Science X Newsletter Monday, Apr 27

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 27, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Adding transparency to graphene paper improves supercapacitor capacitance
- Weighing and imaging molecules one at a time
- Bizarre 'platypus' dinosaur discovered
- Neurons constantly rewrite their DNA
- Astrophyicists draw most comprehensive map of the universe
- Mathematical model seeks functional cure for HIV
- Best of Last Week–Variance of gravitational constant, 50 years of Moore's Law and creating the sensation of invisibility
- Two-dimensional semiconductor comes clean
- Collin Burns in 5.253 seconds sets Rubik's Cube time record (w/ Video)
- Research team models new atomic structures of gold nanoparticle
- Graphene-based technique creates the smallest gaps in nanostructures
- Combining ecology and human needs, researchers assess sustainability of Baja fisheries
- Google searches for 'n-word' associated with black mortality
- More power to the mitochondria: Cells' energy plant also plays key role in stem cell development
- A 'GPS' to navigate the brain's neuronal networks

Astronomy & Space news

	Astrophyicists draw most comprehensive map of the universe Astrophysicists have created a 3D map of the universe that spans nearly two billion light years and is the most complete picture of our cosmic neighbourhood to date.
	Image: Curiosity rover photographed by HiRISE in Gale Crater HiRISE periodically images the Curiosity rover and its surroundings, monitoring for changes such as from active dunes.
	Zapping away space junk Planet Earth is surrounded. Thousands of tons of dangerous space debris circle in low orbit, threatening serious damage, even death, if any were to strike the International Space Station. A proposal by a research team that includes UC Irvine could be the answer.
	Strange supernova is 'missing link' in gamma-ray burst connection Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array (VLA) have found a long-sought "missing link" between supernova explosions that generate gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and those that don't. The scientists found that a stellar explosion seen in 2012 has many characteristics expected of one that generates a powerful burst of gamma rays, yet no such burst occurred.
	Sentinel-2A arrives in French Guiana for 12 June launch The latest satellite for the European Commission's environmental Copernicus programme has arrived safe and sound in French Guiana for launch on 12 June. Carrying a multispectral imager, Sentinel-2A is set to give us a new perspective of our land and vegetation.
	Ariane 5's first launch of 2015 An Ariane 5 has lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana and delivered two telecom satellites into their planned orbits.
	Hubble's ultraviolet telescope has revealed more about the stars than we could ever see It's probably fair to say that the Hubble Space Telescope, which recently celebrated its 25th birthday, has become the world's most famous telescope in large part due to the breathtaking astronomical images it has captured.
	After ten years, spacecraft will end life as just another crater on Mercury's surface Very soon, probably on 30 April, a half-tonne spacecraft will plough into the surface of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, at about 4km/s or nearly 9,000mph. The spacecraft is NASA's MESSENGER ("MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging"), which became the first spacecraft ever to orbit Mercury in March 2011.
	Electric solar wind sail could make bidirectional manned Mars flights economically feasible The E-sail is a novel propellantless technology that was invented in Finland in 2006. The E-sail utilises long, charged tethers to convert natural solar wind momentum flux into spacecraft thrust.
	SpaceX picks up launch pace, sets April 27 commercial launch and May 5 Dragon pad abort test As promised, SpaceX is picking up its launch pace in 2015 with a pair of liftoffs from the Florida space coast slated for the next week and a half. They follow closely on the heels of a quartet of successful blastoffs from Cape Canaveral, already accomplished since January.
	Liquid crystal bubble OASIS in space No matter how beautiful or crystal clear the bubbling waters of an oasis may be, they seldom lead to technology breakthroughs. Yet, NASA's OASIS investigation's bubbles may lead to an ocean of new improvements in our technology for use both on Earth and in space.

Technology news

	Startup marries digital, physical worlds A startup business that wants to link the realm of physical objects to the digital world of the Internet is basing its future on low-cost, highly engineered, one-of-a-kind plastic stamps.
	MIT and JAIN team wins the Desal Prize for desalination system A combined team of researchers with MIT and India based, JAIN Irrigations Systems has won the top Desal Prize—a competition to see who could come up with the best desalination system for providing water for crops in arid places. The team has won US $140,000 for their efforts. The timing for the competition could not have been better as the headlines in U.S. have been filled with news of newly implemented water restrictions in California—one of the main sources of agricultural production in the country.
	Google sets up marketplace to buy patents Google announced Monday it is setting up an online marketplace for those who want to sell patents to the Internet giant.
	Facebook rolls out video calls on Messenger Facebook on Monday began rolling out video calling on its Messenger mobile application, enabling face-to-face conversations among users of the app around the world.
	The cost of staying cool when incomes heat up The continual increase in global incomes means people are living more comfortably, including having the ability to afford air conditioning. Staying cool is good but there's a wealth of fallout. The demand for more "AC" will also cause consumers to use more electricity causing stress on energy prices, infrastructure, and environmental policy, according to a new study.
Hawaii telescope website taken down in apparent cyberattack An apparent cyberattack Sunday temporarily disrupted the main website of Thirty Meter Telescope, the organization trying to construct one of the world's largest telescopes near the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island.
	Increasing ecological understanding with virtual worlds and augmented reality Immersive interfaces like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality are becoming ever more powerful, eliciting investment from the likes of Google, Samsung and Microsoft. As these technologies become commercially available, their use in education is expected to grow.
Applied Materials calls off $9.4B Tokyo Electron buyout Applied Materials has called off its $9.4 billion acquisition of Tokyo Electron Ltd. after hitting a regulatory roadblock.
	Want to save energy? Fly the environmentally friendly skies Flying in a plane is not only safer than driving a car, it's also better for the environment, says a University of Michigan researcher.
Discover discovers Apple Pay for its US cardholders U.S. users of Discover cards are getting their Apple Pay, the last holdout among major credit card networks in the country.
	In fashion first, Google shows what's hot and not Tulle skirts are in. Jogger pants are hot. But high-waisted shorts? You don't want to go there.
High court to consider lawsuits over personal data The Supreme Court said Monday it will decide whether websites and other firms that collect personal data can be sued for publishing inaccurate information even if the mistakes don't cause any actual harm.
	Starbucks breakdown shows how registers have evolved A glitch that disabled registers at thousands of Starbucks stores Friday was a reminder of the invisible systems restaurants rely on to run increasingly sophisticated operations.
	Tinder, Vice honored in online Webby awards The online dating app Tinder was this year's "breakout" Internet service while bad-boy news website Vice Media got multiple honors in the "Webby" awards announced Monday.
	Research team invents electrical power converter for renewable energy Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have invented a novel electrical power converter system that simultaneously accepts power from a variety of energy sources and converts it for use in the electrical grid system.
	Computer cooling system could save U.S. $6.3 billion in electricity a year A patented passive cooling system for computer processors that's undergoing optimization at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) could save U.S. consumers more than $6.3 billion per year in energy costs associated with running their computer cooling fans.
	Forget the watch: Apple's iPhones are still the main event The iPhone is still the engine behind Apple's phenomenal success, even as attention turned to its new smartwatch in recent weeks.
	Phone-packed Africa leads way in take-up of mobile banking Services allowing consumers to perform banking and payment operations on their mobile phones are surging in sub-Saharan Africa, blazing a trail for the rest of the slower-moving world to follow.
	ORNL scientists generate landmark DOE hydropower report For the first time, industry and policymakers have a comprehensive report detailing the U.S. hydropower fleet's 2,198 plants that provide about 7 percent of the nation's electricity.
	Apple profit soars on iPhone, China sales Apple on Monday reported a sharp rise in its quarterly profit, lifted by robust sales of its iPhones and a jump in revenue from China.
	Facebook collecting Nepal quake aid donations Facebook was rolling out a donation button Monday for contributions to victims of the massive earthquake in Nepal, and offered to match up to $2 million.
Capgemini to buy IGATE in $4 billion US expansion push French IT services and consulting company Capgemini said Monday it was buying New Jersey-based IGATE for $4 billion (3.7 billion euros), boosting US-generated business to nearly a third of its total activity.
	Detecting human life with remote technology Flinders engineering students Laith Al-Shimaysawee and Ali Al-Dabbagh have developed ground-breaking new technology for detecting human life using remote cameras.
	Expats try phones, social apps to connect to quake-hit Nepal After the earthquake hit Nepal, Prem Raja Mahat spent a sleepless night at his Baltimore home, trying again and again to reach his son, who was visiting friends and family back in Mahat's home country.
Making LED-illuminated advertisements light and flexible VTT is involved in a European project, developing novel LED advertising displays, which combine thin, lightweight and bendable structures with advanced optical quality. The project will implement, for example, a LED display that will give the viewers a 3D experience without their having to wear glasses designed for the purpose.
Preventing a Fukushima disaster in Europe Improved safety management and further collaboration between experts is required to minimise the risk of flooding at coastal nuclear plants in Europe.
	ESPN suing Verizon over unbundling of its sports channel ESPN is suing Verizon in an escalating clash over how the popular sports channel is being sold in a discounted pay-TV package.

Medicine & Health news

	Mathematical model seeks functional cure for HIV (Medical Xpress)—Individuals with the natural ability to control HIV infection in the absence of treatment are referred to as elite controllers (ECs). Such individuals maintain undetectable viral loads less than 50 copies per mL without therapy. Elite controllers have clinical characteristics that differ from noncontrollers, including protective HLA alleles and a tendency to maintain a much stronger cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) response.
	Neurons constantly rewrite their DNA Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered that neurons are risk takers: They use minor "DNA surgeries" to toggle their activity levels all day, every day. Since these activity levels are important in learning, memory and brain disorders, the researchers think their finding will shed light on a range of important questions. A summary of the study will be published online in the journal Nature Neuroscience on April 27.
	Ambiguous situations make it easier to justify ethical transgressions To maintain the idea that we are moral people, we tend to lie or cheat only to the extent that we can justify our transgressions. New research suggests that situational ambiguity is one such avenue for justification that helps us preserve our sparkling self-image. Findings from two related experiments show that people are apt to cheat on a task in favor of their self-interest but only when the situation is ambiguous enough to provide moral cover.
	Researchers bring order to big data of human biology A multi-year study led by researchers from the Simons Center for Data Analysis (SCDA) and major universities and medical schools has broken substantial new ground, establishing how genes work together within 144 different human tissues and cell types in carrying out those tissues' functions.
	New breast cancer gene identified A new breast cancer gene has been identified in a study led by Women's College Hospital (WCH) researcher Dr. Mohammad Akbari, who is also an assistant professor with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. The study, which was published online today in Nature Genetics, describes how mutations in a gene called RECQL are strongly linked to the onset of breast cancer in two populations of Polish and French-Canadian women.
	Hate to diet? It's how we are wired If you're finding it difficult to stick to a weight-loss diet, scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus say you can likely blame hunger-sensitive cells in your brain known as AGRP neurons. According to new experiments, these neurons are responsible for the unpleasant feelings of hunger that make snacking irresistible.
	New study demonstrates how artificial activation of a brain circuit can reduce eating, remove feelings of hunger Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that it's no fun to feel hungry. In fact, the drive to tame gnawing hunger pangs can sabotage even the best-intentioned dieter. But how exactly is it that fasting creates these uncomfortable feelings - and consuming food takes them away?
	Scientists use gene editing to correct mutation in cystic fibrosis Yale researchers successfully corrected the most common mutation in the gene that causes cystic fibrosis, a lethal genetic disorder.
	A 'GPS' to navigate the brain's neuronal networks In new research published today by Nature Methods, scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Harvard University have announced a "Neuronal Positioning System" (NPS) that maps the circuitry of the brain, similar to how a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver triangulates one's location on the planet.
	More power to the mitochondria: Cells' energy plant also plays key role in stem cell development Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered that mitochondria, the major energy source for most cells, also play an important role in stem cell development—a purpose notably distinct from the tiny organelle's traditional job as the cell's main source of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy needed for routine cell metabolism.
	Finding the body clock's molecular reset button An international team of scientists has discovered what amounts to a molecular reset button for our internal body clock. Their findings reveal a potential target to treat a range of disorders, from sleep disturbances to other behavioral, cognitive, and metabolic abnormalities, commonly associated with jet lag, shift work and exposure to light at night, as well as with neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression and autism.
Inaccurate reporting jeopardizing clinical trials The team led by Dr Sheena Cruickshank of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Professor Andy Brass from the School of Computer Science analysed 58 papers on research into inflammatory bowel disease published between 2000 and 2014. They found a wide variety in how methods were reported and that vital information about experiments were missing, meaning they couldn't be accurately reproduced in animal or human models.
Two-thirds of the world's population have no access to safe and affordable surgery Millions of people are dying from common, easily treatable conditions like appendicitis, fractures, or obstructed labour because they do not have access to, or can't afford, proper surgical care, according to a major new Commission, published in The Lancet.
Persistent swollen neck glands could indicate cancer Referring patients with unexplained swollen neck glands for specialist investigations could help to avoid some of the thousands of deaths each year from lymphoma, a type of cancer.
Bullying leads to depression and suicidal thoughts in teens High school students subjected to bullying and other forms of harassment are more likely to report being seriously depressed, consider suicide and carry weapons to school, according to findings from a trio of studies reported at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in San Diego.
Health insurance coverage among cancer patients varies greatly by demographics and cancer type A new analysis has found that, among patients with cancer, rates of health insurance coverage vary by patient demographics and by cancer type. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings suggest that the expansion of coverage through the Affordable Care Act may disproportionally benefit certain patient populations.
Outsmarting smartphones: Technology reduces distracted driving among teens Technology can bolster efforts by parents, lawmakers and insurance companies to reduce distracted driving among novice teen drivers, according to a study to be presented Monday, April 27 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego.
	Personal growth follows trauma for most soldiers More than half of soldiers who experience trauma also report strong psychological benefits, such as stronger intimate relationships, spiritual growth, and a greater appreciation of life because of their difficult experiences.
	Beagles help hunt for genes associated with canine, human bladder cancer Beagles aren't just one of America's most popular dog breeds. According to new research from North Carolina State University, they're also key to new findings about the chromosomal changes associated with urothelial carcinoma, or bladder cancer. These findings could lead to better diagnostic tests for both canine and human patients.
New technology could let women skip annual mammograms Technology developing at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is on track to predict if and when breast cancer will appear.
	Seeing the same doctor could affect time to cancer diagnosis Whether or not patients see the same GP could affect how quickly bowel and lung cancers are diagnosed, according to a Cancer Research UK study led by University of Bristol researchers published in the British Journal of General Practice today.
	More than a third of New Jersey teens who engage in indoor tanning do so frequently, study finds More than a third of New Jersey high school students who engage in indoor tanning do so frequently and would have a hard time stopping, according to new research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the university's School of Public Health.
	Bioengineer takes an evolutionary approach to viral drug delivery vehicles What do Washington lobbyists and gene therapy have in common? Success for both depends on access and influence.
	Transgender people pass on health care to avoid social stigma Discussing your sexual history with a doctor, or anyone for that matter, can be an uncomfortable experience.
	Light therapy hope for sleep troubled teens Flinders University sleep researchers are taking research conducted in Adelaide schools to the next level by intensively studying individual sleep troubled teens in a new study at the Child & Adolescent Sleep Clinic at the University's Bedford Park campus.
	The art of maintaining cognitive health as our brains age Brains age, just like the rest of the body, even for those don't get neurological disease, according to an Institute of Medicine report released on April 14.
	World's first genetically modified human embryo raises ethical concerns It all started with a rumour. Then just six weeks ago, a warning rang out in the scientific journal Nature, expressing "grave concerns regarding the ethical and safety implications" of creating the world's first genetically-modified human embryo.
	Instant self-test HIV kit on sale in Britain Britain's first legally-approved HIV self-testing kit went on sale online on Monday, promising a result in just 15 minutes with a 99.7 percent accuracy rate.
	Saturated fatty acids might directly damage heart Olive oil is universally considered a much healthier alternative to meat fat. Plant-derived oils (such as olive oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil) largely consist of unsaturated fatty acids, whereas animal fat is richer in the saturated ones. After a typical meal, carbohydrates are the primary source of energy production by the heart. Under fasting conditions, however, free fatty acids become the major energy producer. Saturated fat in a diet is known to be detrimental to heart health, but its impact on the cardiac muscle has been studied only recently.
Video: Delivering critical medicines into the body by way of vitamin B12 Chemists in the College of Arts and Sciences know the importance of taking their vitamins.
	Family becomes first in Southwest to take part in ground-breaking DNA research A six-year-old boy and his mum and dad today became the first family in the South West to take part in ground-breaking DNA research at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E), with support from the University, to help fight rare health conditions.
	The advantages of multilingualism 'Multilingualism is not a problem, it's a gift.' So says Leena Huss, linguist and research leader of the minority studies programme at the Hugo Valentin Centre at Uppsala University.
Half of world's rural populations cannot access health care: UN More than half the population of rural areas worldwide do not have access to basic health care, with four in five rural Africans lacking services, the United Nations said Monday.
	Prenatal stem cell treatment improves mobility issues caused by spina bifida The lower-limb paralysis associated with spina bifida may be effectively treated before birth by combining a unique stem cell therapy with surgery, new research from UC Davis Health System has found.
Musculoskeletal outcomes from study on adolescent bariatric surgery safety Outcomes regarding musculoskeletal disease among severely obese adolescents participating in the "Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery" (Teen-LABS) study were published this week in JAMA Pediatrics. Teen-LABS is a multi-center clinical study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is examining the safety and health effects of surgical weight loss procedures. Teen-LABS is being conducted at five clinical centers in the U.S., including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the university of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study's Chair, Thomas H. Inge, MD, PhD, is located at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Antibiotic commonly prescribed for bladder infections less effective than others Older women with urinary tract infections who are taking the commonly prescribed antibiotic nitrofurantoin are more likely to experience treatment failure, resulting in a second antibiotic prescription or a hospital visit, than if they received another antibiotic, according to research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Potassium improved blood pressure in teen girls, salt had no adverse effect Eating 3,000 mg per day of salt or more appears to have no adverse effect on blood pressure in adolescent girls, while those girls who consumed 2,400 mg per day or more of potassium had lower blood pressure at the end of adolescence, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors have higher risk for cardiovascular diseases Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma appear to be at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases and both physicians and patients need to be aware of this increased risk, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Physical exercise helps women with breast cancer to better tolerate chemotherapy Women with breast cancer who follow a physical exercise program during their chemotherapy treatment experience less side effects like fatigue, reduced physical fitness, nausea and pain. It is also less often necessary to adjust the dosage of their chemotherapy. This is shown by a study supervised by prof. dr. Neil Aaronson of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI).
	Atrial fibrillation increases risk of only 1 type of heart attack Refining the results of a 2013 study, researchers have found that atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, is associated with only one type of heart attack - the more common of the two types.
	Maternal overweight and obesity increases risk of type 1 diabetes in children when neither parent has diabetes A study of more than 1.2 million children in Sweden has concluded that children of parents with any type of diabetes are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes (T1D), and that maternal overweight and obesity increases the risk of the child developing T1D when neither parent has diabetes.
New class of cholesterol drug proves safe and effective for patients with dyslipidemia Treatment with PCSK9 antibodies reduces mortality and produces profound reductions in LDL-cholesterol and lipoprotein in patients with dyslipidemia. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis are being published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Nerve cells and blood vessels in eye 'talk' to prevent disease, study finds A new study from scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) shows that nerve cells and blood vessels in the eye constantly "talk" to each other to maintain healthy blood flow and prevent disease.
	Study reveals how FOXO1 slows diabetic wound healing A protein that normally fosters tissue repair instead acts to inhibit healing when sugar levels are high, according to a study in The Journal of Cell Biology. The role reversal helps explain why wounds heal slowly in people with diabetes.
	'Chemo brain' is real, say researchers UBC research shows that chemotherapy can lead to excessive mind wandering and an inability to concentrate. Dubbed 'chemo-brain,' the negative cognitive effects of the cancer treatment have long been suspected, but the UBC study is the first to explain why patients have difficulty paying attention.
	Scientists discover potential new treatment for multiple sclerosis Scientists from the Gladstone Institutes have discovered a way to prevent the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice. Using a drug that blocks the production of a certain type of immune cell linked to inflammation and autoimmunity, the researchers successfully protected against the onset of MS in an animal model of the disease. The scientists say the next step is to test this strategy using other autoimmune disorders.
'Motion-tracking' MRIs reveal harbingers of stroke in people with heart rhythm disorder Stroke is a frequent and dreaded complication of atrial fibrillation. But predicting which of the estimated six million Americans with a-fib are at highest risk has long challenged physicians weighing stroke risk against the serious side effects posed by lifelong therapy with warfarin and other blood thinners.
	HPV vaccine should not be delayed New research out of Queen's University shows early benefits from the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in young girls.
	Study links insomnia to impaired work performance in night shift workers A new study of night shift workers suggests that overnight occupational and cognitive impairment is more strongly correlated to insomnia than it is to sleepiness.
	Plastic surgeons identify link between migraines and carpal tunnel syndrome Plastic surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Center have demonstrated for the first time an association between migraines and carpal tunnel syndrome, with migraines more than twice as prevalent in those with carpal tunnel syndrome as those without, according to the study.
	Study finds cardiorespiratory fitness contributes to successful brain aging Cardiorespiratory fitness may positively impact the structure of white matter in the brains of older adults. These results suggest that exercise could be prescribed to lessen age-related declines in brain structure.
HIV prevention and risk behaviors follow weekly patterns The peak time for seeking information on topics related to HIV, such as prevention and testing, is at the beginning of the week, while risky sexual behaviors tend to increase on the weekends, according to a new analysis by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Monday Campaigns.
	US lowers recommended fluoride levels in drinking water (Update) (HealthDay)—The U.S. government has decreased its recommended level of fluoride in drinking water for the first time in a half-century, to prevent staining of tooth enamel caused by overexposure to fluoride.
	Your adolescent brain on alcohol: Changes last into adulthood Repeated alcohol exposure during adolescence results in long-lasting changes in the region of the brain that controls learning and memory, according to a research team at Duke Medicine that used a rodent model as a surrogate for humans.
	Study shows that augmenting a gas naturally in our bodies fights RSV infection A new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is the first to show that hydrogen sulfide, a gas produced naturally within our bodies, reduces the severity of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. When someone has a RSV infection, his or her body is less able to produce the protective hydrogen sulfide. The UTMB study found that a drug that triggers a steady release of this gas decreases the virus's ability to multiply and reduces inflammation of the airways.
Heroin use spikes among whites who abuse prescription painkillers Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health looked at the frequency of nonmedical prescription opioid use and the risk of heroin-related behaviors and found that past-year heroin use rose among individuals taking opioids like oxycontin and these increases varied by race and ethnicity. The most significant rise in heroin use was among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, where the rate of heroin use for the latter group increased by 75 percent in 2008-2011 compared to earlier years. Findings are online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
	New app can detect sleep apnea events via smartphone Determining whether your snoring is merely annoying, or crosses the threshold into a life-threatening problem, isn't convenient or cheap.
	Brain balances perception and action when caught in an illusion Two wrongs can make a right, at least in the world of visual perception and motor functioning, according to two University of Oregon brain scientists.
	Doctors say head lice should not bar kids from school (HealthDay)—Outbreaks of head lice in kids can be effectively treated without banning infected children from school, new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say.
	Hemoglobin glycation index IDs harms, benefits of T2DM Tx (HealthDay)—The effect of intensive versus standard type 2 diabetes treatment varies according to the hemoglobin glycation index (HGI: observed hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] − predicted HbA1c), according to a study published online April 17 in Diabetes Care.
	Multiphoton microscopy reveals features of basal cell carcinoma (HealthDay)—Noninvasive multiphoton microscopy (MPM) imaging can reveal characteristic features of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in human skin, according to a study published online April 24 in JAMA Dermatology. The research is being published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, held from April 22 to 26 in Kissimmee, Fla.
	AAP: Updated guidelines on newborn hospital release (HealthDay)—The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has just released updated guidelines for judging whether or not a newborn is ready for hospital discharge. The guidelines are published online April 27 in Pediatrics.
	Most women don't know female-specific stroke signs A national survey released today by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center shows that most women don't know the risks or symptoms females face when it comes to having a stroke.
Team makes breakthrough in understanding Canavan disease UC Davis investigators have settled a long-standing controversy surrounding the molecular basis of an inherited disorder that historically affected Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe but now also arises in other populations of Semitic descent, particularly families from Saudi Arabia.
	Children's eye injuries from nonpowder guns on the rise Over 3000 children were treated in U.S. emergency departments in 2012 for eye injuries related to paintball guns, airsoft guns, BB guns and pellet guns, which are popular non-powder guns. A new report published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) analyzes the trends in hospital admissions associated with different types of firearms and suggests regulations that can help prevent serious injuries.
	Effective sleep apnea treatment lowers diabetes risk Using a simple device for eight hours a night to treat sleep apnea can help people with prediabetes improve their blood sugar levels and may reduce the risk of progressing to diabetes, according to a new study published online in the April 21, 2015, issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Studies yield mixed findings on high-dose flu vaccine for elders If you're age 65 or older and go to your doctor or pharmacy for a flu shot, you may be offered two options: the standard vaccine, or a high-dose version that packs a stronger wallop to activate the immune system, which is weaker in seniors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says either vaccine is appropriate for this age group.
	Family break-up linked to heightened risk of psychosomatic problems in teens Parental separation or divorce is linked to a heightened risk of psychosomatic problems among the children in the family, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Permanent radiotherapy implants reduce risk of prostate cancer recurrence after five years Results from a randomised controlled trial to compare the use of permanent radioactive implants (brachytherapy) with dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer show that the men who received brachytherapy were twice as likely to be cancer-free five years later.
Proton radiotherapy delivers more accurate cancer treatment, with less collateral damage Radiotherapy using protons can deliver more accurate treatment to a tumour while reducing the dose to surrounding tissue. However, in mobile organs such as the lung, precise targeting of the dose is difficult. Now researchers have succeeded in making a model of breathing movement that allows for the precise measurement of narrow beams to a dummy tumour by simulating the motion and physical properties of the chest anatomy in a model, the 3rd ESTRO Forum in Barcelona, Spain, will hear today (Monday).
Detection of critical heart disease before birth lags among poor Parents-to-be often look forward to prenatal ultrasounds, when they get the first glimpse of their baby and perhaps learn their child's sex. Ultrasound technology also allows for the detection of birth defects and other abnormalities before a baby is born.
	Project to track rising threat of Lyme disease Vets across the UK are set to take part in the Big Tick Project, the largest nationwide collection of ticks from dogs in a bid to help scientists, led by Professor Richard Wall at the University of Bristol, track what is feared to be a growing threat to people and their dogs from tick-borne zoonotic diseases such as Lyme disease (Borrelia).
	Gonorrhoea and syphilis in Norway in 2014 Reported cases of gonorrhea continue to increase in Norway, both among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among heterosexuals. The increase of gonorrhea among heterosexual women was particularly significant. Reported cases of syphilis in 2014 remained at the same high level as in 2013. It has been 25 years since so many cases of these infections have been registered in Norway.
New study aimed at diminishing phantom pain suffered by amputees A new clinical trial conducted by Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital interventional radiologist J. David Prologo, MD is studying a minimally invasive investigational treatment known as cryoablation therapy, hoped to help relieve symptoms in amputees with residual and phantom limb pain.
	Chipotle says removal of GMO ingredients from food complete Chipotle says it has completed phasing out genetically modified ingredients from its food, making it the first national fast-food chain to do so.
Gastroenterology Special Issue confirms: You are what you eat Patients are always interested in understanding what they should eat and how it will impact their health. Physicians are just as interested in advancing their understanding of the major health effects of foods and food-related diseases. To satisfy this need, the editors of Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, are pleased to announce the publication of this year's highly anticipated special 13th issue on food, the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract.
	Controlling arterial tone and blood flow in the brain Researchers have performed the first human-based study to identify calcium channels in cerebral arteries and determine the distinct role each channel plays in helping control blood flow to the brain. The study appears in the May issue of The Journal of General Physiology.
Mylan rebuffs Teva again; calls bid low, insincere Generic drug company Mylan rejected for the second time Monday a $40.1 billion takeover offer from Israeli pharmaceutical power Teva, just days after Mylan's own bid for rival Perrigo was rebuffed.
	Self-assembling biomaterial forms nanostructure templates for human tissue formation Unlike scaffold-based methods to engineer human tissues for regenerative medicine applications, an innovative synthetic material with the ability to self-assemble into nanostructures to support tissue growth and ultimately degrade offers a promising new approach to deliver cell and tissue therapies. The unique properties of this biofunctional coating that enable it to stimulate and direct the formation of complex tissues are described in an article in Tissue Engineering, Part A.
World's largest open source health information technology project tackles Ebola An accurate, up to the minute, accessible medical record system is fundamental to effective treatment and tracking of the Ebola virus. But how to create this type of system in the rudimentary, overwhelmed Ebola care centers of West Africa where paper records or computers—even if they were available—couldn't be carried in and out of treatment areas?
FDA: Medtronic must stop most sales of Synchromed drug pumps The Food and Drug Administration says Medtronic must stop most sales of its implantable drug pumps after years of uncorrected problems.
An explanation of wild birds' role in avian flu outbreak Wild birds are believed to be behind the first major widespread outbreak of bird flu in the United States. The H5N2 virus has cost Midwestern turkey and chicken producers almost 13 million birds since early March, including several new cases announced in Iowa on Monday. Here are some questions and answers about how wild birds remain healthy even when carrying and spreading the virus.
Industry tries to block genetically modified food labeling (Update) Food industry lawyers say there's not enough time to implement Vermont's new labeling rules for genetically modified products before the July 2016 effective date and are asking a federal judge to block them.
	Time to move Lyme Disease Awareness Month to April? The month of May brings many things, among them Mother's Day, tulips, and Lyme Disease Awareness campaigns. But according to Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, if we want to get a leg up on tick-borne illness we need to become vigilant earlier in the season.
	Study finds no health drawbacks to veterans' dual use of VA, Medicare Advantage In a study that looked at a handful of quality measures for chronic disease care, veterans who used both Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and a Medicare Advantage plan during 2008 or 2009 did no better or worse than those who used only VA care.
	University of Utah professor reframes conversation around domestic violence in new book A few years ago, Sonia Salari was interviewed for an article about a murder-suicide involving an elderly couple. Once published, the Pennsylvania newspaper headline shocked the University of Utah professor.

Biology news

	Bats use both sides of brain to listen—just like humans Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center and American University have shown that, like humans, mustached bats use the left and right sides of their brains to process different aspects of sounds. Aside from humans, no other animal that has been studied, not even monkeys or apes, has proved to use such hemispheric specialization for sound processing—meaning that the left brain is better at processing fast sounds, and the right processing slow ones.
	Common back problems may be caused by evolution of human locomotion A common spinal disease could be the result of some people's vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine, sharing similarities in shape to a non-human primate. The research, published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, suggests that the relatively quick evolution of the ability to walk on two legs may have had a substantial impact on modern human health.
	Secret life of penguins revealed To mark World Penguin Day (25 April 2015) citizen science project Penguin Watch will release 500,000 new images of penguins and reveal secrets from a year of spying on penguins.
	Researchers identify molecules that help cells to pinpoint their position For the kidneys to function flawlessly, millions of cells must be arranged precisely according to a specified blueprint. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim and Philipps-Üniversität Marburg have now discovered that kidney cells send signals to neighbouring cells undergoing division to organize the repairing of the kidneys after acute renal failure. The findings may help in future to improve the regeneration of damaged organs.
	Single cells seen in unprecedented detail Researchers have developed a large-scale sequencing technique called Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing (G&T-seq) that reveals, simultaneously, the unique genome sequence of a single cell and the activity of genes within that single cell.
	Model uncovers malaria parasite causes red blood cell changes A model of a malaria-infected red blood cell may lead to better ways to treat malaria, according to a team of engineers and molecular biologists who investigated how this parasite infection causes the red blood cells to stiffen.
	Bumblebees use nicotine to fight off parasites Researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), gave bumblebees the option to choose between a sugar solution with nicotine in it and one without. Those bees infected with the Crithidia bombi parasite were more likely to go for the nicotine-laced nectar than those that weren't infected.
	Conifer study illustrates twists of evolution A new study offers not only a sweeping analysis of how pollination has evolved among conifers but also an illustration of how evolution—far from being a straight-ahead march of progress—sometimes allows for longstanding and advantageous functions to become irrevocably lost. Moreover, the authors show that the ongoing breakdown of the successful but ultimately fragile pollination mechanism may have led to a new diversity of traits and functions.
	How an RNA gene silences a whole chromosome Researchers at Caltech have discovered how an abundant class of RNA genes, called long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs, pronounced link RNAs) can regulate key genes. By studying an important lncRNA, called Xist, the scientists identified how this RNA gathers a group of proteins and ultimately prevents women from having an extra functional X-chromosome—a condition in female embryos that leads to death in early development. These findings mark the first time that researchers have uncovered the detailed mechanism of action for lncRNA genes.
New Zealand stoats provide an ark for genetic diversity British stoats suffered a dramatic loss in genetic diversity in the 20th Century but extinct British genes were preserved in the stoat population of New Zealand, a new study has found.
Could smell hold the key to ending pesticide use? UK scientists may have uncovered a natural way of avoiding the use of pesticides and help save plants from attack by recreating a natural insect repellent.
	Avoid 'crape murder' with limited pruning Efforts to prevent people from committing "crape murder" are reducing the number of unsightly, knobby-knuckled branch ends but may leave people wondering how to correctly shape crape myrtles.
	Scientists gain unique insight into the function of a key muscle protein Thanks to the first high-resolution structural analysis of the muscle protein α-actinin, scientists now have a better understanding of how muscles work. The analysis provides crucial information about the structure and function of this complex muscle protein and could lead to the development of new treatments for major muscular disorders. The results of the project, which is funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the European Commission, were recently published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell.
	Scientists plan to cut insect pests down to size by turning their own hormones against them Locusts are certainly not among the lazier creatures on earth. They can travel 130km a day in search of food. The insects can strip bare a field of crops in minutes as they move from one feast to the next in vast swarms of up to several hundred square kilometres in size.
	New 3-D method improves the study of proteins Researchers have developed a new computational method called AGGRESCAN3D which will allow studying the 3D structure of folded globular proteins and substantially improve the prediction of any propensity for forming toxic protein aggregates. With this new algorithm, proteins can also be modeled to study the pathogenic effects of the aggregation or redesign them for therapeutic means.
	Two new iguanid lizard species from the Laja Lagoon, Chile A team of Chilean scientists discover two new species of iguanid lizards from the Laja Lagoon, Chile. The two new species are believed to have been long confused with other representatives of the elongatus-kriegi lizard complex, until recent morphological analysis diagnosed them as separate. The study was published in the 500th issue of the open access journal ZooKeys.
	New coral-inhabiting gall crab species discovered from Indonesia and Malaysia Fieldwork in Indonesia and Malaysia by researcher Sancia van der Meij from Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands lead to the discovery of a new coral-dwelling gall crab. The new gall crab, named Lithoscaptus semperi, was discovered inhabiting free-living corals of the species Trachyphyllia geoffroyi on sandy bottoms near coral reefs. The study was published in the 500th issue of the open access journal ZooKeys.
	High-pitched sounds cause seizures in old cats When the charity International Cat Care asked veterinary neurologists at Davies Veterinary Specialists, UK, for help with several enquiries it had received regarding cats having seizures, seemingly in response to certain high-pitched sounds, the answer was that the problem was not documented and little, if anything, was known about it.
	Rare dune plants thrive on disturbance Beginning in the 1880s, coastal dunes in the United States were planted with European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) in an attempt to hold the sand in place and prevent it from migrating. The grass did the job it was brought in to do. As it trapped sand in its deep roots, the dunes at the beachfront grew higher and steeper and less sand moved inland. But, like many attempts to control nature, this one had unintended consequences.
	Study reveals similar genetic, geographic patterns in monk parakeet The monk parakeets that have invaded Europe and North America over the last 40-50 years fortifying their massive communal nests atop utility poles in many urban areas appear to have originated from the same small area in South America, according to a new study.
	Thai customs make new three-tonne ivory seizure More than three tonnes of elephant ivory have been found at a Thai port stashed in a container shipped from Kenya, customs said Monday, the second huge haul of tusks from Africa in less than a week.
	ANZAC grevillea hybrid marks centenary celebrations Through an intense breeding program of native flora, Kings Park botanists have provided the Western Australian RSL with a commemorative grevillea (Proteaceae) in time for the Anzac Centenary.
	Norway tests out 'animal rights cops' Norwegian police is creating a unit to investigate cruelty to animals, the government said Monday, arguing that those who hurt animals often harm people too.

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