Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 8

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 8, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Study suggests human infants develop metacognition earlier than previously thought
- A bioprocess for converting gaseous waste substrates to liquid fuels
- Slower evolution and climate change drove ichthyosaurs to extinction
- Why Hurricane Irene fizzled as it neared New Jersey in 2011
- Study suggests mutualistic symbiosis between parasitic mite and pathogenic virus responsible for bee colony loss
- Scientists discover a natural adhesive with biomedical applications
- Unique optical trapping system offers way to launch high-power laser light
- Researchers report cell-to-cell movement of mitochondria through a graft junction of two plant species
- New nanoparticle technology to decipher structure and function of membrane proteins
- Syntax is not unique to human language
- Scientists find brain cells that know which end is up
- New composite material that traps oxygen selectively could be useful for energy applications such as fuel cells
- Chew on this: Study of ancient teeth bites theory of early primate disappearance
- New study offers insight into how life can adapt and potentially be reinvented
- Brain activity of nematodes seeking food offers new view on sleep

Astronomy & Space news

	James Webb Space Telescope secondary mirror installed The sole secondary mirror that will fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was installed onto the telescope at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, on March 3, 2016.
	Deciphering compact galaxies in the young universe A group of researchers using the Suprime-Cam instrument on the Subaru Telescope has discovered about 80 young galaxies that existed in the early universe about 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang. The team made detailed analyses of imaging data of these galaxies taken by the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the Hubble Space Telescope. At least 54 of the galaxies are spatially resolved in the ACS images. Among them, eight galaxies show double-component structures (Figure 1) and the remaining 46 seem to have elongated structures (Figure 2). Further investigations using a computer simulation revealed that the observed elongated structures can be reproduced if two or more galaxies reside in close proximity to each other.
	Dawn's first year at Ceres—a mountain emerges One year ago, on March 6, 2015, NASA's Dawn spacecraft slid gently into orbit around Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.  Since then, the spacecraft has delivered a wealth of images and other data that open an exciting new window to the previously unexplored dwarf planet.
	Dying star offers glimpse of our sun's future This is a final act of celestial beauty before the long fade into cosmic history. Invisibly buried in the centre of this colourful swirl of gas is a dying star, roughly the same mass as the sun.
	Dust grains could be remnants of stellar explosions billions of years ago Microscopic dust particles have been found in meteoritic material on Earth, particles that were likely formed in stellar explosions that occurred long before the creation of our star, the sun.
	Space shouldn't be exclusive domain of big nations: astronauts Space shouldn't be the privileged domain of big countries but a frontier open to all, astronauts and scientists gathered in Costa Rica said Monday.
	A perfectly still laboratory in space Following a long series of tests, ESA's LISA Pathfinder has started its science mission to prove key technologies and techniques needed to observe gravitational waves from space.
	Jupiter returns as king of the night sky Since January, there have not been any planets to see in the evening sky. Instead, all five bright planets have been visible in the early hours before sunrise. But now Jupiter, the king of the planets, is making a return to the night.
	Gaia science alerts are back While scanning the sky to measure the position and velocity of a billion stars, ESA's Gaia satellite also records many 'guest stars' – astronomical sources that, for a short period of time, are much brighter than usual.
	First tomatoes and peas harvested on Mars and moon soil simulant The second experiment on how to grow crops on Mars and moon soil simulant have given a surprising outcome. As a result of what the researchers of Wageningen University & Research centre in the Netherlands learned from their first experiments, they were able to grow ten different crop species. Tomatoes, peas, rye, garden rocket, radish and garden cress were harvested.
	OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in thermal vacuum testing The first U.S. mission to collect a sample of an asteroid and return it to Earth for study is undergoing a major milestone in its environmental testing.
	NASA's first wide-field soft X-ray camera is a gift that keeps giving NASA's first wide-field soft X-ray camera, which incorporated a never-before-flown focusing technology when it debuted in late 2012, is a gift that keeps giving.
	Total solar eclipse to sweep across Indonesia Tens of thousands of sky gazers will watch a total solar eclipse sweep across Indonesia on Wednesday, with parties, prayers and tribual rituals to mark the spectacle in the world's biggest archipelago nation.
Fans to catch flight for prime view of total solar eclipse Skygazers from around the country are catching a flight from Alaska to Hawaii on Tuesday for prime viewing of a total solar eclipse that will unfold over parts of Indonesia and the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Technology news

	A bioprocess for converting gaseous waste substrates to liquid fuels (Tech Xplore)—A team of researchers with MIT has developed a two-step process for converting waste gas into a liquid fuel suitable for use in transport vehicles. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their technique and their plans for further testing to see how well it scales to larger applications.
	Game over? New AI challenge to human smarts (Update) Every two years or so, computer speed and memory capacity doubles—a head-spinning pace that experts say could see machines become smarter than humans within decades.
	Ransomware asks Apple Mac victims to pay up Ransomware on the OS X platform was discovered affecting Apple Mac users. Claire Reilly, CNET news writer based in Sydney, said on Sunday that it was spread through "torrenting" software. Researchers at Palo Alto Networks made the discovery on Friday.
	Amputee feels texture with a bionic fingertip An amputee was able to feel smoothness and roughness in real-time with an artificial fingertip that was surgically connected to nerves in his upper arm. Moreover, the nerves of non-amputees can also be stimulated to feel roughness, without the need of surgery, meaning that prosthetic touch for amputees can now be developed and safely tested on intact individuals.
	Uber says sexual assault rates low, disputes report Uber hit back against a news story alleging that scores of passengers had filed rape complaints, releasing data showing only a small fraction of the alleged number of sex assault reports.
	30-lane data highway in sight The amount of data transferred over mobile networks is soaring. In five to seven years, the bandwidth and speed of the new 5G networks will be up to 200 times faster than today – so fast that the notion of speed loses its meaning, says Professor Preben Mogensen of the Department of Electronic Systems at Aalborg University.
	Go master: AI will one day prevail but beauty of Go remains Computers eventually will defeat human players of Go, but the beauty of the ancient Chinese game of strategy that has fascinated people for thousands of years will remain, the Go world champion said Tuesday.
US appeals ruling on accessing data in New York iPhone case Calling a New York judge's ruling "an unprecedented limitation" on judicial authority, the Justice Department has asked a Brooklyn federal court to reverse a decision that said Apple Inc. wasn't required to pry open a locked iPhone.
	Technology to analyze customer behavior in stores Proximus, a start-up in the Vivero de Empresas del Parque Científico de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M Science Park Business Incubator), has developed technology for creating a map of shopper behavior in supermarkets using a chip that is built into shopping carts and baskets.
	Video: Modernising air traffic management with satellite systems ESA and UK satellite operator Inmarsat are forging ahead with the development of air–ground communications via satellite as part of Europe's plan to keep our skies safe as air traffic increases.
Toyota developing wearable mobility device for the blind and visually impaired Mobility is empowering. That's why Toyota is working to develop a wearable device for the blind and visually impaired that will help them do more with greater freedom, independence and confidence. Called Project BLAID, it reflects the company's commitment to enrich lives by advancing the freedom of mobility for all.
	Study questions Indian viability of Galilee Basin coal University of Queensland analysis of the costs associated with delivering Galilee Basin coal to India has called into question the project's long-term viability.
The local food movement is booming—can we do the same for electricity? Being cut off from electricity doesn't just affect whether we can make a phone call or heat dinner; it affects a doctor's ability to perform surgery, a police officer's ability to respond to a 911 call, and a city's ability to provide basic services to its citizens.
	Mobile telephone selects best route for wheelchair users Bumps on surfaces, doorsteps or kerbs and the unsuitability of roads, pathways and buildings cause problems for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users can now use technology developed at the University of Twente to map out safe and suitable routes and avoid roads and pathways that are unsuitable. Researchers from the Pervasive Systems department at the CTIT institute (Centre for Telematics and Information Technology) developed a system for processing and analysing the sensor data that wheelchair users measure themselves using their mobile telephones.
Researchers develop miniaturized fuel cell that makes drones fly more than one hour Drones are used for various applications such as aero picturing, disaster recovery, and delivering. Despite attracting attention as a new growth area, the biggest problem of drones is its small battery capacity and limited flight time of less than an hour. A fuel cell developed by Prof. Gyeong Man Choi (Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering) and his research team at POSTECH can solve this problem.
	Game apps for creative kids Augmented creativity can encourage children towards a new-found sense of creativity, cooperation and interaction with their environment. ETH Zurich's Game Technology Center will present its latest apps in the field at the CeBIT computer expo.
	VW employee chief urges US to consider fallout of fines The head of Volkswagen's employee council said Tuesday he hopes that American authorities will consider the potential fallout on jobs in the U.S. and beyond as they mull what fines to impose on the company over its emissions-rigging scandal.
	Review: The Samsung S7's camera now rivals the iPhone It's difficult to justify paying for a high-priced, top-end smartphone these days—unless, that is, you want to take good pictures.
	'Detachables' the hot new thing in cooling tablet market The global market for tablet computers will see another decline in 2016, but one bright spot is in "detachables" which are gaining as PC replacements, researchers said Tuesday.
	Go champ recalls defeat at hands of 'calm' computer Last October, Fan Hui was beaten by a computer at the ancient board game of Go that is not only his passion but also his life's work.
	Facebook, CBS battling for NFL streaming rights Facebook is vying for streaming rights for NFL football games in a contest also being waged by CBS, the companies said Tuesday.
	US regulator unveils low-income broadband subsidy plan US regulators Tuesday unveiled a proposal to offer broadband subsidies to low-income Americans, saying that Internet access is "a prerequisite for full participation" in modern society.
	US cyber pros test skills in exercise meant to stop attacks The moment a U.S. official pressed a computer key Tuesday, dozens of security experts who gathered in an underground control room girded themselves for a cyberattack—a drill meant to thwart the kinds of intrusions that have recently crippled health networks and retail giants.
	Closure of France's oldest nuclear plant begins this year: minister French Environment Minister Segolene Royal said Monday that work will begin this year to shut down the country's oldest nuclear power plant, at the centre of a row with neighbouring Germany and Switzerland.
S. Korea says North hacked phones of key officials South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday that North Korea had hacked into smartphones belonging to a number of key government officials, part of a series of cyber-attacks launched after its fourth nuclear test.
	Breakthrough railway technology on track for prototype development Breakthrough railway technology masterminded by Loughborough University engineers has entered into the next stage of development with industry backing.
	Everything you ever wanted to know about nuisance phone calls We've all experienced it. Your phone rings, you pick it up, say hello and it's someone you don't know trying to sell you something – or a recorded message. Nuisance calls can be irritating, time-wasting and for some people, highly distressing. But can anything be done about them?
Amazon's first live TV program is on fashion US online giant Amazon on Tuesday announced its first live show for its streaming video service, a 30-minute show dedicated to fashion which will be free to all viewers.
Egypt taxi drivers block major Cairo street to protest Uber Egyptian security forces fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse taxi drivers who had blocked a major road in the capital, Cairo, to protest Uber and other car-hailing applications, which the head of the Cairo traffic police insists are illegal.
	German states file challenge against Belgian nuclear plants Two western German states said Tuesday they planned to file a complaint at the EU and UN against Belgium over its ageing nuclear reactors which had their lifespan recently extended to 2025.
APLU task force supports tech transfer for tenure and promotion in academia Building on the results of a survey circulated to U.S. and Canadian universities to understand current approaches for defining technology transfer activities and recognizing them as part of faculty performance assessments, a task force of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has made recommendations for just how universities might go about taking into account the value of technology transfer and concomitant social benefits as part of tenure and promotion considerations.

Medicine & Health news

	Study suggests human infants develop metacognition earlier than previously thought (Medical Xpress)—A trio of researchers with PSL Research University in France has found evidence that suggests human infants develop metacognition at an earlier age than has been found by researchers on other studies. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the trio describe the study they carried out and why they believe their results show that toddlers have the ability to communicate uncertainty to others.
	New study reveals brain network for sharing self-related information on Facebook A network of brain regions involved in self-disclosure on Facebook has been determined, according to a new study published in the open-access journal Scientific Reports.
	Neural networks learn to link temporally dispersed stimuli Rustling leaves, a creaking branch: To a mouse, these sensory impressions may at first seem harmless - but not if a cat suddenly bursts out of the bush. If so, they were clues of impending life-threatening danger. Robert Gütig of the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Göttingen has now found how the brain can link sensory perceptions to events occurring after a delay. In a computer model, he has developed a learning procedure in which the model neurons can learn to distinguish between many different stimuli by adjusting their activity to the frequency of the cues. The model even works when there is a time delay between the cue and the event or outcome. Not only is Gütig's learning procedure vital for the survival of every living creature in that it enables them to filter environmental stimuli; it also helps solve a number of technological learning difficulties. One possible application is in the development of spe! ech recognition programs.
	The rhythm of fear mapped in neuronal networks Researchers based in Munich and Bordeaux have detected coordinated oscillations in the activities of neuronal networks in two distinct areas of the brain, which are characteristic for a specific fear response.
	Study reveals the effect of genetic 'knockouts' on human health The study, published in Science, found that individuals with certain inactive genes, or 'knockouts', did not have any related adverse health effects.
	For lupus patients, anti-inflammatory immune cells are maturing Into wrong cell type One of the mysteries of lupus is why the immune cells that normally keep inflammation at bay can't seem to do their job. A University College London study published on March 8 in Immunity now suggests that for people with lupus, the B cells that regulate inflammation are getting signaled to become pro-inflammatory cells instead. The research, done using human blood samples and genetic profiles, also provides evidence that how a lupus patient responds to treatment is related to their levels of these cellular signals.
	Scientists find brain cells that know which end is up People are intuitive physicists, knowing from birth how objects under the influence of gravity are likely to fall, topple or roll. In a new study, scientists have found the brain cells apparently responsible for this innate wisdom.
	Brain activity of nematodes seeking food offers new view on sleep If you have trouble sleeping, the neurons in your brain may be firing like those in roundworms randomly seeking food in the absence of clues, says University of Oregon biologist Shawn R. Lockery.
Too many avoidable errors in patient care, says report Avoidable harm to patients is still too high in healthcare in the UK and across the globe—making safety a top healthcare priority for providers and policy makers alike.
Lack of stem cells to blame for recurrent miscarriages Scientists at the University of Warwick have discovered that a lack of stem cells in the womb lining is causing thousands of women to suffer from recurrent miscarriages.
	Increased education could help adolescents limit caffeine consumption Caffeine is the most available and widely used psychoactive substance in the world and is the only drug legally accessible and socially acceptable for consumption by children and adolescents. Some studies have shown that adolescents are the fastest-growing population of caffeine users, with 83.2% consuming caffeinated beverages regularly and at least 96% consuming them occasionally. With this in mind, researchers from Brescia University College developed a study to determine attitudes and beliefs as well as factors influencing caffeinated beverage consumption among adolescents.
'Unprecedented' brain reaction caused French drug trial death: experts Experts investigating the death of a man in a drug trial in France said Monday that the compound being tested had caused an "astonishing and unprecedented" reaction in the brain.
	Studies: Beyond scales, fitness and body fat key for health The bathroom scale may show a good number but how much of that weight is fat, not muscle? New studies are adding to the evidence that the scale doesn't always tell the whole story when it comes to weight-related health risks.
Pedestrian deaths surged in 2015, early data suggests Pedestrian deaths surged by an estimated 10 percent last year as the economy improved, the price of gas plunged and motorists put more miles behind the wheel than ever before, according to an analysis of preliminary state traffic fatality data.
	Video games improve brain connections in multiple sclerosis patients Playing "brain-training" video games may help improve some cognitive abilities of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by strengthening neural connections in an important part of their brains, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Man has distorted vision after inhaling poppers A 52-year-old man developed distorted vision after inhaling poppers for the first time.
Low-level arsenic may impact fetal growth, study finds Fetal growth may be impacted by low levels of arsenic that pregnant women consume in drinking water and food, a Dartmouth College study finds.
	Study shows less invasive hysterectomies helped patients heal and saved The Ottawa Hospital money A move by The Ottawa Hospital to promote less invasive surgeries for women with severe gynecological problems has sped up patient recovery, led to fewer complications and saved the hospital money, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.
	Leading cause of stroke in young going untreated—and it shouldn't, study finds Arteriovenous malformations, the most common cause of strokes in children and young adults, are sometimes left untreated, but a sweeping new study strongly suggests that is generally a mistake.
Vietnam finds twins with different fathers: doctor Vietnam has identified an extremely rare case of bi-paternal twins—twins with different fathers—a professor at a DNA testing lab in Hanoi told AFP Tuesday.
Group identifications affect likelihood of teenagers smoking, drinking and taking cannabis Teenagers who interact positively with their family, school and friends are far less likely to smoke, binge drink and use cannabis than peers who fail to identify with these social groups, according to research from the University of Dundee.
	When it comes to sleep, neither too much or too little is good for you Too much or too little sleep is linked with an increased risk of certain types of cardiovascular disease. Women and the elderly are particularly at risk.
Predicting potential pharma side effects A computer program that can predict whether or not a given pharmaceutical will have worrying side effects has been developed by researchers in the USA. Md Jamiul Jahid and Jianhua Ruan of the Department of Computer Science, at the University of Texas at San Antonio, have developed the "in silico" testing system for drugs in the early stage of drug development.
States where midwives practice independently have lower rates of Cesareans deliveries States that allow autonomous practice by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) have a higher proportion of CNM-attended births as well as lower rates of cesarean sections, preterm births, and low birthweight infants, according to a study published today in Women's Health Issues. Women's Health Issues is the official journal of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, which is based at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University.
Health apps and the sharing of information with third parties In a study appearing in the March 8 issue of JAMA, Sarah R. Blenner, J.D., M.P.H., of the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, and colleagues examined the privacy policies of Android diabetes apps and the sharing of health information.
Assessment tool may help predict risk of persistent postconcussion symptoms among children A clinical risk score developed among children presenting to an emergency department with a concussion was significantly better than physician judgment in predicting future persistent postconcussion symptoms, according to a study appearing in the March 8 issue of JAMA.
Findings do not support use of vitamin D to reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis Vitamin D supplementation for individuals with knee osteoarthritis and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not reduce knee pain or slow cartilage loss, according to a study appearing in the March 8 issue of JAMA.
Cardiovascular safety of obesity treatment naltrexone-bupropion uncertain The cardiovascular safety of the obesity treatment naltrexone-bupropion remains uncertain because of the unanticipated early termination of a trial to determine its safety, according to a study appearing in the March 8 issue of JAMA.
Antioxidants improve lung immune markers in HIV-infected patients who are immune non-responders Some people with HIV infection experience a limited recovery of their T cell counts after they start antiretroviral therapy, even though the virus is well controlled. This leaves them at higher risk for other infections, such as lung infections.
	Want to appear more intelligent? Get more sleep A new study from the University of St Andrews has found that getting more sleep may help individuals appear more intelligent to their teachers and prospective employers by influencing their neutral expression.
Bully victimization does not lead to substance abuse, says study Being bullied can hurt young children in many ways, but a new UT Dallas study found that it does not lead to later substance abuse.
	Erroneous beliefs about rape inhibit proper law enforcement Australian women raped by a colleague after a party are judged more suspiciously if they neither physically resist nor fully cooperate with police when their attacker is from a Western background.
	Antidepressants linked to tooth implant failure, new study finds Antidepressants, commonly used to treat anxiety, pain and other disorders, may play a role in dental implant failure, according to a new pilot study by University at Buffalo researchers.
Planned home births increase Pregnant women are increasingly choosing to deliver their babies outside of the hospital, with such births rising by 80 percent from 2009 to 2014 despite being associated with higher neonatal and maternal mortality, according to new research from Weill Cornell Medicine.
	Violence is a public health problem Alberta has the highest rates of interpersonal violence of any province in Canada. In the last five years, nearly 75,000 Albertans have reported violence by a spouse or partner.
New study reveals Ontario's high-cost healthcare users A new study examining high-cost healthcare users in Ontario released by researchers at the University of Toronto has identified the types of patients who are high-cost users, the continuums of care that propel these high costs, and what the costs of this care were.
	Study reveals critical gap in psychosocial services for Medicaid-insured youth A majority of Medicaid-insured youth are not receiving psychosocial services before initiating antipsychotic treatment, according to a multi-state study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
	Survey launched to learn more about Endometriosis Researchers from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Translational Medicine, in collaboration with the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford, are launching a national survey to further understanding of a common gynaecological condition called endometriosis.
	Poor communications, premature discharges linked to patient readmissions, study shows Hospitals face penalties for readmitting recently discharged Medicare patients, but in 27 percent of cases readmissions could be prevented, according to a UCSF-led study of 12 academic medical centers nationwide.
	Sleep and weight gain You probably know this ritual: the kids are in bed, the television is on, and you reach for the chips or the ice cream. Before long, it's 1 a.m., and you are dreading your alarm clock in the morning as you guiltily pick up the empty bag or pint container from the floor. Substitute your own late-night binge, but the result is the same: You've stayed up late and overeaten again.
	Seven-day GP service not most important to patients Access to GP services seven days a week is not the factor considered most important by patients when assessing their doctor's surgery, a new study of more than 170 practices in the UK has found.
	How our bias toward the future can cloud our moral judgment People are often forgiven for actions that they would never get permission for in the first place – a phenomenon described as "Stuart's Law of Retroaction". Children who watch TV for longer than they are allowed to, teenagers who elope without telling their parents and adults who empty joint bank accounts without informing their spouse all seem to have an intuitive grasp of this.
Surprisingly long learning curve for surgeons operating on oesophageal cancer According to a major Swedish cohort study from researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Imperial College London, a surgeon who operates on oesophageal cancer must have performed 60 operations to prevent any lack of experience adversely affecting the long-term survival of the patients. The finding, which is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, has potential significance for clinical practice.
	Changing renal cell carcinoma therapy can significantly improve results A research team of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) of MedUni Vienna and AKH Vienna was able to demonstrate that a therapy change in the area of metastasising renal cell carcinoma significantly increases the life average expectancy and clearly improves the compatibility of the therapy. The extent of the influence of the administration rhythm of Sunitinib, an effective ingredient which is utilised in the target-oriented therapy, on the treatment results was examined. The result: In 71% of the patients, the therapy change resulted in an average survival extension of 33 months to approximately 75 months.
	Getting the health message via text A text message providing support on just how hard it is to ditch junk food has resonated with participants in a WA study examining Generation Y's love affair with smart phones to promote a healthy lifestyle.
	Studying a virtuoso violinist's brain with fMRI Until just a few years ago, violinist Jennifer Koh had no particular interest in the inner workings of the brain.
	Zika 'link' to new, paralysing disease: report (Update) Suspected of causing brain damage in babies and a rare neurological ailment in adults, the Zika virus was linked by researchers Tuesday to a third disorder: paralysis-causing myelitis.
New discoveries on the connection between nicotine and type 2 diabetes Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have made two new discoveries with regard to the beta cells' ability to release insulin. The findings can also provide a possible explanation as to why smokers have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
New figures show only 25% of British adults think dementia risk can be reduced A leading dementia expert is calling for greater public awareness of the risk factors for dementia, following a new poll showing only a quarter of British adults think it is possible to reduce their risk of developing the condition.
	Are Zika virus and the climate related? The World Health Organization on Feb. 1 declared an international public health emergency following outbreaks of Zika virus disease in countries from South America to the United States. Symptoms of the disease are usually mild—fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes—and people infected with it usually don't get sick enough to go to the hospital, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Still, the rapid spread of the disease, and its association with a serious birth defect of the brain in infants born to women infected with the disease, have raised the level of concern.
Study shows exercise does curb your hunger Scientists at Loughborough University have found exercising is more effective than food restriction in helping limit daily calorie consumption.
New target could help to reduce symptoms of asthma attacks, research shows An international team of researchers from the Universities of Leicester and Naples has examined the role of a receptor in the body that could help to prevent or reduce the effects of asthma attacks.
More than two million people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C An estimated 2.3 million people living with HIV are co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) globally, a new study by the University of Bristol and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has found.
People in their 60s uniquely benefit from giving advice despite fewer chances to offer it A new study reveals that individuals in their 60s who give advice to a broad range of people tend to see their lives as especially meaningful. At the same time, this happens to be the age when opportunities for dispensing advice become increasingly scarce.
Doctors aren't diagnosing or treating most cases of prediabetes, study finds Less than one-quarter of patients who met the criteria for prediabetes received drug or lifestyle modification treatment from their primary care physician, according to University of Florida researchers, who say the findings indicate physicians are missing opportunities for diabetes prevention.
	Researchers prove HIV targets tissue macrophages Investigators in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have clearly demonstrated that HIV infects and reproduces in macrophages, large white blood cells found in the liver, brain and connective tissues of the body. This discovery has significant implications for HIV cure research. Macrophages ingest foreign material, including infected CD4 T cells. Past studies concluded macrophages became infected upon ingestion of compromised CD4 T cells. By studying the virus in novel small animal models that have no T cells (the cells that easily support HIV infection), researchers found HIV infected macrophages, proving macrophage-tropic strains of HIV exist and can autonomously replicate in these important cells. These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on Monday, March 7.
Study finds positive attitudes prevail within families of people with Down syndrome When expectant parents learn they will be having a child with Down syndrome, one of the first questions they may ask their health professional is "How will this affect our family?" A study from a research team led by a MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) physician finds that, within most families, the experience of having a member with Down syndrome is generally a positive one. Their report will appear as the feature article in the April issue of the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, has been released online, and is a follow-up to three 2011 studies from the same group.
	An active social life associated with well-being in life Staying active socially despite health-related challenges appears to help lessen the decline in well-being people often experience late in life, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Researchers unlock mechanisms in the brain that separate food consumption from cravings Researchers investigating eating disorders often study chemical and neurological functions in the brain to discover clues to overeating. Understanding non-homeostatic eating—or eating that is driven more by palatability, habit and food cues—and how it works in the brain may help neuroscientists determine how to control cravings, maintain healthier weights and promote healthier lifestyles. Scientists at the University of Missouri recently discovered the chemical circuits and mechanisms in the brain that separate food consumption from cravings. Knowing more about these mechanisms could help researchers develop drugs that reduce overeating.
New scanning technology benefits diabetic eye care in national telemedicine trial In a national clinical trial led by Joslin Diabetes Center's Beetham Eye Institute, ultrawide field (UWF) scanning technology significantly improved the ability of experts at a remote central location to identify diabetic retinopathy in a patient, and to judge whether the eye disease warranted referring the patient to an ophthalmologist for further care.
Kids with high body mass index are at greater risk of pedestrian injury Child development experts already know obese children are at greater risk than their peers for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and joint problems.
Time spent playing video games may have positive effects on young children Video games are a favorite activity of children, yet its affect on their health is often perceived to be negative. A study by researchers at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues at Paris Descartes University assessed the association between the amount of time spent playing video games and children's mental health and cognitive and social skills, and found that playing video games may have positive effects on young children. Results are published online in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
	Family technology rules: What kids expect of parents Put your phone away when I'm talking to you. Don't text while you're driving—not even at red lights. Stop posting photos of me without my permission.
Green tea and iron, bad combination Green tea is touted for its many health benefits as a powerful antioxidant, but experiments in a laboratory mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease suggest that consuming green tea along with dietary iron may actually lessen green tea's benefits.
Do gun restrictions help reduce gun deaths? A study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health looked at the associations between firearm-related laws and firearm homicides, suicides, and unintentional injuries and deaths. The paper is the first to explore the evidence from around the world on gun laws and gun violence to determine whether gun restrictions help reduce gun deaths. While the research did not conclusively prove that restrictions, or relaxation of laws, reduce gun deaths, the results indicate that gun violence tended to decline after countries passed new restrictions on gun purchasing and ownership. Findings are published online in the February issue of Epidemiologic Reviews.
A gut check for PCOS-related obesity Modifying gut bacteria could be a treatment option for some of the symptoms associated with the widespread disease polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a recent study by San Diego State University researchers in collaboration with investigators from the University of California, San Diego. The study found that changes in gut bacteria are strongly associated with obesity and signs of diabetes in a mouse model that mimics PCOS.
	Researcher examines body satisfaction in national study of men A Chapman University psychologist has just published the results of a national study examining how men feel about their bodies and their attractiveness. Long thought to be an issue primarily faced by women, body dissatisfaction was identified as a common issue among men in the largest examination of body image to date.
	Trouble sleeping? The size of your tongue and tonsils could be why The best time to identify signs of obstructive sleep apnea may not be at night while snoozing in bed but, instead, while sitting in the dentist's chair.
Study finds women suffer more neck pain than men Women are 1.38 times more likely than men to report neck pain due to cervical degenerative disc disease, according to a study of adult patients treated at Loyola Medicine's Pain Management Center.
Researchers report insights into blood stem cells from engineered stem cells Building upon previous work, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai identified cells in the embryos of mice that are precursors to blood stem cells or hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). In previous studies, they reprogrammed mouse skin cells in the lab to become HSPCs. Now, they have identified a precursor cell in the placenta and embryo of mice that can be matured in the lab to make HSPCs. Their study, titled, "Hematopoietic Reprograming In Vitro Informs in Vivo Identification of Hemogenic Precursors to Definitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells," establishes that the reprogramming process can work back and forth in blood cell development.
Many women around the world leave health facilities too soon after giving birth A substantial proportion of women in countries around the world do not stay in health facilities for long enough after giving birth, which could result in them receiving inadequate postnatal care, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine.
	WHO: Sexual transmission of Zika more common than thought Sexual transmission of the Zika virus is more common than previously thought, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, citing reports from several countries.
	Women in cardiac arrest may be less likely to receive help (HealthDay)—Women are less likely than men to be helped by bystanders if they suffer cardiac arrest, a new study finds.
	New therapy could treat poor blood circulation caused by peripheral artery disease Bioengineers and physicians at the University of California, San Diego have developed a potential new therapy for critical limb ischemia, a condition that causes extremely poor circulation in the limbs and leads to an estimated 230,000 amputations every year in North America and Europe alone to prevent the spread of infection and tissue death. The new therapy could prevent or limit amputations for a condition that affects more than 27 million people and is a manifestation of advanced peripheral arterial disease.
WHO advises pregnant women not to travel to Zika oubreak areas The World Health Organization on Tuesday advised pregnant women not to travel to areas affected by the Zika virus outbreak, saying the new advice was issued amid mounting evidence that Zika can cause birth defects.
	Review IDs care gaps for teens with chronic conditions (HealthDay)—Patient-related determinants of care gaps have been identified in adolescents with chronic conditions; the findings were published online March 3 in Pediatrics.
	Pot smokers may face five times greater risk of alcohol abuse (HealthDay)—People who smoke pot may be five times more likely to develop a problem with alcohol, such as addiction, a new study says.
	Screen high-risk adults for tuberculosis, experts say (HealthDay)—Adults at greater risk for latent tuberculosis infection should be screened for the condition, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends.
	Neoadjuvant chemo response predicts sinonasal SCC outcomes (HealthDay)—For patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with disease progression, according to a study published online March 2 in Head & Neck.
	Opportunities for healthy diet, exercise influence behaviors (HealthDay)—Practical opportunities for healthy diet and activity are associated with intentions, achieved behaviors, and body mass index (BMI), according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Cold exposure, capsinoids further beige adipocyte biogenesis (HealthDay)—A molecular circuit has been identified that controls beige adipocyte biogenesis, according to research published online March 2 in Diabetes.
	Low testosterone predicts mortality in advanced liver disease (HealthDay)—For men with advanced liver disease, sarcopenia and low testosterone predict mortality, with better prediction for low testosterone, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Infant milk formula does not reduce risk of eczema and allergies, according to new study A special type of baby formula does not reduce allergy risk - despite previous claims to the contrary - according to research led by Imperial College London.
	App helps in Brazil's fight against Zika-spreading mosquito For Luciana Santos, doing her part in Brazil's fight to control the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, dengue and other diseases is as easy as a couple of clicks on her smartphone.
Routine dental trip leaves patient with a rare infection A man who visited his dentist for a routine dental cleaning developed a rare and potentially life-threatening infection.
	China: No plan for couples to have as many kids as they want China has no plans to allow couples to have as many kids as they want after changing the rules to allow all couples to have two children rather than one, a health official said Tuesday.
	Why the Ivy League voted to end full-contact tackling practice Football fans see the hard hits every weekend in the fall. But that's just during the games. What about all the blocks and tackles in practice, all week long, all season long? Those countless collisions, and the repeated concussions that can result, could add up to a lot of head trauma.
	Design research can improve patient experiences of radiotherapy Patients risk experiencing anxiety and fear when health care does not meet individual patients' needs. New approaches to reduce anxiety for instance over radiotherapy are needed and design research is well-suited to meet these challenges. This is according to a dissertation at Umeå University.
Fingolimod in multiple sclerosis: No hint of added benefit in new therapeutic indication Since its approval in 2011, the multiple sclerosis drug fingolimod (Gilenya) has already undergone three early benefit assessments, all of which were mainly based on the approval study TRANSFORMS. After a new modification of the therapeutic indication by the regulatory authorities, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) again commissioned the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) to examine the added benefit of the drug in accordance with the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG).
Researchers study marijuana use in pregnant mothers Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are studying the detection of prenatal marijuana use in a legalized environment. The study of marijuana use in pregnancy is only possible in a few states.
Merck, Sanofi Pasteur ending JV to market vaccines in Europe Merck and Sanofi Pasteur are ending their partnership, begun in 1994, to market the drugmakers' vaccines in Europe.
	Health law fines double for many uninsured at tax time Many people who went without health insurance last year are now seeing fines more than double under President Barack Obama's health care law, tax preparation company H&R Block said Tuesday.
Drugmaker settles with FDA in fish-oil drug marketing case The maker of a prescription fish-oil drug says it has reached a legal settlement that will allow it to promote unapproved uses of its drug for lowering fat levels.
Medicare to test new payment model for some outpatient drugs Medicare proposed a nationwide experiment Tuesday into new ways to pay for drugs administered in a doctor's office, including many cancer treatments.

Biology news

	Syntax is not unique to human language Human communication is powered by rules for combining words to generate novel meanings. Such syntactical rules have long been assumed to be unique humans. A new study, published in Nature Communications, show that Japanese great tits combine their calls using specific rules to communicate important compound messages. These results demonstrate that syntax is not unique to humans. Instead, syntax may be a general adaptation to social and behavioural complexity in communication systems.
	Researchers visualize over 10,000 proteins of fruit flies The human genome codes for more than 20,000 different proteins, however the molecular role for many of these proteins is not known. As most proteins are conserved from fly to humans, understanding the molecular role of a protein in flies can be the first step towards a therapy against a variety of human diseases that are often caused by aberrantly behaving proteins. A consortium of scientists from the Max Planck Institutes of Biochemistry in Martinsried and Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore have now reached a milestone towards understanding the function of these proteins by using the fruit fly.
	Raw material for new genes Every region of DNA codes for a gene. Well, not quite. Although an organism's genome contains some regions that are read and transcribed into RNA, many of those do not give rise to functional genes. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön have now studied the genome of the house mouse Mus musculus and its relatives and have found that new functional genes can evolve from such putatively useless DNA regions within a short time.
	Bacterial brawls mark life in the gut's microbiome Bacterially speaking, it gets very crowded in the human gut, with trillions of cells jostling for a position to carry out a host of specialized and often crucial tasks. A new Yale study, published the week of March 7 in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests these "friendly" bacteria aggressively stake out their territory, injecting lethal toxins into any other cells that dare bump into them.
Scientists uncover history of ancient viruses as far back as 30 million years ago Researchers from Boston College, US, have revealed the global spread of an ancient group of retroviruses that affected about 28 of 50 modern mammals' ancestors some 15 to 30 million years ago.
	New nanoparticle technology to decipher structure and function of membrane proteins Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, have developed a nanoparticle technology that can be used to stabilise membrane proteins so that their structure can be studied in a lipid environment. The method, described in Nature Methods, makes it possible to access drug targets that previously could not be investigated and therefore potentially allows for the development of novel drugs, therapeutic antibodies and vaccines.
	Researchers report cell-to-cell movement of mitochondria through a graft junction of two plant species (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Rutgers University has found an example via experimentation, of cell-to-cell movement of mitochondria through a graft junction of two tobacco species. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their experiments with grafting tobacco plants and what they learned about cells swapping mitochondria during the aftermath.
	Study suggests mutualistic symbiosis between parasitic mite and pathogenic virus responsible for bee colony loss (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the University of Milan has found that there exists a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between parasitic mites and the pathogenic virus that is believed to be responsible for widespread honeybee colony loss. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes a three-pronged approach they used in studying the relationship between the mite (Varroa destructor), honey bees and the deformed wing virus which is believed to be responsible for widespread honeybee colony loss.
	Biophysicists discover how hydra opens its mouth A team of biologists and physicists at UC San Diego has uncovered in detail the dynamic process that allows the multi-tentacle Hydra, a tiny freshwater animal distantly related to the sea anemone, to open and close its mouth.
	New study offers insight into how life can adapt and potentially be reinvented A new study from Princeton has revealed how a synthetic protein revives E. coli cells that lack a life-sustaining gene, offering insight into how life can adapt to survive and potentially be reinvented.
	Science maximises prawn restocking success Murdoch University scientists involved in a project to restock the Swan and Canning Rivers with Western School Prawns have identified a key predator of the juveniles and are using their research findings to maximise prawn survival rates.
	Plant photosynthesis inhibited by bacterial ancestor Researchers at CNRS, CEA and Université d'Aix-Marseille have demonstrated that an ancient signaling pathway inherited from bacteria impacts plant growth and development. Chloroplast, the compartment responsible for plant photosynthesis, is a key component of this signaling pathway. Understanding how this signaling pathway functions would allow for development of strategies to protect crops against climatic change and to improve photosynthesis so as to generate biofuels and other valuable products. These findings were published in Plant Cell on 25th February 2016.
	Ant colonies that are highly specialized have lower chances of survival when sudden changes occur A characteristic of insect societies such as ants is the way tasks are distributed among group members. Not only queens and worker ants have clearly defined responsibilities but the workers themselves also have particular jobs to do when, for example, it comes to the care of the young, defense, and nest building activities. It is widely assumed that this division of labor is an essential factor that determines the success of such social groups. According to this view, a high degree of specialization provides advantages because the individual tasks are performed better and more effectively. It seems, however, that this advantage may actually be a great disadvantage in special circumstances. As researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have discovered, highly specialized ants lack the flexibility to adapt to new situations—with serious consequences for the entire colony.
	'Resistance-proof' antibiotics may never exist – but there are some promising alternatives Few will have missed the warnings about the increasing threat from antibiotic resistance and the dire predictions of a looming "post-antibiotic apocalypse". And we're right to worry: bugs that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics are affecting our ability to treat and manage infectious disease. Intuitively, the most obvious strategy to tackle this crisis, and to stay one step ahead of the bacteria, would be to identify and develop new antibiotics.
	Modern corn hybrids more resilient to nitrogen stress, crowded planting conditions Modern corn hybrids produce more plant material and take up, on average, the same amount of nitrogen as earlier varieties, in spite of being more crowded and having less nitrogen available per plant, a Purdue University review finds.
Drug-resistant genes spread through environment, not meat products In the first study to track antibiotic resistance in intensively-farmed beef, scientists discovered a "startling" lack of resistance genes in meat.
	Zorro, the new Latin American fish species, takes off the mask to show its true identity Unidentified since its discovery in 2007, a large fish species from Amazonia has failed to give out enough information about itself, leaving only insufficient hints about its genus. Nevertheless, three scientists have now recovered the missing pieces to puzzle out its mysterious identity. In their study, published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, they describe the fish as a new species and name it after the fictional secretive Latin American character Zorro.
	Slovenia awaits birth of new generation of 'baby dragons' Slovenia is counting down the days until the birth of a new generation of "baby dragons."
	EU delays weedkiller decision amid cancer uproar The EU postponed a decision Tuesday on whether to extend the approval of a key weedkiller ingredient for another 15 years amid an international uproar that it may cause cancer.
	Fifteen shades of photoreceptor in a butterfly's eye When researchers studied the eyes of Common Bluebottles, a species of swallowtail butterfly from Australasia, they were in for a surprise. These butterflies have large eyes and use their blue-green iridescent wings for visual communication - evidence that their vision must be excellent. Even so, no-one expected to find that Common Bluebottles (Graphium sarpedon) have at least 15 different classes of "photoreceptors"—light-detecting cells comparable to the rods and cones in the human eye. Previously, no insect was known to have more than nine.
	Can butterflies cope with city life? Butterfly diversity in Kuala Lumpur parks Researchers from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, have documented 60 species of butterflies in Kuala Lumpur city parks. They found that wild areas within parks are particularly popular with butterflies and should be maximized to encourage butterfly diversity. The study was published recently in the journal Urban Ecosystems.
	Effects of salinity and nutrient deficiency determined for spinach Salinity and nutrient-depleted soil are two major constraints in crop production, especially for vegetable crops. In the January 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, researchers Chenping Xu and Beiquan Mou from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services, report on a study in which they assessed the effects of salinity and single nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorous, or potassium) deficiency on spinach growth, physiology, and nutritional value. Their results suggest that producers could employ cultural practices that impose either low fertilizer levels or slight salt stress to improve spinach nutritional values and experience only "moderately or slightly reduced" yield.
	Asparagus freezing tolerance related to rhizome traits Certain cultivars of plants, while growing healthily in their original climates, can suffer from low sustainability when introduced to differing climatic zones. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticulture Science analyzed three cultivars of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), showing that winterhardiness may be directly related to varying levels of water or metabolites within the rhizome of plants.
	Genetically modified anthocyanin-expressing citrus developed Anthocyanins, pigments that give plants their red, blue, or purple hues, are not typically produced in citrus fruits grown under tropical or subtropical conditions. Now, scientists have genetically engineered a lime that contains anthocyanins, which they say has several potential benefits. Manjul Dutt, Daniel Stanton, and Jude Grosser, from the Citrus Research and Education Center at the University of Florida, say that the discovery will allow the cultivation of new citrus fruits in the major subtropical citrus belt and/or the production of ornamental plants, depending on the cultivar. The process also creates opportunities for novel fruit, leaf, and flower colors to be produced by regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis.
	Researcher asks what makes a species by looking closely at lizards With a recent four-year, $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, a University of Kansas researcher is undertaking the most-detailed analysis ever carried out of how reptiles branch into various species.

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