Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 2

Simulation Apps: The Future of Product Design: www.comsol.com/showcase/application-builder

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 2, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Deployable structures could assist rovers, robots, and spacecraft (w/ Video)
- Researchers find compelling evidence linking dying California sea lion pups with change in mothers' diet
- Hubble observes calcium-rich supernovae
- New glasses project images directly onto retina with a mini-laser
- Some giant viruses found to have an immune system similar to bacteria
- Water-skiing beetles get a bumpy ride
- Molecular architectures see the light
- Sugar-power—scientists harness the reducing potential of renewable sugars
- Study links mobile device addiction to depression and anxiety
- Metamaterial separation proposed for chemical, biomolecular uses
- Researchers stack the odds for novel optoelectronic 2-D materials
- The world's newest atom-smasher achieves its 'first turns'
- Ruby red improves in the microwave oven
- Paleolithic bone tools found from South China
- Pentagon invites hackers to attack its websites

Astronomy & Space news

	Hubble observes calcium-rich supernovae The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope offers a multitude of spectacular images of celestial objects and a huge amount of scientific data helpful for astronomers. A team of scientists from UK and Sweden has recently made use of Hubble to study the host galaxies and environments of five calcium-rich supernovae that could provide new insights on the evolution of stellar systems. Their research was published online on Feb. 25 in the arXiv journal.
	International Space Station's 'one year crew' returns to Earth US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko returned to Earth Wednesday after spending almost a year in space in a ground-breaking experiment foreshadowing a potential manned mission to Mars.
	Could a laser weapon save earth from killer asteroids? Potentially hazardous asteroids are still looming large in the minds of scientists engaged in planetary defense issues. Numerous strategies describing deflection of near-Earth objects (NEOs) have been proposed, including methods employing kinetic impactors, robotic mining, and gravity tractors. However, one of the concepts has recently received attention as one of the most serious proposals.
	The realm of buried giants RCW 106 is a sprawling cloud of gas and dust located about 12 000 light-years away in the southern constellation of Norma (The Carpenter's Square). The region gets its name from being the 106th entry in a catalogue of H II regions in the southern Milky Way. H II regions like RCW 106 are clouds of hydrogen gas that are being ionised by the intense starlight of scorching-hot, young stars, causing them to glow and display weird and wonderful shapes.
	Mysterious cosmic radio bursts found to repeat Astronomers for the first time have detected repeating short bursts of radio waves from an enigmatic source that is likely located well beyond the edge of our Milky Way galaxy. The findings indicate that these "fast radio bursts" come from an extremely powerful object which occasionally produces multiple bursts in under a minute.
	Monster volcano gave Mars extreme makeover: study A volcano on Mars half the size of France spewed so much lava 3.5 billion years ago that the weight displaced the Red Planet's outer layers, according to a study released Wednesday.
Asteroid won't hit Earth – but it will get close The asteroid 2013 TX68 will come fairly close to Earth in early March, but the exact time and distance of its closest approach will not be known until after the fact. Sean Marshall, a fifth-year Cornell University PhD student, works on observations of near-Earth asteroids. He says the closest approach could be within Earth's 'ring' of geostationary satellites, or as far out as forty times the distance to the Moon.
	Image: Orion's wings On 29 February a test model of Orion's solar array was unfolded at NASA's Plum Brook Station test facility in Sandusky, Ohio to check everything works as expected. The solar panels were made by Airbus Defence and Space in the Netherlands for the ESA module that will supply power and life support for up to four astronauts.
	Image: Brazil coast via laser beam The precursor laser technology to the EDRS SpaceDataHighway relayed a radar scan of the Brazilian coast to the DLR German Aerospace Center mere seconds after it was collected. It was then processed in a record-breaking 13 minutes, showing the surrounding ships just five minutes later.
	Image: Last sunrise from a year in space NASA astronaut Scott Kelly shared a series of sunrise photographs with his social media followers on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, as he prepared to depart the International Space Station and return to Earth aboard a Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft. Posting this first image, Kelly wrote, "Rise and shine! My last #sunrise from space then I gotta go! 1 of 5. #GoodMorning from @space_station! #YearInSpace"
	Image: MUSIC successfully launched from NASA Wallops The Multiple User Suborbital Instrument Carrier or MUSIC payload was successfully launched at 9:50 a.m. today on a Terrier-Improved Malemute suborbital sounding rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility.
	Astronomers, billboard companies clash over signs that shine Arizona has long been a haven for astronomers who take advantage of its mountain peaks and vast stretches of dark, desert sky to gaze at stars and planets. The state is also home to a thriving billboard industry whose signs light up a vast network of freeways.
STARS4ALL, a platform to stimulate the European conscience about defending dark skies STARS4ALL, a European Union project which started at the end of 2015 —The International Year of Light— will bring together for the first time groups related to information technology, social science, economics, astronomy and ecology, to create self-sustaining initiatives related to light pollution

Technology news

	Deployable structures could assist rovers, robots, and spacecraft (w/ Video) Researchers have fabricated hinges made of smart materials that can open or close when a small electric current is applied. By attaching these hinges to plastic modules of various shapes, the researchers showed that it's possible to build a wide variety of deployable structures that could have applications in the space industry, robotics, and architecture.
	New glasses project images directly onto retina with a mini-laser A Japanese company called QD Laser in collaboration with the University of Tokyo has developed a pair of glasses that come with a tiny camera that captures data and a laser that prints imagery from the camera directly onto the retina. The glasses are still in the prototype stage but researchers with the project gave a demonstration in Osaka last week at the 1st Medical IT Solutions Expo of Medical Japan, indicating that they do work at least to some extent.
	Better visibility when driving at night According to statistics, the majority of accidents occur at dusk or at night – poor visibility is often the trigger. Intelligent headlights adapt to the current traffic situation, and can be a remedy. In collaboration with industry partners, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a high-resolution illumination system with more than 1,000 LED pixels: It offers considerably more options for precise light distribution than previous solutions have and is also energy efficient.
	New vulnerability discovered in common online security One of the world's most common security software packages – used as the basis of protection for many web browsers – has been found to be vulnerable to a specific form of attack, according to research led by the University of Adelaide.
	Converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into batteries An interdisciplinary team of scientists has worked out a way to make electric vehicles that are not only carbon neutral, but carbon negative, capable of actually reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide as they operate.
	Invigorating Japanese energy and environmental policy five years after Fukushima Japanese researchers call for increased interdisciplinarity and internationalization in Japanese energy and environment research to provide effective scientific advice and invigorate Japanese energy and environmental policy five years after Fukushima.
	Pentagon invites hackers to attack its websites Ever wanted to hack Uncle Sam? Provided you are American and can pass a background check, you can go right ahead, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
	Researchers find security breach in 3-D printing process With findings that could have been taken from the pages of a spy novel, researchers at the University of California, Irvine have demonstrated that they can purloin intellectual property by recording and processing sounds emitted by a 3-D printer.
	Japan court cites 'right to be forgotten' in Google case: reports A Japanese court has told Internet giant Google to hide a man's criminal past from its search results, saying he has "the right to be forgotten" to rebuild his life, according to reports.
Study quantifies errors in 3-D films that cause discomfort for viewers A team of scientists lead by Dmitry Vatolin, senior research fellow in Graphics & Media Lab at Lomonosov Moscow State University, spent eight years studying the problem of headaches caused by 3-D movies. In mid-February, the results of the research were presented in San-Francisco at the 27th annual conference of Stereoscopic Displays & Applications.
	Software warns users about revealing sensitive personal information University of Alabama in Huntsville researchers are seeing potential in a software application that could effectively warn users when they are about to give away sensitive personal information online.
	German watchdog says Facebook may breach data protection rules Facebook may be using its dominant market position to violate data protection rules, Germany's competition watchdog said Wednesday, announcing it had opened a probe into the social network.
	A long-term EKG for wind turbines Offshore wind turbines have to take a lot of punishment, and this is particularly true for their foundations, which are anchored in the seabed. Divers periodically descend to inspect these structures for defects, but in the future, such checks will be faster and easier to carry out thanks to a new sensor ring. Researchers will be presenting a system for this at Hannover Messe from April 25 to 29, 2016 (Hall 2, Booth C16/C22).
	Rapid and energy-efficient production of lightweight components When consolidating carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), individual layers of fibers and plastic connect to each other under pressure and high temperatures to form a homogeneous plate. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a method which is fast and energy efficient, and which is also suitable for smaller quantities as well as high-temperature plastics: CFRP is directly irradiated in a vacuum by infrared radiation.
	'First light' experiments at NSLS-II study radiation's effect on reactor pressure vessels Among the first experiments at the National Synchrotron Light Source II—NSLS-II, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory—were studies of irradiated steels similar to those used in nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPVs). The purpose of these experiments was to determine the structural properties of nanoscale features that lead to embrittlement in RPVs, and the findings will help regulatory agencies determine safe operating lifetimes for the nation's existing fleet of nuclear reactors.
	Far East competition boosts investment in energy efficiency Competition from Asia seems to be a key driver for investing in higher energy efficiency in manufacturing processes.
Will cars of the future run on poop? The U.S. produces over 1 billion tons of manure, including human waste, every year.
	Nokia malware report shows smartphones now account for 60% of infections in the mobile network Nokia Security Center Berlin, powered by Nokia Threat Intelligence Lab, today released research findings showing that in the mobile networks, smartphones pulled ahead of Windows-based computers and laptops, now accounting for 60% of the malware activity observed in the mobile space. The Nokia Threat Intelligence Report also reveals an increase in iOS-based malware, growing sophistication of Android malware and the rising threat of mobile ransomware.
	It just gets better: NIST net-zero house quadruples energy surplus in second year Tweaking ventilation and temperature control systems along with a mild winter helped the experimental net-zero-energy house at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) quadruple the amount of surplus energy it sent to the power grid during its second year-long demonstration.
	Google tests digital wallets that can stay in pockets Google on Wednesday said it is testing ways to let people use digital wallets without having to even take smartphones out of their pockets.
Beauty brands hope virtual makeovers encourage shoppers to try new looks Mulling what one might look like with electric blue eye shadow is one thing. Buying, applying and venturing out in public in an unconventional hue is quite another.
	Researchers examine the dark side of 'green' products If you buy a hybrid SUV rather than a conventional SUV of equal size, you naturally think you have chosen the "green" option. But that hybrid vehicle is not greener than a conventional compact car that gets poorer mileage than the hybrid.
	Pet Tech offers to keep animals safe, healthy and connected Technology isn't just for humans anymore. It's also for their furry friends.
	Looking upwards for transport solutions Level crossing removals should be viewed as part of a total picture for an effective transport system and the best way to achieve this is to incorporate elevated lines or 'skytrains', according to Melbourne researchers.
Design accessory for monitoring the indoor air quality VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a design accessory for monitoring the indoor air quality in facilities such as offices and classrooms. It detects carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity, and uses light signals to quide people to healthy space.
	Zynga shares spike after company names new CEO Zynga shares shot higher in early trade Wednesday after the struggling social gaming company named industry veteran Frank Gibeau as its chief executive in its latest effort to reboot.
	Yahoo launches eSports arena to win video game fans Yahoo launched an online arena for eSports Wednesday in a challenge to venues hosted by YouTube and Amazon-owned Twitch.
	Target ramps up spending on supply chain Target Corp. is stepping up spending on capital expenditures this year, primarily in its supply network and technology, as the retailer aims to be more nimble in an era of online shopping.

Medicine & Health news

	Study highlights need for better characterized genomes for clinical sequencing A new study that assesses the accuracy of modern human-genome-sequencing technologies found that some medically significant portions of an individual's DNA blueprint are situated in complex, hard-to-analyze regions that are currently prone to systematic errors.
	Chronic stress builds highways for cancer to spread Monash University researchers have revealed that chronic stress builds lymphatic "highways" that provide cancer cells with a faster and more efficient way to spread.
	Snake venom may hold key to breaking down plaques that cause Alzheimer's disease A toxic protein called amyloid beta is thought to play a key role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. In healthy people, amyloid beta is degraded by enzymes as it forms. However, in patients with the disease, these enzymes appear unable to adequately perform their actions, causing the toxic protein to accumulate into plaque deposits, which many researchers consider leads to dementia.
Cancer cells' evasive action revealed Researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have uncovered a trick used by lung cancer cells to hide from the body's immune system.
Study explores how high-fat diet influences colon cancer A study published today in Nature reveals how a high-fat diet makes the cells of the intestinal lining more likely to become cancerous. It joins a growing body of research that finds obesity and eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet are significant risk factors for many types of cancer.
	Scientists find clues to neutralizing coronaviruses such as MERS When the respiratory illness SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) emerged in 2003, it killed at least 775 people before it was contained. Nine years later, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) began circulating in the human population—and has gone on to have a 36 percent case fatality rate.
	Study links mobile device addiction to depression and anxiety Is cellphone use detrimental to mental health? A new study from the University of Illinois finds that addiction to, and not simply use of, mobile technology is linked to anxiety and depression in college-age students.
	New research identifies role of tiny bubbles in teeth cleaning (w/ Video) Research into the science behind ultrasonic scalers, used by dental professionals to remove built up plaque, has identified that the formation of tiny bubbles around the head is key to the cleaning process.
Unique outpatient clinic prioritizes physician training and expeditious patient care The constant tension between time-limited outpatient visits and the need to spend time training future health care providers can result in rushed patient encounters and suboptimal learning for the trainee. However, the Ambulatory Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC) Outpatient Clinic piloted at the VA Boston Healthcare System may be a possible solution.
Engineered hydrogel scaffolds enable growth of functioning human breast tissue Whitehead Institute researchers have created a hydrogel scaffold replicating the environment found within the human breast. The scaffold supports the growth of human mammary tissue from patient-derived cells and can be used to study normal breast development as well as breast cancer initiation and progression.
Ethnic minority women more likely to believe that cancer is deadly and down to fate Women from ethnic minorities in the UK are more likely to believe that cancer is incurable and is down to fate than their white counterparts, according to a Cancer Research UK study published in the British Journal of Cancer today.
H. pylori infection may reduce risk of allergic esophageal condition New research suggests that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection of the stomach, which occurs in about half of the world's population and can cause peptic ulcers and stomach cancer in minority of cases, may help protect against an allergic disorder of the esophagus condition called eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
Better targeting of treatment gives hope to people with severe asthma Around five million people in the UK are currently being treated for asthma. Of these, a quarter of a million are unable to get good control of their condition, resulting in frequent, severe, or even life-threatening attacks. A new study brings hope to these patients by investigating whether the drug Omalizumab can be better targeted.
	Researchers find Achilles' heel of a severe form of childhood leukemia Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have found the Achilles' heel of one of the most aggressive forms of leukemia that affects both children and adults. They have also identified a possible new treatment that exploits this fatal weakness.
Bundled payments improve care for Medicare patients undergoing joint replacement Implementing bundled payments for total joint replacements resulted in year-over-year improvements in quality of care and patient outcomes while reducing overall costs, according to a new three-year study from NYU Langone Medical Center.
Cheaper healthy food could save millions of lives: study Scientists have been telling Americans about the benefits of healthy eating for decades, and yet more Americans are obese than ever—more than a third of the country.
Dementia perceived as "illness" rather than aging symptom can lower mood People who perceive dementia symptoms as an illness feel more negative than those who see it as an inevitable part of getting older, a new study indicates.
	Walnuts lower in calories than label suggests Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have good news for walnut lovers: walnuts have fewer calories than previously thought.
Job market lures more physician assistants to specialties over primary care The job market is luring more physician assistants, or PAs, to jobs in specialty care rather than primary care practices such as family medicine and general pediatrics, according to new research from Duke Health.
	New direction urged to improve cancer nanotechnology Researchers involved in a national effort to develop cancer treatments that harness nanotechnology are recommending pivotal changes in the field because experiments with laboratory animals and efforts based on current assumptions about drug delivery have largely failed to translate into successful clinical results.
	Specific brain areas found to be linked to depression Damage in specific brain structures has been found to be associated with a greater risk of depressive symptoms in late life according to research from the University of Aberdeen.
	New trial launched to test cancer vaccine A new vaccine aimed at enabling the immune system to fight against advanced cancer is being trialled in London and Guildford.
	A smart shoe to help reduce diabetic amputations EPFL researchers have developed a shoe sole with valves that electronically control the pressure applied to the arch of the foot. The goal is to relieve foot ulcers commonly caused by diabetes and help them heal to avoid dangerous secondary infections.
	App makes low salt and gluten-free shopping easy Low salt and gluten-free food products will be easy to identify using an updated smart-phone app that helps New Zealanders to shop healthy.
	Study suggests that aging begins in the womb The process of aging begins even before we are born, according to an international team of researchers, including lead author Dr Beth Allison who has now returned to The Ritchie Centre at Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Monash University in Melbourne.
	Temple researchers uncover novel mechanism behind aldosterone-induced heart damage When the heart begins to fail, the body does everything in its power to fix the situation. But sometimes, those compensatory mechanisms ultimately do more harm than good. Such is the case with the adrenal hormone aldosterone, which stimulates the heart to pump harder, causing greater damage to the heart muscle. But now, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) are closer than ever to putting the brakes on that process. With their recent discovery of an unexpected mechanism by which signaling molecules known as G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) mediate aldosterone-induced heart damage, they have opened the path to an important therapeutic advance.
	Cancer treatment on a cellular level The most common treatments for cancer are radiation and chemotherapy. However they have side effects and also damage healthy tissues. Moreover, their effectiveness is limited when the cancer has spread through out the body. Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute are therefore working to develop a gentler treatment that 'tricks' the cancer cells, which would absorb a cytotoxin and therefore be destroyed, while healthy cells would remain unaffected. The results are published in the scientific journal, Scientific Reports.
Agricultural fertiliser could pose risk to human fertility, sheep study finds Eating meat from animals grazed on land treated with commonly-used agricultural fertilisers might have serious implications for pregnant women and the future reproductive health of their unborn children, according to a new study involving sheep.
	Share your fitness data for an Apple Watch—or cash You know you need to exercise more, but there's always next week, or the week after? To entice you to stop procrastinating, your company or insurer might soon reward you for wearing a fitness device to track your steps, heart rate and more.
Molecular body guards for neurons In the brain, patterns of neural activity are perfectly balanced. The interplay between activating and inhibitory neurotransmitters ensures that the level of activity stays within the physiological range. During an epileptic attack excitation gains the upper hand resulting in the death of neurons. Researchers of the Bonn University Medical School have now discovered a key player in a signal transduction cascade, which protects neurons from hyperexcitation-induced cell death. These results open a new direction for the development of novel therapy options. The results are now published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
	Turning on blood flow turns on fat-burning brown fat in mice Increasing the blood flow in brown fat causes it to burn more calories in mice and may help treat obesity, a new study in the Journal of Applied Physiology reports.
	How researchers discovered the genetic origin of the 'unibrow' and other hair traits Whether we like them or not, traits such as a bald head, a "unibrow" or a distinctive hair colour are important parts of our appearance. Throughout history, people have gone through a lot of effort – and sometimes paid large sums of money – to get the style, type and colour of hair they desire. But despite our obsession with hair, scientists have long struggled to get a complete understanding of the genetic basis of hair features.
Young marijuana users respond differently to social exclusion A new study published in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging reports that young adults who regularly use marijuana display altered brain activation patterns during social exclusion.
The mental trauma of severe breast cancer According to a study led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich researchers, a majority of patients diagnosed with breast cancer go on to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and in most of these cases the symptoms persist for at least a year.
Does weight loss reduce risk of early mortality? The current recommendations from major health organizations stipulate that if an individual has a BMI in the obese range (>30 kg/m2), they should be counseled to lose at least 5-10% of their body weight. This advice appears to make some sense given that increasing body weight is generally associated with heightened risk of various diseases, and that reduction of body weight usually improves levels of risk factors for disease (e.g blood pressure, triglycerides, etc). However, the literature has been much more complicated in terms of the effect of weight loss on risk of early mortality.
	Addressing misinformation about Zika in Brazil Some Brazilians escape from Carnival. And when they escape and travel abroad, they are often asked "why in hell are you here instead of celebrating Carnival?"
	Tackling teen body image at home It is no secret that body image impacts a large portion of West Australians, with eating disorders affecting an estimated 1 million Australians at the end of 2012.
	Improving dental hygiene products through virtual brushing Designing toothpastes and toothbrushes is a time-consuming process involving the production and testing of numerous samples. Using a new type of simulation, various parameters such as bristle shape and abrasive particle size can be modified with just a click. This enables manufacturers to improve the quality of new dental care products and bring them to market more quickly.
Developing countries lag behind in hearing screening for newborn infants An RUB study demonstrates: in many countries, hearing screenings of newborn infants are inadequate or are not performed at all. Whereas an early diagnose is crucial in order to treat the disorder successfully.
	The causes of premature ageing of neurons in Parkinson's patients Researchers at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg and partners in Constance, Munich and Bochum are studying the causes of premature ageing of neurons in Parkinson's patients with a defective DJ1 (PARK7) gene. The genetic defect causes changes in the cellular metabolism meaning that neurons are subjected to oxidative stress and an increased immune response in the brain. The study has just been published in the scientific journal Neurobiology of Disease.
World's first 3D-printed 'sneezometer' will help asthma patients breathe easy Research from the University of Surrey has led to the development of the world's first 'sneezometer', an airflow sensor or 'spirometer' that is sensitive enough to measure the speed of a sneeze. For use in diagnosing a variety of respiratory conditions, the sneezometer is twice as fast, and more sensitive than any other available device.
	Are safe injection facilities for heroin users a step in the right direction? he opioid crisis continues to grow year after year, with heroin-related deaths jumping 39 percent from 2012 to 2013. Now one U.S. community has proposed an innovative strategy to help combat the scourge, which is ravaging cities and towns nationwide.
For high-crime neighborhoods, a class in gunshot first aid A hospital in Philadelphia is taking first-aid training to a new level. It's teaching residents in high-crime neighborhoods how to treat gunshot wounds.
	'Gut' bacteria may help put a kink in family obesity cycle Obesity is a global epidemic and the evidence is clear: if a mother is obese or gains too much weight during pregnancy chances are the child will be at higher risk of being obese throughout its life.
	Trinity immunologists find new ways to beat the 'bad guys' (w/ Video) From the current outbreak of the Zika virus to last year's Ebola, vaccines have a significant contribution to make in terms of public health. But why are they so important?
Researchers publish first empirical study on evolution of musical aptitude Geneticists at the University of Helsinki and the National University of Singapore have teamed up to explore the evolution of musical aptitude in the first-ever empirical study of the evolution of music. The Finnish scientists in the project were supported by funding from the Academy of Finland. The study was published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Nature Publishing Group.
	Homeschooled kids sleep more than others A new study published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine shows that children who are taught at home get more sleep than those who go to private and public schools. The findings provide additional evidence of teens' altered biological clocks and support an argument for starting traditional high school later in the morning.
	State laws boost flu vaccination rates in health care workers State laws mandating influenza immunization for people who work in health care increase their vaccination rates, according to new research led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
High LDL-C levels in women prior to childbirth linked with high levels in adult offspring In a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, among more than 500 adult/offspring pairs, elevated maternal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels prior to pregnancy were associated with elevated adult offspring LDL-C levels, beyond the influence attributable to measured lifestyle and inherited genetic factors.
	Study of patients with melanoma finds most have few moles Most patients with melanoma had few moles and no atypical moles, and in patients younger than 60, thick melanomas were more commonly found in those with fewer moles but more atypical moles, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.
New report finds 'surprising gaps' in knowledge of ovarian cancers Ovarian cancer should not be categorized as a single disease, but rather as a constellation of different cancers involving the ovary, yet questions remain on how and where various ovarian cancers arise, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report presents research opportunities that if addressed could have the greatest impact on reducing the number of women who are diagnosed with or die from ovarian cancers.
Experts make progress towards optimizing diabetes care on a global scale Diabetes is a significant global health problem, afflicting 382 million people worldwide with increasing prevalence rates and adverse effects on health, wellbeing, and society in general. In this special issue of the Annals of Global Health, "Global Dimensions of Diabetes Care," experts from around the world synthesize a core set of recommendations using information from 14 countries as a basis in order to work towards optimizing diabetes care globally - a critically important initiative to help stem the diabetes epidemic.
	Dementia incidence higher than CHD in very elderly (HealthDay)—For adults aged 80 years or older, the incidence of dementia is greater than that of coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published in the March 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Common blood test could predict risk of 2nd stroke A new discovery about ischemic stroke may allow to doctors to predict patients' risk of having a second stroke using a commonly performed blood test and their genetic profile.
	Platelet-rich plasma injections may lead to improvements in tissue healing Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and A-Rod have all used it, but does platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) really work for the every-day active person? According to a University of Alberta Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic pilot study on patients with chronically sore shoulders published in PLOS ONE, preliminary findings say yes.
	PET scans reveal key details of Alzheimer's protein growth in aging brains New research led by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, shows for the first time that PET scans can track the progressive stages of Alzheimer's disease in cognitively normal adults, a key advance in the early diagnosis and staging of the neurodegenerative disorder.
Study provides evidence that community-based violence prevention program is successful A study by researchers at Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center confirmed that teens who attend classes about relationships have lower tolerance for aggression and dating violence. Healthier dating attitudes can be acquired after even brief involvement in an anti-violence curriculum.
Study finds inflated charges, significant variation in Medicare payment patterns UCLA researchers found inflated charges and significant variation in patterns of payments for surgical care by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That charges were inflated compared with payments disproportionately affects the underinsured and uninsured, who often must pay for their care out of pocket.
How well did an instant blood pressure app work? A blood pressure (BP) smartphone app delivered inaccurate results in a small study, which suggests more than three-quarters of individuals with hypertensive BP levels may be falsely reassured that their BP is in the nonhypertensive range, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Vitamin D deficiency contributes to spread of breast cancer in mice, study finds Breast tumors in laboratory mice deficient in vitamin D grow faster and are more likely to metastasize than tumors in mice with adequate levels of vitamin D, according to a preliminary study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Study finds health disparity in treatment of thyroid goiters Older patients, minorities, and male patients are more likely to develop substernal thyroid goiters that are difficult to remove surgically, putting them at risk for treatment complications and death, say researchers in the January 6 online in the American Journal of Surgery. A substernal goiter is so large it extends below a person's collarbones into the upper chest.
	Gene identified that helps wound healing Researchers at Ohio State University have pinpointed a human gene product that helps to regulate wound healing and may control scarring in people recovering from severe injuries and damage to certain internal organs.
Processed meat may increase the risk of breast cancer for Latinas, study finds Latinas who eat processed meats such as bacon and sausage may have an increased risk for breast cancer, according to a new study that did not find the same association among white women.
Brazil reports 5,909 microcephaly cases since October 2015 Brazil's Health Ministry says it's received reports of 5,909 cases of microcephaly since the Zika virus outbreak started in October. But only 641 of those have been confirmed so far.
	Newly identified genetic errors may prevent heart attacks To reduce risk of heart attack, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are clear. But genetics can still stack the deck. Some people's genes bestow a natural advantage—or disadvantage—in protecting against heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.
Clinical trial confirms safety of inducing mothers aged 35 and over to avoid stillbirth and other complications A large clinical trial to assess the benefits or otherwise of inducing labour in pregnant women of 35 years or older has found there was no significant effect on the rate of caesarean sections and no adverse effect on the mother and newborn baby.
Moderate drinking has risks and benefits, heavy drinking heightens short- and long-term risk of heart attack, stroke Drinking alcohol is associated with an immediate higher risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. The risk lessens and can become protective after 24 hours for moderate drinking but remains high for heavy drinking, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle 2016 Scientific Sessions.
Hypothermia during surgery linked with increased risk for infection A Henry Ford Hospital finds that hypothermia, a relatively common but unintentional occurrence during surgery, is associated with an increased risk for infection in patients who undergo surgery to repair a hip fracture.
	Pre-visit questionnaire can help ID common vestibular diagnoses (HealthDay)—Use of a vestibular intake questionnaire can predict common vestibular diagnoses, prior to clinical assessment, according to research published online Feb. 25 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
	Metabolic syndrome tied to risk of mild cognitive impairment (HealthDay)—The incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and MCI progression to dementia is increased in association with metabolic syndrome (MetS), according to a study published online Feb. 29 in JAMA Neurology.
	A new weapon in the fight against children's brain tumors Children with brain cancer may soon get some help from mice with the same disease, thanks to new research from University of Michigan Medical School scientists and their colleagues.
	Next-generation immunotherapy offers new hope for beating brain cancer High-grade glioma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Despite improvements in surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, this type of brain tumour is still notoriously hard to treat: less than 10% of patients survive beyond five years. Researchers from KU Leuven, Belgium, have now shown that next-generation cell-based immunotherapy may offer new hope in the fight against brain cancer.
A range of interventions could curb rising antibiotic resistance in India Antibiotic resistance is a global public health threat and one of particular concern in India. A mix of poor public health systems, high rates of infectious disease, inexpensive antibiotics, and rising incomes are is coming together to increase prevalence of resistant pathogens and is increasing the burden of untreatable neonatal sepsis and health-care-associated infections. However, a few urgent priorities for immediate implementation could make a difference according to Ramanan Laxminarayan from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Washington DC, United States, and Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, from Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Foundation, New Delhi, India, writing in an Essay published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
	Thirdhand smoke linked to type 2 diabetes Thirdhand smoke (THS) results when exhaled smoke gets on surfaces - clothing, hair, homes and cars. THS has been shown, in mice, to damage the liver and lungs, complicate wound-healing and cause hyperactivity. Add to this list now type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease.
US bans use of e-cigarettes on airline flights Electronic cigarettes are prohibited on any domestic or foreign airline flying to, from or within the United States under a final rule the government issued Wednesday.
Why pharmaceutical firms may prefer to invest in drugs over vaccines When it comes to addressing disease, many industry observers and public health advocates believe that pharmaceutical companies prefer to invest in drugs rather than vaccines, as preventives are perceived to be inherently less profitable. A Harvard-Dartmouth study on preventives versus treatments published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics offers a new economic rationale for this trend— the population risk for diseases resembles a Zipf distribution, where the demand curve for a drug is likely to support stronger revenue extraction from a drug than for a vaccine. (A Zipf distribution is a special case of the power-law distribution in which the values and probabilities scale by an inverse proportion, rather than by some arbitrary constant).
	Are stethoscopes a timeless tool or an outdated relic? To hear a patient's heart, doctors used to just put an ear up to a patient's chest and listen. Then, in 1816, things changed.
	Researchers discover that human hair and nails can tell toxic secrets Chemicals used as flame retardants that are potentially harmful to humans are found in hair, toenails and fingernails, according to new research from Indiana University.
Nurse staffing levels key to keeping rehospitalizations down for hip/knee surgery patients A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) shows that patients, who undergo elective hip and knee surgery in hospitals with inadequate nurse staffing and poor nurse work environments, are more likely to require re-hospitalization. The results are set for publication in a future issue of the International Journal for Quality in Health Care, but are available now online here. The cross-sectional study analyzed data of more than 112,000 Medicare patients in nearly 500 US hospitals and points to hospital nurses as a likely answer to the need for reducing postoperative readmissions.
	Rare disease patients share info on MyGene2 web tool to assist with gene discovery A new web tool, MyGene2, will enable patients and their families to join clinicians and scientists in the search for genes underlying rare disorders. The sharing of health information also will improve knowledge about how gene variants influence symptoms and other clinical features of Mendelian disorders.
	Ultra-low dose CT scans successfully detect fractures Computed Tomography (CT) scans are one of the most frequently-used imaging tools in medicine. In fact, more than 72 million scans are performed each year to diagnose various medical conditions. But public health concerns persist about radiation exposure from these tests—especially when given to children and young adults. Now, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center report in a new study that they successfully performed CT scans for joint fractures with one-fourteenth the amount of normal CT radiation—without compromising image quality or a surgeon's ability to effectively diagnose an injury.
Researchers to study gun violence among youths How and why children carry weapons is the subject of a $3.4 million interdisciplinary study led by two University at Buffalo researchers looking to find ways high-risk children can escape a cycle of violence.
	Cuba announces first case of Zika, imported from Venezuela Cuba announced Wednesday that it had detected the first case of the Zika virus on the island, which had been one of the last nations in the Western Hemisphere free of the disease.
	Using data to assess progress of sustainable development goals The 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all member states of the United Nations in September 2015 set an ambitious global sustainable development agenda. The goals span the three dimensions of sustainable development—economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, underpinned by good governance. In order to operationalize this cross-cutting agenda in the varied contexts of both developed and developing countries, each nation will need to identify the key challenges to prioritize.
	Chronic kidney disease in cats—Expert guidance on a quality of life issue Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common, complex and progressive disease that is estimated to affect more than a third of cats over 10 years of age. Affected cats often present with a variety of clinical signs and complications including inappetence, nausea, vomiting, anaemia, hypertension and urinary tract infections - as such, the disease can severely compromise quality of life if inadequately managed.
	Discovery of a gene associated with a set of poorly understood rare diseases The genomic sequencing of hundreds of patients with diverse types of ciliopathies has revealed that "in many cases the gene responsible is not known", says Travis Stracker, head of the Genomic Instability and Cancer Lab at the IRB Barcelona. "So many people do not have a molecular diagnosis," stresses the researcher. "Our work seeks to contribute to bridging this knowledge gap".
Study examines prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in developing country Thomas Pilgrim, M.D., of Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland, and colleagues conducted a study to determine the prevalence and incidence of clinically silent and manifest rheumatic heart disease in Eastern Nepal. The study was published online by JAMA Cardiology.
	Case of hepatitis E transmission via plasma exchange (HealthDay)—A case of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been reported in a kidney transplant recipient, according to a research letter published online March 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
AAOS recommends a multi-faceted approach to diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome New guidelines approved by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors recommend the collective use of a thorough patient history and specific physical examination maneuvers, in addition to observation and specific diagnostic tests to more definitively diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common source of hand numbness and pain affecting approximately 3 million Americans—primarily women—each year.
Senate rejects adding $600M to anti-heroin legislation The Senate Wednesday rejected a Democratic effort to add $600 million to a bipartisan bill targeting heroin and opioid abuse.

Biology news

	Some giant viruses found to have an immune system similar to bacteria A team of scientists affiliated with several research facilities in France has conducted a study on giant viruses known as mimiviruses and has found that at least some of them have an immune system that is similar in some ways to CRISPR in bacteria. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes the genetic study they undertook of multiple strains of mimiviruses looking to understand why some of them appeared to have immunity to a particular kind of virophage infection while others did not.
	Researchers find compelling evidence linking dying California sea lion pups with change in mothers' diet A team of researchers with NOAA Fisheries Service's Southwest Fisheries Science Center has found "compelling evidence" in the search for the reason behind record numbers of starving sea lion pups climbing out of the sea and onto California beaches. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, the team describes how their study of fish populations and hunting activities of pregnant sea lions off the coast of California, led to evidence that suggests the pups are starving because the main food source for their mothers has become scarcer.
The overlooked commotion of particle motion in the ocean Most aquatic species sense sound via particle motion, yet few studies on underwater acoustic ecology have included measurements of particle motion.
	Fossil of oldest known land-dweller identified The earliest example of an organism living on land – an early type of fungus – has been identified. The organism, from 440 million years ago, likely kick-started the process of rot and soil formation, which encouraged the later growth and diversification of life on land.
	Trees vital to improving stream quality, study finds Want better streams? Plant some trees, according to a University of Georgia study.
	Researcher explores close prehistoric relationship between humans and dogs Anyone who owns a dog is familiar with the "gaze"—that hypnotic, imploring stare that demands reciprocation. It can seem to hold a world of mystery and longing, or just pure bafflement at what makes humans tick.
	Genetics and brain regions linked to sex differences in anxiety-related behavior in chimpanzees Genetics and specific brain regions are linked to sex differences in chimpanzees' scratching behavior, a common indicator of anxiety in humans and others primates, according to a research study led by Georgia State University that shows chimpanzees can be models of human mental illness.
	Researchers enhance CRISPR gene editing technology Scientists have developed a process that improves the efficiency of CRISPR, an up-and-coming technology used to edit DNA.
	Study shows whales dine with their own kind For a few weeks in early fall, Georges Bank—a vast North Atlantic fishery off the coast of Cape Cod—teems with billions of herring that take over the region to spawn. The seasonal arrival of the herring also attracts predators to the shallow banks, including many species of whales.
	New method reveals high similarity between gorilla and human Y chromosome A new, less expensive, and faster method now has been developed and used to determine the DNA sequence of the male-specific Y chromosome in the gorilla. The technique will allow better access to genetic information of the Y chromosome of any species and thus can be used to study male infertility disorders and male-specific mutations. It also can aid in conservation genetics efforts by helping to trace paternity and to track how males move within and between populations in endangered species, like gorillas.
Water-skiing beetles get a bumpy ride Blink and you've missed it: Manu Prakash from Stanford University, USA, describes how one moment a waterlily beetle (Galerucella nymphaeae) is sat on the surface of a pond and the next it has vanished. 'The phenomenon is so incredibly fast that you don't see anything', says Prakash, describing the ripples remaining on the surface that are the only evidence that the insect was ever there. Having observed the beetles' remarkable disappearing act, Prakash knew he had to find out how they pull off the stunt.
	A small dragonfly is found to be the world's longest-distance flyer A dragonfly barely an inch and a half long appears to be animal world's most prolific long distance traveler - flying thousands of miles over oceans as it migrates from continent to continent - according to newly published research.
	Intense competition for reproduction results in violent mass evictions Intense levels of reproductive competition trigger violent evictions of male and female banded mongooses from their family groups, University of Exeter researchers have found.
Discovery of a preserved ancient Siberian moose with intact DNA Scientists of the Tomsk State University have found preserved moose in Western Siberia with unique genetic features. This discovery will help determine the origin and path of moose movement in the last few tens of thousands of years and suggests that Siberia is a unique genetic repository. The research has been presented at the international conference "Theriofauna of Russia and adjacent territories," presented by the X Congress of the Russian Theriological Society.
	Mechanism discovered for mosaic pattern of cells in the nasal cavity Every cell in our bodies has its proper place, but how do they get there? A research group led by Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Ph.D. student KATSUNUMA Sayaka and Assistant Professor TOGASHI Hideru discovered the mechanism for a mosaic pattern formation of two different cell types. Their discovery has potentially broad applications as a common principle for determining pattern formation in different types of cell. The findings were published in the Journal of Cell Biology on February 29, 2016.
	Snowy owl's far-flung travels tracked in incredible detail For the third year in a row, a snowy owl originally banded in Maryland is back from the Far North—and thanks to ground-breaking tracking technology, scientists with Project SNOWstorm have been able to follow its movements across thousands of miles with an unprecedented level of precision.
	Scientists "break the ice" on organ banking After decades of studies, scientists now believe that a breakthrough in preserving body organs for the purpose of saving lives is close at hand.
	Quolls reintroduced to Australian mainland after extinction ANU is helping the eastern quoll make a comeback to mainland Australia after its disappearance more than 50 years ago.
	New policy recommendations to facilitate EU action against environmental crime The EU-funded EFFACE project has delivered a series of comprehensive recommendations on how the EU can better detect incidents of environmental crime and suitably punish those responsible.
	Turtles are key as Kenya balances ecology and development A turtle drags itself along a white sandy beach, splashes through the gentle warm Indian Ocean and then vanishes with a plop, becoming one of 13,750 turtle success stories on a stretch of Kenyan coastline facing pressure from developers.
	First 3-D structure of the enzymatic role of DNA DNA does not always adopt the form of the double helix associated with the genetic code; it can also form intricate folds and act as an enzyme called a deoxyribozyme. A researcher from Spain and other scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Germany) have solved the first three-dimensional structure of this biomolecule, which is much more flexible than previously thought.
	NGOs sue Monsanto, EU food safety watchdog over pesticide A group of European NGOs on Wednesday sued agri-giant Monsanto and the EU's food safety watchdog for allegedly distorting scientific data on the carcinogenic effects of controversial weedkiller glyphosate, ahead of a key EU vote to renew its approval for another 10 years.
Overfishing increases fluctuations in aquatic ecosystems Intense fishing of primarily larger fish not only makes fish populations smaller, it changes the remaining fish. When the fish which have a chance to reproduce before being caught are smaller and have reached sexual maturity earlier, these characteristics are passed down to future generations. In many fish populations targeted by intense fishing, e.g., Atlantic cod across the west coast of North America, the sizes of fish have been observed to have decreased and the age of sexual maturity to have reduced.
	Breeding birds use alligators to protect nests from raccoons, opossums Breeding birds that nest above alligators for protection from mammalian predators may also provide a source of food for the alligators living in the Everglades, Florida, according to a study published March 2, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Lucas Nell from the University of Florida and colleagues.
	Scientists harvest hybrid poplar stand in next step toward a biobased economy A small stand of poplar trees harvested from a University of Tennessee AgResearch Center is set to help scientists progress further down the path toward low-cost, high-quality biomass and a bioeconomy.
	Malaysia customs seizes 159 kg in smuggled ivory Malaysian authorities said on Wednesday they had confiscated 159 kilograms (350 pounds) of ivory smuggled by air passengers, the latest seizures in a country used as a key Asian transit point in the illegal trade.
	South African private army protects world's largest rhino farm The world's largest rhino farm looks like a vast fortress and is guarded by a private army.
	Two lions, 110 vultures poisoned at S.Africa's Kruger park Two lions and over 100 vultures in South Africa's Kruger National Park died after eating the poisoned carcass of an elephant, officials said Wednesday, suggesting a new poaching trend in the heavily-guarded reserve.
	Highlighting deeper questions in education, decision making and ecology through simulation Water bubbles and the distant rumble-swoosh of rapids can be heard upstream. On shore the occasional bird calls from the surrounding forest. Under the water you are fighting your way upstream, acutely aware of your waning strength as the water continually pushes you downstream. You are looking for a seam in the current, that path where turbulence and intersecting currents allow you to slip upstream without draining the limited reserves of energy you still have. You will need those to surmount the falls and find a mate, you can't waste them in the rapids. You try once again to slip past beyond the sheltering rock and make headway upstream only to be stymied again, barely managing to hold ground against the current.
	Blueberry types identified for resistance, susceptibility to pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soilborne pathogen associated with root rot in many woody perennial plants. An extensive study from researchers in Oregon has identified a number of highbush blueberry cultivars that show resistance to the disease, as well as those varieties that are susceptible.

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