Science X Newsletter Wednesday, May 4

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 4, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Pluto's interactions with the solar wind are unique, study finds
- Bugs as drugs: Harnessing novel gut bacteria for human health
- JILA extends laser 'combing' method to identify large, complex molecules
- GlassOuse headset allows hands-free mouse control
- IBM announces cloud-based quantum computing platform
- Our brain uses statistics to calculate confidence, make decisions
- Squished cells could shape design of synthetic materials
- A better bone replacement: 3-D printed bone with just the right mix of ingredients
- Yeast infection linked to mental illness
- Was the Force behind Leicester's football success?
- Bats' flight technique could lead to better drones
- Ketamine lifts depression via a byproduct of its metabolism
- Humans have faster metabolism than closely related primates, enabling larger brains
- Scientists develop human embryos through early post-implantation stages for first time
- Not so safe: Security software can put computers at risk

Astronomy & Space news

	Experiments shine light on exotic cosmic rays The Earth is under constant bombardment by subatomic particles called cosmic rays, including some, known as ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, which pack much more punch than the world's most powerful particle accelerators. Fortunately, Earth's atmosphere protects us by dissipating most of that energy before it reaches the ground.
	ASKAP test finds "monster" black hole Imagine trying on new pair of spectacles and when glancing around to test them you spot a monster—that's exactly what happened when the ASKAP antennas were turned towards a group of three merging galaxies 1.8 billion light years away.
	Comet craters—literal melting pots for life on Earth Geochemists from Trinity College Dublin's School of Natural Sciences may have found a solution to a long-debated problem as to where - and how - life first formed on Earth.
	Ground-breaking images of nearby star give new insight into Sun's infancy Pioneering new research that has provided close-up pictures of a nearby star has given a fascinating insight into how the Sun may have behaved billions of years ago.
	Pluto's interactions with the solar wind are unique, study finds Pluto has some characteristics less like that of a comet and more like much larger planets, according to an analysis of Pluto's unique interaction with the solar wind, scientists say.
	Image: Models of Proba-3 designs The design evolution of ESA's Proba-3 double satellite is shown by this trio of 3D-printed models, each pair – from left to right – produced after successive development milestones.
Video: NASA's SDO watches glowing solar material arch up and out An elongated, streaming arch of solar material rose up at the sun's edge before breaking apart in this animation of imagery captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on April 28, 2016.
	Thanks, super new moon, for a great meteor shower For those of you needing to escape the (Australian) budget this week, the cosmos has produced a perfect distraction with the regular and reliable meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids, to give you a reason to look up from the paperwork.
Satellites to see Mercury enter spotlight on May 9 It happens only a little more than once a decade and the next chance to see it is Monday, May 9, 2016. Throughout the U.S., sky watchers can watch Mercury pass between Earth and the sun in a rare astronomical event known as a planetary transit. Mercury will appear as a tiny black dot as it glides in front of the sun s blazing disk over a period of seven and a half hours. Three NASA satellites will be providing images of the transit and one of them will have a near-live feed.
	Image: Space Station flyover of Morocco Expedition 47 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams of NASA captured this detailed photograph from the International Space Station during a daytime flyover of Morocco on May 2, 2016.

Technology news

	GeoOrbital shows rethink of bicycle wheel concept Something called the GeoOrbital wheel is live on KickStarter. This thing is worth looking at, considering that out of a $75,000 goal the makers have gathered $252,266—and with 43 days still left to go.
	Like a fingerprint, system noise can be used to differentiate identical electronic devices Radio frequency emission are considered incidental system noise in virtually all laptops, smartphones and other electronic devices, but scientists at Disney Research have found a way to use these spurious electromagnetic (EM) signals to uniquely identify even seemingly identical devices.
	IBM announces cloud-based quantum computing platform (Tech Xplore)—IBM has announced the development of a quantum computing platform that will allow users to access and program its 5 qubit quantum computer over the Internet. Called the IBM Quantum Experience, it is, the company claims, the first ever system to allow outside users to work with a quantum computer via the Cloud.
	GlassOuse headset allows hands-free mouse control (Tech Xplore)—A team led by designer Mehmet Nemo Turker has posted an Indiegogo project for a head-mounted device called GlassOuse (Glass Mouse)—it is meant to allow disabled people to use a computer or handheld device by converting head movements into control mechanisms.
	Not so safe: Security software can put computers at risk Is the antivirus program running on your computer really making your computers safer to use, say, for online banking? Is the parental control software you bought to keep your 13-year-old off porn sites downgrading the overall safety of your computer?
	Apple gets Google X lab co-founder for health projects Apple confirmed Tuesday that it has hired robotics star and Google X lab co-founder Yoky Matsuoka to work on health projects.
	Iphone can be a handbag, Chinese court says in Apple case (Update) A Chinese court has ruled against Apple in a case it brought against a small maker of "iphone"-branded leather goods, state media reported.
	Meet the next sport of the modern age: Drone racing Decked out in high-tech goggles, pilot Steve Zoumas dives low and sees the final gate zooming toward him: a 20-foot-tall metal-framed box ringed with neon. Boom! His sight goes black. The crowd lets out a collective "Whoa!" as pieces of his aircraft, which has just smashed into a concrete barrier, go flying.
	Poor cell phone coverage creates a 'mobile divide' If you live on the wrong side of the tracks, you may also be on the wrong side of the "mobile divide," where poor cell phone service may limit your economic opportunities.
	How to hide secret messages using fizzy drinks Next time you see someone spilling a drink in a bar, you could actually be witnessing a spy secretly decoding an encrypted message. This might sound like something from a Bond movie. But a team from Israel has used some rather niffy chemistry to come up with a way to use common chemicals such as cola as the encryption key to code and decode hidden messages.
	Panama Papers revelation—we must rethink data security systems The surge of information leaks from highly confidential sources in recent years demonstrates the futility of current cyber defenses.
	Safer, greener, cheaper route to ultra-cold freezers Scientists at Brunel University London have engineered an innovative new method to build the next generation of freezers capable of reaching temperatures as low as - 180°C by using advanced cryogenically cooled heat pipe technology.
	Researchers build a better bionic hand A Canadian athlete's dream to one day "move" his fingers again after losing an arm in a workplace accident is now within grasp, thanks to a robotic arm prosthesis being developed at Simon Fraser University.
	Unmanned cloud-seeding aircraft takes flight in Nevada For the first time in aviation history, a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft has successfully tested a cloud-seeding payload during an experimental flight in Nevada.
Phoney protection for passwords Corporate data breaches seem to be on the rise, rarely a week passes without a company revealing that its database has been hacked and regrettably usernames, passwords, credit card details and its customers' personal information has been leaked on to the open internet. A new protection, nicknamed Phoney, is reported in the International Journal of Embedded Systems.
	Hulu will offer live-streaming service in 2017 Hulu will offer a live-streaming service in 2017 that will offer a mix of cable and broadcast programming as well as news, sports and events.
European aviation agency sets up drone collision task force The European Aviation Safety Agency is setting up a task force to examine the risk of collisions between drones and aircraft.
	2017 Audi A4 brings more power, room and technology The Audi A4 luxury sedan has been revamped from top to bottom for 2017 with a more powerful engine, new transmission and more room and technology inside.
A new mobile phone app for grassroots mapping University of Exeter academics have created an app which could help aid humanitarian rescue work in disaster-struck regions by using geographic data to map landscapes.
	Charging produces highly reactive singlet oxygen in lithium air batteries Rechargeable lithium air batteries are a next-generation technology: Theoretically they might be much lighter and offer better performance than current lithium ion batteries. However, currently they run out of steam after only a few charging cycles. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich have now investigated the processes and discovered a possible culprit: highly reactive singlet oxygen, which is released when the batteries are charged.
	How much electromagnetic radiation am I exposed to? A team of researchers from Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB) at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) has developed a pocket instrument capable of perceiving radio signals from 50 MHz to 6 MHz and storing this information in a non-volatile memory. After collecting and storing the information, the system assesses the daily exposure of a person to electromagnetic radiation.
	Louisiana Tech University team uses 3-D printing, sustainable materials to create UAV A team of mechanical engineering students from Louisiana Tech University has used 3D printing and sustainable materials to create a custom unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could help NASA improve its efforts to study UAV applications and establish an infrastructure to enable and safely manage the widespread use of low-altitude airspace.
Bringing low-cost solar panels to the market In just one hour, the Earth receives more than enough energy from the sun to meet the world population's electricity needs in an entire year. Tapping that vast power output efficiently and at low cost remains a challenge, but new technologies could change that. The cover story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, explores whether emerging solar technologies could soon break into the market.
Man claiming to be bitcoin founder to provide further proof Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright, the man who came forward this week as bitcoin's founder, says he will provide further proof in the coming days to back up his claims.

Medicine & Health news

	Why we steer the way we do The way we drive could help us understand how animals make their way, new research from the University of Leeds has found.
	Aggregated protein in nerve cells can cause ALS Persons with the serious disorder ALS, can have a genetic mutation that causes the protein SOD1 to aggregate in motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Researchers at Umeå University have discovered that, when injected into mice, the SOD1 aggregation spreads rapidly leading to ALS. The discovery has been described in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
	Fast and slow—learning how the brain controls movement What if you couldn't move faster even when you wanted to? Researchers thought that the part of the brain that determines how fast we perform voluntary movements, such as walking across a room or playing a melody on the piano, was a bit like a car. It has an accelerator to make movements faster and a brake to slow them down. Now, scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have shown that, contrary to what was thought, the "brake" in this part of the brain can actually accelerate movements in mice, and the gas can rein them in. By determining how the brain controls movement, this discovery helps to explain the systematic slowing of movement in patients with Parkinson's disease and could pave the way for interventions that allow patients to learn to perform everyday actions more fluidly.
	Researchers find alternative pathways to HIV antibodies The immune system appears to hamper an investigational vaccine from inducing antibodies that protect against HIV infection, but there may be ways to overcome this impediment, according to research led by the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.
	New investigational compound shows promise against melanoma, lymphoma In a step toward more targeted treatments for cancer patients, UNC School of Medicine and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have demonstrated how a genetic mutation drives the most common type of lymphoma as well as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
	Foreign accent syndrome due to impaired connection in the brain, says study A new study from City University London has found that foreign accent syndrome, a condition which results in patients to be perceived as non-native speakers of their mother tongue, may be caused by the impaired connections between the language centres in the front part of the brain and the cerebellum.
	Your brain suppresses perception of heartbeat, for your own good EPFL researchers have discovered that the human brain suppresses the sensory effects of the heartbeat. They believe that this mechanism prevents internal sensations from interfering with the brain's perception of the external world. This mechanism could also have something to do with anxiety disorders.
	Yeast infection linked to mental illness In a study prompted in part by suggestions from people with mental illness, Johns Hopkins researchers found that a history of Candida yeast infections was more common in a group of men with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder than in those without these disorders, and that women with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who tested positive for Candida performed worse on a standard memory test than women with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who had no evidence of past infection.
	Our brain uses statistics to calculate confidence, make decisions The directions, which came via cell phone, were a little garbled, but as you understood them: "Turn left at the 3rd light and go straight; the restaurant will be on your right side." Ten minutes ago you made the turn. Still no restaurant in sight. How far will you be willing to drive in the same direction?
	Call to re-examine '14-day rule' limiting in vitro human-embryo research Bioethicists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and The Hastings Center, working with a research administrator at The Rockefeller University, are proposing a reexamination of an internationally recognized rule limiting in vitro research on human embryos to 14 days post-fertilization. Under the rule, such research is permitted before the cut-off date at 14 days and prohibited thereafter.
	Ketamine lifts depression via a byproduct of its metabolism A chemical byproduct, or metabolite, created as the body breaks down ketamine likely holds the secret to its rapid antidepressant action, National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists and grantees have discovered. This metabolite singularly reversed depression-like behaviors in mice without triggering any of the anesthetic, dissociative, or addictive side effects associated with ketamine.
	Scientists develop human embryos through early post-implantation stages for first time A new technique that allows embryos to develop in vitro beyond the implantation stage (when the embryo would normally implant into the womb) has been developed by scientists at the University of Cambridge allowing them to analyse for the first time key stages of human embryo development up to 13 days after fertilisation. The technique could open up new avenues of research aimed at helping improve the chances of success of IVF.
Bugs as drugs: Harnessing novel gut bacteria for human health Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have grown and catalogued more than 130 bacteria from the human intestine according to a study published in Nature today.
	Newborn screening test developed for rare, deadly neurological disorder Soon after birth, a baby's blood is sampled and tested for a number of rare inherited conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. But no such test has existed for a progressive neurodegenerative disease, called Niemann-Pick type C (NPC), that typically is not diagnosed until at least age 2, after neurological symptoms have begun to develop.
	Use of personal care products during pregnancy linked to adverse effects in newborns A study led by SUNY Downstate Medical Center's School of Public Health presents evidence linking personal care products used during pregnancy to adverse reproductive effects in newborns.
	High-fructose diet during pregnancy may harm placenta, restrict fetal growth Consuming a high-fructose diet during pregnancy may cause defects in the placenta and restrict fetal growth, potentially increasing a baby's risk for metabolic health problems later in life, according to research in mice and people by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Surgery patients in lower income countries have three times greater risk of dying New research has shown that patients undergoing emergency surgery in lower income countries have a three times greater chance of dying than in higher income countries.
First recommendations published on imaging assessment of prosthetic heart valves The first recommendations on multimodality imaging assessment of prosthetic heart valves are published today in European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging.
EU court upholds tobacco laws on plain packs, menthol ban The EU's top court on Wednesday ruled that the bloc's new laws on plain tobacco packaging and a ban on menthol cigarettes were legal, rejecting a challenge by tobacco giant Philip Morris and others.
New study shows benefits of internet-based therapy in overcoming childbirth fear Women expecting their first child but who are experiencing severe fear of childbirth (FOC) stand to dramatically benefit in reducing their anxieties with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered via the internet, according to the results of new research.
	Breast cancer patients upbeat on body changes Body image identity varies among women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer with many rejecting mainstream body shape ideals, research shows.
Diabetes risk of common arthritis medicine quantified for first time Glucocorticoid (or steroid) therapy, prescribed to around half of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, is a known risk factor for developing diabetes. A study from The University of Manchester has found how the risk of diabetes increases in relation to the dosage, duration and timing of steroids.
	Financial fraud targeting older adults often involves appeals to emotions like anger, excitement An appeal to emotions like excitement or anger is a key persuasion tactic used by fraudsters to mislead the elderly.
	Novel iPhone study on postpartum depression exceeds expectations One month after launch, almost 10,000 women have enrolled in an iPhone-based research study being led by University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine researchers and the international Postpartum Depression: Action Towards Causes and Treatment (PACT) Consortium – far surpassing expectations for this initial launch. Of those who enrolled, 5,000 are eligible to submit DNA samples. This is a tremendous start and researchers are eager to have more women who have experienced Postpartum Depression (PPD) download the app and participate in the study to help further the understanding of why some women suffer from PPD and others do not – critical knowledge for researchers to find more effective treatments.
	Food processing linked to an increase in type 2 diabetes Modern methods of food production and processing have contributed to a dramatic escalation of type 2 diabetes diagnoses in Australia and the associated financial cost is expected to double to more than $2 billion by 2025.
	Is two hours of screen time really too much for kids? One of the most frustrating issues modern parents face is how to manage children's screen time.
New insight may lead to better detection and treatment of autoimmune disorder Sjögren's syndrome The autoimmune disorder Sjögren's syndrome is often overlooked or misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to other conditions. Its characteristic symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, and reduced tear production is used as part of the diagnosis. However, researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) Roski Eye Institute believe that distinct changes in the composition of tears may occur before tear production lessens. They found a protein called cathepsin S present only in the tears of patients with Sjögren's syndrome, and in a new study in American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology, link its presence to proteins involved in tear secretion.
Study finds friends play vital role in teenage wellbeing Good friendships are the key to adolescent mental health, according to a new study published by Murdoch University.
	Is hair the root to understanding our stress levels Women with lower incomes have higher concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair, according to a new study from UCL.
	European court OKs crackdown on e-cigarettes, packaging The European Union's top court dealt a blow to the tobacco industry Wednesday by approving sweeping new rules that will require plain cigarette packs, ban menthol cigarettes and regulate the growing electronic cigarette market.
Alcohol makes you momentarily happier but not more satisfied Research suggests people are momentarily happier when drinking alcohol—but that over longer periods, drinking more does not make them more satisfied with life.
Expectations can minimize unethical behavior in the powerful While there are many examples of unethical leaders, from FIFA to the recent political discoveries from the Panama Papers leak, there are countless other examples, though not as headline grabbing, in history of leaders acting morally. Recent research offers new ideas for curbing unethical behavior by those with power—it all depends on how people in power think about their power.
Barrow researchers prove utility of imaging tool in surgeon's hand Scientists at Barrow Neurological Institute have recently made discoveries about use of a new technology for imaging brain tumors in the operating room—a finding that could have important implications for identifying and locating invading cells at the edge of a brain tumor. The research, led by neurosurgeons, Drs. Mark Preul, Nikolay Martirosyan, Peter Nakaji, and Jennifer Eschbacher, was published in the April issue of Neurosurgical Focus.
	Help is just a phone call away—telephone CPR improves cardiac arrest outcomes The implementation of a Telephone Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (TCPR) program increases survival rates and favorable outcomes for patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a University of Arizona Department of Emergency Medicine study published online in JAMA Cardiology.
Genetic test shows risk for serious adverse reaction to toxic goitre treatment Researchers and doctors at Uppsala University, along with Swedish and international collaboration partners, have found gene variants that predict the risk of a serious adverse reaction to drugs used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. The results are published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Human heart cells respond less to e-cig vapour than tobacco smoke New research has showed substantial differences in the way human heart cells respond to e-cigarette smoke and conventional cigarette smoke.
Children with ADHD sleep both poorly and less A new study from Aarhus University has now documented that there is some truth to the claim by parents of children with ADHD that their children have more difficulty falling asleep and that they sleep more poorly than other children.
	Infections can increase diabetes risk in children Neuherberg, Germany, May 4, 2016. Viral respiratory infections during the first six months of life are associated with an increased risk for type 1 diabetes. This is the conclusion reached by a team of scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München during a study published in the current issue of the renowned US magazine JAMA.
Teledermatology linked to access to dermatologists for Medicaid enrollees in California Primary care practices in a large California Medicaid managed care plan offering teledermatology had an increased fraction of patients who visited a dermatologist compared with other practices, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.
Holistic approach to mealtimes could help dementia sufferers Eating together, providing social support and interaction during meals could help people with dementia avoid dehydration and malnutrition - according to new NIHR-funded research from the University of East Anglia.
Readability of online health information for patients with pancreatic cancer Online information on pancreatic cancer overestimates the reading ability of the overall population and lacks accurate information about alternative therapy, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery.
Parental roles matter in fostering relationships between children and stepgrandparents Popular television shows such as "Modern Family" and the "Brady Bunch" brought the dynamics of stepfamilies into mainstream pop culture. However, as families become increasingly diverse and complex, defining family membership remains ambiguous. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri's College of Human Environmental Sciences and Sinclair School of Nursing are shedding new light on what happens within a family when the stepgrandparent had no active role in raising the parent of the stepgrandchild. Their findings indicate that how a parent behaves toward the stepgrandparent determines the relationship between their child and the stepgrandparent.
	Inheritable bacterium controls Aedes mosquitoes' ability to transmit Zika Aedes mosquitoes carrying the bacterium Wolbachia—found inside the cells of 60 percent of all insect species—are drastically less able to transmit Zika virus, say researchers at Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) in a study published May 4 in Cell Host & Microbe.
	Discovery of cancer gene may predict survival in patients with mouth cancers Loyola researchers have identified a tumor gene that may help to predict survival outcomes in patients with cancer of the mouth and tongue.
	Quick and easy arm test accurately identifies markers of frailty in older adults facing surgery A simple arm test that employs a novel wearable technology can rapidly and accurately identify physiological frailty in older adults, according to study results published online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in advance of print publication.
	In-patient rehab recommended over nursing homes for stroke rehab For the first time, guidelines have been developed by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for rehabilitation after a stroke.
	Study shows ozanimod as effective in treating ulcerative colitis Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have shown that ozanimod (RPC1063), a novel drug molecule, is moderately effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Results of the Phase II clinical trial will appear in the May 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Fatty foods, drowsy days (HealthDay)—Men who eat a lot of fatty foods may find themselves needing an afternoon nap, a new study suggests.
	Emergency PCI linked to better outcomes (HealthDay)—Almost one-third of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without ST-segment elevation (STE) require percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which is tied to a nearly twofold increase in the rate of favorable outcomes, according to a study published in the April issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
	308-nm excimer light is Tx option for alopecia universalis (HealthDay)—A 308-nm excimer light is a therapeutic option for some patients with treatment-resistant alopecia universalis (AU), according to a study published online April 30 in the Journal of Dermatology.
	Herpes simplex virus linked to frailty, mortality (HealthDay)—For older women, herpes simplex virus antibody levels are associated with incident frailty and mortality, according to a study published online April 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Adiposity genetic risk score tied to cardiometabolic health (HealthDay)—Data from a large cohort have replicated the association between the genetic risk score of 11 favorable adiposity variants with lower risk of cardiometabolic disease, according to research published online April 26 in Diabetes.
'Kidney on a chip' could lead to safer drug dosing University of Michigan researchers have used a "kidney on a chip" device to mimic the flow of medication through human kidneys and measure its effect on kidney cells.
'Specialty medical home' seeks to provide patient-centered care for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases A specialty medical home—providing expert medical care coordinated with attention to social support and mental health—is a promising new approach to patient-centered, cost-effective care for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, according to a special "Future Directions" paper in the May issue of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
	Dengue fever's economic 'bite' estimated In keeping with the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy's (SIHP) mandate to inform health policy through rigorous economic analyses, a group of SIHP health economists at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management has published a comprehensive assessment of the economic burden that dengue fever imposes on 141 countries and territories around the world where active dengue transmission has been identified.
	Scientists find root cause of appetite loss during illness Loss of appetite during illness is a common and potentially debilitating phenomenon—in cancer patients, especially, it can even shorten lifespan.
	FDA advisers reconsider training for painkiller prescribers Federal health advisers are discussing changes to government programs that were intended to improve the safety of painkillers like OxyContin, but which experts say have had an unclear impact.
	Breakthrough technology offers new treatment for patients with hard-to-reach tumors An enormous high tech machine is providing new hope to patients across the country with inoperable tumors. Proton therapy is a precise radiation technique that reduces the side effects often accompanied by traditional treatment options. Thanks to this remarkable technology, a new proton therapy center at UF Health Cancer Center - Orlando Health is saving the eyesight of a new mother who was diagnosed with a tumor behind her eye during her second trimester of pregnancy.
	Study shows pain causes older adults to develop more inflammation over time When older relatives complain about their pains, show a little empathy, because new research suggests that as we age, we may all become more sensitive to pain. A small, preliminary University of Florida Health study has suggested for the first time that inflammation may occur more quickly and at a higher magnitude—and stays around longer—when older adults experience pain versus when younger adults experience pain.
Study offers new insights on postpartum depression among women of color Health care providers and human service agencies often manage postpartum depression with formal mental health treatments and antidepressant therapies, but for new, low-income mothers of color these interventions often provide little relief from the mood disorder that sometimes follows childbirth, according to a new study led by a University at Buffalo researcher.
	Many Americans putting vision at risk from sun damage Three-quarters of Americans are concerned about potential eye problems from the sun's ultraviolet rays, yet only 31 percent protect their eyes with sunglasses or other UV-protective eyewear every time they go outside, according to a new nationwide survey released today. The report by The Vision Council, based on a survey of more than 10,000 adults, finds 34 percent of adults have experienced symptoms of prolonged UV exposure, such as eye irritation, trouble seeing, and red or swollen eyes.
Pregnant at 15, the teenage mothers of Romania "God has given me a beautiful little girl. But life is difficult because I am still a child myself," says Lorena, one of more than 2,000 girls under 16 who give birth in Romania each year, some as young as 12.
India court tells tobacco industry to adopt strict warnings India's highest court on Wednesday ordered cigarette manufacturers to comply with controversial new rules requiring bigger health warnings on packets that sparked weeks-long factory shutdowns.
	Medicine's clever dummies are still needed Known initially as machines or contrivances, and later as manikins, phantoms, robots or dummies, ingenious models of human anatomy have been used for 'hands-on' medical teaching for hundreds of years.
	New training could help health workers support millions across Europe with body image fears New training developed by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) could help the next generation of health workers support millions of patients across Europe burdened by 'visible differences' and body image fears.
Public smoking ban for Ethiopia's capital A ban on smoking at public gatherings has been announced by the mayor of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
Ovary removal may increase the risk of colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer may rise in women who have their ovaries removed, according to new research.
Patient-physician communication is critical for prostate cancer survivors' health For prostate cancer patients who had their prostates surgically removed, patient-physician communication was key for helping them cope with their disease and for improving their health-related quality of life.
Medical conditions are more common in women who are sexually abused Researchers have found that a variety of conditions are more common in women before and after sexual assault.
Many European schools face barriers to providing mental health support to students In a cross-national study of what European schools are doing to support student mental health and well-being, 47% of surveyed schools indicated that mental health provision is a high/essential priority, but more than half did not implement a school policy regarding mental health.
Newspapers often publish false depictions of gout A new analysis reveals that popular newspaper articles depict gout as a self-inflicted condition that is socially embarrassing and the focus of humor.
Antiviral therapies give Hepatitis C cirrhosis patients similar life expectancy as general population The survival rate of patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis who respond well to antiviral therapies equals that of the general population, say investigators in the Journal of Hepatology.
Kent legal expert shows how UK surrogacy laws have become 'nonsensical' Kent legal expert shows how UK surrogacy laws have become 'nonsensical'
Liberia's last known Ebola patients discharged from hospital Liberia's last two known Ebola patients have been discharged from hospital after recovering from the disease, the ministry of health said Wednesday.
Research finds Cryptosporidium infects more than 75 percent of poor children in Bangladeshi slum Children infected even just once with a certain type of waterborne parasite are nearly three times as likely to suffer from moderate or severe stunted growth by the age of two than those who are not - regardless of whether their infection made them feel sick, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research suggests.
	Saying 'I'm gay' doesn't boost well-being equally for gay men of every ethnicity, research finds A new study of gay Latino and gay white men suggests different ethnic groups experience "coming out" differently.
	New bone marrow-on-a-chip can model radiation therapy damage and assess preventive measures Engineered bone marrow grown in a novel microfluidic chip device responds to damaging radiation exposure followed by treatment with compounds that aid in blood cell recovery in a way that mimics living bone marrow. This new bone marrow-on-a-chip microdevice holds promise for testing and developing improved radiation countermeasures, as described in Tissue Engineering, Part C, Methods.
	APNewsBreak: Chimp victim's body rejecting face transplant (Update) The Connecticut woman who underwent a face transplant five years ago after being attacked by a chimpanzee is back in a Boston hospital after doctors discovered her body is rejecting the transplant.
New device reduces volume of radiographic dye in patients at risk of developing AKI In the largest study of its kind, a new device has been found to significantly reduce the volume of radiographic dye without decreasing image quality in patients who are at risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) after undergoing a coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The device—known as AVERT—did not, however, reduce contrast-induced AKI (CI-AKI). The AVERT 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.
Study reveals safety and feasibility of robotically assisted PCI in complex cases A first-of-its kind study using robotic technology to remotely control coronary guidewires and stents reported on the feasibility of performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients with complex coronary lesions. Similar clinical outcomes compared to the PCI procedure performed manually were reported. Results of the 18-month complex robotically assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (CORA-PCI) trial were presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla.
	How do anesthesiologists view acupuncture and acupressure? In a new study of anesthesia providers in the U.S., most report not having used or received any education in acupuncture or acupressure. However, the majority of those participants recognize the potential benefits of acupuncture on acute postoperative and chronic pain, and of both acupuncture and acupressure on reducing anxiety. About 75% of providers expressed interest in acupuncture/acupressure education, according to the study published in Medical Acupuncture.
National hospital system uses enterprise approach for assessing bleeding risks The largest risk-directed study by a national hospital system demonstrates a 40 percent decline in bleeding events for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients and a significant reduction in pharmacy costs. This quality improvement project (QIP) study was presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2016 Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla.

Biology news

	Similarities in species diversity and range in both terrestrial birds and marine bivalves Marine and terrestrial species inhabit vastly different ecosystems, but they share one of the primary patterns of biodiversity on the planet. The numbers of species of both groups increase toward the equator, with fewer species in temperate, higher latitudes and more in the tropics.
Saltwater crocodile sperm may hold secret to male fertility Saltwater crocodiles may help solve male infertility after a remarkable discovery that crocodile sperm, after leaving the testes, behave differently than previously thought.
	Software simplifies comparison of flow cytometry data for laboratories  Rice University bioengineers have developed a tool to standardize data obtained through flow cytometry, one of the most widely used instruments to analyze living cells.
	Stickleback fish adapt their vision in the blink of an eye Stickleback fish are able to adapt their vision to new environments in less than 10,000 years, a blink of the eye in evolutionary terms, according to new research by University of British Columbia biodiversity experts.
	Genome sequences of early-diverging fungi help track origins of white rot fungi Researchers utilized draft genome sequences of 10 white rot and brown rot fungi representing early-diverging groups to help refine the timeline that dates the enzymatic origins of lignocellulose decomposition.
	Scientists discover how one microorganism erodes coral reefs Coral reefs and hard-shelled sea creatures such as oysters and mussels are constantly being threatened, not only by the detrimental effects of stressors such as climate change and habitat loss, but also by microorganisms.
	Bats' flight technique could lead to better drones Long-eared bats are assisted in flight by their ears and body, according to a study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. The recent findings improve researchers' understanding of the bats' flying technique and could be significant for the future development of drones, among other things.
	Humans have faster metabolism than closely related primates, enabling larger brains Loyola University Chicago researchers are among the co-authors of a groundbreaking study that found humans have a higher metabolism rate than closely related primates, which enabled humans to evolve larger brains.
The contented shall inherit the Earth—The glum? Not so much The survival of the fittest might just be the survival of the steadfast instead. Having a positive attitude could be evolutionarily advantageous, according to Cornell researchers who simulated generations of evolution in a computational model.
	New evidence connects dung beetle evolution to dinosaurs Cleveland... Researchers have found an evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and dung beetles. An international team of scientists uncovered the first molecular evidence indicating that dung beetles evolved in association with dinosaurs. The findings place the origin of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Lower Cretaceous period, with the first major diversification occurring in the middle of the Cretaceous. This timeline places their origins approximately 30 million years earlier than previously thought. The research explores the potential of a co-extinction with dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The study was published today in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Survival of the oldest The oldest surviving species of vertebrates, such as the cane toad and the California sea lion, which have endured past extreme environmental events, will be more likely to adapt to future climate changes than younger species, such as the European hamster, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. These species include those with various color morphs; those which give birth to live young; and/or which live at low latitudes.
	Coastal birds rely on tides and moon phases Coastal wading birds shape their lives around the tides, and new research in The Auk: Ornithological Advances shows that different species respond differently to shifting patterns of high and low water according to their size and daily schedules, even following prey cycles tied to the phases of the moon.
	Wave of dead sea creatures hits Chile's beaches Heaps of dead whales, salmon and sardines blamed on the El Nino freak weather phenomenon have clogged Chile's Pacific beaches in recent months.
	Australia's 'Carpageddon' to unleash herpes on invasive killer Dubbed "Carpageddon" and backed by the man who threatened to kill Johnny Depp's dogs, the latest plan to control introduced species in Australia will use the herpes virus to eradicate millions of predatory fish.
	Searching big data for disease resistance in crops Researchers at the Centre for Crop and Disease Management are using big data approaches to study fungal genome evolution, which will one day lead to a better understanding of crop protection.
Researchers reveal top 10 most popular reptiles Scientists from Oxford University and Tel Aviv University have ranked the world's most 'popular' reptiles, revealing the species that capture the public's imagination and providing valuable quantitative data towards the debate surrounding conservation priorities.
	Venus flytrap exploits plant defenses in carnivorous lifestyle Venus flytraps have fascinated biologists for centuries, however, the molecular underpinnings of their carnivorous lifestyle remain largely unknown. In a study published online today in Genome Research, researchers characterized gene expression, protein secretion, and ultrastructural changes during stimulation of Venus flytraps and discover that common plant defense systems, which typically protect plants from being eaten, are also used by Venus flytraps for insect feeding.
	Comparative analysis reveals use patterns of deeper Caribbean coral reefs by shark species Three species of shark, tiger, lemon and Caribbean reef, all use deeper coral reefs in the Virgin Islands, but only lemon shark presence was associated with seasonal grouper spawning aggregations, according to a study published May 4, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alexandria Pickard from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, Bradley Wetherbee of the University of Rhode Island and colleagues.
	Long-term monitoring reveals effects of sea star wasting along Oregon coast The 2013-2014 sea star wasting epidemic along the Oregon Coast may have been caused by multiple factors and had significant effects on the sea star population and its prey in the area, according to a study published May 4, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Bruce Menge from Oregon State University, USA, and colleagues.
	How tree crickets tune into each other's songs It's known as the cocktail-party problem: in the cacophony of sound made by insects in a spring meadow, how does one species recognize its own song?
	Study asks kids to choose wildlife conservation priorities North Carolina elementary students' priorities for which wildlife species to protect closely matched those of conservation biologists but differed significantly from adults' rankings, a North Carolina State University study found.
	First global analysis indicates leopards have lost nearly 75 percent of their historic range The leopard (Panthera pardus), one of the world's most iconic big cats, has lost as much as 75 percent of its historic range, according to a paper published today in the scientific journal PeerJ. Conducted by partners including the National Geographic Society's Big Cats Initiative, international conservation charities the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Panthera and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Specialist Group, this study represents the first known attempt to produce a comprehensive analysis of leopards' status across their entire range and all nine subspecies.
	Severe drought forces Zimbabwe to sell off wildlife Drought-hit Zimbabwe has invited local farmers and private game rangers to buy wild animals as it destocks national game reserves to save fauna from starvation, the wildlife authority said Wednesday.
New immigrant: Shiny cowbirds noted from a recording altitude of 2,800 m in Ecuador Two juveniles of Shiny Cowbird, a parasitic bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, were spotted in the Andean city of Quito, Ecuador, for the first time. This finding represents an altitudinal expansion of approximately 500 m.
	Hollywood star Brad Pitt shares a name with a new wasp species from South Africa Not only did an international research team discover two new endoparasitic wasp species in South Africa and India, and significantly expanded their genera's distributional range, but they also gave a celebrity name to a special one of them.

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