Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 9

The Basics of COMSOL Multiphysics - Live Demo: http://goo.gl/Zphi4P

Learn the basics of COMSOL Multiphysics during this short 18 minute live demo and see how to quickly set up and solve a multiphysics model.

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 9, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Light helps the transistor laser switch faster
- Processing food before eating likely played key role in human evolution, study finds
- Stem cells regenerate human lens after cataract surgery, restoring vision
- System loads web pages 34 percent faster by fetching files more effectively
- Computer draws first blood in clash with Go grandmaster (Update)
- Scientists make renewable plastic from carbon dioxide and plants
- Video shows Google self-driving car hit bus
- Researchers develop highly efficient hollow copper electrodes
- First microwhip scorpion from Mesozoic period found in Burmese amber
- Atomic vibrations in nanomaterials
- Maternal bacterial infections trigger abnormal proliferation of neurons in fetal brain
- Greenhouse gas 'bookkeeping' turned on its head
- Vision restored in rabbits following stem cell transplantation
- Protected Majorana states for quantum information
- New treatment regimen cuts severity of drug-resistant malaria in pregnancy

Astronomy & Space news

	Jeff Bezos company planning human test space flights by 2017 Private space travel company Blue Origin expects its first test flights with people in 2017, company founder Jeff Bezos said Tuesday during a tour of the venture's research and development site outside Seattle.
	Total solar eclipse sweeps across Indonesia A total solar eclipse swept across the vast Indonesian archipelago on Wednesday, marked by ecstatic sky gazers cheering the spectacle, devout Muslims kneeling in prayer and tribespeople performing rituals.
	Sharpest view ever of dusty disc around aging star As they approach the ends of their lives many stars develop stable discs of gas and dust around them. This material was ejected by stellar winds, whilst the star was passing through the red giant stage of its evolution. These discs resemble those that form planets around young stars. But up to now astronomers have not been able to compare the two types, formed at the beginning and the end of the stellar life cycle.
	SOFIA observatory indicates star eruptions create and scatter elements with earth-like composition Observations made with NASA's flying observatory, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) indicate that nova eruptions create elements that can form rocky planets, much like Earth.
	NASA salvages Mars mission that should have launched by now (Update) NASA's next Mars mission is still alive.
	Dark matter satellites trigger massive birth of stars One of the main predictions of the current model of the creation of structures in the universe, known at the Lambda Cold Dark Matter model, is that galaxies are embedded in very extended and massive halos of dark matter that are surrounded by many thousands of smaller sub-halos also made from dark matter.
	All we are is dust in the interstellar wind Cosmic dust is not simply something to sweep under the rug and forget about.
	Ariane 5 launch contributes to Ariane 6 development An Ariane 5 lifted off this morning to deliver telecom satellite Eutelsat-65 West A into its planned transfer orbit. Liftoff of flight VA229 occurred at 05:20 GMT (02:20 local time, 06:20 CET) from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
	Intensive training for Mars voyage With just days to go before the departure of ExoMars, mission teams are in the final stages of their months-long training that ensures everyone knows their job the moment the mission comes alive.
	Type of ice reveals the age of comets The ice buried inside comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko is mainly found in crystalline form, which implies that it originated in the protosolar nebula and is therefore the same age as the Solar System. This discovery was made by an international team led by a researcher at the LAM (CNRS/Aix Marseille Université) and also including scientists from the Laboratoire J.-L. Lagrange (OCA/CNRS/Université Nice Sophia Antipolis) and the Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques (CNRS/ Université de Lorraine), with support from the CNES. Their findings were obtained by analyzing data from the Rosina instrument, placed on board ESA's Rosetta spacecraft. This work has been published on 08 March 2016 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
	Swiss camera to launch to Mars A camera designed and built at the Center of Space and Habitability (CSH) of the University of Bern will be launched with the ExoMars space orbiter next Monday 14 March and start its journey to Mars. The instrument will obtain stereo images of the surface in colour at a resolution of better than 5 m.
	Discovery of carbon on Mercury reveals the planet's dark past Mercury has been found to have a dark side with graphite, a crystalline form of carbon commonly found in pencils, being the source of the mysterious dark colouration of the planet's surface.
	China plans space telescope that will dock with their space station China has plans to build a new space telescope which should outperform Hubble. According to the Chinese English Language Daily, the new telescope will be similar to Hubble, but will have a field of view that is 300 times larger. The new telescope, which has not been named yet, will have the ability to dock with China's modular space station, the Tiangong.
	Sticky, stony and sizzling science launching to space station NASA's commercial partner Orbital ATK plans to launch its Cygnus spacecraft into orbit on March 22, 2016 atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for its fifth contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station. The flight, known as Orbital ATK CRS-6, will deliver investigations to the space station to study fire, meteors, regolith, adhesion, and 3-D printing in microgravity.
	Flight to Hawaii promises prime view of total solar eclipse Skygazers from around the country caught a flight from Alaska to Hawaii for prime viewing of a total solar eclipse that will unfold over parts of Indonesia and the Indian and Pacific oceans.
	Image: Tenerife from Proba-V A false-colour image of the Atlantic island of Tenerife, as seen by ESA's Proba-V minisatellite.

Technology news

	Computer draws first blood in clash with Go grandmaster (Update) A Google-developed supercomputer stunned South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se-Dol by taking the first game of a five-match showdown between man and machine in Seoul on Wednesday.
	System loads web pages 34 percent faster by fetching files more effectively There are few things more frustrating than a slow-loading web page. For companies, what's even worse is what comes after: users abandoning their site in droves. Amazon, for example, estimates that every 100-millisecond delay cuts its profits by 1 percent.
	Authentication path: NEC targets acoustic characteristics of ear Biometric authentication has frequently made the news—without even knowing any formal definition, we are used to the headlines and the stories about how fingers or eyes can be the keys to gain access to sites and doors, as means of authentication.
	Dreaming big with biomimetics—could future buildings be made with bone and eggshells? As the world grapples with climate change, we urgently need to find ways of reducing our CO₂ emissions. Sectors which rely heavily on fossil fuels, such as energy and aviation, are commonly held to be the worst offenders. But what most people don't realise is that there's another culprit, hiding in plain sight; on the streets of our cities, and in the buildings where we live and work.
	Nations ranked on their vulnerability to cyberattacks Damaging cyberattacks on a global scale continue to surface every day. Some nations are better prepared than others to deal with online threats from criminals, terrorists and rogue nations.
	Video shows Google self-driving car hit bus Newly released video shows the moment a Google self-driving car learned the hard way not to tussle with a public bus.
	German court rules Facebook like button may break law Facebook 'like' buttons on commercial websites break German law if users are not warned that their personal data is being shared, a court ruled on Wednesday.
	Developers get early look at new Android software Google on Wednesday let developers have an early look at the next version of Android in a move that could get the software into a wider variety of devices.
Some assembly required to boost robot ratings Robot makers may want to follow Ikea's strategy for customer satisfaction and give people a chance to partially assemble their new robots to ease acceptance of the devices, according to Penn State researchers.
Japan's Toshiba gives Canon preference for medical unit sale Japan's Toshiba on Wednesday offered camera maker Canon exclusive rights to buy its medical devices unit, as the engineering giant sells businesses to recover from a major accounting scandal.
	Human vs machine Go showdown kicks off in Seoul A 3,000-year-old Chinese board game was the focus of a very 21st century showdown Wednesday as South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se-Dol kicked off his highly anticipated clash with the Google-developed supercomputer, AlphaGo.
	Snapchat, Seagate among companies duped in tax-fraud scam Tax-filing season is turning into a nightmare for thousands of employees whose companies have been duped by email fraudsters. A major phishing scheme has tricked several major companies—among them, the messaging service Snapchat and disk-drive maker Seagate Technology—into relinquishing tax documents that exposed their workers' incomes, addresses and Social Security numbers.
Bangladesh loses $100 million from New York Fed account (Update) The Bangladesh central bank says it is working to recover some $100 million it lost from an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
	Phishing season in full swing as tax deadline looms Tax day is a little more than a month away, which means phishing season is in full swing.
	What are they doing with my data?  You go shopping. You check-out at the cashier and are ready to pay. The cashier pulls out a camera and takes a picture of you, your bill and your credit card. You ask the cashier why. He tells you that the photo enables the supermarket to better profile customers like you—based on how you look, what mood you appear in, what clothes you wear, who you are with and what you buy. Demographic and behavioral information about you will be inferred from the information collected.
	New laser-based aircraft tracking system could aid disaster relief efforts A ground-breaking tracking system called HYPERION based on eye-safe lasers could enable aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and even orbiting satellites to transmit vital data to ground stations more securely, quickly and efficiently.
	Microwave repairs might annihilate zombie potholes once and for all Some potholes are like zombies – they never die. Or at least that's the perception of much of the driving public, especially as we enter peak pothole season: late winter and early spring.
	With a new episodic model, 'Hitman' game aims for everyone The creators of "Hitman" are pulling the trigger on an unorthodox way of releasing their espionage saga that could reshape how the interactive industry approaches video game launches.
	With Boxmate malicious programs have no place left to hide No matter how well-tested our software may be, hackers keep on finding vulnerabilities to exploit or control systems at will. "The attackers are always one step ahead," says Andreas Zeller, professor of computer science at Saarland University and researcher at the Center for IT Security, Privacy and Accountability (CISPA). "The core problem of existing security systems is that the attack needs to have been observed at least once to be able to recognize it the next time - and then, you have to update everything again and again." This threat is particularly prominent in the upcoming "Internet of Things", where hundreds and thousands of devices can become potential targets.
	Disney researchers take depth cameras into the depths for high-accuracy 3-D capture Disney Research scientists are adapting low-cost depth-sensing cameras for use underwater, with the goal of capturing 3-D models of marine flora and fauna with a high degree of accuracy.
	Banning words on Instagram doesn't help—it makes it worse A new Georgia Tech study finds that Instagram's decision to ban certain words commonly used by pro-eating disorder (pro-ED) communities has produced an unintended effect. The use of those terms decreased when they were censored in 2012. But users adapted by simply making up new, almost identical words, driving up participation and support within pro-ED groups by as much as 30 percent. The Georgia Tech researchers found that these communities are still very active and thriving despite Instagram's efforts to moderate discussion of the dangerous lifestyle.
	Federal policy reverses benefits of alternative fuel vehicles Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), such as electric vehicles, can reduce U.S. petroleum consumption and can also potentially reduce emissions. However, a new Carnegie Mellon University study finds that under U.S. federal policy, AFV sales trigger the opposite effect.
	What's in the (cable) box? Possibly the future of television It's hard to get excited about a cable box. It's basically a boring oblong you put on a shelf near your TV and never think of again unless your cable service goes out.
Rosen Hotels reports some guest data may have been breached An Orlando-based hotel chain is reporting that some of its guests' credit card information may have been breached.
Obama administration expands "TechHire" jobs initiative The White House is adding 15 new communities to its "TechHire" initiative for getting low-skilled workers jobs in the tech economy.
	Supercritical CO2-cooled micro modular reactor A research team at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) (Prof. Jeong Ik Lee, Prof. Yonghee Kim, and Prof. Yong Hoon Jeong) has suggested an innovative concept of a reactor cooled by supercritical state carbon dioxide (S-CO2). The core has long life (20 years) without refueling as well as inherent safety features. The S-CO2 Brayton cycle was proposed as a power conversion system to achieve a compact and lightweight module. Due to the compact core and power conversion system, the entire system can be contained in a single module and be transported viaground or maritime transportation.
Smart clothing of the future will automatically adjust itself according to the wearer's actual needs VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd has developed new technology that takes care of the thermal, moisture and flow-technical behaviour of smart clothing. The temperature of smart clothing, for example, is automatically adjusted according to the wearer's individual needs. The technology is also suited to demanding conditions such as hospitals and sports.
Seagate demonstrates 10GB/s SSD flash drive Seagate Technology today unveiled a production-ready unit of its fastest single solid-state drive (SSD) demonstrated to date, with throughput performance of 10 gigabytes per second (GB/s). The early unit meets Open Compute Project (OCP) specifications, making it ideal for hyperscale data centers looking to adopt the fastest flash technology with the latest and most sustainable standards.
	Blockchain technology greatly reduces time required for settlement post-trade process Mizuho Bank and Fujitsu today announced that they have jointly conducted an operational trial using blockchain technology, which makes it practically impossible to tamper with transaction histories, to shorten the processing time for cross-border securities transactions, from the current three days to same-day settlement. Combining Mizuho Bank's expertise in post-trade processes as a leading Japanese custodian bank with the expertise of Fujitsu and Fujitsu Laboratories in designing and building payment systems, as well as in applied blockchain technology, the companies plan to utilize their respective strengths to create an exceptionally convenient financial system that reduces the risks associated with cross-border securities transactions, such as price fluctuations.
	Cool technology turns down the heat on high-tech equipment Thousands of electrical components make up today's most sophisticated systems – and without innovative cooling techniques, those systems get hot. Lockheed Martin is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) on its ICECool-Applications research program that could ultimately lead to a lighter, faster and cheaper way to cool high-powered microchips – by cooling the chips with microscopic drops of water.
French court upholds Uber geolocalization, in blow to law France's top administrative court has upheld the right of car services like Uber to use geolocalization for potential customers, dealing a blow to a law pushed by taxi drivers who say the app-based ride-hailing company is competing unfairly.

Medicine & Health news

	Stem cells regenerate human lens after cataract surgery, restoring vision Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Shiley Eye Institute, with colleagues in China, have developed a new, regenerative medicine approach to remove congenital cataracts in infants, permitting remaining stem cells to regrow functional lenses.
Stress pushes cells to die when gatekeeper of calcium use in mitochondria is dysfunctional Malfunctioning mitochondria—the power plants in cells—are behind the damage caused by strokes, heart attacks, and neurodegenerative diseases, but little has been known about how to stop these reactors from melting down, destroying cells and tissue. Mitochondria also take up calcium, which regulates energy production. Now, online in Nature Communications, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University report important insights into how mitochondria are naturally protected against taking up too much calcium, which can force cells to die.
	Foetal motor neuron imbalance can hardwire later problems, researchers say Motor neuron connections are refined in the weeks before and just after birth, and they are crucial for normal development later, University of Queensland research suggests.
	Vision restored in rabbits following stem cell transplantation Scientists have demonstrated a method for generating several key types of eye tissue from human stem cells in a way that mirrors whole eye development.
	Scientist identifies mechanism to regenerate heart tissue The MDI Biological Laboratory has announced new discoveries about the mechanisms underlying the regeneration of heart tissue by Assistant Professor Voot P. Yin, Ph.D., which raise hope that drugs can be identified to help the body grow muscle cells and remove scar tissue, important steps in the regeneration of heart tissue.
Maternal bacterial infections trigger abnormal proliferation of neurons in fetal brain St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered how pieces of bacterial cell wall cross the placenta and enter developing neurons, altering fetal brain anatomy and cognitive functioning after birth. The study appears today in the scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe.
	Small peptides attack ovarian cancer on two fronts, research shows Two forms of a peptide derived from a naturally-occurring human protein can force tumors to shrink significantly in an animal model of metastatic ovarian cancer, according to a team led by researchers from Boston Children's Hospital's Vascular Biology Program, the University of Bergen and Weill Cornell Medical College. The peptides, dubbed psaptides, stimulate a response that targets tumor cells directly and also acts on the healthy tissues to make tumors' microenvironment inhospitable to metastasis. The findings suggest that psaptides could serve as a promising template for the development of treatment options directed against ovarian and maybe other cancers.
	New treatment regimen cuts severity of drug-resistant malaria in pregnancy A two-drug preventive treatment greatly reduces the severity of malaria during pregnancy, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The treatment provides an alternative for many parts of Africa where the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum has grown resistant to standard treatment.
Being short or overweight linked to reduced life chances Being a short man or an overweight woman is associated with lower chances in life in areas such as education, occupation, and income, concludes a study published by The BMJ today.
Domestic violence during pregnancy doubles risk of preterm birth and low birth weight Domestic violence by a partner or ex-partner during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age babies, finds a study in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).
Can mindful eating help lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease? Given the high stress levels, extended periods of screen time and regular social outings many Americans experience day-to-day in environments where high-calorie foods are readily available, it can be easy to fall into the habit of mindless eating - where we're too distracted to pay attention to how much, what and why we're eating. Research suggests that practicing mindfulness - or taking the time to bring awareness to present-moment experiences with an open attitude of curiosity and non-judgment - can be effective in allowing us to make more thoughtful food choices and recognize when we are hungry, satisfied or full. The latest research in this area led by Jennifer Daubenmier, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that the impact of mindful eating could be even greater.
Quebeckers' sexual tastes and interests: A new study debunks preconceived notions Are the sexual interests and behaviors of Quebeckers abnormal? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), sexual interests fall into two categories: normal (normophilic) and anomalous (paraphilic). However, findings recently published in The Journal of Sex Research contradict the DSM-5, as they demonstrate that a number of legal sexual interests and behaviors considered anomalous in psychiatry are actually common in the general population. This study of 1,040 Quebeckers was conducted by Christian Joyal and Julie Carpentier, researchers at the Institut Philippe-Pinel de Montréal and the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal), both of which are affiliated with University of Montreal,
New breast cancer genetic mutation found in Chinese population A genetic mutation that appears to be associated with a high breast cancer risk has been identified by researchers from Hong Kong. It is likely to be important enough to be included in genetic screening for people of Chinese origin with a family history of breast cancer, they say.
	Physical activity does not influence breast density: Protective effect against breast cancer is due to other mechanisms Danish researchers have found no link between physical activity and breast density, and believe that the protective effect of physical activity on breast cancer must be through other mechanisms. This finding is unexpected because it was believed that reducing BMI and fatty tissue would increase breast density.
	A step toward reducing brain damage after stroke After suffering a stroke, about three-fourths of patients exhibit some disability. The extent of a patient's symptoms depends on the degree and location of brain tissue damage following the stroke event. This week in ACS Central Science, researchers show that by using a tailored small molecule to turn off the production of a key neuromodulator in the brain, they can dramatically reduce brain damage in stroke models in rats.
Two out of five US infants from low-income families are not vaccinated against rotavirus Rotavirus (RV) infection is the leading cause of diarrheal disease in young children worldwide, causing more than half a million deaths of children aged
What is causing microcephaly in Brazil? The outbreak of the Zika virus has been widely associated with a rise in microcephaly cases in Brazil. While there is some evidence for this connection, the link has not yet been proven with scientific certainty. Alternative causes have been proposed, including immunizations, genetically modified mosquitoes, and pesticide exposure. Meanwhile, women throughout the Americas are making decisions about their pregnancies based on uncertain information. The evidence for each proposed cause must be evaluated scientifically, to make sound policies. The New England Complexity Systems Institute (NECSI) has performed such an analysis and found much information still missing.
	Landmark editorial identifies microbes as major cause of Alzheimer's disease A worldwide team of senior scientists and clinicians have come together to produce an editorial which indicates that certain microbes - a specific virus and two specific types of bacteria—are major causes of Alzheimer's disease. Their paper, which has been published online in the highly regarded peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Alzheimer's disease, stresses the urgent need for further research—and more importantly, for clinical trials of anti-microbial and related agents to treat the disease.
	Communication is key for clinicians when it comes to viral illness Clinicians tend to use language that minimises the severity of viral illness in children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs), a new study has found.
	Peripheral vision is better at recognizing people than objects We rely on our ability to recognize what others are doing quickly and reliably. Only then can we judge whether someone is friend or foe. Many things in our surroundings, however, take place in our peripheral field of vision. What do we perceive of other persons when we see them out of the corner of our eye? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen have discovered that we are very good at judging what people are doing at the edge of our visual field.
Want to avoid a cold? Try a tattoo or twenty, says researcher There's no known cure for the common cold, but receiving multiple tattoos can strengthen your immunological responses, potentially making you heartier in fighting off common infections, according to research by a trio of University of Alabama scholars.
	Meditation and ballet associated with wisdom, study says Wisdom, traditionally associated with old age, is nonetheless found in people of all ages. So, what makes a person wise?
	New device shortens chest-tube insertion to seconds, follows wave of stabbing attacks Pneumothorax is a medical emergency: the collection of air in the pleural space separating the lung from the chest wall, causing it to collapse and resulting in suffocation. Pneumothorax is caused by chest trauma, and is believed to be responsible for over a third of preventable deaths on the battlefield and in terror attacks.
Breaking the silence on cardiovascular disease and sexual health Cardiovascular disease is more than a heart problem, with up to 87 per cent of the 3.72 million people living with the disease also experiencing sexual dysfunction.
	Using the power of song to resist smoking Listening to a song could hold the key to helping smokers resist the temptation, according to QUT psychology researcher Kristi Greig, who is embarking on a study to convey a health message through music and lyrics.
	India says number of obese teens nearly doubles in five years As India gets wealthier, its children are getting fatter, with the number of obese teenagers nearly doubling in the last five years, according to the country's health minister.
Get sleep sorted by age 5 to help children settle at school A child who soothes themselves back to sleep from an early age adjusts to school more easily than those who don't, new QUT research has found. The Australian study revealed one in three children have escalating problems sleeping across birth to five years which increased their risk of emotional and behavioural issues at school and put them at risk of attention deficit disorders.
	Cranberry compound may help prevent urinary tract infections A new bioactive compound present in cranberry juice that has the potential to control urinary tract infections (UTIs) was identified by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and collaborators. The compound they identified is purified from an extract of cranberry pulp and was found to inhibit Escherichia coli—the most common bacterial cause of UTIs—from sticking to human cells in laboratory tests.
	Study finds link between exposure to synthetic progestin during development, impaired cognitive function Exposure to synthetic progestin – a steroid hormone used to prevent premature birth in at risk women – has been linked to impaired cognitive function in a recent animal study co-authored by University at Albany Psychologist Christine K. Wagner.
Incidence, risk factors for intracranial bleeding in older adults newly prescribed warfarin John A. Dodson, M.D., M.P.H., of the New York University School of Medicine, and colleagues conducted a study that included 31,951 U.S. veterans with atrial fibrillation, 75 years or older, who were new referrals to Veterans Affairs (VA) anticoagulation clinics (for warfarin therapy) between 2002 and 2012. The study was published online by JAMA Cardiology.
Model developed to help predict risk of in-hospital death after TAVR In a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Fred H. Edwards, M.D., of the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, and colleagues developed a statistical model to predict risk of in-hospital death after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), based on more than 13,000 patients who underwent this procedure.
	Significance of vitamin D levels in pregnant women may depend on their ethnic origin Ethnicity affects the links between vitamin D levels and high blood-sugar levels in pregnant women and the likelihood of them undergoing emergency Cesarean deliveries, shows research in Singapore.
	What your gaming name reveals about your personality People online often live behind a veil of anonymity – and video gamers are no exception. Hundreds of millions of people play online games every day and are known to others only by the short user name they choose for themselves. But recently it was discovered that those user names have a bit more to them then just a random assortment of words and numbers. They can, in fact, reveal a lot about a player's personality.
Drinkers tend to jump the gun Why do we make bad choices? In particular, why do we rush into decisions? In humans, the tendency to show poor behavioral control is one of the hallmarks of people prone to alcohol use disorders. A new report in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry sheds light on why people with alcohol use disorders make one form of maladaptive decision-making, the tendency to "jump the gun."
	After an injury, practicing movements at different speeds improves certain nerve functions Changes in one circuit of nerves, but not another, in the spinal cord depend on how quickly muscles must move to complete a task, according to results from the Human Motor Control Laboratory of Professor Kozo Funase, PhD, at Hiroshima University.  The results could influence physical therapy routines for patients struggling to control their bodies after a stroke or spine injury.
District policy with support ups drink quality in schools (HealthDay)—A policy introducing nutrition standards for competitive beverages can improve the nutritional quality of beverages sold in schools, according to a study published online March 3 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
	Slow gait after acute MI linked to mortality, readmission (HealthDay)—At one month after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), many older adults have slow gait, which is associated with increased risk of death or readmission at one year, according to a study published online March 1 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Sigmoidoscopy bowel-screening method promises reductions in mortality and risk An effective national bowel screening programme involving a single test, a sigmoidoscopy, could be introduced in New Zealand within 12 months.
	Links between money and happiness uncovered Changes in income do not affect most peoples' happiness, most of the time, according to a new study led by the University of Stirling.
	Patients' perceptions of physicians' empathy may affect health outcomes Patients in areas of high deprivation in Scotland report poorer outcomes from GP consultations, partly because they perceive their doctors as less empathetic than those who live in affluent areas.
Cheap, simple tests could improve Alzheimer's disease management at the bedside A portable biosensor that could show how disease is progressing in patients with Alzheimer's could greatly improve people's quality of life in the future, according to a new review published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
	How police witnesses could be misled by a simple wave of the hand How easy do you think it would be for someone to convince you that you'd seen something that never really happened? What about them doing this without actually saying anything misleading? That would almost be impossible, surely? Well, research into verbal and nonverbal influence suggests this can happen, and that we're actually far more suggestible than we might like to think.
Researchers investigate new ways to tackle bile duct cancer Experts at the University of Birmingham are working with counterparts at the University of Bristol and in Thailand to identify new ways of detecting and treating a form of bile duct cancer that is claiming more and more lives in the UK and across South-East Asia.
	Researchers find partner support is key to stubbing out smoking Support from a partner after the quit date and refraining from nagging are important factors in successfully stopping smoking, according to a researcher at the University of Aberdeen.
	Adding folic acid to staple foods can prevent birth defects, but most countries don't do it Imagine that scientists find an indisputable link between microcephaly and the Zika virus. Then imagine that they find a simple way to prevent it, but that the solution is not implemented.
	Opinion: Stop accusing the poor of making bad food choices Last month, the UK health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, called childhood obesity "a national emergency", but the government has once again delayed publishing its strategy aimed at combating it.
New insights into the functional organization of the somatosensory cortex The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which one neuron finds specific target neurons and eventually forms functional sub networks are not fully understood. To better understand how and why these specialized sub networks are created, researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) have combined electrophysiological and optical approaches to manipulate and monitor neuronal activity at single-cell resolution in intact, functional brain circuits.
	Nothing to sneeze at—battling mucus to beat cancer What do cancer cells and a runny nose have in common? The answer is mucus; and researchers at the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma have shown it may hold the key to making cancer treatment better.
	Gut microbes linked to deadly intestinal disease in preemies An imbalance of certain gut microbes appears to be the underlying cause of a frequently fatal intestinal illness in premature babies, according to new research led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Is educational neuroscience a waste of money? Educational neuroscience has little to offer schools or children's education, according to new research from the University of Bristol, UK.
Widespread use of meldonium among elite athletes, research shows The use of meldonium—the substance taken by tennis star Maria Sharapova—is widespread among elite athletes, reveals research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Research identifies first step in design of new anti-cancer drugs New research has identified a first step in the design of a new generation of anti-cancer drugs that include an agent to inhibit resistance to their effectiveness.
	Changes in heart activity may signal epilepsy Doctors have long characterized epilepsy as a brain disorder, but researchers at Case Western Reserve University have found that part of the autonomic nervous system functions differently in epilepsy during the absence of seizures.
	Researchers boost fat-burning The number of overweight people is increasing worldwide—and thus the risk of developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease. For this reason, many dream of an active substance which would simply melt off fat deposits. An international team of scientists has now come one small step closer to this dream: The team discovered a switch in the fat cells of mice and humans with which excess pounds can be burned off. If the Gq protein is blocked, undesired white fat cells change into energy-consuming brown cells. The results are now being presented in the renowned journal Nature Communications.
	Early childhood offers opportunity to head off metabolic syndrome, obesity Research conducted at LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health has found that exposure to poverty does not produce metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in young, healthy children. It identifies early childhood as an opportunity to prevent a known association in adults between poverty and the metabolic syndrome. The study is one of the first to characterize the timing of exposure to such stress and the emergence of the physiologic changes leading to cardio-metabolic disease and to document these relationships during this critical developmental period. Findings are available March 9, 2016, online in Obesity.
Self-harming youngsters put at risk by 'cycle of shame' Young people who self-harm only seek emergency hospital care as a last resort due to a deep sense of shame and unworthiness, a study at the University of Exeter has found.
	Physical activity encouraged more in boys than in girls School and family influences on physical activity may be stronger in boys than in girls in Australia, according to a study published March 9, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rohan Telford from the University of Canberra, Australia, and colleagues.
	Chinese exercises may improve cardiovascular health Traditional Chinese exercises such as Tai Chi may improve the health and well-being of those living with heart disease, high blood pressure or stroke, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Depression, high blood pressure, other chronic conditions may be common at multiple sclerosis diagnosis People newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) may often have other chronic health conditions as well, according to a study published in the March 9, 2016 online issue of Neurology.
	First large-scale study on the secretion of the human intestine A breakthrough in basic research and the first comprehensive study on the secretory activity of the human intestine: over a period of eight years, Dr. Dagmar Krüger of the Department of Human Biology at TU Munich has examined more than 2200 specimens from around 450 patients with bowel disease. Her findings are startling: contrary to common beliefs, the secretory capacity of the human gut doesn´t decline with age. Nor does gender play a role.
Researchers identify potential antibody treatment for H7 avian flu Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have isolated human antibodies against a type of bird flu that has killed more than 200 people in China since 2012 and which may pose a worldwide pandemic threat.
	reveals unintended consequences of new staffing model designed to save costs in public mental health clinics Community mental health clinics, where most specialty mental health treatment is delivered, have been relying more on independent contractors to treat patients, largely for budgetary reasons. Many of these clinics have simultaneously been moving towards the greater use of evidence-based psychosocial practices (EBPs), broadly defined as talk therapies that are informed by rigorous research as well as clinician expertise and patient preferences. A new, first-of-its-kind study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that these two trends may be in conflict. The findings appear this month in Psychiatric Services.
	Probing the relationship between brain activity and moral judgments of children It has long been known that the foundations of morality are present in children from a very young age, and that morality matures during childhood. But how is brain activity related to moral judgments in young children?
Study seeks to reduce pediatric HIV infection rates in Africa Mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, is still a major problem in resource-limited, rural areas of the world where health care providers are scarce.
	Want a younger brain? Stay in school—and take the stairs Taking the stairs is normally associated with keeping your body strong and healthy. But new research shows that it improves your brain's health too—and that education also has a positive effect.
No Zika vaccine for another three years: Brazil expert Global health experts agreed Wednesday to prioritise developing vaccines against the Zika virus suspected of causing birth defects, but a Brazilian specialist warned that doing so would take at least three years.
	Combining two imaging technologies may better identify dangerous coronary plaques Combing optical coherence tomography (OCT) with another advanced imaging technology may more accurately identify coronary artery plaques that are most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack. In a report being published online in JACC Cardiovascular Imaging, investigators from the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) describe the first use in patients of a catheter-based device utilizing both OCT and near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) imaging.
'Ultra-processed' foods make up more than half of all calories in US diet 'Ultra-processed' foods make up more than half of all calories consumed in the US diet, and contribute nearly 90% of all added sugar intake, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
	Risks less likely to be reported by public-health researchers paid by industry or military Scientists looking for environmental and occupational health risks are less likely to find them if they have a financial tie to firms that make, use, or dispose of industrial and commercial products, a University of Illinois at Chicago researcher has found.
	Study lays groundwork for potential bipolar disorder therapies Bipolar disorder, which affects nearly eight million Americans, takes a toll not only on patients, but also on their families and communities.
Serotonin deficiency implicated in rheumatoid arthritis For the first time, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been directly implicated in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although 5-HT is predominantly known as a neurotransmitter within the central nervous system, new evidence points to additional important functions for serotonin in the periphery. A report in The American Journal of Pathology shows that experimentally-induced RA in serotonin-deficient mice is worse than disease reported in controls and that some effects of RA can be reduced by serotonin or its agonists (compounds that activate serotonin receptors).
Excess heat significantly affects health of migratory workers Hot weather is significantly associated with clinical visits among migratory farmworkers compared to other patients, according to a study by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) published recently in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Work climate contributes significantly to working moms' decision to breastfeed Breastfeeding is healthy for baby and for Mom. It has a positive impact on childhood obesity, infections and allergies, is linked to a lower likelihood of mothers getting ovarian or breast cancers later in life and to a more positive maternal-child relationship. Research from the University of Houston Department of Psychology finds, however, there are obstacles to mom and baby receiving the full benefits.
HIV patients in Africa with a specific genetic variant have much lower rate of tuberculosis In the first known discovery of its kind, a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine-led team has found that HIV patients in Africa with a certain genetic variant have a 63-percent lower chance of developing tuberculosis than HIV patients without the genetic variant.
	Can yoga help those experiencing depression, anxiety or PTSD? Across the country, health and human service providers have shown a growing interest in using yoga as an option for treating people who experience mental health problems. But a recent study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that while there are some promising benefits to using yoga, there isn't yet enough evidence to support the practice as a standalone solution for improving mental health and well-being.
	Cleveland Clinic says first uterus transplant in US fails The nation's first uterus transplant has failed, the Cleveland Clinic announced Wednesday, saying doctors had removed the organ.
	U.S. pediatricians to add poverty to well-visit checklist (HealthDay)—Pediatricians in the United States already ask parents about their child's sleep, diet and developmental milestones. Soon, they'll add poverty to the well-visit checklist.
	U.S. cancer death rate continues to fall (HealthDay)—Overall rates of cancer and deaths from cancer in the United States continue to decline, a newly released report says.
	Parents often report medical errors in peds inpatient care (HealthDay)—Parents frequently report medical errors in pediatric inpatient care, according to a study published online Feb. 29 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Bevacizumab, triamcinolone up outcome after cataract surgery (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing cataract surgery, both bevacizumab and triamcinolone administered at the time of surgery correlate with improvements in visual acuity (VA), but only triamcinolone is associated with sustained improvements in central macular thickness (CMT), according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
	Adventitial cystic disease mimics deep venous thrombosis (HealthDay)—Adventitial cystic disease of the common femoral vein can be mistaken for deep venous thrombosis, according to a case report published online March 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Physicians' contracts can affect patients, professionalism (HealthDay)—Problematic clauses in physicians' contracts can impact patient care and professionalism, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online March 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	PTSD symptomatology linked to increased risk of RA (HealthDay)—Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology is associated with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women, according to a study published in the March issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
	Nicotine vaccine delays the drug's effects in mice Many people who smoke want to quit, but the urge to light up is often irresistible. An effective vaccine to help people kick the habit once and for all has been elusive. But now, scientists report in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry a new vaccine design that could help achieve this goal.
	Don't let youth trip you; more than 50 percent young adults fall, trip Young adults fall more frequently than expected, and most falls occur during everyday activities such walking and talking, according to new research from Purdue University.
Full dose radiotherapy to whole breast may not be needed in early breast cancer Radiotherapy to the whole breast is standard treatment after breast-conserving surgery for women with early breast cancer, even those who have a low risk of the disease returning in the breast (local relapse). However, whole breast radiotherapy can cause changes in the appearance of the breast, which may also be firmer and tender to the touch, resulting in psychological distress.
Diabetes treatment can reduce mammographic density A large study of women in Denmark has found that the use of diabetes treatment decreases mammographic density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer, whereas taking insulin increases density. This is the first time that data on the effect of diabetes treatment and insulin use on breast cancer have been studied.
	Reducing the maternal mortality rate in Pakistan In Canada, about seven in 100,000 women die in childbirth each year. In Pakistan, this number is 178. Ultra-poor, marginalized women have the highest rate of maternal mortality.
	25 percent of Texans say they don't understand basic health insurance terms Approximately 25 percent of Texans say they lack confidence in understanding some of the most basic terminology about health insurance plans, according to a new report released today by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF). The report found uninsured, low-income and Hispanic Texans were least likely to understand health-plan terms like "premium," "copayment" and "provider network."
	UK doctors stage 48-hour walkout over new contract Thousands of British doctors have begun a 48-hour strike in an acrimonious dispute over a new contract.
	Screening enormous databases to find a cure for cancer Developing new drugs is becoming increasingly difficult: research and lab experiments are time consuming and expensive. By making use of data first – screening large databases in order to discover patterns - we can make better predictions about what will work and what will not. This is what Gerard van Westen calls Data-Driven Drug Discovery. He received an NWO Veni grant for his current research, in which he uses data mining techniques to find a cure for cancer.
Program aims to improve heart health among African American men through coaching and mentoring According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 44 percent of African American men have some form of cardiovascular disease that includes heart disease and stroke. In 2013, heart disease was the leading cause of death for African American men ages 35-54. Despite the well-known benefits of exercise, participation in exercise and dietary interventions remain lower among this group compared to others.
	Research to tackle the triple challenge of dementia, hearing and vision impairment The combined impact of dementia, age-related hearing and vision impairment is to be investigated by a new multi-million European research consortium led by The University of Manchester.
Screening with tomosynthesis or ultrasound detects more cancers in dense breasts Adding either tomosynthesis (a form of 3D mammography) or ultrasound scans to standard mammograms can detect breast cancers that would have been missed in women with dense breasts, according to an interim analysis of a trial comparing these two additional screening technologies.
	Don't let the bad bugs win: Team seeks to outsmart C. difficile with $9.2 million effort If you want to beat a fearsome enemy, you must first learn to think like them. If you do, you can predict their next move - and block it.
	Bilberries to increase our dietary fiber intake Bilberries—a unique part of the Nordic diet—could be utilised in higher amounts in food products to increase our dietary fibre intake. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd took an interest in bilberry press cake and developed methods to use it as a dietary fibre source in tasty snacks.
	Victims of violence stop breastfeeding sooner More than two out of ten women who have been victims of sexual abuse as children are likely to stop breastfeeding before their babies reach four months, according to a new study.
Source of bloodstream infection in Wisconsin unknown (Update) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent additional investigators to Wisconsin to find the source of a blood infection that officials described as the largest outbreak of the bacteria now linked to at least 18 deaths.
	New ways of fighting Zika needed after dengue problems The World Health Organization says that traditional insecticide spraying has had no significant impact in slowing dengue, raising major questions about how officials might stop the spread of the Zika virus, also spread by mosquitoes.
	Chipotle store in Mass. closed on norovirus fears A Chipotle store in Massachusetts was closed Wednesday after the local health board said an employee there tested positive for norovirus.
	Researcher finds integrated approach critical to teen health As rural communities struggle to obtain access to health services, a Kansas State University student is researching how medical, dental, social work and mental health providers can collaborate to meet the needs of teens.
	Expert panel urges new approaches to curtail US Opioid epidemic Overprescribing of opioids and opioid addiction are serious and growing public health problems in the U.S., and are the focus of a new report by an expert panel, entitled The American Opioid Epidemic: Population Health Implications and Potential Solutions," from the National Stakeholder Panel, Jefferson College of Population Health, which is published in a special supplement to Population Health Management. The supplement is available open access on the Population Health Managementwebsite.
One-size-fits-all support services don't suit needs of younger grandmothers raising grandchildren Younger African-American grandmothers who are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren may have different needs than older grandmothers, possibly requiring different types of support to reduce depression and improve the quality of their mental health, according to researchers at Georgia State University and Emory University.
Expert outlines medical approach to treatment of traumatized refugees What's the best approach to mental health treatment for refugees with posttraumatic symptoms? One clinic with extensive experience in managing traumatized refugees recommends a medical approach combining psychoactive medications, long-term psychotherapy, and screening and treatment for associated health issues, according to a paper in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
	A child's first eight years critical for substance abuse prevention An online guide about interventions in early childhood that can help prevent drug use and other unhealthy behaviors was launched today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The guide offers research-based principles that affect a child's self-control and overall mental health, starting during pregnancy through the eighth year of life. It recognizes that while substance use generally begins during the teen years, it has known biological, psychological, social, and environmental roots that begin even before birth.
Periorbital transplantation may be promising alternative to protect vision in facial transplant candidates Transplantation of the periorbital tissues—the area surrounding the eyes—is a "technically feasible" alternative to protect a functioning eye in some patients being considered for facial transplant, according to a study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open, the official open-access medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Child care providers need more education, training on benefits of breastfeeding, human milk Newborns should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life with continued breastfeeding until at least 12 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This can be hard when new breastfeeding families have to rely on child care facilities because of a need to return to work in a specified time. What kind of breastfeeding support, if any, can they rely on from the child care facility? This question interested a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing).
	Delivery strategies of chemotherapy to the central nervous system The research thoroughly reviews the importance of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-tumor barrier (BTB) along with the current status and future perspectives of interesting physical and surgical strategies to circumvent these central nervous system (CNS) barriers in the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

Biology news

Scientists call for a shake-up in the way we record biodiversity Gaps in our information about biodiversity means we are at risk of focussing our conservation efforts in the wrong places.
	Antarctic blue whales belong to three populations, study finds Antarctic blue whales, the largest creatures on the planet, likely belong to three populations that feed alongside each other but breed in separate oceans, according to Australian-led research published Wednesday.
	Bats in Asia found to have resistance to white-nose syndrome fungus As the deadly bat disease called white-nose syndrome continues to spread across North America, scientists are studying bats in China to understand how they are able to survive infections with the same fungus that has wiped out millions of North American bats.
	DNA work saves fish from extinction Flinders University scientists have created a model for conservation programs after helping to bring local populations of native pygmy perch back from extinction.
	Guppy study suggests larger brained animals have weaker immune systems (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers, two with Stockholm University, the other with the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology in Austria, has found via experiments they conducted with guppies, that larger brain size in an organism may lead to a weaker immune system. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Alexander Kotrschal, Niclas Kolm and Dustin Penn describe their experiments and results and why they believe other similar studies may one day prove that larger brained animals tend to have weaker immune systems than do those with smaller brains.
	Dingo skull resistant to change from cross breeding with dogs, research shows Australia's largest predator, the dingo, is resistant to one of the main threats to its survival as a species—changes to skull shape brought about by cross breeding (hybridisation) with dogs, research shows.
	Study finds more social insects have weaker immune response, highlights role of hygiene Research from North Carolina State University finds that among eusocial insects – like ants, bees and termites – the more individuals there are in a typical species colony, the weaker the species' immune response. The finding strongly suggests that hygiene behaviors, and not just immune systems, play a key role in keeping eusocial insects healthy.
	Real-life aliens extremely efficient at turning their hosts into new parasites The way parasitoid wasps feed may be gruesome, but it is an extremely efficient way to exploit prey, University of Exeter research has found.
	Research team identifies key step in process of Shigella infection Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Division of Infectious Diseases are investigating the mechanism by which several important pathogenic species of bacteria deliver proteins into the cells of the organisms they are infecting. In a paper receiving advance online publication in Nature Microbiology, the team describes determining a key step in how the diarrheal pathogen Shigella injects proteins into target host cells. Their findings may apply to additional bacterial species, including Salmonella and those responsible for typhoid fever, bubonic plague and many hospital-acquired pneumonias.
	Seeing the light: Army ants evolve to regain sight and more in return to surface A change to a more challenging environment could, over time, re-ignite and grow old parts of the brain that have gone inactive, according to a study of army ants led by a Drexel biology professor.
Cell insights shed light on everyday process of renewal and repair Scientists have gained insights into the fundamental process of cell division, by identifying key steps that ensure cells divide correctly as they undergo repair and growth.
	Frog with yellow eyebrows discovered in Colombia A new species of terrestrial frog with yellow eyebrows has been found in Colombia's East Andes, researchers announced.
	Yellowstone bison sent to slaughter as park trims herd Yellowstone National Park started shipping many of its famous wild bison to slaughter Wednesday to drive down the size of the park's herds and respond to concerns by the livestock industry over a disease carried by the animals.
	Climate change puts the heat on velvet geckos While we often hear warnings about the potential impact of climate change on humans, new research from UTS Science has found that even the smallest of creatures are likely to be affected by rising air temperatures.
	An elephant returns to Somalia for first time in 20 years An elephant marched hundreds of kilometres and briefly crossed into Somalia this month marking the first time the animal has been seen in the country in 20 years, conservationists said Wednesday.
	Cells adapt to the loss of genes previously thought vital for survival Yeast cells can survive even when missing certain 'essential' genes, A*STAR researchers have found. This surprising discovery has major ramifications for understanding how cells adapt to challenging situations and for overcoming the problem of drug resistance.
	Changing pluripotent stem cells to differentiated cells Stem cells are an effective tool for repairing or replacing damaged or diseased tissues, but only if they can be reliably developed from their flexible 'pluripotent' state into a mature 'differentiated' state. A*STAR researchers have learned how to control the state of stem cells by altering the physical environment in which they are cultured.
	Gut bacteria make cabbage poison harmless The cabbage family contains rather toxic compounds. Greenfly, caterpillars and cabbage fly larvae attack cabbages and rapeseed ferociously nonetheless. How can that be? The secret lies in their gut, at least for the cabbage fly. Its gut bacteria deliver a special service to their host: they produce enzymes that degrade the toxic compound into harmless pieces.
We've got your number: Tracing the source of invasive Japanese beetles A technique developed by Northern Arizona University researchers can help invasive pest managers make more informed decisions about how to control Japanese beetles and the extensive damage they cause.
	Suffering warthogs seek out nit-picking mongooses for relief Warthogs living in Uganda have learned to rid themselves of annoying ticks by seeking out the grooming services of some accommodating neighbors: a group of mongooses looking for snacks.
	Gene protects against toxic byproducts of photosynthesis, helping plants to 'breathe' A research team led by Associate Professor Miyake Chikahiro and PhD student Takagi Daisuke from the Kobe University Graduate School of Agricultural Science have discovered that a certain gene within plants suppresses the toxic molecules formed as byproducts of photosynthesis. These findings have potential applications for plant growth in stressful environments. The research was published on February 16, 2016 in the online version of Plant Physiology.
	The turbot: The first vertebrate to be sequenced in Spain The first vertebrate to be genetically sequenced in Spain, the Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), has a much more highly developed sense of sight than other fish, since it has evolved in order to adapt itself to the lack of light on the sea bed. In addition, its genes show us that the levels of fat in its cellular membranes are far higher than in other species, so as to be able to withstand the low water temperatures in its habitat.
Illegal pet trade in Madagascar may threaten conservation and survival of endangered lemur species New research indicates that almost one-third of all lemur species are kept as illegal pets throughout Madagascar. The widespread trading of lemurs in the country may threaten conservation efforts of some endangered species.
Overfishing devastates spawning aggregations Globally declining fish populations are a frequently cited ecological and commercial calamity, but relatively little attention has been paid to the specific threats faced by fish that gather and spawn in large groups, says Yvonne Sadovy, writing in an article for BioScience. The marine scientist, affiliated with the University of Hong Kong and Science and Conservation of Fish Aggregations (SCRFA), outlines the challenges unique to these populations.
	Bioprospecting study finds biosurfactant-producing microbes target biodiversity in Latin America The natural biodiversity in Latin America has made it a hotspot for research and applications of biosurfactants, with Brazil leading the way in intellectual property and patents for novel processes and sustainable production methods to manufacture biosurfactants at low cost from agro-industrial waste. A review of bioprospecting studies to identify biosurfactant-producing microorganisms, the renewable substrates used in fermentation processes, and the range of biosurfactant applications being developed across Latin America is presented in an article in Industrial Biotechnology.

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