Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Apr 23

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 24, 2015 at 3:38 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Apr 23
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

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Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 23, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Graphene champions the next generation 3D display technology
- Researchers develop computer model of bacterial colony interactions
- Astronomers find runaway galaxies
- Neuroscientists create the sensation of invisibility
- Chinese team performs gene editing on human embryo
- Scientists see deeper Yellowstone magma
- Photosynthesis has unique isotopic signature
- Simplified model predicts patterns that form from honey-like fluids
- Scientists use nanoscale building blocks and DNA 'glue' to shape 3-D superlattices
- Chemists' synthesis of silicon oxides opens 'new world in a grain of sand'
- Gene-editing technique offers hope for hereditary diseases
- Fat signals control energy levels in the brain
- Evolution of stem cells traced in study of fossilized rodent teeth
- Woolly mammoth genomes offer insight into their history and extinction
- Major depression leaves a metabolic mark

Nanotechnology news

	Scientists use nanoscale building blocks and DNA 'glue' to shape 3-D superlattices Taking child's play with building blocks to a whole new level-the nanometer scale-scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have constructed 3D "superlattice" multicomponent nanoparticle arrays where the arrangement of particles is driven by the shape of the tiny building blocks. The method uses linker molecules made of complementary strands of DNA to overcome the blocks' tendency to pack together in a way that would separate differently shaped components. The results, published in Nature Communications, are an important step on the path toward designing predictable composite materials for applications in catalysis, other energy technologies, and medicine.
	Graphene champions the next generation 3D display technology Moving holograms like those used in 3D science fiction movies such as Avatar and Elysium have to date only been seen in their full glory by viewers wearing special glasses.
	A new wrinkle for cell culture Using a technique that introduces tiny wrinkles into sheets of graphene, researchers from Brown University have developed new textured surfaces for culturing cells in the lab that better mimic the complex surroundings in which cells grow in the body.
	Researchers cradle silver nanoclusters inside synthetic DNA to create a programmed, tunable fluorescent array The silver used by Beth Gwinn's research group at UC Santa Barbara has value far beyond its worth as a commodity, even though it's used in very small amounts.

Physics news

	Simplified model predicts patterns that form from honey-like fluids Drizzling honey on toast can produce mesmerizing, meandering patterns, as the syrupy fluid ripples and coils in a sticky, golden thread. Dribbling paint on canvas can produce similarly serpentine loops and waves.
	How much of the Amazon rainforest would it take to print the Internet? Students from the University of Leicester have calculated how much paper would be required to physically print the Internet as we know it - and have found that, despite the Internet's enormous size, less than 1 per cent of the Amazon rainforest's trees would be required to accomplish it.
	Mechanical cloaks of invisibility—without complicated mathematics A honeycomb is a very stable structure. If it has a larger hole, however, stability is largely lost. What might a honeycomb look like, which survives external forces in spite of a hole? Such stable types of known constructions might be useful in architecture or when developing new construction materials. So far, the mathematical expenditure required has been very high and did not lead to the success desired in mechanics. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now found a new principle that considerably facilitates the mathematical approach and produces promising results with simple means.
	Pseudoparticles travel through photoactive material Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have unveiled an important step in the conversion of light into storable energy: Together with scientists of the Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin and the Aalto University in Helsinki/Finland, they studied the formation of so-called polarons in zinc oxide. The pseudoparticles travel through the photoactive material until they are converted into electrical or chemical energy at an interface. Their findings that are of relevance to photovoltaics among others are now published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.
	Researchers take a step towards development of optical single-phonon detector (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from institutions in the U.S. and Austria has succeeded in building a device that shows a clear step towards the development of an optical single-phonon detector. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their device and to what purposes it might be put. Ivan Favero with the University of Paris, offers a News & Views research perspective on the work done by the team and why it represents a big step forward in optomechanics.
	ORNL reports method that takes quantum sensing to new level Thermal imaging, microscopy and ultra-trace sensing could take a quantum leap with a technique developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
	Researchers use novel polarization to increase data speeds As the world's exponentially growing demand for digital data slows the Internet and cell phone communication, City College of New York researchers may have just figured out a new way to increase its speed.
	Metamaterials shine bright as new terahertz source Metamaterials allow design and use of light-matter interactions at a fundamental level. An efficient terahertz emission from two-dimensional arrays of gold split-ring resonator metamaterials was discovered as a result of excitation by a near-infrared pulsed laser.
	ICARUS neutrino experiment to move to Fermilab A group of scientists led by Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia will transport the world's largest liquid-argon neutrino detector across the Atlantic Ocean from CERN to its new home at the US Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (link is external).
	Portable MRI could aid wounded soldiers and children in the third world Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing an ultra-low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system that could be low-power and lightweight enough for forward deployment on the battlefield and to field hospitals in the World's poorest regions.
	Examining Einstein—precise experiments using lasers in space Tests carried out in zero-gravity on board the FOKUS research rocket. Successful demonstration of technology for the QUANTUS mission.
	Fast and accurate 3-D imaging technique to track optically trapped particles Optical tweezers have been used as an invaluable tool for exerting micro-scale force on microscopic particles and manipulating three-dimensional (3-D) positions of particles. Optical tweezers employ a tightly-focused laser whose beam diameter is smaller than one micrometer, which generates attractive force on neighboring microscopic particles moving toward the beam focus. Controlling the positions of the beam focus enabled researchers to hold the particles and move them freely to other locations so they coined the name "optical tweezers."
	Ultra-sensitive sensor detects individual electrons A Spanish-led team of European researchers at the University of Cambridge has created an electronic device so accurate that it can detect the charge of a single electron in less than one microsecond. It has been dubbed the 'gate sensor' and could be applied in quantum computers of the future to read information stored in the charge or spin of a single electron.
	National security on the move with high energy physics Scientists are developing a portable technology that will safely and quickly detect nuclear material hidden within large objects such as shipping cargo containers or sealed waste drums. The researchers, led by Berkeley Lab scientists, have been awarded over $10 million from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D Office to combine the capabilities of conventional building-size research instruments with the transportable size of a truck for security applications on the go.

Earth news

	Photosynthesis has unique isotopic signature Photosynthesis leaves behind a unique calling card, a chemical signature that is spelled out with stable oxygen isotopes, according to a new study in Science. The findings suggest that similar isotopic signatures could exist for many biological processes, including some that are difficult to observe with current tools.
	Scientists see deeper Yellowstone magma University of Utah seismologists discovered and made images of a reservoir of hot, partly molten rock 12 to 28 miles beneath the Yellowstone supervolcano, and it is 4.4 times larger than the shallower, long-known magma chamber.
	High mountains warming faster than expected High elevation environments around the world may be warming much faster than previously thought, according to members of an international research team including Raymond Bradley, director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. They call for more aggressive monitoring of temperature changes in mountain regions and more attention to the potential consequences of warming.
	Research trio suggest low-relief mountain surfaces due to river network disruption (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers, two with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the other with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, claim to have found evidence that suggests low-relief mountain surfaces are due to river disruption, not tectonic uplift. In their paper published in the journal Nature, Rong Yang, Sean Willett and Liran Goren describe how they showed that a portion of the Tibetan Plateau likely did not come about due to tectonic uplift and instead suggest an alternative explanation. Jérôme Lavé with Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques in Rome offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the trio in the same journal issue.
	Heat still on despite warming slowdown The recent slowdown in the rise of global average air temperatures will make no difference to how much the planet will warm by 2100, a new study has found.
	Thawing permafrost feeds climate change Carbon, held in frozen permafrost soils for tens of thousands of years, is being released as Arctic regions of the Earth warm and is further fueling global climate change, according to a Florida State University researcher.
	Flight of the methane hunters At just a bit over crop duster height, University of Michigan researchers are flying through a 50-square-mile hotspot of the greenhouse gas methane over the U.S. Southwest.
	Scientists convinced of tie between earthquakes and drilling With the evidence coming in from one study after another, scientists are now more certain than ever that oil and gas drilling is causing hundreds upon hundreds of earthquakes across the U.S.
	The 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake—felt from space For the first time, a natural source of infrasonic waves of Earth has been measured directly from space—450 kilometers above the planet's surface. The source was the massive 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake in Japan, and its signature was detected at this orbital altitude only eight minutes after the arrival of seismic and infrasonic waves, according to Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech's Yu-Ming (Oscar) Yang and colleagues in collaboration with the University of New Brunswick, Canada, who present their research today at the annual meeting of the Seismological Society of America (SSA).
	How oil damages fish hearts: Five years of research since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Scientists with the Ecotoxicology Program at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle have been working to understand those effects. "Along with our research partners," said Nat Scholz, the scientist who leads the program, "we're investigating the more subtle, lingering, and potentially widespread impacts of oil on the health and survival of fish."
	Catalina Island's slow sink—and potential tsunami hazard New images of ancient, underwater beach terraces around Santa Catalina Island suggest that the island is sinking, probably as a result of changes in the active fault systems around the island. At the rate that can be calculated so far, the island could disappear within three million years, as it is sinking approximately one foot every thousand years.
	Going with the flow? Research provides better understanding of soils and water When it comes to soil and water, predictability is important—but difficult.
	Arctic nations meet under threat of new Cold War The thawing of the polar ice promises Arctic nations new opportunities to open ocean trade routes and offshore oil fields.
	First carbon auction 'to help Australia meet pledge': government Australia Thursday said its plan to pay polluters to reduce carbon emissions blamed for climate change was off to a good start and would help the nation become a "world leader" in meeting pledges to tackle greenhouse gases.
	Climate change a 'fundamental threat' to development: World Bank Global governments must dig deep to combat climate change, the World Bank chief said Thursday, describing it as a "fundamental threat" to development.
	Oceans worth $24 tn, but sea change needed to save them says WWF The world's oceans are awash in riches, with output rivalling that of some of the world's largest economies, but over-fishing, pollution and climate change are rapidly eroding those resources, WWF warned Thursday.
	Image: A sky view of Earth from Suomi NPP This composite image of southern Africa and the surrounding oceans was captured by six orbits of the NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership spacecraft on April 9, 2015, by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument. Tropical Cyclone Joalane can be seen over the Indian Ocean.
	Regenerative agriculture offering greater plant biodiversity The European project LIFE REGEN FARMING, led by the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development NEIKER-Tecnalia, is seeking to produce healthier, more fertile pastures that offer greater plant biodiversity. The initiative sets out to identify, demonstrate and transfer best practices in meadow management and to propose that stockbreeders and farmers adopt regenerative agricultural techniques allowing the soil to be managed more effectively and sustainably.
	Enhancing earthquake early warning in the Pacific Northwest Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) systems depend on speed and accuracy in delivering seismic monitoring data to areas at risk from a quake or volcanic eruption. Paul Bodin of the University of Washington and colleagues have been testing models of EEW systems within the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) in Washington State and Oregon to learn more about what factors could be improved to provide the most timely warnings for their region. For instance, what's priorities are important for getting a speedy warning to those at risk: the placement of seismic monitoring stations, or the number of stations, or the speed at which data can be transmitted between stations and notification centers?

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers find runaway galaxies We know of about two dozen runaway stars, and have even found one runaway star cluster escaping its galaxy forever. Now, astronomers have spotted 11 runaway galaxies that have been flung out of their homes to wander the void of intergalactic space.
	In the realm of eternal ice On 6 November 2010, the light of the star known as NOMAD1 0856-0015072 in the Cetus constellation dimmed. What had happened? A dwarf planet at the edge of the solar system had moved in front of the distant star - its name: Eris. Such a "stellar eclipse" affords astronomers a rare opportunity to find out more about the icy worlds which circle the Sun en masse beyond Neptune's orbit.
	Titan's atmosphere useful in study of hazy exoplanets With more than a thousand confirmed planets outside of our solar system, astronomers are attempting to identify the atmospheres of these distant bodies to determine if they could possibly host life.
	Celestial fireworks celebrate Hubble's 25th anniversary The glittering tapestry of young stars flaring to life in this new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image aptly resembles an exploding shell in a fireworks display. This vibrant image of the star cluster Westerlund 2 has been released to celebrate Hubble's 25th year in orbit and a quarter of a century of new discoveries, stunning images and outstanding science.
	Can sound help us detect 'earthquakes' on Venus? Detecting an "earthquake" on Venus would seem to be an impossible task. The planet's surface is a hostile zone of crushing pressure and scorching temperatures—about 874 degrees F, hot enough to melt lead—that would destroy any of the normal instruments used to gauge seismic activity. But conditions in Venus' atmosphere are much more hospitable, and it is here that researchers hope to deploy an array of balloons or satellites that could detect Venusian seismic activity—using sound.
	Astronomers join forces to speed discovery of habitable worlds UC Berkeley astronomers will lead one of 16 new projects funded by NASA to coordinate different exoplanet searches to more efficiently find habitable planets around other stars, and perhaps extraterrestrial life itself.
	Image: NASA tail technology could someday reduce airplane fuel use In this photo taken from a chase plane, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator 757 flight test airplane —with NASA's Active Flow Control technology installed on the tail—makes a final approach to King County Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington.
	The mysterious dark energy that speeds the universe's rate of expansion The nature of dark energy is one of the most important unsolved problems in all of science. But what, exactly, is dark energy, and why do we even believe that it exists?
	Image: Reflecting on a spacecraft arrival Cargo has arrived at the International Space Station to support approximately 40 of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will be performed during Expeditions 43 and 44, including numerous human research investigations for NASA astronaut Scott Kelly's one-year mission in space.
Report recommends strategic actions to strengthen US optical and infrared astronomy system A new report from the National Research Council recommends improvements in observational, instrumentation, and data management capabilities as well as coordination among federal and private partners to better position the U.S. ground-based optical and infrared astronomy system to meet the long-term scientific goals outlined in the Research Council's recent decadal surveys on astronomy and astrophysics and planetary science. In addition, an ongoing, community-wide planning process is needed to identify and develop new capabilities in the short term to address the decadal science priorities.

Technology news

	Hello? Facebook launches phone-calling app for Android Hello? Anyone there? Facebook unveiled a new voice-calling app for Android phones on Wednesday, the same day that its WhatsApp messaging service introduced voice-calling for iOS devices.
Reducing big data using ideas from quantum theory makes it easier to interpret Analysing the large volumes of data gathered by modern businesses and public services is problematic. Traditionally, relationships between the different parts of a network have been represented as simple links, regardless of how many ways they can actually interact, potentially loosing precious information. Only recently a more general framework has been proposed to represent social, technological and biological systems as multilayer networks, piles of 'layers' with each one representing a different type of interaction. This approach allows a more comprehensive description of different real-world systems, from transportation networks to societies, but has the drawback of requiring more complex techniques for data analysis and representation.
	Concepts emerge for a vertical city in the desert Can architects and engineers deliver a vertical, sustainable city of distinctive beauty, looking as if the structure is carved from rock, in the Sahara desert? It could happen. Manal Rachdi Oxo Architectes and Nicolas Laisné Associés have plans for a 450-meter-high city.
	Researchers apply computer vision technique to see tiny vibrations in large structures To the naked eye, buildings and bridges appear fixed in place, unmoved by forces like wind and rain. But in fact, these large structures do experience imperceptibly small vibrations that, depending on their frequency, may indicate instability or structural damage.
	Zensors: Making sense with live question feeds Getting answers to what you really want to ask, beyond if the door is open or shut, could be rather easy. A video on YouTube demonstrates something called Zensors. Started at Carnegie Mellon last year and worked on by a team of faculty and graduate students from the school's Human-Computer Interaction Institute, Zensors is promoted as sensing made easy.
	Toyota to provide first hydrogen-fueled pace car A hydrogen-fueled vehicle will lead the field at a NASCAR race for the first time when a 2016 Toyota Mirai serves as the official pace car Saturday night at Richmond.
Google prepares for long battle in EU antitrust case Google Inc. probably faces a lengthy process in challenging antitrust charges by the European Union, but the Internet search giant might be able to avoid paying hefty fines or making big changes to its business.
Cheap content, growing reach make Snapchat a fast-rising star Thousands of revelers descended on the Coachella music festival this month to rock out to their favorite bands and party day and night. But a far bigger audience from around the world - at least 40 million - joined in remotely through video snippets from Snapchat.
Sky-high expectations for release of Amazon Web Services' numbers When Amazon.com reports its quarterly financial results Thursday, the company will do something it has never done before: provide detailed financial information about its Amazon Web Services division.
In a cameras-everywhere culture, science fiction becomes reality Science fiction writer David Brin calls it "a tsunami of lights" - a future where tiny cameras are everywhere, lighting up everything we do, and even predicting what we'll do next.
	China fines Mercedes $57 million in price-fixing probe A Chinese regulator said Thursday it has fined Mercedes Benz 350 million yuan ($57 million) on price-fixing charges in a wide-ranging probe of the auto industry that has prompted complaints foreign automakers are being treated unfairly.
	New Pentagon strategy warns of cyberwar capabilities A new Pentagon cybersecurity strategy lays out for the first time publicly that the U.S. military plans to use cyberwarfare as an option in conflicts with enemies.
SK Hynix Q1 net profit up 61 percent on-year South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix saw its net profit shoot up 61 percent on-year in the first quarter on strong demand for chips for new mobile devices, the company said Thursday.
	As PayPal split looms, eBay plans to think small EBay plans to grow by thinking small as it prepares for life apart from PayPal.
	Some Apple Watches shipping sooner than expected Apple says some customers will be getting the new Apple Watch sooner than expected.
	Chinese smartwatch makers say clock ticking for Apple The Apple Watch goes on sale on Friday but Chinese factories are already churning out cheaper alternatives, to the delight of local consumers.
	Ericsson profit hit by poor US performance, global sales up Sluggish broadband demand in North America is hurting Ericsson, the world's largest networks maker, which reported Thursday a 14 percent drop in first-quarter net profit to 1.5 billion kronor ($ 173 million) despite a rise in global sales.
	Volvo prepares to send 'Made in China' cars to US On the verge of exporting the first "Made in China" cars to the United States, Volvo is determined to show they are as good as vehicles it produces in Europe.
	Sky-high refuelling for UAVs A University of Sydney researcher has designed and successfully tested a method for autonomously docking drones for refuelling or recharging, in mid-air.
	Virtual driver can increase confidence in self-driving car Self-driving cars are what we can all expect to see in the future. But will drivers be willing to leave control to technology? Behavioral scientist Frank Verberne at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) believes a virtual driver can help. In his PhD research he shows how you can make sure these 'drivers' can trust people, and bring the acceptance of self-driving cars a step closer. He gained his PhD on Tuesday 21 April.
	How fish fossils can help us build better submarines The ocean, which covers the vast majority of the world's surface, holds many secrets. For more than a year a multinational team has tried to find the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on the bottom of it – without success. But it turns out fish fossils could help us explore it.
	Google wireless phone service challenges major carriers Google is trying to shake up the wireless phone industry with a low-priced service designed to pressure major carriers into making it more affordable for people to get online and use Google's services.
Multi-million EU project to protect data against quantum computers Quantum-proof cryptosystems need to be in place before big quantum computers become a reality, which is expected some time after 2025. Even if the scientists win that race quantum computers can still decrypt communication that we encrypt today with current technologies if the attacker has retained this data.
Study: Self-driving 'taxibots' could replace 9 in 10 cars Transportation experts say car-congested cities could become a thing of the past, provided people are prepared to ride-share with a robot driver.
	10 years later, YouTube is a hit but faces challenges Ten years after its launch, YouTube has become a household name for online video but faces an array of rivals in the market and lingering questions about its business model.
US House passes 2nd bill to help firms fight cyberattacks The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday encouraging private companies to share information about cyberattacks with federal authorities in an attempt to combat the growing problem.
	New retail strategy opens with Apple Watch launch Apple Watch is coming, but don't expect long queues of people waiting to snare a limited supply of the new devices.
	Twitter unveils 'Highlights' to help users catch up Twitter on Thursday rolled out a new feature aimed at helping users sift through the large number of tweets on their feed each day.
	Amazon's Web Services boosts 1Q revenue Strong demand for cloud computing services helped Amazon's revenue jump 15 percent in the first quarter.
	Reorganization costs hit Microsoft profit Microsoft reported a drop in quarterly profit Thursday, dragged down by higher costs for restructuring and integrating Nokia mobile phone operations.
	Google's 1Q reassures investors despite earnings miss Google is still flexing its moneymaking muscle even as a technological upheaval nibbles at its dominance in Internet search and European antitrust regulators question some of the company's practices.
Noble Energy agrees to settle Colorado air pollution case Large oil and gas driller Noble Energy has agreed to a settlement over alleged air-pollution violations north of Denver, a deal federal officials say could cost the company up to $73.5 million.
Comcast expands 2-gigabit Internet service –In the race for speed, Comcast soon will offer the fastest residential Internet speed in the country to its 1.3 million residential customers in South Florida.
Japan PM office drone may have been there days: reports A small drone bearing traces of radioactivity that was found on the roof of the Japanese prime minister's office may have been there for days, reports said Thursday.
	Are gas hydrates a source of environmentally friendly energy? Gas hydrate is also known as the ice that burns. And everything that burns releases energy. A lot of energy is stored in hydrates: a cubic meter of methane hydrate, for example, compresses as much as 168 m3 of natural gas. And there are gigatonnes of it stored in the sediments of the oceans.
	JRC wins competition on indoor localization A team of JRC researchers outperformed 27 teams from academia and industry across the globe and achieved best overall result at a competition on indoor localisation in Seattle, USA. Providing accurate position information on people and objects indoors, where GPS signals are not available, has been a challenging research topic over the last decade and there is not yet a large-scale commercial deployment in this field.
	Reports say Comcast plans to drop $45B Time Warner Cable bid Comcast is abandoning its $45.2 billion purchase of Time Warner Cable, according to media reports.
Classroom acoustics for architects The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) has published a free online booklet for architects to aid in the application of ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010/Part 1-American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 1, the national classroom acoustics standard that applies to K-12 classrooms.

Chemistry news

	Chemists' synthesis of silicon oxides opens 'new world in a grain of sand' In an effort that reaches back to the 19th-century laboratories of Europe, a discovery by University of Georgia chemistry researchers establishes new research possibilities for silicon chemistry and the semiconductor industry.
	Nanotech-enabled moisturizer speeds healing of diabetic skin wounds A new high-tech but simple ointment applied to the skin may one day help diabetic patients heal stubborn and painful ulcers on their feet, Northwestern University researchers report.
	Improving accuracy in genome editing Imagine a day when scientists are able to alter the DNA of organisms in the lab in the search for answers to a host of questions. Or imagine a day when doctors treat genetic disorders by administering drugs designed to alter a patient's genome.
	X-ray study may aid in designing better blood pressure drugs An experiment at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has revealed in atomic detail how a hypertension drug binds to a cellular receptor that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. The results could help scientists design new drugs that better control blood pressure while limiting side effects.
Polymer researchers create a new class of hybrid materials Polymer science will have to add a new giant molecule to its lexicon thanks to a cutting-edge discovery at The University of Akron. Taking a revolutionary "building blocks" approach, researchers have pioneered a way to create a new class of very large polymer molecules, called macromolecules, which assemble themselves into strong, stable structures. The work has been done in collaboration with researchers at Peking University in China and The University of Tokyo in Japan.
A practical approach for assessing the melanin and blood content of the skin Many factors can change skin pigmentation, including aging, exposure to UV light, certain drugs, as well as certain diseases. A simple technique for measuring skin pigmentation could be a helpful tool for research and diagnostics. The same goes for measuring the skin blood content. Alteration of blood flow in the skin can, for example, be linked to skin irritations, inflammatory disorders, or diseases, such as psoriasis and rosacea. In addition, some systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and asthma, have shown to be associated with peripheral microvascular modifications.
Test can smell ketosis VTT has developed a quick, easy-to-use ketosis test for consumers that can detect acetone on exhaled breath. The test will benefit diabetics and dieters in particular, but it can easily be adapted to other uses as well, such as the detection of the air pollutants formaldehyde or acetaldehyde.
	Crime scene discovery—separating the DNA of identical twins Since its first use in the 1980s - a breakthrough dramatised in recent ITV series Code of a Killer - DNA profiling has been a vital tool for forensic investigators. Now researchers at the University of Huddersfield have solved one of its few limitations by successfully testing a technique for distinguishing between the DNA - or genetic fingerprint - of identical twins.
	Video: Better beer chemistry: It's all about the yeast Every beer brewer is locked into a high-maintenance relationship with yeast—those finicky, alcohol-creating microorganisms.

Biology news

	Researchers develop computer model of bacterial colony interactions (Phys.org)—One of the remarkable properties of bacterial colonies is the self-ordering aggregation and orientation of bacterial cells. Bacteria secrete extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that form biofilm-like structures in which the cells aggregate. Due to the density of such systems, researchers have speculated that the high degree of order manifested by colonies is due to specific mechanical interactions between the cells and the biofilm matrix.
	Chinese team performs gene editing on human embryo (Phys.org)—A team of researchers in China has announced that they have performed gene editing on human embryos. In their paper uploaded to the open access site Protein & Cell (after being rejected by Nature and Science) the researchers defended their research by pointing out that the embryos used in their research were non-viable.
	Cell's protein-making machines shift modes under stress Similar to a hybrid car that switches from gas to electric as it drives on major highways and secondary roads, Cornell researchers have discovered that the cell's protein-making machinery, called ribosomes, exists in a hybrid form to meet different needs encountered under normal and stressed conditions.
	Iridescent animals shine to startle predators Animals which appear to shimmer and shine may have evolved these qualities as a way to startle predators, new research suggests.
	Differences in personality influence survival in field crickets An individual's behaviour in risky situations is a distinct personality trait both in humans and animals that can have an immediate impact on longevity. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen have now found differences in personality types for the first time in a population of free living field crickets. Risk-prone individuals showed a higher mortality as they stayed more often outside their burrow where they can be easily detected by predators, compared to risk averse individuals. Moreover, shy individuals are not encountered so often by researchers, causing potential bias in collected scientific data. This methodological problem has been a neglected in many personality studies but has been accounted for uniquely in the present study.
	Evolution of stem cells traced in study of fossilized rodent teeth By studying fossilized teeth from thousands of extinct rodent species, UC San Francisco and University of Helsinki scientists have shown how fundamental evolutionary mechanisms drive the emergence of novel mammalian stem cells.
	Why do animals fight members of other species? Why do animals fight with members of other species? A nine-year study by UCLA biologists says the reason often has to do with "obtaining priority access to females" in the area.
	Jaws meets kangaroo? Rare, cute pocket shark found in deep Think Jaws meets a kangaroo, with maybe a touch of cute kitten, and you've got the aptly named pocket shark—the newest and rarest species found off the U.S. coast.
	Poor diet may contribute to the decline in British bees The changing British landscape could be contributing to the decline in our bee populations, according to Lancaster University research.
	Trained falcon teaches a radar system to distinguish birds from other targets A trained falcon named Houdini darts and soars next to a wind power plant in the shadow of the Colorado Rockies, gathering radar data that could someday save the lives of his avian brethren.
	Northern quoll population pops up in arid zone Scientists working in WA's biggest and most remote national park—Karlamilyi—have discovered a population of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus).
Researchers find possible universal code of protein structure A Dartmouth College study finds there may be a universal code to predict protein structure, which could help to determine why certain mutations cause disease and how to fix them.
	Cell fusion 'eats up' the 'attractive cell' in flowering plants Flowering plants naturally know when they need to spare or perish their cells. In a new study reported in Cell, an international group of plant biologists at ITbM, Nagoya University and other research institutes, have examined the ovules of plant cells by live-imaging to reveal a novel cell-elimination system based on an unusual cell fusion. This uncovers the mechanism on how flowering plants prevent further attraction of multiple pollen tubes after successful fertilization.
	Dolphins use extra energy to communicate in noisy waters Dolphins that raise their voices to be heard in noisy environments expend extra energy in doing so, according to new research that for the first time measures the biological costs to marine mammals of trying to communicate over the sounds of ship traffic or other sources.
Genetics provides new clues about lionfish invasion New genetic data suggest the red lionfish invasion in the Caribbean Basin and Western Atlantic started in multiple locations, not just one as previously believed, according to a new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey.
	Horticulturalists develop two new berries Berries of all types are wonderful additions to a healthy diet, providing nutrients, fiber, and flavor. Two new berries have been developed, thanks to scientists at the Agricultural Research Service's Horticultural Crops Research Unit in Corvallis, Oregon, and their collaborators.
	Fishes' large carbon footprints to be included in seafood eco-labeling A new study has led researchers to call for a review of seafood 'eco-labels', which currently exclude consideration of the substantial carbon footprint left by the seafood industry.
A focus on flight: Study shows birds use just two postures to avoid obstacles during flight Navigating through a cluttered environment at high speed is among the greatest challenges in biology - and it's one virtually all birds achieve with ease. It's a feat David Williams hopes to understand.
	Are our fisheries laws working? Just ask about gag grouper "Gag grouper? That's our money fish," said Mike Colby, a charter boat captain out of Clearwater, Florida, on the state's western shore. "That's what brings customers to the dock."
Many Dry Tortugas loggerheads actually Bahamas residents Many loggerhead sea turtles that nest in Dry Tortugas National Park head to rich feeding sites in the Bahamas after nesting, a discovery that may help those working to protect this threatened species.

Medicine & Health news

	Neuroscientists create the sensation of invisibility The power of invisibility has long fascinated man and inspired the works of many great authors and philosophers. In a study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, a team of neuroscientists now reports a perceptual illusion of having an invisible body, and show that the feeling of invisibility changes our physical stress response in challenging social situations.
	Compassion meditation reduces 'mind-wandering,' research shows The practice of compassion meditation may be a powerful antidote to a drifting mind, new Stanford research shows.
	How a computer can help your doctor better diagnose cancer Correctly diagnosing a person with cancer—and identifying the specific type of cancer—makes all the difference in successfully treating a patient.
	Human tape worm drug shows promise against MRSA in lab A new study provides evidence from lab experiments that a drug already used in people to fight tapeworms might also prove effective against strains of the superbug MRSA, which kills thousands of people a year in the United States.
	Fat signals control energy levels in the brain An enzyme secreted by the body's fat tissue controls energy levels in the brain, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings, in mice, underscore a role for the body's fat tissue in controlling the brain's response to food scarcity, and suggest there is an optimal amount of body fat for maximizing health and longevity.
	Extra sleep fixes memory problems in flies with Alzheimer's-like condition Many studies have linked more sleep to better memory, but new research in fruit flies demonstrates that extra sleep helps the brain overcome catastrophic neurological defects that otherwise would block memory formation, report scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
	Connecting places causes mental maps to merge Realising how places connect geographically causes local maps in the brain to join, forming one big map which helps with planning future journeys, finds a new UCL study.
	Gene-editing technique offers hope for hereditary diseases For thousands of women around the globe carrying a mitochondrial disease, having a healthy child can be a gamble. This set of diseases affect mitochondria, tiny powerhouses that generate energy in the body's cells and are passed exclusively from mother to child.
	Major depression leaves a metabolic mark Major depression comes with an unexpected metabolic signature, according to new evidence reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on April 23. The findings in humans and mice offer new insight into the nature of depression. They may also yield new ways to measure and monitor mental health at the molecular level.
	Study describes brain circuitry for selecting among sensations We consider only some of the sights, sounds, and sensations we experience. A new study by Brown University neuroscientists details how the neocortex selectively samples from the flow of sensory information that might otherwise flood it.
	Major pathway identified in nerve cell death offers hope for therapies New research highlights how nerves - whether harmed by disease or traumatic injury - start to die, a discovery that unveils novel targets for developing drugs to slow or halt peripheral neuropathies and devastating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
	Expert panels successfully rate medical research proposals, big-data analysis shows The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is easily the world's largest funder of medical research, and outside scientists perform most of the research. Panels of these investigators also select the projects that the NIH supports. With the NIH budget slowly dropping, some experts have questioned whether this "peer review" process is prone to favoritism or to avoiding risky but potentially high-payoff studies.
More than 26,000 have been infected with Ebola: WHO More than 26,000 people have been infected with Ebola since the outbreak began and more than 10,800 have died, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
	CDC using new technology to track listeria Illnesses The government is relying on some new technology—as well as a bit of luck—to track an outbreak of life-threatening listeria linked to Blue Bell ice cream products.
Chilli peppers hold promise of preventing liver damage and progression Results revealed today at the International Liver Congress 2015 show that the daily consumption of capsaicin, the active compound of chilli peppers, was found to have beneficial effects on liver damage.
Genomic analyses point to the potential of personalised care for liver cancer patients A new study presented today at The International Liver Congress 2015 shows that by using genomic analyses to understand how and when carcinogenic mutations occur in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is possible to identify specific molecular profiles. It is hoped that these molecular profiles will help identify which patients would benefit from specific anticancer treatments.
Rising antibiotic shortages raise concerns about patient care Shortages of key antibiotics, including gold-standard therapies and drugs used to treat highly resistant infections, are on the rise, according to a new study of shortages from 2001 to 2013 published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and available online. The trends raise serious concerns about the effects on patient care, particularly for infections without effective alternative treatment options.
California residents face high levels of discrimination due to psychological stress, study finds Most California residents facing psychological distress do not perceive the public as being supportive, with a large proportion reporting discrimination both in personal relationships and in public realms such as the workplace, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	BPA risk to newborns may be smaller than previously believed Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers say that while a large majority of newborns are exposed in their earliest days to bisphenol A (BPA), a much-studied chemical used in plastics and in food and soda can linings, they can chemically alter and rid their bodies of it.
	Epigenetic marks lay foundations for a child's future abilities Although it is now widely recognized that a poor start to life has long-term effects on a child's later ability to learn, the mechanisms by which the environment in early life affects later life chances are poorly understood.
Breakthrough development in cancer immunology published in Nature BioNTech AG announced the publication of a scientific article on therapeutic immune responses to cancer in the internationally renowned scientific journal Nature. The paper shows an important scientific foundation for the clinical development of truly personalized yet broadly applicable cancer treatment for any patient. This publication represents results from an interdisciplinary collaboration between scientific and clinical teams at TRON, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology and BioNTech AG to elucidate novel cancer immunotherapy principles, translate these into individually tailored mRNA cancer vaccines and progress clinical development to provide new treatment options for cancer patients.
	Research finds target to prevent breast cancer relapse Researchers have for the first time shown how a specific protein receptor on the surface of breast cells promotes the progression of breast cancer.
	UN sees uphill malaria fight despite 'phenomenal' success Malaria still claims nearly 600,000 lives a year, the UN said Thursday, urging further action to boost recent strides in combatting the disease.
	Two neurotransmitters are linked to unusually aggressive behaviour in male mice How do some of us manage to control our violent tendencies while others cannot? Research led by University of Tsukuba behavioural neuroscientist Dr Aki Takahashi and Dr. Tsuyoshi Koide from the Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory in the National Institute of Genetics may help to address this question. She and her team of international collaborators found that an increase in the levels of two neurotransmitters, glutamate and serotonin, in key parts of the brain is linked to intense aggression in male mice.
Borderline personality disorder as debilitating as bipolar disorder The deterioration of psychiatric and physical health caused by borderline personality disorder (BPD) rivals that of bipolar disorder, according to Mark Zimmerman, M.D., a researcher at Rhode Island Hospital. His research was published online in the British Journal of Psychiatry today.
	Independence equals success for women in the dating game Women have an outdated idea of what men want in a potential partner – and they should feel more comfortable being themselves, according to University of Queensland research.
Study links low and high levels of manganese to lower IQ scores in children Both low and high levels of manganese in blood and hair were associated with lower IQ scores in children living in eastern Ohio, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC).
	Research on cancer blood test is overhyped in the media Headlines today are heralding a new "simple blood test", claiming it can accurately predict if a woman will develop breast cancer in the future. This sounds amazing.
	Innovation gives pregnant women with diabetes round-the-clock glucose control Achieving better glucose control in pregnant women with diabetes by using continuous glucose monitoring may help them give birth to healthier children, new research from the University of Leeds says.
Researchers find lower caloric intake provides a benefit to middle-aged, but not young, animals Calorie restriction has long been studied as a way to extend lifespan in animals. It has been associated with the ability to reduce the risks of cardiovascular and other diseases and to improve overall health. Now, researchers at Chang Gung University in Taiwan have found that calorie restriction can also be beneficial to muscles, improving muscle metabolism and mass at an important time—during middle age. The article "Late-onset Caloric Restriction Alters Skeletal Muscle Metabolism by Modulating Pyruvate Metabolism" is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology–Endocrinology and Metabolism.
	Researchers find link between traffic offences and severe road trauma Researchers from Royal Perth Hospital have completed one of the first studies to look at traffic offences as a risk factor for severe road trauma.
	New research shows chewing gum could remove that stuck record in your head Can't get that song out of your head? Chewing gum could turn off annoying 'earworms' according to new research from the University of Reading.
Gibberish test can expose real language disorders in children Children with different home languages pose a particular challenge for speech and language therapists. If a child has problems with language, is this due to limited experience of the language, or does the child have a language disorder? If – as in most cases – clinicians know nothing about the child's home language, and there are no clinical assessments in that language, how can they find out?
Shetland pony midge study offers clues to curbing allergies Shetland ponies' immune response to insect bites is helping scientists understand how people could be prevented from developing allergies.
	Children with ADHD at risk for binge eating, study shows Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are significantly more likely to have an eating disorder—a loss of control eating syndrome (LOC-ES)—akin to binge eating, a condition more generally diagnosed only in adults, according to results of a new Johns Hopkins Children's Center study. The findings, reported ahead of print April 9 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, suggest a common biological mechanism linking the two disorders, and the potential for developing treatment that works for both.
When is a child too sick for daycare? Study explores parents' decision-making It's a common dilemma faced by many working parents: your child has a cough or a cold, do you send them to nursery?
	How experience may lead to misperception Distance, volume, brightness or duration—when judging magnitudes, we make systematic errors. A new model of Munich researchers combines two competing classical theories of magnitude estimates and attributes prior experience to play an important role. The study has been published in the current edition of the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
	Novel mechanism for Crohn's disease uncovered Crohn's disease is one of a family of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). While it has already been proven to have genetic causes, scientists have now shown that the presence of certain intestinal bacteria also plays a role. A study reported in the Gut journal has shown that in mice, bacterial imbalance in the gut can lead to an inflammation similar to Crohn's disease, and this can be transmitted to other animals. With this knowledge, researchers plan to further develop the existing practice of transplanting "healthy" bacteria into patients' intestines and establish this as a conventional treatment for Crohn's disease.
Oophorectomy associated with decrease in breast cancer death in women with cancer, BRCA1 mutation Removal of the ovaries, a procedure known as an oophorectomy, was associated with a 62 percent reduction in breast cancer death in women diagnosed with breast cancer and carrying a BRCA1 gene mutation, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
	New gel medication breakthrough delays release of drug to benefit the patient Scientists at the University of Huddersfield are pioneering the use of a special gel that is ideal for administering medication to young children and others - including the elderly - who have difficulty swallowing pills and capsules. Unlike purely liquid medicines, the gel delays the release of the drug, so that it has maximum effect.
Eligible for breast conserving therapy, many still choose mastectomy No approved targeted therapies exist to treat triple-negative breast cancer, but new chemotherapeutic treatment strategies are helping shrink tumors so that less breast tissue needs to be removed during surgery. New research led by Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) finds that breast conserving therapy - or the removal of less breast tissue via a lumpectomy - was successful in more than 90 percent of the women who became eligible for this procedure after treatment with chemotherapy. Despite these findings, 31 percent who were eligible for breast conserving therapy chose to have the entire breast removed via mastectomy.
	Rare mutation causes vitamin A deficiency and eye deformities Researchers at the University of Michigan and UC Davis have solved a genetic mystery that has afflicted three unrelated families, and possibly others, for generations. These families have been plagued by a variety of congenital eye malformations, including small eyes with poor vision and the complete absence of eyes. But until now, no one could figure out the genetic basis for these conditions.
	Link between proteins points to possibilities for future Alzheimer's treatments Researchers have found that the proteins that control the progression of Alzheimer's are linked in a pathway, and that drugs targeting this pathway may be a way of treating the disease, which affects 40 million people worldwide. The findings are published today (23 April) in the journal Cell Reports.
	Scientists pinpoint brain-swelling mechanism A team of UBC researchers has made a significant discovery uncovering the cause of brain swelling after trauma to the head. Their research, published today in Cell, paves the way for a preventative drug treatment for severe brain damage following stroke, infection, head injury or cardiac arrest.
Fragile X syndrome: Building a case for an alternative treatment strategy New research strengthens a potential strategy for treating fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability.
	Brain tumor growth stimulated by nerve activity in the cortex, study finds Deadly brain tumors called high-grade gliomas grow with the help of nerve activity in the cerebral cortex, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Study finds a novel way to target brown fat regulation to reduce obesity A study by researchers in Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS) has shown a new way that brown fat, a potential obesity-fighting target, is regulated in the body. This finding gives researchers and weight-loss companies a possible therapeutic target for obesity.
Genome editing in mitochondria prevents inheritance of diseases Mitochondrial diseases are maternally inherited genetic disorders that cause a wide spectrum of debilitating conditions and which currently have no cure. In a study published April 23 in the journal Cell, Salk Institute researchers report the first successful attempt using gene-editing technology to prevent mutated mitochondrial DNA associated with multiple human mitochondrial diseases from being passed from mothers to offspring in mice.
	How does the brain keep track of time? You are driving to work, late for an important meeting. You are almost there when you have to stop at a red light. When will you begin inching forward? Doing it too early will result in wasting gas and energy, but doing it at the right time will get you to work faster. Estimating the right moment to perform an action critically depends on our innate ability to track time. What is the neural mechanism that underlies this capacity?
	In search of tinnitus, that phantom ringing in the ears About one in five people experience tinnitus, the perception of a sound—often described as ringing—that isn't really there. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on April 23 have taken advantage of a rare opportunity to record directly from the brain of a person with tinnitus in order to find the brain networks responsible.
	Novel regulator inhibits toxic protein aggregates in Huntington's disease Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by huntingtin protein aggregates in a patient's brain, but how these aggregates form is not well understood. In a study published online today in Genome Research, researchers developed a novel computational strategy to identify interaction partners of the huntingtin protein and discovered a novel factor that suppresses misfolding and aggregation.
	Finding new life for first-line antibiotics Duke University researchers have identified a single, simple metric to guide antibiotic dosing that could bring an entire arsenal of first-line antibiotics back into the fight against drug-resistant pathogens.
	Hundreds of cancer possibilities arise from common skin mole mutation A Houston Methodist-led team of international scientists has identified hundreds of possible new genes in mice that could transform benign skin growths into deadly melanomas.
	An end to cancer pain? Researcher finds the 'pain trigger' A new study led by University of Toronto researcher Dr. David Lam has discovered the trigger behind the most severe forms of cancer pain. Released in top journal Pain this month, the study points to TMPRSS2 as the culprit: a gene that is also responsible for some of the most aggressive forms of androgen-fuelled cancers.
	Long-term exposure to air pollution may pose risk to brain structure, cognitive functions Air pollution, even at moderate levels, has long been recognized as a factor in raising the risk of stroke. A new study led by scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine suggests that long-term exposure can cause damage to brain structures and impair cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.
Blacks may not receive same health benefits from moderate alcohol drinking as whites Although moderate alcohol consumption appears to lower mortality risk among whites, it may not have the same protective effect among blacks, and its potential benefits also may vary by gender, according to a nationally representative study of the U.S. population by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
	Is a small artificially composed virus fragment the key to a Chikungunya vaccine? The mosquito transmitted Chikungunya virus, which causes Chikungunya fever, is spreading continuously. No vaccine is so far available. Researchers of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut have experimentally recombined segments of the virus surface protein E2, thus creating artificial proteins. The domain generated that way - "sAB+" - was able to confer a protective effect against Chikungunya virus to the animal. An immunization by means of this small protein fragment could thus provide a suitable approach to developing a Chikungunya vaccine.
	Whooping cough: A small drop in vaccine protection can lead to a case upsurge In 2012 the USA saw the highest number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases since 1955. New research finds that a likely explanation for this rise in disease is a drop in the degree of vaccine protection for each vaccinated individual.
	Exploring treatment options for women with fibroids A 47-year-old African-American woman has heavy menstrual bleeding and iron-deficiency anemia. She reports the frequent need to urinate during the night and throughout the day. A colonoscopy is negative and an ultrasonography shows a modestly enlarged uterus with three uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths of the uterus. She is not planning to become pregnant. What are her options?
	Study identifies molecular link between DNA damage and premature aging Like a beloved pair of jeans, human DNA accumulates damage over time, and older people's bodies can't repair it as well. Many scientists believe a build up of damage can cause cells to enter an irreversible dormant state known as senescence. Cellular senescence is believed to be responsible for some of the telltale signs of aging, such as weakened bones, less resilient skin and slow-downs in organ function.
	Team glimpses how the brain transforms sound When people hear the sound of footsteps or the drilling of a woodpecker, the rhythmic structure of the sounds is striking, says Michael Wehr, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon.
	The past, present and future of pancreatic cancer research and treatment The oncologists Manuel Hidalgo, Director of the Clinical Research Programme of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), and Ignacio Garrido-Laguna, member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah (USA), have recently published a review of state-of-the-art clinical treatments for pancreatic cancer—including the most current therapies and innovative research—in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.
'Humanized' mice will lead to better testing of cancer immunotherapies Human tumors grown in mouse models have long been used to test promising anti-cancer therapies. However, when a human tumor is transplanted into a mouse, the mouse immune system must be knocked down so that it doesn't attack the foreign tumor tissue, thus allowing the tumor to grow.
	Making waves with robotic ultrasound between New York and Chicago A new clinical trial is testing the feasibility and efficiency of a doctor in New York City remotely performing long-distance, tele-robotic ultrasound exams over the Internet on patients in Chicago.
New strategy for mapping regulatory networks associated with multi-gene diseases Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have applied a powerful tool in a new way to characterize genetic variants associated with human disease. The work, published today in Cell, will allow scientists to more easily and efficiently describe genomic variations underlying complex, multi-gene diseases.
	Chance and circumstance tip immune control of cancer You think that your immune system is there to protect you. But what happens when it starts working against you?
US regulators recall 10-minute Ebola test US regulators have issued an international recall for a 10-minute Ebola blood test made by a California-based company, saying it has not been proven to work and could put lives at risk.
Heavy drinking and binge drinking rise sharply in US counties Today, Americans are more likely to be heavy drinkers and binge drinkers than in recent years due in large part to rising rates of drinking among women, according to a new analysis of county-level drinking patterns in the United States.
	Can a parent's concerns predict autism? As co-director of the University of Alberta's Autism Research Centre, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum has devoted much of his career to understanding how to identify autism as early as possible. But despite his years of experience, Zwaigenbaum says many physicians like him would do well to seek other expert advice when working with children not yet diagnosed—that of the parents of these young patients.
	Orthopedist offers tips for preventing shoulder injuries (HealthDay)—As the most flexible joint in your body, your shoulder can move and position your arm in many ways. But this flexibility also makes it prone to instability and injury.
	Heroin use levels off in U.S., but still high: report (HealthDay)—Levels of heroin use in the United States have stabilized but are still high, federal officials reported Thursday.
	Chronic migraines take big toll on families, survey finds (HealthDay)—When one family member has chronic migraine, the family as a whole can suffer, too, a new study finds.
	Abridged standards of care for diabetes developed for PCPs (HealthDay)—An abridged version of the 2015 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes has been produced for primary care physicians. The condensed guidelines were published in the April issue of Clinical Diabetes.
Hepatitis C infection linked to increased risk of heart disease Results from a new study demonstrate that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and significantly increases cost of care and length of time in hospital.
Many European countries ill-prepared to prevent and control the spread of viral hepatitis Many countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region are facing limitations in conducting chronic viral hepatitis disease surveillance, assessing the burden of disease and measuring the impact of interventions, according to results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015.
Herbal remedy derived from milk thistle demonstrates efficacy in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis Results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of silymarin, which is derived from the milk thistle plant, have shown that this herbal remedy may be a useful treatment option for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Pooled analysis confirms vitamin E as a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is an effective treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH occurs when the liver becomes inflamed due to the accumulation of fat. Over time, persistent inflammation can lead to the formation of fibrous scar tissue in the liver and around its blood vessels, which can eventually cause cirrhosis.
Alginate-enriched bread shown to reduce fat digestion, absorption in patients with NAFLD A study revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 has demonstrated that alginate-enriched bread has the potential to inhibit fat digestion and circulatory lipids in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Baclofen shows promise in patients with alcohol-induced liver disease Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015, show that in patients with alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD), Baclofen has a positive impact on alcohol consumption and overall measures of liver function and harm.
All-oral, DAA options for HCV effective and well tolerated in patients with decompensated cirrhosis Interim data presented today at The International Liver Congress 2015 from the HCV-TARGET study show that all-oral, direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C (HCV) is well tolerated and highly effective in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Sustained virologic response (SVR) at 4 weeks was shown to be: sofosbuvir/ribavirin: 75%; sofosbuvir/simeprevir: 77%; sofosbuvir/simeprevir/ribavirin: 81%.
All-oral, direct-acting antivirals show promise for hep C and HIV co-infected, cirrhotic patients A new study revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 shows that sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens are effective and well tolerated in hepatitis C and HIV co-infected, cirrhotic patients. Sustained virologic response at 4 weeks (SVR4) was observed in 98% of patients and in 95% at 12 weeks (SVR12).
Global expansion of hepatitis vaccination needed to progress hepatitis B elimination Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 demonstrate current treatment and prevention programmes need to be scaled up in order to make elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) possible.
Daclatasvir-sofosbuvir combination highly effective and well tolerated in patients with hepatitis C Phase III results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that once-daily treatment with daclatasvir (DCV) plus sofosbuvir (SOF) resulted in an overall 97% sustained virologic response (SVR) at 12 weeks post-treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection, including cirrhotic patients.
Combination therapy offers new hope for difficult-to-treat patients with chronic hepatitis C Results presented today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that the use of the fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in combination with ribavirin (RBV) was well tolerated and demonstrated high sustained virologic response rates 12 weeks post treatment (SVR12) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have decompensated liver disease (cirrhosis) or have undergone liver transplantation.
Preliminary results show Civacir prevents recurrence of hepatitis C in liver transplants New data from an ongoing Phase III trial revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that the use of hepatitis C immune globulin (HCIG, Civacir) can effectively prevent hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence in patients following a liver transplant (LT). The data demonstrate that intravenous Civacir given both peri- and post-LT prevents HCV-reinfection in patients who also received antiviral therapy (AVT) before their transplant operation.
Novel immunotherapeutic, TG1050, shows early signs of potential for chronic hepatitis B cure A novel immunotherapeutic in early development for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), TG1050, has been shown to reach the clinical goals that are considered to be the hallmarks of a cure for CHB, according to results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015.
Long-term therapy with ETV or TDF demonstrates positive 5-year survival in patients with chronic HBV Data revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that the long-term use of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TDF) results in excellent 5-year survival for Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), with more than 95% of patients surviving at 5 years and a significant proportion of deaths coming from liver-unrelated causes.
New survey shows that half of people with hepatitis suffer from discrimination As many as half of people infected with viral hepatitis have suffered discrimination and one-quarter admit that family members have avoided physical contact with them after finding out they had the infection. A shocking patient survey presented at The International Liver Congress 2015 has shown the devastating impact the infection has on their daily lives.
Delaying treatment for hepatitis C puts patients' lives at risk Data revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 highlights the impact of delaying treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Researchers found that treatment delays have a serious detrimental effect on treatment efficacy, increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality among patients.
Diabetes drug shows promise in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis A drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes could prove to be a powerful new treatment option for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to research presented today at The International Liver Congress 2015. Results from a randomised controlled trial showed liraglutide met the primary endpoint of histological clearance of NASH, and a reduction in the progression of fibrosis. The research was supported by the Wellcome Trust and the NIHR.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease shown to affect the development of coronary artery calcification Data revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) plays a role in the early stages of coronary atherosclerosis and in its more severe form it can also promote the development of coronary artery calcification (CAC).
New device shows potential to enhance the viability of donor livers A new device has demonstrated it has the potential to enhance the viability of donor livers for transplantation. Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress 2015 show that the transportable machine perfusion (MP) Airdrive is able to effectively maintain the quality of livers derived from donation after circulatory death (DCD).
Investigational anti-diabetic may offer potential for management of non-alcoholic fatty liver Data presented today at The International Liver Congress 2015 demonstrates that remogliflozin etabonate, an investigational drug in type 2 diabetes, is a potential treatment option for the management of patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Divestment gains boost net earnings at drug company Novartis Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Novartis reported a large jump in first-quarter net profit Thursday as it recorded one-time gains from deals with other drug companies.
	Q&A: What's listeria and how is it traced to ice cream? New technologies account for one way that the government is tracking a life-threatening outbreak of listeria linked to Blue Bell ice cream products.
Lessons to be learned from Caribbean treatment of mental health With Caribbean people in the UK nine times more likely than white British counterparts to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a University of Manchester mental health researcher has visited Jamaica and Barbados to find out what lessons can be learned.
Unexpected challenges for LGBs in outer metropolitan areas Lesbian, gay and bisexual Australians living on the outskirts of major cities experience similar levels of discrimination and social isolation to those living in rural and remote areas.
	Health care services are not always suitable for morbidly obese patients, says researcher For her PhD thesis 'Misfits: An ethnographic study of extremely fat patients in intensive care', Caz Hales, who will be graduating in Victoria's May celebration, looked at the challenges critically ill patients weighing between 120 and 180 kilograms pose to healthcare systems. Her research shows that the standard practice of hiring and ordering equipment based on a patient's weight is often unsuitable for patients weighing in excess of 120kg.
	Scientists urge moratorium after Chinese 'edit' human embryos (Update 2) Global scientists on Thursday renewed calls to halt controversial research to genetically edit human embryos after a Chinese team published details of a breakthrough attempt in this new frontier in science.
Reporting Agatston scores with chest CT leads to cardiovascular risk reclassification The assessed risk of more than 65% of patients without established cardiovascular disease who were evaluated for coronary artery calcification via ungated chest CT was reclassified after undergoing Agatston-scored ungated CT scans, according to new research conducted at Mount Sinai Medical Center. More than one-third of those patients, for whom new American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines would recommend statin therapy, were reclassified as being at very low risk for cardiovascular disease.
	AbbVie raises outlook as Humira again delivers earnings beat Drugmaker AbbVie is raising its full-year earnings guidance after reporting better-than-expected first quarter adjusted results on continued growth of its blockbuster anti-inflammatory drug Humira.
	Few vets getting care through $10 billion VA program A new program that was supposed to get patients off waiting lists at Veterans Affairs medical centers by letting them switch to private-sector doctors is proving to be an even bigger disappointment than initially thought.
For lower-grade brain blood vessel malformations, surgery has 'excellent clinical outcomes' Interventional treatments—especially surgery—provide good functional outcomes and a high cure rate for patients with lower-grade arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain, reports the May issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.
	Food Babe blogger Vani Hari taking heat over health science As truth wars go, Vani Hari of the Food Babe blog has produced a doozy.
What does the public think about paying people to donate their organs? To address the growing transplant organ shortage, members of the public seem to support eliminating disincentives, but are against providing financial incentives, to living kidney donors. The findings come from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
	New approaches to identify and treat suicidal adolescents focus of JCAP special section Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. This year nearly 5,000 adolescents will be the victims of suicide and over 500,000 will make a suicide attempt that will require an emergency room visit. New and better tools to evaluate, identify, and treat adolescents at risk of self-injury or suicidal attempts are crucial for the development and implementation of effective preventive strategies. A series of articles authored by leading researchers and clinicians explores key factors that may contribute to suicidal risk and presents new assessment and treatment approaches. The articles are part of a special section published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (JCAP).
Tragic newborn was UK's youngest organ donor A newborn baby who died after just 100 minutes became Britain's youngest organ donor after his kidneys and heart valves were given to adult patients, the National Health Service (NHS) said Thursday.
Study investigates use of oxygen therapy among COPD patients A new study about the use of oxygen to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that the majority of patients receiving oxygen therapy were low-income, non-Hispanic white females about 75 years old with two or more other health conditions.
	Rise in spring allergens linked to increased dry eye cases New ophthalmology research from the University of Miami shows that dry eye - the little understood culprit behind red, watery, gritty feeling eyes - strikes most often in spring, just as airborne allergens are surging. The study marks the first time that researchers have discovered a direct correlation between seasonal allergens and dry eye, with both pollen and dry eye cases reaching a yearly peak in the month of April. The paper was published online today in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Listeria: Jeni's 2nd ice cream company to stop production A second ice cream company has shut down production this week after health officials found listeria in a sample of its frozen treats.
	DMV program can generate additional organ donors (HealthDay)—A brief, web-based training program for department of motor vehicles (DMV) employees that educates them about organ and tissue donation can increase the likelihood of customers registering as organ donors, according to research published in the May issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

Other Sciences news

	Anthropologist explores warfare as a form of cooperation While many view warfare as a breakdown between societies, Arizona State University anthropologist Sarah Mathew views it as an outgrowth of cooperation.
	Switzerland, Scandinavia top global 'happy' index (Update) Switzerland is the happiest country in the world, closely followed by Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada, according to a global ranking of happiness unveiled in New York on Thursday.
	Woolly mammoth genomes offer insight into their history and extinction Before the world's last woolly mammoth took its final breath, the iconic animals had already suffered from a considerable loss of genetic diversity. These findings, based on a comparison of the first complete genome sequences isolated from two ancient mammoth specimens, are reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on April 23.
Heinz Awards honors six for solving critical human issues A Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher who has developed artificial human "microlivers" that can safely test the toxicity of drugs without endangering lives is one of six people chosen to receive Heinz Awards.
	Human ancestors had tentacles The famous Vitruvian Man drawn by Leonardo da Vinci pictures the canon of human proportions. However, humans didn't become bilaterally symmetric suddenly. There are two main points of view on the last common bilaterian ancestor, its appearance and the course of evolution.
	Understanding 'secret' urban languages Research into a 'playful' and increasingly popular urban language that grew out of the necessity for criminals to hide their true intent could help organisations in Uganda communicate better with the country's huge young population.
Study examines how race, culture influence school discipline, dropout rates High school students throwing water balloons may seem harmless, but a case in which two black students were arrested for the prank illustrates the importance of considering race, students' background and the need for effective communication, especially when police are involved in school discipline, a University of Kansas professor argues in a new study.
	Study finds that inclusive classrooms don't necessarily increase friendships for children with disabilities Dropping off a child at kindergarten for the first time can be one of the most memorable yet terrifying experiences of parenthood. Among the many concerns parents face is the worry whether your child will make friends – a key factor, research shows, in reducing anxiety, depression and the likelihood of being bullied.
	Girls gain confidence with IT when boys aren't around The National Centre for Women in Information Technology (IT) reported in 2012 on the lack of interest girls show in IT and how they are less likely to pursue a career in IT than boys. Our research found one reason for this is the curriculum and the way girls are taught with and about technology.
Resilience, not abstinence, may help teens battle online risk Boosting teenagers' ability to cope with online risks, rather than trying to stop them from using the Internet, may be a more practical and effective strategy for keeping them safe, according to a team of researchers.
Taming polluters: Ratings have spillover effects, leading to reduced toxic emissions A new study by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Assistant Professor Amanda Sharkey and University of Utah Assistant Professor Patricia Bromley found that environmental ratings have spillover effects on other companies' behavior. Rated firms reduce their toxic emissions even more when their peers are also rated. In addition, rated peers can even motivate some unrated companies to reduce their emissions.
	Selling visas could help eradicate 'booming' human smuggling trade Researchers say that using a new visa-selling economic model could help governments eradicate human smuggling.

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