Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Apr 13

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 13, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Physicists quantify the usefulness of 'quantum weirdness'
- Electrons slide through the hourglass on surface of bizarre material
- Elusive state of superconducting matter discovered after 50 years
- New 'hot Jupiter' discovered by Kepler's K2 mission
- 300 million year old 'Tully Monster' was a vertebrate, researchers identify
- Researchers uncover earliest events following HIV infection, before virus is detectable
- Volcanologists discover how bubbles accumulate in magma
- Repairing DNA damage in the human body: Research provides new insights
- Genetic diversity helps to limit infectious disease
- Are humans the new supercomputer? Team blurred the boundaries between man and mac
- Vital nutrient has key role in keeping body clocks running on time
- How LSD can make us lose our sense of self
- Physicists analyze first electron neutrino data from NOvA Experiment
- Researchers pinpoint chemical compound that gives rare animal its popcorn-like scent
- Reflective Saharan silver ant hairs thermoregulate, create bright color

Astronomy & Space news

	New 'hot Jupiter' discovered by Kepler's K2 mission (Phys.org)—Despite losing its two reaction wheels, NASA's Kepler spacecraft hasn't stopped amazing the scientific community by detecting new alien worlds. The repurposed Kepler mission, called K2, has recently discovered another new so-called "hot Jupiter" exoplanet, demonstrating once again that it is the most prolific planet-hunting telescope to date. The findings were published on April 10 on arXiv.org.
	Inside the fiery furnace: VLT Survey Telescope captures the Fornax Cluster This new image from the VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile captures a spectacular concentration of galaxies known as the Fornax Cluster, which can be found in the southern hemisphere constellation of Fornax (The Furnace). The cluster plays host to a menagerie of galaxies of all shapes and sizes, some of which are hiding secrets.
	Inflatable modules could be the future of space habitats The astronauts of the International Space Station welcomed the arrival of what we call the "Bigelow Bungalow", officially known as the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) on April 10.
	Is Alpha Centauri the right place to search for life elsewhere? It sounds like science fiction. From the people who brought you the project Breakthrough Listen to search for extraterrestrial life, comes a new research program that's looking at sending a tiny spacecraft to the nearest stars.
	How to launch a rocket into space... and then land it on a ship at sea On Friday 8 April 2016, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched a mission to deliver a spacecraft called Dragon with its payload of supplies and experiments into a trajectory towards the International Space Station (ISS). Most remarkably, the first-stage booster then landed on a ship (see below).
	NASA image: T-38C passes in front of the sun at supersonic speed An Air Force Test Pilot School T-38C passes in front of the sun at a supersonic speed, creating shockwaves that are caught photographically for research.
	NASA invests in two-dimensional spacecraft, reprogrammable microorganisms NASA has selected 13 proposals, including four from agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, through NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), a program that invests in transformative architectures through the development of pioneering technologies.

Technology news

	Predicting gentrification through social networking data The first network to look at the interconnected nature of people and places in large cities is not only able to quantify the social diversity of a particular place, but can also be used to predict when a neighbourhood will go through the process of gentrification, which is associated with the displacement of residents of a deprived area by an influx of a more affluent population.
	May carbon dioxide turbine help address clean power generation? (Tech Xplore)—"Desk size turbine could power a town"—wishful thinking turned into a headline? Not really. MIT Technology Review's header belongs to a report earlier this week by Senior Writer David Talbot.
	Amazon's latest Kindle mostly wants to disappear Will loyal fans of e-books be willing to pay tablet prices for dedicated e-readers? Amazon is about to find out.
	College students help Toyota design a new car for Gen-Z drivers Toyota has unveiled a concept car at this year's SAE International convention that was designed by student's at Clemson University. The car, called a uBox, was part of a two year project at Clemson called Deep Orange designed to give engineering students an immersive experience. The car was completely designed, engineered and hand built by grad students learning from both professors at the university and experts from Toyota.
	Students design force-testing device for makers of children's 3-D printed prosthetics  Those who make 3-D printed prosthetic hands may come to rely on a printed palm Rice University students developed to help ensure that children get the most out of the devices.
	Location data on two apps enough to identify someone, says study Stripping a big data set of names and personal details is no guarantee of privacy. Previous research has shown that individual shoppers, Netflix subscribers and even taxicab riders are identifiable in heaps of supposedly anonymous data.
	Clothes that receive and transmit digital information are closer to reality Researchers who are working to develop wearable electronics have reached a milestone: They are able to embroider circuits into fabric with 0.1 mm precision—the perfect size to integrate electronic components such as sensors and computer memory devices into clothing.
	Uber starts motorbike taxi service in Indonesian capital Ride-hailing app Uber on Wednesday launched a motorbike taxi service in the Indonesian capital where Southeast Asian rivals Go-Jek and Grab are already battling for dominance.
	Facebook to let users buy tickets directly Facebook users will soon be able to buy tickets directly as the social networking giant expands further into e-commerce, company officials said.
	Hackers helped FBI crack San Bernardino iPhone: report Professional hackers discovered at least one software flaw that helped the FBI break into an iPhone used by a San Bernardino attacker, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
	Robot bird to make its first flight at airports University of Twente's Robird will make its first flights at an airport location in February. Weeze Airport in Germany, just across the Dutch border near Nijmegen, will serve as the test site for this life-like robotic falcon developed by Clear Flight Solutions, a spin-off company of the University of Twente. The Robird is designed to scare away birds at airports and waste processing plants.
	Cooling startup funding chills the 'unicorn' herd (Update) A further cooling of the funding frenzy for startups has heightened concerns over the so-called tech "unicorns" which have been feasting on venture capital.
	New scrolling method promises accelerated skim reading and data recall The explosion of digital content and data that we take in from screens each day through documents, email chains, web pages and social media flows is enormous and consequently, the rapid comprehension of complex information has become an essential aspect of modern life. The continuous scrolling technique typically used to browse this data is, however, far from perfect. In conventional scrolling, a number of objects are moving in the viewer window, which is problematic for visual attention. First, motion blur makes it impossible to focus on an object. Second, the user is not able to direct their attention for long enough to comprehend the content before it scrolls out of the window.
	Mathematicians use 'Game of Thrones' to highlight the growing importance of network science The wildly popular fantasy HBO TV series 'Game of Thrones' will be returning for its sixth season later this month, and in advance of this a team of US-based researchers have applied a mathematical algorithm to ask the most potent question about the world of Westeros: who exactly is the real main character?
	Taxi drivers block streets in Buenos Aires after Uber launch Uber, the smartphone app that connects riders and drivers, launched Tuesday in Buenos Aires without authorization, triggering protests by taxi drivers who blocked major avenues and snarled traffic.
	Research catapult tests the dangers of drones At Aalborg University's Drone Research Lab, a new experimental setup with a motorized catapult and high-speed camera now documents in detail what happens when one of the popular small hobby drones hit objects or people. In the first film from the lab, drones are sent on a collision course with a pork roast.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers unearthed more evidence that replacing butter with vegetable oils does not decrease risk of heart disease A research team led by scientists at the UNC School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health has unearthed more evidence that casts doubt on the traditional "heart healthy" practice of replacing butter and other saturated fats with corn oil and other vegetable oils high in linoleic acid.
	Maple syrup protects neurons and nurtures young minds Catherine Aaron and Gabrielle Beaudry were 17 when they knocked on the door of the laboratory of Alex Parker, a neuroscience researcher at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM). While students at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal, they were looking for a mentor for an after-school research project. Two and half years later, the results of this scientific adventure were published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
	Fast food may expose consumers to harmful chemicals called phthalates People who reported consuming more fast food in a national survey were exposed to higher levels of potentially harmful chemicals known as phthalates, according to a study published today by researchers at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University. The study, one of the first to look at fast-food consumption and exposure to these chemicals, appears in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
	Spotting DNA repair genes gone awry Researchers led by Ludwig Cancer Research scientist Richard Kolodner have developed a new technique for sussing out the genes responsible for helping repair DNA damage that, if left unchecked, can lead to certain cancers.
	Could a brain 'growth chart' spot attention problems early? New study suggests so Want to know if your child's height and weight are on track? Check the growth chart that the doctor gives you after each yearly checkup.
	Repairing DNA damage in the human body: Research provides new insights UNSW medical scientists have discovered that DNA repair is compromised at important regions of our genome, shedding new light on the human body's capacity to repair DNA damage.
	How LSD can make us lose our sense of self When people take the psychedelic drug LSD, they sometimes feel as though the boundary that separates them from the rest of the world has dissolved. Now, the first functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) of people's brains while on LSD help to explain this phenomenon known as "ego dissolution."
	Study suggests that gut bacteria could help prevent cancer Researchers have shown that various types of intestinal bacteria might be factors in both causing and preventing obesity, and in other conditions and diseases. Now, a UCLA study suggests that it could also potentially be used to reduce the risk for some types of cancer.
	Researchers uncover earliest events following HIV infection, before virus is detectable New research in monkeys exposed to SIV, the animal equivalent of HIV, reveals what happens in the very earliest stages of infection, before virus is even detectable in the blood, which is a critical but difficult period to study in humans. The findings, published online today in the journal Cell, have important implications for vaccine development and other strategies to prevent infection.
	Device allows paralyzed man to swipe credit card, perform other movements Six years ago, he was paralyzed in a diving accident. Today, he participates in clinical sessions during which he can grasp and swipe a credit card or play a guitar video game with his own fingers and hand. These complex functional movements are driven by his own thoughts and a prototype medical system that are detailed in a study published online today in the journal Nature.
	As states raise speed limits, road deaths rise, report finds (HealthDay)—Increasing speed limits may be to blame for an increase in road deaths on America's highways and byways, a new study suggests.
	What women should do to guard against vision loss (HealthDay)—Women are a majority of the 4.4 million Americans over age 40 who are visually impaired or blind, Prevent Blindness says.
	Severe depression linked to dementia in seniors (HealthDay)—Major and worsening depression may significantly increase seniors' risk of dementia, a new study suggests.
	A mild flu season, and the end is in sight: CDC (HealthDay)—This year's flu season may not quite be over, but it's clearly winding down and will be recorded as a relatively mild one, U.S. health officials say.
	PDE4 inhibition promising tx for metabolic disorders (HealthDay)—Inhibition of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), which hydrolyses cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), may be useful for treating metabolic disorders, according to research published in the May issue of Obesity Reviews.
	CCTA tied to more appropriate use of invasive angiography (HealthDay)—Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is associated with more appropriate use of invasive angiography and increased use of preventive therapies, according to a study published online April 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Early warning trigger tool could help reduce maternal morbidity (HealthDay)—Use of a clinical pathway-specific Maternal Early Warning Trigger (MEWT) tool can reduce maternal morbidity, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Efficacy of DTaP, tdap holds despite pertactin deficiency (HealthDay)—Despite an increased proportion of Bordetella pertussis isolates lacking pertactin, vaccine effectiveness (VE) is still high in Vermont for the five-dose diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) series and the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), according to research published online April 12 in Pediatrics.
	Review addresses chest pain in young adults presenting to ER (HealthDay)—For young adults presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain, after ruling out cardiac risk, physicians should focus on stress reaction, according to a review published in the March issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
	Increase in number of patients being treated for alpha-gal (HealthDay)—There has been an increase in the number of patients being treated for Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) syndrome, according to a report from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Asthma, Sinus and Allergy Program (ASAP).
	ASCO presents guidelines for increasing HPV vaccine uptake (HealthDay)—Recommendations have been developed to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake, according to an American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) special article published online April 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Cartilage protein may contribute to the development of breast cancer Research from Lund University in Sweden shows that the protein COMP, which mainly exists in cartilage, can also be found in breast cancer tumours in patients with a poor prognosis. Studies on mice also showed that COMP contributed to the development and metastasis of the breast cancer.
Research opens the way to new treatments for chronic pain and cancer In a recent paper published in Nature Communications, a group of Case Western University School of Medicine researchers presented their discovery of the full-length structure of a protein named Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid subtype 2 (TRPV2). Taken in addition to their study of its molecular mechanism last year, published in the December issue of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dr. Vera Moiseenkova-Bell's laboratory has revealed TRPV2 as a new target for pharmaceutical research treating chronic pain and cancer.
Low-risk drinking guidelines vary widely among countries, study finds People monitoring their alcohol intake often rely on governmental guidelines to assess whether how much they're drinking is likely to have adverse health effects.
Bottle-fed babies born to obese mothers risk developing dangerous liver disease as teens Data presented today demonstrates that healthy maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) and exclusively breastfeeding a child for at least six months can reduce the risk of infants developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescence. The results were presented at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
Potential effects of fertility treatments on breast density and cancer risk Infertility and hormonal fertility treatments may influence the amount of dense tissue in the breast, a risk factor for breast cancer, according to a study involving 43,313 women, published in the open access journal Breast Cancer Research.
	Painkiller critics take aim at hospital surveys, procedures Critics of how prescription painkillers are administered in the U.S. are calling on health officials to phase out hospital procedures and questionnaires used to manage pain.
	Collaborative institute aims to speed cancer drug creation A project to speed development of cancer-fighting drugs that harness the immune system has academic and drug industry researchers collaborating and sharing their findings like never before.
	Surgery separates infant conjoined twins in Texas Surgery at a South Texas hospital has separated two 10-month-old sisters born conjoined below the waist.
	Biologist believes an intestinal cell type may be source of inflammatory bowel disease With all that we humans put in our mouths, one of our digestive systems' most important jobs is self-preservation – keeping the linings of the intestines and other vital organs from breaking down under the strain they endure. In more than 16 million Americans according to the National Institutes of Health, that process has failed, creating a serious ailment called inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.
	Does where you live play a role in your life expectancy? The gap in lifespan between the rich and the poor has grown rapidly in recent years, with the richest Americans gaining three years since 2000 but the poorest gaining none. Moreover, there is a disparity in lifespan based on where the poor live. The findings come from new research by the Health Inequality Project published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Sunday.
	A biomarker for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension During the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in Chicago, a researcher from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) presented the results of a phase II clinical study demonstrating the safety of the PulmoBind biomarker and the ability of the PulmoBind tomography (SPECT) scan to clearly show abnormal results in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
	Scientists capture cell 'crosstalk' during blood vessel development The blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body develop through a complex process of reactions—or crosstalk—between cells that is regulated by cell-specific gene expression. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, a Yale-led team of researchers identified a key mediator of this crosstalk and determined how it affects the formation of new blood vessels.
	Addressing trauma as a health risk Questions about smoking, seat belts or regular exercise are routine at a doctor's office, thanks to the overwhelming data showing that the lives we lead influence our overall health. But one insidious yet common risk factor is rarely addressed: living with trauma.
	How sexually transmitted diseases might have driven the evolution of monogamy Exactly why so many humans choose monogamous pair bonds over juggling multiple partners has long been a mystery to scientists. After all, having several partners at the same time should lead to more offspring – an outcome you'd think evolution would favour. Now a new study has linked the phenomenon to sexually transmitted diseases, arguing that monogamy could have evolved because it offered protection against the threat of infection.
	Nearly winning is more rewarding in gamblings addicts Pathological gamblers have a stronger brain reaction to so-called near-miss events: losing events that come very close to a win. Neuroscientists of the Donders Institute at Radboud University show this in fMRI scans of twenty-two pathological gamblers and just as many healthy controls. The scientific journal Neuropsychopharmacology published their results in an early view article last week.
Researcher discovers a protein that spreads cancer Nils Halberg at the University of Bergen has identified a protein that makes it possible for cancer cells to spread.
	In vitro reproduction of long-lasting effects of stress on memory A group of researchers at Osaka University, succeeded in reproduction of the same phenomenon as memory consolidation by using organotypic slice cultures of the cerebral cortex and revealed that stress interfered with memory consolidation. As cultures can be maintained for a long period, it is possible to examine long-term effects. This group's achievement will be useful for developing therapeutic methods for and preventive measures against stress-induced memory defects.
	A nutrient called carnitine might counteract gene mutations linked with autism risks Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect about one percent of the world's population. In the United States alone, about 1 in 68 children are on the spectrum, and between 40 and 60 percent of them are also diagnosed with some degree of intellectual disability.
Tech billionaire donates $250 mn for cancer 'moonshot' Tech billionaire Sean Parker announced Wednesday a $250 million grant to fund research aimed at breakthroughs in cancer treatment through immunotherapy.
	Untwist scoliosis by clipping wings of an overactive ladybird People with scoliosis, a twisting of the spine that can occur as a birth defect or more commonly starts during the teen years, are now closer to a genetic explanation for their condition. An overactive gene, called ladybird homeobox 1 (LBX1), is the start of a genetic chain reaction that causes the spine to grow abnormally. The report from collaborations at Hiroshima University, Kyoto University, RIKEN, and Kanazawa University is the first to demonstrate the functional association of scoliosis with LBX1.
Study examines association between surgical skill and long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery In contrast to its effect on early complications, surgical skill did not affect postoperative weight loss or resolution of medical conditions at 1 year after laparoscopic gastric bypass, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery.
	Gene defect may point to solution for Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is caused by protein (amyloid) deposition in the brain. New research at the University of Bergen (UiB) and Haukeland University Hospital shows that the protein PITRM1, which is found in mitochondria, otherwise known as the powerhouses of the cell, may be involved in the development of the disease.
Some drug addicts more likely to relapse than others, study finds People with drug addictions who started opioid abuse later in life use injections for their drugs, or increased their use of downers before starting drug treatment, are more likely to relapse from treatment than others, says a new study from McMaster University.
	Even light hookah use may cause airway problems (HealthDay)—Some people believe smoking from a hookah is safe because smoke passes through water before being inhaled. But, a new study found that hookah smoking may actually be more dangerous than cigarettes.
	Does exercise help or hinder your diet? (HealthDay)—Dieters sometimes worry that workouts could make them hungry, but new research indicates exercise has the opposite effect, diminishing the appetite—at least temporarily.
	CV risk not significantly different for GLP-1 receptor agonists (HealthDay)—There are no significant differences in occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) tied to treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), second generation sulfonylureas, or insulin, in combination with metformin, according to a study published online March 22 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Parental hip fracture independently ups offspring risk (HealthDay)—Parental hip fracture (HF) is independently associated with increased risk of offspring major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and HF, according to research published online April 8 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Study suggests link between obesity and kidney cancer Receptors for leptin, a protein hormone, may be associated with tumor recurrence in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), providing further understanding about molecular links between obesity and RCC tumor formation and prognosis, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Study discovers link between cancer and autism A group of University of Iowa researchers has shown that although patients who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher burden of mutations in cancer-promoting oncogenes, they actually have lower rates of cancer.
Gene variant explains racial disparities in adverse reactions to urate-lowering drug A multi-institutional study led by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigator finds significant racial disparities in the risk that patients being treated for gout will develop a serious, sometimes life-threatening adverse reaction to the most commonly prescribed medication. The increased risk closely correlates with the frequency of a gene variant previously associated with that adverse reaction, supporting recommendations to screen for that variant in patients from those populations.
Changes in state policies impact fatal and non-fatal assaults of law enforcement officers A new study led by researchers with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, part of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, finds that state-level policy changes can impact the number of fatal and non-fatal assaults, including shootings, of law enforcement officers. The report is published in Injury Prevention.
Expanding insurance for single-embryo IVF could improve pregnancy outcomes Expanding insurance coverage for a type of in vitro fertilization known as elective single-embryo transfer could lead to improved health outcomes and lower health care costs, according to a newly published study that included researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Drug candidate stops extra bone growth in animal model of rare, genetic disease New preclinical research provides support to a drug that has been repurposed to possibly treat a rare and extremely disabling genetic bone disease, particularly in children. In that disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a mutation triggers bone growth in muscles, alters skeletal bone formation, and limits motion, breathing, and swallowing, among a host of progressive symptoms. The research appeared online in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR) ahead of the print issue.
	Current hepatitis C virus testing guidelines miss too many cases, study suggest A review of blood samples for nearly 5,000 patients seen at The Johns Hopkins Hospital Emergency Department suggests that federal guidelines for hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening may be missing up to a quarter of all cases and argues for updated universal screening.
	Anti-fibrotic peptide shows early promise against interstitial lung disease The results of preclinical studies by investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) reported in the April 2016 issue of Translational Research suggest that the M10 peptide could help protect against fibrotic damage in patients with systemic sclerosis, particularly in those who develop interstitial lung diseases (ILD), its deadliest complication.
	Most online liquid nicotine vendors fail to prevent sales to minors Across the United States, online vendors of e-liquids—the nicotine-rich fluids that fuel electronic cigarettes—are failing to take proper precautions in preventing sales to minors, according to a study by the University of California, Irvine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Global studies reveal health financing crisis facing developing countries Two major studies published in The Lancet reveal the health financing crisis facing developing countries as a result of low domestic investment and stagnating international aid, which could leave millions of people without access to even the most basic health services.
	New asthma biomarkers discovered, could ease detection People with asthma have telltale molecules circulating in their blood, say researchers at Penn State College of Medicine. The discovery could lead to the first diagnostic blood test for asthma, as well as more targeted treatments for the condition.
	Helping asthma patients breathe easier The possibility of a future without asthma is what really inspires renowned allergist Harissios Vliagoftis. In his role as the newly appointed GSK-CIHR Chair in Airway Inflammation, Vliagoftis aims to help make this possibility a reality. Thanks to a partnership between the University of Alberta, GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, initially established in May 2011, Vliagoftis' research activities will continue through to 2020 with funding of just over $1.3 million.
	Sexist video games decrease empathy for female violence victims Young male gamers who strongly identify with male characters in sexist, violent video games show less empathy than others toward female violence victims, a new study found.
Scientists create animal model for pediatric brain tumor Sanford Research scientists are published in Nature Cell Biology for their work developing a model to explore therapies for a pediatric brain tumor known as choroid plexus carcinoma.
Testosterone therapy decreases hospital readmissions in older men with low testosterone A new large-scale population-based study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston showed for the first time that older men using testosterone therapy were less likely to have complications that require them to go back to the hospital within a month of being discharged than men not using this therapy. The study is currently available in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Only half of advanced rectal cancer patients receiving standard therapy While use of the standard therapy leading to the best outcome against locally advanced rectal cancer has increased over the past decade, only half of patients currently receive it, according to a new study. The authors of the study say the underutilization could be explained in part by socioeconomic factors. The study appears early online in the American Cancer Society's peer-review journal Cancer.
Differing perspectives on antiviral treatment efficacy in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV Two separate studies presented today at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain have offered alternative conclusions regarding the efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) among patients co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Combined HIV and hepatitis C virus vaccination a possibility A combined vaccination against Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV moved a step closer, with the results of a study resented at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain today.
	High rate of cancer recurrence found in certain hepatitis C patients Data from a new study show that patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) taking direct-acting antiviral treatments (DAAs), who have previously fought off hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer,1 had a 'high rate' of re-developing their illness.
Community-based treatment providers can help ease pressure on specialists in battle against hep C A new study, presented today, demonstrates treatment for Hepatitis C can be provided safely and effectively within a community-based and non-specialist setting. This illustrates the potential for alternative providers to ease pressure on currently overburdened specialists. The study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, was presented at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
Stop denying migrants their fundamental right to healthcare, says doctor European countries must stop denying migrants their fundamental right to healthcare, argues a doctor in The BMJ today.
Lancet review article on testosterone therapy for transgender men A review article published today in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal discusses testosterone therapy for transgender men (female to male), outlining desired and undesired effects, potential risks, and additional benefits. The review also revealed a lack of research in this field, calling for more data.
Hospitals could reduce healthcare burden of alcohol related harm by simple routine screening The growing burden of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) could be reduced if hospitals introduced a simple universal screening procedure for those attending acute and emergency hospital settings, according to a new study shared today at The International Liver Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Increase in coffee consumption could provide protective effect in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Adding coffee to the diet of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) could help reverse the condition, according to a new study conducted in mice presented at The International Liver Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
	Commercialising gas bubbles for cancer drug delivery Researchers are now working to design stable micro-bubbles which, combined with ultrasound, can deliver cancer drugs straight to the target tumour.
	Services available to tackle grandcarer stress Juggling finances, maintaining a social life and looking after your own health are just some stresses associated with becoming a fulltime carer for your grandchildren, an ongoing study into grandcarers has revealed.
Researchers to test affordable hepatitis C regimen with Malaysian and Thai governments The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and the Egyptian drug manufacturer Pharco Pharmaceuticals have signed agreements covering the clinical testing and scale-up of a hepatitis C treatment regimen at a price of just under $300.
Bill Gates predicts end for polio Bill Gates said Wednesday that "with any luck" polio will be eradicated by 2017 in the last two countries where it remains active, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
New blood thinners reduce atrial fibrillation stroke risk without frequent monitoring A new generation of blood thinners can reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, without requiring frequent monitoring and dietary restrictions.
AMP genomic sequencing procedure microcosting and health economic cost-impact analyses The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) today announced the results from a 2015 analysis of the costs and health economic impact of several Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) genomic sequencing procedures (GSPs). The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics published the results in a manuscript titled "Genomic Sequencing Procedure Microcosting Analysis and Health Economic Cost-Impact Analysis: A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology."

Biology news

	Human cloning with Chinese characteristics Chinese genetic scientists must not be put off sensitive research by ethical concerns, the team behind a controversial study on modified human embryos said Wednesday as debate erupted over the paper.
	26-million-year-old fossil ear reveals the origin of dolphin hearing and communication Scientists have known for decades that modern-day dolphins are some of the most intelligent and social animals on earth. Demonstrating complex behaviour and communication dolphins remind us of ourselves while living in a radically different environment.
	How echidnas survive brush fires (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with the University of New England, Curtin University and the University of Western Australia has discovered how echidnas manage to survive brush fires. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Julia Nowack, Christine Elizabeth Cooper and Fritz Geiser describe their study of the animals after a part of a nature preserve was deliberately set on fire to help fire-dependent vegetation become established.
	City moths avoid the light The globally increasing light pollution has negative effects on organisms and entire ecosystems. The consequences are especially hard on nocturnal insects, since their attraction to artificial light sources generally ends fatal. A new study by Swiss zoologists from the Universities of Basel and Zurich now shows that urban moths have learned to avoid light. The journal Biology Letters has published their results.
Genetic diversity helps to limit infectious disease New research by University of Exeter academics shows that genetic diversity helps to reduce the spread of diseases by limiting parasite evolution.
Vital nutrient has key role in keeping body clocks running on time An essential mineral in our diets has an unexpected role in helping living things remain adapted to the rhythms of night and day, scientists have found.
	Rising CO2 levels reduce protein in crucial pollen source for bees Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have reduced protein in goldenrod pollen, a key late-season food source for North American bees, a Purdue University study shows.
	In wide range of species, longevity proteins affect dozens of the same genes Whether a creature is a worm, a fly, a mouse, or a human, death inevitably awaits. And not only do these organisms share a common fate, but also, according to a new study, they may share some of the specific mechanisms of mortality. The researchers found that in all four species, there are 46 genes regulated by the same family of "FOXO" proteins known to be central in aging and longevity.
	Researchers pinpoint chemical compound that gives rare animal its popcorn-like scent The bearcat. The binturong. Whatever you call this shy, shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia, many people who have met one notice the same thing: it smells like a movie theater snack bar.
	Thick-skinned bed bugs beat commonly used bug sprays The global resurgence in bed bugs over the past two decades could be explained by revelations that bed bugs have developed a thicker cuticle that enables them to survive exposure to commonly used insecticides, according to University of Sydney research published today in PLOS ONE.
	Reflective Saharan silver ant hairs thermoregulate, create bright color The body hairs of the Saharan silver ant cause total internal reflection of light to make the ants almost ten times more reflective, preventing overheating and yielding their silver sheen, according to a study published April 13, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Quentin Willot from the University Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and colleagues.
EU parliament urges limited approval for weedkiller (Update) European Parliament on Wednesday urged the EU to approve the weedkiller glyphosate for seven years and not 15 as requested by the bloc's top regulator amid fears the product could cause cancer.
	Long-billed curlew to illuminate mysterious migration of dwindling wintering population Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's Migratory Bird Center (SMBC) and partners are celebrating the start of migration this month with a single long-billed curlew they outfitted with a satellite tag in December 2015.
	Study quantifies the impact that drones can have on bird life A new study shows that drones used to investigate sensitive water bird species in the wild can be used in a way that has little impact on their natural movement, according to research by the University of New England.
	Microbiologists unravel relationship among plants, mycorrhizal fungi An ancient, mutually beneficial relationship between plants and fungi could make agriculture more sustainable by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, according to professor Heike Bücking of the South Dakota State University Department of Biology and Microbiology.
	Of mice and monkeys - why are some species more at risk from climate change? Researchers from the University of Aberdeen, Sapienza University of Rome, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the University of Liverpool have developed a modelling approach which predicts the proportion of terrestrial mammals, from shrews to stoats to deer and giraffes, which may not be able to keep up with climate change.
	Gourmet meals are filled with bacteria – and they taste delicious When diners sat down at a recent gourmet experience held at the Harvey Nichols department store in Manchester, their food was filled with bacteria, fungus and mould. Far from being a public health hazard, this special five-course meal was designed to show how microorganisms are a fundamental part of the food we eat.
	Diet affects the evolution of birds How diet has affected the evolution of the 10,000 bird species in the world is still a mystery to evolutionary biology. A study by Daniel Kissling of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (UvA) and colleagues from the University of São Paulo and the University of Utah shows how diet preferences have influenced bird diversification over millions of years. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
The ecological role of fruit aroma Fruits are a highly valuable source of food. They are packed with tasty and healthy nutrients and are often characterized by alluring colorful displays and an attractive aroma. Yet it is still unclear which evolutionary forces drove fruits to acquire such a diverse range of different attractive traits. In two new studies, scientists from the German Primate Center and their international collaboration partners show that the aroma of ripe fruits may be an adaptation whose function is to attract primates to consume the fruits and consequently disperse their seeds.
	A new roundworm species from India is a link between 2 genera The unique features and blending characters of a new roundworm species, discovered in India, make the nematode a distinct yet intermediary or connecting link between two supposedly distant genera. The new worm is a hermaphrodite that primarily feeds on bacteria. The study, conducted by a research team from the Aligarh Muslim University, India, led by Dr Qudsia Tahseen, is published in the open access Biodiversity Data Journal.
	Bees diversify diet to take the sting out of nutritional deficiencies While pesticides and pathogens pose clear threats to honey bee health, the need of bee colonies for balanced nutrition is gaining increasing appreciation. As colonies are kept in agricultural areas for crop pollination, they may encounter nutritional deficits when foraging predominantly on one pollen source. In California almond orchards for instance, 1.6 million colonies are kept every year, despite the risk of low floral diversity, which can reduce the life expectancy of bees.
	Twentieth century warming allowed moose to colonize the Alaskan tundra The establishment of moose in tundra regions of Alaska was the result of warmer and longer summers that increased their shrub habitat, according to a study published April 13, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ken Tape from the University of Alaska, USA, and colleagues.
	Feeding stock with rubber seed proteins Residues from rubber seeds can be used to enrich animal feed. Besides reducing waste during the production of rubber, this can also result in higher revenues for the farmers since feed is the highest cost component in livestock production. At 13 April 2016, Widyarani will defend her PhD-thesis on the opportunities of rubber production at Wageningen University.
Students win international prize for sustainable aquaculture idea Aquaculture, if practiced sustainably, could greatly increase Kenya's food supply, but the techniques the industry uses to produce feed for fish farms—such as dynamite fishing and trawling—are ecologically destructive. In Switzerland earlier this month, two Brown students and their collaborators received a $10,000 international prize for their innovative idea for an alternative.
	Asiagomphus reinhardti: A newly discovered insect is named after a TU Dresden researcher The Russian insect researcher Oleg Kosterin and his Japanese colleague Naoto Yokoi have traced the dragonfly in a remote mountainous border region between Cambodia and Laos and named it "Asiagomphus reinhardti". They honour his merits and achievements for the promotion of the international dragonfly research. The dragonfly, about six centimetres long, lives close to mountain streams. So far, only male examples are known: a black body with yellow spots and green eyes. As a larva they live for numerous year dug in the mud bottom.
	Being systematic about the unknown: Grid-based schemes could improve butterfly monitoring Butterfly monitoring schemes are at the heart of citizen science, with the general public and researchers collaborating to discover how butterfly populations change over time. To develop the concept further, a new paper in the journal Nature Conservation shows how systematically placed, grid-based transects can help schemes by reducing habitat bias.

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