Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Feb 8

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 8, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A bridge of stars connects two dwarf galaxies

Astronomers discover a very hot Jupiter exoplanet orbiting a bright, hot star

Nanoparticle screen could speed up drug development

Flat lens to work across a continuous bandwidth allows new control of light

NASA finds planets of red dwarf stars may face oxygen loss in habitable zones

A middleweight black hole is hiding at the center of a giant star cluster

Method to identify bacteria in blood samples works in hours instead of days

Wolfing it down: Brown bears reduce wolf kill rates

Researchers identify protein essential for healthy gut cell development

Protostar displays a strange geometry

Drought identified as key to severity of West Nile virus epidemics

Blue-bellied insects may play a role in the fight against citrus greening

Study highlights need to reduce loud noises, boost beneficial sounds

Measuring time without a clock

Robot-run supermarkets analyzed but Amazon says no plans

Astronomy & Space news

	A bridge of stars connects two dwarf galaxies The Magellanic Clouds, the two largest satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, appear to be connected by a bridge stretching across 43,000 light years, according to an international team of astronomers led by researchers from the University of Cambridge. The discovery is reported in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) and is based on the Galactic stellar census being conducted by the European Space Observatory, Gaia.
	Astronomers discover a very hot Jupiter exoplanet orbiting a bright, hot star (Phys.org)—Using the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) astronomers have detected a new gas giant alien world. The newly discovered exoplanet, designated KELT-18b, turns out to be a highly inflated "hot Jupiter" orbiting a bright, hot star. The findings were presented in a paper published Feb. 6 on the arXiv pre-print server.
	NASA finds planets of red dwarf stars may face oxygen loss in habitable zones The search for life beyond Earth starts in habitable zones, the regions around stars where conditions could potentially allow liquid water – which is essential for life as we know it – to pool on a planet's surface. New NASA research suggests some of these zones might not actually be able to support life due to frequent stellar eruptions – which spew huge amounts of stellar material and radiation out into space – from young red dwarf stars.
	A middleweight black hole is hiding at the center of a giant star cluster All known black holes fall into two categories: small, stellar-mass black holes weighing a few Suns, and supermassive black holes weighing millions or billions of Suns. Astronomers expect that intermediate-mass black holes weighing 100 - 10,000 Suns also exist, but so far no conclusive proof of such middleweights has been found. Today, astronomers are announcing new evidence that an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) weighing 2,200 Suns is hiding at the center of the globular star cluster 47 Tucanae.
	Protostar displays a strange geometry Using observations of molecules in the protostar L1527 taken by the ALMA observatory in northern Chile, a group of researchers have uncovered new clues to understanding how dust in a collapsing molecular cloud can shed angular momentum and penetrate beyond an area known as the 'centrifugal barrier' to find its way to the surface of the forming star.
	Sandia researchers offer explanation for hissing and popping noises heard from meteors (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico has found an explanation for the variety of sounds people hear when witnessing a falling meteor—sounds that should not be heard until minutes later due to the long distances involved. In their paper published in Scientific Reports, the team describes experiments they conducted with transducer materials and what they learned by doing so.
	First nuclear explosion helps test theory of moon's formation Decades-old radioactive glass found blanketing the ground after the first nuclear test bomb explosion is being used by scientists to examine theories about the Moon's formation some 4.5 billion years ago.
	Angling up for Mars science ESA's latest Mars orbiter has moved itself into a new path on its way to achieving the final orbit for probing the Red Planet.
	NASA sent a twin to space to study nature versus nurture – and we're starting to get results NASA astronaut Scott Kelly recently spent one year in space, while his identical twin brother Mark (a former NASA astronaut himself) stayed on Earth. The mission was part of an important health experiment, looking at how being in space affects our bodies. While the data are still being studied carefully, NASA recently released some intriguing preliminary findings.
	New evidence in favor of dark matter: The bars in galaxies are spinning more slowly than we thought An article recently published in the Astrophysical Journal by a team of IAC researchers show that bars in galaxies are rotating much more slowly than had been inferred by previous works.
European space agency to help NASA take humans beyond moon The European Space Agency says it will contribute key components for a future NASA mission to take humans around the moon within the next few years.
	Full moon, comet starring in night sky show this weekend A full moon and comet share double billing in a special night sky show this weekend.
Video: Fly your satellite! ESA's Fly Your Satellite! (FYS) programme is a recurring, hands-on programme designed and managed by the ESA Education Office in close collaboration with universities from ESA Member States, with the objective to complement academic education and inspire, engage, and better prepare university students for a more effective introduction to their future professions in the space sector.

Technology news

	Robot-run supermarkets analyzed but Amazon says no plans (Tech Xplore)—Accountants and retailing gurus know the story. Supermarket owners have to figure in the cost of hiring workers against all those cash register rings for popcorn, soap and paper towels.
	Engineers develop powerful millimeter-wave signal generator Your doctor waves a hand-held scanner over your body and gets detailed, high-resolution images of your internal organs and tissues. Using the same device, the physician then sends gigabytes of data instantly to a remote server and just as rapidly receives information to make a diagnosis.
	3-D printed orthotics, prosthetics—a better fit, the same day A new way to design and 3-D print custom orthotics and prosthetics could give amputees, stroke patients and individuals with cerebral palsy lighter, better-fitting assistive devices in a fraction of the time it takes to get them today.
	New system makes it harder to track Bitcoin transactions Researchers from North Carolina State University, Boston University and George Mason University have developed a Bitcoin-compatible system that could make it significantly more difficult for observers to identify or track the parties involved in any given Bitcoin transaction.
	Pioneering chip extends sensors' battery life A low-cost chip that enables batteries in sensors to last longer, in some cases by over ten times, has been developed by engineers from the University of Bristol.
	'Ghost skier' leads Winter Olympic Games data revolution A "ghost skier" hurtling down the slope, an athlete's glucose levels flashing across the screen along with his heart rate—it is all part of an Olympic data revolution awaiting television viewers.
	Green buildings make for higher performance in workplace The key to working better, sleeping better, and feeling better could be rooted in the design, maintenance, and operation of the buildings where we spend the majority of our time, a new Harvard study has found.
	Cabbies' health the focus of smartphone app trial Stressed at work? Tired of sitting down? You could go for a run or a long walk, or maybe just lie in a park. But it's not so easy if you are a taxi driver and any time out means missing the chance of a fare. Taxi drivers can spend as much as eight hours simply waiting around during any 12 hour shift, but it's difficult to relax when the clock is ticking and you can't ever be far from the car and a potential fare.
	Hack my car? Most believe it can happen Most Americans have some concerns that self-driving cars can be hacked to cause crashes, disable the vehicle in some way or even be used as weapons by terrorists, according to researchers at the University of Michigan.
New circuit scheme would greatly increase the accuracy of high-density spin-based data storage While we aspire to store increasing amounts of digital data on ever smaller devices, conventional memory technologies based on electron charge are reaching a physical limit on how much they can store in a given space. Alternative storage methods are urgently needed.
	3-D television is dead... so what next? Back in 2010 Sony Australia's Paul Colley forecasted that a large percentage of Australian viewers would have 3-D televisions by 2014.
	Are you really anonymous online? Your friends on Twitter may give you away As you browse the internet, online advertisers track nearly every site you visit, amassing a trove of information on your habits and preferences. When you visit a news site, they might see you're a fan of basketball, opera and mystery novels, and accordingly select ads tailored to your tastes.
	Men are from Clash of Clans, women are from Candy Crush If anyone knows whether "there's an app for that," it's older men who happen to live in eastern Europe or North Dakota.
	Real-time feedback helps save energy and water Those who take long showers use a great deal of water and energy. Yet people who enjoy taking long showers do not usually realize to what extent they are damaging the environment. However, if a clever measuring system shows current consumption, this immediately leads to increased efficiency. The consumption information available on the display is incentive enough to reduce water and energy consumption when showering on average by 22 per cent. This was shown by a study conducted by the Universities of Bonn and Bamberg, as well as ETH Zurich. The results have initially been published online in the journal Management Science. The print edition will be published soon.
Do absent users blindside architects? A visionary edifice, a revolutionary feat of engineering, a blot on the landscape, a brutalist carbuncle. Rarely does architecture lead to subtle superlatives. But, sometimes architects design with only a vague notion of the users of their constructions. In the absence of personal profiles of the people that will swing through those grand front doors and ride the escalator to the giddy heights of the top floor, what guides an architect in planning their stucco stairwells, their fantastical fenestrations, and their vaulted visions?
	Digital relay baton enables remote crowd cheering of athletes The loneliness of the long distance runner could soon be a thing of the past as new technology allows crowds to cheer on athletes from anywhere in the world.
Towards equal access to digital coins Scientists at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) of the University of Luxembourg have developed an important mathematical algorithm called "Equihash." Equihash is a core component for the new cryptocurrency Zcash, which offers more privacy and equality than the famous Bitcoin. Zcash came into operation as an experimental technology for a community-driven digital currency in late 2016.
	Facebook adds tool for helping in times of crisis Facebook on Wednesday updated its Safety Check feature with a way for people to lend, or get, helping hands after disasters.
	EU to phase out China solar panel duties The EU said Wednesday it aimed to phase out anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panel imports after 18 months, ending a bitter dispute with one of its largest trading partners.
	NY Times teams with Spotify for music-news offering The New York Times said Wednesday it had teamed up with the online service Spotify in bid to lure subscribers with a "news and music experience."
	Germany, France plan cross-border self-driving test zone European neighbours Germany and France plan to test self-driving vehicles on a stretch of road linking the two countries, the transport ministry in Berlin said Wednesday.
	Pinterest lets phones spy eye-catching items Pinterest on Wednesday infused more machine smarts into its online bulletin boards, pushing harder into e-commerce by enabling people to use smartphones to identify products they might wish to pursue.
Facebook employees to get 20 days off for family bereavement Facebook says it is extending its bereavement policies and will also allow employees paid time off when a family member is sick.
Russian police arrest 9 hacking suspects Russia's interior ministry says it has arrested nine members of a major hacking group suspected of stealing millions of dollars from Russian bank accounts.
Technology problem causes flight delays at United Airlines United Airlines says it has fixed a technology problem that delayed hundreds of flight around the country.
	Trump is 2nd president to tout unfinished Intel factory President Donald Trump on Wednesday held up Intel's plan to invest more than $7 billion in an Arizona factory as a win for his economic agenda, but it's also a reminder that not all corporate commitments come to fruition.

Medicine & Health news

	Study highlights need to reduce loud noises, boost beneficial sounds Premature babies often spend the first several weeks of life in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), where, ideally, they are protected from too much noise stimulation. However, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that preemies may be exposed to noise levels higher than those deemed safe by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
	Scientists show brain's own opioids involved in musical pleasure The same brain-chemical system that mediates feelings of pleasure from sex, recreational drugs, and food is also critical to experiencing musical pleasure, according to a study by McGill University researchers published today in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
	A 'release and kill' strategy may aid treatment of tuberculosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been called "the perfect pathogen." These bacteria hijack human macrophages, persist inside the cells to evade immune destruction, and then prevent the macrophage from undergoing programmed cell death. This provides a niche where they grow in a protected environment that is hard to reach with antibiotics.
	'Goldilocks' genes that tell the tale of human evolution hold clues to variety of diseases Geneticists from Trinity College Dublin have used our evolutionary history to shine light on a plethora of neurodevelopmental disorders and diseases. Their findings isolate a relatively short list of genes as candidates for many diverse conditions including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD, intellectual disability, developmental delay, and epilepsy.
	New study shows tissue healing response following a heart attack In the weeks following a heart attack, the injured heart wall acquires more collagen fibers that are significantly less stiff due to a lack of fiber crosslinks, according to a new study by a University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues at Tufts University. The changes to the cardiac tissue may lead to excessive scar formation and ultimately heart failure.
	Researchers turn stem cells into somites, precursors to skeletal muscle, cartilage and bone Adding just the right mixture of signaling molecules—proteins involved in development—to human stem cells can coax them to resemble somites, which are groups of cells that give rise to skeletal muscles, bones, and cartilage in developing embryos. The somites-in-a-dish then have the potential to generate these cell types in the lab, according to new research led by senior author April Pyle at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.
	Horror movie scenes help team identify key brain circuits for processing fear Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have identified a key neural pathway in humans that explains how the brain processes feelings of fear and anxiety, a finding that could help scientists unlock new ways to treat mental health disorders.
	Excessive antibiotic use in newborns can permanently damage lungs' defenses Doctors have long understood that antibiotics that protect infants from infection also can disrupt the normal growth of their gut bacteria. However, a new study reveals that the consequences of routine antibiotic use may be deeper and longer lasting than expected.
	Stem-cell-derived cells flag a possible new treatment for rare blood disorder Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital's Stem Cell Research Program were able, for the first time, to use patients' own cells to create cells similar to those in bone marrow, and then use them to identify potential treatments for a blood disorder. The work was published today by Science Translational Medicine.
	Study of complex genetic region finds hidden role of NCF1 in multiple autoimmune diseases Investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report pre-clinical research showing that a genetic variant encoded in neutrophil cystolic factor 1 (NCF1) is associated with increased risk for autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome, in the January 2017 issue of Nature Genetics.
	Designer compound may untangle damage leading to some dementias In a study of mice and monkeys, National Institutes of Health funded researchers showed that they could prevent and reverse some of the brain injury caused by the toxic form of a protein called tau. The results, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that the study of compounds, called tau antisense oligonucleotides, that are genetically engineered to block a cell's assembly line production of tau, might be pursued as an effective treatment for a variety of disorders.
	Study finds naps may help preschoolers learn Research has shown that naps play an important role in sustaining new learning in infants. A new study from the University of Arizona suggests naptime could have a similar effect on language learning in preschool-age children.
Lack of transportation limits healthy food access among Washington State residents Having convenient or reasonable access to supermarkets is often associated with healthier diets and a lower risk for obesity among neighborhood residents. However, simply improving residents' proximity to grocery stores may not be as consequential as some previous studies have reported. Researchers from the Washington State Department of Health investigated the food environment in Washington State, assessing the impact of access as well as proximity. They concluded that programs for improving nutrition should consider broader interventions to increase access to healthy food.
Harsh parenting predicts low educational attainment through increasing peer problems Children exposed to harsh parenting are at greater risk of having poor school outcomes. A new longitudinal study sought to determine why. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh who conducted the study suggest that both direct and indirect effects of parenting play a role in shaping children's behavior, as well as their relationships with peers.
One year of high-quality early education improves outcomes for low-income infants, toddlers Children from low-income families are at substantial risk in terms of their social-emotional and academic skills at school entry, with fewer than half considered ready for school at age 5. A new study has found that infants and toddlers from low-income families who attended a high-quality center-based early education program do better in language and social skills after only one year than children who do not attend the program.
How Thailand eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, thanks to a pragmatic multi-sector response backed by strong political commitment and heavy government investment, a study published in Paediatrics and International Child Health reports.
How can marijuana policy protect the adolescent brain? As more states begin to legalize the use of marijuana, more young people may start to believe that it's safe to experiment with the drug. However, those under 25 are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs than are older adults. New legislation on legal marijuana use should include consideration of age limits and other guidelines for safe use, according to the authors of an article published today in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, a Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) journal.
New method better predicts the onset of seasonal flu epidemics During the flu season, it is common for hospital emergency rooms and health care centres to become overcrowded, placing a high burden both on health services and on patients. A study from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal), led by Joana Goncalves-Sa, presents a new method to identify the onset of an epidemic, anticipating current official alerts by several weeks. This method, combined with the current surveillance system, may help health services to anticipate, prepare, and respond more promptly to the flu peak. This study was now published in the scientific journal PLoS Computational Biology.
Immune system plays dual role in breast cancer The immune system plays a paradoxical role in the spread of breast cancer. Some immune cells contribute to metastasis, while other cells can be activated to strengthen the effect of chemotherapy. Kelly Kersten made this discovery in her PhD research. PhD defence 7 February.
Researchers improve how surgeons discuss high-stakes treatments For frail older adults, acute health problems often have significant life-altering effects. Despite that reality, research shows that aggressive treatments, including surgery, are common near the end of life, even though the majority of older adults say they prefer to avoid burdensome interventions that could leave them with a diminished quality of life.
Getting smart about diabetic foot ulcers While wearing appropriate footwear can help treat and prevent diabetic foot ulcers, the leading cause of limb amputation among people with diabetes, noncompliance continues to be an issue, especially among those with loss of protective plantar sensation, known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Arizona found that using smart insoles and smartwatch technology to alert patients of harmful plantar pressures was effective in encouraging people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy into compliance with wearing protective footwear. Their report appears in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.
	Turning off the protein tap – a new clue to neurodegenerative disease Disabling a part of brain cells that acts as a tap to regulate the flow of proteins has been shown to cause neurodegeneration, a new study from The University of Manchester has found.
	Alcohol companies fail to follow their own ad rules during the 2017 Super Bowl Alcohol companies used controversial marketing tactics in their 2017 Super Bowl commercials, including the use of animals that are attractive to children and party themes found to influence underage drinking.
	Aspirin may increase pregnancy chances in women with high inflammation, study finds A daily low dose of aspirin may help a subgroup of women, those who have previously lost a pregnancy, to successfully conceive and carry a pregnancy to term, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The women who benefited from the aspirin treatment had high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a substance in the blood indicating system-wide inflammation, which aspirin is thought to counteract. The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
	Study provides new insight into different forms of heart failure Using a novel noninvasive technique, a team of researchers led by a professor at the University of Texas Arlington's College of Nursing and Health Innovation has been able to measure oxygen consumption in the legs of heart failure patients, providing additional insight into this syndrome.
	Cosmetic surgery affects job satisfaction In the last few decades an increasing amount of money has been spent, mostly by women, on expensive cosmetic surgery procedures in an attempt to feel more attractive.
	Mental health and wellbeing People with severe mental illness (SMI) often have poorer physical health than the general population as they are more likely to experience unnecessary health inequalities and are unable to access the physical healthcare they need.
	Antioxidants and hearing loss Severe hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition in older Americans and more than 15% of people in their 30s are also affected. The condition leads to communication problems, social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline. To study the cause, Yale researchers led by research scientist Alla Ivanova and professor of surgery Joseph Santos-Sacchi developed a novel mouse model of hearing loss.
	Function of olfactory receptor in the human heart identified Researchers have for the first time identified the function of olfactory receptors in the human heart muscle, such as are also present in the nose. One of the receptors reacts to fatty acids that occur in the blood, in patients with diabetes significantly above the normal range. If a fatty acid activates the receptor, it triggers a negative effect: the heart rate and the force of muscular contraction are reduced. The team headed by Dr Nikolina Jovancevic and Prof Dr Dr Dr habil. Hanns Hatt from Ruhr-Universität Bochum has published its findings in the journal "Basic Research in Cardiology".
	Hospital program demonstrates significant cuts in cancer care costs A new University of Alabama at Birmingham study shows that, when older cancer patients were paired with trained nonmedical professionals in the form of 'lay navigators,' there was significant decline in health care resource utilization and Medicare costs, providing an innovative model in transitioning to value-based health care on a national scale.
	Know the foods that protect against cardiovascular disease February is American Heart Month, and it is an important time to be informed on the most beneficial foods and nutrients to maintain a heart-healthy diet.
	Researcher studies ways to enhance cochlear implants What is hearing? For Valeriy Shafiro, PhD, that question is fundamental, even though it's one that most people who hear well may probably never think about.
Global vaccine injury system needed to improve public health, expert argues in JAMA A vital race is on in laboratories across the globe to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus. However, even if a vaccine were available today, many of the world's poorest people would not be able to receive it due to political and economic concerns surrounding vaccine injuries. Vaccine injuries are very rare and can range from minor immune responses such as hives to death. In an article published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Sam Halabi, University of Missouri associate professor of law, argues that a global vaccine injury compensation system administered through the World Health Organization would address this global public health issue.
Research identifies blocks to South Asian diabetes treatment The social stigma associated with diabetes and a fear of being poisoned by medical drugs may contribute to patients of South Asian origin failing to take their medication, a new study shows.
	Pervasive chemicals pose threats for pregnant women and their offspring Each day, we are exposed to an array of chemicals lurking in the foods we eat and the common products we use. Pregnant women and their developing offspring are particularly at risk for the adverse health effects such chemicals sometimes cause, but the scientific evidence necessary to make informed choices has been lacking.
	'Who needs a flu shot?—not me' "There has been a little flu, but there will be more...we have not seen the worst of it, flu usually peaks in February," said an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer in January.
	Math learned best when children move Children improve at math when instruction engages their own bodies. This is one of the findings from a recent study coming from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports. The results also document that children require individualized learning strategies.
Beliefs about better treatment for HIV leads gay men to engage in riskier sex A survey spanning 19 years of participants at a gay pride event in the US notes a consistent increase in the occurrence of condomless anal sex among men, as well as a rise in how many sex partners they have. Condomless receptive anal sex among HIV uninfected men has doubled, while insertive condomless anal sex has more than tripled among HIV-positive men. The findings show that, although antiretroviral therapies (ART) have revolutionized the treatment and prevention of HIV infections, knowing that they have ART as a protective back-up against contracting or transmitting the disease makes people complacent. This complacency can lead to increased risks when it comes to sex and their health, says study leader Seth Kalichman of the University of Connecticut in an article in Springer's journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.
Spanish-speaking and non-citizen Latino parents half as likely to feel docs are listening The parents of a Latino child who only speak Spanish or are not U.S. citizens are about half as likely to feel their doctor listens to them as English-speaking and U.S. citizen parents, according to a new Drexel University-led study.
	PTSD symptoms may be prevented with ketamine Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have found that a single dose of ketamine, given one week before a stressful event, can buffer against a heightened fear response.
	Researchers study patients' genetic and susceptibility risk factors for lymphedema Each year, about 1.38 million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have facilitated a 90-percent, five-year survival rate, among those treated. However, with the increased rate and length of survival following breast cancer, patients face a lifetime risk of developing lymphedema, one of the most distressing and feared late onset breast cancer-related effects.
	Giving the messages from fat cells a positive spin to prevent diabetes Losing weight appears to reset the chemical messages that fat cells send to other parts of the body that otherwise would encourage the development of Type 2 diabetes, substantially reducing the risk of that disease, a team led by Children's National Health System researchers report in a new study. The findings offer hope to the nearly 2 billion adults who are overweight or obese worldwide that many of the detrimental effects of carrying too much weight can recede, even on the molecular level, once they lose weight.
	Daylight savings time impacts miscarriage rates among select IVF patients, study finds Daylight savings time (DST) contributes to higher miscarriage rates among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) who had had a prior pregnancy loss according to new research out of Boston Medical Center (BMC) and IVF New England. The findings, which are published online in the journal Chronobiology International, may shed light on the impact of circadian rhythm changes on reproduction and fertility.
Patient self checks are critical to avoid potentially deadly melanoma recurrence Recurrences of early stage (stage II) melanoma are more often detected by patients and their physicians than by routine imaging tests, according to study results published online as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication.
Calcified plaque raises heart disease risk for young adults A major report led by Vanderbilt investigators found that the mere presence of even a small amount of calcified coronary plaque, more commonly referred to as coronary artery calcium (CAC), in people under age 50—even small amounts—was strongly associated with increased risk of developing clinical coronary heart disease over the ensuing decade.
	How African salmonella strains are evolving to become more dangerous Salmonella infections are typically the culprit behind food poisoning outbreaks, but in sub-Saharan Africa, they often cause drug-resistant, deadly bloodstream infections and meningitis. A study in mice published February 8 in Cell Host & Microbe now reveals how these so-called African nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) strains leave the gut and spread throughout the body. Ironically, loss of a bacterial gene called sseI has allowed the African NTS lineages to more efficiently hijack immune cells and travel through the blood to different organs.
Analyzing gut microbes and their byproducts essential to understanding human health To best understand the potential of microbes in the gut to affect human health, clinicians need to look not just at the bacteria present in fecal samples but also at metabolites like amino acids that those bacteria produce, according to a new study researchers in Australia and England published this week in mSphere, an open access journal from the American Society for Microbiology.
New study reinforces the contribution of S6K1 kinase in obesity and aging Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and Barcelona University (UB) Dr. George Thomas, head of the Metabolism and Cancer research group, and Dr. Sara Kozma, are reporting in Nature this week, on the role of S6K1 in re-directing glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase (EPRS) from inhibition of translation to transport fatty acids. The study was carried out in collaboration with researchers from Cleveland Clinic and Illinois University, and could potentially lead to the development of biomarkers and targeted therapies against obesity and aging.
	New study finds that eating whole grains increases metabolism and calorie loss A new study suggests that substituting whole grains for refined grains in the diet increases calorie loss by reducing calories retained during digestion and speeding up metabolism. This research is published in tandem with a study on the effect of whole grains on gut microbiota. Both studies are published online today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
	Eating whole grains led to modest improvements in gut microbiota and immune response In a clinical trial, adults who consumed a diet rich in whole grains rather than refined grains had modest improvements in healthy gut microbiota and certain immune responses. The research was conducted in tandem with a study that looked at the effects of a whole-grain diet on energy metabolism. Both studies are published online today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Dietary protein associated with musculoskeletal health regardless of food source Researchers from Hebrew Senior Life's Institute for Aging Research and University of Massachusetts Lowell have discovered that adults with higher intakes of dietary protein from both animals and vegetables see greater benefits in muscle mass and strength. Results from this study were published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
	Blood test may help differentiate Parkinson's from similar diseases A simple blood test may be as accurate as a spinal fluid test when trying to determine whether symptoms are caused by Parkinson's disease or another atypical parkinsonism disorder, according to a new study published in the February 8, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
To make Medicare better for all, take social risk factors into account, experts recommend Every day, the Medicare system pays certain doctors and hospitals a bit more, or judges them a bit differently, because their patients are sicker than national averages.
Research reveals contaminated machines used in cardiac surgery cause infection in patients Melbourne researchers have used cutting-edge genomics technology to show a strain of a bacteria can be transmitted to patients from machines commonly used to regulate body temperature during cardiac surgery.
	Refined method offers new piece in the cancer puzzle A special spectrometry method that is normally used in analyses of computer chips, lacquers and metals has been further developed at the University of Gothenburg so that it can help researchers better detect harmful cells in the body.
Researchers discover reason for permanent vision loss after head injury Research from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston has shed new light on what causes the permanent vision loss sometimes seen in the wake of a head injury. The findings are detained in The American Journal of Pathology.
	Study reveals how melanoma spreads Cancerous tumors are voracious. Once they have consumed all the oxygen and nutrients in the original tumor site, the cancer cells travel to other parts of the body (metastasize) to find more nourishment.
	Troubling inconsistency found in dialysis testing methods—with patient care implications A blood test used to determine the health and well-being of dialysis patients produces worryingly inconsistent results depending on which testing method is used, new research reveals. The inconsistency means doctors are left to make important patient-care decisions based on potentially inaccurate information, and patients with kidney disease may be paying for unnecessary nutritional supplements because of it.
	Researchers quantify immune cells associated with future breast cancer risk Researchers from Mayo Clinic have quantified the numbers of various types of immune cells associated with the risk of developing breast cancer. The findings are published in a study in Clinical Cancer Research.
Typical male brain anatomy associated with higher probability of autism spectrum disorder A study of high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggests that characteristically male brain anatomy was associated with increased probability of ASD, according to a new article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
Office-based test developed to identify amyloidosis-related heart failure Boston researchers have developed a new diagnostic test that may help doctors identify patients with a condition called cardiac amyloidosis. The findings appear in the journal JAMA Cardiology.
	An alternative theory on how aspirin may thwart cancer Studies abound that point to a role for plain old aspirin in keeping deadly cancers at bay. While aspirin is not yet part of mainstream treatment for any cancer, it is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for certain adults to help prevent colorectal cancer.
	Youth soccer coaches can prevent injuries with just 90-minutes of training It's a dreaded and increasingly common diagnosis for young athletes. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury, and the taxing rehab process that comes with it, can quickly sideline a player.
	Winter's no reason to hibernate: head outside for some sports fun (HealthDay)—Forget what the thermometer says: Winter is a great time for outdoor activities. But you should follow certain safety rules to reduce your risk of injury.
	Screening, HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer: FDA (HealthDay)—Women can reduce their risk of cervical cancer through vaccination and screening, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
	Nighttime intensivist staffing not linked to ICU mortality (HealthDay)—Nighttime intensivist staffing is not associated with reduced intensive care unit (ICU) patient mortality, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the Feb. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	PCI viable alternative to CABG for left main coronary artery disease (HealthDay)—For patients with left main (LM) coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Active synovitis with osteitis predicts residual synovitis in RA (HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have clinical response to treatment, active synovitis with osteitis is associated with subsequent residual synovitis (R-synovitis), according to a study published online Feb. 3 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Patient satisfaction high with nurse-led chronic kidney Dz care (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), patient satisfaction is high with care at nurse-led clinics, according to a study published online Feb. 3 in the Journal of Renal Care.
Electroacupuncture can relieve pain during alcohol withdrawal (HealthDay)—Electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate hyperalgesia during ethanol withdrawal, and this effect may involve mu opioid receptors (MORs) in the habenula, according to an experimental study published online Feb. 6 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
	Primary care exercise counseling cost-effective for older men (HealthDay)—For older male veterans, improvements in physical activity and rapid gait speed can be obtained at a relatively low cost relative to patient annual health care costs, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Novel oral glucose lowering drugs cut risks in T2DM (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, novel oral glucose lowering drugs (GLDs) are associated with reduced risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and hypoglycemia, compared with insulin use, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Want to help your mate beat the blues? Show them the love The more depressed your romantic partner may be, the more love you should give them, according to new University of Alberta research.
Study sheds light on the biology of progressive form of multiple sclerosis, suggests a new potential path for treatment A research team led by scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital has revealed how an FDA-approved drug works in the central nervous system in mice to suppress chronic inflammation. The drug, known as FTY720 (or Fingolimod) interferes with signals sent through sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, and appears to reduce the pathogenic activities of astrocytes. The findings suggest the treatment may hold promise for a progressive and difficult-to-treat form of multiple sclerosis (MS) known as secondary progressive MS (SPMS).
	New research will shift how cancer diversity and resistance are understood and studied A paradigm-changing Ludwig Cancer Research study reveals that short fragments of circular DNA that encode cancer genes are far more common in cancer cells than previously believed and probably play a central role in generating the cellular diversity that makes advanced cancers so difficult to treat. The new findings, published online today in Nature, are likely to change the way tumor evolution is understood by scientists and could ultimately lead to new ways to prevent and treat many malignancies.
	Hospice caregivers should be screened early to prevent depression, anxiety Currently, more than 34 million people in the U.S. care for terminally ill love ones, but few resources are available to help them navigate the challenges they encounter. A study at the University of Missouri School of Medicine found that nearly one-quarter of caregivers were moderately or severely depressed and nearly one-third had moderate or severe anxiety. The researchers recommend that health providers remember to treat the whole family, providing ongoing screening to family caregivers to identify early signs of depression and anxiety.
	Scientists identify mechanisms driving gut bacterial imbalance and inflammation A study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has uncovered key molecular pathways behind the disruption of the gut's delicate balance of bacteria during episodes of inflammatory disease.
	Silver ion-coated medical devices could fight MRSA while creating new bone Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are caused by a type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections. The rise of MRSA infections is limiting the treatment options for physicians and surgeons. Now, an international team of researchers, led by Elizabeth Loboa, dean of the University of Missouri College of Engineering, has used silver ion-coated scaffolds, or biomaterials that are created to hold stem cells, which slow the spread of or kill MRSA while regenerating new bone. Scientists feel that the biodegradable and biocompatible scaffolds could be the first step in the fight against MRSA in patients.
	Older adults who exercise regularly may lower chances for severe mobility problems Nearly one in four adults aged 65 and older has trouble walking or climbing stairs—and 3.4 million older adults have trouble taking care of their personal needs, such as dressing or bathing. As we age, these difficulties can impact our well-being and our ability to live independently.
Rising inequalities to blame for many of world's ills, say experts Our collective failure to reverse inequality is at the heart of a global malaise, from populism to climate change, argue experts in The BMJ today.
	Clinic falsely told dozens they had Alzheimer's, suits say Shawn Blazsek knew a string of concussions from high school football and boxing was catching up with him. He would go days without sleeping and was forgetting how to tie his shoes. Still, at age 33, he was stunned when told he had Alzheimer's disease.
Study provides clues to the sex difference in dyslexia For reasons that are unclear, males are diagnosed with dyslexia more often than females. Researchers have now found that this may be due to males' lower average and more variable reading performance relative to females'.
Many older adults with epilepsy may not be receiving optimal care Many older adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy in the United States are being prescribed older anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), and only half begin treatment with AEDs within the first 30 days of a potential epilepsy diagnosis.
Older women may not be offered breast reconstruction after mastectomy A national study from England indicates that older women are often not offered immediate breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, even though guidelines state that surgeons should discuss reconstruction with all suitable patients and that it should be available at the initial surgical operation.
Poor thigh muscle strength may increase women's risk of knee osteoarthritis A new study has found that poor strength in the thigh muscles may increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis in women but not men. This relationship was confounded by body mass index (BMI), which itself is known as a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis.
Are antivirals a cost-effective therapy during severe flu seasons? A new study indicates that the antiviral drug oseltamivir can reduce influenza infections and prevent deaths in a cost-saving manner under most pandemic scenarios.
Men experience greater cognitive impairment and short-term death following hip surgery In a study of hip fracture patients, men displayed greater levels of cognitive impairment within the first 22 days of fracture than women, and cognitive limitations increased the risk of dying within six months in both men and women.
Could drugs replace gastric bypass surgery? Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most successful treatments for obesity and related disorders; however, some patients may not want to undergo surgery.
Gold standard monitoring of HCC in patients with cirrhosis is cost-effective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of death in patients with cirrhosis. A new analysis indicates that following screening guidelines for HCC in cirrhotic patients is lifesaving and cost-effective compared with 'real life' monitoring.
Study provides insights on optimal treatment of Paget's disease of bone In a study of patients with Paget's disease of bone—a common skeletal disorder that can lead to bone deformity, fractures, osteoarthritis, and bone pain—long-term intensive bisphosphonate therapy conferred no clinical benefit over giving bisphosphonates only when patients felt bone pain.
	Among colon cancer patients, smokers have worse outcomes than non-smokers In an analysis of more than 18,000 patients treated for colon cancer, current smokers were 14 percent more likely to die from their colon cancer within five years than patients who had never smoked.
French pharma giant Sanofi says profits up in 2016 French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi said Wednesday that cost-cutting measures and the strong performance of its rare diseases business drove up profits last year.
Urgent need for cause of death reporting system for Australians with intellectual disability The deaths of more than 700 Australian adults with an intellectual disability could have been avoided with more appropriate health care and monitoring, a UNSW study has revealed.
	Clinical trial for genetic cancer test to offer safe thyroid-preserving surgery University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists and doctors are embarking on the first-ever clinical trial to determine if a genetic test they pioneered could successfully spare patients with nonaggressive thyroid cancer from complete removal of their thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that is important to hormone regulation and development. Such thyroid-preserving surgery minimizes surgical complications, and many patients also may avoid taking medication every day to keep thyroid hormone levels in check.
Commercial weight-loss drug could help treat opioid addiction Scientists are working to come up with new therapies to curb America's opioid epidemic and aid hospitals, doctors and public health officials in this fight. Now one team reports in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience that the commercial weight-loss drug lorcaserin, when given to rats who had been self-administering oxycodone, appeared to reduce their use of and craving for the opioid.
	Can parental education improve effectiveness of school-based BMI screening? Parents of elementary school children who received body mass index (BMI) screening results together with educational material were significantly more likely to express their intent to change at least one obesity-related risk factor compared to parents who received only the BMI measure. Parental education may help improve the acceptance and utility of BMI screening in school-age children, a practice that has been controversial and largely ineffective at reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. The study is published in Childhood Obesity.
	How does brain functional connectivity change from the awake to unconscious state? A new study examined how brain functional connectivity patterns change over the continuum from wakefulness to being in an anesthesia-induced state of unconsciousness. The results, which demonstrate dynamic changes associated with high and low consciousness in rats, are described in Brain Connectivity.
Research investigates role of protein in obesity among Latin American women Obesity in Latin America is increasingly concentrated among women of low socioeconomic status, but surprisingly little is known about what such women eat or how their diets compare to others.

Biology news

	Wolfing it down: Brown bears reduce wolf kill rates If you've ever been elbowed out of the way at the dinner table by older, stronger siblings, you'll identify with wolves competing with larger bears for food. A study by Utah State University ecologist Aimee Tallian and colleagues reveals wolves might be at more of a disadvantage than previously thought.
	Researchers identify protein essential for healthy gut cell development Scientists have uncovered key processes in the healthy development of cells which line the human gut, furthering their understanding about the development of cancer.
	Drought identified as key to severity of West Nile virus epidemics A study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers has found that drought dramatically increases the severity of West Nile virus epidemics in the United States, although populations affected by large outbreaks acquire immunity that limits the size of subsequent epidemics.
	Blue-bellied insects may play a role in the fight against citrus greening While searching for a potential Achilles' heel in the insect responsible for spreading the bacterium that causes citrus greening disease, researchers have uncovered a protein that makes their bellies blue and may impact how easily they spread the pathogen.
	Rethink needed to save critically endangered black rhinoceros A new strategy of conservation must be adopted if the black rhinoceros is to be saved from extinction, concludes a study involving scientists from Cardiff University.
	Largest group of Australia's insects collaborate to avoid being eaten A group of insects that mimic each other in an effective golden sheen to fight predators has been discovered as the largest in Australia, a collaboration between Masaryk University and Macquarie University researchers has found.
	Bees give up searching for food when humans degrade their land A new study into honey bees has revealed the significant effect human impact has on a bee's metabolism, and ultimately its survival.
	Teaching plants to be better spenders Energy is an all-important currency for plants, and scientists from The University of Western Australia have now calculated the cost of one of their biggest expenses. The knowledge could be a key to creating more energy efficient crops.
	Fear of sea turtle extinction due to female bias in warm climate unwarranted study suggests (Update) (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with members from Australia, Greece and the U.K. has found evidence that suggests the unlikelihood of quick extinction of sea turtles due to warming climate due to overlooked factors. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team explains their findings and why they believe sea turtles will survive current ocean temperature rises.
	Compound from deep-water marine sponge could provide antibacterial solutions for MRSA A compound extracted from a deep-water marine sponge collected near the Bahamas is showing potent antibacterial activity against the drug resistant bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Also called the "super bug," MRSA bacteria are resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin, oxacillin and amoxicillin and can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 80,000 invasive MRSA infections and 11,285 related deaths occur every year. Results of the study, led by researchers at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, are published in the current issue of the journal Marine Drugs.
	Quinoa genome accelerates solutions for food security Quinoa could hold the key to feeding the world's growing population because it can thrive in harsh environments and grows well on poor quality, marginal lands. KAUST researchers have now completed the first high-quality sequence of the Chenopodium quinoa genome, and they have begun pinpointing genes that could be manipulated to change the way the plant matures and produces food. This project brought together 33 researchers from 4 continents, including 20 people from 7 research groups at KAUST, to produce an article that will be published this week in Nature and will feature on the cover of the February 16 issue.
	Splitfin flashlight fish uses bioluminescent light to illuminate plankton The flashlight fish uses bioluminescent light to detect and feed on its planktonic prey, according to a study published February 8, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jens Hellinger from Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany, and colleagues.
	Chimpanzee feet allow scientists a new grasp on human foot evolution An investigation into the evolution of human walking by looking at how chimpanzees walk on two legs is the subject of a new research paper published in the March 2017 issue of Journal of Human Evolution.
Host birds reject brown parasitic eggs more often then blue-green eggs Scientists have long thought that host birds accept or reject parasitic eggs according to how closely they resemble their own eggs in color. However, a new study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that both robins and blackbirds tended to reject brown eggs and accept blue-green eggs regardless of the color differences between their own eggs and the foreign eggs.
	Greater sage-grouse more mobile than previously suspected Greater Sage-Grouse are thought to return to the same breeding ground, or "lek," every spring—but how do populations avoid becoming isolated and inbred? A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications used thousands of DNA samples collected at leks across four states to reveal that some sage-grouse travel more widely than anyone suspected and, in doing so, may temper inbreeding and isolation.
	Allen's Hummingbird boom missed by breeding bird surveys Allen's Hummingbird has been placed on several conservation watchlists, as breeding bird surveys indicating population declines have spurred concerns that climate change may push it out of Southern California. However, local birdwatchers have reported at the same time that the non-migratory subspecies of Allen's Hummingbird, once restricted to the Channel Islands, is now a common sight at feeders in Riverside and Los Angeles. Why the discrepancy? A new commentary published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications may provide answers.
	Combined count data reveals shifts in hawks' migratory behavior Bird species' distributions and migratory behavior are shifting in response to changes in climate and land-use, but surveys that focus on a particular season can cause scientists to miss trends in the bigger picture. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications tackles this problem by combining Red-tailed Hawk counts from both migration and winter, and finds that while the hawks' numbers are stable overall, their migratory behavior is undergoing a change.
Study measures psychological support provided by service dogs The physical benefits service dogs provide in assisting people with disabilities are well-known, but a new study conducted by a Purdue University research team reveals that service dogs also contribute significantly to emotional and psychosocial well-being.
	New kit helps researchers make sense of mass cytometry datasets to uncover cell subsets A new software package offers easier analysis and interpretation of experiments that use mass cytometry, a sophisticated method for determining the properties of cells. The tool—called cytofkit—enables scientists to identify different subpopulations of cells within a sample of immune cells, cancer cells or other tissue types.
	Humans are driving a new burst of evolution including possibly our own The unprecedented impact that humans are having on the planet is well known to us all. Scarcely a day passes by without a media report or two on the effects of human economic activity on the world's climate or some charismatic species under threat because of illegal wildlife trade or logging.
	New species discovered in Antarctica A team of Japanese scientists has discovered a new species of polychaete, a type of marine annelid worm, 9-meters deep underwater near Japan's Syowa Station in Antarctica, providing a good opportunity to study how animals adapt to extreme environments.
	Lock-out on the building site Ethambutol has long been part of the standard therapy for tuberculosis. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich researchers now describe how the antibiotic acts on the bacterium that causes the disease: It specifically inhibits growth of the cell wall from the cell poles.
	New study on how shellfish create their shells A new study describing how shellfish create their shells in response to their environment is published today (Wednesday 8 February) in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
	Collapsed chloroplasts are targeted in self-eating process Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a previously uncharacterized type of autophagy, during which an autophagic process termed chlorophagy removes collapsed chloroplasts in plant leaves. The findings could lead to new methods for controlling the aging of plants.
	The origin of stem cells Freiburg plant biologist Prof. Dr. Thomas Laux and his research group have published an article in the journal Developmental Cell presenting initial findings on how shoot stem cells in plants form during embryogenesis, the process of embryonic development. Pluripotent stem cells can develop into any type of cell in an organism. In contrast to animals, plants can form completely new organs from their stem cells throughout their lives, which in the case of several species of trees may span a thousand years or more. Stem cell research promises to solve key problems in medicine and plant breeding. However, whereas the function of stem cells for the regeneration of tissue or for growth has been studied in detail, much less is known so far about how stem cells form in the course of embryonic development.
	Researcher finds fish uses sneaking behavior as stealth mating strategy While a dominant male fish from northern Mexico mates with a female, a small fella bides his time in the offing. Suddenly, the little guy darts in ahead of Mr. Big and plants his seeds on freshly laid eggs.
Innovative procedure to measure cell energy production developed Collaborative work between researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has resulted in development of a new software tool that enhances measurement and analysis of energy production generated by human immune cells.
	Snow leopard and Himalayan wolf diets are about one-quarter livestock Around a quarter of Himalayan snow leopard and wolf diets are livestock, the rest being wild prey, according to a study published February 8, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Madhu Chetri from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway, and colleagues.
Some animals are more equal than others—new study shows some animal welfare issues get more media than others Animal welfare issues receive varying levels of UK media attention, with some species being more widely reported than others, a new University of Oxford study has found.
	Data on blue whales off California helps protect their distant relatives Scientists know a great deal about blue whales off California, where the endangered species has been studied for decades.
Study finds new bacterial strain can contaminate shellfish Researchers have found a new strain of bacteria thriving along the Atlantic Coast that can contaminate shellfish and sicken seafood lovers.
	Dummy mummy comes to the rescue of tiger cubs in India Park rangers in India are using a cuddly toy tigress to help three traumatised cubs spring back to their feet after the death of their mother.
	Electronic depositary of living systems created Lomonosov Moscow State University has developed an information system within the framework of the Noah's Ark project that includes data about samples from biological collections of the University and project partners. There are no comparable information systems in the world using information concerning biological samples of various origin and managing depositaries of biomaterial. The actual version of the system is available a online here: http://depo.msu.ru/.
	Carnivores more seriously threatened by roads than previously acknowledged Leipzig/Halle (Saale)/Porto. The effects of roads on carnivores have obviously been underestimated in worldwide species conservation. This is the conclusion of the first comprehensive global study on this topic, which has been published in the scientific journal Global Ecology and Biogeography by an international research team from Germany and Portugal. The protection status of several species that are severely affected by roads cut through their habitat should be reconsidered, the researchers say.
	To declaw cats or not? New Jersey could be first with ban Cats would keep their claws under a bill that would make New Jersey the first state to prohibit declawing.

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