Science X Newsletter Friday, Mar 6

 Phys.org Newsletter for March 6, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Tomorrow's tomography today: Simultaneous 3D imaging of vascular and neuronal networks in mouse spinal cord tissue 
- Neuroscientists find that different parts of the brain work best at different ages 
- When temperature goes quantum 
- New class of monofluoro acylboronates that is stable in air and water 
- The dark side of cosmology 
- Squeezing out new science from material interfaces 
- Researchers develop polymer that helps wounds heal by strengthening clotting 
- Stuck-in-the-mud plankton reveal ancient temperatures 
- Multitasking hunger neurons also control compulsive behaviors 
- Hello Ceres! NASA spacecraft on first visit to dwarf planet 
- Researchers develop a way to observe spin in a portion of a cell cycle 
- Graphene meets heat waves 
- NASA's Dawn spacecraft moves in on dwarf planet Ceres 
- Scientists unlock tangled mysteries of DNA 
- ORNL microscopy directly images problematic lithium dendrites in batteries 

Nanotechnology news

	When temperature goes quantum A UA-led collaboration of physicists and chemists has discovered that temperature behaves in strange and unexpected ways in graphene, a material that has scientists sizzling with excitement about its potential for new technological devices ranging from computing to medicine.
	Graphene meets heat waves EPFL researchers have shed new light on the fundamental mechanisms of heat dissipation in graphene and other two-dimensional materials. They have shown that heat can propagate as a wave over very long distances. This is key information for engineering the electronics of tomorrow.
	ORNL microscopy directly images problematic lithium dendrites in batteries Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have captured the first real-time nanoscale images of lithium dendrite structures known to degrade lithium-ion batteries. The ORNL team's electron microscopy could help researchers address long-standing issues related to battery performance and safety.
	Magnetic memory promises faster and more energy efficient information storage A developing form of computer memory has the potential to store information more quickly and more cheaply, while using less energy, than what's used today by the semiconductor industry, NYU Physics Professor Andrew Kent concludes.

Physics news

	The dark side of cosmology It's a beautiful theory: the standard model of cosmology describes the universe using just six parameters. But it is also strange. The model predicts that dark matter and dark energy – two mysterious entities that have never been detected—make up 95% of the universe, leaving only 5% composed of the ordinary matter so essential to our existence.
	Squeezing out new science from material interfaces With more than five times the thermal conductivity of copper, diamond is the ultimate heat spreader. But the slow rate of heat flow into diamond from other materials limits its use in practice. In particular, the physical process controlling heat flow between metals and diamond has remained a mystery to scientists for many years.
	Mathematicians model fluids at the mesoscale When it comes to boiling water—or the phenomenon of applying heat to a liquid until it transitions to a gas—is there anything left for today's scientists to study? The surprising answer is, yes, quite a bit. How the bubbles form at a surface, how they rise up and join together, what are the surface properties, what happens if the temperature increases slowly versus quickly—while these components might be understood experimentally, the mathematical models for the process of boiling are incomplete.
	Researchers develop a way to observe spin in a portion of a cell cycle (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working in China has developed a technique that allowed them to observe spin in a portion of a cell cycle. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their technique, how it can be used and where they plan to go next. Phillip Hemmer and Carmen Gomes, with Texas A&M University offer a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in China in the same journal issue.
	Studying effects of target 'tents' on NIF A systematic study of the effects on National Ignition Facility (NIF) implosions of the ultra-thin mounting membranes that support target capsules inside NIF hohlraums was reported by LLNL researchers in a Physics of Plasmas paper, (link is external) published online Feb. 4.
	Black holes and the dark sector explained by quantum gravity Ask any theoretical physicist on what are the most profound mysteries in physics and you will be surprised if she mentions anything other than Quantum Gravity and the Dark Sector. Questions such as how do we reconcile GR and Quantum Theory? What is Dark Matter? And what is Dark Energy? These are what keep most physicists awake late at night.

Earth news

	Bubbles from glacier ice turn up the noise in Alaska fjords Glaciologist Erin Pettit began a research project to find out what humpback whales heard when a big piece of ice falls from a glacier and crashes into the ocean. But the sound generated by ice drifting in the water turned out to be just as interesting.
	How rain is dependent on soil moisture It rains in summer most frequently when the ground holds a lot of moisture. However, precipitation is most likely to fall in regions where the soil is comparatively dry. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at ETH Zurich following an analysis of worldwide data. Their study contributes to a better understanding of soil moisture, a little explored climatic factor.
	Stuck-in-the-mud plankton reveal ancient temperatures New research in Nature Communications showing how tiny creatures drifted across the ocean before falling to the seafloor and being fossilised has the potential to improve our understanding of past climates.
Flood and drought risk to cities on rise even with no climate change A heads-up to New York, Baltimore, Houston and Miami: a new study suggests that these metropolitan areas and others will increase their exposure to floods even in the absence of climate change, according to researchers from Texas A&M University.
	Researchers propose a novel mechanism to explain High Plains elevation No one really knows how the High Plains got so high. About 70 million years ago, eastern Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, western Kansas and western Nebraska were near sea level. Since then, the region has risen about two kilometers, leading to some head scratching at geology conferences.
	Researchers document disaster recovery in and around Fukushima Since the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, Yoh Kawano's heart and mind have been set on venturing into the contaminated ruins of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
	Ancient copper and silver production created four times the pollution as today's methods The ancient Mongols have a reputation for having been fierce warriors. A new study out of the University of Pittsburgh shows them to have been unmatched polluters.
The green lungs of our planet are changing Are leaves and buds developing earlier in the spring? And do leaves stay on the trees longer in autumn? Do steppe ecosystems remaining green longer and are the savannas becoming drier and drier? In fact, over recent decades, the growing seasons have changed everywhere around the world. This was determined by a doctoral candidate at the Goethe University as part of an international collaboration based on satellite data. The results are expected to have consequences for agriculture, interactions between species, the functioning of ecosystems, and the exchange of carbon dioxide and energy between the land surface and the atmosphere.
Researchers connect climate change to food safety Climate change can affect our food safety in a number of ways. In a European study, researchers at Wageningen University and Ghent University (Belgium) state that there is often a relationship between long-term changes in temperature and rainfall and vegetable and fruit contamination. For example, flooding may result in increased concentrations of harmful bacteria that can be quickly broken down again by UV light. Similarly, in one region fungi that produce toxins may increase due to global warming, while they decrease in other regions. The researchers have published their findings in a special issue of the scientific journal Food Research International that they edited.
Shale gas in doubt in UK's low-carbon transition Academics from Warwick Business School and University College London have published an opinion piece based on research funded by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) advising policymakers that, because of continuing economic, social and environmental uncertainties, the UK's gas strategy should be developed on the assumption that there will be no domestically produced shale gas.
	Indigenous peoples take action to conserve nearly half of Suriname The 72,000 square kilometer indigenous conservation corridor covers some of the most pristine, intact and remote rainforests in the world; it is the first in Suriname declared by indigenous peoples
	ESA image: Hungarian mosaic This image of Hungary, with the political border in white, is a mosaic of 11 scans by Sentinel-1A's radar from October to December 2014.
	NASA sees Mozambique Channel's new tropical storm Tropical Cyclone 15S formed in the Mozambique Channel of the Southern Indian Ocean, and the Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM core satellite gathered data on its rainfall rates.
	EU adopts climate change targets for Paris conference (Update) The EU formally adopted on Friday climate change targets for December's Paris conference including a 40 percent cut in emissions by 2030, climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said.
	NASA sees Tropical Cyclone 15S meandering in Mozambique Channel Tropical Cyclone 15S continued to meander in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean when NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead and captured a picture of it. The storm's lack of direction is short-lived, however, as forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC expect that the storm will move in a southwesterly direction and landfall in west central Madagascar by March 9.

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA's Dawn spacecraft moves in on dwarf planet Ceres The largest celestial body in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter welcomes its first visitor Friday.
	THEMIS camera helps NASA pick site for next Mars lander NASA's next Mars space probe, a lander named InSight, is due to touch down on the Red Planet in September 2016 with a mission focused on the planet's internal properties. Its landing place has been chosen with help from a Mars-orbiting, heat-sensitive camera designed and operated at Arizona State University.
	'Habitable' planet GJ 581d previously dismissed as noise probably does exist A report published in Science has dismissed claims made last year that the first super-Earth planet discovered in the habitable zone of a distant star was 'stellar activity masquerading as planets.' The researchers are confident the planet named GJ 581d, identified in 2009 orbiting the star Gliese 581, does exist, and that last year's claim was triggered by inadequate analysis of the data.
	Hello Ceres! NASA spacecraft on first visit to dwarf planet After a nearly eight-year journey, a NASA spacecraft on Friday flawlessly slipped into orbit around Ceres in the first visit to a dwarf planet.
High-altitude NASA balloon will carry sensitive gas sensor NASA and a UCF physics professor plan to launch a high-altitude balloon on Sunday to test a high-tech payload that may one day be used to detect life on other planets.
	How far back are we looking in time? The Universe is a magic time window, allowing us to peer into the past. The further out we look, the further back in time we see. Despite our brains telling us things we see happen at the instant we view them, light moves at a mere 300,000 kilometers per second, which makes for a really weird time delay at great distances.
	Scanning Earth, saving lives A high-speed camera for monitoring vegetation from space and combating famine in Africa is being adapted to spot changes in human skin cells, invisible to the naked eye, to help diagnose skin diseases like cancer.
	UI researchers launch rockets in search of unseen parts of universe Walk into the corner astronomy lab in the basement of Van Allen Hall, and you'll likely hear a student spontaneously burst into song while creating preliminary computer aided designs for an upcoming NASA project proposal. Or, find a former-accountant-turned-astronomer designing circuit boards and routing cables through the colorfully exposed electronic guts of a rocket payload.
	UNH instruments to lift off on NASA four-satellite mission March 12 On March 12, 2015 at 10:44 p.m. EDT, scientists, engineers, and students from the University of New Hampshire's Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS) and department of physics will watch anxiously as ten years of exacting scientific effort is blasted into outer space by a 191-foot Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Technology news

	Throwing the Hackaball around is an education Last year, Christian Hernandez wrote in the Guardian: "I don't think every child in the world needs to know how to write or read Python or C++, but I do think that every one of them should understand the structure, the logic and the interconnection of technologies which allows them to play Angry Birds, watch a YouTube video or have mum and dad buy something on Amazon." Technologists who share this view say that kids can benefit from an opportunity to learn beyond pressing start, shift and enter keys on a keyboard.
	Researchers explore longer life cycle for batteries Lithium-ion batteries are common in consumer electronics. They are one of the most popular types of rechargeable batteries for portable electronics, with a high energy density, no memory effect and only a slow loss of charge when not in use. Beyond consumer electronics, lithium-ion batteries have also grown in popularity for military, electric vehicle and aerospace applications.
	Students launch desktop recycler that turns pop bottles into 3D printer plastic Three engineering physics students at the University of British Columbia have developed a desktop plastic recycler and extruder that turns plastic waste into the material needed for 3D printing.
	Low-impact hub generates electrical current from pure plant power Green wall technology and semi-transparent solar panels have been combined to generate electrical current from a renewable source of energy both day and night.
	US charges filed in largest Internet breach on record US authorities Friday unveiled charges against two Vietnamese nationals and one Canadian in connection with a computer fraud scheme to steal more than one billion email addresses.
	'Homebrew' email servers: Genius as well as sneaky? No, it's not always a room filled with wires and glowing blue lights. It's probably not even the size of your furnace. The personal email server used by Hillary Rodham Clinton during her time as secretary of state was most likely about the size of your office desktop computer and could have been tucked quietly in a corner somewhere.
	Three reasons Apple's watch will—or won't—change the game No one can argue that Apple has changed the way people live their lives. The company's iPod, iTunes, iPhone and iPad have shaken up music, phone and computer markets worldwide. Is the Apple Watch going to be able to do the same?
Apple supplier Japan Display to build $1.4 bn LCD screen factory Apple supplier Japan Display said Friday it would spend $1.4 billion on a new smartphone and tablet screen factory, in a move that may be a response to growing demand from the US iPhone maker.
	Amazon sets up shop in China on Alibaba platform US online retail giant Amazon has set up shop on the business-to-consumer platform of Alibaba as it seeks a greater presence in the massive Chinese market.
	Video game makers grapple with need for diversity An increasingly diverse fan base is challenging the video game industry to shake off its "boys only" image and better reflect the demographics of its exploding ranks of players.
Silicon Valley gender bias suit puts spotlight on industry A sex discrimination trial against one of Silicon Valley's most prestigious venture capital firms is providing a rare peek into the elite investment companies vying to fund the next Google and Amazon.
	Engineering energy-efficient homes like designing Mars missions Want to get the most energy-efficiency bang for your buck when building a house? Think about it as if you were designing a mission to Mars.
	Research reveals we may need a new definition for privacy If you still believe your personal credit information is truly private, newly released research by a Rutgers professor may lead you to reconsider.
	Got a phone charger? No, just a wireless pad on a desk "Got a phone charger you can lend me? No, I need the new type.... Oh, forget it."
UK authorities arrest suspect in US DoD cyber attack Britain's National Crime Agency says a suspected hacker has been arrested in connection with a cyber attack on the U.S. Department of Defense.
	The hacking tools that terrorise the internet Hacking is a state of mind. Traditionally, hackers like to discover, understand and share the secrets they expose. They like to laugh at the dumb things they find. They're not necessarily in it for the money, more so for the glory of mastering the arcane technicalities of computing. Hackers form a community where the most "l33t" (pron. "leet", short for "elite") hackers gain the most respect.
	Mathematical formula boosts renewable energy efficiency A mathmatical framework for rating transmission lines aims to help relieve power grid congestion to make more efficient use of renewable energy.
	For virtual reality creators, a question of control At the Game Developers Conference, it's easy to imagine what virtual reality will look like when it eventually hits the marketplace. What it will feel like, however, is an entirely different matter.
	Dow reshuffle: Apple joins blue-chip index, AT&T gets booted Apple is in. AT&T is out.
	Being at the big game—from the comfort of your own home Imagine sitting on Centre Court at Wimbledon, ringside at a Las Vegas heavyweight boxing title fight, or amongst the VIPs at an NBA game—all from the comfort of your own home.
Why are women leaving the tech industry in droves? Ana Redmond launched into a technology career for an exciting challenge and a chance to change the world. She was well-equipped to succeed too: An ambitious math and science wiz, she could code faster, with fewer errors, than anyone she knew.
Uber launches a magazine for drivers and a tablet service for families Uber had something for drivers and riders in a pair of announcements this week.
Oculus VR hires Google X exec Mary Lou Jepsen Facebook-owned Oculus VR has hired Google X executive Mary Lou Jepsen to join the virtual reality company, an Oculus spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
	Review: Optishot2 brings your golf game indoors Golfers are a devoted lot. Taking time out of your week to spend half a day outdoors chasing a ball around is a commitment.
Study: Digital content makes teens feel good about themselves There's no question teens love digital stars: They flock to annual conventions such as VidCon, subscribe in mass numbers to YouTube and Vine accounts and even start their own video blogs.
	Apple bets that it's time Smartphones didn't kill the watch business. Can the Apple Watch put a dent in it?
	Efficient operation of commercial vehicle air conditioning systems Truck drivers are at the wheel for up to ten hours a day. A comfortable climate in the driver's cab is of decisive importance to the driver's performance and driving safety. However, air conditioning systems may increase fuel consumption by up to ten percent depending on the type of vehicle, the type of air conditioning system, and the operation conditions. Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) therefore develop more efficient operation strategies. To test these strategies under realistic conditions with a reasonable time and cost expenditure, they designed a new test rig.
	46,000 Twitter accounts linked to Islamic State: study At least 46,000 Twitter accounts have been linked to supporters of the Islamic State in late 2014, a research report released in Washington showed.
Microsoft releases Office 2016 Mac preview Microsoft on Thursday offered an early look at the next version of its Office productivity suite for Mac.

Chemistry news

	Tomorrow's tomography today: Simultaneous 3D imaging of vascular and neuronal networks in mouse spinal cord tissue (Phys.org)—Given that blood supply to the brain and spinal cord is fundamental to central nervous system (CNS) physiology and pathology, it's not surprising that trauma and disease in spinal cord blood vessels and neurons lead to a range of neurodegenerative pathologies and other serious consequences. However, current imaging tools do not generate sufficient dimensionality, resolution, contrast and other factors critical to investigating neurodegenerative pathologies and spinal-cord-injuries, as well as to understanding the relationship between vascular and neuronal systems.
	New class of monofluoro acylboronates that is stable in air and water (Phys.org) —Boron is the ambivert of atoms. Technically classified as a metalloid, boron can undergo organic reactions, forming covalent bonds like carbon, but it can also form ions resulting in metal-like bonds. Several studies have exploited both of these properties of boron to isolate acylborons, by coordinating the boron to a ligand, similar to a metal-ligand interaction.
	Technique encapsulates functional hydrophobic organic molecules Many applications demand the presence of functional organic molecules in environments where they are not stable or even not soluble. A possible way to protect the molecules is encapsulation in materials that provide solubility but do not impair the functionality. In this context, the teams led by Josef Breu, Stephan Förster, Hartmut Yersin, and Geoffrey A. Ozin at the Universities of Bayreuth, Regensburg, and Toronto have produced nanometer-sized double stacks of a transparent silicate material having a central layer of oriented hydrophobic fluorescent dye molecules. The nanoplatelets are well dispersed in aqueous solution, and can be cast into dry films that feature almost perfect texture and are optically anisotropic.
	Researchers spin cotton into capacitive yarn While the pattern for making a wearable fabric battery has already been laid out, it's now time to select the threads that will turn a textile into an energy storage device. That process is being driven by Drexel University doctoral student Kristy Jost, who's threaded her way into the forefront of research on conductive yarns.
	Single ion shuttles the critical electron in fuel cell CO conversion Not present when the reaction starts or ends, the driving force behind turning poisonous carbon monoxide into a benign form is a single atom that appears in the heat of action, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. In the simulations, carbon monoxide binds with a gold nanoparticle on top of a cerium dioxide support. The carbon monoxide changes the surface; it spurs a single gold ion to leave the nanoparticle. The ion delivers an electron and returns to the particle.
	Fluid-filled pores separate materials with precision In nature, pores can continuously control how a living organism absorbs or excretes fluids, vapors and solids in response to its environment; for example, tiny holes invisible to the naked eye called stomata cover a plant's leaves and stems as gated openings through which oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapors are transported in and out during photosynthesis and respiration. And some scientists have proposed that micropores in the tissues of the air sacs of human lungs can open or close to modulate fluid flow based on changes in air pressure or inflammation.
Chemists develop 'looking glass' for spotting sound molecular structures New York University chemists have developed a computational approach for determining the viability and suitability of complex molecular structures—an advancement that could aid in the development of pharmaceuticals as well as a range of other materials.
	Chemists develop new way to make cost-effective material for electricity storage University of British Columbia researchers have found a new way to make state-of-the-art materials for energy storage using a cheap lamp from the hardware store.
	Researchers create artificial methane hydrates and open an innovative pathway for the use of new fuels The Laboratory of Advanced Materials at the University of Alicante's Department of Inorganic Chemistry has developed a technology that allows the preparation of artificial methane hydrates. The research has been published by Nature Communications.

Biology news

	Protein merlin regulates collective cell movement, promoting effective and rapid wound healing Cells also follow a herd instinct, and they thereby communicate in a magical collective way. This is because a protein known as merlin, named after the mythical wizard of medieval England, plays an important role in collective movement of cells in the body. This discovery was made by a team headed by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart working in collaboration with University Hospital Heidelberg. In a cell, merlin registers whether and in what direction a neighbouring cell is moving and induces its own cell to creep in the same direction. It is important that cells move as a cohesive group so that wounds heal quickly and effectively, for example. If this group dynamic is disrupted, however, wounds are not only closed more poorly, cancer cells can also spread more easily in the body or embryos may be stunted in their development.
	Scientists unlock tangled mysteries of DNA Chromosomal proteins hold the key to our DNA and they are changing, according to Jose Eirin-Lopez, marine sciences professor in the Florida International University Department of Biological Sciences.
	Jerdon's babbler once thought extinct is rediscovered A scientific team from WCS, Myanmar's Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division – MOECAF, and National University of Singapore (NUS) has rediscovered a bird previously thought to be extinct.
Human and animal interaction identified in the viking age Since 2001, ancient DNA has been used in paleoparasitological studies to identify eggs found in soil samples from prehistoric periods, because identification cannot be done by morphological study alone. The species of human parasites living during these periods, provide scientists with a better understanding of how Paleolithic societies might have been organized, with regard to human presence, animal domestication, hunting, and gathering.
	Evolving to cope with climate change Over the next two centuries, climate change is likely to impact everything from industrial agriculture to the shape of our coastlines. The changing climate will certainly cause huge changes around the world, and the challenge is to predict exactly what impact those changes will have.
	Choosy fish females may boost biodiversity A new study offers insight into a process that could lead one species to diverge into two, researchers report in the American Naturalist.
	PHAs can help save the Chesapeake PHAs are plastics that are made by bacteria. PHAs also are eaten by bacteria.
	Ferns may hold key to land rehabilitation Ferns may have potential in rehabilitating land following work by WA researchers who investigated how ferns are able to survive in semi-arid environments of Australia.
	Scientists question the utility of mice to explore the foundations of vocal learning The human language is unique in that we can refer to objects, events and ideas. The combination of syllables and words enables humans to generate an infinite number of expressions. An important prerequisite for language is the ability to imitate sounds, i.e. to store acquired acoustic information and to use this for one's own vocal production. Cortical structures in the brain play a crucial role in this. While songbirds and certain marine mammals are capable of such vocal learning, there is very little evidence for vocal learning in terrestrial mammals – not even in our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees. Nonhuman primate vocal production is largely restricted to an innate repertoire of sounds.
	Sap-feeding butterflies join ranks of natural phenomenon, the Golden Ratio Alongside Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, disc-shaped galaxies, or the cochlea of the human ear, scientists can now count sap-feeding butterfly proboscises as aligned with the Golden Ratio.
Endangered Santa Catalina Island fox population nearing full recovery The endangered Santa Catalina Island fox population has reached 1,700 and may be nearing its capacity for sustainability on the resort destination off the Southern California coast, a conservation biologist said.
As scientists work to identify mystery goo, rescued birds return home The once-regal horned grebe scooted undignified around its box, a piece of printer paper stuck to the goo on its bottom. The seabird's bold black and white feathers were a mucky brown; its wings matted with gunk, dirt and pebbles. A towel stuck to its belly had to be slowly peeled off like old duct tape.
	New tool aids US conservation and management of whales, dolphins and porpoises Researchers have identified more than 100 areas within U.S. waters that should be considered biologically important when making management and regulatory decisions about human activities that could affect whales, dolphins and porpoises.
	Is the tasty blue crab's natural range creeping north? David Johnson was standing in a salt marsh tidal creek north of Boston, Mass., when he scooped up a blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, 80 miles north of its native range. The northern migration of this commercially important species, Johnson says, could be yet another sign of climate change. Then a scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Ecosystems Center, Johnson recently published his observations in the Journal of Crustacean Biology.
	A systems approach elucidates the mechanisms of action of traditional oriental medicine Traditional oriental medicine (TOM) has been practiced in Asian countries for centuries, and is gaining increasing popularity around the world. Despite its efficacy in various symptoms, TOM has been practiced without precise knowledge of its mechanisms of action. Use of TOM largely comes from empirical knowledge practiced over a long period of time. The fact that some of the compounds found in TOM have led to successful modern drugs such as artemisinin for malaria and taxol (Paclitaxel) for cancer has spurred modernization of TOM.
	Habitat degradation and climate shifts impact survival of the White-collared Manakin Habitat alteration due to forest clearing and climate change threaten wildlife populations throughout the globe. To better understand the interacting effects of habitat degradation and climate on bird populations, researchers from the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW), Klamath Bird Observatory, and Costa Rica Bird Observatories spent 12 years studying the White-collared Manakin, a fruit-eating tropical bird, in mature and young forests along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. During the study, several El Niño and La Niña events—cycles of warm and cold ocean temperatures that influence air temperature and precipitation—resulted in very marked dry and wet annual conditions that allowed researchers to measure differences in manakin survival relative to climatic shifts. Results were recently published in the journal Oecologia.
	The environmental impact of cats on native wildlife A team of researchers, led by Dr Wayne Linklater from the Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology at Victoria University of Wellington, recently surveyed veterinarians and cat owners to understand their attitudes and beliefs about cat welfare and behaviour.
	Pakistan customs bag record haul of illegal turtle meat Pakistani authorities are investigating after nearly two tonnes of freshwater turtle meat—a record haul taken from more than 4,000 animals—was seized from smugglers at Karachi port, officials said Friday.
Moves to automate identification of Saimaa ringed seals Moves are being made to automate the identification of Saimaa ringed seals. This would bring new kinds of real-time information on how the extremely endangered species behaves, the movements of individual seals, and what happens to them. The final aim of an ongoing study at the LUT on machine vision is to get a biometric passport for each individual Saimaa ringed seal. This happens on the basis of the unique fur patterns of each individual seal, using computer-based smart calculation and digital image processing. The aim is to store the information in a so-called Saimaa ringed seal database.
	Landless Brazilians in GM eucalyptus protest Members of a landless peasant group, some wielding sticks or knives, attacked a cellulose factory in a violent protest against its use of genetically engineered eucalyptus plants, video released by organizers showed.

Medicine & Health news

	Neuroscientists find that different parts of the brain work best at different ages Scientists have long known that our ability to think quickly and recall information, also known as fluid intelligence, peaks around age 20 and then begins a slow decline. However, more recent findings, including a new study from neuroscientists at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), suggest that the real picture is much more complex.
	Researchers develop polymer that helps wounds heal by strengthening clotting (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers at the University of Washington has announced the development of a polymer, than when injected into rats, helped slow bleeding by boosting clotting effectiveness. In their paper published in Science Translational Medicine, the team reports on the development of the polymer and the results they have seen in testing it on rats. Karim Brohi, with Queen Mary University in London, offers a Focus piece on the work, in the same journal issue.
	New understanding of stroke damage may aid recovery Stroke can lead to a wide range of problems such as depression and difficulty moving, speaking and paying attention. Scientists have thought these issues were caused by damage to the brain's "computer processors"—cells in the brain's outer layer that do much of the work involved in higher brain functions.
	Research suggests brain's melatonin may trigger sleep If you walk into your local drug store and ask for a supplement to help you sleep, you might be directed to a bottle labeled "melatonin." The hormone supplement's use as a sleep aid is supported by anecdotal evidence and even some reputable research studies. However, our bodies also make melatonin naturally, and until a recent Caltech study using zebrafish, no one knew how—or even if—this melatonin contributed to our natural sleep. The new work suggests that even in the absence of a supplement, naturally occurring melatonin may help us fall and stay asleep.
Popular antioxidant likely ineffective, study finds The popular dietary supplement ubiquinone, also known as Coenzyme Q10, is widely believed to function as an antioxidant, protecting cells against damage from free radicals. But a new study by scientists at McGill University finds that ubiquinone is not a crucial antioxidant and that consuming it is unlikely to provide any benefit.
	Multitasking hunger neurons also control compulsive behaviors In the absence of food, neurons that normally control appetite initiate complex, repetitive behaviors seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anorexia nervosa, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers.
	Chromosomal rearrangement is the key to progress against aggressive infant leukemia The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital—Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project reports that a highly aggressive form of leukemia in infants has surprisingly few mutations beyond the chromosomal rearrangement that affects the MLL gene. The findings suggest that targeting the alteration is likely the key to improved survival. The research appeared online ahead of print this week in the scientific journal Nature Genetics.
	Radical vaccine design effective against herpes viruses Herpes simplex virus infections are an enormous global health problem and there is currently no viable vaccine. For nearly three decades, immunologists' efforts to develop a herpes vaccine have centered on exploiting a single protein found on the virus's outer surface that is known to elicit robust production of antibodies. Breaking from this approach, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have created a genetic mutant lacking that protein. The result is a powerfully effective vaccine against herpes viruses.
	People with anorexia and body dysmorphic disorder have similar brain anomalies People with anorexia nervosa and with body dysmorphic disorder have similar abnormalities in their brains that affect their ability to process visual information, a new UCLA study reveals.
	How drinking behavior changes through the years In the UK, frequent drinking becomes more common in middle to old age, especially amongst men, according to research published in the open access journal, BMC Medicine. Doctors are seeing a growing number of cases of alcohol misuse among the elderly and this finding supports concerns that older people might be abusing alcohol.
Teenage TV audiences and energy drink advertisements Researchers at Dartmouth College examined a database of television advertisements broadcast between March 2012 and February 2013 on 139 network and cable channels and found that more than 608 hours of advertisements for energy drinks were aired. Nearly half of those advertisements, 46.5%, appeared on networks with content themes likely to appeal to adolescents.
Three Filipino health workers infected with MERS in Saudi Arabia Three Filipinos have contracted Middle East respiratory syndrome while working at separate hospitals in Saudi Arabia, the Philippine government said Friday.
	Neurons critical for learning divided into two subpopulations with different functions Neurobiologists at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) have shown that neurons critical for learning can be divided into two subpopulations with different functions. Almost as if learning processes in the brain mimicked machine learning, one subpopulation is responsible for collecting a broad range of potentially relevant information, while the second subsequently helps to consolidate a successful strategy. This is the first evidence of how neuron networks are adapted to facilitate learning.
	Research could be life-prolonging for cystic fibrosis patients Preventing lung infections in childhood could stop later life-threatening infections for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to the latest research carried out at Aston University.
Weight loss surgery can be a safe option for obese children Weight loss surgery does not stunt the growth of obese children when applied within a clinical pathway. It is a safe option to use and provides hope for youngsters who are unable to shed pounds through weight management programs that include counseling and lifestyle changes. So says Professor Aayed Alqahtani of King Saud University (KSU) in Saudi Arabia, after tracking the progress of almost 300 children who had all undergone such surgery through a standardized clinical pathway that was created and applied by Alqahtani in his practice at KSU. The findings are published in Springer's journal Obesity Surgery.
	Easing cancer's effects through focus on relationships Cancer patients look to oncology specialists for highly skilled treatment. Yet others may affect their disease experiences – their partners, wives, husbands or close family members.
Surgeon discusses problems of 'medicalized' mortality in the US Author and surgeon Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, described how witnessing the untimely and inevitable passing of patients, friends and his father revealed to him the shortcomings of the American medical system's and society's approach to dying.
	Scientists find gene that inadvertently promotes cancer growth A protein that scientists at the School of Medicine discovered in pancreatic tumors may lead to a new chemotherapy that is effective against many different kinds of cancers. But an effort to turn the discovery into a new drug has required a bit of chemistry know-how.
	Moderate alcohol consumption increases attractiveness Consuming alcohol (equivalent to about a glass of wine) can make the drinker appear more attractive than when sober, according to new research from the University of Bristol. However, the effect disappears when more is consumed.
	History of epidemics informs modern science As well as telling us more about earlier societies, the study of diseases in the past is proving an invaluable tool for modern science, as a new book by the historian of medicine Mary Dobson reveals.
	DNA safeguard may be key in cancer treatment Cornell researchers have developed a new technique to understand the actions of key proteins required for cancer cells to proliferate.
The effects of graphic images from the Boston bomber trial on children After two months of jury selection and several motions to change the venue, the Boston bomber trial is expected to last until June. The prosecution in the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial will present graphic evidence, including videos and photographs of the bombing which will undoubtedly be shown by the media and on the Internet exposing millions of people, including children, to the images of that horrific day.
	Scientist helps develop new tools to probe mysteries of the brain A University of Otago researcher is part of an international collaboration that has developed an exciting and expansive new set of tools to probe cell types in the brain.
	Spinal procedure no longer such a pain in the back Researchers at Flinders University's Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) will design a new medical device that could change the way spinal surgeries are delivered.
	Infant growth affected by exposure to environmental pollutants Even though the levels of two environmental pollutants have declined over the last 20 years, they may still have adverse effects on children's development, according to a new study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. This is the largest study of environmental pollutants and infant growth to date.
Neuroscientists perform an important step towards cell therapy for diseases of the cerebral cortex Researchers at the ULB – IRIBHM and ULB Neuroscience Institute – have tested the therapeutic potential of cortical neurons generated at the laboratory, by transplantation in the brains of adult mice. Their research is published in the journal Neuron.
	Autism detection improved by multimodal neuroimaging In an ancient Indian parable, a group of blind men touches different parts of a large animal to find what it is. Only when they share the descriptions of an ear, tail, trunk and leg do they know it is an elephant.
	New findings on 'key players' in brain inflammation Inflammation is the immune system's natural reaction to an 'aggressor' in the body or an injury, but if the inflammatory response is too strong it becomes harmful. For example, inflammation in the brain occurs when a person has a stroke, or when suffering from neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
	A look at the growing use of synthetic drugs In recent years, hundreds of new synthetic recreational drugs have emerged – drugs that neither the general public nor the scientific community know very much about. Many of these new synthetic drugs – often referred to as "legal highs" – are dangerous and continue to lead to poisonings throughout the US and the rest of the world.
Oncologists see gene expression profiling tests as helpful but have concerns Oncologists welcome gene expression profiling tests as an added tool in deciding whether women with early-stage breast cancer should have chemotherapy, a new study has found. But they have significant reservations about the cost of the test and whether it is being overused and used for the right patients.
Obese females who are most unlikely to lose weight are most in need of losing it In obese females, a close relationship may exist between their disinhibition (detrimental eating and behavioral characteristics) that limits successful weight loss, and impaired metabolism, new research shows. The results will be presented Thursday, March 5, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Safer drug combination found for patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation Patients with high-risk atrial fibrillation, or AFib, often require one drug to regulate heart rhythm and a second drug to thin their blood and reduce the risk of stroke. A recent study led by a University of Missouri School of Medicine cardiologist found that use of a newer blood thinner significantly decreased the risk of strokes for patients with AFib who require both types of medication.
Workplace lifestyle intervention program improves health, reduces diabetes and heart disease risks A healthy lifestyle intervention program administered at the workplace and developed by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health significantly reduces risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, according to a study reported in the March issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Sweet cravings will make sugar curbs hard: experts UN recommendations to curb sugar intake may face an uphill battle for acceptance, experts say—confronted by an ingrained human yearning for sweetness.
Seniors' hospital and ER admission rates are higher if they have obesity Obesity is associated with substantial increases in older adults' hospitalizations, emergency room admissions and use of outpatient health care services, according to a new study of 172,866 Medicare Advantage members throughout the U.S. Results of the one-year study will be presented Thursday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Fast food commercials to kids 'deceptive' by industry self-regulation standards Fast food ads aimed at kids fail to de-emphasize toy premiums, making them deceptive by industry self-regulation standards. They also fail to emphasize healthy menu items, investigators at Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center have found. The research was published in the March 4 edition of the journal PLOS ONE.
Onion extract may improve high blood sugar and cholesterol The extract of onion bulb, Allium cepa, strongly lowered high blood glucose (sugar) and total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats when given with the antidiabetic drug metformin, according to a new study. The study results will be presented Thursday at The Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Male smokers at higher risk than females for osteoporosis, fractures In a large study of middle-aged to elderly smokers, men were more likely than women to have osteoporosis and fractures of their vertebrae. Smoking history and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were independent risk factors for low bone density among both men and women in the study, which has been published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Long-term effects of obesity surgery on adolescent skeleton are favorable The skeletons of obese adolescents are usually more dense than those of normal weight teens, but after gastric bypass surgery, most return to normal density within two years, a new study finds. The results will be presented Thursday, March 5, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in San Diego.
Letrozole is a promising new treatment of male infertility, researcher says A letrozole pill once a week restored fertility in obese, infertile men and led to their partners giving birth to two full-term, healthy babies, according to a new study from Canada. The results will be presented Thursday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
	Quitting smoking has favorable metabolic effects People who quit smoking have improved metabolic effects, a new study finds. The results will be presented in a poster Thursday, March 5, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
The brain treats real and imaginary objects in the same way The human brain can select relevant objects from a flood of information and edit out what is irrelevant. It also knows which parts belong to a whole. If, for example, we direct our attention to the doors of a house, the brain will preferentially process its windows, but not the neighboring houses. Psychologists from Goethe University Frankfurt have now discovered that this also happens when parts of the objects are merely maintained in our memory.
FDA approves first lower-cost biotech drug (Update) Federal health officials have approved the first lower-cost copy of a biotech drug to reach the U.S. market, a long-awaited milestone that could generate billions in savings for insurers, doctors and patients.
Researchers develop first validated method of detecting drugs of abuse in exhaled breath Drug testing is most commonly performed using urine samples. The methodology and regulations for reliable urine testing are well developed and can be considered the current gold standard for drug testing. However, one problem with urine testing is related to the methodology of sample collection, often perceived as inconvenient and privacy-overriding by those undergoing the test. As such, a group of researchers from the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have worked on developing a more donor-friendly alternative to urine testing for drugs by focusing on exhaled breath.
Parasite infection poses a greater risk for African under-fives Children under five living in sub-Saharan Africa are at greater risk than older children of developing a long-term parasitic disease, research suggests.
A new tool for detecting and destroying norovirus Infection with highly contagious noroviruses, while not usually fatal, can lead to a slew of unpleasant symptoms such as excessive vomiting and diarrhea. Current treatment options are limited to rehydration of the patient. "Additionally, noroviruses come in a variety of constantly evolving strains. This makes the development of an effective vaccine to protect against infection, as well as antiviral therapy to combat already-existing infections, particularly challenging", says Dr. Grant Hansman, a virologist who leads the CHS Research Group on Noroviruses at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and Heidelberg University.
Most men with borderline testosterone levels may have depression Men with borderline testosterone levels have higher rates of depression and depressive symptoms than the general population, new research finds. The results will be presented Saturday, March 7, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Menopausal hormone therapy does not affect the risk of dying, study shows Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) does not have a significant effect on death, according to a new review of the medical literature published over the past three decades. The results, which included studies with follow-up as long as 18 years, will be presented Friday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Race/ethnicity sometimes associated with overuse of medical care Racial and ethnic disparities in the receipt of health care (typically referring to minorities not receiving needed care) are well known. A recent review in the journal Milbank Memorial Quarterly has now found that while race/ethnicity is not consistently associated with the overuse of medical care (unnecessary care that does not improve patient outcomes). However, when overuse occurs, a substantial proportion occurs among white patients. These findings may lead to a better understanding of how and why race/ethnicity might be associated with overuse and may result in ways to reduce it from occurring.
	FDA launches first app to identify drug shortages (HealthDay)—A mobile phone application (app) has been released to identify current drug shortages, resolved shortages, or discontinuations of drug products, according to a press release published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	A sense of purpose may help your heart (HealthDay)—Living your life with a strong sense of purpose may lower your risk for early death, heart attack or stroke, new research suggests.
	Painkiller-addicted babies a growing US concern, especially in Fla. (HealthDay)—Doctors in the United States are seeing more infants born addicted to narcotic painkillers—a problem highlighted by a new Florida-based report.
	Pneumonia in early childhood tied to higher odds of asthma (HealthDay)—Children who contract pneumonia during the first three years of life appear to face a higher risk of developing asthma, new research suggests.
	Various factors influence central cord syndrome management (HealthDay)—For patients with central cord syndrome (CCS), patient, surgical, and institutional factors influence surgical management and mortality, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
	Short-chain fatty acids in diet stimulate fat utilization (HealthDay)—Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main products of dietary fiber fermentation, induce a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ-dependent switch from lipid synthesis to lipid utilization, according to research published online Feb. 18 in Diabetes.
	National hospital rating systems rarely in agreement (HealthDay)—National hospital rating systems are rarely in agreement, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
	Confidence gap between male and female med students (HealthDay)—Female medical students perform at the same or higher level as men, but they lack confidence compared with men, according to a letter published in the March 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	More otologic symptoms, hearing loss for HIV-infected (HealthDay)—Otologic symptoms and hearing loss are more common among patients with HIV than uninfected controls, according to a study published online March 5 in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery.
	Extended pre-cessation bupropion helps smokers quit (HealthDay)—Extended pre-quit bupropion is associated with reduced smoking behavior during the pre-quit period and improved short-term abstinence rates, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
	Atrophy seen in gluteus maximus post gluteal augmentation (HealthDay)—The gluteus maximus muscle presents atrophy after gluteal augmentation surgery with implants, according to a study published in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
M-MDSCs shut down arthritis in mouse model of the disease Using a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis, scientists have discovered that a form of cellular immunotherapy by intravenous administration of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells, or M-MDSCs, might be an effective treatment for the disease in humans. In a report published in the March 2015 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, researchers show that M-MDSCs are capable of inhibiting T cell proliferation, as well as B cell proliferation and antibody production. As a result, the arthritic mice experienced improvements in their symptoms.
	Review article provides new insights on how tumors metastasize In a review article recently published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shed new light on the underlying processes of tumor metastasis and highlight the role of epigenetics in this process. By comparing embryogenesis with cancer metastasis they hypothesize that reversible epigenetic events regulate the development of different types of metastatic cancers. They also describe that the surrounding cells of the tumors (stromal cells) play a significant role in this process.
First device approved for dialysis-related amyloidosis (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first device to treat dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA), a complication of dialysis used to treat kidney failure.
	Breast cancer survivors may have higher thyroid cancer risk (HealthDay)—Women who survive breast cancer may have a higher-than-average risk of developing thyroid cancer in the next several years, a new study suggests.
In chronic heart failure, monitoring calcitriol may help prevent death In patients with chronic heart failure, the vitamin D metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), also called calcitriol, and its ratio to parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-84) may help predict cardiovascular death; and patients with decreased calcitriol and decreased ratio of calcitriol to PTH might benefit from more aggressive supplementation, a new study finds. The results will be presented Friday, March 6, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Stress reduction may reduce fasting glucose in overweight and obese women A treatment known as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may decrease fasting glucose and improve quality of life in overweight and obese women, new research suggests. The results will be presented in a poster Friday, March 6, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Endocrine disruptors cause fatty liver Exposure to low doses of hormone-disrupting chemicals early in life can alter gene expression in the liver as well as liver function, increasing the susceptibility to obesity and other metabolic diseases in adulthood, a new study finds. Results of the animal study will be presented Friday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
	BPA harms dental enamel in young animals, mimicking human tooth defect A tooth enamel abnormality in children, molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH), may result from exposure to the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA), authors of a new study conclude after finding similar damage to the dental enamel of rats that received BPA. The study results will be presented Friday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Maternal age at childbirth may affect glucose metabolism in their adult male children A mother's age at childbirth may affect her male baby's birth weight as well as his adult glucose metabolism, new research shows. The results will be presented Friday, March 6, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Patients must not be forced to choose between easier access and continuity of care RCGP says that reducing waiting times for a GP appointment must be a priority for politicians and the incoming government
	'Tip of the iceberg' in concussion treatment In an attempt to find a better approach to treating and preventing sports-related concussions, a Penn State faculty member is using cutting-edge medical technology to explore the effects of cooling helmets on brain injuries.
Earlier detection for men is vital to increase survival rates for male breast cancer Every week in Australia, three men will be diagnosed with male breast cancer.
	The path to eradicating Ebola The worst Ebola outbreak in history is not yet over.
	Protein push could help dieters fight fat Can a high protein diet help people lose weight?
	Improving cancer treatment through better imaging technologies Since January 2014, the HELICOID project has been developing hyperspectral imaging technologies capable of differentiating between healthy and diseased tissues. The February 2015 meeting in Brussels enabled project partners to meet and discuss the progress that has been made.
	Kidney donation triggers transplant chain in San Francisco When a Sacramento woman donated a kidney to a stranger, she set off a series of organ swaps that resulted in five more sick people getting new kidneys at a San Francisco hospital.
High-normal thyroid hormone level in pregnancy may affect fetal brain development A new study finds that not only low but also high maternal thyroid hormone levels during early pregnancy may significantly lower the infant's IQ later in childhood. The study results, which will be presented Thursday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego, suggest that the common practice of treating pregnant women who have mild thyroid hormone deficiency may pose unexpected risks to the developing baby's brain.
Investigational osteoporosis drug, abaloparatide, lowers fracture risk Abaloparatide-SC, an injectable drug being studied for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, reduces the rate of new spinal fractures by a statistically significant 86 percent and as well as statistically significant reductions in the fracture rate at other parts of the body, a phase 3 clinical trial finds. Results of the ACTIVE fracture prevention trial will be described in a late-breaking oral presentation Thursday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Pharmacist survey shows huge growth in compounded menopausal hormone therapy Among prescriptions filled for menopausal hormone therapy (HT) in the U.S., almost half now are custom-compounded "bioidentical" hormones, according to analysis of a recent survey of nearly 500 pharmacists. The study results will be presented Friday March 6th at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
'Systems-based' hematologist is new way to provide hematology expertise A report, released today from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in its journal, Blood, presents an innovative, sustainable new role for hematologists, particularly those specializing in non-malignant blood diseases, for today's rapidly changing U.S. health-care system. The report, published online as a Blood Forum article, outlines several models for a "systems-based clinical hematologist," a centralized position within hospitals and health-care systems specializing in non-malignant blood disorders.
	Risk of breast cancer in transgender persons—a study of veterans A study of breast cancer in transgender veterans has identified ten new cases, increasing the total number of published cases in both female-to-male and male-to-female transgender persons. Patient outcomes, use of cross-sex hormones, and recommendations for screening are presented in an article in LGBT Health.
Medical device surveillance on the horizon Thousands of people around the world have been exposed to toxic chemicals generated by their metal hip implants. Similarly, many patients have contracted infections from pieces of implanted mesh used in hernia-repair surgery, even though materials less prone to causing complications were available.
	Last surgeries underway in 12-person kidney transplant chain Surgeons have started the final operations in an organ donation chain that will result in six patients getting new kidneys at a San Francisco hospital.
Turkey farms boost precautions after deadly flu strain found Minnesota turkey farmers are increasing precautionary measures after a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza wiped out a flock of 15,000 birds in about a week.

Other Sciences news

Study reveals women granted restraining orders against abusers see decreased earnings "Why doesn't she just leave?" is a timeworn question about women trapped in relationships that are physically and/or emotionally abusive to them. Economic dependence is clearly part of the story—many women lack the financial means to leave and find themselves trapped by both poverty and abuse.
	There is really a single ideal body shape for women? Many scholars of Renaissance art tell us that Botticelli's Birth of Venus captures the tension between the celestial perfection of divine beauty and its flawed earthly manifestation. As classical ideas blossomed anew in 15th-century Florence, Botticelli could not have missed the popular Neoplatonic notion that contemplating earthly beauty teaches us about the divine.
Development aid can exacerbate violence in war-torn countries Although development aid is commonly seen as an important tool in the quest to reduce poverty in conflict-riven countries, new research co-written by a University of Illinois expert in development economics concludes that large-scale foreign aid programs can backfire and actually exacerbate violence in some long-running conflicts.
Calling your bluff: Supervisors easily sniff out what drives a worker Good supervisors aren't easily duped by the motives of underlings who go the extra mile - they know when an employee is sucking up to them because of personal ambition, or when such actions truly have what's best for the organization at heart. This is one of the insights from a study in Springer's Journal of Business and Psychology, led by Magda Donia of the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Study investigates conflict of interest in biomedical research proposals New research from the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) found that peer review managers play an important role in identifying potential conflicts of interest (COI) in biomedical research grant peer reviews. The study, Frequency and Type of Conflicts of Interest in the Peer Review of Basic Biomedical Research Funding Applications: Self-Reporting Versus Manual Detection, was published in the journal Science and Engineering Ethics.
New Hampshire bill requires cursive, multiplication tables As schools adopt new education standards and rely more on computers in the classroom, a group of New Hampshire senators want to make sure the basics of learning cursive and multiplication tables don't get left behind.
	Research infrastructure cuts harm science, the economy and the nation The sorry saga that is funding for Australia's most crucial national research infrastructure has dragged on for too many years. It is now at crisis point.
	Hunger for meat pushing food security to the edge Promoting more sustainable plant-based foods and reducing demand for meat and dairy products will be essential to feed billions of people and avoid serious and ongoing global food security impacts, warn experts from UTS's Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) in a new book launched this week.
	New study points to better classrooms for children with disabilities A pilot study in 51 N.C. classrooms shows the effectiveness of a new measure in assessing the quality of practices in inclusive preschools. Not only is the Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) a reliable instrument, researchers say it also reveals the types of inclusive settings that may be best serving preschoolers with disabilities.
	Fueling the US innovation economy: New study shows innovation impacts from federal R&D With policymakers looking for hard evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of federal programs, a new study of federal patent output by the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice (TPP) provides some new insight into certain federal research programs and their substantial role in generating growth-enhancing innovations.