Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 19

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 19, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Two different crystals can be described by the same mathematical rules
- First high-energy neutrino traced to an origin outside of the Milky Way
- New two-dimensional 'borophene' sheet
- Tidal forces explain how an icy moon of Saturn keeps its 'tiger stripes'
- Venus Express' swansong experiment sheds light on Venus' polar atmosphere
- Earth-like planet may exist in a nearby star system
- Measuring the heat capacity of condensed light
- Researchers believe they have uncovered the purpose of puquios in Nasca
- Making electronics out of coal
- New research improves conductive plastic for health, energy, other technologies
- Scientists ID genes connected to wellbeing, depression and neuroticism
- Cluster analysis of cat neural network models reveals promising anti-seizure strategies
- Seeing double: NASA missions measure solar flare from two spots in space
- Ocean currents push phytoplankton—and pollution—around the globe faster than thought
- Cracking the Zika mystery: Study reveals the Zika virus structure and identifies a way to target it

Astronomy & Space news

	Earth-like planet may exist in a nearby star system (Phys.org)—An Earth-like planet may be lurking in a star system located just 16 light years away, according to a new research. The star, named Gliese 832, was recently investigated by a team of astronomers searching for additional exoplanets that may be residing between the two currently known alien worlds in this system. A paper detailing the finding was published online on Apr. 15 in the arXiv journal.
	Tidal forces explain how an icy moon of Saturn keeps its 'tiger stripes' The persistence of the massive, explosive fissures on the surface of Saturn's sixth-largest moon, Enceladus—despite the moon's astoundingly frigid surface—have remained a mystery for 11 years. Researchers from Princeton University and the University of Chicago show, however, that the fissures could be kept active by the sloshing of water in the vast ocean that scientists suppose is beneath the moon's thick ice shell. The findings could help provide a clear objective for future satellite missions to Enceladus, which scientists suspect could host life.
	Venus Express' swansong experiment sheds light on Venus' polar atmosphere Some of the final results sent back by ESA's Venus Express before it plummeted down through the planet's atmosphere have revealed it to be rippling with atmospheric waves – and, at an average temperature of -157°C, colder than anywhere on Earth.
	Microgravity research satellite explores embryo development in space A new study shows mammals can be developed in space. China Daily reported on the study Sunday. The experiment involves China's SJ-10 recoverable satellite. Cheng Yingqi said that high-resolution photographs were sent back by SJ-10. "For the first time in human history, it has been proven that the early stages of embryos in mammals can be developed completely in a space environment."
	Psychologists study intense awe astronauts feel viewing earth from space Picture Earth at the center of a frame. The planet looks unassuming, a fleck, its blue-and-white marbling stark against a black interstellar backdrop. Yet the image likely evokes some reaction.
	Chandra observations of comets C/2012 S1 (ISON) and C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) For millennia, people on Earth have watched comets in the sky. Many ancient cultures saw comets as the harbingers of doom, but today scientists know that comets are really frozen balls of dust, gas, and rock and may have been responsible for delivering water to planets like Earth billions of years ago.
	New Ceres images show bright craters Craters with bright material on dwarf planet Ceres shine in new images from NASA's Dawn mission.
	From bright flare ribbons to coronal rain, high-resolution images capture a solar flare as it unfolds Scientists at NJIT's Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) have captured unprecedented images of a recent solar flare, including bright flare ribbons seen crossing a sunspot followed by "coronal rain," plasma that condenses in the cooling phase shortly after the flare, showering the visible surface of the Sun where it lands in brilliant explosions.
	Seeing double: NASA missions measure solar flare from two spots in space Solar flares are intense bursts of light from the sun. They are created when complicated magnetic fields suddenly and explosively rearrange themselves, converting magnetic energy into light through a process called magnetic reconnection - at least, that's the theory, because the signatures of this process are hard to detect. But during a December 2013 solar flare, three solar observatories captured the most comprehensive observations of an electromagnetic phenomenon called a current sheet, strengthening the evidence that this understanding of solar flares is correct.
	Image: Around Anuket region of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko Captured in this curious view are the Anuket region and its surroundings on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The image was taken by Rosetta's navigation camera (NavCam) on 13 March 2016, from a distance of 17 km, and measures about 1.5 km across.
	Image: NASA's SDO captures mid-level solar flare The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 8:29 pm EDT on April 17, 2016. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
	Pluto's haze varies in brightness Scientists on NASA's New Horizons mission team are learning more about the structure and behavior of Pluto's complex atmosphere by discovering new attributes of its extensive haze layers. The hazes were first discovered by New Horizons in July, as the spacecraft swept past Pluto and made its historic first exploration of the mysterious world.
	Antarctica provides plenty of Mars samples right now Sometimes, the best way to study Mars is to stay home. There's no substitute for actual missions to Mars, but pieces of Mars have made the journey to Earth, and saved us the trip. Case in point: the treasure trove of Martian meteorites that NASA is gathering from Antarctica.

Technology news

	A model to recycle smartphone lithium ion batteries into solar power systems Despite their hefty price tag, smartphones have an average consumer lifetime of about three years. The lithium ion batteries that power them, however, can last for about five years—meaning that just about every discarded smartphone generates e-waste and squanders the battery's twilight years. To cut down on the environmental waste and provide storage for rural communities, researchers at Kyung Hee University in Seoul have proposed a model for recycling unspent lithium ion batteries into energy storage units for solar-powered LED lamps.
	Annual Apple developers gathering set for June Apple will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco in June, the company announced.
Yahoo to report earnings while wooing bidders Yahoo is poised to report quarterly earnings Tuesday that could make it tougher to convince buyers the struggling Internet pioneer is worth their interest.
US probes target health care startup Theranos Theranos, a startup that touted a revolutionary new way to test blood, has revealed it is under scrutiny by US civil and criminal authorities.
	Root, the code-teaching robot In the digital age, computing fuels some of the fastest-growing segments of the economy, making programming an increasingly important part of an American education. But the words "computer literacy" do not exactly excite the imaginations of most grade schoolers. So how to engage young minds with coding?
Verizon a leading contender to buy Yahoo: reports US telecoms giant Verizon has emerged as a leading contender to take over struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo as other big names reportedly drop out, US financial media said ahead of quarterly results Tuesday that are expected to show the portal suffering a further sharp drop in revenue.
	Toy-building kit allows children to create robots and control them remotely Research at Purdue University funded through a National Science Foundation grant has led to development of a new kind of toy-building kit that allows children to create robots and control them remotely like a puppeteer.
	Engineers to study traffic data to determine causes of fatal accidents Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in the U.S., especially for people under the age of 25. Computer scientist Kamesh Madduri and civil engineer Venky Shankar are developing a high performance computing-based framework for the comparative evaluation of traffic safety on statewide transportation networks, which they hope will find patterns related to fatalities and severe injuries.
	Researchers discover new steps in the escalating cat-and-mouse game of internet censorship Researchers have found that the "Great Firewall" technology that controls internet traffic entering and leaving China is not merely an apparatus that statically blocks traffic. It also actively sends probes to other machines that are connected to the internet, preemptively searching for internet infrastructure and services that seek to circumvent its defenses.
	Visa: new technology for chip cards to speed checkout times (Update) Visa is upgrading its software to process chip-embedded credit and debit cards to function faster—addressing a source of grumbling from businesses and customers who are often forced to wait for transactions to go through.
	Transport security focus at London counter-terror fair (Update) A red line appears on the computer screen as a man with a dummy gun and a fake suicide vest under his jacket demonstrates a body scanner at a counter-terrorism technology fair in London on Tuesday.
	Apple report shows 30,000 law enforcement data queries Apple received some 30,000 data requests from law enforcement agencies globally in the second half of 2015, and provided information in a majority of cases, the company's latest transparency report showed.
	EU to charge Google over Android on Wednesday: sources The EU will unveil formal anti-trust charges against Google on Wednesday over how it markets its widely-used Android mobile phone operating system, two sources close to the matter told AFP.
	FBI: Using third parties to break encryption not only answer The FBI is facing an increasing struggle to access readable information and evidence from digital devices because of default encryption, a senior FBI official told members of Congress at a hearing on digital encryption Tuesday.
	Victorian Age technology can improve virtual reality, study finds Virtual and augmented reality have the potential to profoundly impact our society, but the technologies have a few bugs to work out to better simulate realistic visual experience. Now, researchers at Dartmouth College and Stanford University have discovered that "monovision"—a simple technique borrowed from ophthalmology that dates to the monocle of the Victorian Age - can improve user performance in virtual reality environments.
Dutch police crack encrypted communications network Dutch police and prosecutors took down an encrypted communications network Tuesday believed to have been used by criminals in the Netherlands and possibly overseas.
	'We have not provided source code to China': Apple Apple has not provided its underlying software instructions or "source code" to China, the company's top lawyer said Tuesday, seeking to quash rumors about the iPhone maker's data security.
	NASA investigates 3-D printing for building densely populated electronic assemblies As detector assemblies get smaller and denser—packed with electronic components that all must be electrically connected to sense and read out signals—it's becoming increasingly more challenging to design and manufacture these all-important instrument devices.
	Americans use less energy in 2015, analysis shows Americans used less energy overall in 2015 than the previous year, according to the most recent energy flow charts released by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
	Spanish classic 'Don Quixote' published in 17,000 tweets A retired computer engineer is marking the fourth centenary of the death of Spain's revered author Miguel de Cervantes by publishing his best-known novel "Don Quixote" online—one Twitter message at a time.
Apple denies handing source code over to China Apple on Tuesday denied providing Chinese authorities with special access to its devices, as the iPhone maker defended its position on encryption and cooperation with US law enforcement.
	Airbnb adds new recommendations features Airbnb is adding recommendations to its online accommodations service, building on its knowledge of travelers' preferences, coupled with tips from locals.
	Intel to slash up to 12,000 jobs in restructuring Intel will cut up to 12,000 jobs worldwide as it seeks to shake up its business to reduce dependence on the slumping personal computer market, the US tech giant said Tuesday.
	Yahoo logs loss as it courts potential buyers Yahoo on Tuesday reported a quarterly loss as the struggling Internet pioneer continued to court potential buyers and examine other strategic options.
	European railways benefit from innovative platform for simulating and evaluating on-board positioning systems The ETCS aims to introduce a single harmonised system of signalling, control and train protection that would replace the many incompatible safety systems that currently exist on European railways, particularly on high-speed rail lines. It is an EU legal requirement that all new, upgraded or renewed tracks and rolling stock within the European rail network should adopt ETCS.
	Batteries from parked electric vehicles could reduce costs for train commuters Engineers have received £1.5million in funding for a new battery energy storage project that could mean more efficient and cheaper trains.
Bristol's 5G wireless research showcased The quest for a 1,000-fold capacity enhancement alongside higher data rates for 5th generation (5G) wireless networks is the subject of intense international academic and industrial research. Two engineers from the University of Bristol's Communication Systems and Networks (CSN) group, who are leaders in this field, have been invited to discuss the future of wireless communications in Brussels and Brooklyn (US) this week [19 to 22 April].

Medicine & Health news

	Molecular Zika study finds possible target for tests, drugs The molecular structure of the Zika virus as seen on x-ray crystallography revealed electrostatic differences in a key protein compared with other flaviviruses that might explain how it infects human cells, according to a study today from Chinese researchers.
	Protein research offers 'promising' potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease Research co-led by the University of Glasgow has made a potential breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
	Scientists ID genes connected to wellbeing, depression and neuroticism An international group of more than 190 scientists who analyzed the genomes of 298,420 individuals have found genetic variants that may influence our sense of wellbeing, depression and neuroticism.
	Antiviral protein linked to depressed mood in mice The flu and other viral infections have long been known to cause mood changes, beyond the more familiar symptoms of fever and sore throat. A study in mice, published April 19, 2016 in Immunity, now reveals how the antiviral immune response alters brain activity. Upon infection, brain cells lining blood vessels produce a protein called CXCL10, which impairs neuronal firing in the hippocampus—a brain region important in learning, memory, and mood.
	How much do we really see? Glance out the window and then close your eyes. What did you see? Maybe you noticed it's raining and there was a man carrying an umbrella. What color was it? What shape was its handle? Did you catch those details? Probably not. Some neuroscientists would say that, even though you perceived very few specifics from the window scene, your eyes still captured everything in front of you. But there are flaws to this logic, MIT researchers argue in an Opinion published April 19, 2016 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences. It may be that our vision only reflects the gist of what we see.
	Cracking the Zika mystery: Study reveals the Zika virus structure and identifies a way to target it An important breakthrough in understanding the Zika virus structure and its behaviour has been highlighted in a study by Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) scientists.
	Researchers pinpoint part of the brain that recognizes facial expressions Researchers at The Ohio State University have pinpointed the area of the brain responsible for recognizing human facial expressions.
Stent retrievers improve odds for ischemic stroke patients Timely treatment with endovascular therapy to restore blood flow to the brain significantly improves functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. The findings underscore the importance of getting stroke patients to the correct level of care quickly and efficiently, researchers said.
	Eradication of Zika-spreading mosquito in Brazil unlikely In the 1940s and 1950s, Brazilian authorities made such a ferocious assault on Aedes aegypti—the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus—that it was eradicated from Latin America's largest country by 1958.
	Climate change may boost spread of Zika, other viruses As Europe and the United States brace for the likely arrival of the Zika virus from Latin America this summer, experts warn global warming may accelerate the spread of mosquito-borne disease.
	Mosquitoes: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em Mozzies. Skeeters. Stingers. Whatever you call them, mosquitoes don't get much love from our species.
Zika mosquito found in Chile, first time in decades The species of mosquito that carries the Zika virus has been found in mainland Chile for the first time in six decades, the country's health minister said Monday.
Double advantage of potential new diabetes treatment Blocking the hormone that raises sugar levels in the blood could increase insulin levels while keeping blood sugar levels down.
	A single enzyme with the power of three could offer shortcut to therapeutic target Researchers identified a single enzyme doing the work of a trio thought necessary to control a common cellular signaling process being pursued as a therapeutic target.
Higher muscle mass associated with lower mortality risk in people with heart disease Researchers from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA found that cardiovascular disease patients who have high muscle mass and low fat mass have a lower mortality risk than those with other body compositions. The findings also suggest that regardless of a person's level of fat mass, a higher level of muscle mass helps reduce the risk of death.
	Article offers ways to address overlooked details in practice (HealthDay)—Looking at a family medicine practice with fresh eyes can help address unsightly issues that patients notice, according to an article published in Family Practice Management.
New cases of dementia in the UK fall by 20 percent over two decades The UK has seen a 20% fall in the incidence of dementia over the past two decades, according to new research from England, led by the University of Cambridge, leading to an estimated 40,000 fewer cases of dementia than previously predicted. However, the study, published today in Nature Communications, suggests that the dramatic change has been observed mainly in men.
	Promising new compound protects neurons and vision in mice with glaucoma Early tests of a novel compound in mice with glaucoma should come as welcome news to millions of people around the world now suffering with this leading cause of vision loss. Researchers reporting in the journal Heliyon have shown that a compound they've developed might help to prevent the nerve damage that leads people with glaucoma to lose their sight.
	New study explores weight stigmatization on Twitter A new study by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, Yale School of Medicine and American University has found that weight stigma—or negative attitudes about people simply because they are overweight—is occurring regularly on Twitter.
	Eating chocolate improves cognitive function, study finds People who ate chocolate at least once a week performed better on multiple cognitive tasks, compared to those who ate chocolate less frequently, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maine, University of South Australia and Luxembourg Institute of Health that has garnered international attention.
Genetics may influence risk for breast cancer after chest radiotherapy to treat childhood cancer Among females who received radiotherapy to the chest as part of treatment for a childhood cancer, those who had either of two specific genetic variants were at significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer later in life, according to research presented here at the AACR Annual Meeting 2016, April 16-20.
	​​Breast cancer risk prediction models improved by adding multiple biological markers of risk Adding biological markers of risk to breast cancer risk prediction models currently in use in the clinic appears to improve risk prediction, especially for postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy (HT), according to research presented here at the AACR Annual Meeting 2016, April 16-20.
Palbociclib showed antiproliferative activity in early-stage breast cancer The molecularly targeted therapeutic palbociclib (Ibrance), which is used to treat advanced breast cancer, was effective in slowing the multiplication of cancer cells in patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who received no prior therapy, according to data from a phase II clinical trial presented here at the AACR Annual Meeting 2016, April 16-20.
Delaying radiation therapy for women with very early breast cancer raises recurrence Delaying radiation therapy too long after surgery significantly increases the risk of recurrent tumors in women treated for very early, or what is referred to as "stage 0," breast cancer, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	Eating dark chocolate as a daily snack could help boost athletic performance, study suggests Dark chocolate has already been hailed for its positive effects on cardiovascular health – and now a study undertaken at London's Kingston University has found the tasty treat could help give sports enthusiasts an extra edge in their fitness training.
	Personalized treatment for chronic pain closer to reality Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System have successfully tailored a personalized treatment approach for chronic pain in a severe pain syndrome known as inherited erythromelalgia.
	Hair loss in women with breast cancer can have major implications on their sense of identity A new study from The University of Nottingham highlights the importance of hair loss to women with breast cancer.
Gene mutation makes tumors tense, worsens patient prognosis UC San Francisco researchers have discovered that the chances of survival for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC)—the most common type of pancreatic cancer—may depend in part on how tense their tumors are. The researchers provide the first evidence linking tumor aggressiveness and patient survival rates to underlying genetic mutations that cause tumors to stiffen up and produce a dangerous thickening and scarring of the tissue around them.
	Hormone drug could cure asthma and other fibrosis-related diseases Relaxin is the hormone that aids women to give birth – produced by the ovaries during pregnancy it ensures that the pelvic ligaments soften, for a brief time, long enough to push the baby out.
	Australia's first robotic help in a hip replacement operation The first robotically assisted hip replacement operation in Australia is due to be performed today on a patient in Brisbane.
	Night shifts may be more disruptive to women than men, brain study suggests We all appreciate the importance of getting enough sleep. Not doing so affects our ability to function effectively, something that becomes painfully apparent during shift-work, especially night shifts. Now research suggests that this kind of disruption to our daily rhythms may have more of an effect on women's brains than men's.
	Bisphenol A in low doses can affect the reproductive system and behaviour If rats are exposed to bisphenol A in low doses during early development it can lead to reduced sperm count, obesity and changes to breast development and behaviour. These are some of the findings of a new study from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. The results support previous animal studies, which have shown that low doses of bisphenol A can affect development of the metabolism as well as the reproductive and nervous systems.
	How Purdue Pharma helped spark the opioid epidemic What do conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, singer Courtney Love and deceased actor Heath Ledger all have in common? The answer, according to published reports, is that all battled addiction to OxyContin, an opioid pain reliever now sometimes called "rich man's heroin" but known on the street simply as "Killer."
	Female children of inmates at greater risk for neurological problems A secondary analysis of data gathered in scores of interviews with female inmates suggests girls who have an incarcerated adult in the family may be at greater risk for lifelong neurological problems.
Rare pediatric cancer successfully treated with new targeted therapy When a baby's life was threatened by a rare pediatric cancer that would not respond to surgery or chemotherapy, doctors at Nemours Children's Hospital rapidly, successfully shrank the tumor by 90 percent using an experimental treatment, according to a new study published online in Pediatric Blood and Cancer. The now-20-month-old girl achieved the remarkable improvement by receiving a drug called LOXO-101 that was being tested on adults, researchers reported.
Study examines safety, immune response of candidate Ebola vaccines In a study appearing in the April 19, 2016 issue of JAMA, Matthew D. Snape, F.R.C.P.C.H., M.D., of the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a phase 1 trial to evaluate the tolerability and immunogenicity of two candidate Ebola vaccines, an adenovirus type 26 vector vaccine (Ad26.ZEBOV), and a modified Ankara vector vaccine (MVA-BN-Filo).
	New treatment for advanced melanoma shows promise In a study appearing in the April 19, 2016 issue of JAMA, Antoni Ribas, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of California-Los Angeles, and colleagues examined tumor response and overall survival following administration of the antibody pembrolizumab among patients with advanced melanoma.
Medicaid expansion significantly boosts insurance coverage among low-income adults Researchers at UCLA have that found states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act saw a significant increase in rates of health insurance among low-income adults compared with states that did not expand the program.
	Immunotherapy drug shrinks tumors in half of patients with rare, virus-linked skin cancer In a clinical trial of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, half of 25 patients with a rare type of virus-linked skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma experienced substantial tumor shrinkage lasting nearly three times as long, on average, than with conventional chemotherapy. Several patients had no remaining evidence of disease. Results of the study are expected to be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2016 (abstract CT096) in New Orleans and published online April 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	A breath of fresh air: Scientists reveal how the brain generates respiratory rhythm Bringing a steady supply of fresh air to the lungs can seem like a simple task, but breathing is a careful orchestration of brain and body.
Immunotherapy is first to show survival benefit in head and neck cancer The immunotherapy drug nivolumab has become the first to show a survival benefit in head and neck cancer, after a major international trial found that it was more effective than standard chemotherapy.
Neural stem cell transplants aid traumatic brain injury recovery Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, often causing lifelong disability for those who survive. Treatment is limited to supportive care, but stem cell therapy has received recent attention as a way to promote recovery for injuries to the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, researchers transplanted human neural stem cells (hNSCs) into the brains of mice modeled with TBI to investigate whether the hosts' immune systems and the stem cells acting in concert would enhance repair.
	A small dose of E. coli wall has big impact on the sweet tooth Putting just a tiny piece of the wall of detoxified E. coli into their gut make mice lose their natural sweet tooth, researchers report.
New technology quantifies effects of prostate tumor laser ablation Prostate cancers are either low-grade, low-risk forms that may be monitored but otherwise untreated. Or they're serious enough to require surgery and radiation.
Research paves the way for monocyte-based cell therapy Researchers from VIB-UGent reveal that adult circulating monocytes that get access to the macrophage niche in the liver or the lung can acquire identical tissue-specific macrophage functions and self-maintenance capacities as macrophages of embryonic origin. This paves the way towards monocyte-based cellular therapy in diseases associated with macrophage dysfunction, such as the disease known as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Using a mouse model for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, the authors demonstrate that this rare disease can be cured by a single transfer of monocytes.
	The more you run, the denser your bones will be Spanish researchers have analysed the effect of endurance running training on the stiffness index, a variable that is directly related to bone quality. The results confirm that the greater the race distance that is trained, the better; this can be used, therefore, to prevent the progressive decline in bone mineral density that occurs with age.
FDA campaign takes aim at chewing tobacco use by rural teens Government health officials will team up with minor league baseball as part of a new $36 million campaign to discourage rural teenagers from using chewing tobacco.
	Provocative discography may up risk of clinical disc problems (HealthDay)—Provocative discography, an invasive diagnostic procedure involving disc puncture with pressurization, is associated with increased risk of clinical disc problems, according to a study published in the March issue of The Spine Journal.
	Study finds factors that may influence influenza vaccine effectiveness The long-held approach to predicting seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness may need to be revisited, new research suggests. Currently, seasonal flu vaccines are designed to induce high levels of protective antibodies against hemagglutinin (HA), a protein found on the surface of the influenza virus that enables the virus to enter a human cell and initiate infection. New research conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, found that higher levels of antibody against a different flu surface protein—neuraminidase (NA)—were the better predictor of protection against flu infection and its unpleasant side effects. Neuraminidase, which is not currently the main target antigen in traditional flu vaccines, enables newly formed flu viruses to exit the host cell and cause further viral replication in the body.
	Media coverage of celebrities with breast cancer influencing rise in double mastectomy An increase in women with breast cancer choosing double mastectomy may be influenced by media coverage of celebrities, a new study finds.
	'Good cop' parent not enough to buffer some harmful effects of 'bad cop' parent New research shows harsh parenting may increase a child's risk for poor physical health and obesity as they get older. And attempts by one parent to counterbalance the harsh behavior are not always effective in lessening that risk.
	Are lab mice too cold? Why it matters for science A typical mouse laboratory is kept between 20 and 26 degrees C, but if the mice had it their way, it would be a warm 30 degrees C. While the mice are still considered healthy at cooler temperatures, they expend more energy to maintain their core temperature, and evidence is mounting that even mild chronic cold stress is skewing results in studies of cancer, inflammation, and more. Researchers review the evidence April 19 in Trends in Cancer.
	When it comes to a child's weight in the ER, mama knows best Parents outperform even sophisticated measurement systems in emergency departments when it comes to estimating their children's body weight, according to the results of a systematic review of the literature on pediatric weight estimation published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Weight Estimation Methods in Children: A Systematic Review").
Brain-dead woman gives birth in Poland A brain-dead Polish woman was kept alive for 55 days so that she could give birth, a hospital official said Tuesday, adding that the premature baby showed no signs of serious complications.
	Aspirin use may help prevent bile duct cancer, study finds A team of current and former Mayo Clinic researchers has discovered that aspirin use is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing bile duct cancer, also called cholangiocarcinoma. The results are published in Hepatology.
	Religious rhetoric not helpful in anti-alcohol messages Does including a religious message in a public service announcement warning of the dangers of alcohol use make a difference to the viewer, especially if that person lives in a Middle Eastern country in which the predominate religion is Muslim?
	Two-vaccine Ebola regimen shows promise in early-stage clinical trial An immunization regimen using two Ebola vaccine candidates was safe and well-tolerated and induced an immune response in healthy adult volunteers in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Results from the study are described in the April 19th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has supported the development and testing of the two investigational vaccines: Ad26.ZEBOV, developed by Crucell Holland B.V., and MVA-BN-Filo, developed by Bavarian Nordic.
	Scientists propose treatment for severe lung diseases Researchers are developing a new drug to treat life-threatening lung damage and breathing problems in people with severe infections like pneumonia, those undergoing certain cancer treatments and premature infants with underdeveloped, injury prone lungs.
Clinical trial for experimental Ebola drug publishes results Results of the Wellcome Trust funded trial of the experimental anti-Ebola drug TKM-130803 have been published today (April 19) in PLOS Medicine. Using a novel approach designed to get rapid indications of a drug's effectiveness, the trial showed that at the dose given the drug did not improve survival compared to historic controls.
	Causes of childhood obesity complex, but families, media play key roles Children's genetic risks for obesity may be reduced by interventions that strengthen family communication and help children manage their emotions and feelings of satiety, according to a new review of research on the problem.
	Scientists describe new research model to enhance Zika virus research Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) have developed one of the first mouse models for the study of Zika virus. The model will allow researchers to better understand how the virus causes disease and aid in the development of antiviral compounds and vaccines.
	Low BMI and death after heart attack Low body mass index increases risk mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), even after adjustment for other health factors that affect body weight, according to a study this week in PLOS Medicine. Emily Bucholz, Hannah Krumholz, and Harlan Krumholz of Yale University conducted a prospective cohort study of elderly patients hospitalized for AMI, analyzing short- and long-term mortality among underweight and normal weight patients (as measured by body mass index, BMI) while controlling for comorbid illness and frailty.
Chocolate milk maker wanted study touted with "Concussion" A small chocolate milk company wanted to tout the ability of its drink in helping high school athletes recover from concussions to coincide with the Will Smith movie "Concussion," according to emails obtained by The Associated Press.
	Small study supports new stool-based colon cancer test (HealthDay)—A new, but small, study finds more evidence that a recently approved, stool-based colon cancer test may be effective for certain patients.
	Drug shows promise against rare, aggressive skin cancer (HealthDay)—A newer drug that boosts the immune system's ability to kill tumor cells may help people with a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
	Suboptimal guideline adherence for hematuria after menopause (HealthDay)—The prevalence of urinary tract malignancy is low among postmenopausal women evaluated for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Post-op gouty arthritis described in patient taking thiazide (HealthDay)—A case of postoperative acute gouty arthritis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy with umbilical hernioplasty, secondary to hydrochlorothiazide use, has been documented in a case report published in the March issue in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
	Donor epstein-barr serostatus influences GVHD after allo-HSCT (HealthDay)—Donor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serostatus influences incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients with acute leukemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), according to a study published online April 18 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Mixed-meal tolerance tests vary for C-peptide response in T1DM (HealthDay)—Two- and four-hour mixed-meal tolerance tests (MMTTs) vary for C-peptide responses in type 1 diabetes, according to research published online April 13 in Diabetes Care.
	Network meta-analysis recommends prostaglandins for glaucoma (HealthDay)—Network meta-analysis, which compares multiple treatment options, suggests that prostaglandins are best for decreasing intraocular pressure at three months in primary open angle-glaucoma (POAG), according to research published online April 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists no benefit post MI (HealthDay)—For patients with post-myocardial infarction (MI) heart failure, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) do not improve outcome, according to a study published in the April 26 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Oral nicotinamide safe for renal transplant recipients (HealthDay)—For renal transplant recipients, oral nicotinamide seems safe and is associated with nonsignificant reductions in new non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), according to a study published online April 8 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Review: paroxetine reduces vasomotor symptoms (HealthDay)—For perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, paroxetine reduces vasomotor symptoms, according to a review and meta-analysis published online April 7 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Pancreatic cancer risk tied to specific mouth bacteria The presence of certain bacteria in the mouth may reveal increased risk for pancreatic cancer and enable earlier, more precise treatment. This is the main finding of a study led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center to be presented April 19 in New Orleans at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Study examines factors affecting whether women choose a medical research career Unless exposed to positive research experience and role models during their medical education and training, women are unlikely to consider careers in academic medicine seriously. That's one conclusion of an Oxford University study published in The Lancet. It asked why, when entry to medical schools is evenly split between men and women, those working in University medical departments are predominantly men.
	Pandemic E. coli strain H30 cloaks its stealth strategies The difficulty in subduing the pandemic strain of drug-resistant E. coli, called H30, may go beyond patient vulnerability or antibiotic resistance. This form of the disease-pathogen may have an intrinsic ability to cause persistent, harmful, even deadly infections.
Breast cancer patients receiving Herceptin treatment should be monitored for heart damage at any age Breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with trastuzumab-containing regimens should be monitored for heart damage regardless of age. This is among the findings of a new study from the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network (UHN). The study was published yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Maine could be 1st state to OK medical pot to treat addicts Maine could become the first state to add addiction to opioid prescriptions and illegal narcotics like heroin to its list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana.
	States seek ways to regulate steep air-ambulance costs The first time Jason Ebert needed an air ambulance, it saved his life. The second time, it nearly broke the bank.
	Drugstore chain CVS pushes convenience with curbside pickups CVS Health will spread its curbside pickup service to drugstores nationwide this year, as traditional retailers continue to hone their reputations for convenience and fight fierce competition online.
	Perhaps there is a drug that can prolong your life—it's called money A wise man once said that "mo' money, mo' problems" (Wallace, 1997). However, despite increases in supposed problems, one of the major benefits is increased life expectancy.
UW to study link between recession-related stress and health in older Americans The Great Recession devastated millions of Americans financially—but what impacts did that economic stress have on their physical and mental well-being? Gillian Marshall, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Washington Tacoma, wants to answer that question.
	Paving the way to predicting spine deformities Spine deformities first occur mostly in childhood, and how fast and how severe these incapacitating conditions develop is difficult to predict.
	Explosive growth in US health care employment continues as others sectors lag Between 2004 and 2014, jobs in the health care sector grew 20 percent, compared to three percent for all other sectors, according to a recent report by the University at Albany's Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS). The trend is expected to continue as the health care industry is projected to grow much faster than other industries through the next decade as well.
	Protective suit against Ebola and future epidemics Following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, EPFL is joining forces with Geneva University Hospitals and the University of Geneva to develop a new protective suit. The initiative is driven and supported by doctors working on the front lines.
	Positive diagnosis for neural therapeutic implants The EU DENECOR project was launched in 2013 in order to address a key challenge facing cutting edge nano-electronic neuromodulation devices. These are minute therapeutic implants that are designed to stimulate nerve activity and help patients suffering neurological conditions to recover certain functions.
	New mathematical model challenges aggressive antibiotic treatments Antibiotic resistance is one of the most challenging problems in modern medicine. A new study by Erida Gjini and Patricia H. Brito from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC; Portugal), provides a new mathematical model to evaluate the best treatment protocol to clear an infection, by taking into account the role of the host immune system. This new conceptual framework, published in the latest edition of the scientific journal PLoS Computational Biology, may be used in the future for personalised treatments.
Watercress extract detoxifies carcinogens in smokers, clinical trial demonstrates Watercress extract taken multiple times a day significantly inhibits the activation of a tobacco-derived carcinogen in cigarette smokers, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), partner with UPMC CancerCenter, demonstrated in a phase II clinical trial presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Health problems may predict traumatic brain injuries in older adults Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of death and disability, has become so common in recent times that it has been called a "silent epidemic." And because older adults are more likely to suffer TBI, have worse outcomes, and are less likely to survive their injury than younger adults, older adults are considered a "silent population" within this epidemic.
Internists recommend steps to ensure success of Medicare's 'value-based' payment reforms The American College of Physicians (ACP) today shared its perspectives on what the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the medical profession itself, needs to do to ensure that the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) is implemented successfully and as Congress intended.
Half of long-stay nursing home residents go to hospital ED regardless of cognitive status A new study from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute has found that almost half of all long-stay nursing home residents experience at least one transfer to an Emergency Department over the course of a year regardless of their cognitive status. While a high percentage of long-stay nursing home residents were sent to the ED, only about a third of these individuals were subsequently admitted to the hospital.
Report: Stagnant US funding for tools against disease threats leaves world at serious risk Even as Congress grapples with the White House on how to fund an emergency response to fight Zika virus, a new report warns that overall underfunding for development of lifesaving tools against neglected global diseases is putting the United States and the world at risk, and that emergency funding can't be allowed to substitute for sustained US investment in research and development (R&D) of global health technologies.
World's nations urged to shift focus on drug problem (Update) World governments at a UN meeting on the global drug problem were urged Tuesday to move away from repression, abolish the death penalty for drug offenses and step up treatment.
	Surgeons develop innovative technique for reconstructing breast after mastectomy UT Southwestern Medical Center plastic surgeons have developed a new breast reconstruction technique that combines advantages of two different types of microsurgical procedures using abdominal and other tissue to reconstruct the breast after a mastectomy.
Nursing home ownership Given evidence from observational studies that publicly funded care delivered in for-profit facilities is inferior to care delivered in public or non-profit facilities, the precautionary principle should be applied when developing policy for the frail and vulnerable population in nursing homes, according to a new article in PLOS Medicine by Margaret McGregor from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and colleagues.
UK labor ward staff and outcomes Maternal and neonatal intrapartum outcomes in the UK are similar during "in-hours," when a senior obstetrician is scheduled to be present on the labour ward, and "out-of-hours," when care is managed by other members of the obstetric team, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The multicenter cohort study, conducted by Hannah E. Knight of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists / London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and colleagues, found no differences in Apgar scores, cord pH, or postpartum bleeding, small differences in caesarean section and instrumental delivery, and weak evidence for fewer severe perineal tears following out-of-hours delivery.
	Children in well-baby group care 90 percent less likely to be overweight than peers in traditional care A novel approach to preventing overweight/obesity in young children by replacing traditional, individual well-child care with a series of group visits that emphasize nutrition-focused interventions during the first 18 months of life was associated with a significantly reduced obesity rate at 2 years of age. Designed for use in a primary care setting, this model provides a unique opportunity to target an effective strategy for pediatric obesity prevention to at-risk communities, as described in the study published in Childhood Obesity.
Peru hands out condoms to curb sex-transmitted Zika Visitors arriving in Peru by air on Tuesday from Zika-infected countries were given condoms as part of a government campaign to curb the sexual transmission of the virus.

Biology news

	Rough childhoods have ripple effects for wild baboons Numerous studies have shown that childhood trauma can have far-reaching effects on adult health and survival; new research finds the same is true for wild baboons.
	Insects can teach us about the origins of consciousness Do bees like the taste of nectar? Does the ant foraging for your crumbs feel better when she finds one?
	Study unravels a bacterium's protein pathways to digesting tough cellulose Cellulose, a tough biological polymer made of complex linked chains of glucose, gives structure to the cell walls of green plants. Scientists hope that someday this ubiquitous building block, the most abundant polysaccharide on Earth and rife with solar energy, will someday be a cheap and reliable feedstock for clean-energy biofuels.
	Study on worm, mice fertility could lead to 'the pill' for men Someday, if women toast the discovery of male oral contraceptives, they may want to lift a glass to Emory biology professor Steven L'Hernault and his worms.
	Sonic hedgehog gene provides evidence that our limbs may have evolved from sharks' gills Latest analysis shows that human limbs share a genetic programme with the gills of cartilaginous fishes such as sharks and skates, providing evidence to support a century-old theory on the origin of limbs that had been widely discounted.
	Scientists issue rallying cry for wheat blast research A team of scientists in the UK and Bangladesh are turning to the combined knowledge of the global scientific community to address an emerging threat to Asian agriculture.
	Physicists develop new software for the life sciences Scientists from Heidelberg University have developed a novel mathematical model to explore cellular processes: with the corresponding software, they now are able to simulate how large collections of cells behave on given geometrical structures. The software supports the evaluation of microscope-based observations of cell behaviour on micropatterned substrates. One example is a model for wound healing in which skin cells are required to fill a gap. Other areas of application lie in high throughput screening for medicine when a decision needs to be taken automatically on whether a certain active substance changes cell behaviour. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwarz and Dr. Philipp Albert work both at the Institute for Theoretical Physics and at the Bioquant Centre of Heidelberg University. Their findings were recently published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Salmon genome collaboration published in Nature SFU professor Willie Davidson is part of an international research team shedding new light on genome evolution. The researchers have established a "human" quality sequence of the Atlantic salmon genome that is now available online. Their work has been published in the prestigious journal Nature.
	New wheat line eliminates discoloring in foods Even if you don't know what "polyphenol oxidase" is, you've seen what it can do.
	South African endemic mountain plant gives itself up after 147-year absence South Africa's mountains are essential to the economic well-being of the country, providing many goods and services essential for social and economic prosperity. However, the biodiversity value of these mountains is still poorly understood. This is exemplified by the large number of plant species still only known from one or two collections made well over a century ago.
	Gardeners can help protect butterfly populations Bees aren't the only pollinators suffering from a massive North American die-off. Butterflies and moths, those flying flowers of the insect world, are disappearing too.
Endogenous oxidants: New methods for monitoring processes in the organism Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now developed two novel biological measuring systems that facilitate better analysis of disease-relevant changes in the oxidation state of cells. One of the methods can be used, for the first time, to observe variations and changes in cellular oxidation states in tissue sections. The other is a newly developed biosensor that is a sensitive enough to facilitate real-time measurements of subtle oxidative changes in metabolism.
	Study: Cities have individual microbial signatures Cities have their own distinct microbial communities but these communities don't vary much between offices located in the same city, according to a new study. The work, published this week in mSystems, an open access journal from the American Society for Microbiology, offers insight into what drives the composition of microbes in built environments.
	More natural history training needed, survey shows A survey of early-career scientists and environmental-science professionals found that only 11 percent felt their academic training alone provided the needed exposure to natural history, which can be defined as the observation of organisms in their natural environment.
	Truncated yet functional protein is utilized by RNA viruses for their multiplication Viruses that have RNA (ribonucleic acid) as their genome must pack the genes necessary for viral infection and reproduction into small genomes.
	Higher concentration of zinc improves cattle feed efficiency Kansas State University researchers have found that feeding concentrations of zinc that are higher than recommended dietary concentrations can help improve the growth of finishing cattle, a finding that could lead to more profits for the industry.

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