Science X Newsletter Friday, Apr 15

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 15, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New debugging method found 23 undetected security flaws in 50 popular Web applications in less than an hour
- Engineers develop the first on-chip RF circulator that doubles WiFi speeds with a single antenna
- Graphene-based sensor detects harmful air pollution in the home
- Fossil fuels could be phased out worldwide in a decade, says new study
- Clear-cutting destabilizes carbon in forest soils, study finds
- The genetic evolution of Zika virus
- First-ever videos show how heat moves through materials at the nanoscale and speed of sound
- Researchers identify enzyme link between excessive heart muscle growth, cancer growth
- Mothers' milk and the infant gut microbiota: An ancient symbiosis
- 'Weirdest martensite': Century-old smectic riddle finally solved
- 'Odd couple' monolayer semiconductors align to advance optoelectronics
- Pollutants in fish inhibit human's natural defense system
- Record Balkan floods linked to jamming of giant airstreams
- Ultrathin organic material enhances e-skin display
- Study says logos make a group seem 'real'

Astronomy & Space news

	A space spider watches over young stars A nebula known as "the Spider" glows fluorescent green in an infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The Spider, officially named IC 417, lies near a much smaller object called NGC 1931, not pictured in the image. Together, the two are called "The Spider and the Fly" nebulae. Nebulae are clouds of interstellar gas and dust where stars can form.
	Swedish company introduces new ground operations service for small satellites The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), a company providing advanced space services, announced on Wednesday, April 13, its newest project dedicated to lowering the operational costs of small satellites. The new product, called SSC Infinity, is a set of new ground operations services that will utilize full-motion antennas in the five-meter or smaller class. The company hopes that its newest offer will reduce risks associated with satellite launch, insertion, system and constellation checkout.
	Image: April 14, 1981, landing of first space shuttle mission On April 14, 1981, the rear wheels of the space shuttle orbiter Columbia touched down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base, NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center (then Dryden Flight Research Center), in southern California, to successfully complete a stay in space of more than two days. Astronauts John W. Young, STS-1 commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, were aboard the vehicle. The mission marked the first NASA flight to end with a wheeled landing and represented the beginning of a new age of spaceflight that would employ the same hardware repeatedly.
	Researchers' wireless leak detection system bound for International Space Station A wireless leak detection system created by University of Maine researchers is scheduled to board a SpaceX rocket bound for the International Space Station this summer.
	Image: The 35 m-diameter deep-space tracking station at Malargue, Argentina Seventy-four weeks ago, on 12 November 2014, ESA's Rosetta mission soft-landed its Philae probe on a comet – the first time that such an extraordinary feat had been achieved.

Technology news

	Engineers develop the first on-chip RF circulator that doubles WiFi speeds with a single antenna Last year, Columbia Engineering researchers were the first to invent a technology—full-duplex radio integrated circuits (ICs)—that can be implemented in nanoscale CMOS to enable simultaneous transmission and reception at the same frequency in a wireless radio. That system required two antennas, one for the transmitter and one for the receiver. And now the team, led by Electrical Engineering Associate Professor Harish Krishnaswamy, has developed a breakthrough technology that needs only one antenna, thus enabling an even smaller overall system. This is the first time researchers have integrated a non-reciprocal circulator and a full-duplex radio on a nanoscale silicon chip. The circulator research is published online April 15 in Nature Communications and the paper detailing the single-chip full-duplex radio with the circulator and additional echo cancellation was presented at the 2016 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Con! ference on February 2.
	New debugging method found 23 undetected security flaws in 50 popular Web applications in less than an hour By exploiting some peculiarities of the popular web programming framework Ruby on Rails, MIT researchers have developed a system that can quickly comb through tens of thousands of lines of application code to find security flaws.
	Microsoft suit is latest tech clash with US over privacy As we live more of our lives online, the companies we trust with our digital secrets are increasingly clashing with authorities who want access to the messages, pictures, financial records and other data we accumulate in electronic form.
	Agar alternative to plastic for packaging tops award event (Tech Xplore)—Plastic container discards floating in oceans are an ugly sight and troubling environmental issue; scientists are exploring better ways to assure a cleaner future. That includes exploring materials that are earth-friendly and can replace plastic.
	Robot offers safer, more efficient way to inspect power lines A robot invented by researchers in the University of Georgia College of Engineering could change the way power lines are inspected—providing a safer and most cost-effective alternative.
	Fossil fuels could be phased out worldwide in a decade, says new study The worldwide reliance on burning fossil fuels to create energy could be phased out in a decade, according to an article published by a major energy think tank in the UK.
	Ultrathin organic material enhances e-skin display University of Tokyo researchers have developed an ultrathin, ultraflexible, protective layer and demonstrated its use by creating an air-stable, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. This technology will enable creation of electronic skin (e-skin) displays of blood oxygen level, e-skin heart rate sensors for athletes and many other applications.
	US advises deleting QuickTime from Windows computers A cyber security team at the US Department of Homeland Security is advising people to remove QuickTime media software from Windows computers to avoid being hacked.
	The sky's the limit at Geneva inventions show Shoes that can reunite lost toddlers with their parents and a morphing sofa designed for spur of the moment conjugal relations are among the centrepieces at this year's Geneva inventions show.
	Protecting nature—there are apps for that Apple on Thursday set out to inspire people to protect nature with a special collection of apps whose proceeds will go toward doing just that.
	GoPro teams with developers to spur camera sales GoPro on Thursday announced it is teaming up with outside developers to make it easy to use the company's mini cameras with apps or synch them with other devices.
House OKs bill on high-speed Internet service rates Republicans snubbed a White House veto threat and pushed legislation through the House Friday that would bar the government from regulating rates that high-speed Internet service providers charge consumers.
Obama backs effort to give consumers options on cable boxes President Barack Obama threw his weight Friday behind an effort to give consumers more choice when it comes to the cable boxes that control which television channels they watch.
	Swapping plaster casts for 3-D printing NovaCast a device that prevents infections, ulcers and even amputation of limbs, is 10 times lighter than traditional materials and allows good ventilation.
	Teaching computers to describe images as people would Let's say you're scrolling through your favorite social media app and you come across a series of pictures of a man in a tuxedo and a woman in a long white dress.
	Why the internet isn't making us smarter – and how to fight back In the hours since I first sat down to write this piece, my laptop tells me the National Basketball Association has had to deny that it threatened to cancel its 2017 All-Star Game over a new anti-LGBT law in North Carolina – a story repeated by many news sources including the Associated Press. The authenticity of that viral video of a bear chasing a female snowboarder in Japan has been called into question. And, no, Ted Cruz is not married to his third cousin. It's just one among an onslaught of half-truths and even pants-on-fire lies coming as we rev up for the 2016 American election season.
	Privacy wars pit tech firms vs. the feds Companies like Apple and Microsoft are pushing back against government surveillance in the courts, arguing that federal authorities have gone too far in obtaining chats, emails and other private information from phones and online services.
	Canada police eavesdropped on BlackBerry messages: media Law enforcement officials in Canada using an encryption key have been able since at least 2010 to eavesdrop on messages between BlackBerry smartphones, an online news magazine reported.
	Virtual Reality Check: Reporter spends week with VR system I'm no stranger to virtual reality.
	Twitter hires new exec in bid to win China advertisers Twitter introduced a new head of operations Friday for what it calls Greater China despite still being banned in the mainland, as it attempts to boost already booming advertising.
	How to clean up your online reputation Messy party photos, offensive tweets, pepper spraying student protesters ... sometimes, you just want a do-over when it comes to your online presence. And for a hefty price tag, you can.
	Hawaii moves to crack down on campsite rentals on Airbnb Hawaii lawmakers are taking aim at a burgeoning vacation rental market: online brokers offering up tents to tourists on the islands' world-class beaches and public parks.
	A new combination of materials allows state-of-the-art operating controls with elastic circuits The research scientists at INM have succeeded in manufacturing circuit paths on thin, elastic foil made of silicone. Since these are relatively insensitive to compression and elongation strain, the electrical circuits can adapt to the curvature of appliances.
Police target hundreds of websites after Paris attacks French police have targeted hundreds of websites suspected of "inciting or glorifying acts of terrorism" after the Paris attacks by ordering content removals, delisting sites from search engines or blocking access.

Medicine & Health news

	Parasitic infection enables helpful bacteria to displace harmful ones in mice and humans Infection with worms may counter inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) by triggering immune responses that change the mix of bacteria, or microbiome, in the gut. This is according to a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and published online April 14 in the journal Science.
	Cracking the code of the malaria parasite may help stop transmission The most dangerous malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is responsible for nearly half a million deaths annually across Africa and Southeast Asia. Of increasing concern, this parasite is now developing resistance to common antimalarial drugs. Gaining a better understanding of the parasite's development in the body is urgently required. Now, a multi-university team, which includes Penn State, has broken the code that may lead to new defenses against the deadly parasite.
	Researchers identify enzyme link between excessive heart muscle growth, cancer growth UT Southwestern Medical Center cardiology researchers have identified molecular ties between the growth of cancer cells and heart cells that suggest existing cancer drugs may be able to help those with enlarged heart cells—a condition that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.
	Pollutants in fish inhibit human's natural defense system In a new study, environmental pollutants found in fish were shown to obstruct the human body's natural defense system to expel harmful toxins. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego-led research team suggests that this information should be used to better assess the human health risks from eating contaminated seafood. The study was published in the April 15 issue of the journal Science Advances.
	Blood pressure difference linked to heart disease risk The University of Exeter Medical School has led an analysis of more than 3,000 people in Scotland who each had blood pressure measurements taken from both arms, published today in the British Journal of General Practice. Researchers say the findings show the importance of routinely measuring blood pressure in both arms.
Greek dancing improves jumping ability of elderly heart failure patients Greek dancing improves the jumping ability of elderly patients with heart failure, according to research published today in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Patients randomised to Greek dancing jumped higher and faster than their sedentary counterparts. Those who danced had stronger legs and could walk further.
	Scientific evidence demonstrates that the brain of male batterers functions differently than that of other delinquents Researchers from the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Center of the University of Granada have analyzed the brain of aggressors against intimate partners through functional magnetic resonance imaging, making it one of only three studies in the world to study this topic. The results from this study may have important implications in better understanding violence against women, as well as the variables related to recidivism in batterers.
Gene-editing tool can improve efficacy of adoptive T-cell immunotherapy The gene-editing tool TALEN can be used to inactivate PD-1-mediated immunosuppression and enhance the efficacy of a type of immunotherapy called adoptive T-cell transfer against solid tumors, according to a preclinical study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Cancer-causing genetic condition risk lower than previously thought The odds of children having a genetic condition that causes learning difficulties and tumours have been dramatically cut, thanks to genetic analysis led by The University of Manchester and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
	Study finds new vaccination rules remind forgetful parents but fail to impact objectors Western Sydney University research has found new vaccination regulations for parents looking to enroll their children in NSW child care centers has succeeded in reminding forgetful parents, but failed to affect conscientious objectors.
	Why girls who mature early go for masculine men Women who undergo early puberty prefer more masculine men and are more likely to want to have children earlier, according to new research.
New bone chewing role for B cells in rheumatoid arthritis University of Rochester Medical Center researchers have uncovered a new mechanism of bone erosion and a possible biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The group is the first to demonstrate that immune cells, called B cells, contribute directly to the breakdown of bone in RA by producing a signaling molecule called RANKL.
	Studying blood for the greater good Elizabeth Bowles, a Ph.D. student in chemistry at Missouri S&T, has had a rather unconventional goal for the past several years: improve the care of patients with conditions like diabetes or pulmonary arterial hypertension by reducing severe adverse side effects of pharmaceuticals through a new and innovative drug delivery system.
	Weighing the health benefits of coffee Chances are, you or someone you know is a coffee drinker. Admittedly, I love coffee and my relationship with it is one of slight dependency. Thus I am fully invested in exploring the research into its health effects.
	Vitamin D helps reduce childhood allergy rate Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and infancy may help to reduce New Zealand's high childhood allergy rate.
	Heat trumps cold in the treatment of jellyfish stings A recent study by researchers at UH Mānoa, published this month in the journal Toxins, may finally put to rest the ongoing debate about whether to use cold or heat to treat jellyfish stings. Their systematic and critical review provides overwhelming evidence that clinical outcomes from all kinds of jellyfish stings are improved following treatment with hot packs or hot-water immersion.
	What we know and suspect about the causes of Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease is the second-most-prevalent neurodegenerative condition in Australia, with an estimated 70,000 Australians living with the disease. Because of its complex and debilitating nature, Parkinson's is a great burden on its sufferers and a great cost to society.
Research reveals family-focused therapy reduces complicated grief Supporting families of patients with advanced cancer and assisting them in bereavement is an important clinical goal for oncology and mental health professionals.
Excess abdominal fat is associated with heart attack A large waist-hip ratio is a more important risk factor for heart attacks than weight, especially for younger to middle-aged women. This is shown in a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Bergen.
Immune cells help the brain to self-heal after a stroke After a stroke, there is inflammation in the damaged part of the brain. Until now, the inflammation has been seen as a negative consequence that needs to be abolished as soon as possible. But, as it turns out, there are also some positive sides to the inflammation, and it can actually help the brain to self-repair.
	'Wrong' scale used to evaluate results of brain surgery The most common scale used to evaluate outcome of neurosurgical procedures, the modified rankin scale (mRS) –  does not measure what is commonly assumed, concludes a study conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery of Helsinki University Hospital. The researchers state that previous treatment results must now be reevaluated.
	The not-so-sweet truth about sugars Whether all sweeteners produce the same metabolic effects in consumers is a controversial topic. A study conducted by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) investigators indicates that consuming lower amounts of added sugars is a more effective approach to health than finding a sugar that is more neutral in terms of its health effects.
Vitamin pill could prevent heart attacks and strokes in people with kidney disease A new trial, led by the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow, is underway to discover whether vitamin K can improve heart and blood vessel health in chronic kidney disease patients.
	Supporting chronically ill kids in the classroom Local teachers and parents should bear in mind that WA kids suffering from a chronic illness risk starting school while lagging behind their peers developmentally.
	Care for cancer patients still expensive almost a decade after treatment Cancer survivors diagnosed almost a decade ago still cost the NHS in England five times more than someone without the disease, according to new research published this week in the British Journal of Cancer.
	Dental public health expert reacts to LGA report on children's teeth The Local Government Association has today published a report that states that around 100 children and teenagers a day are being admitted to hospital for surgery to remove rotten teeth.
	Combination therapy may offer better outcomes for patients with retinoblastoma Researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) have demonstrated that targeting survivin—a protein that inhibits apoptosis or cell death—enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cells and mouse models of retinoblastoma (Rb), the most common malignant tumor of the eye in children.
Poor patient warfarin knowledge may increase risk of deadly side effects 15 April 2016: Patients have poor knowledge of warfarin which may increase their risk of serious side effects, according to research presented today at EuroHeartCare 2016 by Dr Kjersti Oterhals, a nurse researcher at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.1
	New guidance on preventing sudden cardiac death in athletes published The Journal of the American College of Cardiology today published a consensus statement that establishes guidance for conducting pre-participation screenings of college athletes and encourages emergency action plans for quickly responding to sudden cardiac arrest. The statement was developed by a 29-person task force convened by the NCAA in September 2014. Task force members included multidisciplinary physician specialists and athletic trainers representing national sports and medical associations, including the American College of Cardiology.
	Americans live longer but with disabilities or health issues, study shows Americans are living longer but in poorer health, according to a new study.
	Spring allergies? don't assume it's only pollen (HealthDay)—Spring allergy season is here, so if you know your triggers you can start reducing your symptoms, experts say.
	A better nutritional facts panel The ubiquitous nutrition facts panel has graced food packages for many years. But can it be improved?
	New scientific evidence of sexual transmission of the Zika virus A study by researchers from Inserm, the Paris Public Hospitals (Bichat Hospital, AP-HP), Aix-Marseille University, and the National Reference Centre for Arboviruses confirms that the ZIKA virus can be transmitted sexually. Their analyses have shown 100% genetic correlation between the form of the virus present in a man who contracted the virus in Brazil and that of a woman who had never travelled in the epidemic area, but who had sexual relations with him. These results are published in The New England Journal of medicine.
Allergen immunotherapy found to pose no risk of infection A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found no evidence of infections related to administration of allergy immunotherapy, the common practice of injecting minimal quantities of allergens beneath the skin to reduce the allergic response. Although there has never been a concern about the sterility of the preparations used in these "allergy shots," the organization that sets standards for the quality and safety of medications and other products has proposed revised guidelines that place allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in the same category as more risky preparations intended for intravenous or spinal administration.
	Long-term benefits to the liver-kidney transplant A new study from physicians at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, found there may be long-term benefits to simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation versus kidney transplantation alone. The study, "Decreased Chronic Cellular and Antibody-Mediated Injury in the Kidney Following Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation" published recently in the journal Kidney International. Among patients with high and low levels of donor-specific alloantibodies, the study showed those who received simultaneous liver-kidney transplants demonstrated a lower incidence of cellular and antibody-mediated rejection and chronic injury to the kidney, and demonstrated better overall kidney function five years post procedure.
Protein-trapped sugar compounds nourish infant gut microbes UC Davis researchers have shown that an enzyme produced by beneficial microbes in babies' intestines is able to harvest specific sugar compounds from human breast-milk and cow's milk. The discovery identifies those sugars—rather than associated protein compounds—as the key to nourishing those important, health-promoting microbes.
	Report: More infections from dirty scopes than estimated At least 300 patients have been sickened by life-threatening infections linked to contaminated medical scopes—more than previously estimated by federal regulators, according to figures released Friday.
World has two weeks to replace problem polio vaccine: WHO The World Health Organization on Friday gave countries two weeks to replace a problem polio vaccine blamed for some outbreaks of the crippling disease, which the UN health agency is hoping to wipe out once and for all.
	Women with epilepsy just as likely to get pregnant as healthy women of childbearing age Women with epilepsy are just as likely to achieve a successful pregnancy as women without the neurological disorder, according to a new study led by research teams at multiple centers, including NYU Langone Medical Center.
	First diagnosed case of Alzheimer's disease in HIV-positive individual reported Georgetown University researchers are reporting the first case of Alzheimer's disease diagnosed in an HIV-positive individual. The finding in a 71-year-old man triggers a realization about HIV survivors now reaching the age when Alzheimer's risk begins to escalate.
	At-home cognitive remediation may help cognitive symptoms in multiple sclerosis Cognitive impairment is one of the core symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)—and one of its most troubling concerns for many people with the condition. Now, a new study from NYU Langone Medical Center may provide hope for symptomatic relief for some of the cognitive issues associated with the neurological disease.
Standardizing care improves outcomes for infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome Standardizing hospital care policies across institutions for infants diagnosed with drug withdrawal symptoms at birth reduces their length of treatment and hospitalization, according to new collaborative research led by Vermont Oxford Network, Vanderbilt and the University of Michigan Health System.
	Low fat diet helps postmenopausal women avoid deadly breast cancers Women who stayed on a low fat diet for approximately eight years reduced their risk of death from invasive breast cancers and improved their survival rates when compared with women who had not followed the dietary regimen, according to a study presented at a clinical trial plenary session, entitled "Transformative Clinical Trials in Breast Cancer," at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting.
	Experimental drug guadecitabine found safe in patients with colorectal cancer In a small, phase I clinical trial, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say they show for the first time that the experimental drug guadecitabine (SGI-110) is safe in combination with the chemotherapy drug irinotecan and may overcome resistance to irinotecan in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Results of the study are expected to be presented April 17 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2016 in New Orleans (abstract CT017).
	Preliminary study: Antibody therapy reduces cancer stem cells in multiple myeloma An experimental antibody treatment decreased by half the number of cancer stem cells that drive the growth of tumors in nearly all patients with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow and bone tissue, according to results of a preliminary clinical trial led by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists.
Shorter treatment course potentially on the horizon for hep C patients Data from a Phase 2 clinical trial show that an investigational injectable treatment known as RG-101 in combination with a four week course of oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment was well tolerated and resulted in high virologic response rates post-treatment among Hepatitis C (HCV) infected patients with genotypes 1 and 4, who had not been treated previously.
Study demonstrates benefits of existing treatment for hepatitis D patients New research presented today shows that interferon alpha (IFNa) based therapies are effective in suppressing disease progression in a severe form of chronic viral hepatitis, Hepatitis delta.
Scientists uncover a potential approach to combat obesity in those prone to weight gain For the first time scientists have kick-started the natural process by which genetically predisposed obese mice gain weight, opening up a new potential approach to fight off obesity. The study that was presented today at The International Liver Congress in Barcelona, Spain suggests that impaired brown adipose tissue (BAT), otherwise known as 'brown fat', drives obesity, and by stimulating heat production in this fatty tissue, weight-management and glucose tolerance can be improved.
Antiviral therapy prolongs survival in immune tolerant hepatitis B patients A new study, presented today at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona Spain, demonstrates that the use of antiviral therapy for patients in the immune tolerant phase of Hepatitis B (HBV) prolongs overall survival and reduces the risk of the most common form of liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HCC) and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
Additional benefits of type 2 diabetes treatment found for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients A type 2 diabetes treatment has been found to also have 'off-label' benefits for glucose control in the liver and in fatty cells known as adipose.1 Presented at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, today, the study shows that exenatide, a treatment that targets the pancreas to improve glucose absorption, enhances glucose uptake and reduces insulin resistance in the liver and in adipose tissue.
Treatment for chronic hepatitis B linked to increased rates of colorectal and cervical cancer A new study presented today demonstrates a potential link between treatment of long-term oral nucleos(t)ide analogues and an increased risk of colorectal (p=0.029) and cervical (p=0.049) cancer in patients with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The study results were presented at The International Liver CongressTM 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
New treatment algorithm can predict benefit of treatment in end-stage liver disease A new algorithm designed to help physician decision-making in End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD), was able to accurately predict death in 96% of patients with ESLD.
Studies demonstrate improved safety results achieved with investigational drug for hep B Studies presented today at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, demonstrate that tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) improves patient safety while maintaining efficacy in patients with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread, TDF).
Plasma genotyping to predict treatment benefit in patients with NSCLC The benefit of plasma genotyping to predict treatment benefit in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is confirmed in three studies presented today at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.1 Researchers however warned that plasma tests are unlikely to fully replace tissue biopsies.
Patients with EGFR expressing NSCLC benefit most from necitumumab added to chemotherapy Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressing advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer benefit most from necitumumab added to gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy, according to a subgroup analysis from the SQUIRE trial presented today at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.
	Child development expert 'concerned' by UNICEF report Queen's University professor Wendy Craig was a research advisor for the new UNICEF Report Card 13: Fairness for Children. The report card reveals Canada ranks 26 out of 35 nations when compared across four key domains of child well-being: income, education, health and life satisfaction.
Scientists develop the first 'pharmalogical' tourniquet Imagine the following scenario. You are leading your team on patrol in pursuit of enemy insurgents and trigger a booby-trap. The explosion is massive. You hit the ground hard with both legs blown off. After the dust and smoke clears, help arrives. The medic sees your body rapidly bleeding out as you go into shock and notices a gaping hole in your abdomen. The new enemy is time.
Self-understanding helps criminal substance abusers Impulsiveness, crime and problems with social interaction. Many substance abusers also struggle with antisocial personality disorders, which makes it difficult for them to complete a drug or alcohol treatment programme. New research from the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research at Aarhus BSS reveals that just six additional counselling sessions may lower the drop-out rate and increase the outcome of the treatment programme.
3 Canadian families sue US sperm bank over sperm donor Three Ontario families are suing a U.S.-based sperm bank and its Canadian distributor, alleging they were misled about a donor's medical and social history, which included a criminal record and significant mental illness.
Canada province declares fentanyl overdoses a public health emergency A spike in the number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Canada's westernmost British Columbia province has prompted authorities to declare a public health emergency.
	Women of color: What we know and don't know about their unique health challenges Women of color face both racial and gender disparities in the incidence, onset, and outcomes of diseases as diverse as cancer, cardiovascular disease, HIV infection and age-related disability. The unique health challenges these disparities present are examined in an article published in Journal of Women's Health.
Team finds method to reduce accumulation of damaging Huntington's disease protein A study appearing April 14 in the journal Neuron suggests there may be a new way to change the damaging course of Huntington disease.
	As clinic access tightens, group touts pregnancy-ending drug The tightening of restrictions on abortion clinics in many states has emboldened some abortion rights advocates to launch an outreach effort, reminding women they have relatively safe and effective means of ending a pregnancy on their own through use of a miscarriage-inducing drug.

Biology news

	Instead of sexual reproduction, rotifers scavenge new genes from other pond life Sexual reproduction is thought to be essential for mixing up genes and holding your own in the race for survival. A major embarrassment to this theory are microscopic animals called rotifers, one class of which has reproduced without sex for millions of years.
	The genetic evolution of Zika virus An analysis comparing the individual differences between over 40 strains of Zika virus (30 isolated from humans, 10 from mosquitoes, and 1 from monkeys) has identified significant changes in both amino acid and nucleotide sequences during the past half-century. The data, published April 15 in Cell Host & Microbe, support a strong divergence between the Asian and African lineages as well as human and mosquito isolates of the virus, and will likely be helpful as researchers flush out how a relatively unknown pathogen led to the current outbreak.
	Mothers' milk and the infant gut microbiota: An ancient symbiosis Nursing infants' gastrointestinal tracts are enriched with specific protective microbes. Mother's milk, itself, guides the development of neonates' gut microbiota, nourishing a very specific bacterial population that, in turn, provides nourishment and protects the child. Now a team from the University of California, Davis, has identified the compound in the milk that supplies this nourishment, and has shown that it can be obtained from cow's milk. This work could result in using cow's milk to provide that compound as a prebiotic for infants. The research is published ahead of print on April 15th in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Endangered seals start journey home after rehab A U.S. Coast Guard airplane rumbled down an airstrip on Hawaii's Big Island, carrying hundreds of pounds of rare and precious cargo: seven endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
	Seismic surveys could threaten endangered whales Allowing underwater seismic surveys for oil and gas to be conducted off the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast coasts could pose a substantial threat to one of the world's most critically endangered whale species, a group of leading marine scientists say.
	Optogenetic system inhibits intracellular membrane vesicle trafficking Throughout our cells, materials are continuously transported via tiny packets called vesicles.  This process is called intracellular trafficking and it is crucial for the normal functioning of cells.  Controlling intracellular membranes, such as vesicles, is a seemingly impossible proposition, but researchers at the Center for Cognition and Sociality within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have created an optogenetic process, called "light-activated reversible inhibition by assembled trap of intracellular membranes" (IM-LARIAT) that allows for the observation and control membranes that populate our cells.
	Multiple paternity may offer fewer advantages than previously thought Females can enhance the survival chances of their offspring by mating with multiple males. When it comes to immunological benefits, however, female promiscuity may not provide the young the advantages long suspected, as a research team from Vetmeduni Vienna confirmed. The researchers also provided the first evidence that females are much more susceptible to Salmonella infection than males. The study was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
	What prairie dogs tell us about the effects of noise pollution In today's busy online world, our brain's are constantly stimulated by an onslaught of information. When faced with distractions such as ringing phones, noisy colleagues and floods of incoming emails, focusing on a complex task can be difficult. In fact, many studies have claimed that these multiple demands on our attention are impacting on our ability to concentrate and connect with people.
	New tool reveals role of ancestry in soil communities of bacteria The link between lineage and behavior has inspired research across the spectrum of life. For plants and animals, genetically close cousins tend to act in similar ways. Finches, for example, eat seeds, while swallows eat insects. For bacteria, however, the question is up for debate.
	Three new primate species discovered in Madagascar Scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Kentucky, the American Duke Lemur Center and the Université d'Antananarivo in Madagascar have described three new species of mouse lemurs. They live in the South and East of Madagascar and increase the number of known mouse lemur species to 24. As little as 20 years ago, only two species of these small, nocturnal primates were known. New genetic methods and expeditions to remote areas have made the new descriptions possible (Molecular Ecology).
	Scientists reveal structure of nuclear pore's inner ring It was a 3D puzzle with over 1000 pieces, with only a rather fuzzy outline as a guide. But scientists at EMBL have now put enough pieces in place to see the big picture. In a study published today in Science, they present their latest findings, bringing the nuclear pore complex into focus.
Too much 'noise' can affect brain development Using cutting-edge imaging technology, University of California, Irvine biologists have determined that uncontrolled fluctuations (known at "noise) in the concentration of the vitamin A derivative Retinoic acid (RA) can lead to disruptions in brain organization during development.
	India poachers kill rhino soon after royal couple visit Poachers shot dead a rhinoceros at a wildlife park in northeast India hours after Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate visited the sanctuary, a wildlife official said Friday.
	Close living room encounter with dangerous cassowary An Australian couple had a close encounter with one of the most dangerous birds in the world when a giant flightless cassowary wandered into their home, sending them running for cover.
	Human activities trigger change in marine ecosystems Marine ecosystems are constantly subject to anthropogenic and environmental factors that cause them to change. From fishing and pollution, to climate change and invasions of non-native species, these factors have existed since prehistoric times but little is known about their cumulative impact.
	Land mines of the sea: Cleaning up lost fishing gear They are the land mines of the sea, killing long after being forgotten.
	Ivory trucks arrive in Kenyan capital for mass burning Truckloads of elephant tusks arrived in the Kenyan capital Friday, collected from across the east African nation ahead of the world's biggest burning of ivory later this month.

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