Science X Newsletter Monday, May 16

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 16, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Study pinpoints timing of oxygen's first appearance in Earth's atmosphere

Polluted dust can impact ocean life thousands of miles away, study says

Best of Last Week—Controlling entangled atoms, excess folic acid causing autism and cells that retain memory of injury

Two-beam super-resolution lithography used to create 3D photonic 'gyroid' nanostructures

Mom's voice activates many different regions in children's brains, study shows

Scientists create novel 'liquid wire' material inspired by spiders' capture silk

Self-healing, flexible electronic material restores functions after many breaks

Natural selection sculpts genetic information to limit diversity

Discovery of new stem cell pathway indicates route to much higher yields in maize, staple crops

Data-collecting quadrotor perch progress at Stanford

Tiny coils improve quality of life for patients with severe emphysema

Review finds fathers' age, lifestyle associated with birth defects

Will robot cars drive traffic congestion off a cliff? (Update)

Smartwatch display on your arm? Samsung has a vision

Researchers show that four-stranded DNA is formed and unfolded

Astronomy & Space news

	Interplay of magnetic fields and gravitation in the Orion Nebula leads to star development Space bears witness to a constant stream of star births. And whole star clusters are often formed at the same time – and within a comparatively short period. Amelia Stutz and Andrew Gould from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg have proposed a new mechanism to explain this quick formation. The researchers have investigated a filament of gas and dust which also includes the well-known Orion nebula.
	Hunting for hidden life on worlds orbiting old, red stars All throughout the universe, there are stars in varying phases and ages. The oldest detected Kepler planets (exoplanets found using NASA's Kepler telescope) are about 11 billion years old, and the planetary diversity suggests that around other stars, such initially frozen worlds could be the size of Earth and could even provide habitable conditions once the star becomes older. Astronomers usually looked at middle-aged stars like our sun, but to find habitable worlds, one needs to look around stars of all ages.
	Mysterious happenings around the star KIC 846852 The Kepler satellite was designed to search for Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone of stars by measuring dips in a star's brightness as orbiting planets move across the stellar disc (transits). Its sensitive camera stares at more than 150,000 stars towards the constellations of Cygnus and Lyrae, and so far has found over 5000 exoplanet candidates. But Kepler also monitors the light fluctuations in all the other stars, even dips not caused by transits, and has found some bizarre situations.
	ISS completes 100,000th orbit of Earth: mission control The International Space Station, the space laboratory that showcases cooperation between Russia and the United States, on Monday orbited Earth for the 100,000th time, Russian mission control said.
	Dwarf planet Haumea's lunar system smaller than anticipated Haumea, a dwarf planet on the edge of our solar system doesn't have the same kind of moons as its well-known cousin Pluto according to a new study. This is despite original evidence that suggested they both formed in similar giant impacts and adds to the mystery shrouding how these icy bodies formed.
	Andre Brahic, discoverer of Neptune's rings, dies aged 73 French astrophysicist Andre Brahic, one of the discoverers of Neptune's rings, died in Paris Sunday at the age of 73, his publisher Odile Jacob said.
	Amateurs prepare big-picture perspective to support Juno mission Some of the world's leading amateur and professional astronomers are meeting on 12-13 May to prepare for a campaign of ground-based global observations in support of NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter. Juno arrives on 4th July this year and will investigate Jupiter through a series of long elliptical orbits with close flybys of the giant planet. To put these observations into perspective and to understand Jupiter's atmospheric dynamics, the Juno project on behalf of NASA has requested the collaboration of amateur astronomers back on Earth. High-resolution observations obtained by amateur astronomers will allow Juno mission scientists to characterise the state and evolution of Jupiter's atmosphere over the course of the mission, which is due to end in February 2018.
	Image: Hubble spies a spiral snowflake Together with irregular galaxies, spiral galaxies make up approximately 60 percent of the galaxies in the local universe. However, despite their prevalence, each spiral galaxy is unique—like snowflakes, no two are alike. This is demonstrated by the striking face-on spiral galaxy NGC 6814, whose luminous nucleus and spectacular sweeping arms, rippled with an intricate pattern of dark dust, are captured in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image.
	Earth's magnetic heartbeat, a thinner past and new alien worlds Space research never stops and it seems neither do the surprises. On ABC Breakfast News I covered some huge results from the last few weeks.
	Super-secret X-37B space plane nears one year in orbit For years now, the program to develop the X-37B spacecraft has been shrouded in secrecy. Originally intended as part of a NASA project to develop a reusable unmanned spacecraft, this Boeing-designed spaceplane was taken over by the Department of Defense in 2004. And while it has been successfully tested on multiple occasions, there remain some unanswered questions as to its intended purpose and what has been taking place during these flights.
	Canadian astronaut to join ISS in 2018 Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month mission in late 2018, Science Minister Navdeep Bains announced Monday.
	MinXSS CubeSat deployed from ISS to study Sun's soft X-rays On May 16, 2016, the bread loaf-sized Miniature X-Ray Solar Spectrometer, or MinXSS, CubeSat deployed from an airlock on the International Space Station to begin its journey into space. The NASA-funded MinXSS studies emissions from the sun that can affect our communications systems.

Technology news

	Data-collecting quadrotor perch progress at Stanford Researchers at Stanford's Biomimetics and Dexterous Manipulation Lab investigate robots at the boundary of airborn and surface locomotion. They have made a drone that, like insects, can land on vertical walls and even ceilings. This addresses a problem with hovering drones—namely, endurance.
	Will robot cars drive traffic congestion off a cliff? (Update) Self-driving cars are expected to usher in a new era of mobility, safety and convenience. The problem, say transportation researchers, is that people will use them too much.
	Smartwatch display on your arm? Samsung has a vision (Tech Xplore)—Ouch. The question that some consumers pose when looking at smartwatch ads is, Why? Market research indicates that those who stay back from buying these wearables have various reasons, one of which is that they feel they can carry out daily functions such as picture gazing, text reading and messaging on their smartphone, and their smartphone is enough.
	A soft actuator using electrically controllable membranes could pave the way for machines that are no danger to humans In interacting with humans, robots must first and foremost be safe. If a household robot, for example, encounters a human, it should not continue its movements regardless, but rather give way in case of doubt. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart are now presenting a motion system—a so-called elastic actuator—that is compliant and can be integrated in robots thanks to its space-saving design. The actuator works with hyperelastic membranes that surround air-filled chambers. The volume of the chambers can be controlled by means of an electric field at the membrane. To date, elastic actuators that exert a force by stretching air-filled chambers have always required connection to pumps and compressors to work. A soft actuator such as the one developed by the Stuttgart-based team means that such bulky payloads or tethers may now be superfluous.
	Australia project turns vehicles into emergency network (Tech Xplore)—We are quite accustomed to hearing about the wonders of enjoying a global experience in a connected universe where communications ignores limitations of borders, arrival gates and physical walls. Not everyone gets to enjoy.
	Robot's in-hand eye maps surroundings, determines hand's location Before a robot arm can reach into a tight space or pick up a delicate object, the robot needs to know precisely where its hand is. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have shown that a camera attached to the robot's hand can rapidly create a 3-D model of its environment and also locate the hand within that 3-D world.
	New method of producing random numbers could improve cybersecurity With an advance that one cryptography expert called a "masterpiece," University of Texas at Austin computer scientists have developed a new method for producing truly random numbers, a breakthrough that could be used to encrypt data, make electronic voting more secure, conduct statistically significant polls and more accurately simulate complex systems such as Earth's climate.
	The Roll helps to find the right photo shots (Phys.org)—There you are passing time on a subway with a stalled train in the middle of a tunnel and no comforting announcement saying why.
	Why Apple plunked $1 billion into Chinese ride-hailing Apple new $1 billion investment in the Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing is as much about currying favor with regulators as directly expanding its own business, analysts said. Apple might need the help; it faces slowing iPhone sales and tougher restrictions on its services in the country.
Germany eyes free wi-fi in public spaces, finally Try looking for a free wi-fi connection in the cafe down the street in Germany and, more likely than not, there isn't one.
	Nintendo eyeing filmmaking for growth after Mariners sale Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co. is eyeing the movie business for growth.
Philips eyes almost billion euro IPO windfall Dutch electronics giant Philips announced Monday it will float 25 percent of its shares in a highly anticipated IPO of its lighting arm which could raise almost one billion euros.
	Lights finally come on for Indian village Ram Kishore searched long and hard to find a suitable wife for his son, but his efforts only paid off when electricity finally came to his village in rural north India this year.
	Binocular vision-based UAVs autonomous aerial refueling platform—pilots are no longer needed Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are invaluable in today's military and civilian initiatives. However, most unmanned systems are being designed to execute the long-running mission. Thus, it is necessary for UAVs to return to the base for refueling. Autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) is therefore an important capability for the future deployment of UAVs. Vision-based sensor and navigation system are widely used in AAR, while experiments are done for both probe-and-drogue refueling system and boom approaches.
	An energy strategy that can take the heat At first, it sounds ominous: Molten salts, heated to 600 or even 900 °C (about 1,700°F, pumped through the pipes surrounding a nuclear reactor. But a molten salt mixture may make a smart substitute for water to extract heat from nuclear reactors—or thermal solar power plants—and deliver it to turbines to generate electricity.
	Protecting your privacy if you use a route mapping app There are plenty of smartphone apps that can help map your movements as you are driving, cycling, running or just out for a good walk. Many of these apps encourage you to share your route publicly on websites or with friends on social media.
	Cost and distance prime barriers for remote solar technology Sunshine beats down on north-west WA in abundance. Why then, has there been such a limited take up of solar energy in remote communities?
	New analysis method to boost lithium-ion battery capacity Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Arc Ltd. announced today joint development of an atomic analysis methodology that will aid in boosting the performance of lithium-ion batteries, and ultimately extend the driving range of zero-emission electric vehicles.
	Helping to bring energy prices down and keep the lights on Researchers at the University of Oxford have launched a five-year programme to investigate ways of relieving peak demands on the UK's electricity grid that also might make energy bills cheaper too.
	Jet.com's Marc Lore is out to reinvent the shopping cart Jet.com CEO Marc Lore has set out to reinvent the shopping cart.
	Apple's latest innovation ... a big stake for Berkshire Investors might question Warren Buffett's long-standing aversion to tech stocks after his Berkshire Hathaway bought 9.8 million shares of Apple.
	Report says Amazon to expand its store-brand offerings Amazon is planning to expand the store-brand items it sells to new categories including food and household products, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
	Fitbit paces wearables market, Xiaomi second: survey The market for connected wearable devices jumped in early 2016, led by fitness tracker maker Fitbit, while Chinese group Xiaomi raced past Apple to second place, a survey showed Monday.
Justices give narrow win to Internet site in false data case The Supreme Court on Monday handed a narrow victory to an Internet search firm that was sued for posting false information about people, ruling that consumers could bring legal challenges only if the errors caused actual harm.
Buffett backing bid for Yahoo: report Billionaire Warren Buffett is willing to back one of the bidders for troubled Internet pioneer Yahoo, CNBC television reported Monday.
	Detroit's automakers, sensing a threat, embrace mobility For Detroit, the days of simply making cars are over.
	Rwanda opens pioneering methane electricity plant Rwanda formally opened a unique methane power plant Monday with hopes that it will one day provide 60 percent of the country's electricity, according to its operator.
Animal training techniques teach robots new tricks Researchers at Washington State University are using ideas from animal training to help non-expert users teach robots how to do desired tasks.
Companies propose deep-water wind farms off Hawaii shores As Hawaii pushes to meet its aggressive renewable energy goals, two companies have proposed offshore wind turbine projects for federal waters off Oahu.
Ukrainian hacker admits plotting to use stolen news releases A Ukrainian hacker pleaded guilty Monday to his role in an international scheme that used stolen unpublished news releases to make $30 million in profits.
	Twitter to free room for links and photos: report Twitter plans to let people fire off links or pictures without eating into the 140-character limit set for posts at the one-to-many messaging service, Bloomberg reported on Monday
	Snowden files set for wider release The full cache of secret documents from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden is being opened to journalists and organizations willing to work with the news organization holding the archive.
	Facebook exec Sandberg urges graduates to build resilience Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg encouraged graduating seniors at the University of California, Berkeley to persevere in life's challenging times, speaking publicly for the first time about her husband's death during a commencement speech.
	US Navy poised to take ownership of its largest warship The U.S. Navy is ready to take ownership of the Zumwalt, its largest and most technologically sophisticated destroyer.
	Hundredfold optical fiber capacity increase sends thousands of HDTV videos per second Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and collaborating labs have demonstrated the world's highest density optical fiber using a deployable optical fiber diameter of less than 250 µm. This optical fiber contains 19 optical paths (cores) that can support six kinds of optical signals (modes), and it provides 114 (= 6 modes × 19 cores) spatially multiplexed communication paths (channels) in one optical fiber.
Construction experts at University of Pittsburgh symposium call for bamboo to become 21st century building material Bamboo has a critical role to play in the provision of safe and affordable housing and could be a key contributor to greener urban environments worldwide, according to a leading group of academics, architects and construction experts.
	Facebook CEO to meet with Glenn Beck, other conservatives Radio host Glenn Beck and American Enterprise Institute president Arthur Brooks are some of the conservative leaders Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to meet with this week.
	Can cybersecurity crack the undergraduate curriculum? In a time when million-dollar security breaches of major corporations regularly make headlines and complicate lives, computer science undergraduates at America's universities remain surprisingly underexposed to basic cybersecurity tactics.

Medicine & Health news

	Mom's voice activates many different regions in children's brains, study shows Children's brains are far more engaged by their mother's voice than by voices of women they do not know, a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found.
	Tiny coils improve quality of life for patients with severe emphysema The minimally invasive implantation of tiny coils into the lungs improves exercise ability, lung function and quality of life for patients with severe emphysema, according to a large international trial presented by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented today at the American Thoracic Society International Meeting in San Francisco.
	Review finds fathers' age, lifestyle associated with birth defects A growing body of research is revealing associations between birth defects and a father's age, alcohol use and environmental factors, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. They say these defects result from epigenetic alterations that can potentially affect multiple generations.
	Raising body temperature relieves depression symptoms, small study finds Raising the body temperature of depressed volunteers to the equivalent of a mild fever improved their symptoms of major depression for as long as six weeks after a single treatment, results from a new study show.
	The transmission of fear between individuals can be counteracted The social transmission of fear, which can cause the development of phobias, can be prevented, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet. The study, which is published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, deepens our understanding of how best to develop practical strategies for preventing phobias and similar conditions in particularly vulnerable groups.
	Scientists genetically engineered world's first Zika virus infectious cDNA clone A multidisciplinary team from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is the first in the world to genetically engineer a clone of the Zika virus strain, a development that could expedite many aspects of Zika research, including vaccine and therapeutics development.
	Second gene modifies effect of mutation in a dog model of ALS Canine Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a neurodegenerative disease in dogs with similarities to ALS in humans. Scientists at Uppsala University, SciLifeLab and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Missouri, have discovered a modifier gene that affects the risk of developing DM in Pembroke Welsh Corgis (PWC). The study is published in PNAS this week.
	Statins may shield unborn babies from mother's stress, study suggests Statins could protect the hearts of babies in the womb from the adverse effects of their mother's stress, research suggests.
New cancer immunotherapy approach combines tumor fighting power with fewer side effects Basic research into the dual nature of certain immune system cells has set the stage for a new approach to cancer immunotherapy that avoids some of the shortcomings associated with other methods, scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report in a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Immunization with bacteria promotes stress resilience, coping behaviors in mice Injections of the soil bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae NCTC 11659) promote stress resilience and improve coping behaviors in mice, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.
	Redefining health and well-being in America's aging population Chronological age itself plays almost no role in accounting for differences in older people's health and well-being, according to a new, large-scale study by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Chicago.
Do germs cause type 1 diabetes? Germs could play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes by triggering the body's immune system to destroy the cells that produce insulin, new research suggests.
	HIV vaccine design should adapt as HIV virus mutates Human immunodeficiency virus is known to be a highly variable virus that adapts to a person's immune response during the lifetime infection, and a new study published in Nature Medicine shows that viral adaptation in HIV can predict a person's current disease status, as well as the degree to which newly transmitted HIV-1 is adapted to their new host.
	Big Data can save lives, says leading cancer expert The sharing of genetic information from millions of cancer patients around the world could be key to revolutionising cancer prevention and care, according to a leading cancer expert from Queen's University Belfast.
	Slips of the lip stay all in the family It's happened to many of us: While looking right at someone you know very well, you open your mouth and blurt out the wrong name. The name you blurt is not just any old name, though, says new research from Duke University that finds "misnaming" follows predictable patterns.
	Breast cancer tumor-initiating cells use mTOR signaling to recruit suppressor cells to promote tumor Not every breast cancer tumor follows the same path to grow. Some tumors have the assistance of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a diverse type of immune cell involved in the suppression of the body's response against tumors. How breast cancer cells recruit MDSCs is not completely understood, but in a paper released today in Nature Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine researchers report a new mechanism that helps cancer cells engage MDSCs.
Mexico debates legalizing opium poppy for medicine Fed up with drug-related violence, a growing number of Mexican politicians see one potential cure: legalizing the cultivation of opium poppies for the production of medicine.
Program participation results in long-term weight loss Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that losing even a modest amount of weight can reap significant rewards, including lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, improved sleep, and fewer aches and pains.
Two-minute video boosts pneumonia vaccinations A simple two-minute video about pneumococcal vaccination sent to patients before a primary care visit tripled the likelihood they would get the vaccine, reports new Northwestern Medicine research. The vaccination can prevent severe disease from the bacteria that most commonly causes pneumonia and meningitis.
Very poorly controlled asthma highly prevalent in TENOR II cohort after more than a decade Nearly half (48%) of patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens follow-up study (TENOR II) still had very poorly controlled (VPC) symptoms after more than a decade of treatment, according to a new study presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference. The risk of persistent VPC asthma was associated with specific demographic and clinical factors.
Study assesses performance of direct-to-consumer teledermatology services A study that used fake patients to assess the performance of direct-to-consumer teledermatology websites suggests that incorrect diagnoses were made, treatment recommendations sometimes contradicted guidelines, and prescriptions frequently lacked disclosure about possible adverse effects and pregnancy risks, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.
	Risk of mortality linked to interstitial lung abnormalities New research uncovering a link between Interstitial Lung Abnormalities (ILA) and an increased risk of in-hospital mortality was shared at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	New way to predict COPD progression; new treatment may be on the horizon New research has found that a process initiated in white blood cells known as neutrophils may lead to worse outcomes for some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The discovery may help identify patients at higher risk for COPD progression, who might also show little benefit from standard treatments. The study was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
Motivational interviewing may reduce COPD readmissions Motivational interviewing, a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change used in health coaching, is a feasible intervention that may reduce short-term readmissions for COPD patients. The study, which was presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference, is the first available randomized study to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention
	Study finds non-narcotic nerve block controls children's pain, shortens hospital stays A congenital condition called pectus excavatum, in which a child's breastbone is sunken into the chest, can be corrected through minimally invasive surgery, but pain control after the operation can be a challenge. A Mayo Clinic study has found an effective way to control pain and reduce opioid painkiller use after surgery: sending children home with catheters that infuse a non-narcotic nerve-blocking drug called a paravertebral blockade. Use of the blocks shortens hospital stays and reduces opioid use after surgery, the researchers discovered. The findings were presented at the American Pediatric Surgical Association annual meeting in San Diego.
Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation as effective as hospital-based Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation may be equally effective in improving fitness and quality of life as a traditional center-based program for COPD patients, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	COPD symptoms common among smokers, even when undiagnosed A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that smokers, who wouldn't typically be diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are still showing symptoms consistent with the diagnosis.
	Citizen-scientists: Uncle Sam wants you to fight Zika! The mosquitoes that can spread Zika are already buzzing among us. The U.S. government could use some help figuring out exactly where.
	Olympics: Extra-strong condoms for Aussie team Australia's Olympians will be issued with free super-strength condoms in Rio to minimise any infection from the Zika virus, officials said Monday.
	Frequent religious service attendance linked with decreased mortality risk among women Women who attended religious services more than once per week were more than 30% less likely to die during a 16-year-follow-up than women who never attended, according to a study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Frequent attendees also had significantly lower risk both from cardiovascular- and cancer-related mortality.
	Physical activity associated with lower risk for many cancers Higher levels of leisure-time physical activity were associated with lower risks for 13 types of cancers, according to a new study published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Neurological complications of Zika virus A review article published online by JAMA Neurology details what is currently known about Zika virus (ZIKV), its neurological complications and its impact on global human health.
	Activity trackers don't measure energy expenditure. Should you care? Earlier this week Alex Hutchinson reported on a new study examining the accuracy of activity monitors (Fitbits, Jawbone, etc) for measuring energy expenditure. Not surprisingly, the results suggest that none of the activity monitors were 100% accurate. The authors compared 12 different activity monitors to 2 different gold standards (a metabolic chamber, and doubly labelled water), and both techniques found that most monitors either over or under-estimated energy expenditure.
	Moms can transmit psychiatric trouble to kids, according to study Individual symptoms, such as anxiety, avoidance and a heightened response to stress, can be transmitted from mother to child and even grandchildren by multiple nongenetic mechanisms, a new study by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and other institutions shows. The pre-clinical findings, published May 13 in Nature Communications, may lead to tools to predict if a child is at risk of developing behavioral problems later in life after exposure to stress signals in the womb.
	Opinion: What should be covered by publicly funded health care? All across Canada, provincial governments are grappling with ever-growing health-care demands in the face of shrinking resources. Our enviable publicly funded health system is now well into a downward spiral of unenviable disrepair.
	What foods can help fight the risk of chronic inflammation? A new study by the University of Liverpool's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease has identified food stuffs that can help prevent chronic inflammation that contributes to many leading causes of death.
Fish eyes could help solve cornea shortage Research at the University of Auckland aimed at developing human corneal replacements by using proteins found in fish eyes has been awarded an Emerging Researcher First Grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
	Health services access and awareness reduce diabetic leg amputations Better access to health services and more awareness of diabetes are being hailed for a 70 per cent decrease in the risk of local type 2 diabetics requiring a leg amputation.
New research detects kidney cancer New research shows the possibility to detect kidney cancer with a simple blood or urine test. This paves the way for screening, and might help to determine which treatment works. The study is now published in Cell Reports.
	What makes a mathematical genius? The film The Man Who Knew Infinity tells the gripping story of Srinivasa Ramanujan, an exceptionally talented, self-taught Indian mathematician. While in India, he was able to develop his own ideas on summing geometric and arithmetic series without any formal training. Eventually, his raw talent was recognised and he got a post at the University of Cambridge. There, he worked with Professor G.H. Hardy until his untimely death at the age of 32 in 1920.
Long-acting cardioplegia solution results in better outcomes for pediatric heart surgery patients The myocardium (muscular tissue) of the pediatric heart exhibits structural and functional differences as compared to adult myocardium. As a result, different myocardial protection techniques have been developed for clinical use in neonates, infants, and children undergoing cardiac surgery. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, a team of cardiac surgeons presents the results of a prospective randomized clinical trial of pediatric surgery patients, comparing a new type of long-acting cardioplegia (heart stopping) solution to the standard short-acting agent that requires repeated dosing during surgery. On many of the key parameters measured, such as length of time needed for surgery and interruption of blood flow, the results favored the long-acting del Nido cardioplegic solution.
	Older Patients with atrial fibrillation at greater risk for post-op tricuspid regurgitation after mitral valve repair Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) occurs when the heart's tricuspid valve leaks, allowing blood to flow back from the right ventricle to the right atrium. TR can be secondary to disorders of left-sided heart valves (mitral or aortic). At the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, investigators present the results of a long-term study of patients who underwent mitral valve (MV) repair. They found that although newly developed TR after MV repair was rare, the risk could increase in older patients with atrial fibrillation and impaired heart function.
	Cancer patient receives first penis transplant in US (Update) A 64-year-old cancer patient has received the first penis transplant in the U.S. and is recovering well from the delicate surgery, doctors said Monday.
Scientists identify potential marker of EoE disease activity Researchers have identified a potential marker of disease activity for a severe and often painful food allergic disease called eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) - possibly sparing children with EoE the discomfort and risk of endoscopic procedures to assess whether their disease is active.
	Physical activity is 'magic bullet' for pandemics of obesity and cardiovascular disease In an editorial published in the current issue of Cardiology, professors from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University have evaluated the totality of evidence and conclude that regular physical activity bears the closest resemblance to a "magic bullet" to combat the worldwide epidemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
	Pitchers risk greater injury if MLB cuts time between pitches, researchers warn Proposed rule changes by Major League Baseball, designed to speed up the game by reducing time between pitches, could lead to a spike in arm injuries as players have less time to recover between throws, say researchers who have analyzed the impact of fatigue.
Broader definition of 'severe maternal morbidity' could identify women at risk for pregnancy complications earlier Severe Maternal Morbidity—generally referring to any condition or diagnosis that could indicate a potentially life-threatening maternal complication—has been on the rise, but a new study suggests that widespread adoption of an expanded definition of SMM could identify more at-risk patients, leading to improved care and lives saved. The study is one of two on the topic of SMM from researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. The second study examined the relationship between SMM and maternal level-of-care designations (MLOCD) at hospitals and uncovered a need for better data. The studies are presented Monday, May 16, 2016 at the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology's (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC (posters #9R and 9L, respectively).
	Lowering target blood pressure would save lives and money Lowering blood pressure goals for adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease could save tens of thousands of lives annually and reduce costs, according to a computer simulation by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and NewYork-Presbyterian. Results of the study, published today in the online edition of Hypertension and presented today at the American Society of Hypertension Annual Scientific Meeting, could prompt a revision of national hypertension treatment guidelines, which had relaxed blood pressure goals for specific high-risk patients in recent years.
Researchers identify enzyme that contributes to development of lupus Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have identified an enzyme that is significantly elevated in mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus and in blood samples of patients with lupus. Published online today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, the new findings demonstrate that inhibition of the SHP-2 enzyme can significantly diminish lupus symptoms - including skin lesions, enlarged spleen and kidney failure - and suggest that development of a SHP-2 inhibitor drug could offer a new therapeutic approach for this often debilitating disease.
Nearly half of all heart attacks may be 'silent' Nearly half of all heart attacks may be silent and like those that cause chest pain or other warning signs, silent heart attacks increase the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Around-the-clock monitoring may unmask hypertension in African-Americans Wearing an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring device that measures blood pressure around-the-clock may help identify African Americans who have masked or undetected high blood pressure outside of the doctor's office, a tricky condition that can signal high blood pressure in the clinic down the road, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
International experts publish guidelines for cardiac rehab in developing countries Life-saving cardiac rehab programs are not being offered in countries where heart disease is the biggest killer. A panel of experts has now released a statement recommending how all the key elements of these programs can be delivered in an affordable way, in the places where it is needed most.
	Helmet-based ventilation is superior to face mask for patients with respiratory distress A new study shows that using a transparent air-tight helmet instead of a face mask helps critically ill patients breathe better and can prevent them from needing a ventilator. Patients with helmet ventilation also spent less time in the intensive care unit and had better survival.
	Poll: Many parents keep prescription opioids at home Nearly half of parents whose child had leftover pain medication from a surgery or illness say they kept the prescription opioids at home—representing a potential problem down the line.
Obese or anorexic individuals react differently to taste, study says Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that women suffering from anorexia nervosa and those who are obese respond differently to taste, a finding that could lead to new treatments for the eating disorders.
Study identifies aortic valve gradient as key to TAVR outcomes Patients with a combination of left ventricular dysfunction and low aortic valve gradient, or reduced force of blood flow through the aortic valve, have higher mortality rates and a greater risk of recurrent heart failure after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), with low aortic valve gradient the driving force behind their poor outcomes, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Physicians can counsel patients to prevent gun violence, experts say It is not illegal for physicians to ask their patients about firearms, counsel them as they would on any other health matter, and disclose that information to third parties when necessary, according to a review of the literature by physicians at UC Davis, Brown University, and the University of Colorado who are helping to lead the effort to prevent firearm-related injuries in the U.S.
Tai Chi improves pain and well-being in patients with knee osteoarthritis Tai Chi improves pain and related health outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis as well as standard physical therapy, according to a comparative effectiveness trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Tai Chi was also shown to produce significantly greater improvements in depression and the physical component of quality of life.
20-year study shows that higher levels of fitness reduce the risk of developing of diabetes and prediabetes A new study analysing fitness levels across two decades is the longest study demonstrating that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) reduce the risk for developing prediabetes or diabetes. The study, which adjusts for changes in body mass index over time, provides strong evidence supporting the commonly accepted dogma that fitness is beneficial in reducing the risk for prediabetes/diabetes. The research is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) by Dr Lisa Chow, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA, and colleagues.
Sharp rise in UK teen poisonings over past 20 years, particularly among girls There has been a sharp rise in the overall number of teen poisonings over the past 20 years in the UK, particularly among girls/young women, reveals the largest study of its kind published online in the journal Injury Prevention.
	Freight train: Myo1c provides cellular transport for protein crucial to kidney filtration The motor protein Myo1c binds to Neph1, a protein crucial for ensuring effective filtration by the kidney, and serves as one mode of its cellular transport, according to findings by investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and their collaborators reported in the May 16, 2016 issue of Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Inaccurate coding of patient data may explain 'weekend effect' Studies that use UK hospital coding data to examine "weekend effects" for acute conditions, such as stroke, may be undermined by inaccurate coding, suggests research published by The BMJ today.
	Improving natural killer cancer therapy Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have discovered a potential way to "tune up" the immune system's ability to kill cancer cells.
	Healthy eating gets no boost after corner store interventions, study finds A lack of access to healthy food is often blamed for poor eating habits in low-income urban areas, but a recent Drexel University study found that simply adding healthier stock to a local convenience store may not actually have any effect.
Selenium deficiency linked to deadly heart disease affecting pregnant women Researchers have found a close link between selenium deficiency and Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a heart disease that affects pregnant women and recent mothers. The study of patients in Nigeria also showed that rural women were three times more likely to develop the disease, according to a doctoral dissertation at Umeå University.
	Metals released by burning fuel oil may damage children's developing lungs A new study investigating the health impact of the chemical components of air pollution is reporting that two metals, nickel and vanadium (Ni and V), may be damaging to the developing lungs of children. The results were presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	When new moms work longer hours, breast-feeding takes a back seat (HealthDay)—Every working mom knows how hard it can be to juggle the demands of her job with the needs of her new baby, particularly when it comes to breast-feeding.
	Out-of-pocket X-ray, CT scan costs vary widely (HealthDay)—The out-of-pocket price for a standard chest X-ray, CT scan or ultrasound can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on where the imaging is done, new research reveals.
	More support for aggressive blood pressure treatment for elderly (HealthDay)—People who get their high blood pressure down to normal levels may substantially cut their risk of heart disease—even if they're elderly or have already had heart problems, new research suggests.
	Novel index predicts survival after chemo in pancreatic cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with advanced pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy, the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), based on peripheral neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts, can predict survival, according to a study published online May 6 in Cancer.
	Complementary medicine use up with chronic conditions (HealthDay)—Adults with multiple chronic conditions frequently use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a study published online May 5 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
	Caudal block linked to post-urethroplasty complications (HealthDay)—For pediatric patients undergoing urethroplasty, caudal block is associated with surgical complications, according to a study published online May 9 in Anaesthesia.
	Specific language important in heart failure communication (HealthDay)—Specific language is important for patient experience and shared decision-making in heart failure, according to research published in the June 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Hospitalists need strategies for providing adequate pain relief (HealthDay)—Hospitalists report limited success and satisfaction for management of acute exacerbations of chronic pain with opioids, according to a study published online May 9 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	ATS: No benefit for early renal-replacement therapy (HealthDay)—For patients with severe acute kidney injury, mortality does not differ with either an early or delayed strategy for renal-replacement therapy initiation, according to a study published online May 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society, held from May 13 to 18 in San Francisco.
	ATS: Indacaterol-glycopyrronium cuts COPD exacerbations (HealthDay)—For patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, indacaterol-glycopyrronium is more effective for prevention of exacerbations than salmeterol-fluticasone, according to a study published online May 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society, held from May 13 to 18 in San Francisco.
	CABG underused in diabetes with multivessel disease (HealthDay)—About one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus and multivessel coronary artery disease presenting with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and more undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online May 10 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	Converting cells to burn fat, not store it Researchers have uncovered a new molecular pathway for stimulating the body to burn fat - a discovery that could help fight obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
	Study: Regular exercise at any age might stave off Alzheimer's Recent research suggests that exercise might provide some measure of protection from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
	ICUs strained by increased volume and a near doubling of opioid-related deaths National trends in opioid related overdoses are being felt across every part of the medical system, including the country's intensive care units. ICU admissions related to opioid overdoses are steadily increasing, and opioid overdose-related ICU deaths have nearly doubled since 2009. New research from Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of Chicago, and Vizient, Inc., presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference shows the strain America's opioid crisis is putting on ICUs and the critical care teams who care for these patients and calls attention to efforts needed to meet the demands of this expanding population.
	Risk factors identified for readmission to hospital following esophagectomy Esophagectomy is a major surgical procedure associated with significant complications with up to 1 in 5 patients readmitted following hospital discharge. These unplanned readmissions are an important problem as they negatively impact patient care and, in the future, may have implications for reimbursement through the Hospital Readmissions Reduction program. Identification of patients at risk of readmission is critical for enabling centers to develop strategies to reduce unplanned readmissions. Some readmission events may be unavoidable, but others, often due to postoperative complications, are not. The key to reducing the burden on patients and healthcare resources is to identify potentially preventable readmissions and institute measures to mitigate them.
Cancer risk perception could lead to adverse health outcomes among women According to recent studies, the U.S. has a disadvantage in women's life expectancy compared to peer countries despite high rates of health screenings such as mammography and popular national awareness campaigns. Recently, researchers at the University of Missouri examined the perceptions of risk among females and found that minority and less educated women believe that breast cancer, rather than heart disease, is the more common killer. Based on these findings, they recommend that health care providers should incorporate healthier lifestyle strategies for heart disease with messages for improved breast health to greater impact disease outcomes.
Children, youth take longer to fully recover from concussion York University concussion experts report that children and youth take longer to fully recover from a concussion than previously thought.
	1st US penis transplant could raise hope for maimed soldiers A 64-year-old cancer patient has received the nation's first penis transplant, a groundbreaking operation that may also help accident victims and some of the many U.S. veterans maimed by roadside bombs.
	Exercise, more than diet, key to preventing obesity Two factors—metabolism and gut microbes - have been credited by researchers as key players in the fight against obesity. However, there is an ongoing debate about whether exercise or diet better promotes metabolism and healthy shifts in gut microbes, the microscopic organisms in our intestines that break down food and can contribute to decreased obesity. New research from the University of Missouri confirms exercise plays a significant role in the fight against obesity.
Stroke happens regardless of age, race or gender May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke.
How OxyContin became America's most widely abused prescription drug The drugmaker Purdue Pharma launched OxyContin two decades ago with a bold marketing claim: One dose relieves pain for 12 hours, more than twice as long as generic medications.
	Penis operation highlights past, future of organ transplants Add one remarkable case to the 30,000-plus organ transplants expected to be performed nationwide this year: A cancer patient who received a donor penis.
Landmark Lions project to provide genome sequencing to hundreds of Aussie kids with cancer Hundreds of Australian children with high-risk cancer will have access to new genome sequencing technologies that could guide their treatment, following the announcement today of substantial Lions Club funding for the Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project - an important new component of the Zero Childhood Cancer Program for diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer.
	Pfizer says it's blocking use of drugs for lethal injections Pharmaceutical company Pfizer said Friday it was blocking use of its drugs in lethal injections, which means all federally-approved drugmakers whose medications could be used for executions have now put them off limits.
'Tick here please': Changing gender in Norway gets easier As the commander of a Cold War submarine tracking the Soviets, John Jeanette's dresses were stashed away in a locker reserved for top-secret documents.
Conservative Poles rally for near-total ban on abortions Anti-abortion groups held marches across Poland Sunday in support of calls for a near total ban on pregnancy terminations in the staunchly Catholic country, where abortions are already heavily restricted.
	Bid to raise California tobacco tax nears November ballot A well-financed campaign backed by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, medical groups and organized labor has collected enough signatures for a ballot measure to raise California's cigarette tax by $2 a pack, officials said.
Angola's ailing national health system hit by oil price cuts Domingos Ngozulu shudders as he recalls the fate of his baby son.
Canada's plans to legalize marijuana contravene UN's international conventions The Canadian government's plan to legalize marijuana contravenes its current legal obligations to the United Nation's international drug-control conventions, states a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Improving health outcomes for mother and baby After the birth of their baby most women see their health care professionals, with the focus often on the baby's health. Yet 10 to 15 per cent of new mothers in New Zealand will suffer from postnatal depression.
	Helping children and young people isolated by young onset dementia find a voice A pioneering study led by researchers from the University of Sheffield is helping to give a voice to children and young adults who are living with a parent with dementia.
	Survey aims to understand why South West GPs are leaving their jobs As the UK faces major challenges in sustaining the GP workforce, a new research project sets out to understand why some GPs are leaving their jobs to take early retirement or career breaks.
	Pfizer buying skin drug maker Anacor for $5.2 billion (Update) Pfizer is fortifying its key immunology and inflammation drug business, snapping up a small maker of skin disorder treatments for about $5.2 billion, weeks after the U.S. Treasury Department torpedoed Pfizer's planned $160 billion deal for Allergan PLC.
	In surprising turnabout, Oklahoma eyes Medicaid expansion Despite bitter resistance in Oklahoma for years to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Republican leaders in this conservative state are now confronting something that alarms them even more: a huge $1.3 billion hole in the budget that threatens to do widespread damage to the state's health care system.
WHO issues first guidelines on treating female genital mutilation victims The World Health Organization on Monday released its first-ever guidelines on how medical professionals should treat victims of female genital mutilation (FGM), hoping to ease the terrible suffering caused by the widely condemned practice.
Justices turn down Philip Morris appeal of $25M judgment The Supreme Court has rejected Philip Morris USA's appeal of a $25 million punitive damages award to the family of a dead smoker in Oregon.
	Implantation of rapid deployment aortic valve found to be durable, safe, and effective When replacing a defective aortic valve with a new one, restoring function is the first priority. However, variables such as durability, length of surgery, duration of heart stoppage, size of the surgical incision, postoperative pain, and complications are other important considerations. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, the results of the TRANSFORM Trial, a large multicenter study evaluating the safety and performance of an investigational rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) system for patients with severe aortic stenosis, was presented. The results show that compared to more conventional methods, this system was associated with excellent one-year survival, reduced the duration of heart stoppage, and was associated with clinically acceptable postoperative complication rates.
	Is laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia the ideal approach for all patients? Laparascopic repair of ventral hernias has advanced and overcome many challenges during the past two decades, and patients who are obese, diabetic, and have a hernia no larger than 10 cm in width are best suited for this evolving minimally invasive approach. New types of mesh to close the defect are in development, and better long-term studies are needed to define best practices and determine ideal indications of this technique, according to an article in Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques (JLAST), a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free to download on the JLAST website until June 16, 2016.
Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer survival rates improved when care includes four specific quality measures Current guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) recommend that operable patients with clinical Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) should receive induction chemotherapy (with or without concurrent radiotherapy) followed by resection if there is no apparent progression of disease. While four quality measures have been identified as associated with improved overall survival, until now it has been unclear to what extent patients are actually receiving each of these measures as part of their care. A presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting clearly demonstrates that survival rates increase as more quality measures are incorporated into patient care - but only 13% of eligible patients actually received all four measures.
	Supreme Court avoids major ruling in birth control dispute (Update) The Supreme Court failed to resolve a knotty dispute between faith-based groups and the Obama administration over birth control on Monday, the latest indication of the shorthanded court's struggle to find a majority for important cases taken up before Justice Antonin Scalia's death.
In south Yemen, local authorities ban qat, a mild narcotic Southern Yemen's local authorities on Monday banned the selling of qat, a plant whose leaves are chewed for a stimulant effect, a widespread tradition among Yemeni men.
	New book identifies 50 studies every pediatrician should know Now that she is a first-time mother of a six-month-old boy, Ashaunta Anderson, MD, MPH, is especially happy to be one of five authors of the just published book, "50 Studies Every Pediatrician Should Know" (Oxford University Press, 2016).
The ATS and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals release landmark survey The American Thoracic Society and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) today announced the results of a survey of pulmonologists and pulmonology fellows to determine physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, with particular attention to the use of hand-held small volume nebulizers. A small volume nebulizer is a device powered by air that aerosolizes medications for delivery to patients.
Antipsychotic drugs are linked with an increased risk of heart attacks A review of nine observational studies found evidence supporting an increased risk of heart attacks in patients taking antipsychotic drugs. The review expands previous knowledge by demonstrating an increased and more pronounced risk in short-term users of these medications.
Physicians are more likely to use hospice and intensive care at end of life New research suggests that US physicians are more likely to use hospice and intensive or critical care units in the last months of life than non-physicians. Hospitalization rates were similar.
Children with and without multiple sclerosis have differences in gut bacteria In a recent study, children with multiple sclerosis had differences in the abundance of specific gut bacteria than children without the disease. Certain types of bacteria were either more or less abundant in children with multiple sclerosis. In particular, there was an association between multiple sclerosis and an increase in gut bacteria that have been linked to inflammation and a decrease in gut bacteria that are considered anti-inflammatory.
	Family rejection may more than triple suicide attempt risk by transgender individuals Family rejection increases the risk of two critical health outcomes that are common among transgender individuals-suicide attempts and substance misuse-according to a new study published in LGBT Health.
Monthly resident handoff of patients may increase risk of dying Transitions in care that occur when medical residents leave a clinical rotation and turn their patients' care over to another resident is associated with increased mortality, according to new research presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
Minimally invasive tendon repair technique supports knee movement sooner after surgery Quadriceps tendon ruptures are disabling knee injuries that typically occur in adults ages 40 and older. Obesity, illness or traumatic injuries can cause these types of injuries. Most tendon ruptures require surgery, and the current gold-standard technique for repairing these ruptures is transosseous (literally, through-the-bone) tunnel repair, a lengthy, technically demanding procedure. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers have found that suture anchors, a less-invasive repair technique, responded better to strength-testing after the surgery, supporting more movement in the knee earlier in the recovery process.
ASHG opposes revised EEOC regulations weakening genetic privacy The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) opposes the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) newly revised Regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
	Greater collaboration between ICU nurses and ICU physicians may minimize VAP risk Greater collaboration between ICU nursing and medicine could help to minimize ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), according to a study presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference.
	New implantable VAD for severe heart failure in kids shows encouraging results in sheep The number of children with severe heart failure is increasing. Over the last decade, ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become the standard of care in the management of severe heart failure. In adults, implantable VADs (i.e. pumps placed within the chest) are used exclusively, due in part to favorable risk profiles and, more importantly, the opportunity for home discharge and outpatient management. By contrast, no implantable VADs designed specifically for small children (approximately 5 to 20 kg) are currently available. The result is that the vast majority of pediatric patients with severe heart failure are currently managed with paracorporeal VADs (i.e. pumps sitting outside the body), which in general are associated with higher risk profiles and require hospital management. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, researchers describe testing of a pediatric-specific implantable VAD in living animals.
	MSK surgeons present strategies for increasing survival in soft tissue sarcoma patients Up to 50% of patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) develop lung metastases. Effective systemic therapies for metastatic STS are currently limited; when possible, surgical removal of the lung metastases (known as pulmonary metastasectomy, PM) is the preferred treatment. However, guidelines for the performance of PM for STS do not exist and decisions to operate are often made on an individual basis. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center share the results of their experience with more than 500 patients with pulmonary metastases from STS and describe prognostic factors associated with improved survival.
Philip Morris 'abused rights' seeking to sue Australia: court An international tribunal on Monday finally unveiled a secret ruling confirming it had rejected a bid by tobacco giant Philip Morris to sue Australia over its plain packaging laws, calling the attempt "an abuse of rights".

Biology news

	Natural selection sculpts genetic information to limit diversity A study of butterflies suggests that when a species adapts, other parts of its genetic make-up  can be linked to that adaptation, limiting diversity in the population.
	Discovery of new stem cell pathway indicates route to much higher yields in maize, staple crops Biologists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have made an important discovery that helps explain how plants regulate the proliferation of their stem cells. The discovery has near-term implications for increasing the yield of maize and many other staple crops, perhaps by as much as 50%.
	Researchers show that four-stranded DNA is formed and unfolded Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have discovered that specific DNA sequences that are rich in the DNA building block guanine in the yeast species, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, can form four-stranded DNA. In a study published today in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, the researchers also show that the motor protein Pfh1 can unfold these DNA structures and thus contribute to maintaining an intact genome.
	How to meet demand in bacterial 'factories' The battle over bacterial resources is coming to an end, thanks to research from the University of Bristol. The study describes a new way to model productivity in bacteria used as mini-factories to produce valuable biological components such as insulin or new man-designed proteins.
	Turtles may not be immune to old age, research suggests Researchers at Iowa State University are rethinking the long-held conventional wisdom that turtles don't suffer some of the ravages of old age.
	Prawn spawn secrets unlocked in 3D images Discovering the secrets of how one of the world's most popular prawn species produces sperm and transfers it to create the next generation could help free aquaculture from reliance on brood stock from the wild.
	E.coli 'anchors' provide novel way to hijack superbugs Australian scientists may have found a way to stop deadly bacteria from infecting patients. The discovery could lead to a whole new way of treating antibiotic-resistant "superbugs". The researchers have uncovered what may be an Achilles heel on the bacteria cell membrane that could act as a potential novel drug target.
	Study reveals how differences in male and female brains emerge Nematode worms may not be from Mars or Venus, but they do have sex-specific circuits in their brains that cause the males and females to act differently. According to new research published in Nature, scientists have determined how these sexually dimorphic (occurring in either males or females) connections arise in the worm nervous system. The research was funded by the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
	Strains of E. coli resistant to one antibiotic can protect other bacteria growing nearby A new study from MIT finds that two strains of bacteria that are each resistant to one antibiotic can protect each other in an environment containing both drugs.
	Diverse fish communities more productive and resistant to changing temperatures Fish provide protein to billions of people and are an especially critical food source in the developing world. Today marine biologists confirmed a key factor that could help them thrive through the coming decades: biodiversity. Communities with more fish species are more productive and more resilient to rising temperatures and temperature swings, according to a new study from the Smithsonian's Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network and other international institutions.
	Team defines meaningful part of maize genome Using a genetic mapping technique developed at Florida State University, FSU and Cornell University researchers have shown that a small percentage of the entire maize genome is responsible for almost half of a plant's trait diversity.
	Experts: Mexico's Vaquita porpoise headed toward extinction The population of Mexico's endangered vaquita marina, the world's smallest porpoise, has fallen to alarmingly low levels and is heading toward extinction soon if drastic measures aren't taken, scientists warned Friday.
	Birth of rare Sumatran rhino hailed as major boost The rare birth of a Sumatran rhino in Indonesia has been hailed a victory for the critically endangered species, which has been almost wiped out in the wild by poaching and habitat destruction.
	A 'sixth sense' for humidity helps insects stay out of climatic trouble The amount of water vapor in the air – humidity – profoundly alters our experience of the environment around us. A hot, dry morning in the desert of California feels miles apart from a hot, sticky one in the Cambodian jungle.
	How dogs find their way home (without a GPS) Animals' ability to navigate long distances has long been shrouded in mystery. From the skill of racing pigeons to find their way home, to the seasonal breeding migration of the humpback whale, a huge range of creatures are capable of navigating in a consistent, precise and effective way.
	Container design important for endangered plant nursery Recent research at the University of Guam has shown that the use of traditional hard plastic containers in a conservation nursery reduced the quality of the roots of an endangered tree species. The experimental results appeared in the May 2016 issue of the international journal Plant Root. The model plant was Serianthes nelsonii, a species with a known endemic range of only two islands in the Mariana Island archipelago.
	Trojan horses for hospital bugs Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is frequently found on the human skin and in the nose where it usually behaves inconspicuously. However, once inside the body, it can have life-threatening consequences such as abscesses, sepsis, pneumonia or myocarditis. How the pathogen manages to perform its disastrous work is still largely in the dark despite intensive research. Scientists from the Universities of Oxford and Würzburg have now unravelled an equally puzzling phenomenon. They present their results in the latest issue of the scientific journal PNAS.
	Scientist collects 30 sawfly species not previously reported from Arkansas Sawflies and wood wasps form a group of insects that feed mainly on plants when immature. Field work by Dr. Michael Skvarla, which was conducted during his Ph.D. research at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA, has uncovered 30 species of these plant-feeding wasps that were previously unknown in the state. The study is published it in the open access journal Biodiversity Data Journal.
UN panel says weedkiller 'unlikely' to cause cancer The controversial weedkiller glyphosate, which is used by Monsanto in its herbicide Roundup, is "unlikely" to cause cancer, a United Nations finding said Monday, in a blow to critics who have called for its ban.
	Expert recommends local habitat protection to save Saltmarsh Sparrows When Laura Garey wades into tidal marshes at sunrise to survey Saltmarsh Sparrows, the University of Maine graduate student also spies deflated balloons, trash and pollutants.
New study shows animal welfare initiatives improves feather cover of cage-free laying hens Recognised welfare outcome assessments within farm assurance schemes have shown a reduction in feather loss and improvement in the welfare of UK cage-free laying hens, according to the findings of a study from the AssureWel project by the University of Bristol, RSPCA and the Soil Association.
Overpasses and underpasses for migrating animals may reduce collisions with automobiles In the western United States, mule deer and pronghorn (animals that are similar to antelopes) undergo annual migrations that place them and drivers at risk for collisions when the animals cross busy roadways. A new study evaluated overpasses and underpasses as alternative routes for the animals during migration.
Why is female sexuality more flexible than male sexuality? A new evolutionary theory argues that women may have been evolutionarily designed to be sexually fluid—changing their sexual desires and identities from lesbian, to bisexual, to heterosexual and back again—in order to allow them to have sex with their co-wives in polygynous marriages, therefore reducing conflict and tension inherent in such marriages while at the same time successfully reproducing with their husbands in heterosexual unions.
Cooling cows efficiently with water spray Dairies use intermittent sprinkler systems to cool cows in warm weather, but little experimental work has been done to determine how much water is needed to achieve beneficial effects. A group of dairy scientists conducted a study at the University of California, Davis, to examine the effects of using low-flow sprinkler systems that cut water use for this purpose by nearly 75%. Their research is published in the current issue (June 2016) of the Journal of Dairy Science.
Methionine could be key to improving pregnancy rate in dairy cattle Research at the University of Illinois has shown that adding methionine to the diets of Holstein cows during the prepartum and postpartum periods may impact the preimplantation embryo in a way that enhances its capacity for survival.
	Zoetis launching new doggy med for noise-related anxiety Fido and Spot may not have to cower under the bed this summer when fireworks and thunderstorms hit, thanks to the first prescription veterinary medicine for treating anxiety over loud noises—a widespread problem that causes property destruction, terrified dogs running away and even life-threatening injuries or euthanasia for some.

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