Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 15

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 15, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Europe-Russia mission departs on hunt for life on Mars (Update 3)
- Four new giant planets detected around giant stars
- Fundamentally accurate quantum thermometer created
- 400,000-year-old fossils from Spain provide earliest genetic evidence of Neandertals
- Mathematician pair find prime numbers aren't as random as thought
- Researchers turn carbon dioxide into sustainable concrete
- Sharkskin actually increases drag
- Gene fault identified in people with schizophrenia
- Fairy circles found in Australian outback
- New way to harvest stem cells better for donors
- Laser beams with a 'twist'
- Site of 1503 shipwreck tied to Vasco da Gama found off Oman
- Microbes may not be so adaptable to climate change
- Geologists discover how Australia's highest mountain was created
- Detecting radioactive material from a remote distance

Astronomy & Space news

	Europe-Russia mission departs on hunt for life on Mars (Update 3) A joint European-Russian mission aiming to search for traces of life on Mars left Earth's orbit Monday at the start of a seven-month unmanned journey to the Red Planet, space agency managers said.
	Four new giant planets detected around giant stars (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of four new giant exoplanets orbiting stars much bigger than our sun. The newly detected alien worlds are enormous, with masses from 2.4 to 5.5 the mass of Jupiter and have very long orbital periods ranging from nearly two to slightly more than four Earth years. The findings were published on Mar. 11 in a research paper available online at arXiv.org.
	Space travel rules needed within five years: UN The UN aviation agency called on Tuesday for regulations on space travel to be enacted within five years in order to bolster a burgeoning space tourism and transportation sector.
	ExoMars on its way to solve the Red Planet's mysteries The first of two joint ESA-Roscosmos missions to Mars has begun a seven-month journey to the Red Planet, where it will address unsolved mysteries of the planet's atmosphere that could indicate present-day geological – or even biological – activity.
	Stunning conjunction of Mars and Beta Scorpii this week Planets can sneak up on you. Especially the ones that don't rise till you're in bed. Take Mars for instance. It's been ambling east along the morning zodiac all winter long; today it enters Scorpius, rising around 1:30 a.m. Not two days later, the planet will have a spectacularly close conjunction with Beta Scorpii, the topmost star in the scorpion's head.
	What are the different kinds of supernovae? There are a few places in the universe that defy comprehension. And supernovae have got to be the most extreme places you can imagine. We're talking about a star with potentially dozens of times the size and mass of our own sun that violently dies in a faction of a second.
	Zadko telescope and Parkes 'dish' join hunt for mystery radio flashes The University of Western Australia's Zadko Telescope and the Parkes Radio Telescope have joined forces in a new mission involving an international team of radio astronomers to hunt for mystery radio bursts in the universe.

Technology news

	Google's AlphaGo gets 'divine' Go ranking Google's artificial intelligence (AI) program AlphaGo has been awarded the highest Go grandmaster rank, reserved for those whose ability at the ancient board game borders on "divinity", South Korea's Go Association said Tuesday.
	Amazon seeks patent for buying items with a look Online retail colossus Amazon is seeking a US patent on using selfies—instead of passwords—for shopping when using smartphones.
	Google computer wins final game against S. Korean Go master A Google-developed computer programme had the last word Tuesday in its machine vs human challenge with South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se-Dol, winning the final game for a sweeping 4-1 series victory.
	Philips white bulbs enable controls for dimmed or energizing light Sunny days are easily linked to feelings of well being; gloomy days with no sun in sight are accordingly linked to feelings of sadness. That's the easy part. People who work night shifts have a more complex problem of missing out on light when it would be most beneficial and getting too much light when it would not be beneficial. In other words, their internal clocks suffer.
	Smartwatches can now track your finger in mid-air using sonar As mobile and wearable devices such as smartwatches grow smaller, it gets tougher for people to interact with screens the size of a matchbook.
	VR on the cheap: How to watch without a headset Hollywood studios, news outlets and consumer brands are all dabbling with virtual reality. Many everyday folks will soon join them using 360-degree cameras coming soon from Samsung and LG.
	Study shows how more R&D funding can accelerate the world energy revolution "Most people know we are frying the planet," says MIT economist Daron Acemoglu, referring to the effects of climate change.
	Google reveals 77 percent of its online traffic is encrypted Google is disclosing how much of the traffic to its search engine and other services is being protected from hackers as part of its push to encrypt all online activity.
	Robotics expert: Self-driving cars not ready for deployment (Update) Self-driving cars are "absolutely not" ready for widespread deployment despite a rush to put them to put them on the road, a robotics expert warned Tuesday.
	Opinion: Five years after Fukushima, there are big lessons for nuclear disaster liability As four reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant suffered catastrophic cooling failures and exploded in March 2011, the world watched in disbelief. For Japan, this was not just the greatest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. It was "the most severe crisis … since World War II."
Using the wisdom of the crowd to improve design The internet has given almost everyone a very public voice and a chance to offer their opinion on almost every subject in a way that was not possible before.
	Human Go champ says machine not superior despite 1:4 defeat Game not over? Human Go champion Lee Sedol says Google's Go-playing program AlphaGo is not yet superior to humans, despite its 4:1 victory in a match that ended Tuesday.
	UK's contentious online spying law passes test in Parliament (Update) A proposed British law that gives police and spies unprecedented powers to look at the Internet browsing records of everyone in the country passed its first major vote in Parliament on Tuesday.
	Scientists unveil robot that makes plant grafting a snap A machine with hands of steel has revolutionized the speed and efficiency of the once-tedious process of plant grafting.
GM, Lyft launch car rental program for drivers General Motors and Lyft on Tuesday unveiled a joint car rental service for drivers, a move aimed at boosting the number of vehicles available for the ridesharing rival to Uber.
	Industry calls for fast lane for self-driving cars (Update) Google, Lyft and auto industry executives urged lawmakers Tuesday to help create a regulatory fast lane to help the deployment of self-driving cars.
Lord & Taylor settles charges of deceptive Instagram posts Lord & Taylor will settle U.S. charges that it deceived customers when it paid for Instagram posts and also a website article to promote a new clothing line without disclosing that they were advertisements.
Universities team up to pursue energy innovation Four leading research universities are joining forces to accelerate innovations to address challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector.
	Researchers seek ways to extract rare earth minerals from coal With supplies growing scarce of essential materials needed to make products ranging from smart phones to windmills, Virginia Tech researchers are working with academic and industry partners in a $1 million pilot project to recover rare earth elements from coal.

Medicine & Health news

	Complex learning dismantles barriers in the brain Biology lessons teach us that the brain is divided into separate areas, each of which processes a specific sense. But findings to be published in eLife show we can supercharge it to be more flexible.
New method reveals roles of GABA in the control of appetite and metabolism In the last 40 years, obesity has more than doubled around the world. In the United States, the average American is more than 24 pounds heavier today than in 1960. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the University of Washington are studying the problem of obesity from the inside out.
	Cancer cells remodel their environment to make it easier to reach nearby blood vessels A new study from MIT reveals how cancer cells take some of their first steps away from their original tumor sites. This spread, known as metastasis, is responsible for 90 percent of cancer deaths.
'Nano-sensing' drives melanoma cells' invasion A new study sheds light on how melanoma cells change from benign to malignant, and how the complex interaction between the cells and their surrounding environment affects outcomes of the cancer.
	Global study reveals genes as major cause of inflammatory diseases A global study involving 50 different research centres has found hundreds of genes which cause five common, hard-to-treat and debilitating inflammatory diseases, paving the way to new treatments for these conditions.
	Gene fault identified in people with schizophrenia (Medical Xpress)—A large team of researchers from the U.S., Sweden, Finland and the U.K. has identified a gene fault that appears to be unique to people with schizophrenia and other neural diseases. In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team describes the large genomic study they undertook that included people with and without the disorder and what they found in doing so.
	New way to harvest stem cells better for donors Australian scientists have developed a new method for harvesting stem cells, which is less invasive and reduces side effects for donors.
	Mindfulness meditation provides opioid-free pain relief, study finds Everyone knows that stubbing your toe hurts. What makes it stop hurting is the body's main pain-blocking process - the natural production of opioids.
	Just made a bad decision? Perhaps anxiety is to blame Most people experience anxiety in their lives. For some, it is just a bad, passing feeling, but, for many, anxiety rules their day-to-day lives, even to the point of taking over the decisions they make.
	Dopamine key to vocal learning, songbird study finds The neurotransmitter dopamine is essential to correcting vocal mistakes, suggests a study on Bengalese finches. The Journal of Neuroscience published the research, led by Emory biologist Samuel Sober, who uses Bengalese finches as a model to understand how the brain learns.
Shots for other viruses offer clues in race for Zika vaccine Scientists are racing to create a Zika vaccine, and while they're starting from scratch against a poorly understood disease, copying shots for similar viruses offers a head start.
	Long hours at the office may raise your heart disease risk: study (HealthDay)—Working long hours may raise your risk of heart disease, a new study suggests.
	Two-dose chickenpox shot gets the job done, study shows (HealthDay)—Among school children, two doses of the chickenpox vaccine is better than one, a new study finds.
	Still tired after getting your zzz's? You might have sleep apnea (HealthDay)—Many Americans will be feeling sleepy in the days after Daylight Saving Time starts. But some people with sleep apnea wake up feeling exhausted every morning.
	E-consultations can improve access to, timeliness of care (HealthDay)—Electronic consultation (e-consultation), an asynchronous, non-face-to-face consultation between a primary care physician and a specialist, can improve access to care and reduce wait times, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Early-term delivery may not up adverse neonatal outcomes (HealthDay)—Elective early-term deliveries may not be associated with increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes, according to a study published in the April issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Antihyperglycemic medication prescribing trends are changing (HealthDay)—Trends indicate a reduction in glyburide and thiazolidinedione prescriptions and increases in gliclazide and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor prescriptions among older adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, according to a study published online March 4 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	HIIT may be most effective exercise method for obese youth (HealthDay)—For obese youth, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) appears to be more effective for improving blood pressure and aerobic capacity than other forms of exercise, according to a meta-analysis published online March 7 in Obesity Reviews.
	Antioxidant-pregabalin cuts pain in chronic calcific pancreatitis (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis (CCP), antioxidant-pregabalin combination is associated with significant pain reduction, according to a study published online March 6 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Few care management processes used for depression (HealthDay)—U.S. primary care practices use less than one care management process for depression, on average, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
Top researchers advocate united actions to fight Alzheimer's disease To meet the challenge of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, a concerted effort and long-term economic commitment is needed, according to a new expert report by internationally leading researchers in the field. The journal Lancet Neurology devotes its entire April issue to a detailed overview and recommendations about how patient care, as well as basic and clinical research on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias should be organised in the future. The report will be presented at a workshop hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels on March 15, during the Brain Awareness Week 2016
Report highlights huge problems faced by parents of children with autism Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face severe challenges in accessing adequate services, according to a survey of hundreds of parents in the United Kingdom.
To increase group exercise, study suggests rewarding the individual and the team Financial incentives aimed at increasing physical activity among teams are most effective when the incentives are rewarded for a combination of individual and team performance, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study, which examined the effectiveness of offering monetary rewards as part of workplace wellness programs, showed that people offered "a combined incentive" were nearly twice likely to achieve their goals as a control group. People rewarded based on only individual or team performance were no more likely to increase exercise than the control group who did not receive any incentives. Results are published today in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
MRI helps predict preterm birth MRI of the cervix is more accurate than ultrasound at predicting if some women will have a preterm birth, according to a new study from Italy appearing in the online edition of Radiology.
	Network of germ sleuths heads off nearly 276,000 foodborne illnesses a year An elderly woman in Phoenix. A Toledo toddler. An accountant in Indianapolis. All poisoned by food. Quickly uncovering that their illnesses are connected can make all the difference in halting a deadly outbreak.
New research shows growing up in poor neighborhoods increases likelihood of obesity A new study from the University of Colorado Denver shows the length of time children and young adults live in poor neighborhoods is associated with obesity later in life.
	More doctors are prescribing exercise instead of medication When Dr. Michelle Johnson scribbles out prescriptions, the next stop for many of her patients is the gym, not the pharmacy.
Busted: France, Canada have most teen pot smokers France and Canada have the highest percentage of 15-year-old pot smokers among 42 well-off nations surveyed by the World Health Organization, the UN agency said in a report Tuesday.
	Environment behind nearly quarter of global deaths: WHO One in four deaths worldwide are due to environmental factors like air, water and soil pollution, as well as unsafe roads and workplace stress, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
Youth in well-off nations smoke, drink less than in 2010: WHO The number of teenagers trying alcohol or cigarettes before they turn 14 has dropped, especially among girls, according to a World Health Organization study of 42 well-off nations.
Niger fights back against 'curse' of fistula "I was at death's door. I'd just lost my child who was stillborn and my husband abandoned me," recalls Hadiza Zakaria who suffered a fistula while pregnant—a condition seen as a curse in Niger.
	Gene explains why some people are sleepy and sad University of California researchers have found a genetic explanation for why some chipper early birds turn glum in the wintertime.
	Pregnant mother's weight, glucose and blood pressure affect baby's size Being overweight or obese in pregnancy causes babies to be born larger, according to new research. The study, led by the universities of Exeter and Bristol, also found that having higher blood glucose (sugar) during pregnancy causes babies to be born larger. Conversely, having higher blood pressure in pregnancy causes babies to be smaller.
A global increase in antioxidant defenses of the body may delay aging and its diseases The gradual accumulation of cell damage plays a very important role in the origin of ageing. There are many sources of cellular damage, however, which ones are really responsible for ageing and which ones are inconsequential for ageing is a question that still lacks an answer.
	Children in intensive care recover faster with little to no nutrition Critically ill children are artificially fed soon after their arrival in intensive care. This common practice is based on the assumption that it will help them recover more quickly. An international study coordinated at KU Leuven, Belgium, has now disproven this theory. The study shows that receiving little to no nutrition during the first week in intensive care makes children recover faster.
	Opinion: Why are we becoming so narcissistic? Here's the science The subject of narcissism has intrigued people for centuries, but social scientists now claim that it has become a modern "epidemic". So what is it, what has led to its increase, and is there anything we can do about it?
	Helping to stop colorectal cancer by identifying metastasis chances early Colorectal cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States, is not a commonly discussed disease. Often symptomless in early stages, the cancer is more difficult to treat as it progresses, requiring chemotherapy in later stages. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are working on a way to identify patients who would benefit from chemotherapy before the cancer progresses.
	Good news! You're likely burning more calories than you thought when you're walking Walking is the most common exercise, and many walkers like to count how many calories are burned.
	First prosthesis with direct connection to bone, nerves and muscles The first prosthesis in the world that connects directly to the bone, nerves and muscles, allows users to experience sensations, offers free mobility and is controlled via brain/computer interface.
	Fast detection of Dengue virus with new diagnostic Fast detection for Dengue virus is possible based on an innovative label free immunosensor. The novel immunosensor with antibody-nanoparticle hybrid design offers high selectivity and sensitivity for Dengue virus NS1 biomarker diagnosis in sera sample.
	Binge drinkers main offenders New research analysing the alcohol consumption habits of more than 100,000 Australians over a decade has found that regular binge drinkers are up to 30 per cent more likely to commit drink-driving offenses, vandalism or violence.
	Study affirms treating insomnia may ease migraines Even relatively brief sessions with a sleep therapist may prove useful in relieving the frequency of migraines for chronic sufferers, concludes a study conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi.
	Humanoid robot works in therapy for children with autism Children with autism have special difficulty in expressing emotions, usually have no social skills and face major problems when communicating. In order to help children with this problem learn to recognize facial expressions, a group of researchers at the Tec de Monterrey in Mexico have created a robot using artificial intelligence.
	How the world stopped Ebola New research has found the successful end to the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa was due to a coordinated response and the accepted traditional measures of control used in past outbreaks.
A 'light' approach to healing wounds moves closer to market It's not unusual for patients with spinal cord injuries to develop pressure ulcers from sitting long periods in wheelchairs. Because the patients cannot feel them, the sores become severe by the time they are noticed.
	Autism clinic helps teens thrive By most measures, Noah Stone is a typical high school senior. He loves writing short stories and playing video games with friends, and he spent last fall working on college applications.
'Acceptable risk' is a better way to think about radiation exposure in Fukushima On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan experienced multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns as a consequence of an earthquake and a subsequent tsunami. The meltdowns resulted in the release of radioactivity into the environment and 150,000 people were evacuated from their homes specifically due to radiation concerns.
Reduction in dietary diversity impacts richness of human gut microbiota Changes in farming practices over the last 50 years have resulted in decreased agro-diversity which, in turn, has resulted in decreased dietary diversity. The significant impact of this change in dietary richness on human health is the topic of an insightful perspective in Molecular Metabolism by Mark Heiman, MicroBiome Therapeutics and Frank Greenway, Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Mothers with postnatal depression reluctant to have more than two children Mothers who have postnatal depression are unlikely to have more than two children according to research carried out by evolutionary anthropologists the University of Kent and published by Evolution, Medicine and Public Health.
When memories age To the brain, it makes a great difference whether we remember experiences from long ago, or if we recollect recent events. RUB neuroscientists have shown that distinct brain networks are involved.
Antibiotic resistance—it's a social thing Trace concentrations of antibiotic, such as those found in sewage outfalls, are enough to enable bacteria to keep antibiotic resistance, new research from the University of York has found. The concentrations are much lower than previously anticipated, and help to explain why antibiotic resistance is so persistent in the environment.
The next step in preventing diabetes A team of scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München, in collaboration with Technische Universität München and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), have shown in a preclinical model that specifically modified insulin mimetopes may lead to an immune tolerance. The results, published in Nature Communications, may be a step to improved prevention of type 1 diabetes.
	What bloodsucking 'kissing bugs' like to eat Researchers have overturned a century old assumption that "kissing bugs" only feed on blood. The Latin American insects are named after their habit of night time feeding on the face of the victim, often spreading the deadly Chagas disease.
	Breastfeeding peer supporters need to feel valued Voluntary peer supporters who help new mothers with breastfeeding need to feel valued by their organisation to make their service sustainable, according to a study by Plymouth University.
Omega-3 fatty acids shown to exert a positive effect on the aging brain Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin were able to show that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improves memory function in humans. They studied the effects of supplementation with natural omega-3 fatty acids in healthy older adults over a period of six months. Results from the study, which show that supplementation leads to significant improvements in memory function, have been published in the current issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Study finds racial differences in smoking patterns, screening New research from the Yale School of Public Health reveals that differences in smoking habits between African Americans and whites may lead to a disparity in screening for lung cancer.
Using generic cancer drug could save many millions of dollars With the expiration in January of the patent on Gleevec, the drug that 15 years ago changed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a death sentence to a treatable illness, insurance companies and patients have the opportunity to realize huge cost savings, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.
	Certain plant extracts may keep you young—and alive Even though the search for the Fountain of Youth dates back to the ancient Greeks, the quest to live forever continues today. Indeed, it has been said that the ability to slow the aging process would be the most important medical discovery in the modern era.
Conservatives and liberals do think differently Big differences in the ways conservatives and liberals think about solving the nation's most pressing problems couldn't be more apparent during this presidential election cycle.
Substantial proportion of US measles cases intentionally unvaccinated An analysis of numerous studies and reports finds that unvaccinated or undervaccinated individuals comprised substantial proportions of cases in measles and some pertussis outbreaks, and vaccine refusal was associated with an elevated risk for measles and pertussis, including among fully vaccinated individuals, according to a study appearing in the March 15 issue of JAMA.
Treatment lessens cerebral damage following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Among comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, treatment with inhaled xenon gas combined with hypothermia, compared with hypothermia alone, resulted in less white matter damage; however, there was no significant difference in neurological outcomes or death at 6 months, according to a study appearing in the March 15 issue of JAMA.
Examination of effect of CMS policy to suppress substance abuse claims data In a study appearing in the March 15 issue of JAMA, Kathryn Rough, Sc.M., of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues examined the association between implementation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suppression policy of substance abuse-related claims and rates of diagnoses for non­substance abuse conditions in Medicaid data.
Study suggests reduced immunosuppression drug dose may be best for kidney transplant outcomes The kidney is the most commonly transplanted organ in the United States, with more than 17,000 transplants performed each year. Following kidney transplant, patients are routinely placed on a regimen of immunosuppressant medications to prevent organ rejection, which often includes calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) as the backbone medication of this regimen. However, questions remain about the best use of these drugs to strike the balance between preventing rejection and avoiding drug-related complications. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in partnership with ECRI Institute under the ECRI Institute-Penn Medicine Evidence-based Practice Center contract, investigated four immunosuppression strategies and found that many patients might benefit from a lower-than-standard dose of CNIs. Their findings are detailed in a study published this week in the American Journal of Transplantation, with additional research included online in an extended Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) report.
Misleading p-values showing up more often in biomedical journal articles, study finds A review of p-values in the biomedical literature from 1990 to 2015 shows that these widely misunderstood statistics are being used increasingly, instead of better metrics of effect size or uncertainty.
A boost in microRNA may protect against obesity and diabetes Obesity, which is associated with low-grade inflammation, is an important contributor in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While the role of several organs including adipose tissue have been implicated in this process, the cell types and factors driving this process have not been clear. Using a pre-clinical model of obesity, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have discovered that a small, non-coding RNA molecule called miR-181b is an important determinant of obesity-induced changes in adipose tissue by controlling the function of the vessels in adipose tissue. The findings could point toward new targets for the development of treatment or obesity and diabetes. The study is published in the March 4 edition of Circulation Research.
Study reveals scope of Western drug testing in East Germany Major Western drug companies conducted hundreds of clinical tests on citizens of communist East Germany during the Cold War, a report released Tuesday said, but dismissed charges of widespread ethical abuses.
	Scientists discover microbiome that may be responsible for male reproductive disorders Research shows that bacteria can be beneficial to body processes such as digestion; however, some bacteria housed in the human body may cause disease. These specialized communities of bacteria in the body are known as microbiomes. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered a microbiome in the male reproductive tract in mice that harbors harmful bacteria that may negatively influence reproductive function and health of males. Bacteria found in this specialized microbiome may pass from father to offspring, where it may program later disease risk, such as obesity. In fathers, some bacteria may initiate diseases, such as prostatitis, that can result in later prostate cancer.
Scientists identify molecular markers of kidney transplant rejection Despite advances in organ transplant medicine in recent decades, about half of all kidney transplant patients still lose their organ to rejection within 10 years.
Mismatched expectations most common reason for patients not completing HPV vaccine series Conflicting expectations between parents and medical providers about who is responsible for scheduling follow-up appointments is resulting in a failure of young girls completing the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination series, according to a new study led by Boston Medical Center researchers. The study, which is published online ahead of print in the journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, involved interviews with both parents and providers in order to determine why, despite the known benefits of the vaccine, patients are not receiving all three doses.
	The sounds of eating may reduce how much you eat New doctor's orders: No earbuds, no music, and no watching TV while eating.
	Post-traumatic stress disorder seen in many adults living with congenital heart disease Adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD) may have a significantly higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than people in the general population.
	CDC guidelines aim to curb painkiller prescribing Prescription painkillers should not be a first choice for treating common ailments like back pain and arthritis, according to new federal guidelines designed to reshape how doctors prescribe drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin.
	What patients can do when doctors opt for risky painkillers New federal guidelines are out for doctors who prescribe power prescription painkillers, aimed at curbing their abuse and addiction. Experts say there are things patients can do to guard against problems.
Planned repeat C-section not linked to worse child health than vaginal birth after C-s Study finds planned repeat cesarean section not linked to worse child health than vaginal birth after cesarean section.
Basing regulation of commercial speech about pharmaceuticals on scientific evidence Regulation of commercial speech about pharmaceuticals should require informative content based on scientific evidence, not just formalistic truth.
Yellow fever death toll rises to at least 250 in Angola A yellow fever epidemic in Angola has killed at least 250 people since the end of December and continues to spread, stretching limited resources, doctors and officials said Tuesday.
	Smartphones could improve skin cancer detection in developing countries Everyone knows smartphones can be used as calendars, calculators, radios and cameras. But, did you know they can also be used as microscopes that have the potential to save lives?
	New program could improve hearing aid use for older adults Hearing loss is the third most common chronic illness for older adults. It can impact everyday life and can significantly affect a person's health and safety if gone untreated. Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing loss. However, in 2005 more than 325,000 hearing aids, less than four years old were unused according to a previous study in the Hearing Journal. Now, a new hearing aid adjustment program created by Kari Lane, assistant professor at the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri, may help increase hearing aid use for those who need them.
	Researchers find higher risk of mild cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury Traumatic brain injury appears to be related to both increased risk and earlier onset of mild cognitive impairment, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.
Eli Lilly changes outcome goals in Alzheimer's drug study Eli Lilly said Tuesday that it's changed the outcome goals for a late-stage patient study of its closely watched experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease, solanezumab.
	FDA advisers back first dissolving heart stent Federal health advisers have overwhelmingly backed the safety and effectiveness of an experimental medical implant that dissolves into the body after doing its job.
	Don't take short cuts with contact lens care, FDA warns (HealthDay)—If you use contact lens solution with hydrogen peroxide and don't follow the instructions carefully, you could be putting your eyes at risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
	'Difficult' patients tend to get worse care, studies find (HealthDay)—What happens to medical care when the patient is a jerk?
	Could too much cellphone time signal anxiety, depression? (HealthDay)—Some young adults who constantly reach for their smartphones might be anxious or depressed, preliminary research suggests.
	PA32540 safe for patients at risk of aspirin-linked upper GI events (HealthDay)—For subjects at risk of aspirin-associated upper gastrointestinal (UGI) events, long-term PA32540 (enteric-coated aspirin 325 mg and immediate-release omeprazole 40 mg) appears to be safe, according to a study published in the April issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
	Scottish children among the highest rates of health and social inequality in Europe Young people in Scotland have some of the highest rates of health and social inequality in Europe and North America, a major new international study has found.
Video: Combatting a waterborne scourge in Ghana More than 260 million people worldwide suffer from schistosomiasis, which is caused by a tiny flatworm commonly found in water supplies. It's a disease of poverty; although it can be prevented and cured, it persists in many parts of the world.
	Fujitsu laboratories develops technology to accelerate analysis of genomic information Fujitsu Laboratories announced the development of a technology that accelerates database analyses of the correlations between genomic variations and environmental information, such as disease and lifestyle habits. This technology speeds up the process by a factor of roughly 400 compared to existing methods. Thanks to advances in genomic medicine, it is possible to analyze genomic and genetic information in combination with clinical and environmental information to study the relationship between genetic factors and environmental factors. This kind of research relies on genomic information stored in databases in order to analyze the information from different perspectives, but because of the massive volumes of genomic information being handled, there is the problem of the lengthy time required for processing. Fujitsu Laboratories has greatly accelerated analysis processing by introducing a new data structure that makes it possible to rapidly analyze large-scale genomic information within a database. This technology makes it possible to acquire knowledge that previously was difficult to obtain quickly, aiding the advance of genomic medical research.
Dysphagia—like being waterboarded 24 hours a day Toast is an unlikely agent of death. But there you are in your kitchen on a Saturday morning, inexplicably choking on a mouthful, trying not to panic.
New research highlights need to give greater consideration to sleep in stroke care Latest findings from the University of Surrey and University of Freiburg all point towards the important role of sleep in patients with stroke. However, at present, sleep is rarely considered in in-patient and community-based stroke care. The team of researchers also found that this is despite a number of studies that highlights patients with stroke often experience difficulties with their sleep.
IUPUI psychologists explore pain in Hispanic Americans Hispanic Americans report fewer pain conditions compared with non-Hispanic white or black Americans, according to a critical review and analysis of more than 100 studies on pain experience and pain management among Hispanic Americans. The first work of its type was conducted by researchers from the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis led by clinical health psychologist Adam T. Hirsh.
New treatment for common incurable eye condition Patient-reported results of a novel treatment for pterygium and pinguecula, a common incurable eye condition presented at ARVO's Israel Chapter national meeting. The treatment utilizes the well-known cardiovascular drug dipyridamole in eye drop form. Dipyridamole has been in clinical use for 55 years, and is now being repurposed for treating intractable eye conditions such as pterygium, pinguecula and severe dry eye.
Valeant shares plunge 49% on default warning, outlook Canadian drugmaker Valeant's share price plunged nearly 50 percent Tuesday after it warned it was at risk of a debt default and slashed its earnings forecast.

Biology news

	Pigeon foot feather genes identified: Study hints how scaly dinosaur legs could get birdlike feathers University of Utah scientists identified two genes that make some pigeon breeds develop feathered feet known as muffs, while others have scaled feet. The same or similar genes might explain scaled feet in chickens and other birds, and provide insight into how some dinosaurs got feathers before they evolved into birds.
	Europe's rarest seabird 'could be extinct within 60 years' The Balearic shearwater, Europe's most endangered seabird, is 'on the road to extinction', according to an international team of scientists.
	Photosynthesis more ancient than thought, and most living things could do it Most modern bacteria descended from ancestors who could convert the Sun's energy to fuel more than 3.5 billion years ago.
	Incredible images reveal bacteria motor parts in unprecedented detail Nanoscopic 3D imaging has revealed how different bacteria have geared their tiny propeller motors for a wide range of swimming abilities.
	Fairy circles found in Australian outback (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers from Germany, Israel and Australia has confirmed that fairy circles exist in a part of the Australian outback. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers describe not only evidence for fairy circles in Australia, but evidence of why they form.
	Unique beak evolved with tool use in New Caledonian crow It was as plain as the beak on a bird's face. Cornell ornithologist and crow expert Kevin McGowan recalls the day in the late 1990s when he first saw stuffed specimens of the New Caledonian crow.
	Scientist helps move structural biology into 'big data' era In a recent paper published in Nature Communications, structural biologists detailed how a new data sharing consortium is helping scientists more quickly share and benefit from findings in their field.
	Illegal tuna fishing costs Pacific US$740m: report Illegal tuna fishing in the Pacific has reached a "staggering" value of up to US$740 million a year, a study released Tuesday found.
	Orang-utans play video games too, and it can enrich their lives in the zoo Visiting the orang-utans at the zoo brings us face to face with some of our closest relatives. Moments of connection with these intelligent creatures can be powerfully emotional.
	Nature's cheats—how animals and plants trick and deceive As night closes in across Kentucky a small chubby spider makes a silk line between two plants. She then moves along her "trapeze wire" and waits. After a while a moth approaches within range, and the spider unleashes a swinging sticky ball, ensnaring the moth and pulling him in to be eaten. The attacker is a bolas spider, and she hunts by releasing an odour that precisely matches the chemical composition of female moth mating pheromones. The male moth is lured in, but instead of getting a mate, he gets eaten.
	Dolphin count reveals homebody habits The Kimberley's resident dolphin populations seem to be homebodies who stay in the same area year-in year-out and also avoid mixing with their neighbours, according to research into how the mammals live.
Lizards keep their cool Why did the lizard cross the forest floor? It's an ecological conundrum that James Cook University researchers Mat Vickers and Professor Lin Schwarzkopf have answered with a novel approach.
	Female frogs identify own offspring using inner GPS The ability to recognize own offspring and provide preferential care is difficult for the poison frog Allobates femoralis. According to a study conducted by Vetmeduni Vienna, male and female frogs have different strategies for offspring discrimination. Females remember the exact location where they laid their eggs and exhibit preferential behavior toward their own clutches. Males assume that all offspring in their territory are their own. The study was published in the journal Animal Behaviour.
	Similarities in fruit fly nervous systems transform view of metamorphosis New research from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute transforms the current view that metamorphosis in fruit flies, whereby larvae change into adults, consists of two separate stages.
Bacterial airborne signal encourages fungal growth critical in lung infections Researchers in France have discovered that volatile compounds released by a bacterial pathogen stimulate the growth of a fungal pathogen found in lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF). The findings, published this week in mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, show for the first time that one pathogen can emit a signal through the air that acts as a direct fuel for another pathogen to grow.
	A rolling stone gathers no mates Papa might not have been a rolling stone, according to a new study that examined the mating dynamics of transient wildlife that have dispersed from other areas. The researchers found if males traveling from long distances are less attractive to females, connectivity can be greatly impacted. They link these results to existing evidence showing that males from far-off areas have less offspring.
	Trade in rare plants on social media must be monitored A study conducted by the University of Kent's Dr Amy Hinsley and Dr David Roberts, and published by Conservation Biology, represents the first large-scale global survey of wildlife trade via a social-media site, using the orchid trade as a case study.
Sweet corn genes related to crowding stress identified Plants grown in high-density or crowded populations often put more energy into growth and maintenance than reproduction. For example, flowering may be delayed as plants allocate resources to growing taller and escape competition for light. This sensitivity to crowding stress has been observed in some varieties of sweet corn, but other varieties show higher tolerance, producing high yields even in crowded conditions. A recent University of Illinois and USDA Agricultural Research Service study attempted to uncover the genetic mechanisms of crowding tolerance in sweet corn.
	Research on watermelons and wildflowers gaining some buzz Besides adding beauty to a field of watermelons, colorful patches of wildflowers might also provide benefits that would improve the quality and increase the yield of one of South Carolina's most important vegetable crops.
	Two brand new dung beetle species from montane grazing sites and forests in Mexico While carrying out a biodiversity study, a Mexican-Italian research team discovered three new dung beetle species in montane forests disturbed by livestock grazing. Mexico has been a mecca for naturalists, and its dung beetle species are among the best known in the world. This is why the discovery of new species there is noteworthy. The present study, published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, describes two of them and highlights the need to further explore the biodiversity of disturbed ecosystems.
	Study says marine protected areas can benefit large sharks Researchers at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science published new findings that suggest the expansion of protected areas into U.S. federal waters would safeguard 100 percent of core home range areas used by three species of sharks tracked in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean.
	Adolescent female pandas not the demure homebodies once thought In the furry animal world, it's the boys approaching adulthood who tend to start to wander to seek their fortune. Which usually means a mate. Girls tend to stay closer to the home range.
	Boat mooring chains scour Rottnest (Australia) seagrass releasing CO2 Seagrass covering 48,000sqm has been scoured from the sands of Rottnest Island (Western Australia') by almost 900 mooring chains used by recreational boats according to research from Edith Cowan University and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
	Whip spiders only look terrifying, biologist reports Would you be willing to spend each night in the company of 300,000 bats—all in the service of science?

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