Science X Newsletter Monday, May 2

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 2, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Little ANTs: Researchers build the world's tiniest engine
- Genetic analysis of Ice Age Europeans
- Boiling water may be cause of Martian streaks, study says
- Best of Last Week – Quantum physics in real life, testing relativity in space and a high-fat diet starving the brain
- Neuroscientists find evidence for 'visual stereotyping'
- Just 40 light years from Earth, three planets might host life forms adapted to infrared worlds
- Physicists abuzz about possible new particle as CERN revs up
- Endangered venomous mammal predates dinosaurs' extinction, study confirms
- How much does groundwater contribute to sea level rise?
- Making invisible physics visible
- Control of fertility: A new player identified
- How DNA can take on the properties of sand or toothpaste
- Quantum sensors for high-precision magnetometry of superconductors
- Influence of sea-ice loss on Arctic warming is shaped by temperatures in the Pacific Ocean
- Five new breast cancer genes and range of mutations pave way for personalized treatment

Astronomy & Space news

	Just 40 light years from Earth, three planets might host life forms adapted to infrared worlds Is there life beyond our solar system? If there is, our best bet for finding it may lie in three nearby, Earth-like exoplanets.
	Boiling water may be cause of Martian streaks, study says The results of Earth-bound lab experiments appear to back up the theory that dark lines on Martian slopes are created by water—though in an otherworldly manner, scientists said Monday.
	NASA research gives new insights into how the moon got 'inked' A powerful combination of observations and computer simulations is giving new clues to how the moon got its mysterious "tattoos"—swirling patterns of light and dark found at over a hundred locations across the lunar surface.
	Hubble sees galaxy hiding in the night sky This striking NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image captures the galaxy UGC 477, located just over 110 million light-years away in the constellation of Pisces (The Fish).
	Oxygen in stars Oxygen is the third most abundant element in the universe, after hydrogen and helium. It is an important constituent of the clouds of gas and dust in space, especially when combined in molecules with other atoms like carbon, and it is from this interstellar material that new stars and planets develop. Oxygen is, of course, also essential for life as we know it, and all known life forms require liquid water and its oxygen content. Oxygen in molecular form, especially as water, was supposed to be relatively abundant, but over the past decade considerable attention has been paid to observations suggesting that at least in molecular form oxygen is scarcer than expected, a deficit that has not yet been entirely resolved.
	Scientists assemble fresh global map of Pluto comprising sharpest flyby images The science team leading NASA's New Horizons mission that unveiled the true nature of Pluto's long hidden looks during the history making maiden close encounter last July, have published a fresh global map that offers the sharpest and most spectacular glimpse yet of the mysterious, icy world.
	Fuel control valve faulted for Atlas launch anomaly, flights resume soon A critical fuel control valve has been faulted for the Atlas V launch anomaly that forced a premature shutdown of the rockets first stage engines during its most recent launch of a Cygnus cargo freighter to the International Space Station (ISS) last month – that nevertheless was successful in delivering the payload to its intended orbit.
	Curiosity cores hole at 'Lubango' fracture zone NASA's Curiosity Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover successfully bored a brand new hole in Mars at a tantalizing sandstone outcrop in the 'Lubango' fracture zone this past weekend on Sol 1320, Apr. 23, and is now carefully analyzing the shaken and sieved drill tailings for clues to Mars watery past atop the Naukluft Plateau.
	Phase two of ExoMars mission delayed to 2020 The second part of a joint European-Russian mission to probe Mars for traces of life has been delayed two years, with a new launch date set for July 2020, officials said Monday.
	NASA's WFIRST spacecraft offers a huge step forward in our understanding of dark matter NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) could be a space observatory of the future, destined for great discoveries in the field of astrophysics. With a view about 100 times larger than that of the venerable Hubble Space Telescope, WFIRST is expected to yield crucial results about the elusive dark matter and dark energy.
	ESA astronaut Tim Peake controls British-built rover from space As part of an international experiment to prepare for human-robotic missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake today successfully controlled, from the ISS, a UK-built rover located in a test facility at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage.
Military tests unmanned ship designed to cross oceans The military is launching tests on the world's largest unmanned surface vessel—a self-driving, 132-foot ship designed to travel thousands of miles out at sea without a single crew member on board.
	SOFIA now accepting observing proposals The Science Center for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, is now accepting proposals for observing flights from February 2017 to January 2018.

Technology news

	Solar-powered plane to soar again on round-the-world flight Solar Impulse 2, an experimental aircraft flying around the world to draw attention to clean energy technologies, is to take flight again on Monday, organizers said.
	Google patent filing proposes device in eye to address poor vision (Tech Xplore)—What are Google's visionaries up to these days? You may be sorry you asked. Discovery reported that an electronic device injected into an eyeball is the focus of a patent filed by Google. The application titled "Intra-ocular device" was dated April 28.
	Australian Craig Wright says he created Bitcoin (Update 3) Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright on Monday identified himself as the creator of Bitcoin following years of speculation about who invented the pioneering digital currency.
	Researchers dive into big data to predict NBA winners Before you place any bets on the next NBA playoff games, take a look at UC Merced professor Harish Bhat's Twitter account.
	'Smart home' security flaws found in popular system Cybersecurity researchers at the University of Michigan were able to hack into the leading "smart home" automation system and essentially get the PIN code to a home's front door.
	Sea urchin's teeth inspire new design for space exploration device The sea urchin's intricate mouth and teeth are the model for a claw-like device developed by a team of engineers and marine biologists at the University of California, San Diego to sample sediments on other planets, such as Mars. The researchers detail their work in a recent issue of the Journal of Visualized Experiments.
	New health sensing tool measures lung function over a phone call, from anywhere in the world Most people in the developing world who have asthma, cystic fibrosis or other chronic lung diseases have no way to measure how well their lungs are functioning outside of a clinic or doctor visit.
	Glucose as a new energy source for pacemakers Researchers at the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (Technological Institute of Energy, ITE) are developing a bio-battery that uses blood glucose to produce energy. Such a battery would cut down on the number of surgical interventions a pacemaker user must endure.
Hungary aiming to drive Uber ride-hailing app out of country The Hungarian government says it wants to drive out ride-hailing app Uber from the country and is proposing new legislation to crack down on unlicensed passenger transport.
Native advertising may create negative perceptions of media outlets Native advertising, often known as sponsored content or promoted posts, is showing up all over the Internet. Users may expect native advertising on sites like Facebook and Buzzfeed, but a discussion has emerged among those in the public relations field on whether the practice impacts the credibility of the companies who pay for it or the news outlets who run it. Are there consequences when companies and news outlets go native?
Turbulent mixing research makes advanced thermal reactors safer Dr. Mark Kimber, assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University, is working to make advanced thermal reactors safer by establishing trusted uncertainty guidelines regarding advanced reactor turbulent mixing processes.
	Using CO2 for heating and cooling in urban areas Carbon dioxide is commonly used as an industrial liquid refrigerant but could also be effective in heating and cooling buildings in urban areas. A prototype developed by EPFL researchers shows the feasibility of this concept.
	How much noise is produced by wind turbines? Wind energy is to have a major share in the future renewable energy mix. The Germany-wide TremAc project is aimed at improving the planning, development, and acceptance of wind power plants and at developing objective criteria for their emissions. For this purpose, experts will study the interaction of acoustic and seismic vibrations of wind power plants and plan to generate a model to compute both emissions. TremAc is funded with EUR 1.85 million by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
	Risk aversion impedes innovation in information technology Smartphones and tablets come from Asia and the USA, German and European industry is far behind. The causes are dealt with by a study of KIT published in the journal Telecommunications Policy. According to this study, risk aversion made the companies offer own data services at a high price instead of using the open internet. Competitive pressure by Europe-wide granting of mobile telephone licenses or the deregulation of the radio spectrum might improve the situation. Computers protected against the manipulation of data also open up market chances.
	Anomalous sinking of spheres in apparently fixed powder beds discovered A group of researchers at Okayama University and Osaka University, Japan examined the state of the surface of apparently fixed powder beds in which air weak enough not to move the powder is injected, and observed anomalous sinking phenomena, a world first.
	Solar plane on global trip soars from California to Arizona A solar-powered airplane soared above the clouds Monday after taking off from California for Arizona to resume its journey around the world using only energy from the sun.
	Chrome crowned top Internet browser by market tracker Google Chrome on Monday was crowned the top Internet browser, officially ending the long reign of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE).
	Brazil judge blocks WhatsApp for 72 hours A Brazilian judge issued an order Monday blocking the popular WhatsApp smartphone messaging application nationwide, the second such shut-down in six months.
	Bitcoin's creator unmasks himself—well, maybe The mystery creator of the digital currency bitcoin has finally stepped forward. Or has he?
Researchers develop secure audio captchas Many websites require users to prove that they are human by entering symbols that are difficult to read. For partially sighted users, acoustic solutions have been devised. IT researchers aim to improve their quality.
Factbox: What is Bitcoin? Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright on Monday revealed himself as the creator of the virtual Bitcoin currency to media outlets, the BBC, The Economist and GQ magazine.
	Cybersecurity report imagines threat scenarios The Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at UC Berkeley's School of Information lays out five cybersecurity threat scenarios in a new report, Cybersecurity Futures 2020. The report is available online.

Medicine & Health news

	Neuroscientists find evidence for 'visual stereotyping' The stereotypes we hold can influence our brain's visual system, prompting us to see others' faces in ways that conform to these stereotypes, neuroscientists at New York University have found.
	Current cancer drug discovery method flawed, study finds The primary method used to test compounds for anti-cancer activity in cells is flawed, Vanderbilt University researchers report May 2 in Nature Methods. The findings cast doubt on methods used by the entire scientific enterprise and pharmaceutical industry to discover new cancer drugs.
	Scientists discover molecular mechanism for generating specific antibody responses Follicular helper T cells (Tfh cells), a rare type of T cells, are indispensable for the maturation of antibody-producing B cells. They promote the proliferation of B cells that produce highly selective antibodies against invading pathogens while weeding out those that generate potentially harmful ones. In their latest study, researchers at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology identified a key signal that drives the commitment of immature Tfh cells into fully functional Tfh cells and thus driving the step-by-step process that results in a precisely tailored and effective immune response.
	Adult brain prunes branched connections of new neurons When tweaking its architecture, the adult brain works like a sculptor—starting with more than it needs so it can carve away the excess to achieve the perfect design. That's the conclusion of a new study that tracked developing cells in an adult mouse brain in real time.
	Five new breast cancer genes and range of mutations pave way for personalized treatment The largest-ever study to sequence the whole genomes of breast cancers has uncovered five new genes associated with the disease and 13 new mutational signatures that influence tumour development. The results of two papers published in Nature and Nature Communications also reveal what genetic variations exist in breast cancers and where they occur in the genome.
	Prevalent cancer-associated mutations detected in apparently healthy group 16 diagnosed with ovarian cancer and a control group of 20 with no cancer diagnosis - nearly all of the women were found to carry cancer-associated gene mutations.
	Unraveling complex neuronal networks One of the fundamental questions in neuroscience is how neuronal circuits are wired to process information. The research group led by Rainer Friedrich has developed new methods to determine the complex morphology of densely packed neurons and their synaptic connections by 3D electron microscopy. As reported in Nature Neuroscience, these methods allowed them to reconstruct the entire olfactory bulb of a zebrafish larva, comprising more than 1000 neurons. They found that neuronal projections in the olfactory bulb are widely distributed but not randomly organized. Rather, the network contains modules that receive similar input, which are more likely to be interconnected than others. This study marks a step forward in the emerging field of connectomics.
Novel electrode systems unveil the mechanisms behind human movement For researchers in the fields of robotics and prosthetics, replicating the subtle combination of mechanisms underlying our movements is both an exciting and difficult challenge. Scientific efforts under the DEMOVE project have resulted in new electrode systems that are able to do just that.
Control of fertility: A new player identified Individual small RNAs are responsible for controlling the expression of gonadoliberin or GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone), a neurohormone that controls sexual maturation, the appearance of puberty, and fertility in adults. This has just been demonstrated by the "Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain" team led by Vincent Prévot, Inserm Research Director (Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Centre, Lille). The involvement of microRNAs, transcribed from DNA, occurs around birth, and marks a key step in postnatal development. Failure of these microRNAs to act leads to the disruption or even total cessation of GnRH production by the hypothalamic neurons that synthesise it, and hence to infertility. In the most serious cases, sterility may result. Details of this work in mice are published in the 2 May 2016 issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience.
Origin of synaptic pruning process linked to learning, autism and schizophrenia identified Research led by SUNY Downstate Medical Center has identified a brain receptor that appears to initiate adolescent synaptic pruning, a process believed necessary for learning, but one that appears to go awry in both autism and schizophrenia.
	Children react physically to stress from their social networks Research has shown the significance of social relationships in influencing adult human behavior and health; however, little is known about how children's perception of their social networks correlates with stress and how it may influence development. Now, a University of Missouri research team has determined that children and adolescents physically react to their social networks and the stress those networks may cause. Scientists believe that the quality and size of the social relationships nurtured in childhood may have important physiological consequences for physical and mental health for youth.
	Genetic switch could be key to increased health and lifespan Newly discovered genetic switches that increase lifespan and boost fitness in worms are also linked to increased lifespan in mammals, offering hope that drugs to flip these switches could improve human metabolic function and increase longevity.
	A million Australians missing out on heart treatment Around one in five Australians aged 45 to 74 are at high risk of heart attack or stroke within the next five years but almost one million of them are not receiving the currently recommended combination of medications, a major new study has found.
Radiotherapy more effective than chemotherapy for early stage II testicular cancer A large study of testicular cancer patients has shown that radiation therapy is a better treatment than chemotherapy for patients with stage IIa disease (where one or more regional lymph nodes contain cancer cells but they are less than 2cms in diameter).
Growing threat of noncommunicable diseases to survival in pregnancy and childbirth Geneva, 2 May 2016. More women in Mexico than previously thought are dying of indirect causes of maternal mortality - such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension - conditions that often predate their pregnancies, according to a study published today.
Radiotherapy for lung cancer patients is linked to increased risk of non-cancer deaths Turin, Italy: Researchers have found that treating patients who have early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a type of radiotherapy called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is associated with a small but increased risk of death from causes other than cancer.
Monkey bars alert: Playground concussions are on the rise Playground concussions are on the rise, according to a new government study, and monkey bars and swings are most often involved.
Does supplemental donor milk instead of formula reduce infections in preterm infants? The combined incidence of serious infection, the intestinal disease necrotizing enterocolitis and death was similar in very low-birth-weight infants who received either pasteurized donor milk or preterm formula supplementation during their first 10 days of life when their own mother's milk was not sufficiently available, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Study links some positive effects to calorie restriction in nonobese adults A 25 percent calorie restriction over two years by adults who were not obese was linked to better health-related quality of life, according to the results of a randomized clinical trial published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Concussion outcomes differ among football players from youth to college Concussions in high school football had the highest average number of reported symptoms and high school football players had the highest proportion of concussions with a return-to-play time of at least 30 days compared with youth and college players, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Study shows new ways to stop weight gain cut young adults' obesity risk by half A new study has identified two self-regulation strategies effective in preventing weight gain among young adults. At the end of the three-year study, researchers showed that young adults taught self-regulation strategies were more successful at preventing weight gain than those in the control group and 50 percent fewer had become obese.
	Having trouble picking the right health insurance plan? Let an algorithm decide One key goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to lower health care costs by giving consumers more choice over their insurer.
	How scientists use DNA to track disease outbreaks They're the top questions on everyone's mind when a new disease outbreak happens: where did the virus come from? When did this happen? How long has it been spreading in a particular country or group of people?
Black patients from segregated neighborhoods less likely to receive lung cancer surgery Black residents of highly segregated neighborhoods were less likely to receive surgery for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than their peers in less-segregated neighborhoods, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
	Life expectancy of men in lowest and highest socio-economic groups diverging for the first time since the 1870s Research from Cass Business School and the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC-UK) has found growing inequalities in adult life expectancy.
End-of-life care doctors consider patient and family needs when deciding to end treatment The first Australian study on how end-of-life care doctors use the term "futile treatment" to make decisions on whether further treatment should be given when a person has no hope of recovery and death is near, has been published in the Medical Journal of Australia today.
	Streamlined approach and treatments improve the quality of care for men with prostate cancer The quality of prostate cancer care is improving according to new Monash University research published today in the Medical Journal of Australia.
	Sex, pregnancy and living with disabilities How regularly do women with disabilities receive pelvic exams and Pap tests? Primary care related to their sexual and reproductive health? And how often do they experience unintended pregnancies in a country where roughly half of all pregnancies are unplanned?
	Study shows that improving muscle power rather than strength helps alleviate pain for osteoarthritis sufferers Scientists at Tufts have determined that leg muscle power—the capability of the leg muscles to rapidly exert force—is a more accurate gauge of the severity of knee osteoarthritis than simple leg strength, a finding that could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of the often debilitating disease.
Vitamin A affects the heart, not just eyes and skin Vitamin A is involved in many bodily processes, including vision and skin health, but its role in the heart is unclear. While vitamin A is critical for heart development of embryos—vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy leads to an abnormal heart and prenatal death—studies on vitamin A's role in heart health have drawn opposite conclusions. A new study published in American Journal of Physiology—Heart and Circulatory Physiology finds that the heart is able to respond to vitamin A and the amount of vitamin A present has an effect. But, whether the effects are beneficial or harmful is still a mystery.
	Gene linked to youthful appearance may help solve ageing puzzle How long you live depends in part on the genes you inherit. For example, those suffering from Werner's syndrome have inherited two defective copies of a gene coding for an enzyme that is involved in DNA replication and repair.
Study shows how different people respond to aspirin—an important cardioprotective drug Researchers have learned new information about how different people respond to aspirin, a globally prescribed drug in cardioprotection. The research team, led by scientists at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom and including representatives from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Colorado, identified more than 5,600 lipids—or fats—in blood platelets and gained new insights into how these cells respond to aspirin.
	Breast cancer screening study shows disparities among Ontario immigrant women Regular breast cancer screening can save women's lives by detecting cancer at an early, treatable stage. Mandana Vahabi's research has shown that immigrant women in Ontario have lower breast cancer screening rates overall and that could explain the high rate of advanced breast cancer among immigrant women.
	Abnormal brain interactions harm consciousness Over the past few years, a great amount of scientific research has shown that even when the brain is "at rest" it still works. The brains of healthy people are organized into regions displaying similar activity, called resting-state networks. There are two networks related to the perception of either the external world or internal thoughts. So far, much research on consciousness has focused on the activity within these networks, rather than how they communicate between each other.
	New drug more effective in treating atrial fibrillation Vernakalant, a new drug for treating recent-onset atrial fibrillation, has proved to be considerably more effective than Ibutilide, an established drug in this indication. It was able to normalize patients' heart rhythm more rapidly and with fewer side-effects ocurring. This was revealed by a study conducted at the Department of Emergency Medicine at Medical University of Vienna/General Hospital that has recently been published in Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.
Scientists take part in an EU project on the modeling of signaling pathways in tumor cells A group of scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München will engage in a new project promoted by the EU. The scientists in the team of Dr. Jan Hasenauer, head of the young investigator group 'Data-driven Computational Modeling' work as part of CanPathPro. The new project receives funding from the European framework program Horizon 2020. The project goal is the development of models, which help to predict characteristics and the behavior of cancer cells. The funding for the five-year project exceeds one million Euros.
	Marijuana use increases risks in pregnancy Women using marijuana during pregnancy have an increased risk of spontaneous pre-term birth, according to new research.
	Children also gossip When it comes to selecting a cooperation partner, information about another person's reputation – for example as a generous person or a miser – may come handy. Many animal species make reputation judgements, but only humans use gossip to pass on evaluative social information about others. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, show that five-year-olds but not three-year-olds reliably engage in such prosocial gossip.
Neuroscientists discover previously unknown function of cannabinoid receptor The cannabinoid type 2 receptor - also called "CB2 receptor" - is a special membrane protein. Its function is to receive chemical signals that control cellular activity. "Until now, this receptor was considered part of the immune system without function in nerve cells. However, our study shows that it also plays an important role in the signal processing of the brain," explains Professor Dietmar Schmitz, Speaker for the DZNE-Site Berlin and Director of the Neuroscience Research Center of the Charité (NWFZ/NeuroCure). Schmitz coordinated the current study, which involved Berlin colleagues and also scientists from the University of Bonn and from the "National Institute on Drug Abuse" of the US.
Even doctors get confused about reflux disease in babies Millions of Americans currently use medication for their indigestion and reflux, so it may come as no surprise that parents and doctors also prescribe medicine for newborns with reflux. However, according to a new study, newborns are likely being over treated the majority of the time with interventions - including surgery - that have risks for the infant.
	Sex exchange a heightened risk factor among women with incarceration history Even behind bars it can be a hard question to raise, but new research suggests that asking female inmates whether they have a history of exchanging sex for money or drugs can help identify whether they are at heightened risk for serious health consequences.
Expand prescribing of buprenorphine for opioid abuse? Experts weigh pros and cons Buprenorphine is a critical part of treatment for the growing epidemic of opioid abuse—but also carries the potential for misuse and diversion. The debate over whether 'to expand or not to expand' prescribing of buprenorphine for opioid abuse is discussed in an expert review in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice, published by Wolters Kluwer.
Shortages in nation's drug supply persist despite federal efforts Despite federal legislation to stem shortages in the nation's drug supply, deficiencies remain for patients with acute and critical illnesses, said Yale researchers. Their study, published May 2, 2016 in the May issue of Health Affairs, points to the need for greater interventions to maintain the availability of life-saving drugs for millions of patients.
	Less body fat for toddlers taking vitamin D A healthy intake of vitamin D in the first year of life appears to set children up to have more muscle mass and less body fat as toddlers, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatric Obesity.
	Two known chemotherapy agents effectively target breast cancer stem cells Two existing chemotherapy drugs appear to be a powerful pair in targeting errant stem cells that are making breast cancer and enabling its spread and recurrence, scientists report.
Children with ADHD may benefit from following healthy behaviors, new study suggests A new study shows that children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder follow fewer healthy lifestyle behaviors than non-ADHD youth, suggesting that they may benefit from improving lifestyle choices such as increasing water consumption, decreasing screen time and getting at least one hour of physical activity per day.
Psychiatric symptoms impact mental health court engagement` People living with mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. It is estimated that 1 million people with mental illnesses are arrested and booked in the U.S. each year. As such, interventions to help this population, such as mental health courts, are becoming popular in communities across the country. New research from the University of Missouri finds that for mental health courts to be successful, every professional engaged in the process should be aware of the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and participant engagement within the system and connect participants with comprehensive treatment and services as early as possible.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy may help reduce memory problems in cancer survivors who have received chemotherapy A new analysis indicates that a type of psychotherapy delivered by videoconference may help prevent some of the long-term memory issues caused by chemotherapy. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to a noninvasive way to help cancer survivors manage some of the negative effects of their treatment.
Veterans more likely to delay seeking health care—possible link to long wait times for VA care Military veterans are more likely to report delays in seeking necessary healthcare, compared to the US general population, reports a study in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.
The social lives of the elderly mirror how they grow older Small changes in the social lives of older people are early red flags showing that their thought processes and brain functioning could be on the decline. This is according to Ashwin Kotwal of Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US, who led a study¹ in the Journal of General Internal Medicine², published by Springer.
Quieting cells' low-oxygen alarm stops flare-ups in rare bone disorder The cellular response to the lack of oxygen fans the flames of flare-ups in a rare bone disorder. In fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a mutation triggers bone growth in muscles, which limits motion, breathing, and swallowing, among a host of progressive symptoms.
UK Health Check has only modest impact on risk factors for cardiovascular disease The largest risk assessment and management program for cardiovascular disease in the world, England's National Health Service Health Check, had only a modest impact on risk factors for heart disease and did not meet national and international targets, found new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
	Nearly half of heart bypass patients skip medications that keep blood flowing Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University discovered that nearly half of coronary artery bypass patients are not taking statins and aspirin together when they are referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterization at least three years after their initial bypass. Their results are currently in press online in the American Journal of Cardiology.
	Cardiovascular risk tool overestimates actual chance of cardiovascular events A widely recommended risk calculator for predicting a person's chance of experiencing a cardiovascular disease event—such as heart attack, ischemic stroke or dying from coronary artery disease—has been found to substantially overestimate the actual five-year risk in adults overall and across all sociodemographic subgroups. The study by Kaiser Permanente was published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Diagnosing mononucleosis: Team works to expedite proper treatment The University of Georgia's Mark Ebell wasn't impressed with research on infectious mononucleosis when he wrote his first published review on it back in the 1990s. He still isn't—a subject he discusses in the April issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Antibiotics allow gut pathogens to 'breathe' Antibiotics are essential for fighting bacterial infection, but, paradoxically, they can also make the body more prone to infection and diarrhea.
Corporate churning associated with lower nursing home quality Over the last two decades, thousands of nursing homes have been bought and sold by corporate chains. A new study has found that these transactions are related to lower quality of care. The results of this study suggest that chains bought and sold nursing homes that were already having quality problems, and these quality issues persisted after the transaction. In nursing homes that underwent a transaction, quality problems were present both before and after the transaction occurred.
Researchers identify sharp rise in opioid-related hospitalizations, health care costs Infection is a serious complication of intravenous drug abuse and a major cause of illness and death among intravenous drug users. As the national problem of opioid abuse, including of heroin, continues to grow, new research by clinicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the VA Boston Healthcare System, published today in the May issue of the journal Health Affairs, offers new insights into the significant impact of the trend on opioid-related hospitalizations, infectious complications and health care costs.
Nonprofit hospitals earn substantial profits Seven of the 10 most profitable hospitals in the United States in 2013 - each earning more than $163 million in profits from patient care services—were nonprofit hospitals, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Washington and Lee University.
What can we expect next in the long history of lead poisoning in the US? While state and federal officials continue to criticize each other for failing to guarantee safe drinking water, the question of exactly who is responsible for crises like in Flint, Michigan, lies at the root of the problem. Calls for the resignation of the governor and other state officials continue at congressional hearings. To date, an employee of Flint and two state workers assigned to monitor water quality in cities are the first to face criminal charges.
	Promoting abstinence, fidelity for HIV prevention is ineffective, study finds The U.S. government has invested $1.4 billion in HIV prevention programs that promote sexual abstinence and marital fidelity, but there is no evidence that these programs have been effective at changing sexual behavior and reducing HIV risk, according to a new Stanford University School of Medicine study.
	Chronic insomnia? Docs urged to try a behavior therapy first Tossing and turning night after night? Don't automatically reach for the pill bottle. New guidelines say the first choice to treat chronic insomnia should be cognitive behavioral therapy—a way to condition your body to slumber again.
	Research-based exercise program turning preschoolers into 'Fit Kids' It's a weekday morning, and senior Reuben Brough is running around a gym at King Street Youth Center waving his hands in the air and screeching like a cheetah. A stream of children is in hot pursuit of him and four other UVM students who implore the preschoolers to "catch the cheetah."
Elevated bladder cancer risk in New England and arsenic in drinking water A new study has found that drinking water from private wells, particularly dug wells established during the first half of the 20th century, may have contributed to the elevated risk of bladder cancer that has been observed in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for over 50 years. Other risk factors for bladder cancer, such as smoking and occupational exposures, did not explain the excess risk in this region. The study, by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire; the departments of health for Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont; and the U.S. Geological Survey, appeared May 2, 2016, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Stiffening of the arteries detected in multi-ethnic study of young adults Stiffening of the arteries usually related to aging can be detected in early adulthood using a method known as pulse wave velocity, according to a new study led by researchers at King's College London with the University of Glasgow. Alongside a lack of physical activity, stresses such as perceived racism were also associated with stiffening of the arteries of the 21-23 year-olds who took part in the multi-ethnic study.
	ObamaCare buyers could have fewer choices in 2017 (HealthDay)—With the nation's largest health insurer exiting all but a few Affordable Care Act exchanges next year, some Americans may be left with fewer choices and some might see higher monthly premiums.
	Delirium predicts function in elderly after aortic valve surgery (HealthDay)—Delirium appears to predict reduced functioning in elderly individuals after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), according to a study published online April 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Patients often dissatisfied with acne care (HealthDay)—Patients frequently report ineffective consultations in acne care, according to a study published online April 26 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Serum prolactin in pregnancy predicts prediabetes / diabetes (HealthDay)—Serum prolactin in pregnancy predicts the risk of postpartum prediabetes/diabetes, according to a study published online April 26 in Diabetes Care.
	Markers that predict omalizumab response identified (HealthDay)—Baseline serum periostin levels and levels of serum free immunoglobulin E (IgE) during treatment follow-up may be useful in assessing response to omalizumab treatment for asthma, according to a study published online April 26 in Allergy.
	Glaucoma may result from white matter degeneration (HealthDay)—Glaucoma may be associated with lower fractional anisotropy in the optic radiations, forceps major, and corpus callosum, possibly as a result of white matter degeneration, according to a study published online April 25 in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.
	Distraction methods during blood draws have similar effectiveness (HealthDay)—Three different distraction methods are not significantly different in terms of pain and anxiety reduction in children having their blood drawn, according to a study published online April 26 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Laser treatment helpful for androgenetic alopecia (HealthDay)—Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) improves hair regrowth and thickness in patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), according to a review published online April 25 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
	Nursing homes starting to offer more individualized menus On a recent Thursday, the staff at Sunny Vista Living Center in Colorado Springs bustled in the kitchen. The phone rang with a last minute order as Chris Willard tended to a large pot of Thai-style soup with fresh ginger, vegetables and thin-sliced beef.
	New study for women with family history of breast, ovarian cancer A new clinical study by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University seeks to increase the number of women at hereditary risk for breast and ovarian cancer who are seen for genetic counseling services.
Ibrutinib: Indication of added benefit in one of three therapeutic indications Ibrutinib is a drug for the treatment of rare diseases. It has been approved for the treatment of adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) since 2014, and since 2015 also for the treatment of adults with Waldenström macroglobulinaemia. Regarding the treatment of patients with CLL or MCL, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) already conducted a benefit assessment and made a decision in 2015.
Mepolizumab in severe asthma: Added benefit not proven The monoclonal antibody mepolizumab has been approved since the end of 2015 for the treatment of adults with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) now examined in an early benefit assessment whether the drug offers an added benefit for patients in comparison with the appropriate comparator therapy.
Umeclidinium for symptom relief in COPD: Added benefit not proven Umeclidinium bromide (umeclidinium for short) has been approved since 2014 as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and was initially only available in combination with vilanterol. It has been available also as a single agent since 2016. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) now examined in an early benefit assessment whether this single agent offers patients an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.
	FDA effort aims to curb smoking in LGBT community The Food and Drug Administration's latest anti-smoking campaign takes aim at young adults in the LGBT community, who officials say are nearly twice as likely to use tobacco as their peers.
Faulty breast implant company founder faces jail in France A French appeals court on Monday upheld a four-year prison sentence for the founder of PIP, the manufacturer of defective breast implants that caused a health scare across Europe and South America.
Health interventions needed for SGL parent households in urban subsidized housing programs Billions of dollars are spent annually to support single-parent families in low-income urban communities—most often for affordable housing—yet little is known about the relationship between health and well-being of housing program participants and life in violent neighborhoods in US cities.
SCAI publishes updated guidelines for cath lab best practices Today, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) published an update to its first-of-its-kind 2012 paper outlining best practices in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL), or cath lab. The paper, "SCAI Expert Consensus Statement: 2016 Best Practices in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory," was published online in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, SCAI's official journal.
	Does freeze-thawing and IV delivery affect the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells? Before the therapeutic potential of using human tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) to treat immune and degenerative diseases can be fully determined, the effects of freeze-thawing and intravenous delivery on MSC function must be understood. A new study reporting the changes in MSC gene expression associated with cryopreservation and exposure to the mouse lung is published in Stem Cells and Development, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Stem Cells and Development website until June 2, 2016.
A legal approach to reducing drug spending In a new analysis published in the May issue of Health Affairs, Aaron Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH, associate professor of medicine and director of the Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law in the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women's Hospital, posed an innovative solution to the problem of patent-protected essential medicines that are priced too high for society to afford them, as in the case of the antiviral drugs treating hepatitis C.
	Value of cancer drugs in nine countries The May issue of Health Affairs includes a study examining real-world cancer drug consumption in nine countries.
	Study shows long-term improvement in health-related quality of life after bariatric surgery Significant improvement in health-related quality of life was reported by patients 12-14 years after undergoing an uncommon form of bariatric surgery at one U.S. medical center. Follow-up of the 27 patients who underwent biliary pancreatic diversion surgery with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) by the same surgeon is described in an article in Bariatric Surgical Practice and Patient Care, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free for download until June 2, 2016.
	Aneurysmal bone cyst can present as subungual mass (HealthDay)—In a case report published online April 23 in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, a subungual aneurysmal bone cyst is described in a 39-year-old male patient.

Biology news

	First structural views of the NMDA receptor in action will aid drug development Structural biologists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and Janelia Research Campus/HHMI, have obtained snapshots of the activation of an important type of brain-cell receptor. Dysfunction of the receptor has been implicated in a range of neurological illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, seizure, schizophrenia, autism, and injuries related to stroke.
	Californian sudden oak death epidemic 'unstoppable,' new epidemics must be managed earlier New research shows the sudden oak death epidemic in California cannot now be stopped, but that its tremendous ecological and economic impacts could have been greatly reduced if control had been started earlier. The research also identifies new strategies to enhance control of future epidemics, including identifying where and how to fell trees, as "there will be a next time".
	Largest-ever analysis of microbial data reveals ecological law concluding 99.999 percent of species remain undiscovered Earth could contain nearly 1 trillion species, with only one-thousandth of 1 percent now identified, according to a study from biologists at Indiana University.
	Discovery of a fundamental limit to the evolution of the genetic code A study performed at IRB Barcelona offers an explanation as to why the genetic code stopped growing 3,000 million years ago. This is attributed to the structure of transfer RNAs—the key molecules in the translation of genes into proteins. The genetic code is limited to 20 amino acids—the building blocks of proteins—the maximum number that prevents systematic mutations, which are fatal for life. The discovery could have applications in synthetic biology.
	No males needed: All-female salamanders regrow tails 36 percent faster The lady salamander that shuns male companionship may reap important benefits.
	Froggie went a courtin' and waved goodbye to rival wooers Most frogs use acoustic signals - or croaks - to communicate during mating season, but some species have also developed a wave, called a foot flag, as a signal to deter the competition.
	Engineers produce biodiesel from microalgae in three hours Microalgae developed in wastewater retain large amounts of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins suitable for energy production, without a biomass limit or transformation. Scientists at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) say they can produce biofuel in three hours.
	Expedition scientists in Bolivia discover seven animal species in world's most biodiverse protected area Scientists on an expedition through Madidi National Park—the world's most biologically diverse protected area— have now discovered seven animal species new to science, finds that were made in 2015 and recently confirmed through careful comparisons with known species, according to the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and local partners.
	Scientists reveal the secret of antibiotic-resistant bacteria Researchers have built a computer model of the interaction between different bacteria, and between bacteria and the gut wall. This has led them to explain how antibiotic-resistant microbes develop and spread; details of the study have been published in the journal PLOS ONE.
	Spotted wobbegong sharks demonstrate social clique behaviour New research suggests that the spotted wobbegong shark aggregates in 'social' groups, as opposed to previous assumptions that shark groupings were chance occurrences influenced by available food, mates or other environmental factors.
	Advance could help grow stem cells more safely The most productive way scientists have devised to nurture colonies of human embryonic stem cells is to do so atop a bed of mouse cells. That may be fine for lab research, but it poses an unacceptable contamination risk for stem cells intended for transplant into human patients. In a new study, Brown University bioengineers have developed a synthetic bed that works about as well as the mouse cells, called fibroblasts, without any possibility of contamination.
	Bioengineers create first online search engine for functional genomics data University of California San Diego bioengineers have created what they believe to be the first online search engine for functional genomics data. This work from the Sheng Zhong bioengineering lab at UC San Diego was just published online by the journal Nucleic Acids Research. This new search engine, called GeNemo, is free for public use at: http://www.genemo.org.
	New tech uses hardware, software to train dogs more efficiently North Carolina State University researchers have developed and used a customized suite of technologies that allows a computer to train a dog autonomously, with the computer effectively responding to the dog based on the dog's body language.
Hydropeaking extirpates river insects Hydropower produces 19% of the world's electricity—far more than all other renewable sources combined. In the face of mounting climate-change effects, the rush to this profuse energy source is expected to continue. However, hydroelectric dams can also produce a number of environmental consequences, many of which are unrecognized or understudied.
Regulators consider how to save southern New England lobster Interstate fishing regulators will consider authorizing new tools to address southern New England's declining lobster population.
	Rescued circus lions take first steps on African veld Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia set paw on the African veld for the first time Sunday after an epic journey by plane and truck.
	A new resource to help manage billbugs in turfgrass Billbugs, a type of weevil that is found from southern Canada to Mexico as well as parts of the Caribbean, are a major pest of turfgrass, a crop that brings in tens of billions of dollars in annual revenues. A new article in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management sheds light on how to manage this damaging insect.
	Detecting decay inside bagged lettuce with 'electronic eye' We all hate buying bagged salad only to find brown edges on the lettuce. Fresh-cut lettuce sold in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a desirable but highly perishable product. Tissue decay can start a few days after processing and may be difficult to detect by quick visual observation.
	Improving utilization of ammonia and carbon dioxide in microalgal cultivation Algaculture or algae farming, like any form of agriculture, is highly sensitive to fertilizer costs. A major roadblock to commercial algae farming is efficient utilization of volatile nutrients, specifically ammonia and carbon dioxide (CO2), to feed the algae being farmed. Currently, society produces large quantities of waste streams in the air and water that are not being efficiently treated or not treated at all. This includes multiple agricultural and industrial waste streams that can provide nutrients for large-scale algal cultivation rather than contaminating surface and ground waters or the air. However, new methods need to be developed for using these waste streams to remove uncertainty in the yield and cost of production of algae for biofuels and feed/food.
	Circus elephants' retirement home promises pampered life When Mysore performed in the Ringling Brothers' traveling circus, she waltzed, she hooked her trunk onto another elephant's tail, and she stood on her hind legs in a line for a trick known as the long mount.

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