Science X Newsletter Monday, May 4

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 4, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Multicolor meta-hologram produces light across entire visible spectrum
- Theorists show environments can alter 2-D materials' basic properties
- Researchers shine light on origin of bioluminescence
- Researchers explain mystery of India's rapid move toward Eurasia 80 million years ago
- Best of Last Week – Pondering the universe as hologram, Tesla's home battery and weak sunlight link to pancreatic cancer
- Study uncovers foundations of heart regeneration
- Pollen and clouds: April flowers bring May showers?
- New climate projections paint bleak future for tropical coral reefs
- Combining computer vision and brain computer interface for faster mine detection
- Ocean currents disturb methane-eating bacteria
- Fjords are 'hotspots' in global carbon cycling
- Study describes revolutionary method of making RNAs
- Warm oceans caused hottest Dust Bowl years in 1934/36
- Puget Sound's clingfish could inspire better medical devices, whale tags
- Odd histone helps suppress jumping genes in stem cells, study says

Astronomy & Space news

	Italian astronaut brews, sips first fresh espresso in space The first Italian woman in space is now the world's first orbiting barista.
	Image: Hubble eyes galactic refurbishment The smudge of stars at the center of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is a galaxy known as UGC 5797. UGC 5797 is an emission line galaxy, meaning that it is currently undergoing active star formation. The result is a stellar population that is constantly being refurbished as massive bright blue stars form. Galaxies with prolific star formation are not only veiled in a blue tint, but are key to the continuation of a stellar cycle.
	Image: Akari view of the Cygnus region in the Milky Way The constellation of Cygnus is one of the most recognisable in the northern hemisphere. During the summer months, the stars of its long neck stretch along the Milky Way and its wings sweep from side to side.
	Improved detection of radio waves from space Geodesy is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement of the Earth. One of the measurement techniques it employs uses radio waves from far-distant objects in space to determine factors such as the movement of tectonic plates. A high frequency amplifier promises to boost the performance of the radio telescopes this method requires.

Technology news

	FAA's Airworthiness Directive issued to avoid power loss A fix for a software problem that could possibly result in power loss in Boeing 787s has been ordered. Federal Aviation Administration officials adopted a new airworthiness directive (AD), effective as of Friday, for Boeing 787 airliners to follow until the flaw is fixed. "We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of all AC electrical power, which could result in loss of control of the airplane."
	Pilot to fly solar plane across Pacific for 5 days, 5 nights A pilot said Sunday that he is anxious but excited about flying a solar plane solo from China to Hawaii on the longest leg of the first attempt to fly around the world without a drop of fuel.
	Mumblehard targets servers running Linux and BSD Security watchers are talking about a family of malware that infects Linux and BSD servers. Marc-Etienne M. Léveillé, ESET malware researcher, has provided details about Linux/Mumblehard, which targets servers running Linux and BSD.
	Ten-engine electric plane prototype takes off A team at NASA's Langley Research Center is developing a concept of a battery-powered plane that has 10 engines and can take off like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft. The prototype, called Greased Lightning or GL-10, is currently in the design and testing phase. The initial thought was to develop a 20-foot wingspan (6.1 meters) aircraft powered by hybrid diesel/electric engines, but the team started with smaller versions for testing, built by rapid prototyping.
	Algorithm combines videos from unstructured camera arrays into panoramas Even non-professionals may someday be able to create high-quality video panoramas using multiple cameras with the help of an algorithm developed by a team of Disney researchers.
	Combining computer vision and brain computer interface for faster mine detection Computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have combined sophisticated computer vision algorithms and a brain-computer interface to find mines in sonar images of the ocean floor. The study shows that the new method speeds detection up considerably, when compared to existing methods—mainly visual inspection by a mine detection expert.
	Google is starting small, thinking big with 'Project Fi' Google wants the wireless services that connect mobile devices to digital content to be cheaper and more reliable.
	Facebook opens up Internet.org after neutrality flap Facebook said Monday it was opening up Internet.org, which provides connectivity to people in developing nations, to outside applications following a controversy over its limited set of online services.
	Mozilla says HTTPS is the way forward for the Web The web developer community can hear a rallying cry loud and clear :Let's hear it for web security. Mozilla, the group behind the browser Firefox, is turning up the volume by saying enough's enough with non-secure HTTP. The Foundation has taken a move in order to protect users from snoopers.
	Engineering students create real-time 3-D radar system Spencer Kent stands nervously in front of Team D.R.A.D.I.S.' booth at Rice University's annual Engineering Design Showcase. Judging begins in about 10 minutes, and his teammate Galen Schmidt is frantically typing computer code into a laptop beside the team's custom-made radar system.
	Americans stream away in shifting TV landscape Streaming television is now mainstream, although it has not caused many people to "cut the cord" for traditional pay TV. Not yet, anyway.
	Google embeds engineers as professors Howard University freshman Alanna Walton knew something was different about the professor teaching her introduction to computer science course.
New gold standard established for open and reproducible research A group of Cambridge computer scientists have set a new gold standard for openness and reproducibility in research by sharing the more than 200GB of data and 20,000 lines of code behind their latest results - an unprecedented degree of openness in a peer-reviewed publication. The researchers hope that this new gold standard will be adopted by other fields, increasing the reliability of research results, especially for work which is publicly funded.
	GM cuts 2016 Volt plug-in hybrid car price by almost $1,200 General Motors is knocking nearly $1,200 off the price of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car.
	Fans cheer for 'Call of Duty' in Paris video game world cup Players greeted like rock stars, cheering fans and a spectacular set; the Zenith concert hall in Paris was transformed into a giant play room this weekend for a global tournament devoted to the blockbuster "Call of Duty" video game.
	Comcast now has more Internet than cable customers Just before its $45 billion deal with Time Warner Cable collapsed over regulators' fears about a giant cable company's control over the Web, Comcast was racking up more Internet customers.
	Economical and effective security design Operators of infrastructures such as power grids and airports are expected to ensure a high level of security – but their financial means are limited. Fraunhofer researchers have developed an analysis tool for evaluating the effectiveness and economic viability of different security measures as part of an EU-funded project.
Masonry structures common in Nepal prone to 'sudden and brittle failure,' expert says After an earthquake hit California in 1933, unreinforced masonry structures were banned.
	You may be travelling less – and that's a good thing In 1900, humans travelled a total of just 0.2 trillion km by vehicle, nearly all by train.
	The winners and losers in Tesla's battery plan for the home Tesla's plans to use its new battery storage system to power homes will provide households with more opportunities to reduce bills. But it will also cause headaches for the electricity distribution companies.
	Periscope live streaming could turn the tables on the rise of video-on-demand That live streaming app Periscope, which allows a real-time video broadcast from a phone to the internet, has been acquired by Twitter and represents the next logical step in the process that has seen social media integrated into every facet of daily life.
	Professor develops wall displaying info gleaned from social media, networks Assistant Professor of Architecture Alex Webb is not your average T-square, model-building architect. He uses the design skills and tech savvy he gained through an architectural education in new and innovative ways.
	Instructional technology students explore how video games can trigger emotional responses Every video game's narrative has a start and finish: Kickoff and the last whistle for a football game; Pearl Harbor and the bombing of Hiroshima in a World War II game; or just eating all the dots in Pac-Man. Two Ohio University graduate students, however, have broken the mold and created a location-based videogame that starts at the top of Baker University Center, and if all goes as planned, ends in tears.
	Cisco CEO Chambers to step down, Robbins named successor Veteran tech executive John Chambers plans to step down after more than 20 years as CEO of Cisco Systems Inc., a major supplier of computer networking gear that makes the Internet work.
Use of cellphone trackers in criminal probes under review in US The US Justice Department said Monday it is re-examining its controversial use of secret cellphone tracking devices to establish the location of suspects in criminal investigations, a spokesman said.
	Boxing match pops up on phones as TV habits change It should have been a proud moment for TV: drawing in millions of viewers willing to pay big money for a much-hyped sports event, while at the same time showing the clout traditional media still holds.
	David Goldberg, tech exec married to 'Lean In' author, dies David Goldberg, a popular Silicon Valley executive and husband of Facebook second-in-command and "Lean In" author Sheryl Sandberg, has died suddenly at age 47, his company and family members said Saturday.
	Cable, pay-per-view problems leave viewers fighting mad For some boxing fans, the big fight Saturday night turned out to be between them and their cable companies.
Space technology could reduce cost of renewable energy Space-based radar technology could be harnessed by the renewable energy sector to drive down costs, according to academics at the University of Strathclyde.
	New research to realise the sensor 'pipe dream' Three new research projects funded by Australia's energy pipeline industry have been initiated at Deakin University. The projects aim to develop a world-first pipeline health monitoring system that will be based on a high tech sensor developed by Deakin researchers.
	Fujitsu develops world's first technology that visualizes complexity of business logic in a program's code Fujitsu Laboratories today announced the development of the world's first technology for visualizing the degree of complexity of the business logic in complex, large-scale business applications. In the past, when looking for important elements based on metrics like program size or the number of conditional branches, it has been difficult to distinguish the business logic that executes business processes from the control logic that executes functions such as sharing data among programs and format checking.
Sally Beauty probes reports of unusual payment card activity Sally Beauty said Monday that it is investigating reports of unusual activity on payment cards used at some of its U.S. stores.

Medicine & Health news

	Study uncovers foundations of heart regeneration While the human heart can't heal itself, the zebrafish heart can easily replace cells lost by damage or disease. Now, researchers have discovered properties of a mysterious outer layer of the heart known as the epicardium that could help explain the fish's remarkable ability to regrow cardiac tissue.
	Study finds new potential melanoma drug target A new treatment for melanoma could be on the horizon, thanks to a finding by a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center-led team. In the study, which was published online today in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the authors report that they found high levels of an enzyme in melanoma samples that they believe is a potential drug target.
	Middle-seat kid far from windows but closer to success Reports have been coming in about a growing-up study to explain what types of people enjoy success in adult life. The study shows that being a middle-seat child may contribute to success in later years.
	Study points way forward for retinal disease gene therapy Gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), an inherited disorder that causes vision loss starting in childhood, improved patients' eyesight and the sensitivity of the retina within weeks of treatment. Both of these benefits, however, peaked one to three years after treatment and then diminished, according to results from an ongoing clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
	Brain connections give clues to sensory problems in autism Signals that relay sensations from nerves into the brain are abnormally strong in people with autism. The findings, published 12 March in Brain, may explain why some people with autism are overly sensitive to sensory stimuli such as light, sound and touch.
	Cross-population study links individuals' chemical sensitivity, genes Researchers from North Carolina State University and across the U.S. conducted the first large-scale cell-based screening to test variations in environmental chemical sensitivity across a range of human populations and link those variations to genetic data. The data will improve risk assessment, and shed light on the ways in which our genes interact with certain chemicals.
	Researchers find bitter taste receptors on human hearts A team of University of Queensland researchers is investigating the surprising discovery that smell and taste receptors normally found in the nose and mouth can also be present on the human heart.
	Multiple types of resistance to new lung cancer drug identified After identifying three different types of resistance to a promising investigational lung cancer drug in a phase 1 trial, a team of researchers led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists say new targeted inhibitors and combinations are urgently needed to stay ahead of tumors' constant and varied molecular shape-shifting.
	Study points to possible treatment for lethal pediatric brain cancer Using brain tumor samples collected from children in the United States and Europe, an international team of scientists found that the drug panobinostat and similar gene regulating drugs may be effective at treating diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), an aggressive and lethal form of pediatric cancer. The study, published in Nature Medicine, was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and more than 25 nonprofit foundations devoted to finding cures for childhood brain cancer.
	Pinpointing long range genomic connections to determine the genetic basis of disease Researchers at the Babraham Institute and the Francis Crick Institute have developed and used a new technique to join the dots in the genomic puzzle. Just as a dot to dot puzzle needs to be completed to visualise the full picture, the researchers' analysis connected regulatory elements called promoters and enhancers and showed their physical interactions over long distances within the mouse and human genomes. The ability to map promoter-enhancer interactions in the human genome has huge potential in understanding the genetic basis of disease.
	Scientists reconcile three unrelated theories of schizophrenia A new Duke University study in mice links three previous and, until now, apparently unrelated hypotheses about the causes of schizophrenia, a debilitating mental disorder appearing in late adolescence that affects how people think, act and perceive reality.
	Discovery could help reverse glucocorticoid resistance in some young leukemia patients Researchers led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a mechanism that helps leukemia cells resist glucocorticoids, a finding that lays the foundation for more effective treatment of cancer and possibly a host of autoimmune diseases. The findings appear online today in the scientific journal Nature Genetics.
	Scientists dramatically improve method for finding common genetic alterations in tumors St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have developed a significantly better computer tool for finding genetic alterations that play an important role in many cancers but were difficult to identify with whole-genome sequencing. The findings appear today in the scientific journal Nature Methods.
	Scientists 'un-can' the HIV virus If the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a bit like a hermetically sealed tin can no one has yet been able to break open, the good news is that researchers at the CHUM Research Centre, affiliated with the University of Montreal, have identified a way to use a "can opener" to force the virus to open up and to expose its vulnerable parts, allowing the immune system cells to then kill the infected cells.
	Premature birth alters brain connections Premature birth can alter the connectivity between key areas of the brain, according to a new study led by King's College London. The findings should help researchers to better understand why premature birth is linked to a greater risk of neurodevelopmental problems, including autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorders.
	Team follows zinc to uncover pathway that fine-tunes brain signaling A study team led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine who used specially developed technologies to "follow the zinc" have uncovered a previously unknown pathway the brain uses to fine-tune neural signaling—and that may play a role in Alzheimer's and other diseases. Their findings appear online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Scientists find new link between diabetes and Alzheimer's Researchers have uncovered a unique connection between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, providing further evidence that a disease that robs people of their memories may be affected by elevated blood sugar, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	Young people think friends are more at risk of cyberbullying Young people are aware of the risks of cyberbullying but perceive others as being more at risk than themselves. Young women are more vulnerable to this perception than young men.
	Surgery for terminal cancer patients still common The number of surgeries performed on terminally ill cancer patients has not dropped in recent years, despite more attention to the importance of less invasive care for these patients to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. But new research from UC Davis also finds that the morbidity and mortality among patients with terminal cancer has declined because surgeons are selecting to operate on healthier patients.
	Bird flu virus raises questions scientists working to answer It's been five months since the H5N2 bird flu virus was discovered in the United States, and producers have lost 21 million birds in the Midwest alone. Yet, researchers acknowledge they still know little about a bird flu virus that's endangered turkey and egg-laying chicken populations that supply much of the nation.
	Generic transplant drugs as good as brand name, study finds A University of Cincinnati (UC)-led research team has found that generic formulations of tacrolimus, a drug used post-transplant to lower the risk of organ rejection, are just as good as the name-brand version.
	Keeping legalized marijuana out of hands of kids As the realities of legalized marijuana take hold in four states and the District of Columbia, legislators and regulators could learn a lot from the successes—and failures—of the tobacco and alcohol industries in keeping their harmful products out of the hands of children and adolescents.
	New study suggests prominent role for pharmacies in reducing asthma-related illness A new study shows how pharmacies might collaborate with physicians and families to reduce asthma-related illness.
	High-value research of 2014 presented for internal medicine (HealthDay)—Articles relating to atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, acute bronchitis, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for hypertension screening, and guidelines relevant to generalist practice are included in a special update summary published online April 30 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes vary by time to CPR (HealthDay)—For patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), outcomes differ by time to first cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first documented rhythm, according to a study published online April 30 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	FDA approves raplixa to help control surgical bleeding (HealthDay)—Raplixa (human fibrin sealant) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help control bleeding during surgery, the agency said in a news release.
	ACOG: Pregnant women may believe E-cigarettes OK (HealthDay)—More than 40 percent of pregnant women surveyed think electronic cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, according to a new study. The results of the study are scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, held from May 2 to 6 in San Francisco.
	Alcohol corrupts body movements by inhibiting sodium-potassium pumps in the cerebellum Alcohol is used, and in some cases abused, by millions of people worldwide. How it acutely changes brain function to cause inebriation, and chronically changes brain function to cause dependency, is largely unknown. The latter especially can destroy lives and families. Understanding the mechanisms of action is the foundation to countering them. A "sobriety pill" would have immense medical, sociological and commercial potential.
	'Performance enhancing' drugs decrease performance Doping is damaging the image of sport without benefitting athletes' results, according to University of Adelaide research.
New test predicts sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients A new test has been developed to predict sudden cardiac death in hemodialysis patients in whom such forecasts were previously impossible. The novel method was presented at ICNC 12 by Dr Akiyoshi Hashimoto, a cardiologist at Sapporo Medical University in Japan. The test uses a combination of nuclear medicine, C-reactive protein and electrocardiogram (ECG).
Coal-tar-sealant runoff causes toxicity and DNA damage Runoff from pavement with coal-tar-based sealant is toxic to aquatic life, damages DNA, and impairs DNA repair, according to two studies by the U.S. Geological Survey published in the journals Environmental Science and Technology and Science of the Total Environment.
	Environmental chemicals and their effects on human health In our daily lives we are exposed to a great variety of environmental chemicals found in cleaning substances, cosmetics, plastic products, textiles or food supplements. Many of these synthetic products leave traces in our bodies and are known to have an impact on our immune system, hormonal balance or cardio-vascular system. Within the context of the European Union's REACH programme and the US National Toxicity Programme, chemicals are systematically screened for their potentially harmful impact. The pharmacist Daniela Schuster is developing methods designed to vastly improve the efficiency and precision of these tests. In her work at the Institute of Pharmacy at the University of Innsbruck, the researcher benefits from her experience with drug discovery and development applying the methods used in this field.
	Early signs of arthritis can be found in the mouth A common gum disease may indicate a person's risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis later in life, according to a University of Adelaide dental expert.
	Research seeks to enhance understanding of how Alzheimer's Disease develops A jury would have to acquit. Two tough guys are caught at the scene of a brutal beating, but no one witnessed the crime. No video cameras or cell phone captured the assault. Maybe both men arrived after the attack. Or one might have acted alone. They're suspicious, but not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
	The kind of insurance you have might make a difference in brain tumor survival We all know that having health insurance can make it easier for people to a see a doctor, and with access to care, people can stay healthier. But socioeconomic inequalities in the United States affect access to health care, and thus treatment and patient outcomes as well.
Frailty among older heart patients helps predicts severe outcomes Frailty among older people with cardiovascular disease appears to be more predictive than age for gauging their risk of heart attack, stroke and death, according to an international study that included researchers at Duke Medicine.
	Genetic factors may affect exercise benefit Resistance exercise has well-known health benefits, but the magnitude of those benefits may differ according to an individual's genetic make-up. Women with a high genetic risk of obesity may benefit less from resistance exercises than those at a lower genetic risk, according to research published in the International Journal of Obesity.
New media students develop fall detection device for older adults University of Maine seniors in the New Media Department are developing a fall detection device for older adults to use outside their homes.
	Study reveals how a Rab protein controls HIV-1 replication HIV-1 replication requires the coordinated movement of the virus's components toward the plasma membrane of an immune cell, where the virions are assembled and ultimately released. A study in The Journal of Cell Biology reveals how a Rab protein that controls intracellular trafficking supports HIV-1 assembly by promoting high levels of an important membrane lipid.
	Malarial parasites dodge the kill Scientists have uncovered a potential mode of parasite drug resistance in malaria infection, according to a report published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
	Patients with AIDS at increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have a four-fold increase in their risk of developing intermediate-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to people of the same age who are not infected with HIV, according to results from the Longitudinal Study of the Ocular Complications of AIDS (LSOCA) presented today at the 2015 ARVO Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The results of the study, led by the National Eye Institute-funded Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS Research Group, were also published online in the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
	Off-label use of device to prevent stroke in a-fib patients is prevalent, potentially dangerous The Lariat device, which has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for soft tissue approximation (placement of a suture) during surgical procedures, is associated with a significant incidence of death and urgent cardiac surgery during its frequent off-label use to prevent stroke in patients with the irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation. Following a systematic review of case reports and an FDA safety database, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania are calling for formal controlled investigations into the safety and efficacy of off-label use of the Lariat device, which has never been approved for treatment of this condition. Their study results are published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	School competitive food policies appears tied to neighborhood socioeconomics Policy changes in California to make the food and beverages that compete with school meal programs more healthy for students appear to have improved childhood overweight/obesity prevalence trends, although improvement was better among students attending schools in socioeconomically advantaged neighborhoods, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Study examines incidence of concussion in youth, high school, college football A slight majority of concussions happened during youth football games but most concussions at the high school and college levels occurred during practice, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Kids likely to sleepwalk if parents have history of nocturnal strolls More than 60 percent of children developed sleepwalking when both their parents were sleepwalkers in a study among children born in the Canadian province of Quebec, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Electronic health records may not improve outcomes in ischemic stroke patients Electronic health records may be necessary for a more high-tech and transparent health care system, but hospitals with electronic health records for ischemic stroke patients did not demonstrate better quality of care or clinical outcomes for those patients when compared to similar hospitals without electronic health records, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Reducing prejudice through brain stimulation People show less prejudice after receiving low intensity electrical stimulation administered to the frontal part of the brain. Psychologists Roberta Sellaro and Lorenza Colzato from the Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition published their findings in Brain Stimulation.
	Popular media influences choice of childbirth Women's magazines influence whether women decide to have a more natural childbirth or not, with most of the messages biased towards promoting the benefits of medicalised birth.
	Video games make you less sexist? It's not quite that simple The latest article exploring sexism in academia suggests that it no longer exists. Some have already grumbled about flaws in the study's design. But more than that, I simply don't believe the finding because there is clear evidence that sexism still exists.
	Why some of us are fat, and others aren't The obesity epidemic is not an American phenomenon. About 37 percent of the world's adults are overweight or obese, and no nation has been able to claim even a tiny reversal in the trend in the last 33 years.
	Space travel may be bad for your brain – here's why There is bad news for those planning to go to Mars in the near future: a study in mice has suggested that radiation in space could cause cognitive decline in astronauts. However, we know from past research that mental, social and physical exercise can boost cognitive functions. With planned Mars missions moving ever closer, it might be be worth exploring activity as a way to counter radiation damage.
	Rheumatoid arthritis patients at increased risk of surprise heart attack Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk of a surprise heart attack, according to new research presented today at ICNC 12 by Dr Adriana Puente, a cardiologist in the National Medical Centre "20 de Noviembre" ISSSTE in Mexico City, Mexico. Risk was increased even when patients had no symptoms and was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking and diabetes.
	Tests to bolster lung function later in life Scientists have recommended a combination of lung function tests for prematurely born babies and children to help prevent the worsening of chronic respiratory disease throughout adulthood.
Chickenpox virus can cause stroke in HIV patients, according to study Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can, in rare cases, experience bleeding on the brain that causes a type of stroke called intracerebral hemorrhage.
Gender inequalities exist for fathers in the Swedish child health field Fathers in Sweden are not provided with the same opportunities as mothers when it comes to learning about how to take care and raise their children.
	Green tea extract and exercise hinder progress of Alzheimer's disease in mice According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Alzheimer's disease (AD) may affect as many as 5.5 million Americans. Scientists currently are seeking treatments and therapies found in common foods that will help stave off the disease or prevent it completely. Now, University of Missouri researchers have determined that a compound found in green tea, and voluntary exercise, slows the progression of the disease in mice and may reverse its effects. Further study of the commonly found extract could lead to advancements in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease in humans.
	Enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen has big role in the healthy, injured brain An enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen appears to have significant impact in a healthy and injured brain, scientists report.
Youth just as likely to try e-cigarettes as smoking Young people are just as likely to try electronic cigarettes as smoking, according to a new report from the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact at the University of Waterloo.
Comprehensive Swedish research study reveals family, neighborhood impact on mental health A team of researchers from Sweden and the United States have examined the potential role of the family environment and neighborhood factors on mental health outcomes in a new study published in Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Researchers hope to improve dental health by changing caregiver's behavior Studies have long associated low-income areas with poor oral health. But dental researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University of Washington sensed that other factors related to income may be at work—in particular, education level.
	Mutations in two genes linked to familial pulmonary fibrosis and telomere shortening Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified mutations in two genes that cause a fatal lung scarring disease known as familial pulmonary fibrosis.
	Insight into how we protect ourselves from certain bacteria and fungi Australian scientists have shown that a specific gene determines the development and function of important cells that bridge the gap between our fast-acting 'innate', and slower-acting 'adaptive', immune systems.
Researchers get a closer look at how the Huntington's gene works Huntington's disease is caused by a mutation in the Huntington's disease gene, but it has long been a mystery why some people with the exact same mutation get the disease more severely and earlier than others. A closer look at the DNA around the Huntington's disease (HD) gene offers researchers a new understanding of how the gene is controlled and how this affects the disease. These findings set the stage for new treatments to delay or prevent the onset of this devastating brain disease.
	Exposure to air pollution in the first year of life increases risk for allergies New research from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study shows that exposure to outdoor air pollution during the first year of life increases the risk of developing allergies to food, mould, pets and pests.
Detecting knee-cushion problems early could lead to better treatments Within the knee, two specialized, C-shaped pads of tissue called menisci perform many functions that are critical to knee-joint health. The menisci, best known as the shock absorbers in the knee, help disperse pressure, reduce friction and nourish the knee. Now, new research from the University of Missouri shows even small changes in the menisci can hinder their ability to perform critical knee functions. The research could provide new approaches to preventing and treating meniscal injuries as well as clues to understanding osteoarthritis; meniscal problems are one of the major causes of joint pain and degeneration.
Emergency department opioid prescribing The Emergency Department (ED) is at the convergence of the opioid epidemic as emergency physicians (EPs) routinely care for patients with adverse effects from opioids, including overdoses and those battling addiction, as well as treating patients that benefit from opioid use. Increasingly, EPs are required to distinguish between patients who are suffering from a condition that warrants opioids to relieve pain, and those who may be attempting to obtain these medications for other purposes, such as abuse or diversion. Overall, opioid pain reliever prescribing in the ED setting has increased over the past decade, but until now, the question of how ED prescribing is contributing to opioid use had not been clearly defined.
Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT A recent study reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine compared use of the novel Ga-68-PSMA-ligand PET/CT with other imaging methods and found that it had substantially higher detection rates of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Discovering a recurrence early can strongly influence further clinical management, so it is especially noteworthy that this hybrid PSMA-ligand identified a large number of positive findings in the clinically important range of low PSA-values (
	Team uses cellular bubbles to deliver Parkinson's meds directly to brain Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have used exosomes—tiny bubbles of protein and fat produced naturally by cells—to bypass the body's defenses and deliver a potent antioxidant directly to the brain to treat Parkinson's disease.
Polish doctors perform rare throat-area transplant Polish surgeons said Monday they have successfully performed a rare and extensive transplant of the throat area.
Second patient dies in France's artificial heart trial The second person in France to receive a much-hyped new-generation artificial heart has died eight months after receiving the transplant, biomedical firm Carmat said Tuesday.
	Are scare tactics off the table for public health campaigns targeting HIV? Over the last ten years, public health campaigns in New York City around smoking, obesity, and HIV underwent a dramatic shift to use fear and disgust to spur behavior change, sometimes with the unintended consequence of stigmatizing affected populations. In a new article published in the May issue of the journal Health Affairs, scholars at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health explore the implications of this shift to fear-based campaigns in the present public health environment.
An unexpected role for calcium in controlling inflammation during chronic lung infection Many of us take a healthy immune system for granted. But for certain infants with rare, inherited mutations of certain genes, severe infection and death are stark consequences of their impaired immune responses.
	Primary care visits available to most uninsured, but at a high price Uninsured people don't have any more difficulty getting appointments with primary care doctors than those with insurance, but they get them at prices that are likely unaffordable to a typical uninsured person, according to new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research.
	Bystander CPR helps cardiac arrest survivors return to work More bystanders performing CPR contributed to more cardiac arrest survivors returning to work in a Danish study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
	New screening technique could pick up twice as many women with ovarian cancer A new screening method can detect twice as many women with ovarian cancer as conventional strategies, according to the latest results from the largest trial of its kind led by UCL.
	Study finds inhibitor for COPD lung destruction In a new study, a research team based at Brown and Yale implicates a specific mitochondrial protein and pathway in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from exposure to cigarette smoke. Observations in human patients and experiments in mouse models show that suppression of the protein is a major cigarette-induced signature of the emphysema—lung destruction—that is seen in COPD.
	How oxidizing a heart 'brake' causes heart damage Oxidative stress has been long known to fuel disease, but how exactly it damages various organs has been challenging to sort out. Now scientists from Johns Hopkins say research in mice reveals why oxidation comes to be so corrosive to heart muscle.
	'Fuzzy thinking' in depression and bipolar disorder: New research finds effect is real People with depression or bipolar disorder often feel their thinking ability has gotten "fuzzy", or less sharp than before their symptoms began. Now, researchers have shown in a very large study that effect is indeed real - and rooted in brain activity differences that show up on advanced brain scans.
Dengue cases soar in Brazil, as death toll climbs Cases of dengue have soared in Brazil where the disease has caused 229 fatalities this year, the Health Ministry said Monday, as authorities try to combat its spread using transgenic mosquitos.
	Preteen whooping cough vaccine loses strength over time, CDC finds (HealthDay)— A booster shot of the whooping cough vaccine that is given to preteens loses a large measure of effectiveness within a few years, new research reveals.
	Too many Americans neglect backs in skin cancer prevention (HealthDay)—A new survey finds that many people in the United States are forgetting their backs when they try to be forward-thinking about skin cancer prevention.
	Cuts in epilepsy drugs boost children's post-op IQ (HealthDay)—Withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in children is tied to higher IQ post-epilepsy surgery, according to a study published online April 21 in the Annals of Neurology.
	Trade-off for six weeks versus six months of triple Tx post stent (HealthDay)—For patients receiving oral anticoagulation after drug-eluting stent implantation, six weeks of triple therapy is not superior to six months of therapy with respect to net clinical outcomes, according to a study published in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	High doses of triptorelin needed for ovarian suppression in SLE (HealthDay)—For female patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who require treatment with cyclophosphamide, sustained complete ovarian suppression is achieved in 90 percent of the patients with triptorelin at a weight-adjusted dose of 120 µg/kg body weight, according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	ACOG: More women opting for unsupervised home births (HealthDay)—Home births without a midwife or doctor present—which have been linked to increased risk of infant death and disease—have jumped 79 percent in the United States in recent years, researchers report. The findings are scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, held from May 2 to 6 in San Francisco.
	Nipple-sparing surgery safe in carefully selected patients (HealthDay)—Women with early-stage breast cancer who choose to preserve the nipple during a mastectomy have similar survival or recurrence rates to women who undergo full breast removal, according to research scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, held from April 29 to May 3 in Orlando, Fla.
	Multiple repeat procedures seem beneficial in A-fib recurrence (HealthDay)—Most patients experience benefit after three or more catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.
Branstad declares state of emergency in response to bird flu A state of emergency was declared Friday by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad with nearly 17 million chickens and turkeys dead, dying or scheduled to be euthanized due to a widening bird flu outbreak.
Sexual assault circumstances differ for military men, women As the military struggles to combat sexual assault, surveys are uncovering stark differences between the attacks against active-duty female service members and those against active-duty men. The differences are forcing defense leaders to come up with more gender-specific ways to treat victims and address the crimes.
Texas the front line on high school ECG debate Cody Stephens was trying to shed some of the 290 pounds from his 6-foot-9 frame before graduating high school and attending his first college football training camp three summers ago when he took a nap and didn't wake up. The autopsy showed he had an enlarged heart, which gave out.
	Detecting skin cancer quickly Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, Fraunhofer researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis.
New hope for short bowel syndrome Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have successfully made a small intestine that has the structural and molecular components of a healthy intestine.
Researchers find clues that may predict recovery outcomes following total hip replacement Surgery to replace the arthritic hip and knee joints is on the rise in the U.S., with more than 1.1 million replacement surgeries reported in 2009. While these surgeries improve pain, mobility and quality of life for most recipients, some patients are dogged by persistent muscular problems. Now, a cross-institutional team of researchers has found that a patient's susceptibility to muscle inflammation may be a measurable marker that can be used to predict how well that patient will recover from joint replacement surgery and to identify those patients who may be in need of a specialized rehabilitation plan.
	Shell-less chicken eggs for multiple myeloma research Innsbruck scientists grow miniature tumours on eggshell membranes. The EU project OPTATIO succeeded in developing an urgently needed drug screening system for bone marrow cancer.
	Suicide rates increasing for both veterans and nonveterans; veterans using VHA services have declining suicide rates Veterans who used services provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had much lower suicide rates than veterans who did not use those services, according to a new analysis of a decade of suicide data.
	Researchers participate in the design of a future vaccine for tuberculosis Researchers from BIOCAPS will collaborate with scientists from seven countries to design a future vaccine against one of the most persistent diseases worldwide, an infectious disease that provokes one death every 24 seconds: tuberculosis. Specifically, experts from the Institute of Biomedical Research of Vigo (IBI) will search for biomarkers that are correlated with protective immune responses against the pathogen that causes the disease, a key step in the development of an effective vaccine.
	Helping stroke patients to regain their independence Strokes are the second leading cause of death worldwide; they kill more than one million people in Europe each year accounting for 14% of all deaths. About a third of the 8 million stroke survivors in the EU are left with some degree of physical or cognitive impairment affecting their ability to plan and carry out actions.
Personal cues can have a strong effect on craving in individuals with addiction Unique person-specific cues—such as the presence of a specific friend or hearing a specific song—appear to have a robust effect on craving addictive substances, a recent study shows. The study also found that person-specific cues may have a longer effect on craving than more general substance-specific cues, such as the presence of bottles, syringes, or lighters.
Study identifies desire and arousal as the main players in women's sexual health In a 4-year study of 178 pre- and 329 postmenopausal women, investigators found that women's sexual functioning was moderately stable over time. The main predictors of changes in sexual functioning and satisfaction were desire and arousal, highlighting their role as the main "players" in women's sexual health.
Study shows cost-effective expert recommended asthma test underutilized by physicians Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found, for the first time, that spirometry was underutilized for asthma diagnosis and management in U.S. adults from 2001 to 2011, despite it's accuracy, cost effectiveness and the publication of national guidelines advocating its use.
Dulaglutide in type 2 diabetes: Hint of added benefit with short-acting insulin Since 2014 dulaglutide has been approved alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapies.
Hot under the collar: The untold dangers firefighters face in the line of duty What do you think is the biggest cause of death for firefighters on duty? Well if your first thought was burns or smoke inhalation you'd be wrong! According to research published in the June edition of Vascular Medicine "since 1977, sudden cardiac death has accounted for the largest share of on-duty deaths among firefighters - surpassing burns, trauma, asphyxiation and smoke inhalation."
	Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective, kinesiologist finds Kansas State University kinesiology research offers encouraging information for cancer patients: A brisk walk or a slow jog on a regular basis may be the key to improved cancer treatments.
Meningitis epidemic kills more than 250 in Niger A meningitis epidemic in poverty-stricken Niger has claimed 252 lives since January, a health official said Monday, warning the country was short of vaccines to fight the outbreak.
Puerto Rico authorizes medical marijuana Puerto Rico's Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has authorized the use of marijuana for medicinal use, in a surprise move after the US possession's legislature failed to act on the issue.
	Racial differences in male breast cancer outcomes While black and white men under age 65 diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer received similar treatment, blacks had a 76% higher risk of death than whites, according to a new study. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that the disparity was significantly reduced after accounting for differences in insurance and income.
Enhancing emergency medical care for seniors could reduce hospital admissions Applying palliative care principles to emergency departments may reduce the number of geriatric patients admitted to intensive care units, possibly extending lives and reducing Medicare costs, according to a three-year analysis by Mount Sinai researchers set to be published in the May edition of Health Affairs, which can be found online.
	High-value research of 2014 presented for endocrinology (HealthDay)—Articles relating to diabetes and obesity, lipid management, bone metabolism, adrenal disorders, and thyroid disorders are included in a special endocrinology update summary published online April 30 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Biology news

	Researchers shine light on origin of bioluminescence In the mountains of Virginia, millipedes have bright yellow and black colors to warn enemies that they are toxic and not worth eating. Their cousins in California convey this warning in a very different way—by glowing in the dark.
	Study shows where damaged DNA goes for repair A Tufts University study sheds new light on the process by which DNA repair occurs within the cell. In research published in the May 15 edition of the journal Genes & Development and available May 4 online in advance of print, Tufts University biologist Catherine Freudenreich and her co-authors show that expanded repeats of the CAG/CTG trinucleotide (CAG) in yeast shift to the periphery of the cell nucleus for repair. This shift is important for preventing repeat instability and genetic disease.
	Gigantic whales have stretchy 'bungee cord' nerves University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers have discovered a unique nerve structure in the mouth and tongue of rorqual whales that can double in length and then recoil like a bungee cord.
	Researchers find that clasper development in male skates is controlled by hormonal regulation of the Shh pathway (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with affiliations to the University of Florida and Howard Hughes Medical Institute has found that clasper development in skates is controlled by hormones that regulate the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the team describes how they studied early development in skates which led to their discovery.
	'Zombie' bacteria found able to kill other bacteria (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has found that bacteria that die as a result of silver poisoning can serve as a means to continue to kill other bacteria in the same environment. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team describes how examination of dead bacteria revealed the silver that remained trapped inside of them and how it later caused the death of other bacteria.
	Lab uncovers new pathway for passing genetic messages between cells A Yale-led research team has described a novel pathway for the delivery of microRNA (miRNA), the tiny RNA molecules that can move between cells to regulate gene expression.
	Scientists identify protein profiles of DNA repair During each cell division, more than 3.3 billion base pairs of genomic DNA have to be duplicated and segregated accurately to daughter cells. But what happens when the DNA template is damaged in such a way that the replication machinery gets stuck? To answer this question, scientists in the team of Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich, with colleagues in Copenhagen and at Harvard, have analyzed how the protein composition of the DNA replication machinery changes upon encountering damaged DNA.
	Puget Sound's clingfish could inspire better medical devices, whale tags Scooting around in the shallow, coastal waters of Puget Sound is one of the world's best suction cups.
	Odd histone helps suppress jumping genes in stem cells, study says A family of proteins known as histones provides support and structure to DNA, but for years, scientists have been puzzling over occasional outliers among these histones, which appear to exist for specific, but often mysterious reasons. Now, researchers have uncovered a new purpose for one such histone variant: preventing genetic mutations by keeping certain so-called "jumping genes" in place.
	Fungi enhances crop roots and could be a future 'bio-fertilizer' New research has found that the interaction of roots with a common soil fungus changes the genetic expression of rice crops—triggering additional root growth that enables the plant to absorb more nutrients.
	Backyard feeders invite aggressive bird breeds, study finds Backyard bird feeders may ruffle some feathers, attracting aggressive breeds like house sparrows and doves while discouraging native species that eat insects and nectar, researchers said Monday.
	Starfish babies offer glimmer of hope amid mass die-off Emerging from a recent dive 40 feet below the surface of the Puget Sound, biologist Ben Miner wasn't surprised by what he found: The troubling disease that wiped out millions of starfish up and down the West Coast had spread to this site along the rocky cliffs of Lopez Island.
	Botswana's marauding elephants trigger hunting ban debate Surveying her destroyed cornfield in northern Botswana, Minsozie Kasaira wishes for a return to the days of elephant hunting.
	Low-allergen soybean could have high impact In the United States, nearly 15 million people and 1 in 13 children suffer from food allergy. In Arizona alone, every classroom contains at least two children with a food allergy.
Students participate in huge research study on tiny viruses A new study appearing this week in the scientific journal eLIFE about the rapid evolution of small viruses that infect bacteria includes 59 University of Colorado Boulder co-authors, all of whom conducted research for the paper as freshmen.
	A new finding on cell movement dynamics sheds light on cancer therapy Kobe University Biosignal Research Center has discovered the first molecular evidence that cell motility, a key component in immunity, development, and other fundamental biological mechanisms, is regulated by a physical factor—membrane tension stress. This finding is expected to have significant implications for treating infections and malignant tumors, and will be published online in a top peer-reviewed journal, Nature Cell Biology, on May 4, 2015.
	Wellington coastal plant could hold key to improving crop resistance A chance observation along Wellington's south coast has led a Victoria University of Wellington PhD student to make a scientific breakthrough that could change the way other countries deal with increasingly saline soils devastating traditional crops.
	Researchers sequence and analyze a cyanobacterium with known nitrogen-fixing capabilities Researchers sequenced and analyzed the uncommonly large genome of a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterial strain, comparing it to the more than 150 extant cyanobacterial genomes.
	Identifying species imperiled by the wildlife trade may require a trip to the market Scientists, conservationists and governments could have a new weapon in their struggle to gauge—and halt—the devastation of the wildlife trade on populations of prized animals: the very markets where the animals are bought and sold.
	Herb mixes increase performance, quality and profit Specialised herb-clover mixes may be the answer to improving both reproductive performance of sheep, and lamb finishing weights – and ultimately also increasing profit.
	Food factory for baby fish is first of its kind Norwegian company C-Feed builds world's first industrial plant for copepods – a fish-fry feed for the production of ballan wrasse, tuna, halibut and other marine species.
Lab test commonly used to assess water toxicity Hyalella azteca are invertebrates that are widely used for sediment and water toxicity studies. Investigators have found that H. azteca collected from sites influenced by agricultural/urban runoff are as much as 2-times less sensitive to pyrethroid insecticides than lab-grown H. azteca. In contrast, the insecticide sensitivities of H. azteca collected from undeveloped sites beyond the influences of agricultural/urban runoff were similar to those of lab-grown populations.
	Chemical spill had 'no impact on health': Costa Rica Costa Rica said Monday there was no health impact from a shipwreck that spilled ammonium nitrate off its coast, but maintained a fishing ban even as it reopened beaches.

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