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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 30, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Cool under pressure: Superconductivity in 3D Dirac semimetal zirconium pentatelluride
- Quantum computing with single photons getting closer to reality
- Researchers take next step with cyborg beetles – controlling their gait
- Map of rocky exoplanet reveals a lava world
- A new mechanism for catalyzing the splitting of water
- Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X'
- Ancient fossil marks bridge between early arachnids and modern spiders
- Indonesian 'Hobbits' may have died out sooner than thought
- Scientists identify structure of crucial enzyme in cell division
- Sea-level rise could nearly double over earlier estimates in next 100 years
- Why neural stem cells may be vulnerable to Zika infection
- Rat study reveals long-term effects of adolescent amphetamine abuse on the brain
- Neuronal feedback could change what we 'see'
- Open-source microprocessor
- Study describes the molecular cause of common cerebrovascular disease

Astronomy & Space news

	Researcher links mass extinctions to 'Planet X' Periodic mass extinctions on Earth, as indicated in the global fossil record, could be linked to a suspected ninth planet, according to research published by a faculty member of the University of Arkansas Department of Mathematical Sciences.
	Map of rocky exoplanet reveals a lava world An international team of astronomers, led by the University of Cambridge, has obtained the most detailed 'fingerprint' of a rocky planet outside our solar system to date, and found a planet of two halves: one that is almost completely molten, and the other which is almost completely solid.
	Herschel reveals a ribbon of future stars Star formation is taking place all around us. The Milky Way is laced with clouds of dust and gas that could become the nursery of the next generation of stars. Thanks to ESA's Herschel space observatory, we can now look inside these clouds and see what is truly going on.
	NASA's 'spaceport of the future' reaches another milestone NASA has completed a major milestone on its journey to Mars and is ready to begin another phase of work on its spaceport of the future, where the next generation of astronauts will launch to Mars and other deep-space destinations.
	Search for alien signals expands to 20,000 star systems The search for radio signals from alien worlds is expanding to 20,000 star systems that were previously considered poor targets for intelligent extraterrestrial life, US researchers said Wednesday.
	G1.9+0.3: Trigger for Milky Way's youngest supernova identified Scientists have used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the NSF's Jansky Very Large Array to determine the likely trigger for the most recent supernova in the Milky Way. They applied a new technique that could have implications for understanding other Type Ia supernovas, a class of stellar explosions that scientists use to determine the expansion rate of the universe.
	INTEGRAL sets limits on gamma rays from merging black holes Following the discovery of gravitational waves from the merging of two black holes, ESA's INTEGRAL satellite has revealed no simultaneous gamma rays, just as models predict.
	A challenging daytime occultation of venus for Europe Sometimes, the universe seems bent on hiding the most glorious of events right in plain sight. Just a such an event occurs next week, when the slender waning crescent moon occults the planet Venus for observers across Europe, the United Kingdom and northern Asia.
	Amateur astronomer spots apparent large impact on Jupiter Jupiter may be the biggest planet, but it sure seems to get picked on. On March 17, amateur astronomer Gerrit Kernbauer of Mödling, Austria, a small town just south of Vienna, was filming Jupiter through his 7.8-inch (200mm) telescope. 10 days later he returned to process the videos and discovered a bright flash of light at Jupiter's limb.
	Japan's black hole telescope is in trouble The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has lost contact with its X-ray Astronomy Satellite Hitomi (ASTRO-H.) Hitomi was launched on February 17th, for a 3-year mission to study black holes. But now that mission appears to be in jeopardy.
	'Smoothed' light for directly imaging exoplanets Physicists of MIPT (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology) and the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed optical technology for the "correction" of light coming from distant stars, which will significantly improve telescopes and enable direct observation of exoplanets. Their work has been published in the Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems (JATIS).
	Simulating supermassive black holes Near the edge of the visible Universe are some of the brightest objects ever observed, known as quasars, which are believed to contain supermassive black holes of more than a billion times the mass of our Sun. Simulations by Kentaro Nagamine at Osaka University's Department of Earth and Space Science, Isaac Shlosman at the University of Kentucky and co-workers have revealed for the first time exactly how these black holes formed 700 million years after the Big Bang.

Technology news

	Researchers take next step with cyborg beetles – controlling their gait (Tech Xplore)—A small team of researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has taken the idea of controlling live insects using electronics a step further—by controlling its gait. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the team describes how they created their 'cyborg' beetles, why they did so, and where they see the technology going in the future.
	Drawing on the fly: MIT team's drone is agent of expression The human-machine interactive experience has been up for a rethink at Cambridge, MA -based Fluid Interfaces group from MIT's Media Lab. These are the innovative champions in thinking up enhanced interactions and systems that can be more responsive to people's actions.
	Research focuses on understanding and predicting user behavior by mining social media events Dr. Xia Hu, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, is collaborating with Arizona State University and Yahoo! to understand user behavior on social media platforms by developing novel data mining algorithms.
	A clog-resistant filtration system inspired by filter-feeding fish The trouble with traditional filters is that they can't do their job without clogging.
	What if the FBI tried to crack an Android phone? We attacked one to find out The Justice Department has managed to unlock an iPhone 5c used by the gunman Syed Rizwan Farook, who with his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, last December. The high-profile case has pitted federal law enforcement agencies against Apple, which fought a legal order to work around its passcode security feature to give law enforcement access to the phone's data. The FBI said it relied on a third party to crack the phone's encrypted data, raising questions about iPhone security and whether federal agencies should disclose their method.
	Open-source microprocessor In future, it will be easier and cheaper for developers at universities and SMEs to build wearable microelectronic devices and chips for the internet of things, thanks to the PULPino open-source processor, which has been developed at ETH Zurich and the University of Bologna.
	Microsoft begins first shipments of HoloLens Microsoft began its first shipments of its HoloLens augmented reality headgear Wednesday, staking its place in what is expected to be an emerging computing platform.
	Apple-FBI clash ends in stalemate The high-stakes legal showdown between Apple and the FBI has abruptly ended, with no resolution to key questions about law enforcement access to devices with strong encryption.
	Study illuminates big performance gap for car headlights There may be a reason why people have trouble seeing while driving at night, and it's not their eyesight. A new rating of the headlights of more than 30 midsized car models gave only one model a grade of "good."
	Japan regulators OK costly ice wall at Fukushima plant (Update) Japanese regulators on Wednesday approved the use of a giant refrigeration system to create an unprecedented underground frozen barrier around buildings at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant in an attempt to contain leaking radioactive water.
	Uber, Ola face off in battle for India's booming taxi market Aiming to wrest control of India's booming taxi market, two cab-hailing smartphone apps—Uber and Ola—are promising hundreds of millions in new investment while also facing off with one another in court.
	Foxconn agrees to buy Japan's Sharp Corp. at reduced price The Taiwanese company that assembles Apple's iPhones agreed Wednesday to buy control of financially struggling Sharp Corp. for $3.5 billion in the first takeover of a major Japanese electronics producer by a foreign company.
	Opinion: The FBI drops its case against Apple that only made everyone's security worse The FBI has succeeded in hacking into an iPhone that belonged to San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook without Apple's help. As a consequence, the FBI has dropped its legal case that was trying to force Apple to do what has been done by an unknown "third party".
	Apple at 40: stronger than ever as trend-setter Apple celebrates its 40th anniversary this week at the top of its game, as the Silicon Valley legend that sprang out of Steve Jobs' garage to reshape modern life with its trend-setting gadgets.
	Sensor cable makes life difficult for burglars Ideally, homeowners want to be warned if a burglar sneaks onto their property, and farmers want to know if horses or sheep are no longer in the paddock or field they were left grazing in. Experimental physicists at Saarland University have developed a flexible security solution that can be used in gardens, driveways, business premises, or on grazing land and in woodland. The sensor cable system that Professor Uwe Hartmann and his team have developed issues a warning signal indicating if and where someone has attempted to cross over the cable. The cable itself can be fixed to long stretches of fencing, hung in trees or even buried underground. It monitors the Earth's magnetic field and reliably issues a warning message to, say, a smartphone whenever it registers a change in the field strength.
	Hospital cyberattack highlights health care vulnerabilities A cyberattack that paralyzed the hospital chain MedStar this week is serving as a fresh reminder of vulnerabilities that exist in systems that protect sensitive patient information.
	It's tax time. Which software should you use? Our guide As though paying taxes isn't annoying enough, prices and plans for tax software keep changing.
	Windows 10 reaches 270 million users: Microsoft Windows 10 is now in use in 270 million devices, the tech giant said Wednesday, hailing a strong debut for the multiplatform operating system launched last year.
Spotify adds $1 billion to war chest on way to IPO Music streaming leader Spotify has raised $1 billion in debt as it looks to buy companies that could accelerate its growth before listing shares on the public market within the next couple of years, according to two people familiar with the matter.
	Mayo Clinic, vMocion launch technology adding the sensation of motion into VR Mayo Clinic and vMocion, LLC, an entertainment technology company, today announced it is making available Mayo Clinic's patented Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) technology specifically for use in virtual reality and augmented reality. vMocion's 3v Platform (which stands for virtual, vestibular and visual) incorporates this patented GVS technology, which adds a complete sense of three-dimensional movement for the first time into a virtual reality or augmented reality environment. vMocion has been granted the exclusive, global, perpetual license for Mayo Clinic's GVS patents and algorithms within all media and entertainment categories and will offer the 3v Platform to other media and entertainment companies through a licensing agreement.
	'Community solar' systems may add savings to local, cooperative energy projects Part of the future of solar energy, especially for residential use, may be small "community-based" systems in which neighbors join together in the construction and use of solar systems to optimize the energy produced in their neighborhood - and share in the benefits.
	Microsoft pitches 'intelligent' conversations with computers Microsoft wants people to have more intelligent conversations with their computers.
Report: Boeing job cuts in Washington state could hit 10% The Boeing Co. is reportedly taking steps to eliminate 10 percent of its workforce in Washington state.
The evolution of smart grid offers possibilities to take back your power Common financial measures used in financial portfolio management are suitable for measuring market risk in smart grid projects, according to research from the University of Vaasa, Finland.
	Book addresses Europe's energy crisis Europe imports more than half of the energy that it consumes, and its supply is vulnerable to regional instability and economic shocks. In a major new book, Professor Rafael Leal-Arcas, shows how the creation of a European Energy Union might be an effective and viable solution to the energy security problems that the European Union (EU) is facing.
	The unfulfilled potential of the Danube as a transportation route Europe's rivers could be used to transport goods much more efficiently. In order to do this, however, the existing international regulations would have to be implemented consistently.
	Automatic test-generation technologies to limit excessive testing work in agile software development Fujitsu Laboratories today announced the development of automatic test-generation technologies to limit excessive testing work and enhance efficiencies for agile development - an evolutionary approach to developing software which incrementally adds small-scale functions, and then one after another, makes them available. Automatic test-generation technologies analyze source code and generate new test cases to exhaustively test software.
	Fullscreen media to start video-on-demand youth channel The Fullscreen media company is expanding its role beyond cultivating young video stars by launching a subscription video-on-demand service whose programming will draw on homegrown talent as well as content from a range of outside producers.

Medicine & Health news

	Not all mind wandering is created equal Mind wandering—sometimes seen as daydreaming or "zoning out"—has been shown to facilitate creative thinking and problem solving, but in the wrong context it can become distracting or even dangerous. Inattentive students can get behind in class, and drivers who aren't paying attention to the road are far more likely to end up in accidents. And for some professions, like surgeons or air traffic controllers, zoning out on the job can lead to disaster.
	Personality influences how one reacts to email errors When reading emails, do you become the "grammar police?"
	Antimatter changed physics, and the discovery of antimemories could revolutionise neuroscience One the most intriguing physics discoveries of the last century was the existence of antimatter, material that exists as the "mirror image" of subatomic particles of matter, such as electrons, protons and quarks, but with the opposite charge. Antimatter deepened our understanding of our universe and the laws of physics, and now the same idea is being proposed to explain something equally mysterious: memory.
	Heart and liver disease linked to antioxidant shutdown A protein that should help fight infection and keep us healthy may be targeted for treating devastating illnesses like heart and liver disease, according to a new Rutgers study.
	Study looks at why people may feel more helpless in stressful situations than others Stress - we're all too familiar with it. More of us than ever are feeling the relentless pressure of busy lives and it is taking its toll. In the US, stress related ailments cost the nation $300 billion every year in medical bills and lost productivity.
	Neuronal feedback could change what we 'see' Ever see something that isn't really there? Could your mind be playing tricks on you? The "tricks" might be your brain reacting to feedback between neurons in different parts of the visual system, according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience by Carnegie Mellon University Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Sandra J. Kuhlman and colleagues.
	Rat study reveals long-term effects of adolescent amphetamine abuse on the brain A study of rats given regular, high doses of amphetamine finds that those exposed to the drug at an age corresponding to human adolescence experience long-term changes in brain function that persist into adulthood.
	Why neural stem cells may be vulnerable to Zika infection Zika's hypothesized attraction to human neural stem cells may come from its ability to hijack a protein found on the surface of these cells, using it as an entryway to infection. In Cell Stem Cell on March 30, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco show that the AXL surface receptor, normally involved in cell division, is highly abundant on the surface of neural stem cells, but not on neurons in the developing brain.
	Study describes the molecular cause of common cerebrovascular disease Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are clusters of dilated, thin-walled blood vessels in the brain that can cause stroke and seizures, yet exactly how they form is somewhat of a mystery. Now, a team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has discovered the molecular mechanism that underlies this common cerebrovascular disease. They published their results this week online ahead of print in Nature.
Research finds that nerve cells regrow better when glial scarring is left intact Neuroscientists have long believed that scar tissue formed by glial cells—the cells that surround neurons in the central nervous system—impedes damaged nerve cells from regrowing after a brain or spinal cord injury. So it's no wonder that researchers have assumed that if they could find a way to remove or counteract that scar tissue, injured neurons might spontaneously repair themselves.
Cancer drug could treat blood vessel deformities A drug currently being trialled in cancer patients could also be used to treat an often incurable condition that can cause painful blood vessel overgrowths inside the skin, finds new research in mice led by UCL, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) in Barcelona.
Classroom program increases school breakfast participation, not obesity Serving free breakfast in New York City's classrooms has boosted the number of students eating what some consider the most important meal of the day at school, according to research by New York University's Institute for Education and Social Policy and the Center for Policy Research at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Blood clot risk lower for estrogen-only, transdermal, and vaginal estrogen at menopause A Swedish population study is helping answer lingering questions about hormone therapy safety. Published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society, the study shows that estrogen-only therapy carries a lower risk of blood clots than combined estrogen-progestogen therapy, but there is no significantly increased risk of clots with combination therapy when the estrogen is transdermal, and vaginal estrogen doesn't raise the risk at all.
	Stay safe in the water this spring break (HealthDay)—For many Americans, spring break is a good time to head for a beach, lake or pool, which means it's also time to start thinking about water safety.
	AMA addresses elements of team-based care model (HealthDay)—The elements of a team-based care model are described in a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
	AHA issues advisory on wearable cardioverter-defibrillator tx (HealthDay)—Recommendations for use of wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCDs) are presented in a scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and published online March 28 in Circulation.
	Could a low-risk surgery help your chronic heartburn? (HealthDay)—A minimally invasive surgery to treat chronic heartburn is safer than generally believed, and could be a desirable alternative to long-term use of acid reflux medications, new research indicates.
Gene transfer shows promise for treating heart failure Use of intracoronary gene transfer among heart failure patients resulted in increased left ventricular function beyond standard heart failure therapy, according to a study published online by JAMA Cardiology.
	How depictions on cake mix boxes can lead us to overeat When estimating portion size, we may be more influenced by food images on the packaging than by the listed serving size leading us to serve more than is recommended. When additional food items are depicted on packages—such as frosting on cake-mix boxes— we are even more likely to overserve!
	When women feel their partner demands perfection, sex life suffers Women who perceive that their sexual partner is imposing perfectionist standards on them may suffer sexual dysfunction as a result, psychologists at the University of Kent have found.
Study uncovers genetic differences for kidney cancer that may contribute to survival disparity in African-Americans A University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center-led study has identified genetic differences in tumors of African-Americans with the most common type of kidney cancer compared with whites.
	After rare procedure, woman can hear her heart beat in another Stanford Medicine surgeons performed an unusual transplantation in which one woman received a heart-lung transplant, while her existing heart was given to another patient.
	Study shows that older adults may benefit from giving advice Research by sociologists at the University of Toronto suggests that feeling useful is a key part of a life well-lived and this is especially so for seniors who are living longer than ever before.
	Tablets at the table can influence child development, not always in a good way Do you "i-Pad your child" when you go to a restaurant?
	Hybrid vaccination protocol could cut whooping cough cases by 95 percent Whooping cough is making a major comeback in the United States right now, and public health officials are struggling with what to do about it. Now, two SFI researchers have a surprising proposal: go back to an old vaccine—one that was largely abandoned 25 years ago because of relatively minor side effects—but do it for just the first of the usual five doses. Doing so, they says, could cut pertussis cases by 95 percent and save $142 million per year.
	Cervical peeling as a treatment for precancerous conditions Researchers at the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) of MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital have developed a new treatment for the pre-stages of cervical cancer, caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. The treatment involves using 85% trichloroacetic acid, an acid that is traditionally used for medical and cosmetic skin peeling. The scientists showed that complete remission was achieved in 82% of the patients after only one application. Moreover, the new treatment is very easy for experts to use and is very cost-effective. The study was published in February in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the official publication of the American Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The importance of electrolyte concentration in perspiration Spanish researchers have analysed how the sodium lost through sweat during a marathon influences the maintenance of stable and physiologically sound conditions that allow the body to carry out its functions. Excessive electrolyte loss may lead to a medical problem known as hyponatraemia.
New research highlights experiences of ambulance control workers Staff who coordinate emergency services for 999 calls to the ambulance service require support to reduce stress and sickness absence, new research has found.
	Review finds non-targeted methods to prevent unplanned pregnancy don't work Increased vulnerability due neglect and abuse, the absence of a supportive adult in their lives and a lack of mainstream effective sex and relationship education due to placement moves, are some of the reasons identified by children's charity Coram as to why standard sexual health education may need re-thinking for care experienced young people, to reduce unplanned pregnancy.
	Researchers target intensive care's intensive noise problem TV presents one picture of an intensive care unit (ICU) – dimmed lights, hushed voices and softly bleeping machines. The reality is that it's more like a busy restaurant and frequently it's noisy enough to compete with a pneumatic drill. That's why Oxford University researchers have been trying to make intensive care noise less intensive.
Finding suggests new heart disease screening target for middle-aged black women Middle-aged black women have higher levels of a protein in their blood associated with a predictor of heart disease than their white counterparts, even after other factors, such as obesity, are taken into consideration, according to a study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and School of Medicine.
	New mouse model for acute myeloid leukemia opens door to research, possible treatments A novel mouse model of a highly lethal form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) offers a new tool for scientists working to better understand this disease and research new therapeutic targets.
	Team redesigns epilepsy drug to increase potency and specificity, reduce side effects Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Arts & Sciences have designed a more effective version of an FDA-approved epilepsy drug with the potential for fewer side effects, according to a study published on March 22 in Molecular Pharmacology. The experimental agent also could prove to be a treatment for tinnitus and other disorders caused by volatile neural signaling.
	Diagnosing ear infection using smartphone Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have developed a method that simplifies the diagnosis of ear infections (otitis media), something which annually affects half a billion children worldwide. The software-based method automatically analyses images from a digital otoscope and enables highly accurate diagnoses. The method is described in the journal EBioMedicine.
	An alternative route to inflammation Using a combination of newly developed methods, researchers led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich immunologist Veit Hornung have defined a previously unknown pathway that triggers inflammation.
	History of chicken pox may reduce risk of brain cancer later in life The chicken pox is one of those pesky illness that affects kids and pains their parents, but it may offer some positive health benefits later in life, experts believe – a reduced risk for developing glioma.
	Dynamic connections in the brain Functional connections in the brain change over time in ways that are only now beginning to be appreciated. In the field of neuroscience, there is a new approach to studying the brain known as human connectomics. This dynamic model of studying the brain and its moment-to-moment variations is what researchers at the University of Miami (UM) College of Arts & Sciences Department of Psychology present in a new study published in the journal Human Brain Mapping.
Successful dying: Researchers define the elements of a 'good death' For most people, the culmination of a good life is a "good death," though what that means exactly is a matter of considerable consternation. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine surveyed published, English-language, peer-reviewed reports of qualitative and quantitative studies defining a "good death," ultimately identifying 11 core themes associated with dying well.
Toward reliable reporting for lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts Large-scale disease elimination programs depend critically on the accuracy of data reported back from local implementation sites. WHO and some of its partners recently developed a data quality assessment (DQA) tool specific to efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases applying the tool to the lymphatic filariasis program in Ghana finds problems with the routinely reported data and suggests ways toward improving their accuracy.
	Parents' binge eating, restrictive feeding practices may be reactions to kids' emotions A new study of more than 440 parents and their preschoolers offers insight into why some parents who binge eat also may try to restrict their children's food intake, placing their children at higher risk for unhealthy eating habits and weight problems.
	Longer maternity leave linked to better infant health For each additional month of paid maternity leave offered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), infant mortality is reduced by 13%, according to a new study by researchers from McGill University and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Study highlights risk of lapse in surgical skills among nation's pediatric surgeons Some pediatric surgeons perform so few rare and complex procedures once they finish their surgical training that they may have a hard time maintaining operative skills in the long run, according to a new study led by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
US regulators ease label requirements on abortion pill US regulators Wednesday eased labeling requirements on a medication that induces abortion, a move that women's health advocates said should improve access to abortion, particularly in certain embattled states.
Medical community is fighting a new germ: celebrities When celebrity and science collide, harmful side effects may occur.
	FDA grants use of experimental blood test for Zika screening Federal health officials are granting use of an experimental blood test to screen blood for Zika virus, an emergency step designed to protect local blood supplies from the mosquito-borne virus.
	High-intensity workout injuries spawn cottage industry After a few weeks of working out at CrossFit, Charles Banfield says his back hurt constantly and his joints felt terrible. The 47-year-old's aches and pains were so bad, he initially blamed his bed and purchased a new mattress.
	Right brain may help predict recovery of language after stroke New research suggests that looking at structures in the right side of the brain may help predict who will better recover from language problems after a stroke, according to a study published in Neurology, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Statin use differs among Hispanic adults at risk for heart disease In the United States, adults of different Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, at high risk for heart disease, varied significantly in their use of widely-prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The difference was based on whether or not they had health insurance.
	Another study confirms link between Zika virus and fetal brain damage A study led by Olli Vapalahti, professor of zoonotic virology at the University of Helsinki, Finland, has found that small amounts of genetic material from the Zika virus can be detected from a blood sample taken from a pregnant woman even weeks after the acute rash caused by the infection has passed, when the development of brain damage in the fetus is underway. Severe brain abnormalities can be detected through neuroimaging already at this early stage, even before the development of the intracranial calcifications and microcephaly previously associated with Zika virus infections.
	Decades-old mystery disease identified and potential cure found A mysterious inflammatory disease has been afflicting a Flemish family for three generations, causing severe skin lesions, fevers, pain and exhaustion. This disease, which previously had no known cause or cure, has now been identified as Pyrin Associated Autoinflammation with Neutrophilic Dermatosis (PAAND), and has also been found in families in England and France. New research by Adrian Liston (VIB/University of Leuven, Belgium), Seth Masters (Walter and Elisa Hall Institute, Australia), Carine Wouters (University of Leuven, Belgium) has found the genetic mutation causing the disease and also identified an effective treatment. This research was published in the international scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.
	If you don't have asthma, maybe it's because Mom experienced a sunny second trimester, health economist finds The best way to reduce a child's chances of developing asthma might be making sure Mom had enough vitamin D during the second trimester, a new study from the University of Kansas shows.
	Improper prescribing common at hospital discharge of seniors (HealthDay)—More than one in three older adults are given at least one potentially inappropriate prescription (PIP) at the time of hospital discharge, according to a study published March 21 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
	Higher weight in first year may up risk of islet autoimmunity (HealthDay)—Development of islet autoimmunity and multiple islet autoantibodies appears to be related to weight z-scores at age 12 months, according to a study published online March 23 in Diabetes.
	Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen described in anorexia (HealthDay)—In a case report published online March 25 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are observed in a male patient with anorexia nervosa (AN).
	Tocilizumab treats rheumatoid arthritis after non-TNFi failure (HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a first non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, treatment with tocilizumab seems more efficacious than abatacept or rituximab, according to a study published online March 27 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Motor nerve conduction velocity slowed in segmental vitiligo (HealthDay)—Segmental vitiligo (SV) compromises motor nerves in the lesional limbs, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
	More than 3 percent of preterm births attributed to exposure to particulate matter (HealthDay)—More than 3 percent of preterm births (PTBs) nationally can be attributed to exposure to particulate matter
	Burden of hep C virus substantial despite oral antiviral therapy (HealthDay)—The burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and associated disease is projected to remain considerable even in the era of oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), according to a study published online March 25 in Hepatology.
	Hopkins begins nation's first HIV-positive organ transplants Surgeons in Baltimore for the first time have transplanted organs between an HIV-positive donor and HIV-positive recipients, a long-awaited new option for patients with the AIDS virus whose kidneys or livers also are failing.
	Teens are gambling online at a significantly higher rate than previously reported Nearly 10 per cent of teens in three Canadian provinces said they had gambled online in the past three months, according to a new study by researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the University of Waterloo. It's the first Canadian-based study to find such high levels of online gambling among youth.
	Exercise keeps muscles—and you—young A University of Guelph professor has uncovered the "secret" to staying strong as we age - superb fitness.
	Managing migraine during pregnancy and lactation According to doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, medications and treatments long considered safe to treat pregnant women with migraines may not be.
	Generating good fat by pushing the right buttons Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified a protein complex that is required for conversion of "bad" white fat to "good" brown fat. The findings, published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could help treat metabolic disorders such as obesity.
	New research reveals nine laws particularly effective in reducing underage drinking fatalities New research reveals that nine laws designed to reduce underage drinking have been instrumental in saving more than 1,100 lives each year in the states that have adopted them, and that an additional 210 lives could be saved annually if they were adopted in every state.
Eating beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils may help lose weight and keep it off Eating one serving a day of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils could contribute to modest weight loss, a new study suggests.
Even seizure-free, children with epilepsy can face social problems as adults Learning difficulties and behavioral problems during childhood can lead to suboptimal social and educational outcomes among young adults with childhood epilepsy even when their seizures are well under control and their disease in remission, according to findings from a study led by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
	Gene variant may contribute to increased cancer risk in African-Americans For years, clinical data have shown that African Americans have a higher death rate and shorter period of survival among patients with commonly diagnosed cancers. While studies have focused on whether socioeconomic factors contribute to these statistics, researchers have been diligently trying to determine a genetic basis for these disparities.
New compounds may aid in development of targeted therapies for a rare pediatric cancer Two recently discovered compounds have shown promise in preclinical studies for treating Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that predominantly affects children and adolescents.
Long-acting treatment for opioid addiction reduced risk of relapse In a multicenter, randomized clinical trial, ex-prisoners who received six monthly injections of naltrexone—a long-acting medication that blocks opioid receptors in the brain—were significantly less likely to resume opioid use than those who received counseling and referrals to community treatment centers without naltrexone.
Phase-3 drug trial for refractory rheumatoid arthritis succeeds In a pivotal phase-3 trial led by a Stanford University School of Medicine investigator, a novel drug for rheumatoid arthritis substantially reduced symptoms and improved daily physical functioning in patients for whom other therapies had failed.
'Illusion of control' leads to inappropriate medical treatment use The U.S. presidential campaign season has reignited debates on how best to deliver cost-effective, high quality care. A new perspective paper in the New England Journal of Medicine advocates for a comprehensive approach to recognize and manage "therapeutic illusion" to improve use of medical treatments. The therapeutic illusion—an unjustified belief in treatment—has been proven in previous studies in different environments. Consistently, physicians have reported overestimating the benefits of inappropriate tests and treatments.
Early use of postmenopausal hormone therapy may prevent heart disease Research from Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) suggests that hormone therapy, when taken within six years of menopause, may slow the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries. The study, entitled "Vascular Effects of Early versus Late Postmenopausal Treatment with Estradiol," is published in the March 31, 2016 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. This is the first study to directly examine the hypothesis that the cardiovascular effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy vary with the timing of hormone therapy initiation.
First treatment approved for disease linked to stem cell transplant (HealthDay)—Defitelio (defibrotide sodium) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare, but usually fatal liver disease that affects some people who have had a stem cell transplant.
	Caregivers of people with dementia face financial hardships Many relatives and friends providing financial support or care to people with dementia have dipped into their retirement savings, cut back on spending and sold assets to pay for expenses tied to the disease, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Alzheimer's Association.
	Genome-wide association study of cannabis Cannabis dependence is a serious problem worldwide and it is of growing importance in the United States as marijuana becomes increasingly legal.
	Study finds gestational surrogacy often misunderstood, unevenly judged For more than 30 years women have been working as surrogates for strangers who are unable to bear children.
	Researcher aims to raise awareness of burning mouth syndrome Can you imagine life with your mouth feeling like it's on fire? The pain is something you can't escape, never mind being able to eat or drink the food and beverages you once enjoyed.
	New emergency kits for quicker relief organisation response Developed through the EU-funded SPEEDKITS project, these cost-effective, modular and easy-to-use kits, providing first aid support in terms of shelter, medical care, drinking water, sanitation and basic energy needs, will enable humanitarian workers to provide swift and effective aid when disaster strikes.
	Team uses 3-D tissue engineering to revolutionize dental disease The discomfort and stigma of loose or missing teeth could be a thing of the past as Griffith University researchers pioneer the use of 3D bioprinting to replace missing teeth and bone.
Cyclophosphamide, old dogs with new tricks? Key opinions leaders in the field of haematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) will address the role of Cyclophosphamide, an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug, during the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) that will welcome more than 4,500 delegates in the host city of Valencia, Spain from the 3rd to the 6th of April 2016.
Human Brain Project launches European research infrastructure The Human Brain Project (HBP) is developing a shared European research infrastructure with the aim of examining the organization of the brain using detailed analyses and simulations and thus combating neurological and psychiatric disorders. For this purpose, the HBP is creating new information technologies like neurosynaptic processors which are based on the principles governing how the human brain works. Following today's launch of the scientific infrastructure set up by researchers from 24 countries over the last two-and-a-half years, the Human Brain Project is now entering its next phase.
Medics call for urgent improvements in the quality of endoscopy across Europe Every year, tens of millions of individuals across Europe undergo endoscopic procedures to assist with the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal diseases. However, significant variation in current endoscopy provision across Europe has been reported1, with back-to-back colonoscopy studies demonstrating that a concerning 22% of all adenomas are missed and that a three-to-six fold variation in adenoma detection is present between endoscopists2.
Position papers articulate research needs in transgender health and medicine The most comprehensive analysis to date of research priorities for transgender health care will be published in the April issue of Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity. The analysis was completed by a group of medical researchers across several medical schools and academic medical centers, including Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC).
Mind-altering drugs could treat mental disorders Psychedelic compounds have had a colorful past. Although initially investigated for medical uses, they were banned after cultural and political times changed in the 1960s and 1970s. Now, the compounds are getting another chance in the mainstream, according to the cover story of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
	Can videogames improve health outcomes in children? The videogames for health (G4H) field is pursuing innovative, potentially highly effective methods for changing behaviors and affecting health outcomes in children, but more research, defined guidelines and targeted funding are needed to drive game design, determine optimal use, and minimize possible adverse effects, according to a white paper published in Games for Health Journal: Research Development, and Clinical Applications.
Better outreach and employer engagement critical to New Jersey paid family leave program New Jersey parents say that inadequate information and outreach, a lack of employer support, and a confusing application process discourage their participation in the state's landmark paid family leave program, according to new research from the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. In the absence of federal policy, New Jersey introduced a paid leave insurance program in 2009 and is one of only three states to offer such a worker benefit. By 2014, more than 155,000 workers had used the state's Family Leave Insurance (FLI) program to bond with a new child or care for an ailing family member. Still, despite strong evidence that paid family leave benefits families in multiple ways, a yearlong study of FLI uptake found significant barriers to accessing the program among low-income working parents.
Death toll rises to 7 in Guinea Ebola outbreak A resurgence of Ebola in a rural Guinean community has killed seven people, health officials said Wednesday, even as the World Health Organization voiced confidence that remaining isolated cases could be contained.
	Researchers uncover key scientific and statistical errors in obesity studies A special statistical series in the journal Obesity identifies common scientific and statistical errors in obesity-relate studies, challenges assumptions about weight loss, and calls for increased application of control arms in obesity intervention studies.
	Altered brain communication could be predictive marker of dementia in Parkinson's disease Dementia will develop in about 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease, and a new study has found significant variability in brain signaling that could serve as a predictive marker for identifying which patients are at highest risk of dementia. Measuring brain signal variability as an early indicator of impaired cognitive function and information processing is an innovative new approach described in the study published in Brain Connectivity.

Biology news

	Apes remember their old friends' voices Humanity's closest living relative, the bonobo ape, can remember the voices of old friends for several years, just as people can, researchers have shown.
	Ant antennae provide vital ID information, study finds University of Melbourne scientists have shone a new light into the complexities of ant communication, with the discovery that ants not only pick up information through their antennae, but also use them to convey social signals.
	Quality of environment explains why some birds choose to neglect their hungriest chicks Scientists have long been aware that in some species of bird, parents will prioritise feeding the neediest chicks, whereas in others they will focus on the strongest offspring. Until now, though, the reason behind this discrepancy has remained a mystery.
	Study of ancient Japanese hunter-gatherers suggests warfare not inherent in human nature (Phys.org)—A team of Japanese researchers (and one from the U.K.) has found evidence in the remains of ancient Japanese people that suggests that people are not necessarily predisposed to living a violent existence or even to engaging in warfare. In their paper published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, the team describes their analysis of the remains of people that lived during the Jomon period (from 13,000 – 800 BC) in what is now Japan, which showed very little evidence of violent behavior or death.
Scientists identify structure of crucial enzyme in cell division UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have determined the atomic structure of an enzyme that plays an essential role in cell division, the fundamental process that occurs countless times daily in many life forms on Earth.
	Rapid transformation turns clinging tadpoles into digging adult frogs The Indian Purple frog skeleton undergoes dramatic transformation as tadpoles clinging to underwater rocks become adults digging their way underground, according to a study published March 30, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Gayani Senevirathne from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and colleagues.
	No snow, no hares: Climate change pushes emblematic species north If there is an animal emblematic of the northern winter, it is the snowshoe hare.
	Scientists solved the Spallanzani's dilemma Imagine losing an eye, an arm or even your spinal cord. When we are wounded, our bodies, and those of other mammals, generally respond by sealing the wound with scar tissue. The newt, however, has evolved unique strategies that allow it to repeatedly regenerate lost tissues, even as an adult.
	Endangered Puget Sound orcas to get personal health records The killer whales that spend time in the inland waters of Washington state already are tagged and tracked, photographed and measured.
Helping crops survive prolonged drought, save water Purdue researchers are developing a technology that could enable specific plants and crops to survive extreme periods of drought, while significantly decreasing agricultural water consumption.
Better use of entire biomass of willow VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto University investigated how willow biomass can be utilised more efficiently. When processed correctly, willow is eminently suitable as a source of sugar in the production of ethanol. The lignin fraction formed as a by-product of the ethanol process and the fibres and compounds of willow bark are suitable for the manufacture of environmentally friendly chemicals and bio-based materials.
	What can fish mouths teach us about engineering clog-free filters? Filter-feeding fish accomplish a feat that human technologies cannot: species including goldfish, menhaden and basking sharks filter tiny algal cells or shrimp-like prey from huge volumes of water without clogging their oral filters.
	Scientist swaps desk for country's most rugged natural environments As someone who once envisaged a career path as an economist, Lesley Gibson certainly never anticipated the places that she'd go on to work.
	Symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi provides plants with enhanced access to scarce resources Symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi provides plants with enhanced access to scarce resources. LMU researchers recently discovered a mechanism that may allow host plants to control the extent of symbiosis formation.
	Identification of a new protein essential for ovule and sperm formation Published today in Nature Communications, a study by scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) headed by ICREA researcher Angel R. Nebreda has reported that the protein RingoA is a key regulator of meiosis—the cell division process that gives rise to ovules and sperm for sexual reproduction in mammals.
	Why being bold all comes down to evolution Chevalier Blondin was 35 years old when in 1859, with no safety harness and no net beneath him, he first tightrope-walked nearly half a kilometre across the Niagara Gorge. At different times over the coming years, he would repeat the crossing blindfolded, carrying a stove (stopping to cook himself an omelette half way), and with his manager on his back. Later on, during a visit to the UK, he crossed a tightrope while pushing a wheelbarrow with a lion in it. Chevalier Blondin was a risk taker.
New details emerge on deep sea, marine-submerged bodies Findings of a new Simon Fraser University study could benefit investigators when bodies are recovered in deep water. It's the first to document carcass (pig) taphonomy (the study of what happens to organisms after death) in the open, well-oxygenated waters of the Strait of Georgia. SFU criminologist Gail Anderson says the research demonstrates "a dramatically different scavenging progression" than that seen earlier in nearby waters.
	Gluten-free noodle revolution: The quest for chewier, non-allergenic buckwheat Gluten-free noodles and other buckwheat-based foods might get tastier, prettier, and non-allergenic with hints from new genomics research. Yasuo Yasui of Kyoto University and colleagues have sequenced the full buckwheat genome for the first time, identifying genes which could be modified for improved cultivation capabilities and taste appeal.
Salmon are less aggressive in tanks with darker backgrounds Coho salmon may be four times less aggressive in tanks with darker backgrounds than in tanks with light backgrounds, according to a study published March 30, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Leigh Gaffney from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and colleagues.
	Indian dancing frog's secretive tadpoles unearthed from sand beds A new tadpole that burrows through sand has been unearthed from the streambeds in the Western Ghats of India, according to a study published March 30, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Gayani Senevirathne from the University of Peradeniya and colleagues.
	Tracking deer by NASA satellite Mule deer mothers are in sync with their environment, with reproduction patterns that closely match the cycles of plant growth in their habitat. And new research using NASA satellite data shows that tracking vegetation from space can help wildlife managers predict when does will give birth to fawns.
	Open-access article on masked chafer grubs in turfgrass explains management techniques White grubs, commonly known as masked chafers, are fat, cream-colored, brown-headed larvae that can be pests of turfgrass.
	A cheaper, lighter moth trap may make citizen science projects more affordable Researchers from Michigan State University believe they have invented a better—or at least a cheaper—version of the proverbial mouse trap. Except instead of a mouse trap, it's a moth trap. The new device is described in the Journal of Insect Science.
	Breeding sugar beets for better resistance to curly top virus The sugar beet curly top virus could meet its match in new sugar beet varieties derived from KDH13, a germplasm breeding line developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers for resistance to the disease-causing pathogen.
	What does swarm robotics have to do with synthetic biology, and why does it matter? Synthetic Biology is a field born from the premise that design and engineering principles can be applied to biological entities. Principles such as encapsulation, modularity and compositional hierarchy pervade much of the field's literature and are seen as its core tenets. Yet when you ask practising synthetic biologists what they do and how they do it, a more complicated picture emerges.
	57 varieties of tomato This beautiful berry, domesticated in the Americas more than 2500 years ago, and introduced to the Old World in the 16th century, nowadays forms the basis of a $60 billion worldwide industry. Although first treated with the suspicion that it might share the toxicity of its distant cousin the deadly nightshade, the fruit is now eaten raw, sundried, cooked in stews and sauces, or turned into ketchup. We borrowed its English name from the Aztecs (along with "chocolate"), but 500 years later Brits and Americans still can't agree how to pronounce it ("Tomayto, tomahto? Let's call the whole thing off"). Although the tomato owes its Linnaean name, Solanum lycopersicum, to Medieval German werewolf myths (the species name means "wolf peach"), some very modern science is being used to study its evolution, manipulate its properties, understand its biology and perfect its agriculture.
	Assessing levels of biodiversity Innovative applications of modern taxonomic methods for the discovery and classification of biological species form the core of a new DFG Priority Program, which will be coordinated by LMU botanist Susanne Renner.
	A Maine lobster fishing community confronts their changing climate Over the past 40 years, some lobstermen in South Thomaston, Maine, say that they could "set their watches" by the start of the lobster shedding event each season. In 2012, though, extreme warm ocean temperatures—an ocean heat wave—combined with early and repeated lobster shedding. The obvious changes in lobsters during this event galvanized many lobstermen to take the impacts of climate change seriously.
	Kenya ivory amnesty ahead of record-breaking tusk burning Kenya on Wednesday launched a three-week amnesty to hand in ivory and rhino horn ahead of the world's biggest burning of ivory next month.
	Black wattle's new biogeographic distribution threatens flight safety in China Black wattle, flowering trees also known as the Australian acacia, have been observed to rapidly spread around local airports in Yunnan province, southwestern China. According to the ecologists, this alien species and its extraordinary pace of invasion are to lead to new threats for both flight safety and local biodiversity. The five Chinese scientists, led by Min Liu, PhD student at Yunnan University, have their findings and suggestions for immediate measures published in the open-access journal Neobiota.

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