates for new antimicrobial drugs against Listeria infection Scientists at Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR) have discovered chemical compounds which are able to attenuate the virulence of the bacterial human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Their findings are published today in the high impact journal Cell Chemical Biology.
Researchers uncover how kappa opioid receptors drive anxiety University of North Carolina researchers uncovered a cellular mechanism by which kappa opioid receptors (KOR) drive anxiety. These proteins inhibit the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate in a part of the brain that regulates emotion. KORs have been of great interest as a drug target for the treatment of addiction and anxiety disorders.
	Team reports a new mouse model to study how the EWS-FLI1 gene causes bone cancer There exist several oncogenes that drive cancer. In many cases, however, the oncogenes themselves are not sufficient and must be complemented with other mutations before cancer develops. Researchers at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, use cell reprogramming technology to revert cancer cells to a stem cell state. The researchers show that dysfunctional differentiation in conjunction with a specific oncogene could explain the cause of certain bone cancers.
A syndrome combining intellectual disability, epilepsy and hypotonia results from the failure of a single gene Each gene variation has the potential to trigger specific defects. Among all genetic conditions, diseases recessive occur only when both the father and the mother are healthy carriers of the same defective gene which can be passed down to their children. This category includes a disease that combines intellectual disability, epilepsy and hypotonia. Researchers at the University of Geneva sequenced the genomes of families presenting these symptoms, and identified the responsible gene: PIGG.
New breast cancer staging system emphasizes importance of tumor biology as prognostic indicator A new breast cancer staging system developed by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center finds that incorporating tumor biology is a critical prognostic indicator for women who undergo neoadjuvant, or pre-surgical, therapy for breast cancer.
Cancer burden can be alleviated by training foreign medical graduates in surgical oncology Many low- and middle-income countries do not have a defined medical specialty in surgical oncology and lack an educational infrastructure to respond to the local burden of cancer, but a Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) fellowship is succeeding in addressing this problem by training foreign medical graduates (FMG) in surgical oncology. Results of the MSKCC oncology fellowship program are reported on in an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication later this year.
Vegans may lack essential nutrient intake, study reports The health benefits of a plant-based diet is well-known, but the question remains: Could vegans be at risk for deficiency of essential nutrients? A retrospective review by Mayo Clinic physicians recently published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association indicated that vegans should ensure adequate intake of a few nutrients.
	Common painkillers are more dangerous than we think Many Danes are prescribed NSAIDs for the treatment of painful conditions, fever and inflammation. But the treatment also comes with side effects, including the risk of ulcers and increased blood pressure. A major new study now gathers all research in the area. This shows that arthritis medicine is particularly dangerous for heart patients, and also that older types of arthritis medicine, which have not previously been in focus, also appear to be dangerous for the heart.
Team helps track down deadly bloodstream infection The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), working with international investigators, have discovered the source of a potential deadly blood infection in more than 50 South American cancer patients.
Novel method for storing and transporting cerebrospinal fluid samples for diagnosis of JEV In resource poor areas patient samples often have to travel long distances for suitable diagnosis. Filter paper is currently used for the storage and transport of dried blood samples, however there is very little research on similarly simple and inexpensive methods for the transport of other diagnostic fluids. This prompted researchers from the Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU) to explore an appropriate storage system of cerebrospinal fluid. Published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, they propose the use of pre-cut filter paper to store samples for detection of anti-Japanese encephalitis virus antibodies from patient cerebrospinal fluid.
High levels of co-infection with pathogens and symbionts in ticks from the Ardennes Ticks are small blood-feeding arachnids that can transmit diseases amongst animals and humans. Researchers from the French National Institute for Agricultural research, INRA studied pathogen species and bacterial symbionts in tick species Ixodes ricinus. Publishing in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, their findings showed all ticks contained symbiotic bacterial species and over half were infected with pathogens. The high level of co-infection with multiple pathogens and symbionts has important implications for diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases.
	How HIV infection increases the risk of tuberculosis One in three people world-wide are thought to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), but most remain well because their immune system keeps the pathogen in check. HIV infection dramatically increases the risk of Mtb infection turning into active tuberculosis (TB), a life-threatening disease. Exactly how HIV infection affects the immune system's ability to suppress active TB is still poorly understood.
	Shared decision-making can improve health care for LGBTQ racial/ethnic minority patients Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) patients who are also racial and ethnic minorities suffer significant health disparities, while facing more complicated challenges than white LGBTQ or racial and ethnic minority patients alone. Now, in a series of three articles published Thursday in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine provide a roadmap to help health providers better understand the unique needs of patients with multiple minority identities who face these overlapping health challenges.
White delinquent youth more likely to abuse hard drugs than blacks Abuse and dependence on "hard drugs" (cocaine, hallucinogen or PCP, opiate, amphetamine and sedatives) are less common among delinquent African American youth than those who are non-Hispanic white, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
In-car breathalyzers for DUI offenders curb drunk-driving deaths by 15 percent State laws that require drivers who've been convicted of drunk driving to pass a breathalyzer-type test before starting their cars saved an estimated 915 lives between 2007 and 2013, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings represent a 15 percent reduction in drunk driving-related deaths compared to states without legislation requiring DUI offenders to use "mandatory ignition interlock."
	Rare form of diabetes may require alternate treatment Patients with a rare, genetic form of diabetes often are misdiagnosed as having type 2 diabetes because the two share symptoms.
	More healthy foods offered in school lunches, study finds (HealthDay)—American kids are getting more healthy food choices in school lunches, a new study finds.
	Vitamin D may help avert early onset of insulin resistance (HealthDay)—Early intervention with vitamin D in deficient individuals may help ward off early onset of insulin resistance, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Significant changes in liver blood flow with prone positioning (HealthDay)—Prone positioning is associated with significant changes in hepatocellular function and cardiac output in healthy volunteers, according to research published online March 7 in Anaesthesia.
	Diabetes management program doesn't cut disparities in care (HealthDay)—A telephone-based disease management program delivered by a disease management vendor is ineffective in reducing racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes care, according to a study published online March 10 in Diabetes Care.
	Leave-on facial products linked to frontal fibrosing alopecia (HealthDay)—Leave-on facial skin care products seem to be associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), according to a study published online March 14 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Spending on prescription meds up about 5 percent in 2015 (HealthDay)—Spending on prescription medications for insured Americans increased about 5 percent in 2015, with the increase half of that seen in 2014, the Associated Press reported.
	Non-HIV-related kaposi sarcoma in BRAFi-treated patient (HealthDay)—In a case report published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, researchers document non-HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma in a male patient with myasthenia gravis and metastatic melanoma treated with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib.
	Many cases of MERS-CoV are health care-associated (HealthDay)—Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) infections are frequently associated with health care settings, according to a report published in the April issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
	No added benefits with laser in cataract sx + toric lens insertion (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing toric intraocular lens insertion, visual outcomes are similar for femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (LCS) and phacoemulsification cataract surgery (PCS), according to research published online March 6 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
Two Washington hospitals urge HIV tests after syringe swap Two hospitals in Washington state are the latest to urge nearly 1,500 patients to get tested for hepatitis and HIV after a former surgery technician was charged with stealing and swapping a syringe in Colorado.
Partial restoration of irradiation-damaged salivary function following Shh gene delivery Today at the 45th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research, researcher Fei Liu, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, USA, will present a study titled "Partial Restoration of Irradiation-Damaged Salivary Function Following Shh Gene Delivery." The AADR Annual Meeting is being held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.
Documenting obesity and underweight in clinical dental settings A hands-on workshop titled "Documenting Obesity and Underweight in Clinical Dental Settings" will take place today at the 45th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research. The AADR Annual Meeting is being held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.
Systemic antibody responses to oral bacteria with aging Today at the 45th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research, researcher Jeffrey Ebersole, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA, will present a study titled "Systemic Antibody Responses to Oral Bacteria with Aging." The AADR Annual Meeting is being held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.
16 disciplined after Singapore hospital hepatitis C outbreak Sixteen people have been disciplined in Singapore for a hepatitis C outbreak in the city-state's largest hospital last year that left at least seven patients dead, officials said Thursday.
	The science of breathing Deep breaths are the simplest foundation of any meditation or yoga practice. But what happens neurologically when you inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth is a bit more complex.
	Discovery of gene locus associated with cardiovascular disease raises hope of new treatments An international team of researchers has discovered a gene locus that could help the development of new drugs to fight cardiovascular disease (CVD). The locus is associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which plays a causal role in the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Remote intervention of children's disruptive behaviour yields effective results Training parents online and over the telephone significantly decreased preschool children's disruptive behaviour, shows the new Strongest Families study from the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry at the University of Turku. The intervention programme decreased children's aggressiveness, noncompliant behaviour, ADHD symptoms, and emotional problems as well as strengthened their ability to feel empathy.
A pharmacological approach to improving pancreatic beta cell growth and function β cells in pancreatic islets are responsible for producing insulin, which is essential to regulate blood glucose homeostasis. In type 1 diabetes, pancreatic β cells are destroyed due to an autoimmune attack, whereas in type 2 diabetes, pancreatic β cells may have deficiencies in secreting insulin or insulin-responding tissues can become insulin resistant.
High viral load in HIV-infected individuals underlies innate immune cell dysfunction Individuals infected with HIV exhibit both severe immune deficiency and aberrant inflammation, resulting in susceptibility to secondary infection as the disease progresses. HIV-associated deficiencies in adaptive immune responses have been well described; however, the effects of HIV on innate immune responses are not fully understood.
Identification of a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of myeloid stem cells that develops in both adult and pediatric populations. Mutations that cause hyperactivation of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) are commonly found in AML, and several clinical trials are testing FLT3 inhibitors. However, resistance to FLT3 inhibitors can develop, highlighting the need for additional approaches to treating AML.
Cox2 inhibition improves preeclampsia symptoms in a mouse model Preeclampsia is characterized by elevated blood pressure in the second half of pregnancy and impaired blood flow to the placenta, which increases the risk of premature birth and pregnancy complications.
The genetic determinants of symptoms in a rare chromosomal deletion disorder Individuals with 2p15p16.1 microdeletion syndrome present with intellectual disability, microcephaly, delayed growth, dysmorphic craniofacial features, and digital abnormalities. The precise genetic region responsible for this syndrome has been challenging to identify. However, recent reports indicate that 4 genes (XPO1, USP34, BCL11A, and REL) are commonly deleted in this syndrome.
A molecular subtype of bladder cancer resembles breast cancer Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men in the United States. While low-grade tumors have a very favorable prognosis, muscle-invasive and metastatic tumors have poorer survival rates.
Lamprey-derived antibody specifically recognizes human plasma cells Antibody-secreting plasma cells arise from B cell precursors and are essential for adaptive immune responses against invading pathogens. Plasma cell dysfunction is associated with autoimmune and neoplastic disorders, including multiple myeloma. Surface markers that are specific to plasma cells have not been identified and antibodies that only recognize these cells have been challenging to generate using conventional systems.
	How 'salt' MRI scans could give a clearer picture of disease A novel technique to use the body's natural sodium (salt) content to provide a more detailed picture of tissue health and disease is to be pioneered by MRI experts at The University of Nottingham.
1st Puerto Rico woman with Zika gives birth to healthy baby Officials in Puerto Rico say the first pregnant woman on the island infected with Zika has given birth to a healthy baby.
	West Africa, Ebola and the threat of Zika Rapid testing for the Zika virus is a critical need in the recent Ebola-affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, says a Georgetown University professor, because of the recent Zika outbreak on nearby Cape Verde and the similarity in symptoms between Zika and early Ebola.
Court approves Ontario's 1st doctor-assisted death A Canadian judge on Thursday agreed that doctors may help a terminally ill man die, the first case in Ontario and the third in the country where someone has pursued an exemption to the law on assisted suicide under a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Chile lawmakers authorize abortion in limited cases Lawmakers in Chile's lower house of Congress on Thursday approved abortion in limited circumstances, the first step towards lifting a decades-long ban on the practice in the socially conservative South American country.
	More young Americans support gay adoption: survey (HealthDay)—Young Americans increasingly favor adoption rights for gays and lesbians, with three-quarters of females and two-thirds of males now voicing support, according to a new government report.
	Specialized nursing care needs assessment model developed for pediatric patients with complex conditions Recent medical advances have resulted in increased survival of children with complex medical conditions (CMC), such as cerebral palsy, complex chromosomal anomalies, major congenital heart diseases and respiratory disease.
	Harvard launches ResearchKit app to support football player health The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University—a series of studies that examine the health and well-being of former football players and aims to develop more effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions—today launched TeamStudy, an iPhone research app built using ResearchKit, the open source software framework designed by Apple.
PERK-opathies: Stress mechanism underlying neurodegeneration A major challenge in the field of neurodegeneration is the unclear understanding of neuronal dysfunction. Elucidation of these patho-mechanisms could result in the identification of novel therapeutic targets. In this article, Bell et al. present an exhaustive literature review highlighting the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase PERK as a crucial contributor to systemic and neurodegenerative disorders. While the impact of PERK in various systemic diseases has been well characterized, its involvement in neurodegeneration is established to a lesser extent. PERK, and its downstream substrate eIF2?, are pathologically, genetically, and molecularly linked to several neurodegenerative disorders.

Biology news

	Plants host fungi on demand For a long time, it was thought that the sole role of the immune system was to distinguish between friend and foe and to fend off pathogens. In fact, it is more like a microbial management system that is also involved in accommodating beneficial microorganisms in the plant when required. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne in collaboration with an international consortium of other laboratories discovered this relationship between the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, or thale cress, and the fungus Colletotrichum tofieldiae. The plant tolerates the fungus when it needs help in obtaining soluble phosphate from the soil and rejects the microbe if it can accomplish this task on its own.
	Evolution meets biochemistry to better understand how dopamine receptors work Proteins are molecular machines that carry out most of the work performed by the cells in the body, but when proteins fail at doing their job disease usually follows. To perform their functions, proteins need to maintain a particular structure and specific motions, and how proteins achieve that is still not completely understood. In an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine researchers have contributed a new piece to the puzzle that helps explain how proteins maintain their structure and function, and opens the possibility for better drug designs.
	Drug makes stem cells become 'embryonic' again If you want to harness the full power of stem cells, all you might need is an eraser.
	For first time, scientists use CRISPR-Cas9 to target RNA in live cells The genetic code stored in DNA determines everything from the color of our eyes to our susceptibility to disease. This has motivated scientists to sequence the human genome and develop ways to alter the genetic code, but many diseases are linked to a different fundamental molecule: RNA. As the intermediary genetic material that carries the genetic code from the cell's nucleus, scientists have long sought an efficient method for targeting RNA in living cells. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have now achieved this by applying the popular DNA-editing technique CRISPR-Cas9 to RNA.
	Could bread mold build a better rechargeable battery? You probably don't think much of fungi, and especially those that turn bread moldy, but researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on March 17, 2016 have evidence that might just change your mind. Their findings suggest that a red bread mold could be the key to producing more sustainable electrochemical materials for use in rechargeable batteries.
	New cytoplasmic role for proteins linked to neurological diseases, cancers Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a second role for a class of RNA-binding proteins, revealing new insights about neurological diseases and conditions associated with this protein such as autism, epilepsy, and certain types of cancer.
	Researchers generate whole-genome map of fruit fly genetic recombination As eggs and sperm, or gametes, are formed during meiosis, chromosomes carrying the genetic material from each parent must find their partners, pair, and exchange parts of their DNA. This recombination is an important driving force behind genetic variability and evolution, but most importantly, it ensures that chromosomes move properly during the subsequent divisions that form these gametes. When recombination doesn't go smoothly, it can cause a number of problems in humans, including miscarriages and birth defects.
	'FARC frog' caught up in Colombian conflict The little green frog's natural camouflage reminded the professor who discovered it of the guerrilla fighters hiding out in the very same Colombian forest.
	In death, a crow's big brain fires up memory, learning For nearly every step of his almost 12-mile walk, Darryl Dyer has company. Flocks of crows follow him, signaling each other, because they all know that he's the guy with the peanuts.
	Snub-nosed monkeys—conservation challenges in the face of environmental uncertainty Snub-nosed moneys provide an excellent example of adaptive radiation and display uncommon ecological adaptations. They live along an elevation gradient from near sea level to beyond 4500 m. Habitats differ according to elevation, and monkey's behaviour and ecology vary accordingly. R. avunculus are endemic to northern Vietnam, and found in subtropical forests on steep karst limestone. They are completely arboreal.
	Using microbial consortia may boost success of biotechnologies Around the world, researchers are studying microbes to see if these tiny organisms can be used to solve a host of problems, from cleaning up toxic waste to providing renewable energy. Unfortunately, attempts to develop biotechnologies often fall short because they focus on a limited set of single, highly engineered organisms. Such organisms frequently do not perform as efficiently or stably in an application as they do in the laboratory.
	The ocean's Twilight Zone can feed the world, but at what cost ? Life in the Twilight Zone constitutes a huge potential source of fishmeal and omega 3 fatty acids that could feed the world's population. However, it exists in an unregulated space where there are no rules for fishing. And there exists a lack of understanding of the biological processes in the Twilight Zone making it impossible to accurately estimate the fishing pressure the stocks can sustain.
	Scientists track down origin of bats killed by wind turbines using chemical fingerprints Wind energy is a growing alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels. However, one impact of large-scale wind energy development has been widespread mortality of bats. A new study from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science tracks down the origin of bats killed by wind turbines in the Appalachian region in hopes of better understanding the risks to affected populations.
Female animals look drab to avoid sexual harassment, study shows A new explanation for why female animals are usually less colourful and decorated than their male counterparts has been suggested by scientists from the University of Exeter - it could be to avoid sexual harassment.
	Microbes protect plants with plant hormones Researchers from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at University of Copenhagen have for the first time demonstrated that the production of a plant hormone by a beneficial microbe is protecting a plant from a pathogenic microbe by inducing plant resistance. The application potential within integrated plant protection strategies is significant. The findings are published in Scientific Reports.
	Nature conservation areas no haven for butterflies What do the brimstone, meadow brown and small heath butterfly species have in common? All of them are rather habitat specialists, with no specific ecological demands, they tend to have modest requirements when it comes to habitats and larval host plants. They are also more resistant to nitrogen pollution than sensitive habitat specialists, which are going extinct - even in nature conservation areas.
'Rejuvenation factor' Zscan4 is expressed in response to telomere shortening Scientists from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB) in Kobe, Japan, have discovered that Zscan4, a protein believed to be involved in the development of pluripotency in stem cells, is actually a repair mechanism triggered by the shortening of telomeres that takes place during cell division.
	Our gut microbiome is always changing; it's also remarkably stable Turnover is to be expected in the gut—as soon as one bacterium leaves, another is ready to divide and take its place. The question, explored in a Review published March 17 in Trends in Microbiology, part of a special issue on microbial endurance, is how our gut remains healthy under this constantly enacted succession plan. A growing body of research indicates that different species of microbes fulfil the same functions in the gut, ensuring stability in the face of constant disturbance.
Adversity forges unlikely friendship between hyenas, wolves It is often true in life that adversity makes humans more likely to lean on one another.
	Biodiesel from sugarcane more economical than soybean America's oil consumption far exceeds that of every other country in the world. What's more, it's unsustainable. Therefore, in 2007, Congress mandated a move away from petroleum-based oils toward more renewable sources. Soybeans, an important dietary protein and the current primary source of plant-based oils used for biodiesel production, only yield about one barrel per acre. At this rate, the soybean crop could never quench the nation's thirst for oil.
	Seabird die-off takes twist with carcasses in Alaska lake Lake Iliamna in Alaska is North America's eighth-largest lake, but nobody would mistake it for the Pacific Ocean. Not even a seabird.
	New golden frog species discovered in Colombia A team of scientists including a Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) research associate announced the discovery of a new species of pale-gold colored frog from the cloud forests of the high Andes in Colombia. Its name, Pristimantis dorado, commemorates both its color (dorado means 'golden' in Spanish) and El Dorado, a mythical city of gold eagerly sought for centuries by Spanish conquistadores in South America.
	Ancient grains make healthful, tasty cookies More people are becoming aware of the health benefits of ancient grains and seeds, such as amaranth and chia seeds, but incorporating them into one's diet is not always easy. That could change in the near future as Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists explore the physical properties of these foods, blending mixtures to make treats like sugar cookies that are tasty and good for your health.
Methodology for authenticating canned tuna species within 24 hours AZTI-Tecnalia, the R&D centre based on marine and food research, has developed a new method to authenticate canned tuna, which allows you to check if a product is albacore tuna, yellowfin or bigeye tuna, and others tuna species within 24 hours.
	SeaWorld to stop breeding killer whales Marine theme-park giant SeaWorld announced Thursday it will stop breeding orcas, also known as killer whales, and will no longer keep any of the giant sea creatures in captivity after its current generation dies.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com