Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 14

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Apr 15, 2015 at 3:47 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Apr 14
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

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Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 14, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Comet springs surprise: Rosetta and Philae find Comet 67P not magnetised
- Irradiating formamide with meteorite dust can lead to synthesis of prebiotic compounds
- Search for advanced civilizations beyond Earth finds nothing obvious in 100,000 galaxies
- Study shows novel pattern of electrical charge movement through DNA
- New technique uses carbon nanotube film to directly heat and cure composite materials
- Redirect to SMB vulnerability in Windows discovered
- Host cell-entry mode of African henipavirus could be its Achilles heel
- Mapless walkers use electrical muscle stimulation (w/ video)
- Harvesting energy from electromagnetic waves
- Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider smashes record for polarized proton luminosity
- Ancient herbal therapy can prevent—and reverse—cardiac hypertrophy in mice
- High fidelity: Researcher finds keys to genome integrity
- Scientists hold breath for comet lander to wake
- Absence of copyright has its own economic value, social benefits
- New synthesis method produces novel nanostructures from carbon

Nanotechnology news

	New technique uses carbon nanotube film to directly heat and cure composite materials Composite materials used in aircraft wings and fuselages are typically manufactured in large, industrial-sized ovens: Multiple polymer layers are blasted with temperatures up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, and solidified to form a solid, resilient material. Using this approach, considerable energy is required first to heat the oven, then the gas around it, and finally the actual composite.
	New synthesis method produces novel nanostructures from carbon They are tiny and comprise spherical, sheet-like or fibrous particles. And they consist chiefly of the chemical element carbon. The talk here is about unusual carbon nanostructures that scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam-Golm are now producing with a novel method. The researchers have already shown that their nanostructures possess useful catalytic properties: for instance, they can reduce the energy required to break down water by electrolysis. This is a useful property for storing renewable energy. And because such nanoparticles contain large porosity, the scientists believe that they could also conceivably be used to store gases, such as carbon dioxide and in further applications.
	The microscopic topography of ink on paper A team of Finnish scientists has found a new way to examine the ancient art of putting ink to paper in unprecedented 3-D detail. The technique could improve scientists' understanding of how ink sticks to paper and ultimately lead to higher quality, less expensive and more environmentally-friendly printed products.
	Graphene pushes the speed limit of light-to-electricity conversion The efficient conversion of light into electricity plays a crucial role in many technologies, ranging from cameras to solar cells. It also forms an essential step in data communication applications, since it allows for information carried by light to be converted into electrical information that can be processed in electrical circuits. Graphene is an excellent material for ultrafast conversion of light to electrical signals, but so far it was not known how fast graphene responds to ultrashort flashes of light.
Nanoparticles at specific temperature stimulate antitumor response Seeking a way to stimulate antitumor responses via the immune system, Steven Fiering, PhD, of Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth, has identified the precise temperature that results in a distinct body-wide antitumor immune response that resists metastatic disease. Fiering's team published the research in the paper "Local Hyperthermia Treatment of Tumors Induces CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Resistance Against Distal and Secondary Tumors," which appeared in Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine.

Physics news

Quantization of 'surface Dirac states' could lead to exotic applications Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science in Japan have uncovered the first evidence of an unusual quantum phenomenon—the integer quantum Hall effect—in a new type of film, called a 3D topological insulator. In doing this, they demonstrated that "surface Dirac states"—a particular form of massless electrons—are quantized in these materials, meaning that they only take on certain discrete values. These discoveries could help move science forward toward the goal of dissipationless electronics—electronic devices that can operate without producing the vast amounts of heat generated by current silicon-based semiconductors.
	Mixing up a batch of stronger metals Just as a delicate balance of ingredients determines the tastiness of a cookie or cake, the specific ratio of metals in an alloy determines desirable qualities of the new metal, such as improved strength or lightness.
	Technique takes cues from astronomy and ophthalmology to sharpen microscope images The complexity of biology can befuddle even the most sophisticated light microscopes. Biological samples bend light in unpredictable ways, returning difficult-to-interpret information to the microscope and distorting the resulting image. New imaging technology developed at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Farm Research Campus rapidly corrects for these distortions and sharpens high-resolution images over large volumes of tissue.
	The model for a perfect human pyramid Physics students from the University of Leicester have calculated the formula for a perfect human pyramid – and have found that the best suited candidates are groups of men, women and children rather than formations of the same age and sex.
	Harvesting energy from electromagnetic waves For our modern, technologically-advanced society, in which technology has become the solution to a myriad of challenges, energy is critical not only for growth but also, more importantly, survival. The sun is an abundant and practically infinite source of energy, so researchers around the world are racing to create novel approaches to "harvest" clean energy from the sun or transfer that energy to other sources.
	Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider smashes record for polarized proton luminosity The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), a powerful particle accelerator for nuclear physics research at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, just shattered its own record for producing polarized proton collisions at 200-giga-electron-volt (GeV) collision energy. In the experimental run currently underway at this two-ringed, 2.4-mile-circumference particle collider, accelerator physicists are now delivering 1200 billion of these subatomic smashups per week-more than double the number routinely achieved in 2012, the last run dedicated to polarized proton experiments at this collision energy.
	Scientists create invisible objects without metamaterial cloaking Physicists from ITMO University, Ioffe Institute and Australian National University managed to make homogenous cylindrical objects completely invisible in the microwave range. Contrary to the now prevailing notion of invisibility that relies on metamaterial coatings, the scientists achieved the result using a homogenous object without any additional coating layers. The method is based on a new understanding of electromagnetic wave scattering. The results of the study were published in Scientific Reports.
	High-power laser spinoff proves versatility is strength Since lasers were invented in 1960, they have penetrated countless scientific, industrial and recreational fields: from eye surgery to DVD players, from cutting steel to triggering ignition in missile stages.

Earth news

	Snowball Earth: New study shows Antarctic climate even gripped the tropics New details of a nightmare period on Earth with surface conditions as frigid as present-day central Antarctica at the equator have been revealed thanks to the publication of a study of ancient glacier water.
	Researcher uses tiny marine microbes to model climate change Dip a beaker into any portion of the world's oceans, and you're likely to pull up a swirling mix of planktonic inhabitants. The oceans are teeming with more than 5,000 species of phytoplankton—microscopic plants in a kaleidoscope of shapes and sizes. Together, phytoplankton anchor the ocean's food chain, supplying nutrients to everything from single-celled organisms on up to fish and whales.
	Climate connections In common parlance, the phrase "global climate change" is often used to describe how present-day climate is changing in response to human activities. But climate has also varied naturally and sometimes quite rapidly in the past, with implications for the ocean and its ecosystems.
	New source of methane discovered in the Arctic Ocean Methane, a highly effective greenhouse gas, is usually produced by decomposition of organic material, a complex process involving bacteria and microbes.
	Competition not concentration matters when forming cloud-influencing aerosols Tiny aerosols greatly influence cloud formation and sunlight's scattering or absorption. Yet, the factors that influence the formation of these aerosols, known as secondary organic aerosol or SOA, are often assumed. Researchers determined that previous assumptions about nitrogen oxide levels were overly simplistic; the amount of SOA produced from isoprene released by trees as well as the SOA volatility are more accurately tied to interactions with electron-rich, carbon-based chemicals, known as organic peroxy radicals, that compete with nitrogen oxides in reactions.
	Expect quiet hurricane season, researchers say The 2015 Atlantic hurricane season will be significantly less active than the overall averages from 1950 to the present, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
	Old commuting habits die hard Convincing people to switch from driving their car to taking the bus to work isn't easy. But when the environmental charity group WWF announced that it would be moving its United Kingdom headquarters to another town, psychological scientists Ian Walker, Gregory O. Thomas, and Bas Verplanken of the University of Bath saw a golden opportunity for studying the influence of habit on commuting behavior.
	Ecological properties of nature reserve areas can now be analyzed by laser scanning from a plane Simply declaring a region as a nature protection area is not enough, regular monitoring of its ecological condition is also necessary. Since Nature protection areas already cover almost one fifth of the surface of the European Union, it is impossible to inspect such a vast area in the traditional way on foot. Therefore, new methods are being developed to monitor Europe's nature protection areas from the air. Short laser pulses are sent to the ground, and information on the status of the habitat can be deduced from the reflected light signals using elaborate computer algorithms.
	Typhoon Haiyan's storm surge may contaminate aquifer for years In research of significance to the world's expanding coastal populations, scientists have found that geology and infrastructure play key roles in determining whether aquifers that provide drinking water are inundated with seawater during a typhoon or hurricane and how long the contamination lasts.
	Water insecurity is 'a drag on the global economy' A new report shows floods, droughts and a lack of investment in providing good quality, reliable water supplies is dragging down the global economy. The report, published today and entitled 'Securing Water, Sustaining Growth', was written by an international Task Force co-chaired by Professor Jim Hall and Professor David Grey from the University of Oxford.
	Biologist studies how the increasing acidity that has come with climate change is affecting ocean life The increasing acidity of the world's oceans is having some pretty dire effects, including damaging coral reefs and weakening the shells of clams, oysters and mussels. Acidification is also harming sea creatures at the bottom of the oceanic food chain, such as plankton and fish larvae, posing a threat to many species of marine life.
	Study puts a price on help nature provides agriculture A team of international scientists has shown that assigning a dollar value to the benefits nature provides agriculture improves the bottom line for farmers while protecting the environment. The study confirms that organic farming systems do a better job of capitalizing on nature's services.
	Dutch citizens sue government over climate change Around 900 Dutch citizens on Tuesday took their government to court in a bid to force a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and take action against climate change.

Astronomy & Space news

	Comet springs surprise: Rosetta and Philae find Comet 67P not magnetised Measurements made by Rosetta and Philae during the probe's multiple landings on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko show that the comet's nucleus is not magnetised.
	Search for advanced civilizations beyond Earth finds nothing obvious in 100,000 galaxies After searching 100,000 galaxies for signs of highly advanced extraterrestrial life, a team of scientists using observations from NASA's WISE orbiting observatory has found no evidence of advanced civilizations in them. "The idea behind our research is that, if an entire galaxy had been colonized by an advanced spacefaring civilization, the energy produced by that civilization's technologies would be detectable in mid-infrared wavelengths—exactly the radiation that the WISE satellite was designed to detect for other astronomical purposes," said Jason T. Wright, an assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds at Penn State University, who conceived of and initiated the research.
	'Venus zone' narrows search for habitable planets Long before the hunt began to find Earth lookalikes around other stars, one planet in the Solar System had already been named Earth's twin. With its similar size and mass, Venus measures very close to Earth, with one major yet significant difference. Its thick atmosphere makes temperatures on the planet hot enough to melt lead, and therefore most certainly too hot to sustain life.
	Scientists hold breath for comet lander to wake Europe's comet lander Philae has remained obstinately silent since a new bid was launched to communicate with it, mission chiefs said Tuesday, but chances for contact were improving daily.
	Altimeter assists in MESSENGER's low-altitude navigation As NASA's MESSENGER mission draws to a close, an on-board science instrument that mapped the surface of Mercury is helping the navigation team with the spacecraft's low-altitude passes.
	Spitzer, OGLE spot planet deep within our galaxy NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has teamed up with a telescope on the ground to find a remote gas planet about 13,000 light-years away, making it one of the most distant planets known.
	SpaceX cargo ship blasts off toward space station SpaceX's unmanned Dragon cargo ship blasted off Tuesday toward the International Space Station, carrying a load of food and supplies for the astronauts living in orbit.
	SpaceX bid to recycle rocket fails again SpaceX's latest attempt at recycling its Falcon 9 rocket by landing it upright on an ocean platform failed Tuesday, after a successful launch of its cargo mission to space.
	Image: Comet activity 31 January – 25 March 2015 Four months from today, on 13 August, Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will reach perihelion – a moment that defines its closest point to the Sun along its orbit.
	Solar Orbiter launch delayed to 2018 The launch of Solar Orbiter, an ESA mission to explore the Sun in unprecedented detail, is now planned to take place in October 2018. The launch was previously targeted for July 2017.
	Inside a high-stakes experiment in protein crystallization On April 18, 2014, former astronaut and UAB Professor Lawrence DeLucas, O.D., Ph.D., stood at Cape Canaveral and watched several hundred crystallization experiments blast into orbit aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Then he and his team headed back to Birmingham. Another countdown had begun. When the timer stops this summer, DeLucas will have new research that could render expanded opportunities for the business and utilization of space.
	Video: How do black holes evaporate? Nothing lasts forever, not even black holes. According to Stephen Hawking, black holes will evaporate over vast periods of time. But how, exactly, does this happen?
	SpaceX tries again to launch space station groceries SpaceX faces stormy skies for the second day in a row as it tries to launch a shipment of space station groceries.
	Students use steerable radio telescope to study the universe Penn State Abington students traveled to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, one of the premier study locations in the world for astronomers, last fall to collect data for their research projects.
	NASA image: Mission Control, Houston, April 13, 1970 Apollo 13, NASA's third crewed mission to the moon, launched on April 11, 1970. Two days later, on April 13, while the mission was en route to the moon, a fault in the electrical system of one of the Service Module's oxygen tanks produced an explosion that caused both oxygen tanks to fail and also led to a loss of electrical power. The Command Module remained functional on its own batteries and oxygen tank, but these were usable only during the last hours of the mission.

Technology news

	Mapless walkers use electrical muscle stimulation (w/ video) Say hello to "actuated navigation," a potentially new way of getting around in unfamiliar places. German scientists have been working on the first human satellite navigation –in the form of electrodes strapped to the legs to guide walkers. Applications could involve tourism, where visitors to unfamiliar places would no longer risk walking into poles and walls while struggling over paper maps and their smartphone apps to make their way around. Following directions would not be necessary.
	Redirect to SMB vulnerability in Windows discovered News stories on tech spots on Monday reported that the Irvine, California, security company Cylance's SPEAR research team discovered a vulnerability relating to all versions of Windows including the Windows 10 Preview. The vulnerability is called "Redirect to SMB". The technique can be exploited to steal login credentials. "Redirect to SMB" works by "hijacking communications with legitimate web servers via man-in-the-middle attacks, then sending them to malicious SMB (server message block) servers that force them to spit out the victim's username, domain and hashed password," said Cylance.
	Hackers keep trying new targets in search of easy data The health care sector has become the hot target for hackers in recent months, according to researchers at Symantec, a leading cybersecurity company that says it's also seeing big increases in "spear-phishing," ''ransomware" and efforts to exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities in software used by a wide range of industries.
	Shape changing display could spell the end for the 2D graph Imagine your computer screen could change shape. Imagine if that screen could spring to life at the touch of a fingertip, translating numbers and trends into shapes and gradients you can reach out and touch.
	Formulas that drive Google, Klout, Facebook help researchers understand organized cybercrime Notorious gangsters Al Capone and Carlo Gambino were famously done in by tax evasion charges. John Gotti, the "Teflon Don" was given up by a confidant. While the criminal masterminds of today are conducting their nefarious business online, the key to taking them down depends on understanding how they organize and where to squeeze them. Researchers from Drexel University's Privacy, Security and Automation Lab are searching for that pressure point by studying the activity of cybercrime forums. Their findings could guide the next generation of "Untouchables."
	This year's fight for the tech industry: Patent trolls The same week that Alex Haro and Chris Hulls raised $50 million for their mobile app, Life360, the business partners got a letter. It said they had three days to pay licensing fees to a company they had never heard of because their app violated its patented technology.
	Algorithm able to identify online trolls A trio of researchers, two from Cornell the other from Stanford has developed a computer algorithm that is capable of identifying antisocial behavior as demonstrated in website comment sections. In their paper uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, Justin Cheng, Cristian Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil and Jure Leskovec describe their algorithm, how they came up with it and how they plan to improve on its accuracy.
	Bee brain simulation used to pilot a drone The team of researchers working on the The Green Brain Project has advanced to the point of being able to use what they've created in mimicking a honeybee brain, to actually pilot a flying robot drone—at least partially. The aim of the project is to completely reproduce a bee's brain in digital form, allowing at some point, a flying robot to function as the real thing with onlookers none the wiser.
	New 'cool roof time machine' will accelerate cool roof deployment Cool roofs can help keep buildings cool, thus lowering the building's energy use, while also mitigating the urban heat island effect by reflecting sunlight away from buildings and cities. But as cool roofs age and get soiled, how much of their reflectance do they lose?
	IBM teams with Apple on artificial intelligence health program IBM on Monday announced alliances with Apple and others to put artificial intelligence to work drawing potentially life-saving insights from the booming amount of health data generated on personal devices.
	'Imitation Game' code breaker Turing's notes net $1 million A handwritten notebook by British World War II code-breaking genius Alan Turing, who was the subject of the 2014 Oscar-winning film "The Imitation Game," brought more than $1 million at auction on Monday.
Investor Jana Partners pushes Qualcomm on stock buyback Activist investor firm Jana Partners says Qualcomm should speed up a stock repurchase, look for ways to cut costs, and consider splitting itself up.
	Nokia in talks to take over Alcatel-Lucent (Update) Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia said Tuesday it was in talks to purchase all of its Franco-American rival Alcatel-Lucent, with the aim of creating a telecoms and Internet technology behemoth.
LinkedIn testing product aimed at making it easier to find and share content LinkedIn wants businesses and employees to be more data savvy when it comes to finding and sharing articles, blog posts, slideshows and other stories on its site.
	Review: Swann DriveEye in-car camera keeps watch over your driving There is an entire category of YouTube videos of car crashes and near misses.
Plucky Roku updates streaming gadgets in battle with big boys You just have to cheer for a company like Roku. The plucky Saratoga, Calif., electronics company is going up against some of the biggest tech companies in the world. In the market for streaming media players, the small, inexpensive devices that allow users to access Internet channels or apps such as Netflix on their televisions, the odds are clearly stacked against it.
	Fujitsu develops thin cooling device for compact electronics Fujitsu Laboratories today announced the development of the world's first thin cooling device designed for small, thin electronic devices. Smartphones, tablets, and other similar mobile devices are increasingly multifunctional and fast. These spec improvements, however, have increased heat generated from internal components, and the overheating of localized parts in devices has become problematic. Fujitsu has developed a thin loop heat pipe, less than one millimeter thick, to solve this problem. This new device was developed using technologies for stacking metal sheets. It is capable of transferring approximately five times more heat than current thin heat pipes. This technology will make it possible for CPUs and other heat-generating components to run cooler and to avoid concentrated hot-spots inside devices. Details of this technology were presented at the Semiconductor Thermal Measurement, Modeling and Management Symposium 31 (SEMI-THERM 31), on March 15 in San Jose, California.
	Big data technology finds ideal river locations to generate hydro-power A technology in development with the University of Leicester has the potential to revolutionise the sourcing of renewable energy from rivers.
	Japan court blocks restarting of two nuclear reactors A Japanese court on Tuesday issued a landmark injunction against the restarting of two atomic reactors, after the country's nuclear watchdog had given the green light to switch them back on.
	Assuring solar modules will last for decades The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is co-leading an international push to assure the reliability of solar panels—an assurance demanded by customers, manufacturers, lenders, and utilities.
	Program envisions "asleep-yet-aware" electronics that could revolutionize remote wireless sensors State-of-the-art military sensors today rely on "active electronics" to detect vibration, light, sound or other signals. That means they constantly consume power, with much of that power and time spent processing what often turns out to be irrelevant data. This power consumption limits sensors' useful lifetimes to a few weeks or months when operating from state-of-the-art batteries, and has slowed the development of new sensor technologies and capabilities. Moreover, the chronic need to redeploy power-depleted sensors is not only costly and time-consuming but also increases warfighter exposure to danger.
	For first time, digital music matches physical sales Fueled by the popularity of streaming, digital music has matched and will likely soon surpass physical formats in the money it generates, a global industry group said Tuesday.
Bury nuclear waste down a very deep hole, say UK scientists Scientists at the University of Sheffield calculate that all of the UK's high level nuclear waste from spent fuel reprocessing could be disposed of in just six boreholes 5km deep, fitting within a site no larger than a football pitch.
	India's biggest e-tailer scraps plans for free access India's largest e-commerce portal Flipkart on Tuesday scrapped plans to offer free access to its app after getting caught up in a growing row over net neutrality.
	After 5-year absence, 'Guitar Hero,' 'Rock Band' to return The publisher of "Guitar Hero" is readying a comeback tour.
	Autonomous, swarming UAVs fly into the future A new era in autonomy and unmanned systems for naval operations is on the horizon, as officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today recent technology demonstrations of swarming unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—part of the Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) program.
	The safety risk of shrinking airline seats questioned by DOT The shrinking space on airplanes is surely uncomfortable, but it might also be dangerous for passengers' health and safety.
	Singapore high school maths problem stumps the Internet A maths problem that first appeared in a test for Singapore's elite high school students has baffled Internet users around the world after it went viral, prompting a rush of attempts to solve it.
	Twitter as a flood rescue tool As a social networking tool used by millions, Twitter can be a great help in disaster operations, said researchers Tuesday who created real-time flood maps using data from tweets.
	Foursquare unveils location-based ad service Location-based social network Foursquare on Tuesday unveiled a new service that aims to deliver targeted ads to customers "based on the places they go in the physical world."
	Intel lifted by data centers, as PC market flounders US technology giant Intel said Tuesday its profits edged higher in the first quarter, as gains in its data center operations help offset weakness in the personal computer market.
Report: Google to face antitrust charges in Europe A published report says Europe's top antitrust regulator is poised to file charges alleging Google has been illegally using its dominant search engine to stifle competition.
Coachella story on Snapchat garnered over 40 million views, CEO tweets Snapchat hasn't revealed many usage statistics over the last year, but Chief Executive Evan Spiegel let out a little tidbit Monday, saying that more than 40 million users watched the Coachella "Our Story" on the social media app over the weekend.
	US 'aggressively' raising cybersecurity with China: official Washington is "aggressively" warning Beijing over the repercussions of its demand that US tech firms should hand over their encryption keys if they want to do business in China, a top US official said Tuesday.
	Turkey launches construction of first nuclear power plant Turkey on Tuesday launched the construction of its first nuclear power plant, a controversial $20 billion project slammed by ecologists which Ankara hopes will begin a new era of greater energy self-sufficiency.
	The farmer takes a drone Drones on dairy farms? It may sound like fun, but for UWA student Matthew Rowbottom, the high-tech machines could be useful to time-poor dairy farmers. He is researching the effectiveness of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in monitoring the growth of pasture biomass on dairy farms.
	Crackle streaming service acting like TV network The Crackle video streaming service, known best for Jerry Seinfeld's motorized interview series with fellow comics, says it wants to be more like a traditional television network.
Tablet for 2 waiting at an Olive Garden near you soon Olive Garden has a tablet for two waiting for you. The Italian restaurant chain said Tuesday that it is installing Ziosk computer tablets at all of its U.S. locations so customers can order and pay by touch screen.
Pentagon eyes recruiting cyber talent through National Guard The Defense Department still doesn't have the capabilities and resources needed to defend against a major cyberattack from another nation or other tech-savvy criminals, Pentagon officials told members of a Senate panel Tuesday.

Chemistry news

	Host cell-entry mode of African henipavirus could be its Achilles heel (Phys.org)—The recognition of a suite of African henipaviruses (HNVs), which are related to pathogenic Hendra and Nipah viruses, is a wake-up call to medical organizations worldwide. The initial symptoms of henipavirus infection—fever and headache followed by rapid-onset encephalitis—have likely resulted in misdiagnosis by medical workers as malaria-associated encephalitis, and fatalities from infection approach 90 percent. As a result of the symptomatic commonalities between henipaviruses and other paramyxoviruses, researchers are now reassessing the spread of HNVs.
	Irradiating formamide with meteorite dust can lead to synthesis of prebiotic compounds (Phys.org)—A combined team of researchers from Italy and Russia has shown that prebiotic compounds can be synthesized by irradiating liquid formamide (aka methanamide) mixed with meteorite dust. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team members describe their experiments, the results they found and what their findings suggest about the origins of life on Earth.
	Study shows novel pattern of electrical charge movement through DNA Electrical charges not only move through wires, they also travel along lengths of DNA, the molecule of life. The property is known as charge transport.
	Multimetal nanoframes improve catalyst performance A team of researchers has synthesized a highly active and durable class of electrocatalysts by exploiting the structural evolution of solid Pt-Ni bimetallic nanocrystals into porous cage-like structures or nanoframes. This novel material significantly enhanced catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction – the splitting of an O2 molecule into two oxygen ions – that is critical to fuel cells and potentially other electrochemical applications.
	How the motility structure of the unicellular archaea is fixed to their surface A research team led by the Freiburg microbiologist Prof. Dr. Sonja-Verena Albers has described the structure of the protein with which the motility structure is fixed to the cell wall of archaea – a type of unicellular life form. In addition, the researchers demonstrated that this protein is essential for the structure and functioning of the organ. The researchers published their findings in the current issue of the journal Structure.
	Science shows there is more to a Rembrandt than meets the eye Art historians and scientists use imaging methods to virtually "dig" under or scan various layers of paint and pencil. This is how they decipher how a painter went about producing a masterpiece – without harming the original. A comparative study with a Rembrandt van Rijn painting as its subject found that the combined use of three imaging techniques provides valuable complementary information about what lies behind this artwork's complex step-by-step creation. The study, led by Matthias Alfeld of the University of Antwerp in Belgium, is published in Springer's journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing.
	X-ray study images structural damage in lithium-ion batteries Charging lithium-ion batteries too quickly can permanently reduce the battery capacity. Portions of the energy storage structure are thereby destroyed and deactivated. These structural changes have been visualized for the first time by DESY researcher Dr. Ulrike Bösenberg along with her team at DESY's X-ray source PETRA III. Their fluorescence studies show that even after only a few charging cycles, damage to the inner structure of the battery material is clearly evident, damage which takes longer to arise during slower charging. The results of the studies will be published in the latest edition of the academic journal Chemistry of Materials (published online in advance).
New technique could slash energy used to produce many plastics A new material developed at the University of Colorado Boulder could radically reduce the energy needed to produce a wide variety of plastic products, from grocery bags and cling wrap to replacement hips and bulletproof vests.
	Lab-on-a-chip device detects cryptosporidium in as little as 10 minutes For a healthy individual, an infection of Cryptosporidium parvum may mean nothing more than a few days of bad diarrhea. For someone with a compromised immune system, it can mean death, following an excruciating, protracted bout of watery diarrhea. Recently, researchers at Fudan University's Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Shanghai developed a lab-on-a-chip device that can rapidly diagnose cryptosporidium infections from just a finger prick—potentially bringing point-of-care diagnosis to at-risk areas in rural China in order to improve treatment outcomes.
	A bulky catalyst induces pinpoint targeting on benzene to create bioactive molecules Tuning the para position of benzene moieties is significant for creating biologically active compounds and optoelectronic materials. Yet, attaching a functional handle specifically at the para position of benzene has been challenging due to multiple reactive sites on the ring. Chemists at ITbM, Nagoya University have developed a novel iridium catalyst that enables highly para-selective borylation on benzene, leading to the rapid synthesis of drug derivatives for treating Parkinson's disease.
Making carboxyl(ate) friends When it comes to supramolecular chemistry, the carboxylic acid group (and its conjugate carboxylate base) is one of the chemist's most flexible friends. In pairs, they act as supramolecular synthons from which more complicated structures might be built but also offer up complex hydrogen bond connectivity. Luigi D'Ascenzo and Pascal Auffinger of the University of Strasbourg, France point out that until now there has been no exhaustive classification of these carboxyl(ate) motifs present in crystal structures, despite their prevalence and the fact that carboxyl(ate)s are among the most well-studied hydrogen bonding groups.

Biology news

	Toward an expression atlas for an entire brain Researchers who study how genes are expressed across a given tissue can now examine thousands of genes at once at cellular resolution, thanks to new methods developed at EMBL and published in Nature Biotechnology. The new techniques can be applied to a broad range of organisms, and expand the resources available for evolution-and-development research.
	High fidelity: Researcher finds keys to genome integrity Maintaining the stability and the correct sequence of our genetic information is vital to the accurate transmission of our genetic code. However, in the course of replicating, our DNA frequently runs into roadblocks, arising from both internal and external sources, that threaten the fidelity of our genetic information. The accurate processing of these roadblocks is paramount to genome integrity. Defects in this process can lead to cancer, genetic problems and premature aging.
	Rare Omura's whale washes up in Australia A rarely seen Omura's whale has washed up in Australia, only the second sighting nationally and one of the few globally, exciting scientists who know little about the species, officials said Tuesday.
	Tobacco plants may boost biofuel and biorefining industries Researchers will genetically modify tobacco plants to produce enzymes that can break down biomass from forest raw materials. This may lead to a more effective, economic and sustainable production of biofuels.
Tests show Midwestern canine flu outbreak stems from new strain Canine influenza virus (CIV) has affected at least 1,000 dogs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana in the last month, including one confirmed case in the Madison area. Previously thought to be caused by the H3N8 strain, which has been circulating in North America since 2004, recent tests from the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) and the New York State Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University have identified the strain as H3N2.
	Low winter mortality in Dutch bee colonies for the third year in a row Again last winter, Dutch beekeepers lost few bee colonies: about 10%. This means that the winter mortality, which is measured in early April, has been around 10% for three years in a row (13%, 9% and 10% in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively). That is the result of a telephone survey of beekeepers carried out on 2 April by the Dutch Beekeepers Association (NBV) and bee researchers from Wageningen UR.
Genetically engineered Salmonella promising as anti-cancer therapy A new study has demonstrated that genetically modified Salmonella can be used to kill cancer cells. The study is published in this week's issue of mBio, an American Society for Microbiology online-only, open access journal.
	Seeing the unseen: PET/CT scans reveal worms' hidden life What are lugworms and other small animals doing in the seabed? Until now scientists have not been able to study these animals without disturbing them, but thanks to modern PET/CT scans, now we can study their hidden life.
	New mesoamerican pine beetle described A newly-discovered species of tree-killing bark beetle, Dendroctonus mesoamericanus Armendáriz-Toledano and Sullivan, has been described in a paper published online in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America by a group of researchers that includes a U.S. Forest Service scientist.
	How Salmonella survives the macrophage's acid attack Macrophages destroy bacteria by engulfing them in intracellular compartments, which they then acidify to kill or neutralize the bacteria. However, some pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella enterica, have evolved to exist and even grow while within these acidified compartments. Yet, how Salmonella responds to the acidic environment and how that environment affects the virulence of this pathogen are unclear. New research reveals that Salmonella fights acid with acid, by lowering the pH of its own interior in response to the acidification of the Salmonella-containing compartment by the macrophage, and by using that low pH as a signal to turn on genes needed to establish an infection.
	Hippo dung provides important nutrients to river fish and aquatic insects The common hippopotamus can spend up to 16 hours a day immersed in rivers and lakes. Lumbering out of the water at night, these herbivores graze on tropical grasses and consume 80 to 100 pounds in one meal.
Infectious ants become antisocial Looking after yourself, and trying not to infect others, is a good strategy to prevent disease from spreading - not only if you are a considerate co-worker, but also if you are an ant, meerkat or other social animal, as revealed by an epidemiological model developed by the groups of Professor Fabian Theis from the Helmholtz Center Munich and Professor Sylvia Cremer from the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria. In a Theme Issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B on "The Society-Health-Fitness Nexus" published on 13 April 2015, they combine observations of hygienic interaction networks within ant colonies with epidemiological modeling to conclude that this strategy is best to prevent disease spread in social animal groups.
	Unresolved composition of Lantana camara: Impediment to its management A group of plant invasion ecologists from University of Delhi, India have highlighted the need to disentangle the composition of the highly variable Lantana species complex in order to facilitate management efforts towards this highly invasive species. The study was published in the latest issue of the open access journal NeoBiota.
New DNA dataset is potent, accessible tool Scientists focused on producing biofuels more efficiently have a new powerful dataset to help them study the DNA of microbes that fuel bioconversion and other processes.
	Japan says will try again with 'scientific' whaling programme Japan's top whaling negotiator said Tuesday Tokyo would try again to justify its "scientific" Antarctic Ocean hunt after a panel of experts said the government had not proved why it needed to kill the mammals.
	WTO rules against US in tuna label feud with Mexico, again US requirements on "dolphin safe" tuna labelling still discriminate against Mexican-caught tuna, according to a World Trade Organization ruling published Tuesday.
Most comprehensive study to date reveals evolutionary history of citrus Citrus fruits—delectable oranges, lemons, limes, kumquats and grapefruits—are among the most important commercially cultivated fruit trees in the world, yet little is known of the origin of the citrus species and the history of its domestication.
	Elusive mountain lion captivates LA then quickly vanishes A celebrity mountain lion transformed a wealthy hillside neighborhood into a paparazzi-like scene of scrambling photographers before eluding everyone Tuesday and quietly slipping away.

Medicine & Health news

	Study may help explain increased risk of diabetes in shift workers A new study may help explain why glucose tolerance—the ability to regulate blood-sugar levels—is lower at dinner than at breakfast for healthy people, and why shift workers are at increased risk of diabetes.
	Staining method brings the reconstruction of all nerve cells and their connections within reach Learning, it is widely believed is based on changes in the connections between nerve cells. The knowing which nerve cells is connected to which other nerve cell would considerably help us to understand how the brain works. Scientists have therefore long been dreaming of mapping and then decoding the connectome, the circuit diagram of the brain. With the development of a special staining method, Shawn Mikula and Winfried Denk and of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have now closed one of the last methodological gaps: How to stain an entire brain. The mapping of a whole mouse brain now seems within reach, but even if the equipment work as designed alone the collection of the data will take several years, and the analysis of the approximately 40 petabytes of data may take decades.
	Stimulating both major branches of the immune system halts tumor growth more effectively The human immune system is poised to spring into action at the first sign of a foreign invader, but it often fails to eliminate tumors that arise from the body's own cells. Cancer biologists hope to harness that untapped power using an approach known as cancer immunotherapy.
	Encapsulated stem cells accelerate wound healing A team of Cornell scientists has shown that stem cells confined inside tiny capsules secrete substances that help heal simulated wounds in cell cultures, opening up new ways of delivering these substances to locations in the body where they can hasten healing.
	Ancient herbal therapy can prevent—and reverse—cardiac hypertrophy in mice A natural compound derived from the bark of the magnolia tree, can protect the heart from hypertrophy, a thickening of cardiac muscle often caused by chronic high blood pressure that can lead to heart failure, researchers report in the April 14 issue of the online journal Nature Communications.
	Blood disorder study illustrates the challenges to parsing genetic data Accumulating data, even genetic data, is easy. Understanding the meaning of those data can be more of a challenge. As genetic testing becomes increasingly popular, more and more patients and physicians are faced with tough questions: Does a particular genetic variation translate into a predisposition to an illness, or is it simply a benign rearrangement of letters with no immediate health impacts?
	New potential cause for Alzheimer's: Arginine deprivation Increasingly, evidence supports the idea that the immune system, which protects our bodies from foreign invaders, plays a part in Alzheimer's disease. But the exact role of immunity in the disease is still a mystery.
	Ebola analysis finds virus hasn't become deadlier, yet Research from The University of Manchester using cutting edge computer analysis reveals that despite mutating, Ebola hasn't evolved to become deadlier since the first outbreak 40 years ago.
	Using dengue virus as test case, biologists develop method for discovering drugs that interrupt viral proliferation A team of biologists from San Diego State University has developed a platform for identifying drugs that could prove to be effective against a variety of viral diseases. In a pair of recent articles in the Journal of Biomolecular Screening and the Journal of Visualized Experiments, the researchers describe how the methodology works, using dengue virus as an example, and they identify a novel drug which may someday be used to combat the disease.
	Study highlights third-line treatment options for T2DM (HealthDay)—Treatment escalation options have different efficacy following failure of exenatide or glimepiride added to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a study published online April 1 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Most hospitalists would not order inpatient mammography (HealthDay)—Most hospitalists feel that they should not be involved in breast cancer screening, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Only high exercise levels tied to better erectile, sexual function (HealthDay)—High weekly exercise levels are tied to better erectile/sexual function in men, whereas exercise at lower levels is not, according to a study published online March 20 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
	Repeat prostate biopsy rounds yield cancer cases (HealthDay)—Among a group of men with an initial negative prostate biopsy, clinically significant cancer is still found in subsequent repeat sampling rounds, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
	NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease prevalent with asthma (HealthDay)—Among people with asthma, the prevalence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) is about 9 percent, and asthma morbidity is increased among those with NERD, according to a review published online April 8 in Allergy.
IMS: US prescription drug spending jumped 13 pct. in 2014 (Update) U.S. spending on prescription drugs soared last year, driven up primarily by costly breakthrough medicines, manufacturer price hikes and a surge from millions of people newly insured due to the Affordable Care Act.
Scientists debate impact of removing guidelines for dietary cholesterol Recently the annual Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report stated that cholesterol was "not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption."
Patch to treat peanut allergies to get expedited FDA review A medical skin patch tested by Seattle-area doctors and families to treat dangerous peanut allergies in children will receive accelerated regulatory review, officials said Thursday.
	Research shows pears could be part of a healthy diet to manage diabetes While the phrase "an apple a day" is a popular saying, a new study suggests that pears as part of a healthy diet could play a role in helping to manage type 2 diabetes and diabetes-induced hypertension.
RNAi therapeutic targeting antithrombin for treatment of hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the publication in Nature Medicine of pre-clinical results with ALN-AT3, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting antithrombin (AT) for the treatment of hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders (RBD). The paper, titled "An RNAi therapeutic targeting antithrombin to rebalance the coagulation system and promote hemostasis in hemophilia",documents a broad set of pre-clinical data supporting the clinical advancement of ALN-AT3. Among the many findings reported, subcutaneous administration of ALN-AT3 led to potent, dose-dependent, and durable knockdown of AT in wild-type mice, hemophilia A mice, and non-human primates (NHPs). In addition, ALN-AT3 treatment improved hemostasis in hemophilia mice and normalized thrombin generation in a non-human primate "inhibitor" model of hemophilia A (HA). Furthermore, long-term ALN-AT3 administration – even at highly exaggerated doses – was shown t! o be well tolerated in hemophilia mice, supporting a wide therapeutic index in the disease setting.
Testosterone fight highlights need for strong research Tough new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) guidelines for prescribing testosterone have stimulated strong debate within the health industry, demonstrating the critical need for research into the long-term effects of hormone supplements, according to a University of Adelaide men's health expert.
	App could help older adults with memory loss From time to time, forgetting to pay a bill, misplacing car keys or searching for reading glasses (while you're wearing them) can be an irritating, yet normal, part of life. But for people over the age of 60, memory loss that encroaches into daily living—like habitually forgetting to take medications or missing appointments, for example—might have more serious consequences.
	Wristband that measures rest, activity schedule may help predict response to antidepressants A wristband that records motion throughout a 24-hour cycle may be an inexpensive, safe way to determine which patients with major depressive disorder will respond best to commonly prescribed drugs such as Prozac.
	Discrimination has overall health impacts on adolescents, according to study Adolescence is hard enough, but adding discrimination to the mix can be deadly.
	Deadly superbugs cross borders Dangerous superbug clones have successfully spread beyond the borders of the Middle East Gulf States, University of Queensland researchers have found.
	Allergy symptoms that persist may mean a bigger problem With allergy season upon us, many people may be suffering from a scratchy or sore throat, hoarseness and loss of voice.
Study finds 1.2 percent of preschoolers on Medicaid use psychotropic drugs A new study finds that that 1.2 percent of American preschool children on Medicaid are using psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants, mood stabilizers and medications for attention-deficit disorder.
	Lifelong health begins before birth We've long known that a pregnant mother's alcohol and tobacco use can harm a developing fetus, but we're now learning much more about how a baby's first nine months before birth can affect its health into adulthood.
New biomarker for uterine cancer discovered Researchers at Uppsala University have, together with researchers from Turku and Bergen, discovered a new biomarker which makes it possible to identify women with uterine cancer who have a high risk of recurrence. The findings were recently published in the journal Gynecologic Oncology.
	Taking the hard knocks out of boxing to make the sport safer The tragic death recently of a young Queensland boxer raised the question of safety in the sport and whether boxing should be banned.
	Why employing autistic people makes good business sense Microsoft has announced its intention to hire more autistic people – not as a charitable enterprise but because, as corporate vice-president Mary Ellen Smith said: "People with autism bring strengths that we need at Microsoft." Employing autistic people makes good business sense.
	Study identifies enzyme that protects lungs against Corexit-induced damage New research from investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests that Corexit EC9500A, an oil-dispersal agent widely used in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, contributes to damage to epithelium cells within the lungs of humans and gills of marine creatures. The study also identifies an enzyme that is expressed in epithelial cells across species that has protective properties against Corexit-induced damage.
Scientific breakthrough unlocks potential novel tendon therapy Scientists are investigating a new therapy for the treatment of tendon injuries such as tennis elbow and Achilles tendinitis after gaining new insight into the condition.
	Research indicates children need many positive relationships Nurturing a baby into a capable, competent individual is complicated. A parent models language and behavior. A parent sets boundaries for safety and social expectations. A parent gives undivided attention.
	Physical activity scientist suggests strategies to keep children on the move Send the children outdoors to play.
	A new tool for understanding ALS: Patients' brain cells Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have transformed skin cells from patients with Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), into brain cells affected by the progressive, fatal disease and deposited those human-made cells into the first public ALS cell library, enabling scientists to better study the disease.
Personalized computer feedback can mitigate problem gambling behaviors More than 1.6 million college-aged adults meet the criteria for problem gambling. This can lead to difficulties at work, school or home, and with relationships, personal finances, and mental and physical health. Counseling for problem gamblers can be expensive and time consuming; a new study from the University of Missouri has found that college-aged adults who were diagnosed as problem gamblers significantly changed their behaviors after receiving personalized feedback from computers.
European study provides new insight into public interest in medicines research Researchers at The University of Manchester and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) have published data for the first time about public knowledge of and interest in the process of medicines research and development (R&D).
	The app for frequent fliers and those who are radiation-conscious Frequent fliers are now able to monitor their personal radiation exposure when flying using the TrackYourDose app. Behind the app lies intensive research work undertaken by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). Since 1997 PTB has studied the cosmic radiation at typical flight altitudes and, based on this, it has developed mathematical models for calculating radiation levels. By licensing these mathematical models to the start-up company esooka, the wider public can now monitor their own radiation exposure during flights. For frequent fliers and others who are interested in doing this, an app has been on sale at the Apple Store since the end of 2014.
Stronger muscles make for healthier bone development Scientists at the University of Southampton have shown that higher muscle mass is strongly linked with healthier bone development in children.Researchers also found no relationship between fat mass and bone development, indicating it is not an important factor in childhood skeletal strength.
	Detailing heterochromatin formation at the onset of life Giant membrane-associated proteins called ankyrins extend into the cytoplasm to arrange and stabilize microtubules in axons and synapses. This determines not only the diameter and hence the functional properties of axons, but also the size, function and stability of synapses. This mechanism underlying the control of neuronal dimensions, functional properties and connectivity was elucidated by Jan Pielage and his group at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI). Their findings have been published in Developmental Cell.
Stem cell injection may soon reverse vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration An injection of stem cells into the eye may soon slow or reverse the effects of early-stage age-related macular degeneration, according to new research from scientists at Cedars-Sinai. Currently, there is no treatment that slows the progression of the disease, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 65.
	New design makes treadmill more like running outdoors Exercise researchers have developed a new treadmill that automatically changes speed to match the pace of the runner.
Adherence to blood thinner best with pharmacist management, researcher says Patients are more likely to take a new type of blood thinner correctly and without missing doses when they are managed by pharmacists, rather than only by doctors or nurses, according to a study co-authored by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Six questions about HIV/AIDS that deserve more attention As HIV investigators work to control and eradicate the virus worldwide, certain myths or misconceptions about the disease have been embraced, whereas other concepts with merit have been left relatively unexplored, argues American HIV/AIDS researcher Jay Levy, MD, in a commentary publishing April 14 in the journal Trends in Molecular Medicine. He calls on fellow researchers to continue questioning and not to lose sight of alternative strategies that could ultimately lead to a sustainable, long-term solution to HIV infection.
	Study finds gestational diabetes associated with greater risk of autism in children Children whose mothers developed gestational diabetes by the 26th week of pregnancy were at increased risk of developing autism later in life, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Increase seen in data breaches of health information Between 2010 and 2013, data breaches of protected health information reported by HIPAA-covered entities increased and involved approximately 29 million records, with most data breaches resulting from overt criminal activity, according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA.
	How best to test Ebola treatment An unconventional clinical trial design might have advantages over classical trials for testing treatments for Ebola virus disease (EVD), suggests a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The work of an international team led by John Whitehead of Lancaster University, UK and Ben Cooper of Oxford University, UK, provides much-needed data to inform a debate on the scientific and ethical justification for non-randomized EVD trials that has taken place in the editorial pages of a number of medical journals in past months.
	Brain imaging changes in individuals with Down's may help advance Alzheimer's trials Researchers have characterized three different brain imaging changes in individuals with Down syndrome, who are at very high risk for development of Alzheimer's disease, even before the onset of progressive memory and thinking problems. Their findings could help set the stage to evaluate promising treatments to slow down or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms in these individuals, according to a study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.
Study details how gum disease treatment can prevent heart disease A new study from the Forsyth Institute is helping to shed more light on the important connection between the mouth and heart. According to research recently published online by the American Heart Association, scientists at Forsyth and Boston University have demonstrated that using an oral topical remedy to reduce inflammation associated with periodontitis, more commonly known as gum disease, also results in the prevention of vascular inflammation and can lower the risk of heart attack.
Ebola vaccine trial begins in Sierra Leone Thousands of healthcare workers in areas of Sierra Leone that are grappling with Ebola will now begin receiving an experimental vaccine against the often deadly virus, officials said Tuesday.
New treatment for common digestive condition Barrett's Oesophagus New research from the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust could transform treatments and diagnosis for a common digestive condition which affects thousands of patients.
Age-related changes in the brain can have significant impact on individuals, society Gradual and variable change in mental functions that occurs naturally as people age, not as part of a neurological disease such as Alzheimer's disease, is one of the most challenging health issues encountered by older adults, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The aging process affects the brain just like any other part of the body. Known as "cognitive aging," the type and rate of change can vary widely among individuals. Some will experience very few, if any, effects, while others may experience changes in their memory, speed of processing information, problem solving, learning, and decision-making abilities. The committee that carried out the study and wrote the report proposed three top actions individuals can take to help maintain optimal cognitive function with age.
Civic engagement may stave off brain atrophy, improve memory Instead of shrinking as expected, as part of the normal aging process, the memory center in the brains of seniors maintained their size and, in men, grew modestly after two years in a program that engaged them in meaningful and social activities, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research suggests.
	UV light robot to clean hospital rooms could help stop spread of 'superbugs' Can a robot clean a hospital room just as well as a person? According to new research out of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, that is indeed the case. Chetan Jinadatha, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and chief of infectious diseases at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System in Temple, is studying the effectiveness of a germ-zapping robot to clean hospital rooms, which could hold the key to preventing the spread of "superbugs" - in turn, saving countless dollars and, most importantly, lives.
New research sheds light on how popular probiotic benefits the gut In recent years, research into the benefits of gut bacteria has exploded. Scientists across the globe are examining how these microbes can help improve health and prevent disease.
	Violent video games not linked to aggression in adults with autism Following the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, some in the media and the public speculated a link existed between autism spectrum disorder and violence and, in particular, that violent video games may cause gamers with autism to act violently. Now, a study from the University of Missouri has found evidence to contradict this speculation. It is the first study to test the effects of violent video games on aggression in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Childhood self-control linked to enhanced job prospects throughout life Parents who work to instill self-control in their children will see them reap the benefits not only in the short-term but throughout their working life, according to new research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	The brain's aging and a new report urges ways to stay sharp The brain ages just like the rest of a body, says a new report that urges seniors to take steps to keep sharp.
	Rare, deadly lymphoma demystified: Findings identify a cause of the disease and highlight potential therapeutic approach The first-ever systematic study of the genomes of patients with ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a particularly aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, shows that many cases of the disease are driven by alterations in the JAK/STAT3 cell signaling pathway. The study also demonstrates, in mice implanted with human-derived ALCL tumors, that the disease can be inhibited by compounds that target this pathway, raising hopes that more effective treatments might soon be developed. The study, led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and Weill Cornell Medical College, was published today in the online edition of Cancer Cell.
	Experimental drug that may repair nerve damage in MS moves forward A new study suggests that an investigational drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) may repair myelin, the fatty material that protects nerves and is damaged in MS, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015.
Opioid relapse rates fall after jail release, according to pilot study It has been called a pioneering strategy for treating opioid addiction, and has already been adopted in a small yet growing number of jails and prisons in the United States. Now, a clinical trial published in the journal Addiction by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center finds that the extended-release medication naltrexone (XR-NTX) is associated with a significant decline in relapse rates for a group of mostly heroin-dependent men after their release from New York City jails.
Paternal alcohol problems, death from liver disease, signal offspring risk for cirrhosis While the risk of alcohol-related liver cirrhosis is known to increase with heavy drinking, a number of people who drink large quantities of alcohol seem to escape developing the disease. This variation in susceptibility may be due to several factors beyond quantity such as genetics, gender, and obesity. A preliminary clinical analysis of hundreds of drinkers with and without alcoholic cirrhosis has found that affected individuals often report a father with alcohol problems who had died from liver disease, which underscores the heritability of this disease.
Socially anxious youth in treatment can enhance recovery through simple service tasks This century's increase in addiction issues among U.S. youth may be related to their developmental need to fit in, particularly youth with social anxiety disorder (SAD), which could exacerbate the drink/trouble cycle. In addition, socially anxious youths may avoid participating in therapeutic activities during treatment for fear of negative peer appraisal. A study of the influence of SAD on clinical severity at intake, peer helping in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) during treatment, and subsequent outcomes has found that almost half of the patients entering treatment had a persistent fear of social humiliation, however, helping others through service activities greatly aided their recovery.
Alcohol may elevate the expression of two enzymes called CYP2E1 and CYP2U1 The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala (AMG) are brain regions that not only referee cognitive functions and emotional states, but also contribute to the reinforcing effects of alcohol and tobacco. Researchers already knew that alcohol and tobacco use can modulate cytochrome P450 expression in the liver and other tissues, but little is known about the effects of alcohol and tobacco on P450s in the human AMG. A new study focusing on two CYP2 enzymes that metabolize drugs and endogenous compounds has found that chronic drinking is associated with higher CYP2E1 and CYP2U1 protein expression in both brain regions, particularly the AMG.
	Heart attack risk high in divorced women, even after remarrying Divorced women suffer heart attacks at higher rates than women who are continuously married, a new study from Duke Medicine has found. A woman who has been through two or more divorces is nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack when compared to their stably-married female peers, according to the findings.
Simultaneous drinking and smoking marijuana increases odds of drunk driving and other Cannabis is the most commonly used drug among adults who drink, besides tobacco, yet no study has directly compared those who use cannabis and alcohol simultaneously, or at the exact same time, versus those who use both separately and on a regular basis. A new study looks at the relationship between marijuana and alcohol use, finding that simultaneous users had double the odds of drunk driving, social consequences, and harms to self.
Tobacco company lawsuit alleges FDA overstepping authority The nation's largest tobacco companies are suing the Food and Drug Administration over recent guidelines that they claim overstep the agency's authority over labeling and packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products.
	Panel asks: Could cramped airline seats be dangerous? The shrinking space on airplanes is surely uncomfortable, but it might also be dangerous for passengers' health and safety.
	Scientists find that nicotine use increases compulsive alcohol consumption Why do smokers have a five to ten times greater risk of developing alcohol dependence than nonsmokers? Do smokers have a greater tendency toward addiction in general or does nicotine somehow reinforce alcohol consumption?
Benefits of heroin treatment for drug users Drug users who do not benefit from conventional treatments for heroin addiction should be able to access the drug through the health system, urges a Canadian expert in The BMJ today.
Selecting the right tool for the job Randomized clinical trials of new drugs have long been considered the "gold standard" in determining safety and efficacy before drugs, biologics, vaccines or devices are introduced to the general public. However, in the case of a deadly, rapidly spreading, infectious disease with no known cure, such as Ebola, ethical considerations demand that reliance only on RCTs be reexamined, according to a new Target Article now online and in print in the American Journal of Bioethics.
	Depression, insomnia, fatigue are the stuff of nightmares (HealthDay)—Depression, insomnia and exhaustion may be major risk factors for frequent nightmares, new research suggests.
	Effects of n-3 PUFAs on insulin sensitivity unclear (HealthDay)—Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), do not appear to have clinically meaningful effects on peripheral or hepatic insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant adults without diabetes, according to research published online April 7 in Diabetes Care.
	USPSTF review: T2DM screening doesn't cut mortality (HealthDay)—Type 2 diabetes screening is not associated with improved mortality rates after 10 years of follow-up, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) review published online April 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Grape polyphenols may protect against metabolic Sx via gut (HealthDay)—Grape polyphenols (GP) may act in the intestine to protect against metabolic syndrome, according to an experimental study published online April 6 in Diabetes.
Ebola-hit Sierra Leone goes back to school (Update) Sierra Leone's 1.8 million children began the gradual return to school on Tuesday, more than eight months after classes were shut to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
Study looks at the burgeoning cost of cancer in New Zealand The cost of treating cancer in the New Zealand public health sector is more than $800 million annually – hundreds of millions higher than previous estimates, according to University of Otago research.
	Stamps on foods help IBS sufferers choose wisely A certification stamp on packaged foods to help irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers choose foods that don't trigger their symptoms is being adopted by the food industry, in a collaborative program with Monash University researchers.
Policymakers call for action on industrially produced trans fatty acids in foods in the European Union The impact of industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs) on the health of citizens in the European Union (EU) will be debated today by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives of the European Commission and WHO Europe.
Less focused on recurrent bad feelings through probiotics People focus less on bad feelings and experiences from the past (i.e. rumination) after four weeks of probiotics administration. Psychologists Laura Steenbergen and Lorenza Colzato from the Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition published their findings in Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
	Pilot clinical study to test 'Sugar' diabetes app An advanced smartphone application developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute to help people with diabetes better manage their weight and blood sugar level and assess the status of chronic foot ulcers, is entering a pilot clinical study at UMass Medical School.
	One-way valves to treat severe emphysema Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are investigating whether a one-way valve placed in the lungs of patients with severe emphysema will help improve lung function. It is one of several techniques being developed to reduce lung volume without surgery.
	International science team paves way for fast and accurate flu diagnosis How many times in the past ten years do you believe you've had a dose of the flu? Were you actually tested for evidence of the influenza virus in your system?
New WHO statement on public reporting of clinical trial results announced The World Health Organization (WHO) have announced a new statement on the public disclosure of clinical trial results which updates and expands a previous statement that noted the "the registration of all interventional trials is a scientific, ethical, and moral responsibility." The new statement includes timelines by which researchers are expected to report clinical trials results. In an Essay published in this week's PLOS Medicine Vasee Moorthy and colleagues from the WHO outline the rationale behind the new statement.
Study finds autism awareness among future healthcare workers still has room for improvement April is National Autism Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the developmental disability among Americans. But a recent study that examines knowledge about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among undergraduates in healthcare-related majors shows there is still room for improvement in spreading accurate information.
	To fight nasty digestive bugs, scientists set out to build a better gut—using stem cells If you got hit with any of the 'intestinal bugs' that went around this winter, you've felt the effects of infectious microbes on your digestive system.
	MHIF performs first US implant of valve replacement device Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) physicians are conducting a research study using the first transcatheter mitral valve replacement in the U.S. at Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
	Researchers discover an inactive tumor suppressor gene in lung cancer Researchers at Genes and Cancer group at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), led by Montse Sanchez-Cespedes, have identified the PARD3 gene as a tumor suppressor that is inactivated in lung cancer squamous type. The results of the study have been published in Cancer Research.
Children of Holocaust survivors more anxious about Iranian nuclear threat than their peers As preparations are made to observe Holocaust Remembrance Day (Thursday, April 16), a new Bar-Ilan University study reveals that the adult children of Holocaust survivors are more preoccupied with the threat of a nuclear Iran than their peers whose parents are not Holocaust survivors.
	Too few minority women breastfeed—can ob/gyns change their minds? Obstetricians and gynecologists have a unique opportunity to educate and encourage minority women to nurse their infants to help reduce persistent racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding. As part of prenatal care, ob/gyns should promote the known health benefits of breastfeeding and help identify potential barriers their minority patients may face, according to an article in Breastfeeding Medicine.
Healthcare professionals must recognize importance of human rights to improve healthcare for women Women's human rights need to be addressed globally in order to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, says RCOG Vice President, Professor Lesley Regan, in her lecture tomorrow at the joint RCOG/RANZCOG World Congress in Brisbane, Australia.
Reasons behind an increase in female genital cosmetic surgery in Australia and the UK Publicly funded labiaplasties in Australia and the United Kingdom have more than doubled over the last decade, leading experts will say tomorrow at the RCOG/RANZCOG World Congress in Brisbane, Australia.
	Christie proposes overhaul of Social Security benefits Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie proposed pushing back the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare for future retirees on Tuesday as part of a plan to cut deficits by $1 trillion over a decade, an approach he said would confront the nation's "biggest challenges in an honest way."
FDA panel wants heart failure risk on AstraZeneca drugs Federal health advisers say AstraZeneca's Onglyza and a related diabetes drug should carry new information about a possible association with heart failure and death.
	French lawmakers OK health care bill targeting anorexia Too-thin models, too much drinking, sexy cigarette packs: France's parliament is cracking down on all of these in a sweeping bill designed to improve public health and trim public health costs—while tackling unhealthy stereotypes along the way.

Other Sciences news

	Women preferred 2:1 over men for STEM faculty positions, study finds For decades, sexism in higher education has been blamed for blocking women from landing academic positions in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
	Psychological explanation to how traditions are created The threat of punishment combined with people's willingness to copy others – this is the basis for a new psychological model that can describe how traditions and norms are created and maintained according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet's Emotion Lab in a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
	Absence of copyright has its own economic value, social benefits A new study co-written by a University of Illinois expert in intellectual property law demonstrates that the value of creative works in the public domain such as books, images and music can be estimated at least as precisely as the value of commercially available copyrighted works.
	How three MIT students fooled the world of scientific journals In recent years, the field of academic publishing has ballooned to an estimated 30,000 peer-reviewed journals churning out some 2 million articles per year. While this growth has led to more scientific scholarship, critics argue that it has also spurred increasing numbers of low-quality "predatory publishers" who spam researchers with weekly "calls for papers" and charge steep fees for articles that they often don't even read before accepting.
	Egypt archaeologists find pharaoh chapel Archaeologists excavating an ancient temple site in Cairo have discovered part of a chapel used by a pharaoh about 2,300 years ago, Egypt's antiquities ministry said on Tuesday.
	Music: Will climate change give us the blues? Climate change is predicted to intrude into almost every area of life—from where we live, to what we eat and whom we war with. Now music can be added to the list.
	Biologist explains the science of 'de-extinction' in new book Tired of answering questions about cloning mammoths, Beth Shapiro, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, wrote a book called How to Clone a Mammoth. (Spoiler Alert: You can't actually clone a mammoth.)
	Why Jurassic World could never work When the first Jurassic Park movie hit the silver screens in 1993, I cried. Never before had dinosaurs, those magnificent creatures of bygone days, been brought to life so realistically. It was a palaeontologist's dream come true.
	Crowdfunding could be a simple way to pay for science research The outcome of science research benefits us all, but knowledge doesn't come cheap. Crowdfunding – promoted by government incentives – may be the best way to meet these costs and garner greater awareness of scientific research priorities.
	Neanderthals manipulated the bodies of adults and children shortly after death Neanderthals from the French region of Poitou-Charentes cut, beat and fractured the bones of their recently deceased companions, as revealed by the fossil remains of two adults and a child found at the Marillac site. These manipulations have been observed at other Neanderthal sites, but scientists still do not know whether they did this for food or ceremony.
Interactivity tools can boost persuasiveness of websites Messages conveyed on websites may be more persuasive if theses websites are interactive, according to researchers.

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