Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Feb 17

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 17, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Neanderthals mated with modern humans much earlier than previously thought
- New hydrogel nanoplatform that identifies and shrinks tumors in mice
- A peek into the merging galaxy cluster Abell 3888
- Researchers reveal new links between heart hormones, obesity, and diabetes
- Biologists identify gene that helps regulate sleep
- Can CRISPR help edit out female mosquitos?
- Rolling stones, turbulence connect evolution to physics
- Puzzling asteroid observations explained by destruction of asteroids close to sun
- Protein structure illuminates how viruses take over cells
- New research could help improve HIV/AIDS therapies
- X Prize aims to show AI is friend not foe
- Novel herpes virus isolated from bat cells
- Oxygen-starved oceans held back life's recovery after the 'Great Dying'
- Wearable robot transforms musicians into three-armed drummers (w/ Video)
- How climate change will affect western groundwater

Astronomy & Space news

	A peek into the merging galaxy cluster Abell 3888 (Phys.org)—Studying substructures of galaxy clusters can reveal important information about the morphology and evolution processes of these gravity-bound groups of galaxies. Optical spectroscopy is very helpful in this matter, capable of unraveling the history of large-scale structure formation in the universe. That's why a team of astronomers from New Zealand conducted a series of spectroscopic observations to peek into the galaxy cluster Abell 3888, unveiling that this cluster is dynamically young and might be an indicator of an ongoing or past merger event. A paper detailing the findings was published online on Feb. 11 on the arXiv pre-print server.
	Reproducing the large-scale universe from Sloan Digital Sky Survey data The BOSS survey has scanned the sky measuring the redshifts of more than 1 million galaxies, yielding a three dimensional picture of luminous sources in our universe covering about 4.5 billion years. An international team of astronomers has now reproduced the observed galaxy clustering and determined the uncertainties in the measurement of observed quantities by generating thousands of simulated galaxy catalogues. For the first time, the separation between pairs of galaxies, and the separation between triplets of galaxies has been explicitly constrained to reproduce the observations. Hence, the cosmic web in particular the empty regions between galaxies are described.
	Site of Martian lakes might have been linked to ancient habitable environment Groundwater circulation beneath a massive tectonic rift zone located along the flanks of some the Solar System's largest volcanic plateaus resulted in the formation more than 3 billion years ago of some the deepest basins on Mars, according to a new paper by Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist J. Alexis Palmero Rodriguez.
	The lost meteorites of Antarctica A hidden reserve of iron-rich meteorites which could hold secrets to the formation of the solar system may be hidden beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet, according to a study by a team from The University of Manchester.
	New research explores asteroid deflection using spacecraft to crash into body at high speeds Asteroids headed for a collision with the Earth, if found early enough, can be acted upon to prevent the potentially devastating consequences of an impact. One technique to divert an asteroid, called kinetic impact, uses a spacecraft to crash into the body at high speeds.
	Puzzling asteroid observations explained by destruction of asteroids close to sun For two decades it was thought that most near-Earth objects (NEOs)—asteroids and comets that may pose a hazard to life on Earth—end their existence in a dramatic final plunge into the Sun. A new study published on Thursday, Feb. 18, in the journal Nature finds instead that most of those objects are destroyed much farther from the Sun than previously thought. This surprising new discovery explains several puzzling observations that have been reported in recent years.
	Finding good spacemates for the Mars mission When NASA selects astronauts to travel to Mars sometime after 2030, they will need a small crop of candidates who are smart, skilled - and personable.
	Japan launches satellite to study black holes Japan successfully launched a jointly developed space observation satellite on Wednesday tasked with studying mysterious black holes, the country's space agency said.
	Image: Saturn's rings dividing Dione Dione appears cut in two by Saturn's razor-thin rings, seen nearly edge-on in a view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. This scene was captured from just 0.02 degrees above the ring plane.
Video: SpaceShip EAC heading for the moon ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, trains and prepares astronauts for their missions into space.
	How did the odd black holes detected by LIGO form – and can we spot them in the sky? Great scientific discoveries often raise more questions than they answer. Just days after the announcement that gravitational waves from two merging black holes have been detected, astrophysicists are already pondering what this means for our understanding of stars. New studies are already being released and we can expect a flood of creative ideas in the near future.
	Russia's new ballistic missiles to be tested on asteroids In a shocking announcement, Russian scientists say they want to test improved ballistic missiles on the asteroid Apophis, which is expected to come dangerously close to Earth in 2036. If this doesn't send chills down your spine, you haven't read enough science fiction.
	If you're going to fall into a black hole, make sure it's rotating It's no secret that black holes are objects to be avoided, were you to plot yourself a trip across the galaxy. Get too close to one and you'd find your ship hopelessly caught sliding down a gravitational slippery slope toward an inky black event horizon, beyond which there's no escape. The closer you got the more gravity would yank at your vessel, increasingly more on the end closest to the black hole than on the farther side until eventually the extreme tidal forces would shear both you and your ship apart. Whatever remained would continue to fall, accelerating and stretching into "spaghettified" strands of ship and crew toward—and across—the event horizon. It'd be the end of the cosmic road, with nothing left of you except perhaps some slowly-dissipating "information" leaking back out into the Universe over the course of millennia in the form of Hawking radiation. Nice knowin' ya.
	Dynamical systems theory enhances knowledge of Jupiter's atmosphere Jupiter, which has a mass more than twice that of all the planets combined, continues to fascinate researchers. The planet is characterized most often by its powerful jet streams and Great Red Spot (GRS), the biggest and longest-lasting known atmospheric vortex. Although still images provide some insight into the features of Jupiter's atmosphere, the atmosphere itself is unsteady and turbulent, and its features are time-dependent.
Video: Sentinel-3A liftoff Replay of the Sentinel-3A liftoff on a Rockot launcher from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 17:57 GMT (18:57 CET) on 16 February 2016.
	Image: Arralis integrated circuit A close-up glimpse at part of a microchip designed to provide high-frequency radar for future space missions, or else boost the speed of satellite communications.
Video: Launch to Mars Animation visualising milestones during the launch of the ExoMars 2016 mission and its cruise to Mars. The mission comprises the Trace Gas Orbiter and an entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, Schiaparelli, which are scheduled to be launched on a four-stage Proton-M/Breeze-M rocket from Baikonur during the 14–25 March 2016 window.

Technology news

	Enabling human-robot rescue teams Autonomous robots performing a joint task send each other continual updates: "I've passed through a door and am turning 90 degrees right." "After advancing 2 feet I've encountered a wall. I'm turning 90 degrees right." "After advancing 4 feet I've encountered a wall." And so on.
	A living, breathing textile aims to enhance athletic performance Textile production has historically been a bellwether for innovations in manufacturing—from technological improvements such as the spinney jenny and the flying shuttle at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution to recent developments in electronic and reactive textiles by designers such as Joanna Berzowska MS '99, who are transforming fabrics into wearable computers. Now, bioLogic, a research team in the Tangible Media Group within the MIT Media Lab, has created a completely new form of performance fabric that combines biomaterials research with textile design. BioLogic is growing living actuators and synthesizing responsive bio-skin in the era where, they declare, "bio is the new interface." They say, "we are imagining a world where actuators and sensors can be grown rather than manufactured, being derived from nature as opposed to engineered in factories."
	Leap Motion opens door to reach into virtual worlds California virtual reality startup Leap Motion on Wednesday opened a door for makers of games or other applications to literally touch virtual worlds.
	X Prize aims to show AI is friend not foe An X Prize unveiled on Wednesday promised millions of dollars to a team that could best show that artificial intelligence is humanity's friend, not its enemy.
	Wearable robot transforms musicians into three-armed drummers (w/ Video) Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have built a wearable robotic limb that allows drummers to play with three arms. The two-foot long "smart arm" can be attached to a musician's shoulder. It responds to human gestures and the music it hears. When the drummer moves to play the high hat cymbal, for example, the robotic arm maneuvers to play the ride cymbal. When the drummer switches to the snare, the mechanical arm shifts to the tom.
	Apple ordered to hack San Bernardino shooter's iPhone An American judge ordered Apple on Tuesday to help the FBI break into an iPhone belonging to one of the attackers in the San Bernardino shooting that killed 14 people.
	'World's cheapest smartphone' to be launched in India A little-known Indian company will on Wednesday launch a smartphone believed to be the cheapest in the world, targeting a market already dominated by low-cost handsets.
	Novel synthesis method opens up new possibilities for Li-ion batteries Lithium-ion batteries are a rapidly growing energy storage method due to their high energy density, especially in mobile applications such as personal electronics and electric cars. However, the materials currently used in Li-ion batteries are expensive, many of them, like lithium cobalt oxide (belonging to the EU Critical Raw Materials, CRMs), are difficult to handle and dispose of. Additionally, batteries using these materials have relatively short lifetimes.
	Apple to fight order to help FBI unlock shooter's iPhone Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook says his company will fight a federal magistrate's order to help the FBI hack into an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino, California shooters. The company said that could potentially undermine encryption for millions of other users.
Pay-per-click advertising lacks controls against fraud Payment-per-click is one of the most popular pricing models for online advertising, but the rate of click fraud is staggering. In 2014, marketers lost $11.6 billion in advertising because of fraudulent clicks.
Fuel-efficient cars the best way to fight climate change, researchers say While Americans can do a lot of little things in their daily lives to help reduce carbon emissions, driving a vehicle that gets better gas mileage is by far the best way for an individual to combat climate change, say University of Michigan researchers.
Activist investors lowered Apple stakes before 2016 slump Investor Carl Icahn and David Einhorn's hedge fund Greenlight Capital cut their Apple investments in the fourth quarter, shortly before the company's shares began sliding, regulatory filings showed.
	Robotic drones to 'print' emergency shelters for those in need A new research project aims to develop the world's first flying robots capable of autonomously assessing and manufacturing building structures to help areas suffering from natural disasters.
	Automakers still not doing enough to cut CO2, says whistleblower European automakers are still not doing enough to cut carbon gas emissions, the non-governmental organisation that blew the whistle on the pollution-cheating scandal at Volkswagen complained on Wednesday.
	Slow mobile buffering a horror show: Ericsson Video streaming delays generate as much stress as watching a horror film, the Swedish telecom company Ericsson said Wednesday.
	Many low-income students use only their phone to get online For many of us, access to the Internet through a variety of means is a given. I can access the Internet through two laptops, a tablet, a smartphone and even both of my game systems, from the comfort of my living room.
	Reimagining the Internet as a mosaic of regional cultures Most online maps of the Internet are architectural plans, engineering blueprints, anatomical drawings or statistical graphics. For example, the Internet has been represented as millions of devices connected to each other by 300 "[c]ables lying on the seafloor" with its center in a huge hotel in Manhattan.
	Q&A: A look at the Apple vs US Justice Dept. court fight A U.S. magistrate judge has ordered Apple to help the FBI break into a work-issued iPhone used by a gunman in the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Apple chief executive Tim Cook immediately objected, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal fight between high-tech region Silicon Valley and the federal government.
	Auto industry, regulators move slowly on automatic braking Federal regulators and the auto industry are taking a more lenient approach than safety advocates like when it comes to phasing in automatic braking systems for passenger cars, according to records of their private negotiations.
	FBI-Apple standoff puts encryption on front burner (Update) Apple's challenge of a court order to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers opens up a new front in the long-running battle between technology companies and the government over encryption.
US planned major cyberattack on Iran, Berlin fest doc claims Oscar winner Alex Gibney said Wednesday he hopes his new documentary "Zero Days" exposing the secret scope of the US cyber warfare programme will "rattle some cages" to trigger a debate about a global IT arms race.
	Appeals court upholds Apple e-book settlement A US appeals court rejected Wednesday a challenge to a settlement between Apple and consumers which could have voided a $450 million payout deal in the Apple e-books antitrust case.
	Google makes fresh push into grocery delivery Google said Wednesday it was adding fresh foods to its grocery delivery service, ramping up its challenge to Amazon and a long list of delivery startups.
Chipmaker Marvell pays $750m to settle patent suit Semiconductor maker Marvell Technology Group said Wednesday it has agreed to pay $750 million to settle a long-running patent suit brought by Carnegie Mellon University.
	T-Mobile 4Q profit triples as it continues adding customers T-Mobile US Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit nearly tripled, topping Wall Street expectations as the company added 2.1 million customers during the period
	For budding female game designers, a new source of support The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences wants to empower women to create video games.

Medicine & Health news

Researchers reveal new links between heart hormones, obesity, and diabetes A new research study has revealed an important relationship between proteins secreted by the heart and obesity, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. The findings, published today in Obesity, offer a new approach to treating metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, by targeting the pathway that controls the proteins' concentration in the blood.
	Novel herpes virus isolated from bat cells Researchers from Maryland and New York have identified a novel herpes virus in cells taken from a bat. The work, published this week in mSphere, the American Society for Microbiology's new open access journal, could lead to better understanding of the biology of these viruses and why bats serve as hosts for a number of viruses that can potentially transfer to humans.
	New research could help improve HIV/AIDS therapies Hideki Aihara, Zhiqi Yin, and Ke Shi of the University of Minnesota, along with colleagues from Cornell University and St. Louis University have made a major stride in exploring new therapies to combat HIV/AIDS and retrovirus-based cancers. Reporting in the February 18 issue of the journal Nature, the researchers tell how an experimental procedure that involves beaming X-rays at immobilized molecules allowed them to discover how a cancer-causing retrovirus called RSV brings together many copies of a protein (known as integrase) to form tiny molecular claws that insert RSV genetic material into that of a host cell, conscripting it to make more retroviruses.
	Biologists identify gene that helps regulate sleep Caltech biologists have performed the first large-scale screening in a vertebrate animal for genes that regulate sleep, and have identified a gene that when overactivated causes severe insomnia. Expression of the gene, neuromedin U (Nmu), also seems to serve as nature's stimulant—fish lacking the gene take longer to wake up in the morning and are less active during the day.
	New study finds promising results for MERS treatment In a new study, University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have had promising results with a new treatment for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The study, published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine, found a new treatment that protected mice from MERS infection.
	Testosterone treatment improves sexual activity, walking and mood in older men As men age, their testosterone levels decrease, but prior studies of the effects of administering testosterone to older men have been inconclusive. Now, research shows that testosterone treatment for men over 65 improves sexual function, walking ability and mood, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by a team of researchers that included lead researchers from Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed).
What your gut bacteria can tell you about type 2 diabetes Identifying changes in the types and activities of microorganisms that live in the human gut could help early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D), a study by researchers from the Broad Institute in the US and Seoul National University, South Korea, has found.
Bullied preemies may develop mental illness as adults, study says Babies born at an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) are miracles, but they are more likely to be bullied as children, and this can significantly increase their risk for mental health problems as adults.
Physical therapy cuts urine leaks dramatically for women with osteoporosis After menopause, women with osteoporosis struggle more with urinary incontinence than women with healthy bones do. But physical therapy that includes pelvic floor muscle training can produce dramatic improvements, shows a study published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society. The study is the first-ever randomized, controlled trial of physical therapy for these urinary troubles in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone mass.
	First-in-man trial of MERS vaccine begins The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) began vaccinations today in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immune response of a vaccine candidate to prevent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
Patient wears 3-D glasses during brain surgery In a world first, a patient in France undergoing brain surgery while conscious wore virtual reality glasses as doctors removed a cancerous tumour, the chief surgeon told AFP Tuesday.
Experts admit they know little about Zika virus as they gather to trade notes Federal and international health officials confessed Tuesday to an encyclopedic list of unanswered questions about the fast-spreading Zika virus, which in a matter of months has become an international public health crisis.
Study uncovers key player contributing to healthy maintenance of bone marrow niche A study led by scientists from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has uncovered a key player contributing to the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), blood cell precursors which have the ability to become any type of blood cell in the body.
	Mothers' groups linked to positive well-being A Perth study led by researchers from The University of Western Australia has found that participation in a local mothers' group (facilitated or parent-led) is linked to mothers' who have a positive mental well-being.
	Spinal injury and 'biorobotic control' of the bladder There are many challenges facing people with spinal cord injury – and walking again is often the least of their problems. Cambridge research could help patients take control of their lives once more.
	Family found with unusually heritable Alzheimer's risk More than a decade ago, a woman in her early 70s came to see neurologist Allan Levey for an evaluation. She was experiencing progressive memory decline and was there with her children.
	How many steps each day are enough? February is heart health month—a good time to get back to health and fitness goals, and many people are using wearable technology to help.
	Childhood exposure to environmental lead linked to aggressive behaviours and death by assault Australian children who are exposed to higher levels of environmental lead are more likely in early adulthood to show increased aggressive behaviour and commit an assault that results in death, a new study led by Macquarie University researchers has found.
	Migration clue to nut allergy Australian-born children with Asian mothers have higher rates of nut allergy than Asian-born children who migrate to Australia, new research has found.
	New understanding of TB could lead to personalised treatments Tuberculosis (TB) used to kill one in seven people around the world before the advent of antibiotics. However the increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant TB means that doctors are running out of options in trying to combat this bacterium.
	Six things that raise your blood pressure Keeping your pressure under control can mean adding things to your life, like exercise, that help lower it. But, you may not realize that it also means avoiding things that raise your pressure. A healthy blood pressure level means you're less likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
	Do Wi-Fi and mobile phones really cause cancer? Experts respond On 16th February, Catalyst aired an episode on the ABC titled "Wi-Fried", hosted by Dr Maryanne Demasi, claiming that radiation from mobile phones and Wi-Fi may constitute a brain cancer risk.
	Many school children avoid basic foods unnecessarily A study on hypersensitivity to the basic foods milk, egg, fish and wheat among young school children showed that reported food hypersensitivity was eight times more common than allergies confirmed by allergy tests. This according to a new dissertation at Umeå University.
	Researchers identify biomarker for early cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease patients Many patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Identifying biomarkers for cognitive impairment could be instrumental in facilitating both early diagnosis of MCI and developing new cognitive-enhancing treatments. New research published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease indicates that lower concentrations of α-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is associated with reduced performance on several cognitive tests.
Swedish court overturns ban on e-cigarettes A Swedish court on Wednesday overturned an earlier judicial decision banning the sale of e-cigarettes.
	Study finds common genetic variants that double risk for blood clots in African Americans New research published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), identifies common genetic variants predominantly found in African Americans that double their risk for blood clots.
	Endovascular treatment may preserve mental capacity after stroke In addition to improving survival and reducing disability, mechanically removing the clot causing an ischemic stroke leads to better cognitive functioning, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Clot removal may save money and limit disability Adding mechanical clot removal to clot-busting drugs could lower stroke survivors medical bills, decrease government healthcare as well as non-healthcare related costs, and increase the likelihood of the patient returning to work and participating in society, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Quicker clot removal may lead to better outcomes The faster a blood clot causing a stroke is removed, the less disability a patient may have, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
	Imaging, not time, may determine who is right for stroke clot removal Brain imaging may accurately identify patients likely to benefit from stroke clot removal instead of relying on the time since symptoms began as an indicator of treatment eligibility, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
	What is risk of mental health, substance use disorders if you use marijuana? With more states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, there are renewed clinical and policy concerns about the mental health effects of the drug.
Use of breast conservation surgery for cancer decreases; high-rate of reoperation In a study published online by JAMA Surgery, Art Sedrakyan, M.D., Ph.D., of Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, and colleagues examined the use of breast conservation surgery (BCS) in New York State and determined rates of reoperation, procedure choice, and the effect of surgeon experience on the odds of a reoperation 90 days after BCS.
	What if we could record and rewind our thoughts? Scientific discoveries that involve humans interfacing with machines can evoke reactions of fear and wonder. Quite often, these feelings are epitomized through works of science fiction. Think Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein," for starters; or its modern day equivalent, one of many films playing on our mixed feelings toward AI, "Ex Machina."
WHO launches $56 million Zika response plan The World Health Organization on Wednesday released its initial response plan to the Zika virus outbreak, launching a funding appeal for the $56 million (50 million euros) operation.
	Getting pre-schoolers into SHAPES Giving kindergarten teachers a little guidance and a lot of freedom seems to be the best way to get sedate pre-schoolers moving.
	Schizophrenia and the teenage brain—how can imaging help? Adolescence is a dangerous time for the onset of mental health problems. Advances in brain imaging are helping to picture how neural changes in these crucial years can lead to chronic debilitating mental illness.
	Researchers make progress in glioblastoma multiforme research A  research team, with the participation of the University of Granada (UGR), has made some progress in determining why glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive brain tumors known, is resistant to existing drugs, which is one of the main limitations of its treatment. The results have been recently published in two articles in PLoS One.
	Scientists discover bird blood cell which destroys fatal fungal infection Scientists have discovered that a specialised white blood cell found in birds can destroy a potentially fatal fungal infection which affects more than one million people every year.
	Children born in winter have vulnerable lungs Smoking mothers, respiratory infections and the date you were born contribute to determine how fast your lungs are aging.
Marijuana smokers five times more likely to develop an alcohol problem Adults who use marijuana are five times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD) —alcohol abuse or dependence— compared with adults who do not use the drug. And adults who already have an alcohol use disorder and use marijuana are more likely to see the problem persist. Results of a study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the City University of New York appear online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
	Continuous oral contraceptives better after endometriosis Sx (HealthDay)—For patients after surgery for endometriosis, a continuous oral contraceptive schedule seems better than a cyclic schedule, according to a review published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Albuminuria predicts cardiovascular outcome after PCI (HealthDay)—An elevated urinary albumin excretion rate can predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Vitamin E neuroprotective against cisplatin ototoxicity (HealthDay)—Vitamin E supplementation can reduce cisplatin (CDDP)-induced ototoxicity, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in Head & Neck.
	Computer-assisted stethoscope can ID respiratory sounds (HealthDay)—A computer-assisted stethoscope can quickly and accurately identify respiratory sounds, according to a research letter published online Feb. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	CPX testing predicts mortality in heart failure with reduced EF (HealthDay)—Variables measured during a cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test can predict and discriminate mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), according to a study published in the Feb. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	New immune Tx achieves remission in B-cell malignancies (HealthDay)—A new T-cell immunotherapy has led to sustained regression in many previously relapsing and treatment-resistant cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), held from Feb. 11 to 15 in Washington, D.C.
	Renal mass biopsy accurate for small renal masses (HealthDay)—Renal mass biopsy is accurate for small renal masses (4 cm or less), according to a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Urology.
	NAFLD linked to unfavorable metabolic profile in T2DM (HealthDay)—For obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an unfavorable metabolic profile, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Diabetes Care.
	Guidelines developed for ankylosing spondylitis treatment (HealthDay)—Evidence-based recommendations have been developed for treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA). The guidelines were published in the February issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Stroke patients unable to identify doctor are more apt to misunderstand medications, care plan Hospitalized stroke patients are far more likely than general neurology or neurosurgery patients to be unable to identify their attending physician, a knowledge gap that leads to greater odds of also misunderstanding their medication needs and care plan, according to illuminating new research by Northwell Health neurologists.
After stroke, most patients prefer video conferencing for communication with doctors Nearly 6 in 10 stroke patients of all ages would prefer to follow up with their physicians after hospital discharge with a video call rather than a traditional phone call, according to new findings from Northwell Health neurologists.
	Half the world to be short-sighted by 2050 Half the world's population (nearly 5 billion) will be short-sighted (myopic) by 2050, with up to one-fifth of them (1 billion) at a significantly increased risk of blindness if current trends continue, says a study published in the journal Ophthalmology.
	Explaining autism: Study identifies novel mechanism that causes abnormal brain development Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of highly inheritable behavioural disorders that pose major personal and public health concerns. Patients with ASDs have mild to severe communication difficulties, repetitive behaviour and social challenges. Such disorders significantly challenge an individual's ability to conduct daily activities and function normally in society. Currently there are very few medication options that effectively treat ASDs.
	Research sheds new light on whether we are all getting fatter A study of trends in Body Mass Index (BMI) since 1992 for England has found that whilst BMI is rising across both sexes and within all social groups, there have been larger increases in those who already have the highest BMIs.
	Number of strokes increase as pollution levels rise Higher pollution levels were linked to a higher total number of strokes, and researchers said it reaffirmed the growing evidence that climate change and overall air quality contributes to cardiovascular disease, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
	Study of firefighters finds potential pathway between insomnia and depression A new study of firefighters suggests that insomnia and nightmares may increase the risk of depression by impairing the ability to access and leverage emotion regulation strategies effectively.
	How does the gut microbiota respond to iron replacement? Iron deficiency is often an issue in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. An international and interdisciplinary research group under the aegis of the ZIEL Institute for Food & Health (ZIEL) at the TU Munich has now investigated how the intestinal microbiota responds to oral or intravenous iron replacement. Both lead to an improved iron balance but the bacterial community in the gut is substantially altered depending on the route of iron administration.
Immune-targeting drug combo shows promise for lung cancer patients Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States resulting in more than 158,000 deaths each year. With a 5-year survival rate at only 18 percent, the development of new and improved treatment options is needed. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers are leading the way in the creation of novel therapies. Most recently, Moffitt, in conjunction with partner institutions, initiated a multicenter phase 1b clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of a new drug combination for non-small cell lung cancer that stimulates a patient's immune system to target and kill cancer cells.
Diabetes during pregnancy associated with increased risk of low milk supply A new study shows that women with diabetes during pregnancy face a significantly higher risk of having a low milk supply.
Low-dose exposure of environmental contaminants can be harmful to the human brain Individuals subjected to chronic low-dose exposure to organochlorine pesticides show and increased risk to obtain a future diagnosis of cognitive impairment. This is shown in a study now published in Environmental International.
	Study finds stigma regarding weight loss may be overblown A qualitative study from North Carolina State University finds that most people who have lost a lot of weight don't perceive themselves as being "judged" because they used to be overweight or obese - which contradicts earlier research that people were still stigmatized even after reaching a healthy weight.
Inovio sees human trials of Zika vaccine in 2016 US biotech company Inovio Pharmaceuticals said Wednesday it has had promising test results on a Zika virus vaccine in mice and plans to launch clinical trials on humans this year.
Nanotechnology treatment reprograms immune cells to reverse autoimmune disease Parvus Therapeutics today announced the publication in Nature of a seminal paper describing the discovery and applications of a novel therapeutic approach employing nanomedicines, referred to as "Navacims", to reprogram white blood cells to become regulatory cells capable of blunting autoimmune responses and restoring the equilibrium of the immune system. Navacims are nanoparticles (NPs) coated with disease-relevant peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) that alter the behavior of pathogenic T lymphocytes by binding directly to their antigen receptors. The peer-reviewed article, titled "Expanding antigen-specific regulatory networks to treat autoimmunity" reports on a body of work, including results in multiple in vivo disease models, built on more than eight years of research by Parvus Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Pere Santamaria, M.D., Ph.D.
Stenting as effective as endarterectomy for preventing strokes in asymptomatic patients The most modern clinical trial to compare the use of carotid-artery stenting with carotid endarterectomy for the prevention of strokes in asymptomatic patients with serious narrowing of the carotid artery finds no significant differences in outcomes between the two procedures over a period of up to five years. The results are receiving Online First publication in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with their presentation at the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles.
	Common antibiotics may be linked to temporary mental confusion Antibiotics may be linked to a serious disruption in brain function, called delirium, and other brain problems, more than previously thought, according to a "Views and Reviews" article published in the Feb. 17, 2016, online issue of Neurology, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Rapid symptom improvement may not indicate better stroke recovery Stroke patients whose symptoms quickly improved before hospital arrival did not always have better recoveries than other patients, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Pregnancy in older age increases stroke, heart attack risk years later Women who become pregnant at age 40 or older face a greater risk of stroke and heart attack later in life than women who become pregnant at a younger age, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
	Worsening migraines with hormone replacement linked to stroke risk Women experiencing worsening migraines while taking hormone replacement may face an increased risk of stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Cost of effective stroke clot-busting drug outpaces reimbursement The cost of an effective, widely used clot-busting drug has more than doubled over the past decade, but Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement lags far behind, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Migraine with aura linked to clot-caused strokes People who have migraines with aura are more likely to have strokes caused by either a blood clot in the heart (cardio-embolic stroke) or a clot within the brain's blood vessels (thrombotic stroke), compared to those that don't have migraines with aura, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
	Shedding light on lifelong strategies for weight control If there is one thing to avoid when trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight, it's a restrictive diet! Instead, simple routine behaviors may be key.
When your biological age is older than your chronological age, the risk of getting and dying of cancer rises Epigenetic age is a new way to measure your biological age. When your biological (epigenetic) age is older than your chronological age, you are at increased risk for getting and dying of cancer, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.
Unraveling the gene-environment interaction A special issue of the journal Child Development reports on studies that take important new steps in understanding how genes and the environment interact in shaping child behavior.
	Diabetes drug may prevent recurring strokes Pioglitazone, a drug used for type 2 diabetes, may prevent recurrent stroke and heart attacks in people with insulin resistance but without diabetes. The results of the Insulin Resistance Intervention after Stroke (IRIS) trial, presented at the International Stroke Conference 2016 in Los Angeles and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest a potential new method to prevent stroke and heart attack in high-risk patients who have already had one stroke or transient ischemic attack. This large, international study was supported by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Starbucks, Costa promise action after British sugar report Coffee chains Starbucks and Costa promised to come up with healthier drinks on Wednesday after a British campaign group found "dangerously" high sugar levels in some of their hot flavoured beverages.
Microcephaly cases up 10% in Brazil amid Zika scare Brazil on Wednesday reported a new total of 508 confirmed cases of microcephaly, the serious birth defect suspected of being linked to the Zika virus—a 10 percent jump in less than a week.
	Are women with epilepsy using effective contraception? In the largest study of contraceptive practices of women with epilepsy, 30% did not use highly effective contraception despite being at higher risk of having children with fetal malformations due to the anti-epilepsy medications they take.
Photographs and music lessen patients' anxiety before surgery A new study found that viewing photographs combined with listening to music can less patients' anxiety before surgical operations and improve their physical and psychological well-being.
Hidradenitis suppurativa and risk of adverse cardiovascular events, death Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by painful abscesses that develop in areas where there are large numbers of sweat glands. These ooze pus and have an unpleasant smell. The disease has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, but the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with HS is unknown.
Niger needs 3.2 million meningitis vaccines: UN Niger needs millions of doses of meningitis vaccines to ward off a possible epidemic after a spike that has seen dozens of cases reported since January, the United Nations said Wednesday.
Discovery could lead to new treatment strategy against tuberculosis By uncovering the 3-dimensional structure of an enzyme that is critical for the survival of the bacterium that cause tuberculosis, researchers may be one step closer to developing a new strategy to combat TB infections.
	Heart arrhythmia drug may fight plaque buildup in blood vessels New research in mice provides convincing evidence that digoxin, a drug prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation, can help protect against atherosclerosis.
Alirocumab in hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia: Added benefit not proven The drug alirocumab (trade name: Praluent) has been approved since September 2015 for adults with hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia whose cholesterol levels are not adequately lowered by diet and other drugs. It can also be used if statins are not a treatment option or are not tolerated because of adverse events.
Chemotherapy preferable to radiotherapy to reduce distant pancreatic cancer recurrences Patients who received chemotherapy after surgical resection of pancreatic cancer have fewer distant disease recurrences and longer overall survival than those who also had adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. While a course of radiotherapy in addition to chemotherapy and a cancer operation reduced the number of local disease recurrences, it did not affect distant recurrences or survival. Findings from the first multicenter clinical trial to relate disease recurrence patterns to the type of adjuvant therapy indicate that patients should receive a full course of chemotherapy rather than chemoradiotherapy following surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Societies join to release new training guidelines to help ensure optimal outcomes for ischemic stroke patients The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) today joined 14 other neurointerventional medical societies in releasing new training guidelines for endovascular intervention in ischemic stroke patients. The guidelines were developed by an international, multidisciplinary group of neurointerventional medical societies and will be published in seven journals, including the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. This is the first time that such a comprehensive group has come together to define the training requirements for physicians to safely and effectively perform inside-the-artery clot removal in the brain, known as neurointerventional surgery.
Researchers find marked gender differences in scholarly productivity The differences between men and women seem to infiltrate yet another aspect of medicine with a study spearheaded at Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England hospital, indicating that younger female gynecologic oncologists were less productive scholastically and, therefore, poorly represented in the higher academic ranks, than their male contemporaries.
Researchers publish on connection between anal cancer, HPV Researchers at Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England hospital, recently published the results of a study demonstrating a connection between anal cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
	Update on menopausal symptoms and treatment options published The vast majority of women going through the period of menopausal transition, or perimenopause, will seek medical help coping with symptoms that can significantly impact their health and quality of life, such as hot flashes, poor sleep, depression, and vaginal dryness. The pattern of common perimenopausal symptoms, how they often interact to worsen the effects of each, and current hormonal and non-hormonal therapeutic options are examined in a comprehensive Review article published in Journal of Women's Health.
Autoantibodies may help detect lung cancer earlier Preliminary research has identified autoantibodies, immune proteins found in the blood specific for one's own proteins, that can potentially detect lung cancer early by distinguishing between smokers with or without lung cancer and also discriminate between lung cancer and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) detected non-cancerous lung lesions.
More low-income adults enrolled in health coverage under the Affordable Care Act A University of Louisville study published today in Health Affairs, found low-income Kentuckians without health insurance declined by 68 percent from 35 percent uninsured at the end of 2013 to 11 percent in late 2014. Completed prior to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin's announcement to dismantle the state's health exchange, kynect, the data supports trends of similar studies published nationally showing a drop in the number of uninsured Americans. Study findings also revealed declines in the number of people lacking a regular source of health care and those with unmet medical needs.
Alcohol exposure before birth may later amplify neurological problems from stroke Exposure to alcohol before birth might impair kidney blood flow in adulthood and heighten neurological problems caused by a stroke, according to an animal study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Vaccine shows potential to protect the brain before a stroke A type of vaccine previously studied to treat high blood pressure may have the potential to protect the brain when administered before a stroke, according to an animal study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
Ensuring ongoing care for patients treated during short-term surgical mission trips Each year, hundreds of orthopaedic surgeons travel to developing countries to treat and care for patients. Yet despite the successful completion of many surgical procedures on patients who may not otherwise have access to care, adequate follow-up—so critical to optimal outcomes—is not always available or guaranteed.

Biology news

	Big-brained mammals more likely to go extinct, study says Mammals with large brains tend to be smarter but they also face a greater chance today of going extinct, according to a study published Wednesday.
	Solving the evolutionary puzzle of menopause Menopause in women and females from a few other "higher" species is probably a fluke of nature rather than evolution at work, according to a study published Wednesday.
	New species of turtle found in Papua New Guinea A new species of freshwater turtle has been discovered in Papua New Guinea, one of a group that would have been present for the full geological formation of its main Pacific island, researchers said.
	DNA evidence shows that salmon hatcheries cause substantial, rapid genetic changes A new study on steelhead trout in Oregon offers genetic evidence that wild and hatchery fish are different at the DNA level, and that they can become different with surprising speed.
	Caribbean sperm whales found to have a regional dialect (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers working off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica, has found evidence that suggests whales living in the Caribbean Sea have a different 'accent' than whales living in other oceans. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, Shane Gero, with the University of Aarhus in Denmark, Hal Whitehead, with Dalhousie University in Canada and Luke Rendell with the University of St Andrews in the U.K., describe their multiyear study of sperm whale communities living in the Caribbean Sea and why they believe their findings support the social complexity hypothesis.
	How parts of a plant can 'talk' to one another for the benefit of the whole It has been known for some time that plant roots can communicate with plant shoots. Now, a new paper from Oxford researchers (working in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing) tells us how.
	Fluorescent biosensors light up high-throughput metabolic engineering Synthetic biologists are learning to turn microbes and unicellular organisms into highly productive factories by re-engineering their metabolism to produce valued commodities such as fine chemicals, therapeutics and biofuels. To speed up identification of the most efficient producers, researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering describe new approaches to this process and demonstrate how genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors can enable the generation and testing of billions of individual variants of a metabolic pathway in record time. The discussion and findings are reported in Trends in Biotechnology and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Can CRISPR help edit out female mosquitos? The recent discovery of the first male-determining factor in mosquitoes, combined with the gene-editing capabilities of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, could be used to bias mosquito populations from deadly, blood-sucking females toward harmless, nectar-feeding males, thus helping to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Two experts outline the advantages and challenges of such approaches in a Review published Feb. 17, 2016 in Trends in Parasitology, part of a special issue on vectors.
	Protein structure illuminates how viruses take over cells Using cutting-edge imaging technology, Salk Institute and Harvard Medical School researchers have determined the structure of a protein complex that lets viruses similar to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establish permanent infections within their hosts.
	Orchid's scent stronger in Swiss lowlands than mountains Pollinators select orchids with stronger scents in the Swiss lowlands, than in the mountains, according to a study published Feb. 17, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Karin Gross at the University of Zurich, Switzerland and colleagues.
	How hunter-gatherers preserved their food sources A new study of humans on Sanak Island, Alaska and their historical relationships with local species suggests that despite being super-generalist predators, the food gathering behaviors of the local Aleut people were stabilizing for the ecosystem.
	Scientists: Puffins might spend the winter off New Jersey Researchers say they've found an answer to the long-standing question of where Maine's Atlantic puffins spend the winter: far off New Jersey and New York.
	Study shows beluga whales dive to great depth to catch cod Beluga whales off Alaska's northern coast target Arctic cod and will dive to great depths to reach them, according to data collected over 15 years that provides insight into their foraging patterns in the remote region undergoing profound changes from climate warming and a loss of sea ice.
	How oil palm affects bird habitat in Mexico A bird's home is bigger than its nest. Across the Americas, birds and their home habitat reveal much about the health of other species, the health of ecosystems and perhaps even the socio-economic wellbeing of local human communities.
	Method for selecting plants with better photosynthesis Scientists from Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands (Wageningen UR) have developed the first ever method for accurately and simultaneously measuring the photosynthesis of nearly 1,500 plants over the course of several weeks. The method can help plant breeders more reliably select plants with an efficient photosynthesis. The scientists published the method – which uses a high-tech image analysis robot called the Phenovator, designed by Wageningen UR – in the scientific magazine Plant Methods. In addition to photosynthesis, the robot also measures the growth and movements of plants throughout the day and night. Besides plant breeding research, the equipment has major potential for fundamental scientific research into the improvement of photosynthesis in plants.
	New definitive resource published on the structure and function of California's ecosystems Ecosystems of California (University of California Press, 2016) is a new comprehensive reference of California's ecological abundance featuring contributions from 149 experts including 19 with ties to UC Santa Cruz.
	New method reduces need for fish in experiments Fish are commonly used in experiments to identify environmental hazards and pollutants in water. As gills are in constant contact with the water, they are often the focal point for studies seeking to understand the effects of exposure to toxicants.
	Researchers consider whether fish have feelings The question of whether animals other than humans can think and feel has been debated for centuries. Most of us would agree that humans have a level of consciousness, loosely defined as an ability to experience thoughts and emotions. But which other creatures have consciousness remains an open and controversial question.
3-D printed flowers provide insights on how orchids attract pollinators By using 3D printing to make casts fir realistic artificial flowers, researchers have discovered how a type of orchid deceives flies into pollinating it, by pretending to be a mushroom.
	Socialization alters fruit fly sexuality A genetic study on the courtship behavior of mutant fruit flies may illuminate human sexual orientation.
	The five most common misunderstandings about evolution Given its huge success in describing the natural world for the past 150 years, the theory of evolution is remarkably misunderstood. In a recent episode of the Australian series of "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here", former cricket star Shane Warne questioned the theory – asking "if humans evolved from monkeys, why haven't today's monkeys evolved"?
	Tiny fly rattling Florida fruit industry 'eradicated' The Oriental fruit fly, which all but shut down south Florida's $1.6 billion agricultural industry when it was discovered in the state last year, has been "successfully eradicated," authorities said Wednesday.
	Researchers suggest gene drive strategy to combat harmful virus spread With the outbreak of viruses like Zika, chikungunya, and dengue on the rise, public health officials are desperate to stop transmission.
	Evolution silences harmful mutations Sometimes so-called synonymous mutations occur in DNA. These do not lead to a change in the protein sequence but which may still have major negative effects on the ability of bacteria to survive. New research from Uppsala University has now shown that an organism can efficiently compensate for the negative effects. These findings have been published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.
	Eight new species of Whip spider found in the Brazilian amazon Eight new whip spider species have been found in the Brazilian Amazon, almost doubling the number of known charinid whip spider species in Brazil, according to a study published Feb. 17, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alessandro Ponce de Leão Giupponi and Gustavo Silva de Miranda from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil and the Center of Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), respectively.
	Bizarre snail that swims like a flying insect Snails usually lumber along on their single fleshy foot; but not sea butterflies (Limacina helicina). These tiny marine molluscs gently flit around their Arctic water homes propelled by fleshy wings that protrude out of the shell opening. But little was known about how they move through water. "Most zooplankton swim with a drag-based paddling technique," explains David Murphy from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, and even though one of Murphy's thesis advisors - Jeannette Yen - had filmed one of the enigmatic snails swimming while it was attached to a wire in 2003, it had not been possible to observe how fluid flowed around the animals to explain how they move. So, when Murphy built a new 3D system to visualise fluid movements around minute animals, Yen and Don Webster were keen to test more sea butterflies as they swam freely to discover more about their exotic mode of propulsion.
	Black Hills warbler population not so isolated after all Though separated from the rest of their species by hundreds of kilometers, the Virginia's Warblers that colonized South Dakota's Black Hills two decades ago continue to maintain genetic ties with the rest of their species, according to a new study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances. These results provide some of the first insights into how the genetic diversity of species around the world may be affected as ranges expand and shift due to climate change.
	Transgenic sweet corn no more susceptible to Goss's wilt disease Transgenic crops expressing resistance to the herbicide glyphosate (GR) have been commercialized and planted widely across the U.S. for two decades. The majority of transgenic corn (Bt) also has been engineered to produce toxins effective against certain corn insect pests. In recent years, claims have been made that glyphosate and transgenic traits result in corn plants that are more susceptible to crop diseases.
DNA studies reveal that shelter workers often mislabel dogs as 'pit bulls' DNA results show that shelter workers are often mistaken when they label a dog as a pit bull, with potentially devastating consequences for the dogs, a new University of Florida study has found.
	Armed groups line up to kill Congo's elephants In a remote part of Garamba, a vast national park in Democratic Republic of Congo, a team of rangers loads assault rifles and backpacks into a helicopter as they begin their hunt for elephant poachers.

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