Science X Newsletter Monday, Mar 9

Phys.org Newsletter for March 9, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Cosmic radiation causes fluctuations in global temperatures, but doesn't cause climate change 
- Glasses-free 3D display is made with tiny spherical lenses 
- New research provides a general formula for understanding how layered materials form different surface patterns 
- Quantum sensor's advantages survive entanglement breakdown 
- One step closer to artificial photosynthesis and 'solar fuels' 
- Speed with which temperatures change will continue to increase over next several decades, study shows 
- Centuries-old DNA helps identify origins of slave skeletons found in Caribbean 
- 'Ouch zone' in the brain identified 
- Best of Last Week – First photo of light as particle/wave, the dark side of cosmology and a hormone that mimics exercise 
- Innovative light therapy reaches deep tumors 
- How blood group O protects against malaria 
- Ancient fossils reveal diversity in the body structure of human ancestors 
- Genetics breakthrough will boost diabetes resear 
- Patented process builds better semiconductors, improves electronic devices 
- Team develops ultrathin polymer insulators key to low-power soft electronics 

Nanotechnology news

	Innovative light therapy reaches deep tumors Light long has been used to treat cancer. But phototherapy is only effective where light easily can reach, limiting its use to cancers of the skin and in areas accessible with an endoscope, such as the gastrointestinal tract.
	Strength in shrinking: Understanding why a material's behavior changes as it gets smaller To fully understand how nanomaterials behave, one must also understand the atomic-scale deformation mechanisms that determine their structure and, therefore, their strength and function.
	More study needed to clarify impact of cellulose nanocrystals on human health, researcher reports Are cellulose nanocrystals harmful to human health? The answer might depend on the route of exposure, according to a review of the literature by a Virginia Tech scientist, but there have been few studies and many questions remain.
	New nanomaterials will boost renewable energy Global energy consumption is accelerating at an alarming rate. There are three main causes: rapid economic expansion, population growth, and increased reliance on energy-based appliances across the world.

Physics news

	Quantum sensor's advantages survive entanglement breakdown The extraordinary promise of quantum information processing—solving problems that classical computers can't, perfectly secure communication—depends on a phenomenon called "entanglement," in which the physical states of different quantum particles become interrelated. But entanglement is very fragile, and the difficulty of preserving it is a major obstacle to developing practical quantum information systems.
	Determining structural evolution under pressure The study of material properties under the conditions of extreme high pressures and strain rates is very important for understanding meteor, asteroid or comet impacts, as well as in hyper velocity impact engineering and inertial confinement fusion capsules. In a recent study published by Physical Review Letters, (link is external) a team of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists report an important finding that can be used to determine the evolution of structures under high pressure and strain rates.
Electron spins controlled using sound waves The ability to control the intrinsic angular momentum of individual electrons – their "spins" – could lead to a world of new technologies that involve storing and processing information.
	Quantum mechanic frequency filter for atomic clocks Atomic clocks are the most accurate clocks in the world. In an atomic clock, electrons jumping from one orbit to another decides the clock's frequency. To get the electrons to jump, researchers shine light on the atoms using stabilised laser light. However, the laser light has to have a very precise frequency to trigger very precise electron jumps. It is however challenging to get the laser light frequency ultra precise – there will always be a little 'noise'. Now researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute have developed a method that reduces the noise so that it is up to 100 times quieter. The results are published in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters.
Electrons in slow motion A process that is too fast to be measured and analyzed. Yet a group of international scientists did not lose heart and conceived a sort of highly sophisticated moviola film-editing system, which allowed them to observe - for the first time in a direct manner - an effect underlying high-temperature conductivity. The results of their work have been published in Nature Physics on March 9, 2015.
	NIST gets new angle on X-ray measurements Criminal justice, cosmology and computer manufacturing may not look to have much in common, but these and many other disparate fields all depend on sensitive measurements of X-rays. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new method to reduce uncertainty in X-ray wavelength measurement that could provide improvements awaited for decades.

Earth news

	Speed with which temperatures change will continue to increase over next several decades, study shows An analysis of changes to the climate that occur over several decades suggests that these changes are happening faster than historical levels and are starting to speed up. The Earth is now entering a period of changing climate that will likely be faster than what's occurred naturally over the last thousand years, according to a new paper in Nature Climate Change, committing people to live through and adapt to a warming world.
	Researcher says cyanobacteria could help manage nitrogen to benefit Chesapeake Bay A novel approach to harness bacteria that could diminish nutrient-laden runoff from agriculture has the potential to support efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay, where water quality improvements have been elusive, research suggests.
	Researchers detail new insights on arsenic cycling University of Oregon geologist Qusheng Jin initially labeled his theory "A Wild Hypothesis." Now his study of arsenic cycling in a southern Willamette Valley aquifer is splashing with potential significance for arsenic-compromised aquifers around the world.
	Methane in Arctic lake traced to groundwater from seasonal thawing Global warming may ramp up the flow of methane from groundwater into Arctic lakes, allowing more of the potent greenhouse gas to bubble out into the atmosphere, according to a new study led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz.
	CO2 increase can intensify future droughts in tropics, study suggests A new study suggests that increases in atmospheric CO2 could intensify extreme droughts in tropical and subtropical regions—such as Australia, the southwest and central United States, and southern Amazonia—at much a faster rate than previously anticipated, explains University of Texas at Austin professor Rong Fu in a commentary in the March 9 edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	New information helps predict future climate change impacts on global tropics Researchers at the University of Montana, Princeton University, Stanford University and Rutgers University, among others, are collecting new measurements of tropical forests to gain a better understanding of how they respond to seasonal climate variations.
	Epic snows have meant economic woes across all industries Ignore anyone who tells you snow is free. Every workday lost during New England's winter has meant millions of dollars taken out of the regional economy.
	Mapping the Great Lakes' wetlands Fluorescent bands of color outline the Great Lakes on a new, comprehensive map of the region's coastal wetlands. This publicly available map is the first of its kind on such a broad scale—and the only one to trump political boundaries. Both Canadian and US wetlands are shown along more than 10,000 miles of shoreline.
	Local invention improves paddock water use Field tests indicate the WA-invented 'Wesley Wheel' can improve water conservation in farm fields.
	Team shows how rivers creep and flow to shape landscapes over time Rivers drive the evolution of Earth's surface by eroding and depositing sediment. But for nearly a century, geologists have puzzled over why theoretical models, which use principles of physics to predict patterns of sediment transport in rivers, have rarely matched observations from nature.
Some states fight to keep their wood fires burning Smoke wafting from wood fires has long provided a familiar winter smell in many parts of the country—and, in some cases, a foggy haze that has filled people's lungs with fine particles that can cause coughing and wheezing.
	'Man-made' climate change a major woman's problem Men and women may not always be on the same footing but you would think both sexes would be equal in the face of gigantic floods, typhoons or droughts. Think again.
	Environmental issues top major legislative meeting in China (Update) China's severe environmental problems and government pledges to fix them have dominated the start of the country's annual legislative meeting, as leaders try to ease public worries about air, water and soil contamination that threaten to derail the country's economic rise and cast doubts on the ruling Communist Party.
	Climate change protest outside British parliament Around 5,000 protesters marched on the British parliament Saturday demanding greater action on climate change, exactly two months ahead of the general election.
Call to better manage Australia's hidden water Two of Australia's leading water scientists have called on the Federal Government not to overlook the nation's greatest natural resource – our vast reserves of underground fresh water – in developing a new national water policy.
	NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Haliba affecting La Reunion and Mauritius islands Tropical Cyclone Haliba formed east of the island nation of Madagascar in the Southern Indian Ocean and is now affecting the La Reunion and Mauritius islands. NASA's Terra satellite passed over Haliba on March 9 and captured an image of the storm that showed the eastern quadrant was affecting the two smaller islands.
	NASA eyes rainfall in newly formed Tropical Cyclone Pam Tropical Cyclone Pam formed in the Solomon Islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean early on March 9. The Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM core satellite flew overhead and found some heavy rain occurring when it measured rainfall rates within the intensifying storm.

Astronomy & Space news

	Cosmic radiation causes fluctuations in global temperatures, but doesn't cause climate change (Phys.org)—Unlike electromagnetic radiation, which consists of massless and accelerated charged particles, galactic cosmic rays (CR) are composed mostly of atomic nuclei and solitary electrons, objects that have mass. Cosmic rays originate via a wide range of processes and sources including supernovae, galactic nuclei, and gamma ray bursts. Researchers have speculated for decades on the possible effects of galactic cosmic rays on the immediate environs of Earth's atmosphere, but until recently, a causal relationship between climate and cosmic rays has been difficult to establish.
	Nanodust particles in the interplanetary medium Dust particles smaller than about a wavelength of light are abundant in our solar system, created by collisions between asteroids and from the evaporation of comets. As they scatter sunlight, these particles produce the zodiacal light, the glow in the night sky that stretches along the zodiac. The zodiacal light is most easily seen after sunset or before sunrise, though it is faint enough that even moonlight can mask it. Nanodust particles are about ten times smaller than normal dust—too small to efficiently scatter sunlight. They can be sensed by spacecraft, however, because when they impact the spacecraft they generate puffs of ionized gas and electrical pulses that instruments can detect. The Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft has been detecting nanodust pulses since its launch in 2007, and previous studies of these events have confirmed the general picture that these tiny particles are an important constituent of the solar system.
	Techniques to prove or disprove existence of other planets Astronomers long have sought to find planets that can sustain life as humans know it. Four years ago, they thought they had one, possibly even two, pointing to signs that suggested that at least one rocky planet located in the "habitable zone" was revolving around Gliese 581, a faint dwarf star located 20 light-years from Earth.
	The revolutionary ion engine that took spacecraft to Ceres The NASA spacecraft Dawn has spent more than seven years travelling across the Solar System to intercept the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Now in orbit around Ceres, the probe has returned the first images and data from these distant objects. But inside Dawn itself is another first – the spacecraft is the first exploratory space mission to use an electrically-powered ion engine rather than conventional rockets.
	Image: The twisted shockwaves of an exploded star Discovered on 5 September 1784 by astronomer William Herschel, the Veil Nebula was once a star. Now it is a twisted mass of shock waves that appears six times larger than the full Moon in the sky.
	Carina Nebula survey reveals details of star formation A new Rice University-led survey of one of the most active star-forming regions in the galactic neighborhood is helping astronomers better understand the processes that may have contributed to the formation of the sun 4.5 billion years ago. The survey of Carina Nebula is available online in the Astronomical Journal.
	Rover examining odd Mars rocks at valley overlook NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity climbed last month to an overlook for surveying "Marathon Valley," a science destination chosen because spectrometer observations from orbit indicate exposures of clay minerals.
	The world's largest radio telescope takes A major step towards construction At their meeting last week at the SKA Organisation Headquarters near Manchester, UK, the SKA Board of Directors unanimously agreed to move the world's largest radio telescope forward to its final pre-construction phase. The design of the €650M first phase of the SKA (SKA1) is now defined, consisting of two complementary world-class instruments – one in Australia and one in South Africa – both expecting to deliver exciting and transformational science.
	Venus, if you will, as seen in radar with the GBT From earthbound optical telescopes, the surface of Venus is shrouded beneath thick clouds made mostly of carbon dioxide. To penetrate this veil, probes like NASA's Magellan spacecraft use radar to reveal remarkable features of this planet, like mountains, craters, and volcanoes.
	SDO captures images of a mid-level solar flare The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 5:22 pm EST on March 7, 2015. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.

Technology news

	Glasses-free 3D display is made with tiny spherical lenses One of the most common methods of creating the illusion of 3D is the autostereoscopic display, which is based on parallax: each eye is presented with a slightly different angle of a scene. Often this is done with many tiny microlenses, each projecting a small amount of light. Although this method has many advantages and is already being used in commercial products, such as the Nintendo 3DS, its narrow viewing angle is still a problem for expanding its use to larger displays.
	As hacking grows, biometric security gains momentum With hackers seemingly running rampant online and millions of users compromised, efforts for stronger online identity protection—mainly using biometrics—are gaining momentum.
	App, beacons guide travel on underground for vision-impaired What would it be like for you to navigate your local transport system during rush hour if you were vision-impaired? How would it feel to try to catch a bus? To stand on the right platform? To pass quickly through automatic open-shut doors and gates? To find the right escalator up to the right exit? Passengers and transport staff may be eager to help but most people try to make their way with as much independence as possible. In the London area in the UK thousands of children and young people are vision-impaired; half find it difficult to use London's transport to get to jobs or to meet friends.
	Solar plane revs up for historic round-the-world flight A solar powered plane aims to fly into history on Monday, taking off from Abu Dhabi on a round-the-world odyssey to promote alternative energy.
	Google gearing Android for virtual reality Internet giant Google is making a version of its Android operating system to power virtual reality apps, the Wall Street Journal reported.
	Apple takes leap into new territory with smartwatch Apple's hotly-anticipated smartwatch is expected to debut Monday as the trend-setting firm sets out to make stylish wrist-worn computers must-have accessories for modern lifestyles.
	New sensor array changes the data collection game As urban populations increase, so too does the complexity involved in maintaining basic services like clean water and emergency services. But one of the biggest barriers to making cities "smarter"—for example, comprehensively monitoring sources of waterway pollutants in real time—is quick and easy access to data.
	Solar-powered plane takes off in first round-the-world attempt The first attempt to fly around the world in a plane using only solar power launched Monday in Abu Dhabi in a landmark journey aimed at promoting green energy that will test its pilots' endurance to the limits.
	Light that adapts to your needs through the eye of a camera EPFL researchers have developed a camera that sees like the human eye, providing clues about the sensation of visual comfort. The instrument could optimize natural and artificial lighting to constantly adapt to the needs of the user.
	Patented process builds better semiconductors, improves electronic devices Through a surprise research discovery, a Kansas State University chemical engineer has found the icing on the cake for electronic devices.
	Apple Watch to include array of features to connect (Update) Apple launched an assault on the fledgling wearable tech market Monday, unveiling a high-end smartwatch that offers new ways to stay connected and to track health and fitness.
Google boss, Huffington see technology boosting jobs New technologies are capitalising on the jobs market and in the workplace, said Arianna Huffington and Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt at a London conference.
Self driving cars could free up rush hour traffic A fleet of shared self-driving cars in Stockholm could reduce rush hour traffic volumes by 14 cars for every shared vehicle, according to researchers at Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
	Microsoft sues Japan's Koycera for patent infringement US-based Microsoft is suing high-tech manufacturer Kyocera for patent infringement over technology used in the Japanese company's cellular phones.
	MH370 report: Underwater locator beacon battery had expired The first comprehensive report into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 revealed Sunday that the battery of the locator beacon for the plane's data recorder had expired more than a year before the jet vanished on March 8, 2014.
	Boom in journalist drone use flies into legal obstacles Flying over the flaming barricades of the Maidan protests in Kiev, the camps of Auschwitz or hurtling down a ski slope—drones have become a vital tool for cameramen, but they are increasingly running into legal and practical obstacles.
	Pilots set for first round-the-world solar flight The first attempt to fly around the world in a plane using solar energy will be launched Monday in Abu Dhabi, its pilots said, in a landmark journey aimed at promoting green energy.
	Cash may be king, but smartphones seek to rule at the register Using your smartphone to make payments in shops or public transport should become more widespread this year, but its supremacy will depend on how successful retailers are in enticing people to keep their cards or cash in their pockets.
	Apple Watch anticipation: Features, functions unveiled The Apple Watch. CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil the company's newest device and make the case for why it's a must-have gadget at a San Francisco event later Monday.
	Research center turns yogurt waste into new products With exploding consumer demand for Greek yogurt, production is up. That's great for food companies' bottom lines, but it also leaves them dealing with a lot more acid whey, a problematic byproduct of the Greek yogurt-making process.
	Ensuring food safety using space technology A team led by Marco Casolino of the RIKEN Global Research Cluster's EUSO Team and Masayuki Goto of G-Tech corporation, a private company engaged in the development of radiation measurement equipment, have used technology originally designed for use in outer space to create a new system, called LANFOS, which can inexpensively and non-destructively detect radioactive cesium contamination in food, separating it from the background of radiation caused by natural levels of radioactive potassium.
	First technology to recognize flow of people from low-resolution imaging Fujitsu today announced that it has developed the industry's first technology that provides highly accurate detection of people's movements and that can recognize the flow of people from low-resolution imagery incapable of distinguishing faces. In existing systems that analyze video taken from surveillance cameras and recognize flows of people, the problem has been that the resolution may be high enough to identify individuals, rendering the footage unusable.
Finding the next famine Last year, Christopher Hillbruner, N07, had 10 countries on the front burner, all in danger of boiling over. In Central America, drought and an epidemic of coffee rust had reduced crop yields and driven down wages, making it harder for people to feed their families. South Sudan's outlook remained dire, with 2.5 million people expected to be in food crisis in early 2015, thanks to the protracted conflict. And then there was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which, in addition to the thousands who will die from the virus, could leave an estimated 1.3 million people without enough to eat.
	Simulations show how using tablets and smartphones puts stress on joints and muscles Spending hours on a computer or sending lots of text messages on a mobile phone can result in a stiff neck and sometimes even a strained thumb. Computer scientists in Saarbrücken have developed a procedure that simulates in a lifelike manner which muscles and joints are put under particular strain when using IT devices. It also demonstrates the speed and accuracy with which a user can operate a device.
	Apple Watch may move the needle on wearable tech Apple aims Monday at its first new product category since 2010, with its smartwatch that could catalyze the market for wearable technology with a strong emphasis on health and fitness.
	French look at ways to curb tax avoidance by Internet giants New levies could be imposed to frustrate tax avoidance strategies currently used by Internet commerce giants like Google and Amazon, according to a report by a French government body released Monday.
	Solar plane lands in Oman after 1st leg of round-the-world bid The Solar Impulse 2 landed Monday in Oman, completing the initial leg of its bid to become the first solar-powered plane to fly around the world, an AFP photographer said.
	APPLE EVENT LIVE: The watch, a gold MacBook, HBO on iPhone Make calls, read email, control music, manage Instagram photos, keep up with your workout, pay for groceries, open your hotel room door. CEO Tim Cook says you can do it all from your wrist with Apple Watch—for 18 hours a day. That's how long the battery will last on an average day.
	Finally, X-ray medical imaging within the reach of developing countries In developing countries, many hospitals have become cemeteries of medical equipment. Several radiology systems, often sent by international aid, may never be used due to the climatic conditions and the instability of electricity networks. In a matter of weeks, they become useless. Besides, the lack of qualified personnel or spare parts rapidly dispels any hope to make them work. Yet, the lack of access to radiology in many developing countries is a serious public health problem, whether for TB screening or the care of road traffic injuries.
	Apple to tap iPhone users for medical research Apple on Monday unveiled an initiative to help researchers tackle some of the world's most critical medical conditions by gathering data from willing iPhone users.
	A golden MacBook, HBO on your iPhone & of course, the Watch All eyes were focused on the watch, but Apple CEO Tim Cook also unveiled a new MacBook and announced other deals at a company event Monday in San Francisco.
Activist firm urges Yahoo to cut costs, narrow focus Activist investment firm Starboard Value urged Yahoo on Monday to make "aggressive" cost cuts and narrow its focus to deliver more value to shareholders.
	Smog documentary blocked by China after becoming viral hit A hard-hitting video investigation into China's grave air pollution problem has been pulled from mainstream video sites, days after it garnered more than 100 million hits online.
	Vermont farms monitor storage conditions by cellphone Temperature fluctuations can shorten the growing season for farmers, and the worry doesn't stop when crops are stored inside for winter sales, as a drop or spikes can ruin what's meant for market.
	FBI investigates pro-IS hacks: report The FBI is investigating a string of hacks that defaced US websites with imagery from the Islamic State jihadist group, NBC News reported on Monday.
	Obama calls for effort to boost high-tech training, hiring Targeting stagnant wages in an otherwise improving economy, President Barack Obama on Monday called on employers, educational institutions and local governments to develop a home grown high technology workforce that could help drive up higher-income employment.
	Preemptive design saving cities Miho Mazereeuw is the founder of the Urban Risk Lab. She designs buildings and cities in anticipation of disasters. "Working in a field that has traditionally been the domain of emergency managers and engineers, we bring preemptive design and community engagement into the risk-reduction equation," she says.
	Study analyzes use of social networks for media purposes after 11-M A book at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid analyzes how social networks were used between the attacks on March 11, 2004, and the demonstration in the Puerta del Sol on May 15.
	Jumping, roly-poly, untethered robot described A novel, fully untethered soft robot capable of repeated jumping is able to cover half a meter in a single hop-and-roll motion. The innovative design of this combustion-powered robot, based on a roly-poly toy, and how it returns to an upright position after each jump are described in a fascinating study published in Soft Robotics.
Greek authorities indict 64 over Siemens bribery allegations Greek authorities have indicted more than 60 people to stand trial over an alleged bribery scandal 17 years ago, involving a telecom contract for German industrial giant Siemens AG.
	Hackers attack US reporters for Ethiopian TV service More than a year after researchers revealed an electronic eavesdropping campaign aimed at D.C.-area journalists, the hackers are at it again.
	White House: Obama traded email with private Clinton account President Barack Obama knew that Hillary Rodham Clinton conducted business on a nongovernment email account while secretary of state, but only recently learned the details of the privately run system she was operating, the White House said Monday.

Chemistry news

	New research provides a general formula for understanding how layered materials form different surface patterns The process of wrinkle formation is familiar to anyone who has ever sat in a bathtub a little too long. But exactly why layered materials sometimes form one kind of wrinkly pattern or another—or even other variations, such as creases, folds, or delaminated buckles—has now been explained at a fundamental level by researchers at MIT.
	One step closer to artificial photosynthesis and 'solar fuels' Caltech scientists, inspired by a chemical process found in leaves, have developed an electrically conductive film that could help pave the way for devices capable of harnessing sunlight to split water into hydrogen fuel.
	Using E-petals for making stretchable metal conductors The research beat goes on in stretchable electronics. Scientists work on solutions for ultraflexible, stretchable, and wearable electronics and pursue advanced materials toward that end. Dr. Peter Harrop, chairman of market research firm IDTechEx, has looked at the potential of stretchable electronics and defines the term as concerning electrical and electronic circuits and combinations of these "elastically or inelastically stretchable by more than a few percent while retaining function." Harrop authored the report, "Stretchable Electronics and Electrics 2015-2025: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts."
	Researchers explore fading red in Van Gogh art While debate over whether a dress was blue and black or white and gold has caused an Internet storm of talk about color, discussions in scientific circles raise questions about red, asking why are Van Gogh's reds turning white? Researchers have answers. Scientists in Belgium believe they can explain why these reds are turning white, and have explored the degradation process that causes the color bleaching. The University of Antwerp team looked at a microscopic sample of Van Gogh's "Wheat Stack Under a Cloudy Sky."
Go meta: New technique expands possibilities for molecular designers Chemists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed a broadly useful technique for building new drug molecules and other chemical products.
	Team develops ultrathin polymer insulators key to low-power soft electronics A group of researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed a high-performance ultrathin polymeric insulator for field-effect transistors (FETs). The researchers used vaporized monomers to form polymeric films grown conformally on various surfaces including plastics to produce a versatile insulator that meets a wide range of requirements for next-generation electronic devices. Their research results were published online in Nature Materials on March 9th, 2015.
	Science nabs illegal ivory sellers A Toronto-based company has been convicted of selling illegal ivory in the first case to use a technique for dating ivory developed by a scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in collaboration with other colleagues.
	Bioelectrochemical processes may replace petrochemistry lysine production Researchers at Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany, and the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, have found that the electrification of the white biotechnology is not merely a green dream, but an alternative to petrochemistry with realistic economical potential. Compared to classical sugar based bio-processes, bioelectrochemical processes promise improved yields, which could turn out to be a real game changer. The next generation of bio-production facilities may not only become more environmentally friendly, but also more economically competitive, a conclusion drawn jointly by scientists at UFZ and the UQ. In a recently published study in the scientific journal ChemSusChem, the researchers analysed for the first time the economical potential of this new technology using the example of an existing bio-process.
	Toward Methuselah—long-living lighting devices Researchers at the Universities of Basel and Valencia have reported important advances in the development of next generation lighting technologies in the journal Chemical Science.
	Quick, easy and early diagnosis with rare earth ions Lack of oxygen in cells is an indicator of diseases as serious as cerebral haemorrhages, stroke and cancer. Regrettably measuring real-time oxygen concentration in living tissue is difficult with current technologies. Now a chemist from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with chemists from Oxford University has invented a compound which measures oxygen in cells and other biological material with high precision. The compound is based on rare earths emitting coloured light that vary in colour with the amount of oxygen present in the sample. Because emissions are in the visible range of the spectrum, it will be possible to measure oxygen using the optical microscopes already present in most hospitals.
	Video: The chemistry of poison ivy Leaves of three, let them be, right? But what happens when you get covered in poison ivy and can't stop scratching?

Biology news

	Centuries-old DNA helps identify origins of slave skeletons found in Caribbean More than 300 years ago, three African-born slaves died on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. No written records memorialized their fate, and their names and precise ethnic background remained a mystery. For centuries, their skeletons were subjected to the hot, wet weather of the tropical island until they were unearthed in 2010 during a construction project in the Zoutsteeg area of the capital city of Philipsburg.
	Love, love me do: Male beetles that have more sex are more insecure, study shows Males that mate more often are more insecure about their social status than those mating less, according to new research on the behaviour of burying beetles.
	Bioengineers put human hearts on a chip to aid drug screening When University of California, Berkeley, bioengineers say they are holding their hearts in the palms of their hands, they are not talking about emotional vulnerability.
	Hippo 'crosstalk' may be vital to tumor suppression Think of a waterfall, and you might see why cell-signaling pathways are important to cancer research. As water cascades, it impacts everything downstream. And everything upstream affects the waterfall.
	New technique can locate genes' on-off switches All the cells in an organism carry the same instruction manual, the DNA, but different cells read and express different portions of it in order fulfill specific functions in the body. For example, nerve cells express genes that help them send messages to other nerve cells, whereas immune cells express genes that help them make antibodies.
	Early herders' grassy route through Africa A University of Utah study of nearly 2,000-year-old livestock teeth show that early herders from northern Africa could have traveled past Kenya's Lake Victoria on their way to southern Africa because the area was grassy - not tsetse fly-infested bushland as previously believed.
	Study identifies circadian clock gene that strengthens crop plant Dartmouth researchers and their colleagues have identified a circadian clock gene that helps a key crop plant to withstand extreme cold and salty conditions, which could help to develop hardier crops with improved yield. The next step is to extend these studies to corn, rice, wheat and soybean, the world's four major crops.
	Progeny of old parents have fewer offspring Reproduction at old age involves risks that may impact one's own life and may impose reduced biological fitness on the offspring. Such evidence, previously obtained in humans and other taxa under laboratory conditions, has now been confirmed by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen together with colleagues from the UK and New Zealand for the first time in free-living animals. In a long-term study on a population of house sparrows they found that offspring of older parents themselves produced fewer young. Such a transgenerational effect is important for the understanding of the evolution of longevity.
	Scientists reveal structural secrets of nature's little locomotive A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has determined the basic structural organization of a molecular motor that hauls cargoes and performs other critical functions within cells.
	More than two million migratory birds killed in Cyprus More than two million migratory birds were killed in Cyprus last autumn to feed an illicit taste for the delicacy on the Mediterranean island, a conservationist group said Monday.
	Aluminium threat to food security revealed One third of the world's food-producing land has been lost in the past 40 years as a result of soil degradation, putting global food security at risk.
	How does wheat respond to climate change? Researchers from The University of Western Australia and CSIRO have made a breakthrough in understanding how wheat crops are likely to respond to potential future climate scenarios.
	Isolated boodies repopulate the mainland Two populations of translocated boodies (Bettongia lesueur) which were set up to re-establish locally extinct species at Lorna Glen in the Murchison have created a thriving population made up of fertile hybrid offspring.
	Scientists urge Brazilian government to stand strong on aquatic animal protections A team of Brazilian scientists—including Luiz Rocha, PhD, Associate Curator of Ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences—is raising awareness about impending conservation setbacks for Brazil's aquatic animals, calling for immediate fisheries management collaboration between the nation's public and private sectors. The scientists say Brazil can transform this moment of political turmoil into positive action—and become a leader among developing countries facing widespread extinction of aquatic fauna. The call to protect the future of Brazil's productive fisheries is published this month in Science.
Millions of modern men found to be descendants of 11 Asian dynastic leaders Geneticists from the University of Leicester have discovered that millions of modern Asian men are descended from 11 powerful dynastic leaders who lived up to 4,000 years ago - including Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan.
	Supplemental feeding for endangered avian species New research from conservationists at the University of Kent has revealed that supplemental feeding can help the recovery of endangered avian populations despite exacerbating the effects of infectious disease.
	After 60 million years apart, two fern genera form hybrid in the mountains of France In an article published in the March 2015 issue of The American Naturalist, a team of researchers report on a fern from the French Pyrenees that is a recently formed intergeneric hybrid between parental lineages that diverged from each other approximately 60 million years ago.
	New 3-D imaging technology for living cells The major limitation of microscopy is light itself: if we want to see an object smaller than the wavelength of visible light, we cannot use conventional optics. When it comes to imaging cells, the problems compound, since cells often require chemical processing beforehand in order to make them suitable for viewing under a microscope. This processing essentially kills the cell in order to preserve it. An EPFL spin-off company, NanoLive, has developed the 3D Cell Explorer first-ever microscope that allows users to see inside living cells without any prior sample preparation, by using MRI-like technology and proprietary software that uses holographic algorithms.
	Study demonstrates important links between human health and the environment in the African savanna The relationship between human disease and environmental management has been the subject of extensive research, especially given the recent outbreaks of Ebola, SARS and other zoonotic infectious diseases that transmit from animals to humans.
	Researchers use proteomics to profile switchgrass If advanced biofuels are to replace gasoline, diesel and jet fuel on a gallon-for-gallon basis at competitive pricing, we're going to need a new generation of fuel crops - plants designed specifically to serve as feedstocks for fuels. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have demonstrated the power of a new ally in this effort - proteomics!
	New training, ultra-high-density planting systems recommended for sweet cherry As a result of new dwarfing rootstock selections, improvements in crop protectants, and better methods of postharvest handling and storage, production of sweet cherry is increasing around the world. New sweet cherry cultivars that allow for improved mechanical harvest have also been introduced, and semi-dwarfing and dwarfing rootstocks have improved the potential for developing high-density planting systems for sweet cherry. A new study showed that high-density planting in sweet cherry orchards can produce significant yields by the second and third year after planting.
Seeding mixtures recommended for midwest lawns Turfgrass professionals have created seed mixes specifically blended to ensure disease and insect resistance, water use efficiency, and tolerance to traffic. For example, a commonly used mixture of kentucky bluegrass (KBG) and perennial ryegrass (PRG) seed offers advantages such as rapid germination and establishment and provides turf cover that can compete with weeds. A new study shows how initial composition of KBG:PRG in the seed mixture affects species composition over multiple years in the Midwest, and offers recommendations about seeding ratios for optimal results.

Medicine & Health news

	'Ouch zone' in the brain identified Activity in a brain area known as the dorsal posterior insula is directly related to the intensity of pain, a brain imaging study of 17 people has found.
	Researchers report new gene associated with thyroid levels Thyroid hormones have important and diverse roles in human health and regulate metabolic rate. Thyroid disease is common (affecting 5-10 per cent of the population) and synthetic thyroid hormones are one of the commonest drug therapies prescribed worldwide. A new study, published in Nature Communications involving University of Bristol academics, reports a new gene called SYN2 associated with thyroid levels.
	Newly discovered brain pathway overturns anatomy, could solve antipsychotic mystery It's been "known" for decades: Sensory, motor and cognitive signals come in from the brain's cortex and are processed in the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia then send out signals that get routed through the thalamus and back to the cortex.
	Researchers map 'genomic landscape' of childhood adrenocortical tumors for the first time In an advance that could lead to better identification of malignant pediatric adrenocortical tumors, and ultimately to better treatment, researchers have mapped the "genomic landscape" of these rare childhood tumors. Their genomic mapping has revealed unprecedented details, not only of the aberrant genetic and chromosomal changes that drive the cancer, but the sequence of those changes that trigger it.
	Human Brain Project review panel recommends reforms (Medical Xpress)—A panel created to review the way the European Human Brain Project is being run has released a summary of their recommendations—in it the panel members suggest that several reforms must be made in order for the project to remain on course.
	New test uses human stem cells to identify dangerous side effects of drugs Scientists at Imperial College London have developed a test that uses combinations of cells from a single donor's blood to predict whether a new drug will cause a severe immune reaction in humans.
Novel drug candidate regenerates pancreatic cells lost in diabetes In a screen of more than 100,000 potential drugs, only one, harmine, drove human insulin-producing beta cells to multiply, according to a study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, funded by JDRF and the National Institutes of Health, and published online today in Nature Medicine.
	Fifteen new breast cancer genetic risk 'hot-spots' revealed Scientists have discovered another 15 genetic 'hot-spots' that can increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, according to research published today in Nature Genetics.
	Radiation plus immunotherapy combo revs up immune system to better attack melanoma, study suggests Treating metastatic melanoma with a triple threat—including radiation therapy and two immunotherapies that target the CTLA4 and PD-1 pathways—could elicit an optimal response in more patients, one that will boost the immune system's attack on the disease, suggests a new study from a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Penn's Abramson Cancer Center published today in Nature.
	Protein in the brain can 'put the brakes' on binge drinking A new study led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers has found that a naturally-occurring protein in the brain can act to suppress binge alcohol drinking, a major public health problem estimated to cost the U.S. more than $170 billion each year.
	Novel tool visualizes whole body SIV replication A collaborative effort between investigators at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology has led to the development of a non-invasive method to image simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication in real-time, in vivo.
	How blood group O protects against malaria It has long been known that people with blood type O are protected from dying of severe malaria. In a study published in Nature Medicine, a team of Scandinavian scientists explains the mechanisms behind the protection that blood type O provides, and suggest that the selective pressure imposed by malaria may contribute to the variable global distribution of ABO blood groups in the human population.
	Telling kids they're special may foster narcissism, study shows (Update) Children who are told they are special by their parents are more likely to become narcissists, according to a study Monday that aimed to uncover the origins of extreme selfishness.
	First look at hospitalized Ebola survivors' immune cells could guide vaccine design In the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, whose death toll is approaching 10,000, little information has been available about how the human immune response unfolds after infection.
	Study of fruit fly 'brain in a jar' reveals mechanics of jet lag Long the stuff of science fiction, the disembodied "brain in a jar" is providing science fact for UC Irvine researchers, who by studying the whole brains of fruit flies are discovering the inner mechanisms of jet lag.
	New gene sequencing technology like a high-powered microscope A new gene sequencing technology allows us to explore the human genome at a much higher resolution than ever before, with revolutionary implications for research and cancer diagnosis.
	Assumptions of equality lead to poorer group decisions People of differing competence tend to give each other's views equal weight, preventing them from making the best group decisions, finds new UCL-led research.
	'Exercise hormone' irisin may be a myth The discovery of the "exercise hormone" irisin three years ago and more than 170 related papers about it since have been called into question by recent research showing they were based on flawed testing kits.
	Scientists find class of drugs that boosts healthy lifespan A research team from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Mayo Clinic and other institutions has identified a new class of drugs that in animal models dramatically slows the aging process—alleviating symptoms of frailty, improving cardiac function and extending a healthy lifespan.
	Understanding how neurons shape memories of smells In a study that helps to deconstruct how olfaction is encoded in the brain, neuroscientists at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a type of neuron that appears to help tune, amplify and dampen neuronal responses to chemosensory inputs from the nasal cavity.
	Genetics breakthrough will boost diabetes resear The genes that increase the risk of Type 1 diabetes have lost their hiding place. A research group that includes a University of Florida genetics expert has located and narrowed down the number of genes that play a role in the disease, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Genetics. Knowing the identities and location of causative genes is a crucial development: Other researchers can use this information to better predict who might develop Type 1 diabetes and how to prevent it.
	SF surgeons complete surgeries in kidney transplant chain Surgeons at a San Francisco hospital have completed all the operations in an organ donation chain that gave six patients new kidneys.
Scent-trained dog detects thyroid cancer in human urine samples A trained scent dog accurately identified whether patients' urine samples had thyroid cancer or were benign (noncancerous) 88.2 percent of the time, according to a new study, to- be presented Friday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Experimental drug turns 'bad' white fat into 'good' brown-like fat An experimental drug causes loss of weight and fat in mice, a new study has found. The study results will be presented Friday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Men's heart disease risk linked to high testosterone and low estrogen Why men have more heart disease than premenopausal women has been unclear, but a new study shows that the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen alter cardiovascular risk factors in a way that raises a man's risk of heart disease. Results of the study will be presented Saturday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Testosterone nasal gel works best at three doses a day, study finds A new testosterone nasal gel raises men's low testosterone levels to normal, with few side effects, according to the results of a phase 3 clinical trial to be presented Saturday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Liraglutide may help overweight and obese adults lose weight safely and effectively Obesity guidelines recommend an initial weight loss goal of 5 to 10% of start weight to improve health. A recent study found that patients who received liraglutide 3.0 mg, combined with fewer calories and more physical activity, were more than twice as likely to achieve at least that level of weight loss, compared to patients on placebo who made similar lifestyle changes. Patients who achieved that weight loss showed improvements on a number of health markers, compared to those who lost less, and the patients on liraglutide showed greater improvement on measures of blood sugar control and blood pressure. The results will be presented Saturday, March 7, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Sleep apnea is common in women with pregnancy diabetes Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in obese, pregnant Asian women with gestational diabetes, even when their diabetes is controlled by diet, a new study from Thailand finds. Study results, which also connect the severity of sleep disordered breathing with higher blood glucose (sugar) levels and greater daytime sleepiness, will be presented on Saturday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Decreased sexual activity, desire may lead to decline in serum testosterone in older men In older men, decreased sexual activity and desire, not erectile dysfunction, may cause serum testosterone to decline, a new study from Australia finds. The results will be presented Saturday March 7, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in San Diego.
Female fetuses exposed to tobacco smoke may have increased diabetes risk in middle age A fetus exposed to tobacco smoke may be at increased risk for diabetes in adulthood, a new study of adult daughters finds. The results will be presented in a poster Saturday, March 7, at ENDO 2015, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
Advanced thyroid cancer responds to targeted therapy with sunitinib In patients with advanced thyroid cancer, sunitinib, a drug approved for treatment of several other cancers, showed significant cancer-fighting activity t, a new phase 2 clinical trial has found. Results of the single-center study will be presented Sunday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Breast cancer risk may be increased in women who have first-degree relatives with a history of prostate cancer Having a family history of prostate cancer among first-degree relatives may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's results indicate that clinicians should take a complete family history of all cancers—even those in family members of the opposite sex—to help assess a patient's risk of developing cancer.
	Physical labor, hypertension and multiple meds may reduce male fertility Working in a physically demanding job, having high blood pressure, and taking multiple medications are among health risks that may undermine a man's fertility, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and Stanford University, Stanford, California. The study is the first to examine the relationships between workplace exertion, health, and semen quality as men are trying to conceive. The results were published online in Fertility and Sterility.
	FDA approves first biosimilar drug in US (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), the first biosimilar product approved in the United States.
	Changes being made to med school applicant assessment (HealthDay)—In accordance with the changes in graduate medical education to better prepare doctors for a changing health care system, changes are being made to medical school applicant evaluation, according to an article published Feb. 19 by the American Medical Association (AMA).
	Always sleepy after the change to daylight saving time? (HealthDay)—You lost an hour's sleep overnight Saturday when the clocks moved ahead. But there are a number of things you can do to cope with the switch to daylight saving time, a sleep expert says.
Report: Rural hospitals get billions in extra Medicare funds A law that allows rural hospitals to bill Medicare for rehabilitation services for seniors at higher rates than nursing homes and other facilities has led to billions of dollars in extra government spending, federal investigators say.
Nuts may help lower teenagers' risk of metabolic syndrome Modest consumption of nuts every day is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile among adolescents, a new analysis of a large national database shows. The study results will be presented Friday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
Restricting fructose in obese Latino and African American children may reduce fat accumulation in their livers In obese Latino and African American children, restricting dietary fructose, but not calories, may decrease liver fat and the conversion of sugar to fat in the liver, 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.
Research suggests student athletes and parents both contribute to anxious feelings before competition New research suggests a student athlete's anxiety levels before competition are determined not only by their own expectations for their performance, but their parents' expectations as well. The findings also indicate the reverse is true: how a child athlete hopes to compete affects how a parent feels prior to a match.
	Cochlear implants give boy with Down syndrome new lease on life There was something wrong with Joshua Copen's hearing. No matter how many times doctors told Iara Peng, Joshua's mother, that her baby with Down syndrome had normal hearing, she knew they were wrong.
	Researchers recommend weight-loss interventions focused on hunger-reducing food choices A new study suggests that weight-loss interventions that center on hunger-reducing food choices and behavioral support can produce favorable shifts in "self-reward" areas of the brain. The study addresses concerns by weight-loss experts that when instant gratification, or addictive-type food involvement, becomes entrenched in the brain, it may be nearly impossible to reverse.
Exercise bike pedals hope for people with MS Researchers from the University of Sydney have designed an innovative exercise system that allows people with multiple sclerosis to workout their paralysed leg muscles in the hope of improving symptoms and slowing the disease progression.
Anxiety, chronic pain among problems that adult cancer survivors experience years after treatment, new study finds A team of researchers from The University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Central Florida have determined that years after going into remission, many adult cancer survivors still encounter challenges arising from their disease and its treatment.
	Monitoring the microbiome for health indicators We are all populated by microbes – helpful or otherwise – which form a community known as a microbiome. Recent research by Ryan Newton and co-workers has shown that sewage-based analysis of the human microbiome can be used to diagnose health issues at a population level.
Research explores patient views of GP safety New research conducted by The University of Manchester has found that GPs' patients can feel alienated by lack of trust, impersonal processes and that this presents problems to improving their safety.
	Researchers study brain-to-brain interfaces Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk a mile (or 1.6 kilometres) in somebody else's shoes? Or have you ever tried to send a telepathic message to a partner in transit to "pick up milk on your way home"?
	Deep muscle activity exposed via M-mode ultrasounds M-Mode ultrasound is being tested in a variety of studies as a non-invasive, clinical tool to assess deep muscle activity, as opposed to electromyography which is widely considered to be highly invasive and painful.
Stem cell researchers develop promising method to treat sickle cell disease UCLA stem cell researchers have shown that a novel stem cell gene therapy method could lead to a one-time, lasting treatment for sickle cell disease—the nation's most common inherited blood disorder.
	When parents hesitate about vaccines, what should health-care providers say? In recent years, the US has witnessed multiple outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses, including pertussis (whooping cough) and measles. In the same time frame, vaccine refusal rates have gone up, and an increasing number of parents are requesting modified vaccine schedules that differ from the one recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Cancer-linked protein helps control fate of intestinal stem cells An international group of researchers has shown that a regulatory protein involved in controlling how cancer spreads through the body also influences the fate of stem cells in the intestine of mice. The results, which are published in The EMBO Journal, show that the Snai1 protein plays an important role in deciding the fate of intestinal stem cells and the different functions that these cells can adopt.
	Traffic light food labels strengthen self-control Should food products be labeled with traffic light symbols to make health-related information on ingredients easier to understand? This question has remained a subject of debate. Now researchers at the University of Bonn have reached the conclusion that the traffic light label is more effective in helping consumers resist high-calorie foods than a purely information-based label. Scientists observed study participants in the brain scanner as they made purchase decisions. The study has just been published in the journal Obesity.
Pregnancy weight gain tilts the scales for child becoming obese Unhealthy weight gain in pregnancy has been linked with infant size and body composition but until now little was known about its long-term association with childhood obesity among low-income and multi-ethnic youth. For the first time, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health studied the effects of gestational weight gain on childhood obesity risk among a multi-ethnic urban population. The researchers determined that excessive pregnancy weight gain was associated with greater overall and abdominal body fat in children and obesity at age seven. Excessive pre-pregnancy weight gain was associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity of approximately 300 percent. Findings are published online in the journal Maternal & Child Nutrition.
Understanding of cell enzyme flipped on its head Researchers from Manchester, working with scientists in California, have found that certain molecules long thought to promote cancer growth, in fact suppress tumours, suggesting that therapeutic approaches should aim to restore, rather than block, their activity.
	What's your genetic destiny? More than half of parents want to know disease risks Would you want to know if you or your children had risk of hereditary cancer, a genetic risk for cardiovascular disease or carried the gene associated with developing Alzheimer's disease - even if they were risks that wouldn't be relevant for possibly decades or didn't have a cure?
	Vegetarian diet linked to lower risk of colorectal cancers Eating a vegetarian diet was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancers compared with nonvegetarians in a study of Seventh-Day Adventist men and women, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Youth suicide rate in rural areas is nearly double the rate in cities The adolescent and young-adult suicide rate in the United States was almost twice as high in rural settings than in urban areas between 1996 and 2010, and new research suggests that the gap appears to be widening.
	Boosting older adults' vision through training Just a weeks' worth of training can improve vision in older adults, according to new research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings show that training boosted older adults' sensitivity to contrast and also their ability to see things clearly at close distances.
Two-step treatment improved function and decreased pain severity in veterans Although U.S. military veterans who have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan are more likely to suffer chronic pain than veterans of any other conflict in American history, little headway has been made in helping them manage the often debilitating effects of chronic pain. A new study by researchers from the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Medicine reports that a stepped-care strategy improved function and decreased pain severity, producing at least a 30 percent improvement in pain-related disability.
African-American cancer patients' depression symptoms under-recognized, study finds Case Western Reserve University nurse scientist Amy Zhang, who has long examined quality-of-life issues in cancer patients, wondered whether depression in African-American cancer patients has been under-recognized for treatment.
	Societally-engaged adults see their lives as redemption stories Middle-aged Americans who show high levels of societal involvement and mental health are especially likely to construe their lives as stories of personal redemption, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Childhood leukemia study reveals disease subtypes, new treatment option A new study of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a blood cancer that primarily affects young children, has revealed that the disease has two distinct subtypes, and provides preliminary evidence that about 13 percent of ALL cases may be successfully treated with targeted drugs that have proved highly effective in the treatment of lymphomas in adults.
Researchers say smiles, word choice show what type of sexism men display If you want to know what a man's true attitude towards the female sex is, carefully watch how he smiles and chats to her. This advice is gleaned from a study by Jin Goh and Judith Hall of Northeastern University in the US, published in Springer's journal Sex Roles. It sheds light on how sexism subtly influences social interaction between men and woman.
Canadians' preferences for receiving incidental findings from genetic testing Although many people value receiving information about incidental findings identified from genomic sequencing, not everyone wants to know about genetic conditions regardless of potential health implications, found a study of Canadian preferences in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	A real eye-opener: Narcolepsy bears classic autoimmune hallmarks Narcoleptics suffer from bouts of sleepiness and sleep attacks, which impair their ability to function in daily life. But the precise cause of narcolepsy has long eluded scientists, and the cure for the devastating neurological disorder afflicting an estimated three million people worldwide—and one in 3,000 Americans—remains at bay.
Young African American men deserve better from health care, according to researchers Healthcare spending is at an all-time high in the U.S., yet young African-American men see little benefit, according to Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers' Viewpoint commentary published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
	Viagra in combination with new drugs can have anti-cancer, antibacterial, therapeutic effects Chaperone proteins play an important role in protein folding in human cells and in bacteria and are promising new targets for drugs to treat cancer and Alzheimer's disease and for novel antiviral drugs and antibiotics. How existing drugs such as Viagra or Cialis and a derivative of the drug Celebrex, for example, can reduce the activity of a specific chaperone protein, with the potential for anti-tumor and anti-Alzheimer's disease effects, is described in a Review article in DNA and Cell Biology.
	Most information in drug development is lost Lots of potentially useful medical information is getting lost. McGill researchers discovered this when they looked into the lack of reporting of information from "stalled drug" trials in cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases.
	Blood-based genetic biomarkers identify young boys with autism In a study published in the current online issue of JAMA Psychiatry, an international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, report finding a highly accurate blood-based measure that could lead to development of a clinical test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in males as young as one to two years old. The test could be done in community pediatric settings. The degree of accuracy, they said, out performs other behavioral and genetic screens for infants and toddlers with ASD described in literature.
Study shows teens and adults hazy on Washington marijuana law More than two years after Washington legalized marijuana, parents and teens may be hazy on the specifics of the law, if the findings of a new study are any indication.
	New study finds digital clinical decision support tools save lives of pneumonia patients A new study by Intermountain Medical Center researchers in Salt Lake City found that using advanced clinical decision support tools reduces mortality for the 1.1 million patients in the Unites States who are treated for pneumonia each year.
Mood, anxiety disorders common in Tourette patients, emerge at a young age A new study of Tourette syndrome (TS) led by researchers from UC San Francisco and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has found that nearly 86 percent of patients who seek treatment for TS will be diagnosed with a second psychiatric disorder during their lifetimes, and that nearly 58 percent will receive two or more such diagnoses.
	Surprising finding provides more support for Alzheimer's being an autoimmune Brain levels of the lipid ceramide are high in Alzheimer's disease, and now scientists have found increased levels of an antibody to the lipid in their disease model.
	Researchers engineer custom blood cells Researchers at Johns Hopkins have successfully corrected a genetic error in stem cells from patients with sickle cell disease, and then used those cells to grow mature red blood cells, they report. The study represents an important step toward more effectively treating certain patients with sickle cell disease who need frequent blood transfusions and currently have few options.
	Eviction can result in depression, poorer health and higher stress Eviction from a home can have multiple negative consequences for families - including depression, poorer health and higher levels of stress - and the side effects can persist for years, according to new research from sociologists at Rice University and Harvard University.
From brain tumors to memory: A very multifunctional protein Everything is connected, especially in the brain. A protein called BAI1, involved in limiting the growth of brain tumors, is also critical for spatial learning and memory, researchers have discovered.
Tiny minority of Chinese adults enjoy ideal heart health Nearly three out of four Chinese adults have poor cardiovascular health, with poor diet and growing rates of obesity compounding the risks associated with continuing high rates of smoking, according to a new survey published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Depression during pregnancy linked to child's asthma risk (HealthDay)—A child may face an increased risk of asthma if the child's mother experienced depression during her pregnancy or she took an older antidepressant to treat her condition, new research suggests.
New CPR devices approved (HealthDay)—A pair of new CPR devices designed to help save people whose hearts stop beating has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Educational intervention can cut inappropriate PPI prescriptions (HealthDay)—A monthly educational intervention paired with a web-based quality improvement tool is feasible for increasing the proportion of inappropriate proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescriptions discontinued at hospital discharge, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Reminders improve practices' quality-assurance testing (HealthDay)—Practices' adherence to a quality-assurance program for point-of-care testing (POCT) devices can be improved with reminders, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
	Abnormalities on MRI predict knee replacement (HealthDay)—Structural joint damage measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can predict knee replacement in the following year, according to research published in the March issue of Radiology.
	Anesthesiologists impact CABG surgery outcomes (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the rate of death or major complications varies across anesthesiologists, according to a study published in the March issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
	FDA approves cresemba for serious fungal infections (HealthDay)—Cresemba (isavuconazonium sulfate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis, the agency said Friday in a news release.
	ENDO: HRT may not be as risky as once thought (HealthDay)—Hormone replacement therapy for women may not be as potentially risky as previously thought, a new Mayo Clinic review contends. The findings were scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from March 5 to 8 in San Diego.
Study of baby horses' behavior triggers new autism research On a thoroughbred ranch in Vacaville, a 3-week-old foal gallops close to its mother. Their bond seems natural, but it didn't start out that way.
Psychedelic drug use could reduce psychological distress, suicidal thinking A history of psychedelic drug use is associated with less psychological distress and fewer suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts, according to new research from Johns Hopkins and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Tiny nanoparticles could make big impact for patients in need of cornea transplant There are about 48,000 corneal transplants done each year in the U.S., compared to approximately 16,000 kidney transplants and 2,100 heart transplants. Out of the 48,000 corneal transplants done, 10 percent of them end up in rejection, largely due to poor medication compliance. This costs the health care system and puts undue strain on clinicians, patients and their families.
	Controlling mothers add to anxiety risk for young children Researchers have found a strong link between maternal intrusiveness and child anxiety in young children from low-income families.
Dengue deaths on rise in Sao Paulo Cases of dengue fever are on the rise in Sao Paulo, with a nearly eightfold increase that saw 24 people die in Brazil's most populous state so far this year, the health ministry said Friday.
Team finds high need for treatment of transgender youth A new study has confirmed that transgender youth often have mental health problems and that their depression and anxiety improve greatly with recognition and treatment of gender dysphoria. The results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.
	UNICEF warns lack of toilets in Pakistan tied to stunting More than 40 million people in Pakistan do not have access to a toilet, forcing them to defecate in the open, which in turn is a major contributor to stunting in the country, a top UNICEF official said.
	Canker sores and the digestive tract They are small and painful, and can turn your favorite lemon sorbet into a world of hurt. They are canker sores, and if you are one of the 20 percent of people who get them, you know that these noncontagious mouth ulcers can make eating, drinking and even talking a feat.
Rural patients in south New Zealand receive fewer CT scans Rural patients in southern New Zealand are much less likely to receive computed tomography (CT) scans than their city-dwelling counterparts, according to University of Otago research that is the first to compare such scanning rates.
Vildagliptin for type 2 diabetes: No suitable data for combination with sulfonylurea Vildagliptin (trade name Galvus or Jalra) has been approved since September 2007 for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in whom diet and exercise do not provide adequate glycaemic control. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a new dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy. Such an added benefit cannot be derived from the new dossier either, however, because the drug manufacturer did not submit any suitable data.
Ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir: Hint of added benefit in certain patients The drug combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (trade name Harvoni) has been available since November 2014 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.
Justices order new look at Notre Dame birth control case The Supreme Court is ordering a federal appeals court to take another look at the University of Notre Dame's lawsuit over the health overhaul law's rules on paying for contraceptives.
PET/MR can effectively diagnose cause of unclear foot pain A single scan could diagnose the cause of foot pain better and with less radiation exposure to the patient than other methods, according to a study in the March 2015 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Imaging with 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MR), compared to 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed topography (PET/CT), provides more diagnostic information with higher diagnostic certainty.
Vaccinate against measles Future outbreaks of measles can only be prevented by vaccination.
Online health information—keep it simple Australian health websites are too difficult for many people to read.
	Preterm babies continue to receive inhaled nitric oxide Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is commonly used in term and near-term neonates who have severe respiratory failure caused by pulmonary hypertension. Over the last decade there have been multiple large studies trying to determine a clinical use for iNO in preterm neonates, but despite evidence of short-term benefit, this drug has not been shown to improve long-term outcomes in preemies. Still, the drug is commonly being used in this population, Mayo Clinic Children's Center and co-authors say in a study published today in the journal Pediatrics.
	Rising price of heroin-overdose antidote worries advocates States are making it easier to get access to a drug that reverses overdoses cause by heroin and other opioids.
T cell population altered in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity As obesity rates rise, so does the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In obese individuals and those with obesity-induced T2D, there is an accumulation of immune cells within adipose tissue that results in a low level of chronic inflammation. Gut microbial populations are also altered in these individuals. Weight loss, either through diet or gastric bypass, improves TD2-associated symptoms and shifts the gut microbiota.

Other Sciences news

	Best of Last Week – First photo of light as particle/wave, the dark side of cosmology and a hormone that mimics exercise (Phys.org)—It was another interesting week for physics as a team working at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne found a way to take the first ever photograph of light as both a particle and wave. Meanwhile, another team working at UC Santa Barbara announced that they had developed the first-ever quantum device that detects and corrects its own errors—a necessary precursor in developing a full quantum computer.
	Ancient fossils reveal diversity in the body structure of human ancestors Recently released research on human evolution has revealed that species of early human ancestors had significant differences in facial features. Now, a University of Missouri researcher and her international team of colleagues have found that these early human species also differed throughout other parts of their skeletons and had distinct body forms. The research team found 1.9 million-year-old pelvis and femur fossils of an early human ancestor in Kenya, revealing greater diversity in the human family tree than scientists previously thought.
	Cooperative communities emerge in transparent social networks People in a society are bound together by a set of connections - a social network. Cooperation between people in the network is essential for societies to prosper, and the question of what drives the emergence and sustainability of cooperation is a fundamental one.
Measuring the marketing effectiveness of asking versus telling From "Got Milk?" to "What's in your wallet?" to "Are you a Mac or a PC?" promotional phrases consisting of a simple question have proven to be quite effective, but are they more effective than a simple statement? That depends. Henrik Hagtvedt, Ph.D., a Marketing professor at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, has just finished investigating what happens when you replace a period with a question mark, or vice versa, and how that affects whether a consumer makes a purchase.
	Karnak excavation yields 38 artifacts The Centre franco-égyptien d'étude des temples de Karnak (CNRS/Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities) has just completed the excavation of a favissa, a pit discovered in early December 2014 near the temple of the god Ptah. The dig has unearthed 38 statues, statuettes and precious objects, making this an exceptional find, both for the quantity and quality of the religious artifacts brought to light. Furthermore, a completely new recording method was used during the dig that makes it possible to virtually reconstruct each step of the discovery with millimeter accuracy.
	The global gender gap persists, says report On March 9, the United Nations will convene to evaluate the global community's progress on gender equality in the 20 years since 189 countries adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The U.N. session will continue through March 20.
Great Recession spurred student interest in higher education, expert says When the Great Recession struck in 2008, it made young people think differently about American higher education, a Stanford economist says.
	African-Americans with 'elite' college degrees have little advantage in job market Does having a college degree from a highly selective school make a difference in getting a well-paid job? Not if you're African-American, says a University of Michigan researcher.
Easing ethanol mandate could have cut corn prices during drought By relaxing a federal ethanol mandate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could have counteracted the impact of the 2012 drought on corn prices, a new study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural economists concludes.
	The truth behind handshake-sniffing may bum you out As we all know, a firm handshake is important in making a good first impression. It's a sure sign of physical strength and, rightly or wrongly, we use it make all manner of judgements about character, personality and sincerity.
	Study discovers power of art making on mood For people who work with textiles to create art, whether it's knitting, quilt making or needlework, it is likely no surprise that the activities aid in relaxation and improve mood. Ann Collier, assistant processor of psychological sciences, has first-hand experience with the phenomenon and the research to explain it.
	Amid chaos of Libya, newly unearthed fossils give clues to our own evolution Libya hasn't been terribly hospitable for scientific research lately.
	London rail work unearths thousands of skeletons from Bedlam They came from every parish of London, and from all walks of life, and ended up in a burial ground called Bedlam. Now scientists hope their centuries-old skeletons can reveal new information about how long-ago Londoners lived—and about the bubonic plague that often killed them.
One billion people still live without electricity A single light bulb greatly simplifies a family's daily life, enabling family members to carry out various activities indoors. The children do their homework, and the mother sews or prepares dinner. Indoor lighting also makes it easier to care for elderly relatives. The next thing on the wish-list is sufficient electricity to run a cooling fan on hot days, a television, and, not least, a socket to charge the mobile phone. Even the poorest people in rural areas of Bangladesh possess mobile phones.