Science X Newsletter Thursday, May 5

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 5, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Six new fossil species form 'snapshot' of primates stressed by ancient climate change
- Microsoft Research works to improve VR headset field of view
- Scientists detect unexpected drop in the magnetic field of an X-ray pulsar
- Tuning the gold nanoparticle catalyzed carbon monoxide PROX reaction to purify hydrogen gas
- Measuring a black hole 660 million times as massive as our sun
- Rapid-response immune cells are fully prepared before invasion strikes
- Extreme rainfall doesn't always mean extreme erosion, study finds
- World's shallowest slow-motion earthquakes detected offshore of New Zealand
- IU data scientists launch free tools to analyze online trends, memes
- Come to think of it or not: Study shows how memories can be intentionally forgotten
- Study shows how brain switches into memory mode
- Lung tumors hijack metabolic processes in the liver, study finds
- Miscommunication between gram-negative bacteria and cells can trigger lethal sepsis
- Sea star juveniles abundant, but recovery is anything but guaranteed
- Scientists watch bacterial sensor respond to light in real time

Astronomy & Space news

	Measuring a black hole 660 million times as massive as our sun It's about 660 million times as massive as our sun, and a cloud of gas circles it at about 1.1 million mph.
	Scientists detect unexpected drop in the magnetic field of an X-ray pulsar (Phys.org)—A team of scientists has recently presented evidence of an unexpected drop in the observed magnetic field of an accreting pulsar designated V0332+53. This downturn, observed after the pulsar underwent a bright, three-month-long X-ray outburst, could yield important information on how the accreted mass settling on the surface of a neutron star affects its magnetic field. The findings are detailed in a paper published online on Apr. 26 in the arXiv journal.
	Second strongest shock wave found in merging galaxy clusters The discovery by a physics doctoral student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) of the second-strongest merger shock in clusters of galaxies ever observed has generated excitement that is opening doors to further scientific exploration.
	The technology behind the Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) The National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) has teamed up with CSIRO engineers in the development of the world's largest single dish telescope – the Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST).
	Now 40, NASA's LAGEOS set the bar for studies of Earth On May 4, 1976, NASA launched a cannonball-shaped satellite that transformed studies of Earth's shape, rotation and gravity field.
	Mercury in transit The solar system's smallest and most remarkable planet, Mercury, will cross the face of the sun on May 9 – offering a great opportunity for people in many places across the world to see it.
	SpaceX to launch Japanese satellite early Friday SpaceX plans to launch early Friday a Japanese communications satellite into a distant orbit before attempting to land the first stage of its Falcon rocket on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.
	Researchers reveal new evidence about space weather New evidence regarding a scientifically controversial theory about the earth's magnetic field and space weather was discovered almost as soon as Virginia Tech researchers finished installing six data-collection stations near the South Pole in January. The researchers observed that the polar ionosphere—southern, northern, winter, summer—is subject to a constant current.
Luxembourg reaches for the stars with asteroid mining deal Luxembourg has staked its claim to the final frontier with an ambitious plan to profit from the mining of asteroids, the government said Thursday.
Scientists compile list of potential gases to guide search for life on exoplanets A new approach intended to maximize the chances of identifying planets orbiting nearby stars that support life focuses on creating a comprehensive list of the molecules that might be present in the atmospheres of these exoplanets. Biosignature gases emitted by exoplanetary life forms could be detected remotely by space telescopes, but these gases might have quite different compositions from those in Earth's atmosphere, according to an article in Astrobiology. The article is available free for download on the Astrobiology website until June 5, 2016.
	Two NASA sounding-rocket missions to explore coronal nanoflares and escaping atoms Why is the sun's outermost layer 1,000 times hotter than the visible surface of the sun? What are the physical mechanisms that allow oxygen atoms in Earth's atmosphere to overcome gravity and race into Earth's protective magnetosphere and then out into space?
	2016 ETA Aquarid meteor shower peaks May 5-6 Itching to watch a meteor shower and don't mind getting up at an early hour? Good because this should be a great year for the annual Eta Aquarid (AY-tuh ah-QWAR-ids) shower which peaks on Thursday and Friday mornings May 5-6. While the shower is best viewed from tropical and southern latitudes, where a single observer might see between 25-40 meteors an hour, northern views won't be too shabby. Expect to see between 10-15 per hour in the hours before dawn.
	NASA taps Penn State geoscientist to join ancient Mars habitability project When NASA began seeking new scientists to join its Curiosity Mars rover team, Penn State geoscientist Christopher House knew his experience could be a valuable asset to the project.

Technology news

	Microsoft Research works to improve VR headset field of view "Augmenting the Field-of-View of Head-Mounted Displays with Sparse Peripheral Displays" is the title of a video from Microsoft Research that shows interesting work in virtual reality headsets.
	Dynamer malware sign of evolving threat landscape Security watchers are talking about a McAfee Labs blog from its research architect Craig Schmugar. He recently reported on a type of malware which takes advantage of Windows 'GodMode.'
Do people want to talk to bots? Humans are so passe. Facebook now wants to expand your social circle in its messaging app, Messenger, beyond friends to include robots - or chatbots - that are powered by artificial intelligence, and designed to shop, search and generally just get things done for you.
	IU data scientists launch free tools to analyze online trends, memes Did more people see #thedress as blue and black or white and gold? How many Twitter users wanted pop star Katy Perry to take the #icebucketchallenge?
	SkinTrack technology turns arm into smartwatch touchpad Ever since the advent of smartwatches, technologists have been looking to expand interactions beyond the confines of the small watch face. A new wearable technology developed at Carnegie Mellon University suggests turning the entire lower arm into a touchpad.
	Tribune Publishing rejects Gannett's 'opportunistic' bid Tribune Publishing Co. on Wednesday rejected Gannett's more than $388 million buyout offer, saying it's too little for the company that owns The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and other newspapers.
	Yahoo takes hit with loss of AT&T contract Yahoo's struggling Internet business took a hit with the loss of a long-time contract to manage the Internet portal and search for US telecommunication giant AT&T.
Tesla accelerates to hit target of 500,000 cars yearly Tesla is speeding the timeline for building half a million cars annually as it steps up production to meet growing demand for its electric vehicles.
YouTube plans Internet television service: report YouTube plans to launch a service that streams cable television channels to viewers over the Internet for the price of a subscription, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
Uber assembles international insights in policy board Uber on Wednesday introduced a newly formed policy board that includes a former vice president of the European Commission, as the ride-sharing service navigates regulatory roads around the world.
IBM makes a big shift into cognitive computing IBM's California research lab sits atop a green hill here, 15 miles south of downtown San Jose.
	Google Chrome passes Internet Explorer as top browser for first time Microsoft has fallen behind Google in the browser wars.
Google is sounding more and more like Microsoft Google once famously adopted "don't be evil" as its motto. But the company is now being accused of acting a lot like Microsoft, whose anti-competitive actions gained it the mocking moniker of the "Evil Empire."
	Review: iPhone SE features smaller screen, lower price Small, medium or large? You might drive a Toyota Prius, and I might drive a Chevrolet Silverado. I might like a shot of espresso while you might like a Big Gulp. Seems like there's a right size for everything - including cellphones.
	Scientists develop bee model that will impact the development of aerial robotics Scientists have built a computer model that shows how bees use vision to detect the movement of the world around them and avoid crashing. This research, published in PLOS Computational Biology, is an important step in understanding how the bee brain processes the visual world and will aid the development of robotics.
	SSI-LED research improves microelectronics inside everyday technologies Dr. Yue Kuo, professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, is continuing ongoing research in the field of microelectronics and semiconductor microchips that is evolving everyday technology such as cellphones, televisions, computers and more through the use of light emitting diodes (LED).
	End of the 'big oil giveaway' is underway in the Persian Gulf The old hypotheses that said Persian Gulf energy subsidies were sacrosanct have been overturned, according to a new issue brief from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
	Why sex robots are ancient history The sexbots are coming. To a bedroom near you. No longer the stuff of Hollywood fantasy, sexually "functioning" robots are now available to buy and try. And according to some commentators, they are the future of sex. Newspapers speak of an upcoming trend in robotic sexual activity, and Vanity Fair referred to the "the Rolls-Royce of sex dolls" in a recent profile of an American manufacturer.
	Cybersecurity's weakest link is humans There is a common thread that connects the hack into the sluicegate controllers of the Bowman Avenue dam in Rye, New York; the breach that compromised 20 million federal employee records at the Office of Personnel Management; and the recent spate of "ransomware" attacks that in three months this year have already cost us over US$200 million: they were all due to successful "spearphishing" attacks.
	Robot revolution—rise of the intelligent automated workforce Losing jobs to technology is nothing new. Since the industrial revolution, roles that were once exclusively performed by humans have been slowly but steadily replaced by some form of automated machinery. Even in cases where the human worker is not completely replaced by a machine, humans have learnt to rely on a battery of machinery to be more efficient and accurate.
	Ford invests in cloud firm Pivotal in self-driving car push Ford said Thursday it was investing $182 million into San Francisco cloud computing firm Pivotal as it deepens its work on connected and self-driving cars.
	Australian refuses to give more proof he created Bitcoin Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright on Thursday said he would not provide further proof to back up his claim that he created Bitcoin, saying he was "not strong enough" for the public scrutiny.
	Marine Corps teams with Sandia on microgrids and renewable energy planning The U.S. Marine Corps are the first boots on the ground in a crisis. On the front lines, they must be able to power up securely without plugging into utilities. They require nothing less than completely reliable and cost-effective energy independence.
Ford to invest $182M in software development company Ford says it is investing $182 million in a San Francisco software development company called Pivotal.
	Long-form journalism lives—on mobile If you thought long-form journalism would die from the shift to mobile news, think again.
Free-standing 2-legged robot conquers terrain An unsupported bipedal robot at the University of Michigan can now walk down steep slopes, through a thin layer of snow, and over uneven and unstable ground.
	Amazon steps up air game with new cargo deal Online retail colossus Amazon on Thursday boosted its fledgling air cargo service as it moves to gain more independence from freight firms for delivery of online purchases.
	Windows 10 spreads to 300 mn devices Microsoft announced Thursday that its latest Windows operating system designed to work on laptops, desktops, smartphones, Xbox One consoles and more is powering 300 million devices around the world.
	Netflix tool helps mobile viewers manage data limits Netflix on Thursday released a new tool to help people viewing streamed television shows on mobile devices avoid costly bills for high data use.
	Apple extends push into businesses with SAP tie-up Apple on Thursday expanded efforts to make its devices must-have business tools, unveiling an alliance with German workplace software giant SAP.
	Foreign investors in fizzled development are at wit's end Foreigners who had been banking on their investments in a biomedical research facility and a hotel and rental cottage project in Vermont to get green cards are scrambling to find a backup now that the project's developers are accused of misusing hundreds of millions of dollars in what investigators called a "massive eight-year fraud scheme."
	Foreign investors in fizzled development at wit's end Foreigners who had been banking on their investments in a biomedical research facility and a hotel and rental cottage project in northern Vermont to get green cards are scrambling to find a backup now that the project's developers are accused of misusing hundreds of millions of dollars of investors' money in what investigators called a "massive eight-year fraud scheme."
Petcube, the Skype for Fido Ever been stuck late at the office while your furry friend is home alone, and wished you could give Fido or Fluffy a quick ring or text to check in?
Coordinated turnaround means a more efficient travel experience for airline passengers The EU INTERACTION project has coordinated aircraft turnaround processes such as passenger, baggage, freight and ramp operations for a more efficient and predictable travel experience.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists program robot for 'soft tissue' surgery Not even the surest surgeon's hand is quite as steady and consistent as a robotic arm built of metal and plastic, programmed to perform the same motions over and over. So could it handle the slippery stuff of soft tissues during a surgery?
	Hepatitis C now leading infectious disease killer in U.S. (HealthDay)—The number of hepatitis C-linked deaths in the United States reached a record high in 2014, and the virus now kills more Americans than any other infectious disease, health officials report.
	Drinking coffee and wine good for microbes in the gut, scientists say Scientists have some great news for those who love coffee, tea and wine: Drinking any of these beverages is associated with a healthier and more diverse community of microbes living in the gut.
	Portable device worn on eyeglasses offers hope for people with low vision A miniature camera using optical character-recognition technology, mounted onto the eyeglasses of people who are considered legally blind, dramatically improves their ability to read an email, newspaper article, menu or page in a book, a study by researchers with UC Davis Health System has found.
	Study shows how brain switches into memory mode Researchers from Germany and the USA have identified an important mechanism with which memory switches from recall to memorization mode. The study may shed new light on the cellular causes of dementia. The work was directed by the University of Bonn and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). It is being published in the renowned journal Neuron.
	Antibody appears to attack cancer cells, leaving other cells unscathed A research team from Duke Health has developed an antibody from the body's own immune system that preferentially attacks cancer cells.
	Research suggests diabetes drug acts differently from previous theories A Mayo Clinic study suggests laboratory findings do not tell the whole story of how the diabetes drug metformin works to limit the level of glucose in the blood. The researchers found that metformin does not limit the action of the hormone glucagon, specifically glucagon-stimulated glucose production from the liver. The article appears in the journal Cell Reports.
	Lung tumors hijack metabolic processes in the liver, study finds University of California, Irvine scientists who study how circadian rhythms—our own body clocks—control liver function have discovered that cancerous lung tumors can hijack this process and profoundly alter metabolism.
	Miscommunication between gram-negative bacteria and cells can trigger lethal sepsis Severe bacterial infections can push the human body into sepsis, a life-threatening cascade of inflammation and cell death that can be difficult to cure. Now, researchers at UConn Health have discovered how gram-negative bacteria trigger such a dangerous reaction from our body.
	That new baby isn't imitating you For decades, there have been studies suggesting that human babies are capable of imitating facial gestures, hand gestures, facial expressions, or vocal sounds right from their first weeks of life after birth. But, based on new evidence, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on May 5, 2016 now say that just isn't so.
	Researchers track critical development in the young brain Much like electricity traveling down wires, nerve impulses in our brain travel along nerve fibers. And just as wires need insulation to function well, nerve fibers, too, rely on a kind of insulation called myelin, a fatty substance that protects them and increases the speed at which nerve impulses travel.
	Study finds link between handedness and mathematical skills A link between handedness and mathematical skills exists, but is more complex than is thought according to a study by the University of Liverpool.
	Come to think of it or not: Study shows how memories can be intentionally forgotten Context plays a big role in our memories, both good and bad. Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" on the car radio, for example, may remind you of your first love—or your first speeding ticket. But a Dartmouth- and Princeton-led brain scanning study shows that people can intentionally forget past experiences by changing how they think about the context of those memories.
	T cells use 'handshakes' to sort friends from foes T cells, the security guards of the immune system, use a kind of mechanical "handshake" to test whether a cell they encounter is a friend or foe, a new study finds.
	Rapid-response immune cells are fully prepared before invasion strikes Through the use of powerful genomic techniques, researchers at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) have found that the development of immune cells, called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), gradually prepares these cells for rapid response to infection. This work, which appeared online today in Cell, sheds light on the development and function of a cell type that is increasingly recognized as having an important role in the body's immune defense. NIAMS is part of the National Institutes of Health.
Walking and cycling are good for health even in cities with higher levels of air pollution The health benefits of walking and cycling outweigh the negative effects on health of air pollution, even in cities with high levels of air pollution, according to a study led by researchers from the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR) and Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. This new evidence strengthens the case for supporting cycling even in polluted cities—an effort that in turn can help reduce vehicle emissions.
Heavy body shape across lifespan associated with highest mortality People who are lean for life have the lowest mortality, while those with a heavy body shape from childhood up to middle age have the highest mortality, reveal findings of a large study published in The BMJ today.
Elderly women more likely to be overprescribed prescription drugs Nearly one in three British Columbia women over age 65 received inappropriate prescription medicines in 2013, according to a University of British Columbia study. One in four men of the same age received similar prescriptions.
	Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis A new study led by a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and Cystic Fibrosis Canada reinforces the benefits of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Despite the fact that newborn screening has been implemented across North America and in several European countries as a way to improve overall survival rate and health outcomes of people living with CF, it is still not available in Quebec. The findings, recently published online in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, add to the increasingly overwhelming evidence in favour of newborn screening as a way to improve the quality of life for patients living with this chronic disease that is still incurable.
	Study suggests bipolar disorder has genetic links to autism A new study suggests there may be an overlap between rare genetic variations linked to bipolar disorder (BD) and those implicated in schizophrenia and autism.
Findings light the way for new treatments in colitis, colon cancer An Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist has discovered that certain sugars produced by the body play an important role in the development of colitis and, ultimately, colon cancer. The new finding could potentially lead to therapies for ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and colon cancer.
Researchers find that a biological 'good guy' has a dark side A pair of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists have discovered that an enzyme previously thought only to be beneficial could, in fact, pose significant danger to developing embryos. The new research could have implications not only for prenatal development but also for treating lymphedema and liver damage resulting from acetaminophen overdose.
	Breast milk hormones found to impact bacterial development in infants' guts A new University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus study finds that hormones in breast milk may impact the development of healthy bacteria in infants' guts, potentially protecting them from intestinal inflammation, obesity and other diseases later in life.
	California raises legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 California Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday approved raising the legal age to buy tobacco for smoking, dipping, chewing and vaping from 18 to 21.
Brazil says almost 1,300 hit by Zika-linked microcephaly Brazil's outbreak of Zika—which has been linked to the devastating microcephaly birth defect in newborns in 1,271 cases since October—has also killed 57 of those babies, authorities said Wednesday.
	Some teen girls coerced into pregnancy: study (HealthDay)—Girls as young as 14 have boyfriends who've pressured them to become pregnant, sabotaged their birth control, or otherwise tried to control their reproductive health, a new study finds.
	No statins before heart surgery, study suggests (HealthDay)—Taking cholesterol-lowering statins right before heart surgery, once touted as a way to prevent common postoperative complications, has no benefit and may even cause harm, a new study suggests.
	Ebola may leave some survivors blind (HealthDay)—About one-fifth of Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone developed severe or total vision loss within weeks of being declared free of the virus, a new study finds.
	Physician leadership training may help counteract burnout (HealthDay)—Physician leaders with good leadership qualities are more likely to have employees who are satisfied and do not show signs of burnout, according to a study published in the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings and a report published by the American Medical Association.
	Increase in low-risk AMI survivors from 2001 to 2011 (HealthDay)—The proportion of low-risk survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increased from 2001 to 2011, and characteristics include younger age, male gender, and being married, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Pediatric researchers suggest potential dangers for children from cellphone exposure Doctors and scientists from Harvard and Yale medical schools warned Tuesday that pregnant mothers limit their unborn babies exposure to potentially harmful radiation by keeping cellphones away from their tummies because of the possible effect on brain development.
Staging system to explain complexity, manage expectations in revision rhinoplasty Can a staging system - much like one used to classify cancerous tumors - help facial plastic surgery patients understand the complexity of their revision rhinoplasty and help to manage their expectations?
	Testing non-breast cancer genes in high-risk women leaves more questions than answers Running large, multi-gene sequencing panels to assess cancer risk is a growing trend in medicine as the price of the technology declines and more precise approaches to cancer care gain steam. The tests are particularly common among breast and ovarian cancer patients. However, questions remain about the growing list of mutations and their suspected, but unproven association with breast and ovarian cancer risk.
	New technique can provide better cell transplants against Parkinson's disease Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have used a completely new preclinical technique and analysis of tissue from patients to show exactly what happens when certain patients with Parkinson's disease are restored as a result of nerve cell transplants. They have also identified what makes many of the transplant patients develop serious side effects in the form of involuntary movements.
	Researchers identify new pathway leading to Alzheimer's disease A newly discovered pathway leading to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may unlock the door to new approaches for treating the disease.
	New Zika mouse model accumulates virus in the brain and other tissues The ongoing Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic with its link to birth defects and serious immune disease has created an urgent need for a small animal model that can improve our understanding of how the virus causes disease symptoms in humans and speed up the development of vaccines and treatment. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases describes one of the first mouse models for ZIKV disease. Following infection via the skin (resembling a mosquito bite), the mice develop disease and accumulate virus in many organs, including the brain. Prior to publication, the results had been uploaded onto the bioRxiv pre-publishing website in response to the Statement on Data Sharing in Public Health Emergencies to which the PLOS journals are a signatory.
Drug combination could help reduce risk of death in type 2 diabetes People with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin plus metformin had a reduced risk of death and major cardiac events compared with people treated with insulin alone, a new study by Cardiff University shows.
	Vaccination under the influence of estradiol increases vaginal antiviral immunity When it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), some female hormones are protective while others make women more susceptible. A study in mice published on May 5th in PLOS Pathogens suggests that estradiol (E2) exerts its protective effect against herpes virus by shifting the immune response in the vaginal mucosa toward a more effective antiviral one.
Gene cascade specifies two distinct neuron sets expressing Nplp1 A study of the embryonic nervous system of the fruit fly throws light on how two neuronal cell lineages that develop at different times and in different places in the ventral nerve cord of the embryo can ultimately result in very similar neuronal subtypes. The study, publishing in the Open Access journal PLOS Biology on 5th May, is a collaboration between research teams in Madrid (Spain) and Linköping (Sweden).
Advances in medical care have led to type 1 diabetes boom Researchers from the University of Adelaide say the global increase in cases of type 1 diabetes is directly linked to advances in medical care, with the underlying genetics of the disease more likely to be passed from one generation to the next.
	Many patients mistakenly believe they are allergic to penicillin It's time for your primary care check-up, and the doctor asks you to list any known drug allergies. "Penicillin," you say immediately, although you can't remember actually taking the drug or having a reaction to it—it was your parents who said so. According to a Texas A&M Health Science Center allergist, many people who believe they're allergic to this antibiotic may not actually be allergic at all.
	Study finds virtual reality can help treat severe paranoia Virtual reality can help treat severe paranoia by allowing people to face situations that they fear, an Oxford University study with patients from the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has found. The virtual reality simulations allowed the patients to learn that the situations (such as a crowded lift) they feared were actually safe.
	Walking speed could be a new indicator of health Walking speed is making strides toward becoming a key metric of a person's health with the launch of the 6th Vital Sign, a first-of-its kind study being conducted by the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI).
Time to change how news media cover mass shootings, says psychologist The amount of media attention focused on the shooter in a mass killing sends the wrong message, says an Iowa State University associate professor of psychology. Douglas Gentile, an expert on media effects, says news reports about the killer, the type and number of weapons used and rounds of ammunition glamorize the situation and set a "high score" for future mass shooters to beat.
	Infectious diseases and chronic illnesses are becoming more alike Australia and India's leading infectious disease and chronic illness experts are meeting in Melbourne this week to discuss emerging similarities between the two fields of medical science.
Trauma exposure linked to African-Americans, criminal justice system Frequent traumatic exposure to crime can take a toll on most people.
	Improving mental health in Khayelitsha Arriving in Cape Town via its main highway you can't fail to spot Khayelitsha. The informal township, reputed to be the largest and fastest growing in South Africa, runs parallel to the main artery leading into the city centre.
	Klinefelter's syndrome—being unable to produce testosterone has serious implications for men Klinefelter's syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 450 males. Each cell in the human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes. The sex chromosomes in a female are XX, and XY in men. Typically, men have 46 chromosomes with an arrangement of 46XY, while those with Klinefelter's syndrome have a 46XXY arrangement.
	Why men don't like to talk about their enlarged prostate Conversation about how often you have to get up at night for a piddle is probably not the most scintillating discourse. But there's a much bigger reason men don't like to talk about prostate conditions.
	Cranberry juice might boost heart health Drinking two glasses of cranberry juice a day may lead to significant heart health benefits, according to a study led by Janet Novotny, an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) physiologist at the Beltsville [Maryland] Human Nutrition Research Center.
Obesity rates are not declining in U.S. youth A clear and significant increase in obesity continued from 1999 through 2014, according to an analysis of data on United States children and adolescents age 2 to 19 years.
Older lung cancer patients experience excellent survival following surgery Patients aged 65 years and older are living longer after lung cancer surgery, and with older people representing a rapidly growing proportion of patients diagnosed with lung cancer, this improved survival is especially significant, according to an article posted online today by the Annals of Thoracic Surgery..
	Scientists to use microbes and methane to create sustainable Omega 3 Scientists are trying to find a new way to produce the nutritional fatty acids called Omega 3 that are currently sourced from fish oil from the world's declining natural fish stocks.
	Study reveals why some depressed patients have blood inflammation A new King's College London study reveals why some - but not all - people have depression that appears to be caused by blood inflammation.
	Connecting genetic variations to schizophrenia and other mental illnesses We know that changes in our genetic code can be associated with an increased risk for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But how can a genetic mutation lead to complex psychiatric symptoms such as vivid hallucinations, manic episodes and bizarre delusions?
	Thinking differently could affect power of traumatic memories People who may be exposed to trauma can train themselves to think in a way that could protect them from PTSD symptoms, according to a study from King's College London and Oxford University.
	Study contradicts belief that cancer protects against Alzheimer's Despite studies that claim people with cancer are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease—raising the possibility that what triggers cancer also prevents the neurodegenerative disorder—a new investigation finds a more somber explanation. Many cancer patients don't live long enough to get Alzheimer's. The research, led by investigators at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B.
	Timed-release glaucoma drug insert shows promise as alternative to daily drops A new device that slowly releases eye medication may one day be a promising option for the many glaucoma patients who struggle with administering their own daily prescription eye drops. New research shows a medicated silicone ring that rests on the surface of the eye reduced eye pressure in glaucoma patients by about 20 percent over six months. The first published research about this continuous glaucoma drug delivery technology was released online today in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	NEJM letter calls prostate cancer screening guidelines into question Evidence now favors that prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing can help reduce the number of fatal cases of prostate cancer, contrary to earlier recommendations based on a landmark national study. Researchers from NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine discuss their findings related to PSA screening in this week's New England Journal of Medicine.
	Starving cancer the key to new treatments Researchers have identified a vital supply route that cancer cells use to obtain their nutrients, in a discovery that could lead to new treatments to stop the growth of tumours.
Intestinal worms boost immune system in a surprising way In order to fight invading pathogens, the immune system uses "outposts" throughout the body, called lymph nodes. These are small, centimeter-long organs that filter fluids, get rid of waste materials, and trap pathogens, e.g. bacteria or viruses. Lymph nodes are packed with immune cells, and are know to grow in size, or 'swell', when they detect invading pathogens. But now, EPFL scientists have unexpectedly discovered that lymph nodes also contain more immune cells when the host is infected with a more complex invader: an intestinal worm. The discovery is published in Cell Reports , and has significant implications for our understanding of how the immune system responds to infections.
	Type 2 diabetes drug trials unnecessarily exclude women While women who are pregnant, or breastfeeding or who may become pregnant are often excluded from clinical trials for type 2 diabetes drugs, the exclusion is frequently not based on the risk of fetal harm, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers and may be contributing to the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials and an incomplete understanding of the effects of drugs on women who become pregnant unexpectedly.
Deep male voices not so much sexy as intimidating Male voices are not deeply pitched in order to attract female mates, but instead serve to intimidate the competition, according to a team of researchers studying a wide variety of primates including humans.
	Sylvester researchers develop novel disease model to study multiple myeloma Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have developed an animal model that allows them to better understand the mechanisms that lead to the development of multiple myeloma, a hematologic cancer of plasma cells, and the amyloidosis that sometimes accompanies it. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Can believing you are a food addict affect your eating behavior? Researchers from the University of Liverpool have published a paper regarding their work on how beliefs about food addiction can affect eating behaviour.
	Clinical study suggests the origin of glioblastoma subtypes Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have demonstrated that distinct types of glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer in adults, tend to develop in different regions of the brain. This finding provides an explanation for how the same cancer-causing mutation can give rise to different types of brain malignancies. Results of the study were published in the May 2, 2016 online edition of Oncotarget.
	Depressed moms not 'in sync' with their children Mothers with a history of depression are not physiologically "in sync" with their kids, according to a new study from Binghamton University. While researchers have known for a while that depression is associated with interpersonal problems with others, this is the first study to examine whether this is also evident physiologically.
	Two-minute warnings make kids' 'screen time' tantrums worse Giving young children a two-minute warning that "screen time" is about to end makes transitions away from tablets, phones, televisions and other technological devices more painful, a new University of Washington study has found.
US bans sale of e-cigarettes, cigars to those under 18 The United States Thursday issued a sweeping ban on sales of e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and hookahs to those under 18, marking the first time these products have been federally regulated.
	New study shows we are bad judges of friendship Most of us think that friendship is a two-way street—but that's true only half the time, according to research from Tel Aviv University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
	Gene replacement therapy offers viable treatment option for fatal disease Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease that causes progressive degeneration in the nerve cells that control muscles, thereby causing muscle weakness and eventually death. SMA affects approximately 200,000 people in the U.S., often children. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri are studying a subtype of SMA, spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1), and have developed a gene replacement therapy that can be used to treat and control the disease in the future.
Processed fat cells show potential as treatment for refractory ischemia patients Patients treated with processed autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) injected into the heart muscle demonstrated symptomatic improvement and a trend towards lower rates of heart failure hospitalizations and angina, despite no improvement in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) or ventricular volumes. The ATHENA trial results were presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla.
Stem cell therapy shows potential for difficult-to-treat RA patient population A study using a stem cell therapy to treat challenging refractory angina (RA) patients demonstrated promising results, including improved exercise time, reduced angina and reduced mortality. The RENEW results were presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla.
	Algorithm can improve guidance of crash victims to most appropriate place for care Important information on a motor vehicle crash can help ambulance personnel and hospital staff better direct crash victims to the most appropriate care, but getting that information into a meaningful format for those personnel to use has been an ongoing challenge. Recently, a team of biomechanical specialists and clinicians at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, developed a computer algorithm that's capable of providing that information through a novel method using data from electronic data recorders (EDRs) on board cars and trucks today.
Research collaboration ids Serum biomarkers that Predict preclinical IBD development & complications Years before inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diagnosed and symptoms exist, biomarkers are already circulating that can help predict risk not only of disease development but also of complications, according to research published online last week, which will also appear in the June 15, 2016 print issue of Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. This publication reports the first findings from the PREDICTS (Proteomic Evaluation and Discovery in an IBD Cohort of Tri-service Subjects) study—a CRADA (Cooperative Research And Development Agreement) between the Mount Sinai Health System, the Naval Medical Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Prometheus Laboratories Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
	AF patients treated long term with warfarin at increased risk for dementia A new study of more than 10,000 patients treated long term with the blood thinner, warfarin, reveals higher rates of dementia for patients with atrial fibrillation versus non-AF patients
	Smartphone app for monitoring heart palpitations is comparable to 14-day event monitor A smartphone app that tracks palpitations in heart patients provides comparable performance to the 14-day event monitors that are the current standard of care, according to a University at Buffalo study presented May 4th at the annual Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) meeting in San Francisco.
	Sleep apnea may raise heart risks in people with pacemakers (HealthDay)—People with heart pacemakers and sleep apnea are at much greater risk for a dangerous heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation, a new study suggests.
	No link for tea, coffee intake with barrett's esophagus (HealthDay)—After adjustment for confounding variables there is no correlation between the risk of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and tea or coffee consumption, according to a study published in the May issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	CT-gross tumor volume predicts outcome in larynx preservation (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing larynx preservation, pretreatment computed tomography-gross tumor volume (CT-GTV) is predicative of an increase in time with tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), according to a study published online April 30 in Head & Neck.
	Review finds CABG bests PCI in end-stage renal disease (HealthDay)—For patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) referred for coronary revascularization, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with a small decrease in long-term mortality compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a review published in the May 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Probiotic supplements beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis (HealthDay)—Probiotic supplementation seems beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published online May 2 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Oregon scientists link signaling network to heart valve defects May 5, 2016—A cell-to-cell signaling network that serves as a developmental timer could provide a framework for better understanding the mechanisms underlying human heart valve disease, say University of Oregon scientists.
Superbug infections tracked across Europe For the first time, scientists have shown that MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and other antibiotic-resistant 'superbug' infections can be tracked across Europe by combining whole-genome sequencing with a web-based system. In mBio today (May 5, 2016) researchers at Imperial College London and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute worked with a European network representing doctors in 450 hospitals in 25 countries to successfully interpret and visualise the spread of drug-resistant MRSA.
Research findings reveal potential to reverse cancer-related nerve pain A study providing new information about neuropathic pain afflicting some 90 percent of cancer patients who have had nerve damage caused by tumors, surgery, chemotherapy or radiation indicates gene therapy as a possible treatment.
Study points to therapeutic target for common and aggressive ovarian cancer Small, non-coding molecules called microRNAs are known to play an important role in cancer development. Researchers now have shown their significance is greater than previously thought, a finding that could lead to new therapeutic approaches for the most common and deadly form of ovarian cancer.
Doctors call for single-payer health reform, cite need to move beyond Affordable Care Act In a dramatic show of physician support for deeper health reform - and for making a decisive break with the private insurance model of financing medical care - 2,231 physicians called today for the creation of a publicly financed, single-payer national health program that would cover all Americans for all medically necessary care.
Preliminary results comparing PD-L1 IHC diagnostic assays in lung cancer released A pre-competitive consortia of pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic companies, and academic associations, including the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), announced phase I results of the "BLUEPRINT PD-L1 IHC ASSAY COMPARISON PROJECT" at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) on April 19. The study compared four PD-L1 IHC diagnostic assays developed in conjunction with four PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) clinical trials.
Why are women less likely to be prescribed statins than men? Statins are equally effective at decreasing risk of coronary events in men and women, and yet women are less likely to be prescribed these cholesterol-lowering drugs than men. A study by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) published this week in PLOS ONE identifies four factors that may account for sex differences in statin therapy among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), pointing to interventions and additional research that will be needed to help overcome this sex disparity and reduce cardiovascular risk for women.
High blood pressure lowers significantly after drinking tart Montmorency cherry juice Drinking tart Montmorency cherry juice significantly reduces high blood pressure at a level comparable to that achieved by medication, according to new research from Northumbria University, Newcastle.
The price of IVF: Study examines financial savings vs. medical complication costs Heralded a miracle by many infertile couples, in vitro fertilization (IVF) can pack a painful financial punch for those without insurance coverage for the treatment. This prohibitive cost leads many would-be parents who pursue in vitro fertilization to transfer multiple embryos at once to increase their chances of getting a baby - and reduce the need to pay for subsequent attempts.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies improve immune response; clear HIV reservoirs Two new studies reveal that administering a potent, broadly neutralizing antibody that binds to HIV evokes a strong immune response in humans, and can even accelerate the clearance of infected cells. First, Till Schoofs et al. analyze results from a clinical trial where a single injection of a type of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) called 3BNC117 was administered to 15 HIV patients, nearly all of whom experienced a reduction in viral loads that lasted for some time - all but one of the HIV-positive individuals infused with the bNAb showed increased breadth and/or potency against the virus at 24 weeks, with the effects ranging from small to dramatic. Intriguingly, the virus appears to develop resistance to 3BNC117 at 24 weeks, and yet Immunoglobulin G (IgG), a key protein in humans that specifically recognizes and binds to particular antigens, was found to have a stronger general response to both 3BNC117-sensitive and 3BNC117-resistant strains of HIV 24 weeks after 3BNC117 injection. While 3BNC117 clearly enhances host immune responses to HIV, the reasons remain largely enigmatic.
	Analysis of more than 1.5 million people finds meat consumption raises mortality rates A review of large-scale studies involving more than 1.5 million people found all-cause mortality is higher for those who eat meat, particularly red or processed meat, on a daily basis. Conducted by physicians from Mayo Clinic in Arizona, "Is Meat Killing Us?" was published today in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Immunization rates climb when pediatricians have easy access to vaccination records Exchange of immunization data between a centralized city immunization registry and provider electronic health records led to significant improvements in pediatric immunization coverage, a reduction in over-immunization for adolescents, and increased completeness of immunization records, according to a study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Citywide Immunization Registry. Researchers compared the percent of children who were up-to-date for their age-appropriate immunizations and those who received extra, unnecessary immunizations before and after the implementation of two-way data exchange at point of care.
	Cayman Islands to deploy genetically modified mosquitoes British biotech company Oxitec and the Cayman Islands government announced plans Thursday to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes in the fight against a species that spreads Zika and other diseases.
Protein may predict response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma A protein called Bim may hold the clue to which patients may be successful on immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma, according to the results of a study by Mayo Clinic researchers led by senior author Haidong Dong, M.D., Ph.D., and published online in the May 5 edition of JCI Insight.
	Animal study shows flexible, dissolvable silicon device promising for brain monitoring An implantable brain device that literally melts away at a pre-determined rate minimizes injury to tissue normally associated with standard electrode implantation, according to research led by a team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The researchers describe online in Nature Materials a new class of technology that provides greater resolution for measuring electrical activity in space and time that matches or exceeds existing methods.
	Study links sleep duration and frequent snoring to poorer breast cancer survival A new study reports that short sleep duration combined with frequent snoring reported prior to cancer diagnosis may influence subsequent breast cancer survival.
Study strengthens suspected link between Zika and paralysis A study in Brazil found nearly 90 percent of people with a rare paralyzing condition said they had symptoms of Zika earlier—contributing to mounting evidence that Zika may be a cause.
	Panama reports 4 cases of Zika-related microcephaly Health authorities in Panama said Thursday that they have identified four cases of the birth defect microcephaly linked to the Zika virus.
	Bisexual and questioning young women more susceptible to depression, study finds A study exploring the prevalence of mental health symptoms in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning (LGBQ) community, found that the oft-overlooked questioning and bisexual youth face their own significant challenges, particularly when it comes to depression, anxiety and traumatic distress.
The NHS is far safer inside the European Union, argues public health expert The NHS is far safer inside the European Union, argues a leading public health expert in The BMJ today.
Detailed digital human models could hold key to future clinical research Delegates at this year's Insigneo Showcase (May 5, 2016 at The Octagon Centre in Sheffield) will hear how in silico medicine—computer simulations of the human body and its disease processes—can help improve diagnosis and prognosis for conditions like Parkinson's and pulmonary vascular disease. Although ultimately destined for the clinic, the technology looks likely to move quickly into use within clinical trials, as it can enable more effective monitoring of the impact of new drugs and treatments.
House bill would curb regulation of e-cigarettes, cigars Vape away. Increasingly popular e-cigarettes and cigar varieties could be exempt from some government safety regulations if House Republicans have their way. It's a move that alarms Democrats and public health advocates who argue that it could lead to unsafe products.
	Researchers unveil architecture of mitochondrial calcium uniporter Mitochondria are key integrators of cellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling and energy metabolism. Previous studies demonstrated that isolated mitochondria could buffer huge amounts of Ca2+ via a highly selective channel called the uniporter. Uptake of Ca2+ via the uniporter is known to activate the citric acid cycle, while its overload leads to cell death. The uniporter has been studied extensively for over 50 years, but its molecular identity remained elusive until in 2011, when computational genomics studies discovered its molecular components. The centerpiece of the uniporter, the calcium-conducting subunit, is the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). MCU exhibits the unique property of both high selectivity and high conductance for calcium, which makes it an intriguing structural target being pursued by many structural biology labs worldwide.
	Birdcages source of dengue virus Bird keeping for personal or commercial purposes is as common in Malaysia as in the rest of South-East Asia. However, birdcages could provide an ideal environment for the development of mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus to humans.
	Listening to lupus Lupus is a mysterious chronic illness that primarily affects women in their prime of life. In people with lupus, the immune system goes awry, attacking healthy tissue. While there is no cure, there are many options for treatment, including ones being studied at Yale School of Medicine. For May, lupus awareness month, YaleNews spoke to Dr. Lenore Buckley, professor of medicine in the Section of Rheumatology, who recently launched an innovative clinical program for patients with lupus. Following is an edited version of the conversation.
	Survey to shape Victoria's response to family violence Monash University is urging professionals across the state to help shape the way Victoria responds to family violence. The University was commissioned by the Victorian Government to review the state's Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework, also known as the common risk assessment framework (CRAF).
Researchers analyze potentially hazardous dental drill debris under composite fillings While dental drills, or burs, are used extensively in dentistry to mechanically prepare tooth structures for fillings, little is known about the bur debris left behind in the teeth and whether it poses potential health risks to patients.
New method helps diagnose neurological disorder that requires early treatment Researchers have developed a quick and simple method for measuring bile acids in biological fluids that can be used to rapidly diagnosis a severe fat storage disorder that can lead to liver disease in infancy and neurological dysfunction starting in childhood or early adult life.
Treatment with Alk5 inhibitor improves tumor uptake of imaging agents Imaging probes that specifically target tumors can provide more sensitive and relevant information about the tumor compared to conventional, non-specific probes. Additionally, targeted probes can improve tumor detection, characterization, therapy stratification, and enhance selective delivery of anti-cancer drugs.
Identification of a gene signature associated with dilated cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive thinning of heart muscle that commonly results in heart failure. DCM is a known secondary complication of conditions such as alcohol abuse and infection and is also an inherited disorder. However, the molecular events that underlie DCM progression are not fully understood.
Multiplexed immunofluorescence reveals protein expression alterations in breast cancer Breast cancers are highly variable and the specific characteristics of a tumor determine treatment response and patient outcome. Genetic sequencing has improved our understanding of the genetic changes that underlie cancer phenotypes; however, less is known about differences in protein expression among breast cancers.
Improved insulin signaling reduces atherosclerosis in mouse models Patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of atherosclerosis and subsequent heart disease. It is not fully understood why atherosclerosis is increased with diabetes, but it has been proposed that insulin resistance in endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, promotes inflammation.
Antibody targets and destroys cells implicated in systemic lupus erythmatosis Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. Autoantibodies, which are produced by B cells, contribute to development of SLE. Recent studies have also shown that type 1 interferons (IFNs) and associated inflammatory molecules are highly expressed in serum from SLE patients. Specialized cells called plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) primarily produce type 1 IFNs and may represent a therapeutic target for SLE therapies.
Immune cell subset is associated with development of gastrointestinal GVHD after HSCT Gastrointestinal graft vs. host disease (GI-GVHD) is a life threatening complication that can occur after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, a procedure that is commonly used to treat patients with leukemia. There is currently no way to predict which patients will develop GI-GVHD before the presentation of clinical symptoms. Unfortunately, the symptoms of GI-GVHD are not very specific and many patients undergo treatment for GI-GVHD in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis because the disease is so dangerous.
	FDA brings e-cigarettes under federal authority Hundreds of electronic cigarette brands will have to undergo federal review to stay on the market under new rules that have the potential to upend a multi-billion dollar industry attempting to position itself as an alternative to traditional cigarettes.
	Merck beats 1Q profit views with tight cost controls Merck posted an 18 percent jump in first-quarter income, beating Wall Street expectations, as reduced spending on marketing, administration and research easily offset lower medicine sales outside the U.S.
Study finds hospice use does not increase long stay nursing home decedents' care costs Use of hospice services does not increase care costs in the last six months of life for long-stay nursing homes residents according to an analysis conducted by researchers from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute.
Doctors Without Borders pulls out of UN humanitarian summit The international medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders has pulled out of the first U.N. humanitarian summit, saying the meeting won't address the growing needs caused by war and violence across the world because of its non-binding nature.
Progress and promise of gene transfer and gene editing to cure beta-thalassemias Promising results from the first clinical trials of globin gene transfer to treat beta-thalassemias-inherited forms of anemia-have eliminated the need for blood transfusions in some individuals. Enhancing current gene therapy strategies and applying new gene editing tools to correct beta-globin deficiencies and to reactivate fetal hemoglobin production are among the exciting new advances being pursued in the search for a cure for severe globin disorders, as described in Human Gene Therapy. The article is available free for download on the Human Gene Therapy website until June 5, 2016.
Medivation: No to Sanofi's renewed press to take $9.3B offer Medivation again rejected Sanofi's bid to acquire the biologic drugmaker for $9.3 billion, saying Thursday that it "substantially undervalues" Medivation and its prospects.

Biology news

	First gene linked to temperature sex switch The sex of many reptile species is set by temperature. New research reported in the journal GENETICS identifies the first gene associated with temperature-dependent sex determination in any reptile. Variation at this gene in snapping turtles contributes to geographic differences in the way sex ratio is influenced by temperature. Understanding the genetics of sex determination could help predict how reptiles will evolve in response to climate change.
	Our personal skin microbiome is surprisingly stable Despite regular washing and contact with bacteria-laden objects, our personal milieu of skin microbes remains highly stable over time, reports a metagenomics study published May 5 in Cell. The authors say this knowledge could be applied to better understand a wide range of human skin disorders through the development of prebiotic, probiotic, and microbial transplantation approaches.
	Antibodies in breast milk help newborn mice tolerate good gut microbes From the moment of birth, a newborn's gut is colonized by a diverse array of microbes that aid digestion and boost immunity. But it has not been clear how the newborn's immune system learns to tolerate the majority of these foreign species rather than attacking them as hostile invaders. In a mouse study published May 5 in Cell, researchers reveal that immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies acquired from breast milk help dampen immune responses to newly acquired microbes early in life.
	Sea star juveniles abundant, but recovery is anything but guaranteed An unprecedented number of juvenile sea stars have been observed off the Oregon coast over the past several months - just two years after one of the most severe marine ecosystem epidemics in recorded history nearly wiped the population out.
	Pregnancy changes perception of odours and tastes The perception and reactions to odours and tastes can change in pregnancy, sometimes dramatically. This is also true for flies. The mechanisms, however, that trigger these changes are not understood in either mammals or insects. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried now succeeded in demonstrating that the concentration of a certain receptor increases in the sensory organs of gravid fruit fly females. As a result, the taste and odour of important nutrients, called polyamines, are processed differently in the brain: Pregnant flies favour nutrition that is rich in polyamines and increase their reproductive success in this way.
	Mapping a cell's destiny: New tool speeds discovery of spatial patterns in gene networks As in real estate, a key factor in gene expression and interaction is location, location, location. The same genes in different regions of a body may perform totally different functions. Determining the fate of these genes involves systematically mapping and detecting their spatial expression patterns, an unwieldy challenge because of the reams of data researchers must process.
	A central clock runs the cell division cycle Each time a cell divides, it replicates its DNA once, then separates the two copies from each other and splits into two daughter cells. The event is intricately coordinated and was long known to be under the influence of cyclins—an aptly named group of proteins whose levels go up and down as the cell traverses through the different phases of its division cycle.
	Researchers use new CRISPR-based strategy to replicate disease in cells To explore in detail how specific genetic errors can lead to disease, scientists need to perform experiments in cells that carry these exact mutations. Now, the ability to create these cellular replicas using new genome editing technology has been facilitated thanks to work by Rockefeller University researchers.
	Natural antibodies could combat Tasmanian devil cancer Deakin University scientists may have found a way to stop the cancer that has been killing Tasmanian devils for the past 20 years.
	Exploiting male killing bacteria to control insects A team of scientists have discovered a key mechanism that drives a bacteria that kills male insects, a development that could potentially be exploited to control insect pest species in the future.
	Simulation of prehistoric population dynamics using current topographical satellite data In a recent breakthrough, scientists from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai, demonstrate an accurate method to simulate prehistoric movements of people based upon current topographical satellite data. Recently published in the journal PLOS ONE, population dynamics of prehistoric human migration into the island comprising England, Scotland and Wales was simulated by applying a diffusion equation tempered by geographical data determined from satellite-based information.
	IU-led study reveals new insights into light color sensing and transfer of genetic traits An international team led by Indiana University researchers has uncovered the regulation of a system that allows a globally abundant bacterium to efficiently capture sunlight and perform photosynthesis.
	Mexico fights to save species ensnared in China black market The high-speed navy boat stopped on the moonlit waters of Mexico's Gulf of California as sailors looked through binoculars for small vessels conducting illegal activities under the cover of darkness.
	New research shows that poly(A) tail length regulates translation of somatic cell cycle Before mRNA can be used by ribosomes as a guide to build proteins, it has to undergo a series of processing steps. This includes getting a series of adenine (A) nucleotides added by poly(A) polymerase to one of the mRNA's ends. This addition of multiple (A) nucleotides results in a poly(A) tail. After this process is completed, the mRNA can continue on its way to be exported out of the nucleus where it will be used for translation.
	Trypanosomes evade detection by swapping coat proteins through chromosomal rearrangement African trypanosomes establish deadly, chronic infections of trypanosomiasis in the bloodstream by using repetitive 70-bp regions in the genome to regularly change out the active coat protein gene. Galadriel Hovel-Miner and colleagues at Rockefeller University and George Washington University report this discovery and describe its role in the process that trypanosomes use to evade host antibodies on May 5, 2016 in PLOS Genetics.
	Polyamine receptors boost food selection and reproductive success The amount and composition of nutrients required by the body vary according to its state and physiological circumstances. Polyamines, for example, are needed in greater quantities whenever tissues develop, grow or regenerate. Low polyamine levels are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, ageing and fertility decline. Excess polyamines, however, may play a role in the development of cancer. Together with colleagues from Sweden, scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have now identified the receptors enabling insects to recognize polyamines in food. The study suggests that the ability to identify polyamines via the senses of taste and smell could have influenced animal survival and reproduction.
	Drought helps predict how climate change might affect an endangered species A new study documenting the negative effects of California's drought on an endangered lizard in the San Joaquin Desert provides a glimpse into the potential effects of future droughts expected in California as a result of climate change. The findings, published May 2 in the online journal PLoS One, may also provide guidance on how to buffer these negative effects to avoid species extinctions.
	Sweet spot found for foraging manta rays A team of international scientists has unlocked the foraging secrets of manta rays at Lady Elliot Island, which could help conservation efforts for the vulnerable species.
	Walleye tagging project shows impact of anglers, Mother Nature When it comes to reducing the number of walleye in Lake Oahe, anglers take a back seat to Mother Nature.
	New look at crocodile eyes Researchers from The University of Western Australia and Macquarie University have discovered that the visual systems in crocodiles are more cleverly designed than previously thought, allowing them to quickly adapt to their environment and facilitating their 'ambush' hunting techniques and semi-aquatic lifestyles.
	Simulating evolution—how close do computer models come to reality? Darwin's theory of evolution is a simple but powerful framework that explains how complexity can come from simplicity: how everything biological around us – from the microbial biofilms on your teeth to the majestic redwood trees – emerged from the very simplest of beginnings.
	Cells check DNA segregation at the end of their division The cells in our bodies are constantly dividing. From embryonic development to adult life, cell division is necessary for tissue growth and renewal. During division, cells must duplicate their genetic material (or DNA) and ensure identical copies are passed along to the daughter cells. The entire process must work perfectly. If not, the next generation of cells will not have the genetic material necessary to function properly. Their role becomes especially relevant in situations in which cells proliferate rapidly, like embryonic development or tumor proliferation.
	Tension-sensitive molecule helps cells divide chromosomes accurately A tension-sensitive "fail safe" protein helps make sure that when our cells divide the two resulting cells inherit the normal number of chromosomes, researchers from the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center report today, May 5, in the journal Cell.
	Understanding lock for cellular trap door may lead to better disease treatment A team of researchers who two years ago announced a "Trojan horse" method of entering a cell without harming it have now found, in effect, the lock to the cellular "trap door."
	Potato plants trigger aboveground defenses in response to tuber attacks Potato plants boost the chemical defenses in their leaves when Guatemalan tuber moth larvae feed on their tubers, report researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI).
	Why vultures matter—and what we lose if they're gone Vultures. Cartoon characters in parched deserts often wish them to disappear, since circling vultures are a stereotypical harbinger of death. But, joking aside, vultures in some parts of the world are in danger of disappearing. And according to a new report from University of Utah biologists, such a loss would have serious consequences for ecosystems and human populations alike.
A sex difference in sports interest: What does evolution say? Sports are enormously popular, and one striking pattern is that boys and men are typically much more involved than are girls and women. This sex difference has policy implications, and it raises fundamental questions about the nature of sex differences. Although scholars from many disciplines have explored sex differences in sport involvement, few have addressed the issue from a broad, evolutionary perspective. A recent review article by Deaner, Balish, and Lombardo (2016), published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, synthesizes the relevant theoretical and empirical work.
	How invasive earthworms harm ecosystems There's a wriggling invader beneath your feet and it's steadily, silently nibbling away at forest diversity. New field research from U of T Mississauga shows for the first time that invasive earthworms are eating forest seed species such as yellow birch and black cherry trees. The findings suggest that earthworms may have a greater impact on the success of forest seedlings than previously suspected.

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