Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 26

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 26, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- The jumping Frenchmen of Maine and the ineluctable requirement of molybdenum
- Nearby massive star explosion 30 million years ago equaled detonation of 100 million suns
- Hubble discovers moon orbiting the dwarf planet Makemake
- Cassini explores a methane sea on Titan
- Light echoes give clues to planet nursery around star
- It takes more than peer pressure to make large microgels fit in
- Despite their small brains—ravens are just as clever as chimps
- Citizen scientists collected rare ice data, confirm warming since industrial revolution
- Scientists provide new insights into gene regulation
- Study measures bias in how we learn and make decisions
- MicroRNA pathway could lead to new avenues for leukemia treatment
- New discovery may help engineers design quieter jet airplanes
- Seeing atoms and molecules in action with an electron 'eye'
- Scientists reveal secrets of a deadly virus family
- #AreYouHappy? Computer scientists develop algorithm to measure life satisfaction on Twitter

Astronomy & Space news

	Nearby massive star explosion 30 million years ago equaled detonation of 100 million suns A giant star that exploded 30 million years ago in a galaxy near Earth had a radius prior to going supernova that was 200 times larger than our sun, according to astrophysicists at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
	Hubble discovers moon orbiting the dwarf planet Makemake Peering to the outskirts of our solar system, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a small, dark moon orbiting Makemake, the second brightest icy dwarf planet—after Pluto—in the Kuiper Belt.
	Einstein's theory of relativity faces satellite test Einstein's theory of general relativity is to be put to the test by a newly launched satellite in an experiment that could upend our understanding of physics.
	Could ferocious lightning storms on other planets beam radio signals to Earth? Ferocious lightning storms millions of times more powerful than those on Earth could be responsible for unexplained radio signals from planets orbiting other stars.
	Mars' surface revealed in unprecedented detail The surface of Mars – including the location of Beagle-2 – has been shown in unprecedented detail by UCL scientists using a revolutionary image stacking and matching technique.
	Could Earth's light blue color be a signature of life? In 1990, Voyager 1 captured the most distant portrait of our planet ever taken, revealing that from beyond Pluto's orbit, Earth appears as nothing more than a "pale blue dot." In a new study, researchers have tested whether Earth's color is a unique feature of life-friendly planets. If so, searching for exoplanets displaying this hue could help in singling out worlds potentially brimming with alien life.
	Light echoes give clues to planet nursery around star Imagine you want to measure the size of a room, but it's completely dark. If you shout, you can tell if the space you're in is relatively big or small, depending on how long it takes to hear the echo after it bounces off the wall.
	NASA team set to fly balloon mission seeking evidence of cosmological inflation Now that scientists have confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, a NASA team is set to search for a predicted signature of primordial gravitational waves that would prove the infant universe expanded far faster than the speed of light and began growing exponentially almost instantaneously after the Big Bang.
	Cassini explores a methane sea on Titan Of the hundreds of moons in our solar system, Titan is the only one with a dense atmosphere and large liquid reservoirs on its surface, making it in some ways more like a terrestrial planet.
Scandal-plagued Russian cosmodrome opens after multiple setbacks Plagued for years by scandals and setbacks, Russia's new Vostochny cosmodrome is set to hold its inaugural launch Wednesday as the country strives to boost its space programme despite economic woes.
	Switzerland sends chocolate into space In addition to high precision and a desire to tidy things up, another Swiss value enters the space world: milk chocolate. A box containing six little bars of brand-name chocolate was recently given to each astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS). The boxes, which were prepared by the Swiss Space Center at EPFL, first had to make it through a long approval process.
	How women can deal with periods in space Who was the first woman to have her period in space? What is it like changing sanitary products while being weightless? And why doesn't menstrual flow just float up into the body when gravity isn't around?
	Dark stripes on UV images of Venus are not connected with sulfur The beautiful dark stripes on ultraviolet images of Venus's disc are in no way connected with the crystalline sulfur particles in its atmosphere – the ultraviolet is absorbed by another substance. This has been proven by data obtained from the first-ever model of the distribution of sulfur in Venus's gaseous envelope, which has been developed by the head of MIPT's Laboratory of High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres, Prof. Vladimir Krasnopolsky.
	Very sharp and very good—successful test for the astronomical measuring instrument LUCI After a ten-year design and construction period, a new universal device for astronomical observation at the world's largest single telescope, the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona (USA) has been finalised and tested successfully. The highly complex instrument named LUCI allows astronomers to record images and spectra in the infrared with outstanding quality. It was developed by researchers of the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University (ZAH) in cooperation with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching. The measuring system will undergo further calibrations in the coming weeks. Once they are complete, LUCI will be available to astronomers for regular observation activities. Researchers hope that the data collected with the new instrument will give them an insight into the "nursery" of stars and even allow them to observe plane! ts that circle remote suns.
	Student satellites fly freely on their orbit in space For three student teams, the dream of building and working on a real space mission is coming true. At 01:50 CEST (23:50 GMT) today, a trio of student-built CubeSats were released into space as part of ESA's Education Office 'Fly Your Satellite!' programme.
	SDO captures stunning view of April 17 solar flare On April 17, 2016, an active region on the sun's right side released a mid-level solar flare, which can be seen in this movie as a bright flash of light.
Video: Sentinel-1B liftoff Sentinel-1B lifted off on a Soyuz rocket, flight VS14, from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on 25 April 2016 at 21:02 GMT (23:02 CEST).

Technology news

	Antenna design turns entire vehicles into broadcasting equipment High-frequency antennas transmit radio waves across vast distances and even over mountain ranges using very little energy, making them ideal for military communications. These devices, however, have one big problem: They need to be huge to operate efficiently.
	Roof racks a drag on fuel economy As you get ready to hit the road this summer, with the kids loaded inside and the bikes strapped to the roof of your car, you may want to stop and consider that the roof rack on your car may be costing you as much as 25 percent more in gas.
	Raspberry Pi reaches for 8MP camera sky An 8-megapixel Sony sensor upgrade has been bestowed upon the Raspberry Pi. This low-price tiny computer enjoyed by so many students and tinkerers is in the news because the official camera module for it has been upgraded.
	#AreYouHappy? Computer scientists develop algorithm to measure life satisfaction on Twitter Happiness. It's something we all strive for, but how do we measure it—as a country? A global community?
Why Silicon Valley venture capital firms are funding online retailers like Dollar Shave Club Stance, a maker of luxury socks, has raised $86 million. Dollar Shave Club, a grooming company that supplies subscribers with razors and moistened bathroom wipes, has amassed more than $160 million. And the Honest Co., actress Jessica Alba's home-care brand known for its plant-based diapers, has scored $222 million.
SK Hynix posts lowest earnings in three years SK Hynix Inc., the world's second largest chipmaker, posted its lowest quarterly profit in three years Tuesday, as slowing computer and smartphone demand hit chip prices.
	The search for smarter energy and water strategies As the changing climate disrupts familiar weather patterns, many countries face a dual threat: swamping along the coasts, but also unexpected shrinking freshwater supplies in many regions.
	Stepless control devices with flexible pressure sensors Silicone is so soft and flexible that it is easily deformed by the pressure of a finger. Researchers at Fraunhofer have recently created sensors made from this flexible material, making it easier to steplessly control devices. At the Hannover Messe, they are presenting a glove that can measure pressure and a steering wheel that lets the driver control music, light and ventilation at the touch of a finger.
	The legacy of Chernobyl—30 years on The 26 April 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Nokia to buy France's Withings in $190 million deal In a move to speed its entry into digital health products, Nokia says it plans to acquire the French consumer electronics company Withings S.A., in a 170 million-euro ($191 million) deal.
	Making sense of Iron Man's science With this week's release of the new Captain America movie, Civil War, it's another opportunity to see Captain Rogers and Tony Stark as Iron Man draw on their superhuman strength and technology—even if they bring it to bear against each other this time around.
	Cycling helmets with optimum ventilation Any cyclist who wears a helmet knows the feeling: heat builds up under your helmet and the sweat starts to flow, especially in summer. As a result, many cyclists will take a risk and not even wear a helmet. A research team at Empa has now studied the flow of heat under cycling helmets in detail – the first step towards "sweat-free" protective headgear.
	Robots may be able to lift, drive, and chat, but are they safe and trustworthy? Whether it's self-driving cars, automated package delivery systems, or Barbie dolls that converse with children, the ways in which humans and robots interact is a rapidly growing field. Movies such as Star Wars, Wall-E, and Ex-Machina reveal how society is fascinated by both the positive and negative implications.
FBI chief: Agency still studying vulnerability on iPhone FBI Director James Comey said Tuesday that the agency was still studying how a third party was able to access a locked iPhone used by one of the attackers in San Bernardino, California.
	FBI chief sees better cyber cooperation from China FBI Director James Comey said Tuesday he has seen some improvement in cooperation from China in fighting cybercrime following last year's bilateral agreement on the issue.
FBI chief warns of 'costs' to strong encryption FBI Director James Comey called Tuesday for a discussion of the "costs" of strong encryption now that a legal battle over access to the iPhone used by a California attacker has ended.
	Google, Uber in coalition to promote self-driving cars Google and Uber are part of a coalition unveiled on Tuesday to push for a unified US legal code on self-driving cars as part of a broader lobbying drive to promote that technology.
	Tech industry titans urge US to better fund science ed Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg were among tech titans who joined school officials, non-profits and state leaders to urge the US government to better back teaching computer science.
	Apple reports iPhone sales down, 1st revenue drop since 2003 Apple says quarterly revenue fell for the first time in more than a decade, as iPhone sales fell compared with a year ago. That's putting more pressure on the world's most valuable public company to come up with its next big product.
	Twitter stung by stall in user growth Twitter shares nosedived Tuesday after a quarterly update showed little change in its user base and the messaging platform delivered weaker-than-expected revenue growth.
	Twitter's destiny: staying small? Not so fast, say investors Twitter gets lots of grief from investors because it hasn't taken over the world the way Facebook did, at least in terms of amassing users.
	French company scores huge Australian submarine contract Australia's largest-ever defense contract has gone to a French shipbuilder to produce a new generation of submarines, thrilling officials in Paris and inaugurating half a century of close defense cooperation between the nations.
Bayer confirms full-year targets after 'successful' Q1 German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer said Tuesday that it got off to a "successful start to the year" in the first quarter and confirmed its full-year targets.
	Jessica Alba, Michelle Obama win Webby Awards Actress turned entrepreneur Jessica Alba and US First Lady Michelle Obama were among celebrities and technology titans honored Tuesday with Webby Awards for "excellence on the Internet."
Could off-grid electricity systems accelerate energy access? Small-scale electricity systems provide uneven benefits and limited service options, according to a new study published today from researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the World Resources Institute (WRI).

Medicine & Health news

	Nutrient supplements can give antidepressants a boost An international evidence review has found that certain nutritional supplements can increase the effectiveness of antidepressants for people with clinical depression.
Radiant zinc fireworks reveal human egg quality A stunning explosion of zinc fireworks occurs when a human egg is activated by a sperm enzyme, and the size of these "sparks" is a direct measure of the quality of the egg and its ability to develop into an embryo, according to new research from Northwestern Medicine.
	What's behind the heartbreaking risk of anti-inflammatory drugs Researchers have known for more than a decade that the risk of heart disease and stroke increases when people take pain relievers like ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Now, scientists from the University of California, Davis, have uncovered some of the reasons why these drugs can harm heart tissue.
	Genes for two molecules in rats found to be involved in response to cocaine and other stimulants (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Michigan and the University of Alabama has found two molecules expressed in rats that are involved in their response to cocaine and other stimulants. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research group describes their study of two molecules, fibroblast growth factor and dopamine D2 receptor, which appear to make a rat more or less sensitive to cocaine addiction.
	MicroRNA pathway could lead to new avenues for leukemia treatment Cancer researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have found a particular signaling route in microRNA (miR-22) that could lead to targets for acute myeloid leukemia, the most common type of fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
	Study measures bias in how we learn and make decisions Thinking about drawing to an inside straight or playing another longshot? Just remember that while human decision-making is biased by potential rewards, what we know about individual cues that help us to make those decisions is biased toward failure, a Dartmouth College study finds.
	First small molecule targeted therapy to mitigate hearing loss in Usher syndrome type 3 Usher syndrome (USH) is characterized by hearing loss or deafness at birth and progressive vision loss, and is the most common cause of inherited dual sensory deficit. No treatment is currently available to stop or slow the progression of vision or hearing loss in USH3, one of three clinical classifications for USH that are further divided into subtypes and all associated with different genes.
	Team restores memory formation following sleep deprivation in mice Pulling an all-nighter may seem like a good way to cram before a test, yet science tells us memory suffers when sleep is sacrificed.
	Tamping down neurons' energy use could treat neurodegeneration Salk Institute scientists showed how an FDA-approved drug boosts the health of brain cells by limiting their energy use. Like removing unnecessary lighting from a financially strapped household to save on electricity bills, the drug—called rapamycin—prolongs the survival of diseased neurons by forcing them to reduce protein production to conserve cellular energy.
	Vaccinations are more effective when administered in the morning New research from the University of Birmingham has shown that flu vaccinations are more effective when administered in the morning.
	Despite efforts, childhood obesity remains on the rise The alarming increase in U.S. childhood obesity rates that began nearly 30 years ago continues unabated, with the biggest increases in severe obesity, according to a study led by a Duke Clinical Research Institute scientist.
	Study finds psychedelic drugs may reduce domestic violence Psychedelic drugs may help curb domestic violence committed by men with substance abuse problems, according to a new UBC study.
Threat of novel swine flu viruses in pigs and humans The wide diversity of flu in pigs across multiple continents, mostly introduced from humans, highlights the significant potential of new swine flu strains emerging, according to a study to be published in eLife.
	Reducing the sodium content of packaged foods: How does Canada measure up? In 2010, as part of a national sodium reduction strategy, a multi-stakeholder working group published Canada's Sodium Reduction Strategy. This strategy was meant to act as an essential public health intervention to address the high levels of sodium currently in the Canadian diet, which causes high blood pressure and increases risk for stroke and heart disease. The interim goal was to reduce the average sodium consumption of Canadians to 2,300 mg/day by 2016. To achieve this, the Strategy recommended initiatives directed at the food supply, education and awareness, and research initiatives. Reducing sodium in packaged foods is a key component of the strategy, since the majority of Canadians receive most dietary sodium from packaged and processed foods. New research published today in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (APNM) shows that as of 2013, 84% of packaged foods had little or no sodium reduction.
	Does frequent sex lead to better relationships? Depends on how you ask Newlywed couples who have a lot of sex don't report being any more satisfied with their relationships than those who have sex less often, but their automatic behavioral responses tell a different story, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Altered primary chromatin structures and their implications in cancer development Cancer development is a complex process involving both genetic and epigenetic changes. Genetic changes in oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes are generally considered as primary causes, since these genes may directly regulate cellular growth. In addition, it has been found that changes in epigenetic factors, through mutation or altered gene expression, may contribute to cancer development.
	Tissue-engineered artificial lung that mimics the response of the human lung to drugs, toxins and other agents Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing a miniature, tissue-engineered artificial lung that mimics the response of the human lung to drugs, toxins and other agents.
	Scientists discover pathway that may lead to Alzheimer's disease Today, researchers at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation report the results of two new studies conducted by the Fisher Center scientists at Rockefeller University, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, in the quest to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
	Simulation offers glimpse of how e-cigarettes could impact smoking decades from now As the popularity of electronic cigarettes and calls to regulate them continue to grow, a University of Michigan study may help answer those who wonder what changes might be seen in smoking prevalence if e-cigarette use encourages smokers to quit, or if it becomes a first step toward smoking.
Deciphering label claims on food products Label claims on food products can provide a wealth of information about the foods we eat but can sometimes be daunting to understand.
	The effects of exercise on colorectal cancer survivors A researcher who was born in the year that actress Audrey Hepburn and footballer Bobby Moore died of colorectal cancer is helping to lead recovery from the deadly condition.
	Wrapping up multiple sclerosis With one drug to shut down its progression and another to undo its damage, plus a worldwide effort stalking the origins of multiple sclerosis, MS doesn't stand a chance.
	New research asks whether vaccination can prevent heart attacks and strokes for those at risk A major national Monash University collaboration is now testing whether a safe, one-off vaccination can help to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
	Dental stem cells could revolutionize treatment for patients who face extractions Losing teeth is part of childhood. For adults, however, missing molars or broken incisors require a manmade solution in the form of dentures or implants. Using dental stem cells to grow new teeth and jawbone would have advantages over existing tooth-replacement techniques, and could even be used to reconstruct a patient's jaw after a severe injury or disease, according to a researcher at the Tufts School of Dental Medicine who is trying to do just that.
	There are also drawbacks to being bilingual The ability to speak more than one language certainly has its perks. It enables you to work in another country, for example, interact with people while travelling, or consume foreign media.
	Regenerating brain tissue brings hope for a new treatment against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Working with animal models, Mexican researchers have crossed the electroencephalic barrier, introduced a nanogel to brain tissue and achieved the growth of neurons within the gel, demonstrating a technique to promote regeneration of brain tissue.
	Debunking digital eyestrain and blue light myths Nearly 90 percent of adults use digital devices for two or more hours per day, according to The Vision Council's 2016 Digital Eye Strain Report, exposing consumers to blue light that some suggest is dangerous.
	New light shed on causes of movement disorders Parkinson's disease A possible cause has been found for the disrupted communication between brain cells exhibited by Parkinson's patients. Bettina Schwab, a researcher at the University of Twente, discovered that this group of patients have increased concentrations of a certain type of protein. Ms Schwab defended her doctoral dissertation on Friday 22 April.
Are multidrug-resistant bacteria spread through sewage water? Antibiotic-resistant intestinal bacteria enter the environment through toilets and sewage water treatment plants. Some multiply or survive there or transfer their genes to other microorganisms. People can be colonized with these bacteria, for example via contact with surface water. If the bacteria cause an infection – which in most cases happens in the hospital as urinary tract infection or sepsis – it gets difficult to combat the infection effectively with antibiotics. It is therefore in the interest of our society to quickly determine whether and how resistant bacteria spread via sewage water - and how this could be prevented. The new project HyReKA studies these aspects, while also looking for answers to the question: How relevant are these bacteria for our health?
Unique head restraint and car seat system could reduce whiplash injuries A reactive head restraint and car seat system designed to reduce whiplash in rear-end vehicle collisions has been unveiled by engineers at Loughborough University.
	Ultrasound to safely measure brain pressure Elevated cranial pressure, the result of head traumas and brain tumours, is a potentially deadly complication. But although time is of the essence in detecting irregular cranial pressures, conventional diagnosis relies on time-consuming, invasive surgery at increased risk for patients. A new generation of innovative scanning devices invented by Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania) researcher Arminas Ragauskas (69) solves the problem: based on the sonic Doppler wavelength effect, the ultrasound scanners provide precise and instant pressure measurements via a probe applied to the patient's eye. Besides elevated cranial pressures, the devices also detect stroke, glaucoma, and brain tumours.
Type 2 diabetics 'let down' over delayed treatment People with Type 2 diabetes are being 'let down' because they are being forced to wait for further treatment when needed.
Effects of brain damage from an autoimmune encephalitis similar to those of 'angel dust' A new study in Biological Psychiatry reports structural brain damage from an autoimmune encephalitis that impairs behavior in ways that are somewhat similar to the effects of "angel dust."
	Crowdsourcing app looks at relationship between the outdoors and wellbeing A new app will crowdsource data to help scientists understand the relationship between biodiversity and wellbeing. The app, developed at the University of Cambridge, maps happiness onto a detailed map that includes all the UK's nature reserves and green spaces.
Micro-needle insertion into hippocampus helps brain regeneration in animal model of Alzheimer's disease Researchers testing the potential positive effects of "micro-injury" by brief insertion of a small needle into the hippocampal region of mice modeled with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have found that the procedure not only stimulated the hippocampus into regenerative activity, but also reduced β-amyloid plaques, a hallmark of AD.
	Abnormally low blood flow indicates damage to NFL players' brains The discovery of brain pathology through autopsy in former National Football League (NFL) players called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has raised substantial concern among players, medical professionals, and the general public about the impact of repetitive head trauma. Using sophisticated neuroimaging and analytics, researchers have now identified abnormal areas of low blood flow in living professional football players. These findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, raises the potential for better diagnosis and treatment for persons with football related head trauma.
The older you get, the more difficult it may become to 'smell' through your mouth You not only pick up aromas through your nose, but also through your mouth while you chew your food. Some people simply can smell better than others and those may enjoy an enhanced flavor of foods. Unfortunately, for some, this ability decreases with age, report Tyler Flaherty and Juyun Lim of Oregon State University in the US in Springer's journal Chemosensory Perception.
Gender differences and relationship power could be key in preventing HIV in South African adolescents Millions of those infected with HIV worldwide are young women, ages 15-24, according to the World Health Organization. Because the HIV epidemic overlaps with an epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and girls, researchers have suspected a correlation between inequities in relationship power and the risky sexual behavior that can lead to HIV transmission.
	Increased risk of coronary heart disease seen among women who work rotating night shifts Heart disease is still reported as the leading cause of death in the United States, with one in every 4 deaths being attributed to heart disease. In a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) published in the April 26 issue of JAMA, researchers found that women who work more than 10 years of rotating night shift work had a 15 to 18 percent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), the most common type of heart disease, as compared with women who did not work rotating night shifts.
Study finds readability of dense breast notifications poor About half of American women have dense breasts, which makes it harder for mammograms to identify cancer and add to a woman's risk for cancer. Nearly half of U.S. states have passed legislation requiring women to be notified of their breast density when they receive mammogram results, despite no scientific evidence or guidelines for appropriate care for women with dense breasts.
	Outcomes of immunotherapy tablet for house dust mite allergy-related asthma The addition of a house dust mite (HDM) sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet to maintenance medications improved time to first moderate or severe asthma exacerbation during a period of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) reduction among adults with HDM allergy-related asthma not well controlled by ICS, according to a study appearing in the April 26 issue of JAMA.
	Could marijuana help treat painkiller and heroin addiction? The growing number of patients who claim marijuana helped them drop their painkiller habit has intrigued lawmakers and emboldened advocates, who are pushing for cannabis as a treatment for the abuse of opioids and illegal narcotics like heroin, as well as an alternative to painkillers.
	Excessive tests don't benefit patient, do increase cost in age-related immune disorder A series of tests physicians routinely order to help diagnose and follow their patients with an elevated antibody level that is a marker for cancer risk, often do not benefit the patient but do increase health care costs, pathologists report.
Researchers look for causes of unexpected early bladder cancer recurrence after laparoscopic surgery Although laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) and robotic assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) continue to grow in popularity and are successful in the treatment of bladder cancer, they are still considered experimental approaches. Using data collected by the Section of Uro-Technology of the European Association of Urology (ESUT), a team of researchers found that about 5% of patients experienced unexpected relapses of cancer after LRC, even with favorable pathology. Their results are reported in The Journal of Urology.
	Answer to antibiotic-resistant infections could already be on the market The rise of antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens is an increasingly global threat to public health. In the United States alone antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens kill thousands every year.
	Study on fragile X syndrome uses fruitfly's point of view to identify new treatments Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common genetically inherited cause of intellectual disability in humans. New research shows how the hormone insulin—usually associated with diabetes—is involved in the daily activity patterns and cognitive deficits in the fruitfly model of FXS, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published online this month in Molecular Psychiatry in advance of the print issue. The team's results reveal a metabolic pathway that can be targeted by new and already approved drugs to treat fragile X patients.
	How breast cancer cells slide to metastasis The spreading of cancer cells from one part of the body to another, a process known as metastasis, is the leading cause of death among cancer patients. A study published April 26 in Biophysical Journal now reveals why some cancer cells may be more metastatic than others. The findings show that breast cancer cells spread to other parts of the body by sliding around other cells blocking their escape route out of the original tumor.
EU food watchdog to reassess bisphenol A The EU food safety watchdog said Tuesday it will revisit research on bisphenol A, a year after the bloc said the chemical, mostly used to coat metal packaging, poses no health risk to consumers.
	Minimally invasive colitis screening using infrared technology could offer fast, simple test A minimally invasive screening for ulcerative colitis, a debilitating gastrointestinal tract disorder, using emerging infrared technology could be a rapid and cost-effective method for detecting disease that eliminates the need for biopsies and intrusive testing of the human body, according to researchers at Georgia State University.
Weighing the pros and cons of mental-health apps "There's an app for that." The phrase is so ubiquitous it's a meme, and trademarked by Apple Inc.
	Study may explain gene's role in major psychiatric disorders A new study shows the death of newborn brain cells may be linked to a genetic risk factor for five major psychiatric diseases, and at the same time shows a compound currently being developed for use in humans may have therapeutic value for these diseases by preventing the cells from dying.
'A fatty liver may result in a broken heart,' according to new research Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is primarily the cause of death of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The extent to which NAFLD itself, rather than associated conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or atherogenic dyslipidemia, is responsible for increased cardiovascular death has been a matter of debate. In a new study, investigators from the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Pierre and Marie Curie University conclude that NAFLD is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and therefore CVD. Their findings, published in the Journal of Hepatology, recommend strict monitoring of cardiovascular health and metabolic complications in patients with NAFLD.
Study uncovers new pathways that control skin tanning and lightening When skin cells responsible for pigmentation are exposed to estrogen or progesterone, the cells respond by adjusting their melanin production, resulting in either skin darkening or lightening. Although pregnant women often experience alterations in skin pigmentation, the reason for the changes has long puzzled physicians. New research, from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has uncovered cellular pathways in skin pigment cells that are activated by estrogen and progesterone - two of the main female sex hormones - and also identified synthetic hormone derivatives that specifically influence the pigment producing pathway. Together, the findings provide critical information that could lead to the development of new products that change skin tone without exposure to UV radiation or toxic bleaching agents. The discovery is reported today in the journal eLife.
Researcher finds teenage e-cigarette use 'clustered' in certain schools A new study from the University of Colorado Denver finds that certain school environments have an impact on electronic cigarette use among teenagers.
Patients with low literacy levels get health information from commercial websites When searching the internet for health information, people with less education and lower literacy levels are more likely to visit poorer quality commercial websites, according to a study by researchers at Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
	Cholesterol levels, not statins, influence colorectal cancer risk Long-term use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins does not appear to decrease a patient's risk of colorectal cancer, suggests a new, large case-control study from Penn Medicine researchers published this week in PLOS Medicine. The observational analysis of over 100,000 patients' medical records suggests it is cholesterol levels that influence risk, not the much-debated statins, and that "indication bias" may explain the link between the widely-used cardiovascular drugs and risk. Such bias occurs when the indication (high cholesterol, in this case) being treated with a drug is also associated with the outcome of interest (colorectal cancer).
	$60 billion per year: The high cost of norovirus worldwide While norovirus is often linked in the news to outbreaks on cruise ships, the highly contagious stomach bug sickens nearly 700 million around the world every year and results in roughly $4.2 billion in health care costs and $60.3 billion in societal costs annually, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.
New hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic model improves prediction of patient survival The ITA.LI.CA prognostic system, a model integrating tumor staging, liver function, functional status, and alpha-fetoprotein level, builds on previous models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis and shows superior survival prediction in Italian and Taiwanese cohorts, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Alessandro Vitale of Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Padova, Italy, and colleagues.
Researchers find brain circuit that controls binge drinking Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have identified a circuit between two brain regions that controls alcohol binge drinking, offering a more complete picture on what drives a behavior that costs the United States more than $170 billion annually and how it can be treated.
Italians over 100 increase threefold but life expectancy stalls The number of centenarians in Italy has more than tripled in less than 15 years despite the growth in life expectancy stalling last year, a health report published Tuesday revealed.
	The art of the deal: Can game theory help parents? Game theory, a branch of mathematics dealing with strategic thinking, has been applied to scenarios of war, business and biology. But parenting?
	Rates of severe obesity among U.S. kids still rising: study (HealthDay)—Obesity continues to plague American kids, with a new study finding rates of severe obesity climbing over a 15-year period.
	Day care babies catch stomach bugs earlier, but get fewer later (HealthDay)—Babies in day care catch their first stomach bug earlier than home-based infants, but end up getting fewer of these gastrointestinal illnesses during their preschool years, new research suggests.
	Americans getting adequate water daily, CDC finds (HealthDay)—Americans' worries about not being properly hydrated may be unfounded: A new government report finds most are getting enough water each day.
	Triple therapy no benefit for COPD exacerbations (HealthDay)—The addition of tiotropium to long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) and/or inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) does not reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations compared to LABA/ICS alone, according to a study published online April 20 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
	Sixteen percent of live kidney donors uninsured (HealthDay)—Sixteen percent of living kidney donors (LKDs) are uninsured at the time of donation, according to a study published online April 18 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
	Prevalence of migraine up in patients with cardiac syndrome X (HealthDay)—The prevalence of migraine headache is elevated in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) compared to patients with coronary artery disease or healthy controls, according to a research letter published in the May 3 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Pharmacists can manage some chronic conditions effectively (HealthDay)—Pharmacists can do an effective job helping chronically ill patients manage their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels if they're allowed to direct patients' health care, according to an evidence review published online April 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Saxagliptin, sitagliptin don't up hospitalized heart failure (HealthDay)—Use of saxagliptin or sitagliptin is not associated with increased risk of hospitalized heart failure (hHF) compared with other antihyperglycemic agents, according to a study published online April 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Zika present in Americas longer than previously thought The Zika virus was present in Haiti several months before the first Zika cases were identified in Brazil, according to new research by infectious-disease specialists at the University of Florida.
Team tracks the origins and spread of potentially deadly Valley Fever Using the latest in genomic analysis technologies, scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have tracked the likely origins and dispersal of the fungus that causes Valley Fever, according to a study published today in the journal mBio, the premiere journal for reporting high impact microbiological research.
Trabecular bone score validated as standalone predictor of fracture risk One of the most recent and extensively studied determinants of fracture risk is trabecular bone score (TBS). TBS, which is assessed by lumbar spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging, provides information about the micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue. Previous studies have shown that TBS predicts fracture in postmenopausal women and older men. TBS is currently used in conjunction with BMD values to enhance the predictive ability of the widely used Fracture Risk Assessment tool (FRAX), a calculator used to assess an individual's 10-year risk of major osteoporotic fracture.
	Michigan nursing school uses mannequins for medical lessons The leadership at the University of Michigan's nursing school says there is value in students making mistakes while treating patients.
English junior doctors strike in furious government row Junior doctors in England staged their first ever all-out strike Tuesday in a bitter, deadlocked row with Prime Minister David Cameron's government over pay and conditions.
Graduated driver licensing laws need to be expanded throughout the US Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens. In 2012, 184,000 young drivers were injured in MVCs, and 23 percent of young drivers (15 to 20 years old) involved in fatal MVCs had consumed alcohol. One policy that may reduce alcohol-use behaviors and impaired driving among young people at a population level is graduated driver licensing (GDL), which increases the driving privileges of young novice drivers as they age and gain more driving experience. This research seeks to determine the effects of GDLs on risky driving behaviors of youth and to assess whether GDLs have an unintended effect on underage drinking behaviors.
	Mental health 'first aid' for teachers focus of new study Researchers from the University of Bristol have begun a trial to find out how well a training and support package for teachers works in recognising and combatting mental health problems.
Undergraduate project examines cultural components to health care For indigenous people seeking health care in Mexico and the United States, the biggest barrier must be language, Dalila Vázquez Herrera thought.
A change of job could help people on long-term sick leave A change of job could be a means of prolonging labour market participation for people on long-term sick leave, according to a thesis by Karin Nordström at Karolinska Institutet. The thesis also looks at differences in sick leave between workplaces.
Does exercise benefit cancer patients? ood nutrition and regular exercise combined are an effective way to reduce the risk of cancer and to prevent its recurrence. "This has been proven over and over," said Carol DeNysschen, associate professor and chair of the Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department. "If we could only motivate people to eat better and move more, we'd have so much less chronic disease."
Myoelectric devices meet sensory-motor integration One of the key features missing in current myoelectric prostheses is sensory feedback—the sense of touch so crucial to our interaction with everything that surrounds us. An EU-funded consortium has overcome this difficulty and is already bringing its devices to market.
	A quest to find a better way to detect hearing problems in newborns takes researchers across the globe In many states, it's mandatory to conduct hearing screenings on newborns. If hearing problems aren't diagnosed early, parents might not notice them until the child is a toddler.
More transparency needed regarding conflicts of interest in surgical research, study finds Hidden conflicts of interest can distort study results and endanger trust in medical research. This is the finding of new article published in the Open Access journal Innovative Surgical Science, which addresses transparency and conflicts of interest in surgical studies. Transparency is particularly relevant in this area, as surgical practice is strongly influenced by medical devices, meaning there are often close relationships between industry and professionals.
	Video: What is the best way to whiten teeth? In the age of selfies, it seems everyone wants to have a whiter, brighter smile. While one option to achieve this involves a trip to the dentist for a professional whitening, many people have turned to over-the-counter teeth-whitening treatments.
UH Case Medical Center first surgical site to test regen treatment for chronic stroke University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the first surgical site for a Phase 2b clinical trial study to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational cell therapy for the treatment of chronic motor deficit following an ischemic stroke.
Sub-Saharan women using modern contraceptives more likely to be HIV tested Women in sub-Saharan Africa who use modern contraceptives are more likely to be tested for HIV than those who do not, according to a study published April 25, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Katherine Center from the University of Arizona and colleagues.
	Allen Institute releases powerful new data on the aging brain and traumatic brain injury The Allen Institute for Brain Science has announced major updates to its online resources available at brain-map.org, including a new resource on Aging, Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in collaboration with UW Medicine researchers at the University of Washington, and Group Health. The resource is the first of its kind to collect and share a wide variety of data modalities on a large sample of aged brains, complete with mental health histories and clinical diagnoses.
Endocrine Society experts call for expanded screening for primary aldosteronism The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline calling on physicians to ramp up screening for primary aldosteronism, a common cause of high blood pressure.
	An Icelandic success story of prevention of adolescent substance use In 1998 substance use amongst adolescents in Iceland was one of the highest in Europe. By 2015, it was amongst the lowest. Dr. Inga Dora Sigfusdottir, Professor at Reykjavik University, Research Professor at Columbia University and Scientific Director of the Icelandic Centre for Social Research & Analysis (ICSRA) introduced this twenty year success story at the United Nations General Assembly on the world drug problem in New York last week. The talk was held at a side event of the UNGASS 2016 Special Session.
Child homicide—speaking of the unspeakable New estimates published in PLOS Medicine suggest that homicide could be responsible for just over 1% of all neonatal deaths in South Africa. Together with other studies reporting on child homicide from other countries, these findings emphasize the importance of child protection, and highlight a need for cross-sector services to support vulnerable mothers.
	Direct primary care is emerging business model (HealthDay)—Direct primary care, where doctors bypass insurance companies, is an emerging business model, according to an article published in The Boston Globe.
	What's missing from current methods for genetic screening of sperm donors? U.S. sperm banks perform genetic testing to screen for and disqualify carriers of a limited number of recessive disease mutations, but more comprehensive and affordable DNA-based screening methods are now available that can detect many more disease-causing genetic variations. To protect future children from highly heritable diseases, sperm banks need to modernize their testing methods, according to an article published in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available for download on the Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers website.
	Nanograft seeded with three cell types promotes blood vessel formation to speed wound healing Large or slow-healing wounds that do not receive adequate blood flow could benefit from a novel approach that combines a nanoscale graft onto which three different cell types are layered. Proper cell alignment on the nanograft allows for the formation of new blood vessel-like structures, as reported in of Tissue Engineering, Part A.
New York bakery recalls some 7-Eleven cookies over peanuts A suburban New York bakery has recalled several lots of cookies sold at 7-Eleven stores across the state because they may contain undeclared peanuts.

Biology news

	Birds of prey constrained in the beak evolution race How birds' beaks evolved characteristic shapes to eat different food is a classic example of evolution by natural selection.
	Researchers work to keep hospital-acquired staph infections in check Hospital-related staph infections are rampant. In 2005 alone there were an estimated 478,000 cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers are dropping, the agency recently reported in a release, "but more work is needed."
	Software helps decrypt embryonic development When new life develops, a tiny ball of initially identical cells has to form the different body parts of the mature organism. Sixty years ago, Alan Turing proposed that this body patterning is achieved by two types of signaling molecules that spread in the developing tissues to create a spatial pattern. Scientists from the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society in Tübingen have now developed new mathematical approaches and software to systematically analyze realistic pattern forming networks that involve more than two molecules. The software can be used to analyze how patterns form during development and to create novel patterns for bioengineering approaches.
	Prion-like proteins found in mustard plant (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, all in Massachusetts has found a prion-like protein in Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering mustard plant. The group has published a paper describing their experiments and results in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.
	Nightshade plant found to produce sweet nectar in wounds to attract ants that ward off herbivores (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from institutions in Germany and the Netherlands has found that bittersweet nightshade plants exude a nectar-like liquid that serves no purpose other than to attract ants, which in turn attack some of the animals that come to feed on the plant. In their paper published in Nature Plants, the team describes their study of the plant, the ants and the prey that feed on the plant.
	Scientists provide new insights into gene regulation A team of researchers led by the University of Leicester has shed new light on how the regulation machinery that controls gene expression works by characterising a complex known as the NuRD complex.
	Despite their small brains—ravens are just as clever as chimps A study led by researchers at Lund University in Sweden shows that ravens are as clever as chimpanzees, despite having much smaller brains, indicating that rather than the size of the brain, the neuronal density and the structure of the birds' brains play an important role in terms of their intelligence.
	Scientists reveal secrets of a deadly virus family For the first time, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have solved the structure of the biological machinery used by a common virus to recognize and attack human host cells.
	First multi-year study of honey bee parasites and disease reveals troubling trends Honey bee colonies in the United States are in decline, due in part to the ill effects of voracious mites, fungal gut parasites and a wide variety of debilitating viruses. Researchers from the University of Maryland and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently completed the first comprehensive, multi-year study of honey bee parasites and disease as part of the National Honey Bee Disease Survey. The findings reveal some alarming patterns, but provide at least a few pieces of good news as well.
Survival through a biochemical shortcut A research team headed by Teymuras Kurzchalia at the MPI-CBG in Dresden found that nematodes and yeast can survive extreme desiccation by taking advantage of a metabolic shortcut, the glyoxylate shunt. This alternate metabolic route allows the production of sugars from fatty acids.
	Research affords undergraduate student closer look at honey bees Since the time she was 8 years old—after attending the College of Agricultural Sciences' Great Insect Fair—Sarah McTish knew she wanted to study entomology at Penn State.
	Taste test? Deer preferences seem to help non-native invasive plants spread Selective browsing by white-tailed deer likely is promoting the spread of some invasive plant species in northeastern U.S. forests, as deer avoid eating vegetation they find unpalatable.
	A young eaglet temporarily leaves the nest for a checkup Shane Lawler was taking care of business in a loblolly pine, 90 feet above Gospel Spreading Farm, unfazed by the agitated bald eagles spiraling around his head.
	Hybrid forms of the common house mosquito may serve as vectors between birds and humans Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna collected quantified data on hybrid forms of two species of the northern house mosquito in eastern Austria. The reproductive hybrid feeds on the blood of both birds and humans, in contrast to the two known species of house mosquito. Hybrid mosquitoes could therefore serve as a vector for the transmission of avian diseases to people. Identification of the three forms is only possible through molecular biology. Morphologically they are indistinct. The study was published in the journal Parasites & Vectors.
	Invasive species compete with native species for room to be heard Invasive species can wreak havoc on ecosystems. Most research has focused on how introduced species negatively impact biodiversity through predation, competition for food and shelter, and disease transmission. But invasives can harm native species in a less obvious way: edging them out of their acoustic space.
	New land snail species from Australia shows dissection not necessary to identify molluscs Dissection might prove unnecessary when identifying new molluscs after scientists Corey Whisson, Western Australian Museum, and Dr Abraham Breure, Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, the Netherlands, and Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium, described a previously unknown land snail based on its genitalia, yet without damaging the specimen in the slightest. The new species is published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
	New curiously scaled beetle species from New Britain named after 'Star Wars' Chewbacca Chewbacca, the fictional 'Star Wars' character, has given his name to a new species of flightless beetle, discovered in New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Although Trigonopterus chewbacca was only one of the four black new weevil beetles found during the expedition, it stood out with its curious scales, which made the authors think of Han Solo's loyal companion.
Fermentation festival leads to rapid response system at Center for Microbiome Innovation The personalized collections of microorganisms and molecules found in, on and around us—known as our microbiome and metabolome, respectively—are increasingly recognized for their influences on everything from allergies to obesity. While advances in genetic sequencing and computing power have made it easier to map the minutiae of our bodies and environments, these types of studies typically take months or years—too long for that data to be medically useful. Researchers at the University of California San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation used a study with the 2016 San Diego Fermentation Festival as a test case for a first-of-its-kind rapid response system.
Proteomics method measures carbon uptake of marine microbes In a paper published April 26th in mSystems, a team of researchers led by microbiologists at Oregon State University, in Corvallis, describe a successful trial of a new method of identifying the carbon uptake of specific marine bacterioplankton taxa. The technique uses proteomics - the large-scale study of proteins - to observe directly the metabolic processes of communities of microorganisms.
	Retroviral DNA needs time to find its home, but insertion happens in a blink When retroviruses such as HIV infect a cell, they first make a copy of their RNA genome in the form of DNA. The relatively short viral DNA strand then moves to the cell nucleus, where it inserts itself into the host cell's DNA.
Federal agency defends decision not to protect Montana fish A judge should uphold a 2014 decision that a fish found in southwestern Montana streams doesn't need special protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, government fisheries officials said.
	Heartworm is a concern for dogs, cats, and even ferrets No matter where you live or what time of year it is, your dog, cat or ferret can contract heartworm. April is Heartworm Awareness Month, so it's a good time to learn about the risks and how to prevent infection.
	Pioneering project to safeguard Europe's smallest swan Researchers at the University of Exeter's Penryn Campus are involved in a pioneering project to safeguard Europe's smallest swan, which has won support from Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Pen Hadow and Sir David Attenborough and a swathe of businesses, charities and individuals. Flight of the Swans will be the first ever attempt to follow the migration of the Bewick's swan from the air. Setting off this September, Sacha Dench of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) will fly a paramotor from the Bewick's swans' breeding grounds in arctic Russia 7,500km across 11 countries before finishing at the swans' final destination in the UK.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com