Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 25

RESPEKT!

Black holes banish matter into cosmic voids

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 3:18 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 25
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 25, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Google Neural Net application able to place photo location better than humans
- Radio halo discovered in a massive merging galaxy cluster
- Yeast study offers evidence of superiority of sexual reproduction versus cloning in speed of adaptation
- Mountaintop mining, crop irrigation can damage water biodiversity
- Fish brains help explain human sensory perception
- Stem cell technique makes sperm in a dish
- How brain oscillations respond to teleportation
- Genetics reveal 50,000 years of independent history of aboriginal Australian people
- Fine-tuning cellular energy increases longevity
- Mirror mirror: Snail shells offer clue in unravelling common origins of body asymmetry
- Sugar rush shrinks brain cell powerhouse
- Flowers tone down the iridescence of their petals and avoid confusing bees
- Researchers work to block harmful behavior of key Alzheimer's enzyme
- Human gut microbiome evolution: From hunter-gatherers to a western lifestyle
- Ozone does not necessarily promote decline of natural ecosystems, study shows

Nanotechnology news

	Quantum dot solids: This generation's silicon wafer? Just as the single-crystal silicon wafer forever changed the nature of communication 60 years ago, a group of Cornell researchers is hoping its work with quantum dot solids - crystals made out of crystals - can help usher in a new era in electronics.
	New molecular property may mean more efficient solar and opto-electronic devices Chemists and polymer scientists collaborating at the University of Massachusetts Amherst report in Nature Communications this week that they have for the first time identified an unexpected property in an organic semiconductor molecule that could lead to more efficient and cost-effective materials for use in cell phone and laptop displays, for example, and in opto-electronic devices such as lasers, light-emitting diodes and fiber optic communications.
	Graphene slides smoothly across gold Graphene, a modified form of carbon, offers versatile potential for use in coating machine components and in the field of electronic switches. An international team of researchers led by physicists at the University of Basel have been studying the lubricity of this material on the nanometer scale. Since it produces almost no friction at all, it could drastically reduce energy loss in machines when used as a coating, as the researchers report in the journal Science.
	Physicists promise a copper revolution in nanophotonics Researchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have for the first time experimentally demonstrated that copper nanophotonic components can operate successfully in photonic devices – it was previously believed that only gold and silver components could do so. Copper components are not only just as good as components based on noble metals; they can also be easily implemented in integrated circuits using industry-standard fabrication processes. "This is a kind of revolution – using copper will solve one of the main problems in nanophotonics," say the authors of the paper. The results have been published in the scientific journal Nano Letters.

Physics news

	A swimming microrobot is driven by a light-induced peristaltic motion Ciliates can do amazing things: Being so tiny, the water in which they live is like thick honey to these microorganisms. In spite of this, however, they are able to self-propel through water by the synchronized movement of thousands of extremely thin filaments on their outer skin, called cilia. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart are now moving robots that are barely perceptible to the human eye in a similar manner through liquids. For these microswimmers, the scientists are neither employing complex driving elements nor external forces such as magnetic fields. The team of scientists headed by Peer Fischer have built a ciliate-inspired model using a material that combines the properties of liquid crystals and elastic rubbers, rendering the body capable of self-propelling upon exposure to green light. Mini submarines navigating the human body and detecting and curing diseases may still be ! the stuff of science fiction, but applications for the new development in Stuttgart could see the light-powered materials take the form of tiny medical assistants at the end of an endoscope.
	New prediction tool gives 2-3 minute warning of incoming rogue waves Sailing history is rife with tales of monster-sized rogue waves—huge, towering walls of water that seemingly rise up from nothing to dwarf, then deluge, vessel and crew. Rogue waves can measure eight times higher than the surrounding seas and can strike in otherwise calm waters, with virtually no warning.
	Team offers new, simpler law of complex wrinkle patterns In a new paper, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Oxford University describe a new, more general law for predicting the wavelength of complex wrinkle patterns, including those found on curved surfaces, plus experimental results to support it.
Quantum physicist tame a so-called 'dark state' created in a superconducting qubit A team of quantum physicists at Aalto University led by Dr. Sorin Paraoanu managed to tame a so-called "dark state" created in a superconducting qubit. A superconducting qubit is an artificial atom fabricated on a silicon chip as an electrical circuit made of capacitors and tunnel junctions.

Earth news

	Study deepens understanding of polar ice streams Scientists at the University of Aberdeen have deepened our understanding of how polar ice escapes into the ocean by studying a site in mainland Europe.
	Synchronized leaf aging in the Amazon responsible for seasonal increases in photosynthesis One hundred and fifty feet above the ground in the Amazonian rainforest, a vast ocean of green spreads out in every direction. The rainforest canopy is made up of mostly tropical evergreen trees, which take in enormous amounts of carbon from Earth's atmosphere. Understanding the carbon cycle in these forests - how carbon is stored in plants and soil and then returned to the atmosphere - is crucial to creating accurate models that predict how global climate will change in the future. Key to that puzzle is understanding photosynthesis in tropical forests.
	California gas well blowout caused nation's largest methane release, study finds The Aliso Canyon natural gas well blowout released more than 100,000 tons of the powerful greenhouse gas methane before the well was finally plugged Feb. 11, according to the first study of the event, to be published Feb. 26 in the journal Science. The results confirm that it was the largest methane leak in U.S. history.
	Ozone does not necessarily promote decline of natural ecosystems, study shows Environmental scientists at the University of Virginia have found that surface ozone, an abundant chemical known to be toxic to many species of vegetation and to humans, does not necessarily inhibit the productivity of natural ecosystems.
	Mountaintop mining, crop irrigation can damage water biodiversity Aquatic life can suffer when high concentrations of dissolved salts enter freshwater ecosystems, a process known as salinization.
	Australian icebreaker runs aground in Antarctica A ferocious blizzard was Thursday hampering attempts to rescue 68 expeditioners and crew stranded on Australia's flagship icebreaker Aurora Australis after it broke its mooring and ran aground in frozen Antarctica.
	Nuclear water: Fukushima still faces contamination crisis Fish market vendor Satoshi Nakano knows which fish caught in the radiation tainted sea off the Fukushima coast should be kept away from dinner tables.
Tsunami sends seafloor sensor 5,000 miles back to Washington state When Jerry Paros shipped a seafloor sensor from his plant in Redmond to Japan in 2010, he never expected to see it again.
Significant El Nino events linked to devastating disease outbreaks Evidence is emerging that the devastating outbreaks of Vibrio disease recently witnessed in Latin America are linked to significant El Niño events. New research using the latest microbial and genomic tools is providing a fresh insight into how El Niño may represent a long-distance corridor for waterborne diseases, fast tracking their spread across the pacific from Asia to the Americas.
	World's corals under threat The current El Niño weather phenomenon is taking its toll on coral reefs, prompting a field campaign to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to explore how Europe's Sentinel-2 satellite might be able to quantify the damage on a large scale.
	Researcher sheds light on ocean observations Oceanographer Paul Durack of the Laboratory's Program for Climate Modeling and Intercomparison (PCMDI) recently opined about the importance of ocean salinity observations and needed urgent attention for the ocean observing system in the journal, Nature Climate Change.
	Drawing connections between Ningaloo and Great Barrier reefs Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine systems. They are however, threatened by global change and we can only predict how it will impact these reef systems if we first understand how they work.
	Sentinel-3 and the ocean carbon conundrum Each year, about a quarter of the carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere ends up in the ocean, but how it happens is still not fully understood. The Sentinel-3A satellite is poised to play an important role in shedding new light on this exchange.
	Climate change speeds up gully erosion The erosion of large natural channels by flowing water—gully erosion—can wreak havoc on fields, roads, and buildings. In some cases, the sudden expansion of gullies even claims human lives. Geographers from KU Leuven, Belgium, are the first to show a worldwide link between heavy rainfall and the speed at which gullies expand. With predicted climate change, gullies may erode up to three times faster.
	New heat wave formula can help public health agencies prepare for extreme temperatures Extreme heat can pose several health risks, such as dehydration, hyperthermia and even death, especially during sustained periods of high temperatures. However, a uniform definition of a heat wave doesn't exist. As a result, public health agencies may be unsure of when to activate heat alerts, cooling centers and other protective measures. A University of Missouri School of Medicine researcher has developed a uniform definition of a heat wave that may help public health agencies prepare for extreme temperatures.
	NASA, partner space agencies measure forests in Gabon A contingent of NASA airborne instruments and scientists on the ground has joined colleagues from space agencies in Gabon and Europe this month to study the dense African tropical forests in Gabon.
	NASA sees a different kind of El Nino A new NASA visualization shows the 2015 El Niño unfolding in the Pacific Ocean, as sea surface temperatures create different patterns than seen in the 1997-1998 El Niño. Computer models are just one tool that NASA scientists are using to study this large El Nino event, and compare it to other events in the past.
	NASA maps El Nino's shift on US precipitation This winter, areas across the globe experienced a shift in rain patterns due to the natural weather phenomenon known as El Niño. A new NASA visualization of rainfall data shows the various changes in the United States with wetter, wintery conditions in parts of California and across the East Coast.
Community gardens help people to grow stronger—together New research from the University of Adelaide has highlighted the positive role of shared community gardens in city and suburban areas, helping residents to build community resilience and develop stronger social groups.
	NASA partners on air quality study in East Asia NASA and the Republic of Korea are developing plans for a cooperative field study of air quality in May and June to advance the ability to monitor air pollution accurately from space.
Tracing deep ocean currents Radioactive isotopes typically take four years to reach the Norwegian coast from Sellafield on the north-eastern coast of England. Researchers like Yongqi Gao follow the radioactive waste to understand how ocean currents are formed and to see where they flow.
	Aqua satellite catches the birth of Tropical Cyclone Yalo The fourteenth tropical cyclone in the Southern Pacific Ocean developed as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead. The AIRS instrument aboard Aqua captured infrared, near-visible and microwave data on Tropical Cyclone Yalo early on Feb. 25.
	NASA sees Winston winding down near Norfolk Island The once Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston was winding down when NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over it early on Feb. 25 is it continued weakening in the South Pacific. Now sub-tropical, Winston was threatening Australia's Norfolk Island with tropical-storm-force winds.

Astronomy & Space news

	Radio halo discovered in a massive merging galaxy cluster (Phys.org)—Radio halos are enormous regions of diffuse radio emission, usually found at the centers of galaxy clusters. Recently, an international team of astronomers has discovered such a large area of diffuse emission, estimated to be about three million light years wide. The newly detected halo is located in a distant massive merging galaxy cluster designated MACSJ2243.3-0935. The findings are presented in a research paper published online on Feb. 18 in the arXiv journal.
	Black holes banish matter into cosmic voids We live in a universe dominated by unseen matter, and on the largest scales, galaxies and everything they contain are concentrated into filaments that stretch around the edge of enormous voids. Thought to be almost empty until now, a group of astronomers based in Austria, Germany and the United States now believe these dark holes could contain as much as 20% of the mass of the cosmos and that galaxies make up only 1/500th of the volume of the universe. The team, led by Dr Markus Haider of the Institute of Astro- and Particle Physics at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, publish their results in a new paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	SpaceX postpones rocket launch until Thursday SpaceX postponed until Thursday a launch to propel a communications satellite into a distant orbit, followed by another attempt to guide the Falcon 9's first stage to land on an ocean platform.
	Subaru-HiCIAO spots young stars surreptitiously devouring their birth clouds An international team led by researchers at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) has used a new infrared imaging technique to reveal dramatic moments in star and planet formation. These seem to occur when surrounding material falls toward very active baby stars, which then feed voraciously on it even as they remain hidden inside their birth clouds. The team used the HiCIAO (High Contrast Instrument for the Subaru Next-Generation Adaptive Optics) camera on the Subaru 8-meter Telescope in Hawaii to observe a set of newborn stars. The results of their work shed new light on our understanding of how stars and planets are born (Figure 1).
	Pulsar web could detect low-frequency gravitational waves The recent detection of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) came from two black holes, each about 30 times the mass of our sun, merging into one. Gravitational waves span a wide range of frequencies that require different technologies to detect. A new study from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) has shown that low-frequency gravitational waves could soon be detectable by existing radio telescopes.
	Newly discovered planet in the Hyades cluster could shed light on planetary evolution University of Texas at Austin astronomer Andrew Mann and colleagues have discovered a planet in a nearby star cluster which could help astronomers better understand how planets form and evolve. The discovery of planet K2-25b used both the Kepler space telescope and the university's McDonald Observatory, and is published in a recent issue of the Astrophysical Journal.
	Freefall achieved on LISA Pathfinder On Monday, the two cubes housed in the core of ESA's LISA Pathfinder were left to move under the effect of gravity alone – another milestone towards demonstrating technologies to observe gravitational waves from space.
	Image: Solar sails offer new orbital mechanics for satellites Tomorrow's orbit today? This image shows how a large solar sail-equipped satellite could partly offset Earth's and the Sun's gravity with the slight but steady pressure of sunlight to hover above the Arctic or Antarctic, enabling continuous coverage of high-latitude regions for climate observation or regional communication services.
Europe speeds up launches for sat-nav system Europe will launch an extra pair of satellites this year in a bid to speed up full deployment of its multi-billion-euro Galileo sat-nav system, launch firm Arianespace said Thursday.
	See the cosmos with X-ray vision—Japan's new Hitomi space telescope In June 1962, an Aerobee 150 sounding-rocket blasted above the Earth's atmosphere from the White Sands Missile Range in the United States of America. During its five-minute flight, the small research craft aimed to detect X-rays fluorescing from the moon. What it found instead would take a decade to explain.
Object located around a black hole five billion light-years from Earth has been measured A team of Spanish researchers, with the participation of the University of Granada (UGR), has accurately detected a structure in the innermost region of a quasar (small, very far objects that emit huge amounts of energy, comparable to that emitted by a whole galaxy) at a distance of more than five billion light-years from Earth.
	US space-endurance champ says he could do another year America's space-endurance champ, Scott Kelly, returns to Earth next week after nearly a year in orbit aboard the International Space Station. High on his to-do list when he gets back: jumping into his pool and dining at a real table.

Technology news

	Google Neural Net application able to place photo location better than humans (Tech Xplore)—A trio of researchers at Google, led by Tobias Weyand has developed a deep-learning machine that is capable of beating humans at identifying where a photograph was taken, using only pixel information. In the paper they have uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, the team describes how they built their application, called PlaNet, how it works, and how well it compared to humans doing the same task.
Massive, speedy robots ready to build composite wings for Boeing 777X Inside a new building just west of Paine Field in this Seattle-area city, a team of young engineers recently gave outsiders the first glimpse at a technological advance critical to the future of airplane making in the Puget Sound region.
	Researchers use dark of night and machine learning to shed light on global poverty One of the biggest challenges in fighting poverty is the lack of reliable information. In order to aid the poor, agencies need to map the dimensions of distressed areas and identify the absence or presence of infrastructure and services. But in many of the poorest areas of the world such information is rare.
	Is zero-effort computer security a dream? Breaking a new user verification system Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Aalto University have found vulnerabilities in a recently proposed user-verification security system for computers.
	Apple fixing 1970 bug that bricks iOS devices Apple has reportedly fixed a problem with its iOS operating system—users reported that setting their clock back to January, 1, 1970 bricked the device. Apple has not offered an explanation of the exact problem or even announced what it has done to fix the problem, but iOS 9.3 beta 4, now available to developers and public beta testers, appears to solve the problem by disallowing users from setting their clocks to any time before December 31, 2000.
	Automatic programming makes swarm robots safer and more reliable Researchers from Sheffield Robotics have applied a novel method of automatically programming and controlling a swarm of up to 600 robots to complete a specified set of tasks simultaneously.
	Super VOOC in fast lane, fills battery in 15 minutes This week, battery-charging technology carrying a pitch of being especially fast and safe was talked up at the Mobile World Congress. A Chinese smartphone company announced its quick-charge technology, which can deliver low-temperature charging of smartphone batteries.
	Apple chief calls FBI iPhone case 'bad for America' Apple chief Tim Cook went public Wednesday in his battle with the FBI, saying that unlocking an iPhone in the name of fighting terrorism would be "bad for America."
Chinese firm abandons acquisition over US scrutiny A Chinese tech firm has abandoned a multi-billion dollar investment in an American hard-disk manufacturer, state media reported Thursday, after the plan came under scrutiny from US lawmakers.
	Japan's Sharp accepts takeover, Foxconn not ready to sign Sharp Corp. announced Thursday it will accept a 489 billion yen ($4.4 billion) takeover by Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, but Foxconn said it was not ready to sign the deal.
Snapchat allowing geofilters for any party, event or company for as little as $5 Snapchat Inc. on Monday unveiled a second plan to generate revenue from its unique and popular form of location sharing.
	Review: High-tech gloves work as advertised Connected wearables. It's a fancy term for gadgets built into clothing or accessories you wear like a smartwatch or fitness monitor or even a Bluetooth headset.
Digital Darwin answers questions on new app People have wanted to ask questions of Charles Darwin ever since "On the Origin of Species" was published in 1859.
Gaming chip is helping raise your computer's IQ Facebook, Google and Microsoft are tapping the power of a vintage computer gaming chip to raise your smartphone's IQ with artificially intelligent programs that recognize faces and voices, translate conversations on the fly and make searches faster and more accurate.
Making strides with an upright walker From the iconoclastic VW Beetle to the swanky Mercedes-Benz, the vehicle of choice for baby boomers has followed the arc of their lives. As members of that generation edge into elderhood, they're increasingly adopting another mobility device: a medical walker.
These Stanford graduates want to help you run a YouTube empire Aspiring stars in Los Angeles used to measure success by the number of parts or auditions they snared.
	The dark side of world's lucrative mobile phone industry As the world's largest mobile phone fair hosts the "creme de la creme" in Barcelona, activists slam the dark side of a sector accused of ignoring rights abuses in Chinese factories and Congolese mines.
	Students design solar power system for historic site along Georgia's coast A historic estate along the Georgia coast that traces its roots back more than three centuries may soon provide a look at solar energy's potential to meet the world's growing demand for power.
	The mysterious biomechanics of riding – and balancing – a bicycle Humans have been riding bicycle-like machines for close to 200 years, beginning with the Draisine or "velocipede" in 1817.
	Massive data analysis helps uncover black women's experiences It is often said that history is written by the victors. But it's probably more true to say it is written by the people who have the opportunity to write.
	Why ransomware is on the rise A California hospital recently had its patients' records held hostage. But the perpetrators did not commandeer a room full of paper files. They were in fact hackers who restricted access to the electronic records and demanded a ransom of $17,000 in Bitcoins in exchange for stopping the attack.
Virtual reality is next as smartphone sales slow Phone makers, trying to renew consumer appetite, are turning to virtual reality headsets that can be paired with their devices to view videos and play games.
	Facebook donates servers to speed up research into AI (Update) Facebook announced Thursday it was donating computer servers to a number of research institutions across Europe, starting with Germany, to accelerate research efforts into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
	FBI chief: Apple issues are hardest he's seen in government The policy issues raised in the Justice Department's dispute with Apple Inc. over a locked iPhone represent the "hardest question I've seen in government, and it's going to require negotiation and conversation," FBI Director James Comey said Thursday in defending the government's demand for the tech company to help access the device.
	From Western Union to Apple: When tech battled government The fight between Apple and the FBI over access to a San Bernardino killer's iPhone isn't the first time industry and government have tangled over privacy and security. Every revolution in communications technology has sparked new battles over its use that changed the course of law enforcement, surveillance and civil liberties.
	Google CEO meets with EU anti-trust chief Google chief executive Sundar Pichai met with the European Union's top anti-trust official Margrethe Vestager on Thursday in an effort to narrow differences ahead of a landmark competition decision on the company.
	No, smartphones aren't that innovative: Why pay is lagging It's a dreary thought. America's most innovative days are gone. A lack of truly groundbreaking inventions has imposed a long-term drag on economic growth—and with it the prospect of meaningful pay raises for most of us.
	Braille maps for blind and visually impaired created with 3-D printer Using a high-tech 3-D printer, a Rutgers undergraduate and his professor created sophisticated braille maps to help blind and visually impaired people navigate a local training center.
	A good night's sleep: Engineers develop technology for special needs children A Kansas State University engineering team is developing a technology collection that can make a big difference in the lives of children with developmental disabilities.
	Six key gadgets and trends at Mobile World Congress The Mobile World Congress, the sector's biggest trade fair which wrapped up in Barcelona on Thursday, was dominated this year by the arrival of virtual reality, advances in the development of ultra-fast 5G networks and connected objects.
	Companies experiment with build-your-own smartphone programs If you could build your dream smartphone, what would it look like? Now suppose you could put it together yourself.
US lawmakers call Apple, FBI to encryption hearing US lawmakers Thursday called a hearing next week on encryption, saying they hope to craft "a solution" to the standoff between Apple and law enforcement over accessing locked devices.
	Apple asks judge to vacate order on locked iPhone Apple Inc. on Thursday asked a federal magistrate to reverse her order that the company help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone, accusing the federal government of seeking "dangerous power" through the courts and of trampling on its constitutional rights.
Facebook moves to new full-screen 'immersive' ads Facebook on Thursday rolled out a platform for quick, immersive ads with the potential to become a tempting rival to television commercials.
Organic Rankine Cycle - Drawing the last drop of energy from heat Organic Rankine Cycle uses heat in water or exhaust gasses to produce electricity. Often it uses waste heat. Most engineering companies implementing ORC-solutions do so for large systems at high temperatures and pressures.
Taiwan's Gou turned loan into multi-billion dollar empire Terry Gou, founder of the world's biggest electronics supplier, hasn't shied away from a gamble since turning a loan from his mother into a multi-billion dollar empire.
Design ingenuity cures health care building energy waste Health care buildings in the United States use lots of energy and few embrace sustainability, but a study led by Cornell researchers writes a green prescription for finding practical solutions.
Passing down traditional sports in a replay The preservation of traditional sports and games could soon be guaranteed by new, cost-effective motion sensing technologies.
	Uber faces potential big fine and ban for bosses in France (Update) Uber risks millions of euros in damages and fines and having two top executives banned from running the ride-hailing company in France as a trial wrapped up Thursday in a Paris court.
	Watch out for phishy emails during tax season It's tax time, so you'd better think twice before clicking on that link in your email inbox.

Chemistry news

	Infection-fighting bandages for serious burns Serious burn victims are immunocompromised and may be missing skin on parts of their body, and this makes them highly vulnerable to bacteria. Thanks to progress in intensive care, they are decreasingly likely to die from burn trauma. Death is more commonly the result of infections that can occur several months after being hospitalized. The bandages used to treat burns actually represent a real breeding ground for microbes.
	Material enables more reliable and meaningful self-screening Paper-based diagnostics enable rapid medical test results at minimal cost—and now they're about to get even better. A new synthetic paper developed by Swedish researchers could enable simultaneous screenings for multiple conditions, with more reliable results.
	Researchers find chemical reactions by enzymes point the way toward developing self-powered fluidic devices Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering, along with collaborators at Penn State University's Chemistry Department, have discovered a novel way of utilizing the chemical reactions of certain enzymes to trigger self-powered mechanical movement.
New catalyst makes hydrogen peroxide accessible to developing world Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most common and versatile of household products. In dilute form, it can disinfect wounds and bleach hair, whiten teeth and remove stains from clothing, clean contact lenses and kill mold and algae.
	Food scientists create healthier, diabetic-friendly bread A team of food scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has successfully formulated a recipe for making healthier bread by adding a natural plant pigment, called anthocyanin, extracted from black rice. This new bread option gets digested at a slower rate – hence improving blood glucose control – and is high in antioxidants, among other health benefits. This is the first study where anthocyanin extract has been fortified into a bread product, and the findings open up new possibilities of creating healthier, diabetic-friendly food products.
	3-D micro X-ray images help answer questions about fried foods' internal structure What happens to food and its microstructure when it is fried is a complicated process, both scientifically and mathematically speaking. While consumers want a product that is crispy and tasty, food scientists seek to get a closer glimpse into what exactly is going on inside the food during frying in order to improve products.
	Food dangers on our 'global' table Global fight against food poisoning and the requirement for high quality products push European scientists into developing new technologies in food processing

Biology news

	Yeast study offers evidence of superiority of sexual reproduction versus cloning in speed of adaptation (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Harvard University has conducted a series of experiments that has led to evidence showing that sexual reproduction allows for speedier adaptation than does cloning, helping to explain why sexual reproduction has continued to exist despite it being so much more complicated than cloning. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their experiments and explain why they believe their results help show why it is that sexual reproduction continues to persist in nature. Matthew Goddard with the University of Lincoln in the U.K. offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue, outlining what the team has accomplished and highlighting work yet to be done.
	Flowers tone down the iridescence of their petals and avoid confusing bees Iridescent flowers are never as dramatically rainbow-coloured as iridescent beetles, birds or fish, but their petals produce the perfect signal for bees, according to a new study published today in Current Biology.
	Ancient chimpanzee 'Adam' lived over one million years ago, research reveals Chimpanzees have an ancient common ancestor—or genetic 'Adam'—that lived over one million years ago, according to University of Leicester geneticists.
	Reintroduction of genetically distinct orangutan subspecies has led to hybridization in an endangered wild population As their natural habitats continue to be destroyed, increasing numbers of displaced endangered mammals are taken to sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres worldwide. The ultimate goal of these centres is often reintroduction: to return these animals to wild populations. In a new study published today in Scientific Reports, however, Graham L Banes and Linda Vigilant of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, caution that such reintroductions can act as a form of genetic translocation. By using genetic analysis to assess a subset of historical reintroductions into Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesia, they found that orang-utans from a non-native and genetically distinct subspecies were unwittingly released and have since hybridized with the Park's wild population. As orang-utan subspecies are thought to have diverged around 176,000 years ago, with marked differentiation over the last 80,000 ye! ars, the researchers highlight the potential for negative effects on the viability of populations already under threat.
	Genetically modified E. coli pump out morphine precursor A common gut microbe could soon be offering us pain relief. Japanese bioengineers have tweaked Escherichia coli genes so that they pump out thebaine, a morphine precursor that can be modified to make painkillers. The genetically modified E. coli produces 300 times more thebaine with minimal risk of unregulated use compared to a recently developed method involving yeast.
	Fish brains help explain human sensory perception Advanced calcium imaging of zebrafish brains is helping University of Queensland researchers discover how sensory stimuli such as sights and sounds are integrated in the human brain.
	Genetics reveal 50,000 years of independent history of aboriginal Australian people The first complete sequences of the Y chromosomes of Aboriginal Australian men have revealed a deep indigenous genetic history tracing all the way back to the initial settlement of the continent 50 thousand years ago, according to a study published in the journal Current Biology today.
	Mirror mirror: Snail shells offer clue in unravelling common origins of body asymmetry An international team of researchers has discovered a gene in snails that determines whether their shells twist clockwise or anti-clockwise - and could offer clues to how the same gene affects body asymmetry in other animals including humans.
	Human gut microbiome evolution: From hunter-gatherers to a western lifestyle Westerners have a less-diverse gut microbiome compared to hunter-gatherers, but how and why these microbe collections diverged has largely remained a mystery. Now, researchers reporting February 25 in Cell Reports describe an intermediate gut microbiome from the Central African Republic's Bantu community, a traditional population that incorporates some westernized lifestyle practices. The discovery offers insight into what factors may drive our microbiome differences, which are thought to be linked to metabolic disorders in western populations.
	Stem cell technique makes sperm in a dish Scientists in China have finally succeeded in creating functioning sperm from mice in the laboratory. To accomplish this feat, the researchers coaxed mouse embryonic stem cells to turn into functional sperm-like cells, which were then injected into egg cells to produce fertile mouse offspring. The work, reported February 25 in Cell Stem Cell, provides a platform for generating sperm cells that could one day be used to treat male infertility in humans.
	Sisterly sacrifice among ovarian germ cells key to egg development New work from Carnegie's Allan Spradling and Lei Lei demonstrates that mammalian egg cells gain crucial cellular components at an early stage from their undifferentiated sister cells, called germ cells. This mechanism had previously only been documented in lower animals, and may be a key to understanding the egg's unique properties. Their work is published via Science First Release.
	Bacteria take 'RNA mug shots' of threatening viruses Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin, the Stanford University School of Medicine and two other institutions have discovered that bacteria have a system that can recognize and disrupt dangerous viruses using a newly identified mechanism involving ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is similar to the CRISPR/Cas system that captures foreign DNA. The discovery might lead to better ways to thwart viruses that kill agricultural crops and interfere with the production of dairy products such as cheese and yogurt.
	Analyzing genetic tree sheds new light on disease outbreaks Scientists have a new tool for unraveling the mysteries of how diseases such as HIV move through a population, thanks to insights into phylogenetics, the creation of an organism's genetic tree and evolutionary relationships.
	The Mesoamerican bean decoded An Ibero-American team of scientists decoded the Mesoamerican variety of the bean genome coinciding with the celebration of the International Year of Pulses, as designated by the United Nations. Sequencing such a common source of plant-based proteins for people around the globe will be key not only for improving beans production but also for a better conservation of Ibero-American genetic varieties. The finding is published today in the journal Genome Biology.
	Washington's new apple joining a changing industry Blanketed by winter snow, orchards are mostly idle around central Washington, the production hub of the nation's top apple producing state.
	Some but not all plants can defend themselves against disease on saline soil Some plants with resistance against a specific disease are also able to defend themselves effectively when they are stressed due to, for example, drought or saline soil. At the same time, the resistance of other plants no longer functions in these very same conditions. Although this had been assumed for some time, Wageningen scientist Christos Kissoudis is the first person to show why. As a result, plant breeders will be able to know whether their new varieties will remain resistant to disease when grown in sub-optimal conditions. Kissoudis is obtaining his doctorate based on this research at Wageningen University on 26 February.
	Songbirds struggle against sounds of city Humans can be a bit noisy. And while our racket has become second nature to us, songbirds are hoping we could keep it down a bit.
	Entomologist discovers new insect species on prairie cordgrass A newly discovered insect species in prairie cordgrass may explain why increasing seed production has been so difficult, according to entomologist Paul J. Johnson, a professor in the plant science department.
	Autonomous acoustic sensors help researchers find endangered seabirds Marbled murrelets are so secretive that biologists didn't even know where they nested until the 1970s, and monitoring the populations of these endangered seabirds remains a challenge. A new study, however, suggests that autonomous acoustic sensors used to detect and record murrelet calls could offer a viable alternative to surveys conducted by field biologists.
	New research dispels myth that European Eels are trapped in the Mediterranean Eels have been tracked more than 2000km from lagoons of the Mediterranean Sea and into the Atlantic Ocean, announced an international team of scientists today. This world first discovery brings to an end a long running debate about whether eels in the Mediterranean were trapped there and unable to find the Straits of Gibraltar and navigate back to the Atlantic.
	Forgotten crops may hold key to nutritional security UC Davis is partnering in a global plant-breeding consortium that is fighting malnutrition and poverty in Africa by improving the traditional crops of the continent.
	Cells work tightly together to form the water-conducting vascular tissue of plants Plants transport water in pipe-like structures made of dead and empty cells within a vascular tissue called xylem. Sacha Escamez concludes in his doctoral dissertation that different cell types work together to build the 'water pipes' in the xylem, to a greater extent than previously thought. This new insight can be used in modifying and improving properties of woody biomass.
	Lupin industry avoids devastating disease Western Australia's lupin (Lupinus) industry has narrowly dodged a bullet through the rediscovery of the potentially devastating grey leaf spot disease (caused by the plant fungus Stemphylium spp.).
	Genetic markers signal increased crop productivity potential An EU project has developed new molecular markers that will enable wheat breeders to precisely select the most productive genetic stocks.
	Screening truffles for radioactivity 30 years from Chernobyl Some forest mushrooms, such as wild porcini, can accumulate dangerous levels of radioactivity from the soils they grow in. But until now it was unclear if the same was true for truffles, fungi that range among the most expensive foods in the world. Swiss and German researchers have analysed Burgundy truffles collected in central Europe and found they contain only negligible amounts of radioactive caesium, being safe for consumption. The results are published today (25 February) in Biogeosciences, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
'Big data' helps to discover key factors driving blood cell specification New research led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, alongside teams from the universities of Cambridge, Leeds and Manchester, has identified key factors that drive blood cell development by recapitulating this process in a culture dish. Cells with the ability to give rise to blood are normally specified in the early embryo over a number of developmental stages and eventually form blood stem cells that are maintained for life and generate trillions of blood cells every day.
	Trimming piRNAs' tails to clip jumping genes' wings A research group at the University of Tokyo has identified a Pac-Man-like enzyme called "Trimmer" involved in the generation of a class of small RNAs, which protect the genome of germ cells from unwanted genetic rewriting.
Proofreading molecules tug on RNA to ensure protein production accuracy If you imagine a cell as a house, protein production can be a fairly relatable engineering feat. A master blueprint (DNA) holds all the information about what goes where. If you just want to build a door (protein), you only need a copy of that specific portion of the blueprint (messenger RNA, or mRNA). In cells, however, raw mRNA copies contain extra material that is not relevant for the final protein. To remove these superfluous chunks, cells use a process known as splicing, in which raw mRNA is cut up and stitched back together in alternative ways to create the definitive blueprint for a protein.
	Herring fishery's strength is in the sum of its parts, study finds A wise investor plays the financial market by maintaining a variety of stocks. In the long run, the whole portfolio will be more stable because of the diversity of the investments it contains.
	Just before Oscars, plant named for hero of "The Martian" Matt Damon may not win the Oscar for best actor on Sunday, but the character he played in "The Martian" has gotten its own recognition.
	Record 6,250 manatees spotted in Florida waters The number of manatees in the waters around Florida have reached a new peak of at least 6,250, conservationists said Thursday, a record reflecting years of efforts to protect the marine mammals.
	Canola beats soybean as protein source for dairy cattle Agricultural Research Service dairy scientists in Wisconsin are helping dairy farmers weigh the merits of a relatively new option for feeding their cattle: Using canola meal as a protein supplement.
U-M researchers leading effort to explain recent howler monkey deaths in Nicaragua Two University of Michigan-based scientists are leading an effort to explain the recent deaths of at least 75 howler monkeys living in the tropical forests of southwestern Nicaragua.
Environmentalists sue for more rules to protect sage grouse Environmental groups sued Thursday to force the Obama administration to impose more restrictions on oil and gas drilling, grazing and other activities blamed for the decline of greater sage grouse across the American West.
	Weather wreaks havoc on French truffles The key Tricastin market for black truffles in southeastern France is closing two weeks early because of "catastrophic" underproduction blamed on a hot summer and a mild winter, the industry said Thursday.

Medicine & Health news

	Who is best to assess maternal and fetal risk? (Medical Xpress)—At what point does fetal risk outweigh maternal autonomy? The recent findings that the Zika virus may cause birth defects have lead some governments in Latin American countries to recommend that women not get pregnant until the virus can be contained. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently recommended that pregnant women or women who could become pregnant should not drink alcohol. Additionally, the increase in babies born to women addicted to drugs has caused some U.S. areas to punish pregnant women who use illicit substances while pregnant.
	Genomic sequencing reveals link between STIs and leading cause of infectious blindness For the first time, genome sequencing has been carried out on Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), a bacteria responsible for the disease Trachoma - the world's leading infectious cause of blindness, according to a study in Nature Communications.
	Sugar rush shrinks brain cell powerhouse The spike in blood sugar levels that can come after a meal is controlled by the brain's neuronal mitochondria, which are considered the "powerhouse of cells," Yale School of Medicine researchers found in a new study.
	How brain oscillations respond to teleportation Technology may not have caught up to the teleportation devices of science fiction, but now we have some idea of how the brain handles "beaming up" from one location to another, thanks to research by neuroscientists at the University of California, Davis, involving some specially wired volunteers.
	Are women more attracted to 'dark and brooding' men? A paper co-authored by a researcher from the University's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society states that women are generally drawn to men with dark and brooding looks. This in turn may relate to their reproductive success.
	Fine-tuning cellular energy increases longevity In new research from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP), scientists have identified a protein that can extend the natural lifespan of C. elegans, a microscopic roundworm commonly used for research on aging and longevity. The findings, published today in Cell Reports, expand what we know about the aging process and may lead to new ways to delay the onset of human age-related diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
	Researchers work to block harmful behavior of key Alzheimer's enzyme Enzymes rarely have one job. So, attempts to shut down the enzyme that causes the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease often mean side effects, because these therapies prevent the enzyme from carrying out many other functions. A study appearing February 25 in Cell Reports presents a new therapeutic strategy: blocking the most harmful behavior enzyme while allowing it to work normally otherwise. This potential approach now needs to be further developed and tested in pre-clinical trials.
The body's response to low levels of oxygen may treat mitochondrial disease, study finds A team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found that the controlled induction of the hypoxia response, the body's reaction to a reduced level of oxygen in the bloodstream, may relieve the symptoms of one of the most challenging groups of genetic disorders - mitochondrial diseases. Their report describing experiments in cellular and animal models of mitochondrial disease is being published online in the journal Science.
	Experimental Ebola antibody protects monkeys Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues have discovered that a single monoclonal antibody—a protein that attacks viruses—isolated from a human Ebola virus disease survivor protected non-human primates when given as late as five days after lethal Ebola infection. The antibody can now advance to testing in humans as a potential treatment for Ebola virus disease. There are currently no licensed treatments for Ebola infection, which caused more than 11,000 deaths in the 2014-2015 outbreak in West Africa. The findings are described in two articles to be published online by Science on February 25.
	What makes the brain tick so fast? Study sheds light on the workings of brain neurotransmitter receptors Surprisingly complex interactions between neurotransmitter receptors and other key proteins help explain the brain's ability to process information with lightning speed, according to a new study.
	Study finds only a small portion of synapses may be active during neurotransmission Columbia University scientists have developed a new optical technique to study how information is transmitted in the brains of mice. Using this method, they found that only a small portion of synapses—the connections between cells that control brain activity—may be active at any given time.
	Intensive blood pressure lowering treatment may harm people with diabetes People with diabetes often have high blood pressure and an increased cardiovascular risk. They are therefore often recommended more intensive blood pressure lowering treatment that non-diabetics. However, for patients with systolic blood pressure levels under 140, antihypertensive drugs may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular causes. This according to a study at Umeå University in Sweden published in the BMJ.
	High levels of intense exercise may be unhealthy for the heart There is growing evidence that high levels of intense exercise may be cardiotoxic and promote permanent structural changes in the heart, which can, in some individuals, predispose them to experience arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm). A review published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology explores current controversies and makes the case for investing in large prospective research studies into the effect of intense exercise on heart structure and function.
	Physically active individuals cope better with heart attacks Researchers know that exercise increases a person's chances of surviving a heart attack. Now it turns out that exercise habits also affect how the body handles a heart attack's aftermaths.
What will emerging genetic tools for mitochondrial DNA replacement mean for patients? Sophisticated prenatal techniques, not yet in clinical practice, offer the potential to prevent a cruel multi-system genetic disease passing from mother to child long before birth.
Pancreatic cancer: Major breakthrough in our understanding of the mechanisms of the disease Pancreatic cancer carries a very bleak prognosis for patients. However, a recent breakthrough by two research teams, including one at the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (CIUSSS-EST, Montreal) and University of Montreal, has opened the door to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that cause this cancer to develop.
Three pregnant women test positive for Zika in Florida Health officials say three pregnant women have tested positive for the Zika virus in Florida.
	Ebola may leave lasting neurological problems (HealthDay)—Many Ebola survivors have brain symptoms that last long after other signs of the potentially fatal infection are gone, a new study finds.
	Curcumin may help prevent liver damage from acetaminophen (HealthDay)—Curcumin exerts a hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen-induced damage in mice, according to an experimental study published in the February issue of the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.
As rural hospitals struggle, some close labor and delivery units A few years ago, when a young woman delivered her baby at Alleghany Memorial Hospital in Sparta, N.C., it was in the middle of an ice storm and the mountain roads out of town were impassable. The delivery was routine, but the baby had trouble breathing because her lungs weren't fully developed. Maureen Murphy, the family physician who attended the birth, stayed in touch with the neonatal intensive care unit at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, a 90-minute drive away, to consult on treatment for the infant.
Medical device-makers face challenge of falling prices At a time when U.S. health care costs have been rising faster than inflation, the prices for many medical devices have been dropping.
	Searching for cancer's fingerprints gives clues to tumour growth A University of Manchester study has shed light on a chain of events that allows tumour cells to thrive in tough environments, identifying potential new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.
NIH taking first steps to huge precision medicine project The Obama administration is moving ahead with a major project to learn how to better tailor treatments and preventive care to people's genes, environment and lifestyle.
	Gamification of healthcare A new online game gives the public the 'virtual power' to determine how they would design the country's health system.
	UN: Women in Zika countries should breastfeed their babies The World Health Organization says women in countries hit by the Zika virus should breastfeed their babies and there is no proof the disease can spread to their infants that way.
	Smoking bans have helped cut childhood smoking uptake by a fifth New research suggests smoking bans across the UK have reduced the uptake of smoking by teenagers by roughly a fifth.
	Grief and compassion in the birthing suite Midwives devote their careers to delivering healthy newborns into the arms of their parents. But what happens when things go wrong and the long-awaited baby is not born alive?
	Physician discusses heart disease in women Heart disease has been the number-one killer of women for decades, but it is still an under-recognized problem. The Women's Heart and Vascular Program, directed by Yale School of Medicine's Dr. Lisa Freed, aims to change that by raising awareness and offering female patients a range of preventive and treatment services. Based in North Haven, Orange, and Guilford, the program is planning to expand to Greenwich this year. For heart month, YaleNews asked Freed about her work and the challenge of heart disease; an edited version of the interview follows.
	Research reveals aspirin is safe for heart surgery patients A worldwide study led by Monash University clinician-researchers shows that patients who take aspirin before heart surgery are at no greater risk of bleeding or complications.
	Team suppresses oxidative stress and neuronal death associated with Alzheimer's disease The brain  is an enormous network of communication, containing over 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons, with branches that connect at more than 100 trillion points. They are constantly sending signals through a vast neuron forest that forms memories, thoughts and feelings; these patterns of activity form the essence of each person. Alzheimer's disease (AD) disrupts both the way electrical charges travel within cells and the activity of neurotransmitters. An AD brain has fewer nerve cells and synapses than a healthy brain; plaques and abnormal clusters of protein fragments accumulate between nerve cells. The major pathological indicators of AD are the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The pathways in our neuron forest are systemically attacked and destroyed by amyloid beta (Aβ): a solitary molecule that evolves into plaque clusters, which block cell-to-cell signalling at synapses. The! y may also activate immune system cells that result in inflammation and destroy damaged cells.
Black men more likely to undergo PSA screening than non-hispanic whites African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer and shorter survival time compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Their mortality rate is more than twice that of their white counterparts. Early diagnosis through PSA screening may help forestall consequent morbidity and mortality. Investigators assessed the prevalence of self-reported screening by black and non-Hispanic white (NHW) men and found that despite long-standing disparities in health care access, black men 45 to 60 years old have a higher rate and probability of PSA screening compared to NHWs, reports the Journal of Urology.
Life-threatening bowel ischemia can often be treated by balloon angioplasty Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) can be successfully treated with endovascular therapy such as balloon angioplasty, according to research from the University of Eastern Finland. The study also found that AMI is a more common cause of abdominal pain among the elderly than generally thought; however, it is difficult to diagnose before bowel damage develops.
	Ultrasound during active labour best predictor of C-section needs Midwives need more than fingers to figure out who the C-section candidates are. Small, tablet-sized ultrasound devices may be the key.
HIV infections in babies down nearly 60 percent, but end still not in sight Great strides have been made in preventing new mother-to-child HIV transmission and in controlling the virus in children who have it, but there is still a long way to go before pediatric HIV infection is eliminated, according to a recent review in the New England Journal of Medicine co-authored by Katherine Luzuriaga, MD, of UMass Medical School, and Lynne M. Mofenson, MD, of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
	People in their nineties reveal the secrets to ageing well There are many reasons why some people live long healthy lives while others don't, but one of them is undoubtedly genes. That doesn't mean we should be negative about our chances of ageing in good health. Although our genes are handed down from our parents, the hand that we are dealt seems to be influenced by our lifestyle, too. Food, physical activity and stress can change how genes function by adding "chemical tags" that act as on/off or dimmer switches, influencing our health and lifespan. The study of this process is known as epigenetics.
	Why we are secretly attracted to people who look like our parents Have you ever thought there was an uncanny family resemblance between your friend and her partner? Or wondered for a fleeting moment whether the pair walking down the road were husband and wife, or brother and sister? You might not be imagining things. Animals of many species "learn" what a suitable mate looks like based on the appearance of their parents, and so, it seems, do humans.
	Clinical trials for childhood cancer drugs are critical, but parents don't always understand them Each week in the United States, about 300 children are diagnosed with cancer. Many of them will be offered treatment as part of a clinical trial that tests different drugs or different ways to give standard drugs.
Pathway to better metabolism discovered in fat cells Control over obesity and diabetes may be one step closer thanks to a Hiroshima University study in fat tissue.
Protein that triggers juvenile arthritis identified Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or JIA, is the most common form of childhood arthritis. It appears to be an autoimmune disease, caused by antibodies attacking certain proteins in a person's own tissue. But no "autoantigens"—the proteins triggering an immune attack—have been linked to JIA.
	Vigorous exercise boosts critical neurotransmitters, may help restore mental health People who exercise have better mental fitness, and a new imaging study from UC Davis Health System shows why. Intense exercise increases levels of two common neurotransmitters—glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA—that are responsible for chemical messaging within the brain.
	Researchers use mouse model to study craniofacial disorders Researchers from the laboratory of Paul Trainor, Ph.D., at the Stowers Institute of Medical Research have developed an effective and reliable technique for studying high-arched palate using a mouse model. The methodology could expand research into the genetic aspects of this craniofacial abnormality.
Study shows teen girls' sexual orientation not always a predictor of sexual behaviour About one in five lesbian and four in five bisexual teen girls who are sexually active had a recent male sex partner, according to a new U.S. study of close to 3,000 adolescent girls that appears in the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Team examines what keeps passion alive in long-term relationships A Chapman University psychologist and his interdisciplinary research team have just published a study examining the sexual satisfaction—or dissatisfaction—of heterosexual couples in long-term relationships, and what contributes to keeping sexual passion alive. In one of the largest studies to date that scientifically examines what contributes to a satisfying long-term sex life, the findings indicate foreplay, setting the mood, mixing it up, and expressing love are all factors that satisfied couples said they do regularly.
	'Preemie' babies may face long-term anesthesia risks (HealthDay)—Children born prematurely may be at risk for complications from anesthesia and sedation at least into young adulthood, a new study suggests.
	Half of elderly colorectal cancer patients receiving value-less treatment A study published online ahead of print in the journal Medical Care shows that over a recent 10-year period, the rate of metastatic colorectal cancer patients older than age 75 receiving three or more treatments increased from 2 percent to 53 percent. During this period, 1-year treatment cost increased 32 percent to reach an estimated $2.2 billion annually. However, median survival for these patients increased by only one month.
	Composing and arranging music partly genetically determined The questionnaire study of musically educated individuals showed that music-related creative activities are more common in young generations in Finland. It may reBlect the change in availability of music or music education in the society.
Discovery of likely subtypes of rare childhood brain tumor signals diagnostic advance An international research team has identified four likely new subtypes of a rare brain tumor using molecular techniques that lay the foundation for more accurate diagnosis and tailored therapies for the hard-to-treat cancer. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the German Cancer Research Center led the study, results of which appear today in the scientific journal Cell.
	Discovery of key abnormality affecting brain development in people with Down syndrome For the first time researchers have identified the lifelong changes in gene expression in the brains of people born with Down syndrome (DS).
	Molecular 'brake' prevents excessive inflammation Inflammation is a Catch-22: the body needs it to eliminate invasive organisms and foreign irritants, but excessive inflammation can harm healthy cells, contributing to aging and sometimes leading to organ failure and death. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that a protein known as p62 acts as a molecular brake to keep inflammation in check and avoid collateral damage. The mouse study is published February 25 in Cell.
Potential diagnostic for dengue fever outcomes based on metabolomic profiles Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease that can develop into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome. There are currently no standard biomarkers or algorithms for the prognosis of the progression to hemorrhagic fever or potentially fatal shock syndrome. In the latest issue of PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases scientists from Colorado State University explore the use of small molecules in patient serum for diagnosis of dengue fever and potentially predicting progression to the severe disease.
	Cooling technique protects speech during brain surgery A new cooling technique can both protect the brain's speech centers during surgery and pinpoint the areas separately responsible for word formation and speech timing. This is according to a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and the University of Iowa published in the journal Neuron online Feb. 25, 2016.
	Zika virus linked to stillbirth, other symptoms in Brazil In January, a pregnant Brazilian woman infected with the Zika virus had a stillborn baby who had signs of severe tissue swelling as well as central nervous system defects that caused near-complete loss of brain tissue. It is the first report to indicate a possible association of congenital Zika virus and damage to tissues outside the central nervous system, said Yale researchers.
	Nitric oxide protects against parasite invasion and brain inflammation by keeping the blood brain barrier intact African trypanosomiasis is called 'sleeping sickness' because when the infection is untreated, trypanosome parasites will invade the brain and cause disruption of sleeping patterns and irreversible neurological damage. A study published on February 25th in PLOS Pathogens reports that in a mouse model of trypanosome disease, nitric oxide (NO) plays an unexpected role in preserving the integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB), thereby reducing parasite invasion into the brain, and likely limiting neurological damage.
The BENEFIT Trial: A wake-up call to accelerate the diagnosis, treatment and research Without a more efficient treatment, more than 200,000 people living with Chagas disease will die from heart disease in the next five years
Source of cells used to generate new tissue may be important to personalized medicine New insights suggest that the source of human cells used to generate new tissues and organs may be an important consideration in personalized medicine. The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) today released the results of a study highlighting molecular differences in cells that are gaining traction in the field of personalized medicine. The study, titled "Strong Components of Epigenetic Memory in Cultured Human Fibroblasts Related to Site of Origin and Donor Age," was led by Andrew E. Jaffe, Ph.D., and its relevant findings published in PLOS Genetics.
	Study: Mental abilities are shaped by individual differences in the brain Everyone has a different mixture of personality traits: some are outgoing, some are tough and some are anxious. A new study suggests that brains also have different traits that affect both anatomical and cognitive factors, such as intelligence and memory.
	Immunotherapy agent can disrupt viral reservoir in SIV-infected monkeys An immune-enhancing treatment can push SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) out of its hideouts in infected monkeys that have the virus controlled with drugs, scientists at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University report.
	Doctors punch hole in heart wall to help diastolic heart failure For the first time in the U.S., a clinical trial is underway that's evaluating a device designed to treat diastolic heart failure. The first patient enrolled in the randomized, blinded study is being treated at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Bariatric surgery may reduce life-threatening heart failure exacerbation in obese patients A new study led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators finds that heart failure patients who underwent bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity had a significant reduction in the incidence of heart failure exacerbation - a dangerous, sudden worsening of symptoms - in the two years following surgery. The report appears in the March Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Small study finds immunotherapy improves cognition in patients with schizophrenia A recent study of a handful of patients supports mounting evidence that targeted suppression of inflammation packaged with standard therapy can improve the cognitive ability of patients with schizophrenia, physician-scientists report.
Parental pressure pushes young athletes to doping Pressure to be perfect from parents makes young male athletes positive about doping, research from the University of Kent shows.
	'Team players' are picked earlier in NFL draft—and paid more, study shows In the NFL, it pays to be a team player - literally. A study published recently in the Journal of Applied Psychology shows that good character boosts a player's stock in the NFL draft.
	Mastering the art of ignoring makes people more efficient People searching for something can find it faster if they know what to look for. But new research suggests knowing what not to look for can be just as helpful.
	People in food deserts eat much differently than the rest of America Pork, mayonnaise and cookies versus bagels, kale and hummus. That's the glaring difference in food choices by between two groups of people in the northeastern United States.
	Some experts contend Brazil is exaggerating Zika crisis Often drowned out by the dire warnings and fear surrounding Zika, some medical professionals are saying that Brazil and international health officials have prematurely declared a link between the virus and what appears to be a surge in birth defects.
	Zeroing in on 'super spreaders' and other hidden patterns of epidemics Ebola. Chikungunya. Zika. Once rare and exotic pathogens keep popping up and turning into household names. It's the new reality as the climate warms, humans expand more into wildlife habitats and air travel shrinks the distances across the globe.
	Older adults have their own perspectives on sadness, loneliness and serenity A new study led by associate professor Rebecca Ready in the department of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has found that older adults have different, more positive responses than young adults about feelings such as serenity, sadness and loneliness.
	Genome editing: US could apply UK's approach to evaluate safety, ethics This winter has provided several dramatic developments in the ongoing debate about whether altering the "germline" - that is, the genome of a new embryo - should be allowed. Employing the technique could permanently alter not just an individual, but also that person's future genetic lineage. In a new research essay in the journal Cell, a duo of medical and legal experts from Brown and Harvard Universities argues that if the U.S. decides to consider the practice, it has a well-drawn regulatory roadmap to follow, courtesy of the United Kingdom.
	Demystifying mechanotransduction ion channels As blood flows through our vessels, the cells that constitute these vessels responds to the shear stress of blood flow to ensure normal circulation. This process of converting a mechanical force into a biological function is known as "mechanotransduction."
	Let it go: Reaction to stress more important than its frequency How you perceive and react to stressful events is more important to your health than how frequently you encounter stress, according to health researchers from Penn State and Columbia University.
Salt intake appears to have little impact on bone health in menopausal women A low-salt diet does not necessarily translate to stronger bones in postmenopausal women, physician-scientists report.
New formulation of FDA-approved drug may help treat Niemann-Pick Type C disease Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease is a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no cure. NPC primarily strikes children before and during adolescence and affects one in every 150,000 children. The disease causes cholesterol and other lipids to build up in the body's cells, which results in symptoms such as delayed motor development, deterioration of memory and balance, and seizures.
	Chemists expose side effects of antimalarial drug Malaria is a worldwide menace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 500,000 individuals died from malaria in 2013 alone. While treatments for the disease exist, cures can also take a hefty physical toll. Professor of chemistry Robert Doyle in the College of Arts and Sciences, graduate students Brian Huta and Yan Nie, and an international team have begun to unravel the biochemical action of one such malarial drug.
Collection of open reading frames at 80 percent of human protein-coding genes An international collaboration of organizations, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has reached a milestone in creating a library of complete genetic blueprints for the thousands of different proteins in human cells. The collection - consisting of open-reading frames (ORFs), the portions of genes that code for full-length proteins - is an essential resource for scientists studying the basic mechanics of human cells and how those processes go awry in disease.
Single antibody from human survivor protects nonhuman primates against Ebola virus A single monoclonal antibody isolated from a human survivor of Ebola virus disease (EVD) completely protected monkeys from lethal infection with the virus, according to research published in today's online edition of the journal Science.
	New study links moving more with decreased mortality "Get up and move." That's the take-home message from a new study from Ezra Fishman, a doctoral candidate in demography at the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging and others.
Tests show no specific gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autism Children with autism have no unique pattern of abnormal results on endoscopy or other tests for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, compared to non-autistic children with GI symptoms, reports a study in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN), official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
	Lyme disease 'Biofilm' eludes antibiotics: report (HealthDay)—The bacteria that causes Lyme disease protects itself from antibiotics by forming a slime-like layer called a biofilm, a new study shows.
	Public reporting of hospital readmissions hasn't cut rates (HealthDay)—For patients with myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, and pneumonia, the release of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) public reporting of hospital readmission rates has had no impact on 30-day readmission trends, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Early weaning linked to reduced risk of atopic dermatitis (HealthDay)—Early weaning at age 4 to 5 months is associated with reduced risk of atopic dermatitis, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Allergy.
	Some women lack interest in sex with new contraceptive (HealthDay)—Almost one-quarter of women report lacking interest in sex at six months after initiating a new contraceptive method, according to a study published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Suggestions for optimizing practice feedback effectiveness (HealthDay)—In an article published online Feb. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 15 suggestions are presented to optimize the effectiveness of practice feedback.
State clustering of fatal unintentional firearm injuries and those involving police officers Unintentional fatal firearm injuries and those involving a police officer currently cluster in distinct geographical areas of the USA, reveals research published in the journal Injury Prevention.
Antidepressant may improve cognitive symptoms in people with HIV In a small, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Johns Hopkins physicians report that the antidepressant paroxetine modestly improves decision-making and reaction time, and suppresses inflammation in people with HIV-associated cognitive impairment. The researchers say they believe this is the first time that a SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) has been shown to improve key measures of cognition in people with HIV in a controlled study.
Court rules Canadians can grow their own medical pot A Canadian court Wednesday struck down federal rules governing the growing and distribution of medical marijuana, ruling that Canadians have a constitutional right to grow it for themselves at home.
One in four cases of CRC diagnosed within two years of a negative screening result One in four cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) detected in a guiac faecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) programme are diagnosed within two years of a negative screening result, a study in the UEG Journal (1) has found, suggesting that gFOBT should be replaced by more sensitive screening methods to improve detection rates.
	Making commercial surrogacy illegal only makes aspiring parents go elsewhere When many people hear the word "surrogacy" their immediate reaction is to think of the plight of Baby Gammy, abandoned in Thailand by his intended parents.
Czech Republic reports first two Zika cases Czech physicians have diagnosed the country's first two cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in tourists who returned from the Caribbean two weeks ago, the health minister said on Thursday.
	Inner voice of anorexia under investigation with help from people with lived experience During Eating Disorders Awareness Week (22-28 February), researchers from The University of Manchester are recruiting people with a diagnosis of anorexia for a new study into the concept of 'the anorexic voice'.
	New Zealand children's cycle safety scrutinised A new University of Otago study of eight- to 12-year-old New Zealand children's bicycle safety has found that many children aged under 11 are unable to safely complete a practical cycling skills assessment.
Turn five minutes of airport downtime into a lifesaving layover Airport travelers can now put their time to good use and take five minutes to learn the simple, yet lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR via interactive training kiosks debuting at five major airport hubs across the country, courtesy of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc.
	Accentuating the positive out of earthquake adversity An innovative study by Massey University researchers explores how nurses have coped in a positive way with the personal and professional effects of the Canterbury earthquakes.
	Researchers build powerful 3-D microscope, create images of cancer cells UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have designed and built a microscope capable of creating high-resolution, 3-D images of living cancer cells in realistic, controllable microenvironments.
Nearly 100 Indian pupils in hospital after eating school meal Nearly 100 Indian schoolchildren were hospitalised with suspected food poisoning Thursday after eating a free midday meal at a government-run school near Mumbai, officials said, adding that 13 were in a critical condition.
Innate immune landscape in glioblastoma patient tumors Glioblastoma is an extremely aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options. Recent progress in using immunotherapy-based treatment options in other tumor types has spurred interest in developing approaches that might be effective in this devastating malignancy. Myeloid-derived innate immune cells, such as macrophages, microglia, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, are known to be present within glioblastomas.
Protecting the heart: Cardiac heme oxygenase regulates injury response The constant beating of the heart requires an enormous output of energy. To meet this demand, cardiomyocytes are loaded with mitochondria, organelles that generate the majority of energy for cells. These mitochondria are dynamically regulated to ensure that damaged mitochondria are removed and replaced by healthy mitochondria.
Understanding the role of human polyomaviruses in cancer Human polyomaviruses are commonly found in the population and generally do not produce noticeable symptoms. However, one type of human polyomavirus, the Merkel cell polyomavirus, is known to cause a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, and other members of the polyomavirus family can induce non-cancer related diseases in people with compromised immune systems. To determine whether other members of the polyomavirus might be associated with cancer development, Yuan Chang and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center developed a new method to screen tumor samples for the presence of any human polyomavirus.
A new approach to visualize drug delivery to the central nervous system The central nervous system is inaccessible for many types of therapeutics because of the blood brain barrier, a highly selective membrane that protects the brain from bacterial infection and other substances. An alternative approach is to bypass the blood brain barrier and directly inject drugs into the intrathecal space of the spinal canal, allowing the therapeutic compound to reach the cerebrospinal fluid. Efforts to date with this approach have been limited due to patient variability and uncertainty about how drug distribution is affected by cerebral spinal fluid movement.
Heart failure is associated with increased acetylation of metabolic proteins In cardiac hypertrophy, metabolic energy reserves in the heart are depleted, which is thought to contribute to the subsequent development of heart failure. The primary energy source in the heart relies on fatty acid oxidation within the mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouse.
Leaky lymphatics lead to obesity in mice Lymphatic vessels play multifaceted roles in the body, including the absorption of dietary lipid in the intestines as well as the movement of immune cells throughout the body. Previous work by Guillermo Oliver and colleagues showed that mice with lymphatic defects due to loss of one copy of the Prox1 gene developed obesity late in life. They hypothesized that obesity was due to leakage of lipid-rich fluid known as chyle from the small intestine; however, the prior study was inconclusive because it was possible that defects outside of the lymphatic vasculature could have also contributed to the development of obesity.
	Post-Ebola syndrome in Sierra Leone Researchers from the University's Institute of Translational Medicine have conducted a study of Ebola survivors to describe the medical problems they continue to have after recovering from the acute disease. The results of which have been published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Team examines chronic disease in workplace The science of physical activity at work remains understudied despite widespread acceptance that it plays an important role in health. Now, researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have published a comprehensive review of ways to monitor physical activity and tools for occupational exposure scientists.
	Research suggests nurses may be unaware of VAP guidelines (HealthDay)—Intensive care unit nurses' may have inadequate knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention, according to an Iranian study published online Feb. 4 in the Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine.
How have changes in the use of anemia drugs affected dialysis patients? A new study examines whether recent changes in the use of anemia drugs for patients on dialysis have contributed to changes in rates of death or cardiovascular events. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), indicate that these risks appear to be decreasing for patients on dialysis as well as for older adults (Medicare beneficiaries) who are not on dialysis. These results suggest that recent trends in the use of anemia drugs in response to US Food and Drug Administration labeling changes and prospective payment for dialysis services ("bundling") have been either neutral or possibly beneficial for patients on dialysis.
Researcher helps draft 'historic' position paper on nutrition and athletic performance An assistant professor in the UK College of Health Sciences is the lead author on a paper that is being hailed as the most important single source of information in the field of sports nutrition to date.
Annual plastic surgery statistics reflect the changing face of plastic surgery New data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show continued growth in cosmetic procedures over the last year, and a shift in the types of procedures patients have chosen since the start of the new millennium. According to the annual plastic surgery procedural statistics, there were 15.9 million surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2015, a 2 percent increase over 2014.

Other Sciences news

	Evolution of moral outrage: I'll punish your bad behavior to make me look good What makes human morality unique? One important answer is that we care when other people are harmed. While many animals retaliate when directly mistreated, humans also get outraged at transgressions against others. And this outrage drives us to protest injustice, boycott companies, blow whistles and cut ties with unethical friends and colleagues.
	Media-sharing app for early education catches on nationwide As an MIT Sloan Fellow in 2011, Kin Lo MBA '12 felt disconnected from his daughter, who had just started preschool in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Soon, the 3-year-old would be learning a host of things there, such as numbers or the alphabet, and Lo would never get to see.
Machine learning at arraignments can cut repeat domestic violence In one large metropolitan area, arraignment decisions made with the assistance of machine learning cut new domestic violence incidents by half, leading to more than 1,000 fewer such post-arraignment arrests annually, according to new findings from the University of Pennsylvania.
	Why the poor pay more at the store Turns out you have to make good money to save money.
	Home education in Australia is on the rise but how to test its success? A QUT researcher is calling on education departments to take notice of the growing trend of children taught at home and investigate its success or not.
	Should scientists engage with pseudo-science or anti-science? The ABC's flagship science journalism TV programme, Catalyst, has riled the scientific community once again. And, in a similar vein to Catalyst's controversial 2013 report on the link between statins, cholesterol and heart disease, it has now turned its quasi-scientific attention to a supposed new peril.
250-year-old research methodology helps solve 21st Century population questions Researchers from the ESRC Centre for Population Change at the University of Southampton and Statistics New Zealand have published an article in the Routledge journal Population Studies arguing that Bayesian methodology, a statistical tool introduced by Rev. Thomas Bayes in the 18th Century, is vital in providing solutions to many difficult statistical problems, particularly those presented by 21st Century population studies.
	Using medical imaging techniques for noninvasive probing of Egyptian artefacts A Department of Engineering researcher used medical imaging techniques to discover the secrets behind Egyptian artefacts in the Fitzwilliam Museum's new 'Death on the Nile' exhibition.
	Talking serious science using scissors and glue A student once told me that she would prefer to learn from pages of writing rather than from a single, concise image. When she told me, I think I may have actually frowned and I definitely paused, just long enough to feel slightly uncomfortable and to see that she was not just being reactionary; frustrated at the challenging task we had set.
Voting restrictions stir anger, mobilize more Democrats to polls In recent years, many states have passed laws that make it more difficult for people to register and vote.
	3-D technology used to safely reveal the diet of 'Chaucer's children' A new way of examining the teeth of children who lived between the 11th and 15th centuries without damaging them has been discovered.
	Race and gender of scientists affect perception of credibility Ideology is a key factor in determining how people assess the credibility of scientific researchers, according to a new UBC Sauder School of Business study.
	Australian children missing school, bullied, hungry, report finds One in ten Australian children misses school at least once a week, almost one in six has been bullied, and one in thirty – a child in almost every classroom – goes to bed or school hungry nearly every day.
	Sustainability management: social acceptance more important than profit It is commonly believed that companies are only committed to environmental and social issues if this contributes to increase their profits. A new study now shows that this stereotype is not true at least for large companies in developed countries. The driving force behind sustainability management activities of large companies is mainly the pursuit of social acceptance. Conversely, profit maximisation plays a subordinate role. This counterintuitive result of a broad empirical study has recently been published in the Journal of Business Ethics by Prof. Dr. Stefan Schaltegger (Leuphana University of Lüneburg) and Prof. Dr. Jacob Hörisch (Alanus University).

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