Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 31

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3-D print technology provides 'robohand' to 7-year-old gir

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2015 at 3:34 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 31
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 31, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Photon 'afterglow' could transmit information without transmitting energy
- Too many targets: Scientists create model to analyze ceRNA regulation, validate results with synthetic gene circuits
- Researchers find importance of regulatory T-cells generated early in life
- Scientists discover elusive secret of how continents formed
- Discovering missing body parts of ancient fossils
- Memory immune cells that screen intruders as they enter lymph nodes
- Using Twitter to probe political polarization
- Face scans show how fast a person is aging
- Microsoft makes cheaper version of Surface Pro 3 tablet
- 200th anniversary of Tambora eruption a reminder of volcanic perils
- Tiny wasps provide vital clue to avoiding extinction
- Wobbly no more: Work on analogical processing helps children learn key engineering principle
- Score! Video gamers may learn visual tasks more quickly
- Google unveils 'stick' computer with Asus
- Researchers see drop in methane emissions from natural gas local distribution systems

Nanotechnology news

	Natural nanocrystals shown to strengthen concrete Cellulose nanocrystals derived from industrial byproducts have been shown to increase the strength of concrete, representing a potential renewable additive to improve the ubiquitous construction material.
	Wrapping carbon nanotubes in polymers enhances their performance Scientists at Japan's Kyushu University say polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes hold much promise in biotechnology and energy applications. The paper was recently published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

Physics news

	Photon 'afterglow' could transmit information without transmitting energy (Phys.org)—Physicists have theoretically shown that it is possible to transmit information from one location to another without transmitting energy. Instead of using real photons, which always carry energy, the technique uses a small, newly predicted quantum afterglow of virtual photons that do not need to carry energy. Although no energy is transmitted, the receiver must provide the energy needed to detect the incoming signal—similar to the way that an individual must pay to receive a collect call.
	Soft, energy-efficient robotic wings Dielectric elastomers are novel materials for making actuators or motors with soft and lightweight properties that can undergo large active deformations with high-energy conversion efficiencies. This has made dielectric elastomers popular for creating devices such as robotic hands, soft robots, tunable lenses and pneumatic valves—and possibly flapping robotic wings.
	Trapping and watching motile cells A new approach enables rapid characterization of living suspension cells in 4 dimensions while they are immobilized and manipulated within optical traps.
	Controlling defects in engineered liquid crystals Sitting with a joystick in the comfort of their chairs, scientists can play "rodeo" on a screen magnifying what is happening under their microscope. They rely on optical tweezers to manipulate an intangible ring created out of liquid crystal defects capable of attaching a microsphere to a long thin fibre. Maryam Nikkhou and colleagues from the Jožef Stefan Institute, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, recently published in EPJ E the results of work performed under the supervision of Igor Muševič. They believe that their findings could ultimately open the door to controlling the flow of light using light of a specific frequency in the Gigahertz range in liquid crystal photonic microdevices.

Earth news

	Scientists discover elusive secret of how continents formed An international research team, led by a Virginia Tech geoscientist, has revealed information about how continents were generated on Earth more than 2.5 billion years ago—and how those processes have continued within the last 70 million years to profoundly affect the planet's life and climate.
	Research links two millennia of cyclones, floods, El Nino Stalagmites, which crystallize from water dropping onto the floors of caves, millimeter by millimeter, over thousands of years, leave behind a record of climate change encased in stone. Newly published research by Rhawn Denniston, professor of geology at Cornell College, and his research team, applied a novel technique to stalagmites from the Australian tropics to create a 2,200-year-long record of flood events that might also help predict future climate change.
	A new tool to understand volcanic supereruptions To understand when and why volcanoes erupt, scientists study the rocks left behind by eruptions past. A method called geobarometry uses the composition of volcanic rocks to estimate the pressure and depth at which molten magma was stored just before it erupted.
	200th anniversary of Tambora eruption a reminder of volcanic perils The 2010 eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull grounded thousands of air flights and spread ash over much of western Europe, yet it was puny compared to the eruption 200 years ago of Tambora, a volcano that probably killed more than 60,000 people in what is now Indonesia and turned summer into winter over much of the Northern Hemisphere.
	Soil organic matter susceptible to climate change Soil organic matter, long thought to be a semi-permanent storehouse for ancient carbon, may be much more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought.
	Researchers see drop in methane emissions from natural gas local distribution systems A team led by Washington State University researchers has found that methane emissions from local natural gas distribution systems in cities and towns throughout the U.S. have decreased in the past 20 years with significant variation by region.
	Glow in the dark tampons identify sewage pollution in rivers The natural, untreated cotton in tampons readily absorbs chemicals commonly used in toilet paper, laundry detergents and shampoos. These chemicals - known as optical brighteners -are used to enhance whites and brighten colours, and show up under ultra-violet (UV) light, a phenomenon often seen in glowing t-shirts under certain lighting in bars and clubs.
	Video: NASA Researcher discusses the air quality of three cities Dr. Bryan N. Duncan is a deputy project scientist for the Aura Mission at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
	Rain friction can reduce typhoon's destructive force by up to 30 percent Accurately anticipating an approaching typhoon's destructive force makes all the difference in advance preparations and as a consequence, the cost in lives. But over the decades, climate scientists have not made the same headway in this regard as they have in predicting a typhoon's trajectory.
	Block cropping pitted against integration method A local study has revealed how different ways of planting and growing mallee (small to medium-sized Eucalyptus trees) around a pasture can affect overall biomass and crop production.
	Wisconsin, Argentina face complementary challenges in ecohydrology Argentina might seem a long way to go for an environmental engineer seeking to better understand land use in Wisconsin. But on his Fulbright Scholar Program-supported journey to Argentina in 2014, Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Steve Loheide sought to learn from the surprising parallels between Argentina and Wisconsin's histories of land use and ecohydrology.
	East Asian human activities affect air quality in remote tropical forests Researchers from the UK and Malaysia have detected a human fingerprint deep in the Borneo rainforest in Southeast Asia. Cold winds blowing from the north carry industrial pollutants from East Asia to the equator, with implications for air quality in the region. Once there, the pollutants can travel higher into the atmosphere and impact the ozone layer. The research is published today in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
	Bacteria play important role in long term storage of carbon in ocean The ocean is a large reservoir of dissolved organic molecules, and many of these molecules are stable against microbial utilization for hundreds to thousands of years. They contain a similar amount of carbon as compared to carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the University of South Carolina and the Helmholtz Centre Munich found answers to questions about the origin of these persistent molecules in a study published in Nature Communications.
	US renews pledge to cut emissions 26–28% by 2025 The US government on Tuesday formally pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 percent over 2005 levels within the next decade, ahead of a major climate conference later this year.
	Daily dam releases on Massachusetts' Deerfield river reduce downstream flows In the first-of-its-kind study of the environmental effects of hydropeaking, that is releasing water at hydropower dams to meet peak daily electricity demand, two University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers say their unexpected findings suggest that about 10 percent of released water may be permanently lost, making that water unavailable to downstream users and wildlife.
	Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused lasting damage, report says Dolphins are dying in unusually high numbers. Sea turtle nests are declining.
	Methane monitoring method reveals high levels in Pennsylvania stream A new stream-based monitoring system recently discovered high levels of methane in a Pennsylvania stream near the site of a reported Marcellus shale gas well leak, according to researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Geological Survey. The system could be a valuable screening tool to assess the environmental impact of extracting natural gas using fracking.
	Better method for forecasting hurricane season A better method for predicting the number of hurricanes in an upcoming season has been developed by a team of University of Arizona atmospheric scientists.
	Lisbon, Luxembourg rank Europe's worst for pollution fight Lisbon and Luxembourg rank last in a test of how hard European cities are fighting air pollution, while Zurich and Copenhagen come top, an environmental group said Tuesday.
	Models in gas masks highlight Indonesian environmental devastation Wearing gas masks and designer dresses, models paraded down a catwalk against a backdrop of polluted, rubbish-strewn paddy fields in central Indonesia, a colourful condemnation of the fashion industry's role in causing environmental devastation.
	Percentage targets for planned burning are blunt tools that don't work Fire profoundly influences human health, the economy and wildlife. In Victoria, for instance, bushfires have burned more than one million hectares since 2009, claiming 178 lives and more than 2,300 homes, and causing more than A$4 billion in social, economic and environmental costs.
	NASA sees Maysak become a super typhoon NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Typhoon Maysak as it strengthened into a super typhoon on March 31, reaching Category 5 hurricane status on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. The TRMM and GPM satellites, both satellites are co-managed by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency captured rainfall and cloud data that revealed heavy rainfall and high thunderstorms in the strengthening storm.
	NASA image: Fires in Southeastern Australia The fires superimposed on the satellite image of southeastern Australia designated by red spots may be indicative of "planned burns" by the Victoria region. This map: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/fire-and-emergencies/planned-burns/planned-burns-now-and-next-10-days found on the Department of the Environment and Primary Industries for the State of Victoria shows the burns that are planned for the next ten days and many of them coincide with the red spots on this MODIS image taken by the Aqua satellite on March 30, 2015. What is the reason for fire management teams purposely setting a fire? The reasons can actually be many. A fire set at the right time can:
	Researchers map seasonal greening in US forests, fields, and urban areas Using the assessment tool ForWarn, U.S. Forest Service researchers can monitor the growth and development of vegetation that signals winter's end and the awakening of a new growing season. Now these researchers have devised a way to more precisely characterize the beginning of seasonal greening, or "greenup," and compare its timing with that of the 14 previous years. Such information helps land managers anticipate and plan for the impacts of disturbances such as weather events and insect pests.
	Drought alters familiar landscape in Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is bracing for its driest year on record, with visitor bureaus downplaying the allure of the park's most famous waterfall and instead touting the park as a destination for hiking, bicycling and photography.
	Climate pledges: Deadline sees slow but promising start A rough deadline for Tuesday saw only 33 out of 195 countries submit pledges for tackling greenhouse gases under UN climate talks scheduled to conclude just over eight months from now.

Astronomy & Space news

	Image: The tumultuous heart of the Large Magellanic Cloud A scene of jagged fiery peaks, turbulent magma-like clouds and fiercely hot bursts of bright light. Although this may be reminiscent of a raging fire or the heart of a volcano, it actually shows a cold cosmic clump of gas, dust and stars.
	Total lunar eclipse before dawn on April 4th An unusually brief total eclipse of the Moon will be visible before dawn this Saturday, April 4th, from western North America. The eclipse happens on Saturday evening for Australia and East Asia.
	Planck helps to understand the macrostructure of the universe Designed to detect the fossil radiation of the universe, the Planck satellite, working in tandem with Herschel, can also help to understand the macrostructure of the universe. A just-published experimental study, carried out with the participation of SISSA, has detected astronomical sources that may be precursors to galaxy clusters, the largest dynamically stable structures existing in the universe. These primitive elements have long been sought by astrophysicists since they are crucial for tracing the development of the universe's macrostructures. The classic methods used in the quest for large-scale structures are unfortunately difficult to apply (or just completely inapplicable to these objects). The method used by Planck is based on the predictions put forward in a study conducted by Mattia Negrello in 2005 as part of his PhD thesis at SISSA, in turn based on a theoretical model devised at SISSA and the Astronomical Observator! y of Padova.

Technology news

	Colombia transforms old tires into green housing The highlands around the Colombian capital are scattered with small buildings that look like out-of-place igloos but are in fact innovative houses made from the tires that litter the country's roads.
	3-D print technology provides 'robohand' to 7-year-old girl Seven-year-old Faith Lennox never thought much about putting a prosthetic limb where her missing left hand had once been.
	Windows Insiders can try out Project Spartan browser Microsoft has opened up the (literal) windows, called in creatives, and has been engineering a next-generation browser. Project Spartan is to reflect the general mood of fresh air at Redmond. Although "Project Spartan" carries the word "Project," it is not to be taken as a here-today-gone-tomorrow event; Project Spartan is a big deal, as the new browser which is introduced in Windows 10.
	Smarter programming of stoplights could improve efficiency of urban traffic Sitting in traffic during rush hour is not just frustrating for drivers; it also adds unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.
	Battery bounce test inaccurate measure of charge Don't throw away those bouncing batteries. Researchers at Princeton University have found that the common test of bouncing a household battery to learn if it is dead or not is not actually an effective way to check a battery's charge.
	Smartphone face recognition 'improved' by copying the brain Face recognition security on smartphones can be significantly improved if users store an 'average' photo of themselves, according to new research by scientists at the University of York.
	Microsoft makes cheaper version of Surface Pro 3 tablet Microsoft is making a cheaper version of its Surface Pro 3 tablet computer in an effort to reach students and budget-conscious families.
	Google unveils 'stick' computer with Asus Google and Taiwan's Asus are launching a "computer on a stick" which can plug into a display to turn it into a PC.
	Spy agencies in 'technology arms race', says British chief Spy agencies are caught in a "technology arms race" with terrorists and criminals, the new head of Britain's MI6 said on Monday in his first public comments since becoming chief.
	Facebook moves into 'not fancy' new headquarters Facebook moved into its new Frank Gehry-designed headquarters in Silicon Valley, with a rooftop park and "the largest open floor plan in the world."
	Clinton also used iPad for email; mixed personal, work chats Hillary Rodham Clinton emailed her staff on an iPad as well as a BlackBerry while secretary of state, despite her explanation she exclusively used a personal email address on a homebrew server so that she could carry a single device, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
	Taiwan's Hon Hai faces difficult year, despite profit leap: analysts Taiwan's tech giant Hon Hai Precision Industry, a major supplier to Apple, saw its profit rise 22.34 percent in 2014 due to demand for larger-screen iPhones.
	New taxi app challenges Uber in S.Korea South Korea's top mobile messenger operator launched a new web-based cab-hailing service Tuesday to compete with California-based Uber, whose service has been subjected to crackdowns from state regulators.
	Huawei reports 2014 profit up 33 percent Huawei Technologies Ltd., one of the world's biggest makers of telecommunications equipment, said Tuesday its 2014 profit rose 33 percent, helped by strong sales of smartphones.
	Professor analyzes online data to predict future fashion trends In fashion, combining contrasting fabrics, colors and textures is what brings an outfit to life. In Heng Xu's career, combining science and art has brought a new way of interpreting data to life—an innovation that might help consumers understand, follow and afford tomorrow's fashion trends.
	Video: Wearable sensors to monitor triggers for asthma, and more What if you could wear something that would alert you when pollution, such as smog, is about to take its toll on your heart or lungs? That is what's "in the air" at the National Science Foundation- (NSF) supported Nanosystems Engineering Research Center (NERC) for Advanced Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) at North Carolina State University.
	Is it possible to circumvent metadata retention and retain your privacy? There has been quite a lot discussion lately on how to avoid metadata retention, particularly in the context of leaking sensitive information to journalists.
	The delivery drones are coming, so rules and safety standards will be needed – fast Imagine a scenario where tens of thousands of drones are routinely flown across UK airspace. Some of these are very large, more than 100kg – and some are equipped with jet engines that can reach speeds beyond 100mph. If you think this seems unlikely then you're quite wrong: there are already more than 36,000 remote control model aircraft hobbyists in the UK flying small aircraft at more than 800 sites.
	Secure payment on Internet? Now that it has become a common feature on the news to hear about cyber attacks on an international scale, cybersecurity is seen as a first priority by Internet users. There can be no doubt that the web has become a battleground without borders on which to defend political, financial and ideological interests. We are all affected by this struggle, since it is almost impossible to avoid operating through Internet, but, at what price?
	Research reduces microprocessor serial link power consumption, improves data center energy efficiency University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers are working to reduce the serial link power consumption, thereby helping data centers and mobile platform operate more energy efficiently.
	How Twitter users can work together to defuse social tensions A report co-authored by a researcher from the University of Leicester has found that social media sites such as Twitter can be useful in keeping the peace and defusing tensions during times of social unrest.
	Green energy investments worldwide surge 17 percent to $270 billion in 2014 Global investments in renewable energy rebounded strongly last year, registering a solid 17% increase after two years of declines and brushing aside the challenge from sharply lower crude oil prices.
	IBM to invest $3 billion in 'Internet of Things' unit IBM is investing $3 billion to build an "Internet of Things" division aimed at harnessing the massive trove of data collected by smartphones, tablets, connected vehicles and appliances and using it to help companies better manage their businesses.
	Google launches cheapest Chromebooks yet Google is unveiling its cheapest Chromebook laptops yet, two versions priced at $149 aimed at undercutting Microsoft's Windows franchise and gaining an even stronger hold in school and overseas markets.
	Google, Microsoft battle drives down prices for PCs, tablets Google is releasing its cheapest Chromebook laptops yet, two versions priced at $149 aimed at undercutting Microsoft's Windows franchise and gaining ground in even more classrooms.
	Amazon puts home staples on refill button Amazon moved Tuesday to become an errand service for home staples, introducing a "dash button" to allow consumers to instantly order popular products for home and kitchen.
	Cyberattack targets The Seattle Times website A cyberattack took down The Seattle Times website for about 90 minutes Monday morning.
	Acceptance of a semi-public digital life worries privacy advocates The government can know about your phone calls, your emails, the way you use the Web.
	FTC's Google investigation probed by Senate antitrust chief The chairman of a U.S. Senate antitrust panel will look into the release of a confidential Federal Trade Commission report on an investigation of Google Inc.'s search business, which was closed in 2013 without an enforcement action.
	Review: 2015 Chevy Colorado pickup comes with a side of Wi-Fi I've been driving a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado pickup for the last few days, which is very cool, but you're probably wondering, "Why?"
	Traffic court goes digital: Startup fosters settlements Traffic court is going digital. Michigan startup Court Innovations has developed a software solution that allows drivers to settle traffic violations by negotiating in a virtual environment instead of showing up to court to fight tickets.
	Google Maps turns into Pac-Man's chomping grounds The virtual streets of Google Maps are being transformed into Pac Man's chomping grounds in celebration of April Fools' Day.
	Etsy expects IPO to raise as much as $267 million Online crafts retailer Etsy says it expects to raise as much as $267 million from an initial public offering values the company at up to $1.78 billion.
	GoDaddy revs up tech sector with Wall Street offering GoDaddy, which has built its reputation trying to make Web hosting sexy, storms into Wall Street with a stock offering Wednesday aiming to revive the public markets' appetite for technology.
	Goodbye to MP3s: Music listeners are happy with streaming services In a survey of over 600 young Finns, 76% of respondents listened to music from YouTube every day.
	First eBay-Sotheby's sale to be held Wednesday The first live auction from a collaboration between Sotheby's and online giant eBay was set for Wednesday, bringing together both in-person and virtual bidders.
	Charter nabs Bright House in latest pay-TV deal Charter buying Bright House for $10.4 billion is the latest big deal in the pay-TV industry.
	Agents probing drug site accused of taking online currency Two former federal agents are accused of using their positions and savvy computer skills to siphon more than $1 million in digital currency from the online black market known as Silk Road while they and their agencies operated an undercover investigation into the website.
	Researchers aim to safeguard privacy on social networks At the end of 2014, Facebook reported 1.39 billion monthly active users. In the meantime, 500 million tweets were sent each day on Twitter. Indeed, social networks have come to dominate aspects of our lives. But all our social sharing comes with a price. Last year, the Pew Research Center found 81 percent of Americans feel "not very" or "not at all secure" using social media sites when they want to share private information with another trusted person or organization.
	Amazon's answer to tricky gadgets: Installation services Amazon.com is rolling out a new service that makes it easier for customers to buy gadgets and products that are hard to install, such as thermostats or dishwashers.
	Pentagon needs to adapt to recruit top talent: Carter The US military needs to give its troops and new recruits better career options due to increasing competition for talent from private companies, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday.

Chemistry news

	Microsecond Raman imaging might probe cells, organs for disease A vibrational spectroscopic imaging technology that can take images of living cells could represent an advanced medical diagnostic tool for the early detection of cancer and other diseases.
	Geckos found able to expel all manner of fluids and their skin can kill bacteria (Phys.org)—A multinational team of researchers that recently published a paper describing how they had used a scanning electron microscope to discover that gecko skin actually ejects water into the air has now published another paper where they have advanced their research on gecko skin even further. In their new paper published in Acta Biomaterialia, the team describes how they tested the liquid ejection abilities of box-patterned geckos with a variety of fluids and then discovered a bacteria killing capability as well.
	Skin tough: study at Advanced Light Source shows why skin is resistant to tearing When weighing the pluses and minuses of your skin add this to the plus column: Your skin - like that of all vertebrates - is remarkably resistant to tearing. Now, a collaboration of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) San Diego has shown why.
	An efficient path from carbon to renewable fuel production Earth-abundant materials based primarily on carbon, nitrogen and transition metal oxides can be combined into highly efficient energy conversion devices. These devices can be used in fuel cells as well as in electrolysis. This is shown experimentally by Tiva Sharifi, physicist at Umeå University, Sweden. She defends her thesis on 31 March.
	Scientists gain cellular-level insights into drug delivery processes Chemists, biologists and pharmacologists deal with the question of how complex active substances can be introduced into cells such that they are rapidly and easily available. Building on earlier research, interdisciplinary teams of scientists has made some important advancements.
	How to make a profit from rotting garbage Landfills can make a profit from all their rotting waste and a new patent explains exactly how to make the most out of the stinky garbage sites.
	Picturing peanut contamination with near infrared hyperspectral imaging Study the label of almost any food product and you're likely to see the rather vague warning "May contain peanuts" somewhere on there, unless of course it's a product that definitely does contain peanuts. As now revealed in a paper in the latest issue of JNIRS—Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, these warnings of peanut contamination could soon lose much of their uncertainty, thanks to a novel form of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy known as NIR hyperspectral imaging (HSI).

Biology news

	Too many targets: Scientists create model to analyze ceRNA regulation, validate results with synthetic gene circuits (Phys.org)—In the complex, somewhat rarified world of interactions between various flavors of RNA, one elusive goal is to understand the precise regulatory relationships between competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), microRNA (miRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA).
	How a deadly fungus evades the immune system New research from the University of Toronto has scientists re-thinking how a lethal fungus grows and kills immune cells. The study hints at a new approach to therapy for Candida albicans, one of the most common causes of bloodstream infections.
	Pig-borne disease most likely jumped into humans when rearing practices changed Almost every pig carries harmless strains of the S. suis bacterium - such strains are known as 'commensal' strains. However, a more virulent group of strains of the bacteria also exist, which cause disease in pigs worldwide and are a major driver of antibiotic use for prevention. Increasingly, this group of strains is also implicated in serious human diseases such as meningitis and septicaemia.
	Scientists reveal unique mechanism of natural product with powerful antimicrobial action Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have uncovered the unique mechanism of a powerful natural product with wide-ranging antifungal, antibacterial, anti-malaria and anti-cancer effects.
	Researchers clarify how DNA damage signaling works The DNA molecule is chemically unstable, giving rise to DNA lesions of various kinds. That is why DNA damage detection, signaling and repair, collectively known as the DNA damage response, are needed. The DNA damage response is immensely important, for example, for ensuring the highest possible quality of DNA before replication prior to cell division. If the damaged DNA is replicated, the risk of cancer and other diseases increases significantly due to mutations. All in all this may lead to the death of a cell itself.
	New way to sort cells without limitations of traditional methods A team of Stanford University School of Medicine researchers has come up with a new way of analyzing individual cell types by applying advanced mathematical analysis to the cells' contents.
	Why slimy cheats don't win Darwin's evolutionary theory predicts survival of the fittest. So why do different survival tactics co-exist, if evolution should always favour the winning strategy?
	Researchers discover bacteria propelled by a kind of rotary driver Harvard researchers, probing the mystery of how some bacteria move across surfaces, have discovered a kind of rotary motor in the bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae.
	Tiny wasps provide vital clue to avoiding extinction The mating behaviour of tiny wasps could provide vital clues to how animals can protect themselves from extinction.
	The 'intraterrestrials': New viruses discovered in ocean depths The intraterrestrials, they might be called. Strange creatures live in the deep sea, but few are odder than the viruses that inhabit deep ocean methane seeps and prey on single-celled microorganisms called archaea.
	Researchers discover bacterial genetic pathway involved in body odour production For many, body odour is an unfortunate side effect of their daily lives. The smell is caused by bacteria on the skin breaking down naturally secreted molecules contained within sweat. Now, researchers from the University of York working with Unilever have studied the underarm microbiome and identified a unique set of enzymes in the bacterium Staphylococcus hominis that is effective at breaking down sweat molecules into compounds known as thioalcohols, an important component of the characteristic body odour smell.
	Genome editing poses ethical problems that we cannot ignore The ability to precisely and accurately change almost any part of any genome, even in complex species such as humans, may soon become a reality through genome editing. But with great power comes great responsibility – and few subjects elicit such heated debates about moral rights and wrongs.
	Scientists discover why flowers bloom earlier in a warming climate Scientists at the John Innes Centre have discovered why the first buds of spring come increasingly earlier as the climate changes.
	Rare south-west fish suffers further decline Researchers have discovered that the range of one of Western Australia's rarest freshwater fishes, Balston's Pygmy Perch, could have declined by as much as 25 per cent.
	Japanese company 'makes tear-free onions' The sobbing of a chef as he chops onions in the kitchen could be a thing of the past thanks to one Japanese company which says it has produced a tear-free vegetable.
	Deciphering the origins of cell behavior Researchers at the Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, have made significant advances in our understanding of cellular biology; providing evidence that the inherent 'handedness' of molecular structures directs the behavior of individual cells and confers them the ability to sense the difference between left and right. This work is published in Nature Cell Biology.
	Keeping hungry jumbos at bay Until now electric fences and trenches have proved to be the most effective way of protecting farms and villages from night time raids by hungry elephants. But researchers think they may have come up with another solution - the recorded sound of angry predators.
	Lizard activity levels can help scientists predict environmental change Spring is here and ectotherms, or animals dependent on external sources to raise their body temperature, are becoming more active. Recent studies have shown that as the average global temperature increases, some lizards may spend more time in the shade and less time eating and reproducing, which could endanger many species. Now, a detailed field study of the Puerto Rican crested anole by a University of Missouri researcher shows that lizards are active over a broader range of temperatures than scientists previously thought—but when temperatures are either too hot or too cold, critical activity levels slow, limiting the abilities of species to cope with climate variability.
	Zoologists tap into GPS to track badger movements Zoologists from Trinity College Dublin's School of Natural Sciences are using GPS tracking technology to keep a 'Big Brother' eye on badgers in County Wicklow. By better understanding the badgers' movements and the reasons behind them, the zoologists hope to devise a highly effective TB vaccination programme.
	Gardening's new ethos: Help the planet (and look good too) From the biggest botanical gardens to the smallest backyard plots and terraces, there's a movement underway to make gardens work harder for the environment.
	SeaWorld, activists clash on social media over orcas' lot SeaWorld and animal rights groups clashed on social media Tuesday over the company's treatment of orcas, which star as the main attraction at several marine parks.
	Baby 4: Newborn spotted with endangered Puget Sound orcas The endangered population of killer whales that spend time in Washington state waters is experiencing a baby boom with a fourth baby orca documented this winter.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers find importance of regulatory T-cells generated early in life (MedicalXpress)—Originating in the thymus, the autoimmune regulator (Aire) protein controls a key mechanism that prevents the immune system from attacking the body itself. Individual T cells attack different substances; Aire promotes immunological tolerance by producing a repertoire of mRNA transcripts that encode proteins characteristic of the body's differentiated cell types. Peptides derived from these proteins are displayed on major histocompatibility complex molecules on the surfaces of medullary epithelial cells in the thymus.
	Intelligent neuroprostheses mimic natural motor control Neuroscientists are taking inspiration from natural motor control to design new prosthetic devices that can better replace limb function. In new work, researchers have tested a range of brain-controlled devices - from wheelchairs to robots to advanced limbs - that work with their users to intelligently perform tasks.
	Symmetry leads to lack of attention New research has found humans are likely to underestimate the amount of detail in symmetrical compared to random patterns.
	Study shows female mammalian phenotype results from repression of male-linked genes by methylation (MedicalXpress)—A team of researchers with the University of Maryland and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine has found that brain regions in female rodents associated with sexual behavior are feminized by repression of male-linked genes via methylation. In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team describes their study of the ways that rodent brains develop masculine or feminine traits, and what they learned by doing so.
	Memory immune cells that screen intruders as they enter lymph nodes Australian scientists have discovered a new population of 'memory' immune cells, throwing light on what the body does when it sees a microbe for the second time. This insight, and others like it, will enable the development of more targeted and effective vaccines.
	Face scans show how fast a person is aging Every face tells a story, and that story apparently includes hints of how quickly a person is aging, a new study contends.
	Wobbly no more: Work on analogical processing helps children learn key engineering principle Children love to build things. Often half the fun for them is building something and then knocking it down. But in a study carried out in the Chicago Children's Museum, children had just as much fun learning how to keep their masterpieces upright—they learned a key elementary engineering principle.
	Score! Video gamers may learn visual tasks more quickly Many studies show that video gamers perform better than non-gamers on certain visual tasks, like managing distractors and identifying targets, but a small new Brown University study provides gamers with some cognitive bonus points. The study results suggest that gaming not only improves their visual skill but also may improve their learning ability for those skills.
	Researchers build brain-machine interface to control prosthetic hand A research team from the University of Houston has created an algorithm that allowed a man to grasp a bottle and other objects with a prosthetic hand, powered only by his thoughts.
	In Alzheimer's mice, memory restored with cancer drug Memory and as well as connections between brain cells were restored in mice with a model of Alzheimer's given an experimental cancer drug, Yale School of Medicine researchers reported in the journal Annals of Neurology.
	Premature aging of stem cell telomeres, not inflammation, linked to emphysema Lung diseases like emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis are common among people with malfunctioning telomeres, the "caps" or ends of chromosomes. Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins say they have discovered what goes wrong and why.
	Sleep apnea during pregnancy is not good for mother or baby Sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, is a potentially serious condition because it deprives the body of oxygen. It becomes an even more serious condition in pregnant women—who can be more prone to it—because the oxygen deprivation may affect the baby. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario in Canada observed that female rats that were regularly deprived of air during their pregnancy had pups that could not handle glucose as well, making their pups more at risk for metabolic disease as adults.
	Scientists link unexplained childhood paralysis to enterovirus D68 A research team led by UC San Francisco scientists has found the genetic signature of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in half of California and Colorado children diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis - sudden, unexplained muscle weakness and paralysis - between 2012 and 2014, with most cases occurring during a nationwide outbreak of severe respiratory illness from EV-D68 last fall.
	Lots of leafy greens might shield aging brains, study finds (HealthDay)—A single serving of leafy green vegetables each day may help keep dementia away, new research suggests.
	Synthetic pot linked to kidney injury (HealthDay)—New research suggests that synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice, might harm the kidneys.
	US pediatricians remain opposed to random drug tests in schools (HealthDay)—Random drug testing in schools may sound like a good way to keep kids off drugs, but there is little evidence it works, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
	Processed foods the biggest chunk of calories in US groceries: study (HealthDay)—Highly processed foods account for more than 60 percent of the calories in products Americans routinely buy in grocery stores, a new study finds.
	Recommendations for point-of-care ultrasound in peds ER (HealthDay)—Pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians should be trained in point-of-care ultrasonography, according to a policy statement published online March 30 in Pediatrics.
	Eating fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residues linked with poor semen quality The first study to investigate the relationship between eating fruit and vegetables containing pesticide residues and the quality of men's semen has shown a link with lower sperm counts and percentages of normally-formed sperm.
	E-cigarettes are being accessed by teenagers who are both smokers and non-smokers One in five teenagers in a large survey has accessed e-cigarettes, and of these, 16% have never otherwise smoked, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. The highest numbers though were regular smokers - of whom over two thirds had accessed them.
	Scientists find clues into cognitive dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome Scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have identified a unique pattern of immune molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) that provides insights into the basis for cognitive dysfunction—frequently described by patients as "brain fog"—as well as new hope for improvements in diagnosis and treatment.
	Ob/Gyn experts recommend 'ultrasound first' for imaging the female pelvis Ultrasound technology has evolved dramatically in recent years. A group of noted obstetricians and gynecologists maintain that ultrasound is more cost-effective and safer than other imaging modalities for imaging the female pelvis and should be the first imaging modality used for patients with pelvic symptoms. Writing in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and supporting an American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) initiative, they urge practitioners to "put ultrasound first."
	Kids allowed to 'sip' alcohol may start drinking earlier Children who get a taste of their parents' wine now and then may be more likely than their peers to start drinking by high school, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
	Impact of domestic violence on women's mental health In addition to their physical injuries, women who are victims of domestic violence are also at a greater risk of mental health problems such as depression and psychotic symptoms. These are the findings of a study that was just published by a team of researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London in England, the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM), and the University of Montreal.
	Study reveals new information on climate drivers of Dengue fever Researchers at Upstate Medical University, in collaboration with a team of international investigators studying dengue fever, have discovered new information on climate drivers of the disease and social risk factors that may be contributing to its spread, according to two scientific papers recently published in BMC Infectious Disease and BMC Public Health, open access, peer-reviewed online journals.
	Resveratrol found to reduce depression-related behaviors in experiments using rats Scientists have recently discovered a link between inflammation and depression, which affects approximately 148 million people in the United States. A new study finds that resveratrol—a natural anti-inflammatory agent found in the skin of red grapes—can prevent inflammation as well as depression-related behaviors in rodents exposed to a social stress.
	Researchers identify mechanisms that link compulsive binge eating with hypertension An estimated eight million adults in the U.S. suffer from binge eating disorder. Now, researchers have shown that compulsive binging on foods that are high in fat and sugar can trigger specific molecular changes that can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension). While others have studied the effects of binge eating on the brain, this study is the first to look at its molecular effects on the expression of certain proteins in the body.
	What the Goldilocks gene means for blood-based cancers INPP4B is the Goldilocks of genes.
	Company developing molecules that bind to more than 60 types of cancer For all their lethality, cancer cells don't look much different from healthy cells, a simple fact that causes endless pain and suffering. Finding cancer cells that have spread and threaten to grow into metastatic tumors is often a life-and-death matter.
	The connection between listeriosis and produce In the United States and other industrialized nations, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is considered a key component of a healthy diet.
	Study reveals high–cholesterol diet increases spread of prostate cancer University of Queensland research has shown that a high-cholesterol diet increases the spread of prostate cancer tumours to lymph nodes, lungs and bones.
	Pulmonary embolism risk scoring could guide treatment, ease burden on EDs An analysis led by University of Cincinnati (UC) emergency medicine researchers shows that a simplified severity scoring tool for pulmonary embolism could be used in emergency departments to guide treatment decisions and, ultimately, ease the burden placed on emergency departments and hospitals.
	Smartphone app could change how depression is diagnosed It's common to hear complaints about our near-constant connection to our smart phones, but UConn researchers believe they can use the ubiquity of these devices to better screen for depression.
	Teenagers more inclined to repeat 'risky' behaviour School-age teenagers who have previously engaged in risky online behaviour are much more likely than young adults to repeat such behaviour in the future, according to a new study by Plymouth University.
	Should we tax unhealthy foods? What does a 20-ounce bottle of soda cost? If you said 99 cents, you are only partly right. While that may be the price on the sticker at the store, it doesn't take into account the cost to public health. One study, for example, found for every extra can of soda a person drinks per day, he or she is 30 percent more likely to become obese—increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases.
	Exposure to ultrafine particles influences cardiac function The adverse health effects caused by fine particles have been known for some time. In addition, ultrafine particles appear to play a significant role in cardiac function – even if an individual is exposed to these for only a few minutes, as scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have now been able to show. The results of the study have been published in the journal Particle & Fibre Toxicology.
	Understanding fish oil benefits during pregnancy A study by University of Western Australia has advanced understanding of why children whose mothers take fish oil supplements during pregnancy have greater health benefits.
	Southeast England ahead on genetic tests for inherited eye conditions New research from The University of Manchester published in the Journal of Community Genetics reveals a stark variation in genetic testing services for inherited eye disease in England.
	World first study reveals antibodies that may trigger psychosis in children A world first study revealing the presence of two antibodies in a sub-group of children experiencing their first episode of psychosis affirms a longstanding recognition that auto-immune disorders play a significant role in psychiatric illness.
	India suspends plans for warnings on cigarette packets India has suspended plans for bigger health warnings on cigarette packets, the health minister told AFP on Tuesday, after a committee of lawmakers demanded local evidence that smoking causes cancer.
	Poor behavior linked to time spent playing video games, not the games played Children who play video games for more than three hours a day are more likely to be hyperactive, get involved in fights and not be interested in school, says a new study. It examined the effects of different types of games and time spent playing on children's social and academic behaviour. The researchers from the University of Oxford found that the time spent playing games could be linked with problem behaviour and this was the significant factor rather than the types of games played. They could find no link between playing violent games and real-life aggression or a child's academic performance. They also found that low levels of play - under an hour a day - might actually benefit behaviour. The findings are published in the journal, Psychology of Popular Media Culture.
	'Gold standard' for pain relief after shoulder surgery may not be 24 karat Around 10,000 patients undergo shoulder surgery in Ontario every year and most go home the same day. Since it's quite a painful procedure, a lot of effort goes into making sure patients can manage their pain while at home recovering.
	Brittle bone disease: Drug research offers hope New research at the University of Michigan offers evidence that a drug being developed to treat osteoporosis may also be useful for treating osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease, a rare but potentially debilitating bone disorder that that is present from birth.
	People in MTV docusoaps are more ideal than real More midriff, cleavage and muscle is seen in MTV's popular television docusoaps such as The Real World, Jersey Shore or Laguna Beach than in the average American household. Semi-naked brawny Adonises and even more scantily clad thin women strut around on screen simply to grab the audience's attention. In the process, they present a warped view to young viewers about how they should look. Such docusoaps are definitely more ideal than real, say Mark Flynn of the Coastal Carolina University and Sung-Yeon Park of Bowling Green State University in the US. The findings, which scrutinize the stars in reality programs, are published in Springer's journal Sex Roles.
	Internet searches create illusion of personal knowledge, research finds Searching the Internet for information may make people feel smarter than they actually are, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Online illusion: Unplugged, we really aren't that smart The Internet brings the world to our fingertips, but it turns out that getting information online also has a startling effect on our brains: We feel a lot smarter than we really are, according to a Yale-led study published March 30 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
	Restoring IL-17 may treat skin infections related to chronic alcohol consumption Alcoholism takes a toll on every aspect of a person's life, including skin problems. Now, a new research report appearing in the April 2015 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, helps explain why this happens and what might be done to address it. In the report, researchers used mice show how chronic alcohol intake compromises the skin's protective immune response. They also were able to show how certain interventions may improve the skin's immune response. Ultimately, the hope is that this research could aid in the development of immune-based therapies to combat skin infection in people who chronically consume alcohol.
	Researchers see significant reduction in fatal car crashes after increase in alcohol taxes Increasing state alcohol taxes could prevent thousands of deaths a year from car crashes, say University of Florida Health researchers, who found alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes decreased after taxes on beer, wine and spirits went up in Illinois.
	History of depression puts women at risk for diabetes during pregnancy, study finds A history of depression may put women at risk for developing diabetes during pregnancy, according to research published in the latest issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing by researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON). This study also pointed to how common depression is during pregnancy and the need for screening and education.
	Folic acid may help elderly weather heat waves Supplemental folic acid can enhance blood vessel dilation in older adults, according to Penn State researchers, suggesting that folic acid supplements may be an inexpensive alternative for helping older adults to increase skin blood flow during heat waves and reduce cardiovascular events.
	Exercise largely absent from US medical school curriculum, study shows Exercise may play a critical role in maintaining good health, but fewer than half of the physicians trained in the United States in 2013 received formal education or training on the subject, according to new research from Oregon State University.
	Domestic violence deters contraception Domestic violence takes many forms. The control of a woman's reproductive choices by her partner is one of them. A major study published in PLOS One, led by McGill PhD student Lauren Maxwell, showed that women who are abused by their partner or ex-partner are much less likely to use contraception; this exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases and leads to more frequent unintended pregnancies and abortions. These findings could influence how physicians provide contraceptive counselling.
	Shift to gay, lesbian, bisexual identities in early adulthood tied to depressive symptoms People whose sexual identities changed toward same-sex attraction in early adulthood reported more symptoms of depression in a nationwide survey than those whose sexual orientations did not change or changed in the opposite direction, according to a new study by a University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) sociologist.
	Phone counseling reduces pain, disability after back surgery Research by Johns Hopkins scientists suggests that having a short series of phone conversations with trained counselors can substantially boost recovery and reduce pain in patients after spinal surgery.
	Scientists get one step closer to finding how to repair damaged nerve cells A team of researchers at the IRCM led by Frédéric Charron, PhD, in collaboration with bioengineers at McGill University, uncovered a new kind of synergy in the development of the nervous system, which explains an important mechanism required for neural circuits to form properly. Their breakthrough, published today in the scientific journal PLoS Biology, could eventually help develop tools to repair nerve cells following injuries to the nervous system (such as the brain and spinal cord).
	FDA expands approval for 'valve in valve' aortic replacement (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that use of the CoreValve "valve-in-valve" aortic replacement has been expanded to include people at extreme risk for serious complications of traditional open-heart surgery.
	Exogenous progesterone increases nuchal translucency (HealthDay)—Exogenous progesterone seems to increase nuchal translucency (NT), according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Eat right to protect your sight (HealthDay)—A number of nutrients can help keep your eyes healthy, and some may even improve your eyesight, an eye doctor says.
	Benefits of iron supplements unclear for pregnant women, young children (HealthDay)—Taking iron supplements during pregnancy doesn't appear to significantly change any health outcomes for mom or baby, a new review shows.
	New stroke prevention efforts may be paying off (HealthDay)—Fewer people are being treated in U.S. emergency rooms for strokes caused by blood clots in the brain, which experts read as a sign that current stroke prevention methods are working.
	Arsenic metabolism linked to diabetes incidence (HealthDay)—Arsenic metabolism is prospectively associated with diabetes incidence, according to a study published in the April issue of Diabetes Care.
	Androgen deprivation therapy has lasting impact on function (HealthDay)—For patients with prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has a lasting impact on physical function, according to a study published online March 24 in Cancer.
	AAPM: Platelet-rich plasma offers short-term benefit (HealthDay)—For patients with facet joint arthropathy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has a short-term positive impact, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, held from March 19 to 22 in National Harbor, Md.
	Opioid-induced constipation significant in pain patients (HealthDay)—Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is significant among noncancer pain patients, according to a study published online March 20 in Pain Medicine.
	Staff attitudes impact extended treatment time on hemodialysis (HealthDay)—Although most health care staff feel that extended treatment time on hemodialysis is beneficial, many nurses do not recommend it, according to a study published online March 16 in the Journal of Renal Care.
	Mayo Clinic unravels a mystery disease for Minnesota lawyer Greg Widseth didn't know what hit him. The lawyer felt fine as he coached his son's ninth-grade basketball workout last March. He remembers smiling at a young woman as he left the building.
	How newest class of drugs could save billions of dollars Clad in white lab coats, blue gloves and safety goggles, scientists are buzzing around a lab at Hospira in this suburb north of Chicago.
	Why drug names are so increasingly weird Naming a brand drug is a lot harder than it used to be.
	Protein may improve liver regeneration Researchers at UC Davis have illuminated an important distinction between mice and humans: how human livers heal. The difference centers on a protein called PPARα, which activates liver regeneration. Normally, mouse PPARα is far more active and efficient than the human form, allowing mice to quickly regenerate damaged livers. However, the research shows that protein fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) can boost the regenerative effects of human PPARα. The findings suggest that the molecule could offer significant therapeutic benefits for patients who have had a liver transplant or suffer from liver disease. The study was published in the journal Oncotarget.
	Chronic loneliness in older adults leads to more doctors' office visits, study finds Experiences of loneliness and social isolation can lead to increased health care use among older adults, according to new research from the University of Georgia College of Public Health.
	Experts question election pledges on GP access As the general election in the UK approaches, experts writing in The BMJ this week question whether the party promises on access to general practice are likely to be achievable.
	Physician recommendations result in greater weight loss, research finds Patients advised to lose weight by their physicians dropped more pounds on average than those who didn't receive a recommendation, according to new research from the University of Georgia published in the journal Economics & Human Biology.
	New recommendations for treating patients with high blood pressure and CVD A new scientific statement issued jointly by three medical organizations and published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension, addresses how low to aim when treating patients with high blood pressure who also have vascular diseases.
	Why gastrointestinal disorders afflict women more often Women are more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal (GI) disorders than men are. Although this could be because men and women handle the condition differently— "toughing it out" versus getting it checked out—studies suggest that the GI system behaves differently in women because of sex-related features in the brain. Tanja Babic, a researcher at Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, found that the nerve cells that control the movement of food through the intestines are more sluggish in response to brain inputs in women than in men.
	Blueberries show promise as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder Up to 8 percent of people in the U.S. suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the result of witnessing or being the victim of a traumatic event. People with PTSD have been in a situation in which they were at risk of death, serious injury or sexual violence or have seen first-hand loved ones faces such threats. They may experience flashbacks, emotional detachment and jumpiness, among other symptoms that affect their ability to function in everyday life.
	2015 match sees high proportion of unmatched seniors (HealthDay)—About 6.1 percent of U.S. allopathic medical school seniors in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) were not placed into first-year residency positions, with a higher percentage of unmatched seniors than in 2014, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
	Innovative strategies needed to address the US transplant organ shortage As the United States faces transplant waiting lists that continue to grow longer over time, there is increasing debate about the proper way to incentivize living donations. Transplant professionals are trying to find ways to eliminate any financial disincentives without crossing the line to paying for organs. A new article published in the American Journal of Transplantation highlights possible solutions discussed by leaders within the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) at a recent workshop.
	Pharmacists' group discourages providing execution drugs (Update) A leading association for U.S. pharmacists adopted a policy Monday that discourages its members from providing drugs for use in lethal injections—a move that could make carrying out such executions even harder for states with the death penalty.
	Female embryos less likely to survive to birth New research has challenged the prevailing belief that the higher proportion of male babies born in the general population results from a higher proportion of males being conceived.
	More reasons why getting a good night's sleep is important Not getting enough sleep not only makes our minds less alert, but our bodies too. Studies have suggested that losing several hours of sleep can slow the body's metabolism, but what about losing only a few hours? A team of researchers from the University of South Carolina and Arizona State University found that metabolic effects are seen even when sleep is shortened by two hours.
	Why icing doesn't work to heal injuries Applying ice to a muscle after injury is a commonly prescribed therapy for treating muscle bruises. But does it really speed recovery time and help the muscle to heal?
	New resuscitation guidelines for severely hypothermic patients in cardiac arrest The general rule for treatment of patients in cardiac arrest is that once resuscitation measures have begun, they must be continued uninterruptedly until the patient shows signs of life or is pronounced dead. A new study has shown that in the specific case of severely hypothermic victims with a core body temperature below 28°C, resuscitation can be delayed and periodically interrupted for short intervals during transportation in the mountains without jeopardising survival. The study has just been published in the medical journal "Resuscitation" and was conducted by Cumbrian Mountain Rescue doctors, the Glenfield Hospital, Leicester in the UK, EURAC in Italy, the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria and Stanford University in California, USA.
	Diet rich in methionine may promote memory loss Memory loss has recently been associated with excessive silencing of genes through a process called methylation. Researchers at the University of Louisville investigated the effects of a diet rich in methionine—an amino acid most abundant in eggs, fish and meats—on memory loss. They found that the diet promoted memory loss through increased methylation of netrin, a protein important for maintaining the brain.
	Arizona governor signs abortion drug notification mandate Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Monday that requires abortion providers in Arizona to tell women they can reverse the effects of a drug-induced abortion and also bars women from buying any health care plan through the federal marketplace that includes abortion coverage.
	Moving upstream to promote a healthier nation The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) proudly announces the publication of a Health Education & Behavior (HE&B) supplement devoted to the latest research and practice on policy and environmental approaches to foster healthy communities. The April 2015 supplement, "The Evidence for Policy and Environmental Approaches to Promoting Health," comprises a dozen peer-reviewed articles and two perspectives examining the state-of-the-evidence on what's working and what's needed at the community, institutional and societal levels to promote good health across diverse sectors.
	HIV patients experience better kidney transplant outcomes than Hepatitis C patients HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-positive kidney transplant patients experienced superior outcomes when compared to kidney transplant patients with Hepatitis C and those infected with both HIV and Hepatitis C, according to a study led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published online in Kidney International.
	How did he do it? Mayor Bloomberg's public health strategy evaluated How did former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg succeed in achieving so much of his "comprehensive and far-reaching" public health agenda? Key strategies included harnessing the full authority of the City health department and mobilizing the existing workforce to focus on targeted reforms, according to a study in the March/April issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
	Can caffeine be used to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease? The proposed link between caffeine and reductions in the beta amyloid plaque accumulation characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggest a possible role for caffeine in AD treatment. The latest evidence linking beta amyloid protein to Alzheimer's disease and exploring the relationship between caffeine and beta amyloid are featured in a review article in Journal of Caffeine Research: The International Multidisciplinary Journal of Caffeine Science.
	Spain to restore free health care for illegal immigrants Spain's conservative government said Tuesday it would restore free health care for illegal immigrants, overturning a controversial decision taken three years ago.
	'Religiously integrated' psychotherapy is effective for depression For chronically ill patients with major depression, an approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that incorporates patients' religious beliefs is at least as effective as conventional CBT, suggests a study in the April issue of The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease.
	A risk score for chronic kidney disease can inform choice of HIV medications Both traditional and HIV-related risk factors can predict the likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. In the study, Amanda Mocroft, of University College London, United Kingdom, and colleagues developed and validated a risk score model that can help inform choices among antiretroviral drugs for patients with HIV.
	Video: What's the difference between sugar and high-fructose corn syrup? It seems like it's in just about every product on grocery store shelves: high-fructose corn syrup. What is it, and how is it different from regular old sugar? And how did it become such a popular but controversial ingredient?
	Governments can prevent tragic death toll of mothers and babies Governments could substantially reduce the tragic death toll of infants and mothers by making postnatal care services more accessible - especially to impoverished and poorly educated women in rural areas, according to a study published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization today.
	Study suggests acute injured kidneys can be considered for transplant The shortage of kidneys needed for organ transplantation in the U.S. can be alleviated in part by using select kidneys with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), resulting in safe and positive outcomes, according to research conducted at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Other Sciences news

	The 100 million year-old piggyback: Amber reveals earliest example of maternal care in insects Scientists have uncovered the earliest fossilised evidence of an insect caring for its young.
	New paper suggests speech developed in a now-familiar form At some point, probably 50,000 to 100,000 years ago, humans began talking to one another in a uniquely complex form. It is easy to imagine this epochal change as cavemen grunting, or hunter-gatherers mumbling and pointing. But in a new paper, an MIT linguist contends that human language likely developed quite rapidly into a sophisticated system: Instead of mumbles and grunts, people deployed syntax and structures resembling the ones we use today.
	Discovery of two new species of primitive fishes Working with an international team, paleontologists at the University of Zurich have discovered two new species of Saurichthys. The ~242 million year old predatory fishes were found in the fossil Lagerstätte Monte San Giorgio, in Ticino. They are distinct from previously known Saurichthys species in the shape of the head and body, suggesting different habitats and diet.
	Researchers suggest adding uncertainty to catastrophe models may help predictability (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with members from Universidad de Granada and Princeton University has found that adding some uncertainty to computer models meant to predict catastrophes such as stock market crashes, rapid desertification of a region, etc. can help make the models better. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how they employed mathematical models that allow for adding in randomness to catastrophe prediction models and what they found by doing so.
	Using Twitter to probe political polarization We'd like to believe that our opinions are nuanced, balanced, high-minded, wise and above all, unique, but alas they are not—or so says Twitter. Most often, those we engage with on the popular social media site are like-minded, and the ensuing electronic maelstrom of 140-character missives most often serves to reinforce, pulling us and them further along in the direction we were already trending toward—so that at the end of the day, we all tweet to the converted.
	Discovering missing body parts of ancient fossils Certain specimens of the fossil Dickinsonia are incomplete because ancient currents lifted them from the sea floor, a team of researchers led by paleontologists at the University of California, Riverside has found. Sand then got deposited beneath the lifted portion, the researchers report, strongly suggesting that Dickinsonia was mobile, easily separated from the sea floor and not attached to the substrate on which it lived.
	What makes a child feel unsafe in their neighbourhood? Differences in the way children and adults perceive the world extend to their sense of safety in their social and physical environments and this in turn can impact their health, say researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated Research Centre at CHU Sainte Justine, a children's hospital. "While we knew that a child's sense of safety is informed by his or her own parents' sense of safety, we did not know how the child's own perceptions of their environment contributes to this sense," explained first author Carolyn Côté-Lussier, of the University of Montreal's International Center for Comparative Criminology.
	Researchers study concept of design fixation New research into the phenomenon of design fixation – allowing prior experience to blind us to new possibilities – may help in the development of new tools and strategies that help to stimulate the creative process without inadvertently limiting it.
	Researchers analyze juvenile delinquency, employment link Marianna McBride said her "lightbulb moment" came last fall. The biosocial criminology course riveted her, and the Penn State Abington senior immediately knew this was the area she wanted to specialize in when she begins her graduate studies next year.
	Lesbians earn more than heterosexual women while gay men lag in wages Gay men earn around 20 per cent less than their heterosexual counterparts, while lesbians out-earn heterosexual women by at least 33 per cent, are the findings of a new report, by Professor Mark Wooden at the University of Melbourne and Associate Professor Joseph Sabia from San Diego State University.
	Accident prevention should look at the big picture of what went wrong Accidents, as we all know, happen. But unfortunately, the traditional approach to accident investigation is still blighted by root cause thinking. That's despite the fact that it is now well known that there is never one thing wholly responsible for an accident.
	What 300,000 year old eggshells reveal about the environment of the Paleolithic In the 1990s the discovery of the oldest man made and completely preserved wooden hunting weapons made the Paleolithic excavation site in Schoningen internationally renowned. Contained within the 300,000 year-old deposits on a former lake shore in what is now Lower Saxony organic materials remain excellently preserved, including eggshells that Dr. Jordi Serangeli and Professor Nicholas Conard of the University of Tübingen, together with colleagues from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Lower Saxony State Service for Cultural Heritage (NLD) were able to identify as eggshell remains from various species of birds. This represents an exceptionally rare category of finds and with the systematic evaluation of these eggshells, the researchers expect within the next years to achieve significant contributions to the re-construction of the climatic conditions during this inter glacial period as well as new insights into! the behavior of migratory birds and the human diet 300,000 years ago.
	Do mobile devices in the classroom really improve learning outcomes? Mobile devices as teaching tools are becoming a more and more common part of the American education experience in classrooms, from preschool through graduate school. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 58% of U.S. teachers own smartphones—10 percentage points higher than the national average for adults. Those teachers are building that tech-savviness into their lesson plans, too, by embracing bring-your-own-device policies and leading the push for an iPad for every student. In 2013, an estimated 25% of U.S. schools had BYOD policies in place and it's reasonable to assume those numbers have risen in the past two years.
	Racial income inequality reduces levels of trust and social capital in communities By studying survey responses on trust from 110 metropolitan areas from 1973 to 2010, he finds that racial income inequality decreases trust within communities, and that this lack of trust is exacerbated when communities are more racially fragmented and as this inequality increases.
	People experience embarrassment buying personal products online Do you blush or avoid eye contact when you're standing in line to buy personal items? What about when you buy them online?
	New research says Anne Frank likely died a month earlier Teenage Jewish diarist Anne Frank likely died of typhus in a Nazi concentration camp about a month earlier than previously thought, the Amsterdam museum that honors her memory said Tuesday on the 70th anniversary of the officially recognized date of her death.
	Early education narrows the achievement gap with younger starts and longer stays New research from UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) reveals high-quality early education is especially advantageous for children when they start younger and continue longer. Not only does more high-quality early education significantly boost the language skills of children from low-income families, children whose first language is not English benefit even more.
	Program reduces bullying by students with disabilities, study finds Bullying perpetration decreased by 20 percent over a three-year period among youths with disabilities who participated in a social and emotional learning program, a new study found.
	Stereotypes persist that class and privilege determine intellect and success A meritocracy holds that if you work hard enough, you can succeed in life, regardless of race, religion, gender or social status. But a new study from UC Berkeley suggests that, despite egalitarian efforts to downplay class as a forecaster for intelligence and achievement, many people still believe their destiny is tied to their station in life.
	Utah student examines case of labor activist Joe Hill 100 years after execution The case is a staple in many history classes: In 1914 labor activist Joe Hill was arrested, tried and convicted for the murder of a retired policeman and grocer, John G. Morrison.
	Turin Egyptian Museum gets overhaul of pharaonic proportions For the earliest Egyptologists, a trip to the Egyptian Museum in Turin was considered indispensable. The museum's new director is seeking to return the almost 200-year-old museum to its one-time prominence, boosted by an overhaul of the collection and exhibit space of near-pharaonic proportions.
	How are ordinary consumers transforming the fashion business? One of the most important shifts of the 21st century is the ability of consumers to participate in markets they love such as music and fashion. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals how ordinary consumers have changed the inner workings of the fashion business by sharing their passion for fashion on a wide variety of websites.
	How diverse is your social network? The answer may reveal something about your values A new study out of Wellesley College sheds light on the role of beliefs about the value of diversity in fostering attitudinally diverse friendships. Led by Angela Bahns, a social psychologist studying similarity and diversity in friendship networks, the study demonstrates that people who place a higher value on diversity are more likely to have friends of different races, religions, and/or classes, as well as friends with different sociopolitical views.
	Getting the message across: Can active symbols on road signs save lives? If you're traveling at 60 miles per hour, just a few milliseconds can mean the difference between life and death when you need to come to a quick stop. According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, drivers react more quickly to road signs with symbols depicting motion.
	A matter of taste: When do products benefit from mixed reviews? How do consumers react to products with diverse online reviews? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, a mix of positive and negative reviews can benefit products that are evaluated based on personal taste.
	Do consumers think products are better when companies donate to charity? Does hearing about a company's charitable donations raise your opinion of their products? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, corporate social responsibility leads consumers to believe products are better quality.
	How does fertility affect women's desire for variety in products? Women seek a greater variety of products and services when they are ovulating, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
	Saving money: Do consumers spend less if they think about the future? Why is it so hard for consumers to save money? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, consumers are often impatient and do not think about the long-term consequences of spending money.
	When are consumers more likely to rely on feelings to make decisions? Why do some consumers make choices based on their feelings instead of rational assessments? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, consumers who consider themselves independent are more inclined to rely on feelings when making decisions.
	Cultivating timeflow: Can consumers shape how they experience time? Why does time seem to crawl if you're waiting in line at the post office, but hours can fly by in minutes when you're doing something fun? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines the factors that determine how consumers experience time.
	Generous welfare benefits make people more likely to want to work, not less Survey responses from 19,000 people in 18 European countries, including the UK, showed that "the notion that big welfare states are associated with widespread cultures of dependency, or other adverse consequences of poor short term incentives to work, receives little support."
	Criminologist challenges the effectiveness of solitary confinement A new study by a UT Dallas criminologist finds that solitary confinement does not deter inmates from committing further violence in prison.

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