Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 10

Phys.org Newsletter for March 10, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Traveling without moving: Quantum communication scheme transfers quantum states without transmitting physical particles 
- New dwarf galaxies discovered in orbit around the Milky Way 
- Oldest known sponge found in China 
- Nano-device used to create and control rogue optical waves 
- Popular origami pattern makes the mechanical switch 
- Hybrid nanowires eyed for computers, flexible displays 
- Researchers devise a way to alter feelings attached to memories in mice while they sleep 
- Finger-mounted reading device for the blind 
- New carbon accounting method proposed 
- Researchers develop new approach that combines biomass conversion, solar energy conversion 
- Bat species is first mammal found hibernating at constant warm temperatures 
- Chameleon reorganizes its nanocrystals to change colors 
- Detection of gamma rays from a newly discovered dwarf galaxy may point to dark matter 
- Review: New MacBook shows Apple not giving up on laptop 
- Solar plane lands in India to complete first sea leg 

Nanotechnology news

	Hybrid nanowires eyed for computers, flexible displays A new process for coating copper nanowires with graphene - an ultrathin layer of carbon – lowers resistance and heating, suggesting potential applications in computer chips and flexible displays.
	High performance, lightweight supercapacitor electrodes of the future As a novel energy storage device, supercapacitors have attracted substantial attention in recent years due to their ultra-high charge and discharge rate, excellent stability, long cycle life and very high power density. Imagine charging your cell phone in just a few seconds or fueling up an electric car in but a few minutes, which are both part of the promising future that supercapacitors could offer.
	2-D nitrogenated crystals new potential rival for graphene Researchers in South Korea have, for the first time, developed a simple technique to produce a two-dimensional nitrogen-containing crystal that has the capacity to be a potential rival to graphene and silicon as semi-conductor materials.
	Are current water treatment methods sufficient to remove harmful engineered nanoparticle? The increased use of engineered nanoparticles (ENMs) in commercial and industrial applications is raising concern over the environmental and health effects of nanoparticles released into the water supply. A timely study that analyzes the ability of typical water pretreatment methods to remove titanium dioxide, the most commonly used ENM, is published in Environmental Engineering Science, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

Physics news

	Traveling without moving: Quantum communication scheme transfers quantum states without transmitting physical particles (Phys.org)—While Einstein considered quantum entanglement as "spooky action at a distance," and those who fully accept entanglement acknowledge it to be counterintuitive, current entanglement-based quantum communication schemes for transferring an unknown quantum state from one place to another require classical transportation of particles between sender and receiver. Now consider this: Recently, scientists in China at Harbin Institute of Technology, Yanbian University and Changchun University demonstrated what is known as a counterfactual approach in which quantum information can be transferred between two distant participants without sending any physical particles between them. The researchers accomplished this by entangling two nonlocal qubits with each other without interaction – meaning that the present scheme can transport an unknown qubit in a nondeterministic manner without prior entanglement sharing or classical commu! nication between the participants. Moreover, the scientists state that their approach provides a new method for creating entanglement that allows two qubits to be entangled without interaction between them.
	Nano-device used to create and control rogue optical waves A tiny chip, developed by scientists at the University of St Andrews, could help aid understanding into how rare events such as rogue waves occur.
	Predicting the extent of flash flooding Devastating floodwaters such as those experienced during Iowa's Flood of 2008—which swamped many Iowa communities, along with ten square miles of Cedar Rapids—are notoriously difficult to predict.
	Researchers identify process for improving durability of glass Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris have identified a method for manufacturing longer-lasting and stronger forms of glass. The research could lead to more durable display screens, fiber optic cables, windows and other materials, including cement.
	Solving the riddle of neutron stars It has not yet been possible to measure the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity. They are so weak that they get lost in the noise of the measurements. But thanks to the latest simulations of the merging of binary neutron star systems, the structure of the sought-after signals is now known. As a team of German and Japanese theoretical astrophysicists reports in the Editor's choice of the current edition of the scientific journal Physical Review D, gravitational waves have a characteristic spectrum that is similar to the spectral lines of atoms.
	Goodbye P value—is it time to let go of one of science's most fundamental measures? How should scientists interpret their data? Emerging from their labs after days, weeks, months, even years spent measuring and recording, how do researchers draw conclusions about the results of their experiments? Statistical methods are widely used but our recent research in Nature Methods reveals that one of the classic science statistics, the P value, may not be as reliable as we like to think.
	Injection tests make a splash On Saturday 7 March, two of the LHC experiments saw proton beams for the first time after a two-year stop. Beam 2 (anticlockwise) made it through LHCb at 10.30 and Beam 1 (clockwise) passed through ALICE at 17.00. The two experiments were switched on to record so-called splash events, particles emerging from the collision between the proton beam and a block positioned to stop the beam. The proton beams passed through three of the eight sectors of the LHC machine – slightly more than 10 km of the 27 km ring.
	New materials for opto-electronic and spintronic devices from understanding spin relaxation in topological insulators Scientists have gained insights that will aid development of new materials for opto-electronic and spintronic devices by understanding spin relaxation in topological insulators.
	Unprecedented neutron images of refrigerant flow through heat exchangers Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have captured undistorted snapshots of refrigerants flowing through small heat exchangers, helping to further elucidate characteristics of heat transfer.
Optical fibres light the way for brain-like computing Computers that function like the human brain could soon become a reality thanks to new research using optical fibres made of speciality glass.
	Mid-IR frequency combs enable high resolution spectroscopy for sensitive gas sensing A frequency comb source is a light source with a spectrum containing thousands of laser lines. The development of these sources has been revolutionary for fundamental science. It has allowed the construction of a link between the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum and the radio frequency part. As such, it has allowed researchers to determine optical frequencies with an unprecedented precision. Amongst others, frequency comb light sources have been used in optical clocks enabling precise time keeping. The enormous impact of frequency comb light sources on science was highlighted in 2005, when the Nobel Prize for physics was awarded to Prof. T. Haensch and Prof J. Hall for their work on optical frequency metrology using frequency combs.

Earth news

	Study shows wind erosion may have more impact on river canyons than previously thought (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers has found evidence that suggests wind erosion on river canyons may have more of an impact on the shape of such canyons than scientists have previously thought. In their paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience, Jonathan Perkins and Noah Finnegan with the University of California, and Shanaka de Silva with Oregon State University describe their study which compared river canyons in South America, some of which were subjected to wind, and some of which were shielded by mountains. Taylor Perron with MIT offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Friction means Antarctic glaciers more sensitive to climate change than we thought One of the biggest unknowns in understanding the effects of climate change today is the melting rate of glacial ice in Antarctica. Scientists agree rising atmospheric and ocean temperatures could destabilize these ice sheets, but there is uncertainty about how fast they will lose ice.
	New carbon accounting method proposed Established ways of measuring carbon emissions can sometimes give misleading feedback on how national policies affect global emissions. In some cases, countries are even rewarded for policies that increase global emissions, and punished for policies that contribute to reducing them.
	Revealing the real risks of a recently active volcano in southern Chile A study by a Victoria University earth scientist has revealed the frightening potential risk posed by a recently active volcano in southern Chile, and provides insight into what could happen in New Zealand.
Small eddies produce global effects on climate change The increasing strength of winds over the Southern Ocean has extended its ability to absorb carbon dioxide, effectively delaying the impacts of global warming.
	Same forces as today caused climate changes 1.4 billion years ago Natural forces have always caused the climate on Earth to fluctuate. Now researchers have found geological evidence that some of the same forces as today were at play 1.4 billion years ago.
Report: Strong quake certain to hit California in the future A new report says California faces a greater than 99 percent chance of being rocked by a strong earthquake in the next 30 years.
Advances of alternating EM field for earthquake monitoring in China The paper summed the progress of the alternating EM field technique for earthquake monitoring and prediction after 1966 when Xingtai earthquake in Hebei province occurred, expounded the theoretical basement on electromagnetic field for this method, outlined new developed CSELF technique and the experimental examples and the study using satellite EM technologies, and introduced the new data processing and data mining techniques used for massive data (big data).
	Hidden greenhouse emissions revealed in new Board of Agriculture report Restoration of wetlands can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is shown in a report that has been written in part by researchers from the University of Gothenburg.
	NASA looks inside and outside of Tropical Cyclone Pam NASA's Terra satellite provided an outside look at Tropical Cyclone Pam while the RapidScat instrument that flies aboard the International Space Station provided an inside look at the surface winds generated by the storm. The GPM core satellite provided another inside look at Pam and provided data on where the heavy rainfall was occurring within the storm.
	NASA sees a Tropical Storm Haliba 'sandwich' Tropical Storm Haliba appeared to be the "filling" in a sandwich between the Southern Indian Ocean islands of La Reunion and Mauritius in NASA satellite imagery because wind shear pushed the bulk of the storm's clouds between the islands.
Firefighting plan aims to protect Western habitat U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has released the initial plan for a new wildfire-fighting strategy to protect a wide swath of intermountain West sagebrush country that supports cattle ranching and is home to a struggling bird species.

Astronomy & Space news

	New dwarf galaxies discovered in orbit around the Milky Way A team of astronomers from the University of Cambridge have identified nine new dwarf satellites orbiting the Milky Way, the largest number ever discovered at once. The findings, from newly-released imaging data taken from the Dark Energy Survey, may help unravel the mysteries behind dark matter, the invisible substance holding galaxies together.
	Mysterious phenomena in a gigantic galaxy-cluster collision Researchers using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) have produced the most detailed image yet of a fascinating region where clusters of hundreds of galaxies are colliding, creating a rich variety of mysterious phenomena visible only to radio telescopes.
	Detection of gamma rays from a newly discovered dwarf galaxy may point to dark matter A newly discovered dwarf galaxy orbiting our own Milky Way has offered up a surprise—it appears to be radiating gamma rays, according to an analysis by physicists at Carnegie Mellon, Brown, and Cambridge universities. The exact source of this high-energy light is uncertain at this point, but it just might be a signal of dark matter lurking at the galaxy's center.
	Intergalactic GPS will guide you through the stars Lost in the Universe? Need some precise navigation through the bulk of stars in the night sky? Don't worry, there will be an instrument for that - the Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph (MOONS) at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in northern Chile. The spectrograph, dubbed the intergalactic GPS, will help us navigate through the billions of stars in our galaxy and create a comprehensive map of its structure. "One of the first science cases is to help build up maps of the central region of our galaxy," William Taylor of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) in Edinburgh, UK, told astrowatch.net. "With infrared light we have the power to see through the dust that obscures many of the objects in the central region of our galaxy, and so we can map the speeds and types of stars in the central bulge of the Milky Way."
	Galileo satellites ready for fuelling as launcher takes shape All the elements for this month's Galileo launch are coming together at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. As the two satellites undergo final testing and preparations, the first part of their Soyuz launcher has also been integrated.
	Orion's launch abort system motor exceeds expectations Three seconds. That's all it took for the attitude control motor of NASA's Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) to prove that its material can survive not only the intense temperatures, pressures, noise and vibrations experienced during a launch emergency but also 40 percent beyond. The LAS is being designed to bring a crew to safety should there be a problem in the launch pad or during ascent.
	Scientists prepare for Large Synoptic Survey Telescope When the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope begins in 2022 to image the entire southern sky from a mountaintop in Chile, it will produce the widest, deepest and fastest views of the night sky ever observed – and a flood of 6 million gigabytes of data per year that are expected to provide new insights into dark matter, dark energy and other cosmic mysteries.
	Image: Taking a closer look at Orion after successful flight test Engineers across the country have been busy taking a closer look at NASA's Orion spacecraft and the data it produced during its successful flight test in December 2014. Inside the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Orion was lifted using a special crane for removal of its heat shield on Feb. 13, 2015.
	Testing astronauts' lungs in Space Station airlock Air was pumped out of the International Space Station's air lock for the first time in the name of science last week. Inside the cylindrical Quest airlock, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA's Terry Virts monitored their breathing for researchers back on Earth.
	Cosmologists spends month searching for meteorites in Anarctica Every austral summer, a group of volunteers heads off to a remote region of Antarctica to set up a field camp on the ice. For the next month, they search the ice and nearby debris piles left by glaciers for dark rocks that might be extraterrestrial in origin. The program is called the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET).
	How long does it take to get to Pluto? It's a long way out to the dwarf planet Pluto. So, just how fast could we get there?
	Scientists find rare dwarf satellite galaxy candidates in Dark Energy Survey data Scientists on two continents have independently discovered a set of celestial objects that seem to belong to the rare category of dwarf satellite galaxies orbiting our home galaxy, the Milky Way.
	Cosmic dust discs withstand hellfire A team of scientists led by astronomers at the University of Bonn discovered an unusual phenomenon in the centre of the Milky Way: They detected about 20 rotating dust and gas discs in each cluster hosting exceptionally large and hot stars. The existence of these discs in the presence of the destructive UV radiation field of their massive neighbours came as a surprise. The science team is pondering how these rotating discs are able to withstand evaporation under these extreme conditions. The results are published in the most recent edition of the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
	Space soprano plans first duet from ISS (Update) British singer Sarah Brightman said Tuesday she was working with ex-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber to perform in space after paying $52-million (48 million euros) to fly to the International Space Station.
SDO captures images of mid-level solar flares The sun emitted two mid-level solar flares on March 9, 2015: The first peaked at 7:54 pm EDT and the second at 11:24 pm EDT.

Technology news

	Finger-mounted reading device for the blind Researchers at the MIT Media Laboratory have built a prototype of a finger-mounted device with a built-in camera that converts written text into audio for visually impaired users. The device provides feedback—either tactile or audible—that guides the user's finger along a line of text, and the system generates the corresponding audio in real time.
	Will Oppo come out with a fast-charging smartwatch? The Apple watch will go on sale this year after much anticipation and curiosity as to what level of excellence can possibly be tapped to make the smartwatch a hot wearable. One recent distraction, though, is in the form of stories coming from numerous tech sites on Monday that a smartwatch from Oppo might be in the wings and if so it will be a watch that can charge in five minutes. This would not be a trivial feature to promote because of the convenience factor, which might in turn motivate consumers to own something that will not require them to plug it in at night or else.
	Engineers study the benefits of adding a second, smaller rotor to wind turbines Hui Hu picked up a 3-D printed model of a typical wind turbine and began explaining two problems with the big, tall, three-bladed machines.
	Researchers design a type of Turing test for computer vision A small team of researchers has developed a possible means for creating a Turing test for computer vision. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Donald Geman, Neil Hallonquist and Laurent Younes with Johns Hopkins University and Stuart Geman with Brown University describe their idea of using a query engine to create a series of yes/no questions to show how well another computer system is able to understand content appearing in a photograph.
	Review: New MacBook shows Apple not giving up on laptop The MacBook Air was revolutionary when Apple started selling it in 2008. Though still thin and light, the Air now feels like a cheap cousin next to more powerful MacBook Pro laptops and Windows laptops known as ultrabooks.
	Solar plane lands in India to complete first sea leg Solar Impulse 2 landed in India late on Tuesday, completing the first major sea leg of its epic bid to become the first solar-powered plane to fly around the world.
	PancakeBot aims to make pancakes for fun and biz impressions Don't play with your food. In the 3D printing era, parents may want to modify that traditional admonishment because a creative thinker and maker has devised a way for children to experience creative thinking and the use of modern technology in making pancakes. Miguel Valenzuela, creator of a pancake-making machine, has taken to crowdfunding to push his pancake-maker through. He is offering, after all, a way to not merely make pancakes but to creatively create them.
	Early Look: How does Apple Watch stack up vs rival watches? Apple made a strong case for how you can use its upcoming Apple Watch, and the device stacks up well against the competition.
	3-D printed organs offer ultra-realistic practice models An incision from the surgeon's scalpel sends liquid oozing over the surface of a the lung, but on this occasion it doesn't matter if something goes wrong—the doctor can simply create another model with a 3D printer.
	HBO to launch streaming service with Apple TV HBO announced its standalone online TV service will launch next month, appearing on Apple's streaming media player.
	Solar-powered plane takes off from Oman, heads to India A Swiss-made solar-powered aircraft took off just after dawn on Tuesday from Muscat, Oman, bound for India for the second leg—and its first sea crossing—in a historic round-the-world trip.
	Will next-generation wearable sensors make us healthier? There is certainly no shortage of headlines on wearable sensors these days. "A contact lens measures your glucose level." "New electronic tattoos could help monitor health during normal daily activities." A "headband can read your brainwaves." Numerous wearable sensors are currently on the market that can monitor body data including activity and sleep, heart rate, galvanic skin response, and electrocardiogram (ECG). But are these wearables making any difference? Are they actually making us healthier?
	New sensor monitors electric car charging stations Future visions of electromobility include a comprehensive charging station network. However, it would be impossible to monitor them all in order to protect them from being manipulated. Under the umbrella of the "SecMobil" project, engineers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), headed by Prof Dr Tim Güneysu and in collaboration with project partners, developed a new sensor for charging stations which unites three functions: in one chip, charging current is measured, manipulation to charging station is detected and all data are encoded, before being forwarded to the provider for invoicing purposes.
The changing face of meetings In all but the most disconnected places, most of us are connected to our online social networks and contacts information throughout the working day and either side. Moreover, even in face-to-face meetings it is now common for people to check their phones periodically. Research to be published in the International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing suggests that the online world is now increasingly facilitating new relationships in the offline world.
	To stop the machines taking over we need to think about fuzzy logic Amid all the dire warnings that machines run by artificial intelligence (AI) will one day take over from humans we need to think more about how we program them in the first place.
NREL tool finds effective behind-the-meter energy storage configurations The Energy Department's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has used the Battery Lifetime Analysis and Simulation Tool (BLAST) to confirm that energy storage for demand-charge management can deliver attractive economic benefits. The analysis paired recent utility rate structures with historic data on solar photovoltaic electricity generation and commercial facility loads to evaluate 6,860 unique scenarios. The results revealed that, in the absence of incentives, small battery systems reducing peak demand by 2.5 percent offer the most attractive return on investment.
	Cebit 2015: Find out what your apps are really doing These tiny programs on Internet-connected mobile phones are increasingly becoming entryways for surveillance and fraud. Computer scientists from the center for IT-Security, Privacy and Privacy, CISPA, have developed a program that can show users whether the apps on their smartphone are accessing private information, and what they do with that data. This year, the researchers will present an improved version of their system again at the CeBIT computer fair in Hanover (Hall 9, Booth E13).
	Take the pilots out and solar-powered aircraft get really exciting An aircraft with a 72-metre wing-span – larger than a Boeing 747 – yet weighing only 2.3 tonnes, the Solar Impulse 2 has set off from Abu Dhabi on an attempt to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.
	Keeping the lights on in rural Uganda Stephanie Hirmer, a PhD student from the Department of Engineering's Centre for Sustainable Development, is investigating the value-perception of the users of rural electrification projects in Uganda.
	Detecting deception online is not so easy, says professor The sheer number of phishing scams that bombard our inboxes is an indication of the success scammers have in deceiving people through electronic communication. It is such a prevalent problem that some businesses are now taking action to defend against the scams by sending out fake phishing emails to educate employees who respond.
	App AiMs to improve motivation based on clinical research A new app created by Canterbury Christ Church University academics aims to help you improve motivation and achieve the things you want.
	Bio-inspired eye stabilizes robot's flight Biorobotics researchers at the Institut des Sciences du Mouvement - Etienne-Jules Marey (CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université) have developed the first aerial robot able to fly over uneven terrain that is stabilized visually without an accelerometer. Called BeeRotor, it adjusts its speed and avoids obstacles thanks to optic flow sensors inspired by insect vision. It can fly along a tunnel with uneven, moving walls without measuring either speed or altitude. The study was published on 26 February 2015 in the journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics.
Content creators leave social networks when messaging gets too easy It's not much harder or more expensive to send a tweet or a Facebook post to hundreds or even thousands of people than to just a handful. So you'd think that the ease of communicating with lots of people via social networks would result in more and more people sharing their thoughts, political views, and cat videos.
	Longtime tech news blog Gigaom folds Gigaom, one of the oldest major technology news blogs, announced it was shutting down after running out of cash.
	Q&A: A look at solar plane attempting round-the-world trip Two Swiss pioneers are attempting to fly around the world in a solar-powered airplane without a drop of fossil fuel. Here's a look at the plane and the pioneers behind it:
	CIA worked to break Apple encryption: report The Central Intelligence Agency has been working for years to break encryption on Apple devices, to spy on communications of iPhone and iPad users, a report said Tuesday.
	US lawsuit challenges legality of NSA online snooping A lawsuit filed Tuesday by the operator of Wikipedia and other organizations challenges the US government's mass online surveillance programs, claiming that tapping into the Internet "backbone" is illegal.
Alarming old and young drivers An in-car alarm that sounds when sensors on the vehicle detect an imminent crash could cut crash rates from 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 for drivers over the of 60 suffering tiredness on long journeys, according to a study published in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics.
	PayPal buys cybersecurity firm, creates Israel hub Online payments group PayPal announced Tuesday it was acquiring Israeli cybersecurity firm CyActive and establishing a new security hub in Israel.
New model of cybercrime factors in perishability of stolen data A new model examining cybercrimes adds an important way of examining the perishable value of stolen data so policy makers can plan against future hacks like the recent Anthem data breach, according to a study in the Articles in Advance section of Service Science, a journal published by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).
	Secret Service testing drones, how to disrupt their flying The Secret Service is conducting middle-of-the-night drone flights near the White House in secret tests to devise a defense against the unmanned aircraft, The Associated Press has learned.
	Charged dispute: Kraftwerk sues electric firm for name The leader of German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk has sued a company for dubbing its new electric smartphone charger with the same name as the band.
Bain buys cybersecurity firm Blue Coat for $2.4 bn Computer security firm Blue Coat Systems said Tuesday it was being acquired by private equity group Bain Capital for $2.4 billion.
	Apple's Tim Cook cites record sales and "unbelievable" year Apple CEO Tim Cook took a figurative victory lap at his company's annual shareholder meeting, one day after he announced details about the new smartwatch Apple plans to start selling next month.
Woman behind venture firm lawsuit to testify for second day Jurors in a sex discrimination trial against one of Silicon Valley's most prestigious venture capital firms will hear a second day of testimony from the woman behind the high-profile gender bias lawsuit.
	Developing infrastructure for data sharing around the world How can we support agricultural productivity around the world? How can we develop public health models that leverage social data, health data and environmental data? What are best practices to ensure the stewardship of research data today and tomorrow?
Shared opportunities for natural gas and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle markets Fueling stations that offer both hydrogen and natural gas could benefit distributors of both fuel types, says a new Sandia National Laboratories report, "Transitioning the Transportation Sector: Exploring the Intersection of Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Natural Gas Vehicles."
Stealthy destroyer's delivery to Navy delayed for more tests Delays in installation, testing and activation of electrical systems will push back delivery of the largest destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy from this summer to November, officials said Tuesday.
Judge: Man charged in Facebook fraud case apparently fled A New York man has apparently escaped his electronic monitoring bracelet and fled rather than face charges that he fraudulently claimed an ownership stake in Facebook, a judge said Tuesday as he revoked bail and questioned whether the escape had been planned for months.

Chemistry news

	Popular origami pattern makes the mechanical switch An origami paper-folding pattern called the square twist is the basis of a microscopic switch that Cornell physicists say could lead to origami-inspired materials and machines.
	New research into materials for tooth fillings Tooth decay is a serious health problem and it is often necessary to repair cavities. Today they often use a composite filling material made of acrylate compounds, as it resembles the colour of the teeth and is reasonably strong so it can handle the rigors of the powerful chewing movements. But composite filling materials have some disadvantages and now researchers are working on an interdisciplinary collaboration between physicists and dentists to develop a material comprised of glass ionomer cement. The results are published in the scientific journal, Scientific Reports.
	Researchers synthesize new thin-film material for use in fuel cells Researchers from Cornell University have synthesized a new thin-film catalyst for use in fuel cells. In a paper published March 10 in the journal APL Materials, from AIP Publishing, the team reports the first-ever epitaxial thin-film growth of Bi2Pt2O7 pyrochlore, which could act as a more effective cathode—a fundamental electrode component of fuel cells from which positive current flows through an external circuit delivering electric power.
	Researchers develop new approach that combines biomass conversion, solar energy conversion In a study published March 9 in Nature Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison chemistry Professor Kyoung-Shin Choi presents a new approach to combine solar energy conversion and biomass conversion, two important research areas for renewable energy.
	Hydrocarbon photocatalysts get in shape and go for gold A combination of semiconductor catalysts, optimum catalyst shape, gold-copper co-catalyst alloy nanoparticles and hydrous hydrazine reducing agent enables an increase of hydrocarbon generation from CO2 by a factor of ten.
Researchers look at crystalline zeolite membranes to be fountain of youth for renewable energy batteries While efficient and affordable electrical energy storage batteries are critical to the success of renewable solar and wind power systems and smart grids, the current high cost and short life of storage batteries remain the two major hurdles for widespread market acceptance.
	A virtual archive of building blocks to create nano-knots of all shapes and forms As sailors and mountaineers know very well, every knot carries out a specific function. There's a knot that slides, one that "floats", and one that comes undone with a single pull. In the field of nanotechnology as well, it is useful to have several kinds of molecular knots to be used, for instance, as mechanically resistant nano-cages for delivering chemical compounds or for confining and controlling toxic reagents. So far, molecular knots have only been produced by chemical synthesis, obtaining constructs on an atomic scale.
	Microbial soil cleanup at Fukushima Proteins from salt-loving, halophilic, microbes could be the key to cleaning up leaked radioactive strontium and caesium ions from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in Japan. The publication of the X-ray structure of a beta-lactamase enzyme from one such microbe, the halophile Chromohalobacter sp. 560, reveals it to have highly selective cesium binding sites.
	An injectable polymer could keep soldiers, trauma patients from bleeding to death Most military battlefield casualties die before reaching a surgical hospital. Of those soldiers who might potentially survive, most die from uncontrolled bleeding.
Green solid electrolyte for electrochemical devices Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, have studied the capability of new polymers derived from potato starch as insulators which do not show any remarkable electro activity.

Biology news

	Oldest known sponge found in China (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from China, the U.S. and France has identified an ancient sponge found in a geologic formation in southern China and have dated it to 600 million years ago. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team claims the sponge is the oldest ever found and likely represents a group of descendants that is an ancestor of all sponges.
	Scientists show proteins critical in day-night cycles also protect cells from mutations A good night's sleep does more than prevent yawning. New research from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) shows that two proteins critical for maintaining healthy day-night cycles also protect against mutations that could lead to cancer.
	Chameleon reorganizes its nanocrystals to change colors Many chameleons have the remarkable ability to exhibit complex and rapid color changes during social interactions. A collaboration of scientists within the Sections of Biology and Physics of the Faculty of Science from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, unveils the mechanisms that regulate this phenomenon.
	Bat species is first mammal found hibernating at constant warm temperatures Many mammals—and some birds—escape the winter by hibernating for three to nine months. This period of dormancy permits species which would otherwise perish from the cold and scarce food to survive to see another spring. The Middle East, with temperate winters, was until recently considered an unlikely host for hibernating mammals.
	Study yields insights into how plant cells grow A study by Purdue University plant scientists and University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineers advances our understanding of how plants control their shape and development at the cellular level.
	Move over Mozart: Study shows cats prefer their own beat As more animal shelters, primate centers and zoos start to play music for their charges, it's still not clear whether and how human music affects animals.
Hunting, birdwatching boosts conservation action What inspires people to support conservation? As concerns grow about the sustainability of our modern society, this question becomes more important. A new study by researchers at Cornell University provides one simple answer: bird watching and hunting.
	New pest-fighting, yield-boosting alfalfa to help farmers Dairy and other livestock farmers in the northern U.S. have three new alfalfa options this growing season – all pioneered by Cornell researchers as a way to combat devastating pests, increase yields and improve forage quality.
	Being smart about SMART environmental targets Successful environmental conservation needs to focus on the negotiation process, not just the end target, according to new research from the University of Exeter, the University of Queensland, Imperial College London, Bangor University, the University of Stirling, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
	Vets warn of paralysis ticks Vets at the Murdoch Pet Emergency Centre (MPEC) are warning of potentially fatal toxicity in pets due to a sudden increase in paralysis tick cases.
Getting to the origins of photosynthesis One of the most important areas in all of biology is the evolution of photosynthesis. Some species of single celled cyanobacteria, through photosynthesis, forever changed the atmosphere of the early Earth by filling it with oxygen, allowing a huge expansion in terms of what life was possible on the planet.
	Dermacentor limbooliati, a new tick species from Malaysia and Vietnam A new tick species found in Malaysia and Vietnam was recently discovered by researchers in Georgia.
	Scientists discover tiny glassy snails in caves of Northern Spain Two minute, glassy snails found in 2012 during a 17-cave sampling expedition of Northern Spain have been described. The international expedition team of scientists included Adrienne Jochum and Alexander Weigand (Germany), Rajko Slapnik and Jana Valentincic, (Slovenia), Carlos Prieto and Benjamín Gómez (Spain).
	Disease poses risk to chimpanzee conservation, study finds Infectious disease should be a key consideration in wildlife conservation, suggests a study focused on primates in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, published by PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The study investigated the parasite Cryptosporidium and cross-species transmission risks among humans, wild primates and domesticated animals within the greater Gombe ecosystem.
Design and build of synthetic DNA goes back to 'BASIC' A new technique for creating artificial DNA that is faster, more accurate and more flexible than existing methods has been developed by scientists at Imperial College London.
	Ethiopia's 'Iron Lion Zion' cats fading fast Ethiopia's black-maned lions once represented a former emperor, "Lion of Judah" Haile Selassie, and were immortalised in a song by reggae legend Bob Marley. Today, they struggle for survival.
	Ecological corridor to preserve Ecuadorian Andes bears What is the best way to conserve biodiversity in Ecuador's Andes Mountains?
	Tooth enamel provides clues on tsetse flies and the spread of herding in ancient Africa One of the most important technological advances of our species happened for the first time only in the last 12,000 years: food production, including agriculture and animal husbandry. For nearly 7 million years prior, our ancestors relied on hunting, scavenging and fishing for food. Food production made our species hugely successful and largely changed the structure of society. It's what allowed our population to increase to today's more than seven billion people.
Botswana warns over elephant deaths ahead of anti-poaching summit Botswana warned Tuesday that elephants were being killed at an "unsustainably high" rate as it prepared to host conferences on poaching of the animals later this month.
NYC ban on keeping ferrets as pets stays, health board rules Ferrets won't get a legal foothold in New York City.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers devise a way to alter feelings attached to memories in mice while they sleep (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers in France has found a way to alter how a mouse "feels" about something it has remembered. In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team describes how they recorded brain activity while mice visited new areas of their cage, then stimulated their brains while they slept in a way that made them favor the place they had visited and remembered.
	Cellular scissors chop up HIV virus Imagine a single drug that could prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, treat patients who have already contracted HIV, and even remove all the dormant copies of the virus from those with the more advanced disease. It sounds like science fiction, but Salk scientists have gotten one step closer to creating such a drug by customizing a powerful defense system used by many bacteria and training this scissor-like machinery to recognize the HIV virus.
Research finds key to gene stability, possible new cancer targets Researchers in the UC Department of Cancer Biology have found new protein players that help keep genome stability—a promising finding with the potential to help with the development of new targeted therapeutics in diseases with genetic instability, such as cancer.
	Study shows connection between key autism risk genes in the human brain A new study reveals an important connection between dozens of genes that may contribute to autism, a major step toward understanding how brain development goes awry in some individuals with the disorder.
	Committing the 'gamblers fallacy' may be in the cards, research shows It's called the gambler's fallacy: After a long streak of losses, you feel you are going to win. But in reality, your odds of winning are no different than they were before.
	Link between autism genes and higher intelligence, study suggests Genes linked with a greater risk of developing autism may also be associated with higher intelligence, a study suggests.
	Researchers see way cocaine hijacks memory Washington State University researchers have found a mechanism in the brain that facilitates the pathologically powerful role of memory in drug addiction. Their discovery opens a new area of research for targeted therapy that would alter or disable the mechanism and make drug addiction less compulsive.
	Bioelectricity plays key role in brain development and repair Research reported today by Tufts University biologists shows for the first time that bioelectrical signals among cells control and instruct embryonic brain development and manipulating these signals can repair genetic defects and induce development of healthy brain tissue in locations where it would not ordinarily grow.
Hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women: Does it help or harm your heart? New evidence published today in the Cochrane Library shows that hormone replacement therapy does not protect post-menopausal women against cardiovascular disease, and may even cause an increased risk of stroke.
Depression puts low-income population at even greater risk for obesity and poor nutrition In a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, researchers from the RAND Corporation report that for people receiving food assistance there are significant links between depression, poor dietary quality, and high body mass index (BMI). They suggest that understanding the risk of depression among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants could be important to understanding the relationship among SNAP participation, diet, and weight.
	MRSA can linger in homes, spreading among its inhabitants Households can serve as a reservoir for transmitting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a study published this week in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Once the bacteria enters a home, it can linger for years, spreading from person to person and evolving genetically to become unique to that household.
	Boredom and frustration trigger skin-picking and other compulsive behaviors Individuals who get easily bored, frustrated or impatient are more inclined to develop skin-picking and other body-focused repetitive behaviors, say researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal and the University of Montreal.
Gene networks for innate immunity linked to PTSD risk Researchers at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in New York and the United Kingdom, have identified genetic markers, derived from blood samples that are linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The markers are associated with gene networks that regulate innate immune function and interferon signaling.
	Study finds norovirus symptoms last an average of 44 hours Norovirus infections—sometimes known as the stomach flu—typically last for the same amount of time, independent of age or the type of norovirus a person is infected with, according to a recent study by the University of Georgia College of Public Health, Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the journal Epidemiology and Infection.
	Feeling a little jet lagged? It must be daylight savings time On March 8 in (most) of United States we again advanced the time on our clocks by one hour. Shifting clocks an hour can't be that much of a big deal, right? Actually, it is. In our sleep-deprived society, every minute counts. Losing 60 precious minutes of sleep can really hurt.
	Apple highlights Parkinson's app A new iPhone mobile app which allows patients with Parkinson's disease to track their symptoms in real time and share this information with researchers was featured by Apple executives today during the company's semi-annual product launch event.
More UK regulation of total hip replacement devices needed to prevent unnecessary surgery A new study from the University of Warwick is calling for more UK compulsory regulation of devices used in hip replacements to reduce the need for further traumatic and expensive surgery.
	ACL injuries in female athletes traced to genes Female athletes endure two to eight times more anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than male athletes. Now it appears that genes are a major factor, according to Dr. William Landis, G. Stafford Whitby Chair in Polymer Science at The University of Akron, and Dr. Kerwyn Jones, chair of pediatric orthopedics for Akron Children's Hospital. Their findings could change the way women receive sports training and treatment for their injuries and could possibly lead to genetic counseling regarding athletic participation.
	Guiding parents of autistic children through the medical maze When a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, parents often find themselves overwhelmed by the process of working with a team of specialists.
	Study seeking the facts about dementia-related wandering in residential aged care People with dementia don't wander into harms way as often as carers and family fear, with a new QUT study finding wandering out of bounds and into a person's private space occurs only five per cent of the time in residential aged care.
Victims say face-to-face bullying worse than cyber-attacks "You see their smile, hear their laugh, see their face, see you break down," girl student, 12.
	MyHeart Counts app to study heart health A free iPhone app allows users to contribute to a study of human heart health while learning about the health of their own hearts, and uses a new software framework developed by Apple.
	Skin tumors develop specific mutations to resist drug, researchers say Among people with advanced basal cell carcinomas who see their skin cancers shrink or disappear in response to a common drug therapy, about 20 percent will relapse within months as the cancer cells become resistant to the treatment. The situation is frustrating to both patients and their physicians.
Regular colonoscopy can prevent bowel cancer Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. The prognosis depends greatly on the stage at which the tumour is discovered. Colonoscopy is regarded as the best method for identifying pre-cancerous changes. If these changes are treated promptly, the disease can be stopped in its tracks. To mark "International Bowel Cancer Month" in March 2015, experts at the MedUni Vienna are strongly recommending that all men should have a colonoscopy from the age of 45 and women from the age of 50.
	Report: Specialty drugs drive prescription spending jump Prescription drugs spending jumped 13 percent last year, the biggest annual increase since 2003, according to the nation's largest pharmacy benefits manager.
	Model works on nurse stress levels International researchers together with local scientists have created a theoretical model to help nurses become less susceptible to stress.
	Engineer builds device to show how blood flows when we think A UWM engineer is building a device that could help answer a particularly puzzling biological question – how blood is directed to the brain to power thinking.
Younger immigrants at higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease The younger a person is when they immigrate to Canada, the higher their risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and its major subtypes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, according to a study by researchers at the University of Ottawa, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Canada has one of the highest rates in the world of IBD and while immigrants to Canada have lower rates of IBD compared to Canadian-born residents, that risk goes up in immigrants who are younger at arrival to Canada. In addition, Canadian-born children of immigrants from some regions have a higher risk of developing IBD.
	Lack of consensus over best obstetric practice in EU, says report Caesarean section rates vary widely across Europe with percentages of women giving birth by caesarean ranging from a high of 52% in Cyrus to a low of 14.8% in Iceland. This compares with around a quarter of births in the countries of the UK, according to a new Euro-Peristat study.
Engineered cells could help tackle the third most common cancer in Chinese males Researchers at the University of Birmingham believe that a new method of genetically engineering immune cells could lead to improved treatment of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.
New TILDA study finds link between water fluoridation and positive oral health in older people A new study by researchers from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) and the School of Dental Science in Trinity College Dublin has found a positive relationship between higher levels of water fluoridation and oral health among older people in Ireland.
	High levels of vitamin D is suspected of increasing mortality rates The level of vitamin D in our blood should neither be too high nor to low. Scientists from the University of Copenhagen are the first in the world to show that there is a connection between high levels of vitamin D and cardiovascular deaths.
Study examines outcomes for patients one year after transcatheter aortic valve replacement In an analysis of outcomes of about 12,000 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, death rate after one year was nearly one in four; of those alive at 12 months, almost half had not been rehospitalized and approximately 25 percent had only one hospitalization, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA.
	Stopping the revolving door: Sepsis survivors return to hospital for preventable reasons They're alive thanks to the most advanced care modern hospitals can provide. But for survivors of sepsis, the hospital door often looks like a revolving one, a new study shows. And many of the conditions that send them back to a hospital bed should be preventable.
Lower prevalence of diabetes found among patients with inherited high cholesterol disorder The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among 25,000 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disorder characterized by high low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol levels) was significantly lower than among unaffected relatives, with the prevalence varying by the type of gene mutation, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA.
Study compares outcomes for surgical vs. non-surgical treatment of broken shoulder Among patients with a displaced fracture in the upper arm near the shoulder (proximal humeral), there was no significant difference between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment in patient-reported outcomes over two years following the fracture, results that do not support the trend of increased surgery for patients with this type of fracture, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA.
	Scientists open door for asthma cure Scientists led by molecular immunologists at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) have identified a way to target a recently discovered cell type that causes asthma, paving the way to cure the chronic respiratory disease that affects 25 million Americans.
Clinical trial suggests combination therapy is best for low-grade brain tumors New clinical-trial findings provide further evidence that combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy is the best treatment for people with a low-grade form of brain cancer. The findings come from a phase II study co-led by a researcher at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) and researchers at the University of Maryland and at London Regional Cancer Program in Ontario, Canada.
	'Digitizing' crosstalk among heart cells may help locate epicenters of heart rhythms A team of scientists led by Johns Hopkins cardiologist and biomedical engineer Hiroshi Ashikaga, M.D., Ph.D., has developed a mathematical model to measure and digitally map the beat-sustaining electrical flow between heart cells.
	Work-family conflict linked to verbal abuse People whose family life regularly interferes with their job are more likely to become emotionally exhausted and, in turn, verbally abusive to co-workers and loved ones, a new study indicates.
	Risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher in people with sleep apnea A new study finds that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, and this risk is reduced when sleep apnea is treated effectively using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
	Can statins help improve prostate cancer survival? (HealthDay)—Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may slow down prostate cancer in men who are also taking medication to reduce their levels of male hormones, according to new research.
	Don't delay school for summer-born or premature kids: study (HealthDay)—Delaying the start of school for a year for children with summer birthdays or those born prematurely may lead to worse academic performance later, new British research suggests.
	Review: Skin tests can diagnose contrast media hypersensitivity (HealthDay)—For patients with hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) to iodinated contrast media (ICM), skin tests can be helpful for diagnosis, according to a meta-analysis published online Feb. 3 in Allergy.
	Limited evidence supporting herbal meds in GI disorders (HealthDay)—Limited evidence supports use of herbal remedies in gastrointestinal disorders, and the lack of quality control must be considered, according to research published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Susac syndrome is possibility in cases of acute confusion (HealthDay)—For young patients presenting with acute confusion, Susac syndrome should be considered, according to a case report published online Feb. 10 in the Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases.
	No link found between vitamin D level and fatal prostate cancer (HealthDay)—Neither circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels nor common variations in vitamin D pathway genes appear to be associated with risk of fatal prostate cancer, according to research published online March 2 in Cancer.
	AAMC: Significant shortfall of physicians projected for 2025 (HealthDay)—The expected shortfall of physicians is projected to reach about 46,000 to 90,000 by 2025, according to a study conducted by IHS Inc. for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
	Labiaplasty considered safe, with high patient satisfaction (HealthDay)—Labiaplasty is safe, with high satisfaction, although current practices are diverse, according to a review published in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
	'Sugar papers' reveal industry role in 1970s dental program A newly discovered cache of industry documents reveals that the sugar industry worked closely with the National Institutes of Health in the 1960s and '70s to develop a federal research program focused on approaches other than sugar reduction to prevent tooth decay in American children.
'Perfect storm' of stress, depression may raise risk of death, heart attack for heart patients The combination of stress and heavy depression can significantly increase heart patient's risk of death or heart attack, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
Conclusive link between genetics and clinical response to warfarin uncovered In a study published in The Lancet on March 10, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) report that patients with a genetic sensitivity to warfarin - the most widely used anticoagulant for preventing blood clots - have higher rates of bleeding during the first several months of treatment and benefited from treatment with a different anticoagulant drug. The analyses from the TIMI Study Group, suggest that using genetics to identify patients who are most at risk of bleeding, and tailoring treatment accordingly, could offer important safety benefits, particularly in the first 90 days of treatment.
Researchers for the first time measure the cost of care for a common prostate condition How much does health care really cost?
Brain tumor patients put on fast track in revolutionary clinical trial Brain tumor experts at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center have launched a revolutionary fast-track approach to cancer research, giving new hope to brain cancer patients. In partnership with The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, the Barrow studies are the first of their kind.
Researchers discover genetic links to rosacea Today marked the publication of the first ever genome-wide association study of rosacea, a common and incurable skin disorder. Led by Dr. Anne Lynn S. Chang of Stanford University's School of Medicine, and co-authored by 23andMe, the study is the first to identify genetic factors for this condition.
Ensuring respect and dignity in the ICU Identifying loss of dignity and lack of respectful treatment as preventable harms in health care, researchers at Johns Hopkins have taken on the ambitious task of defining and ensuring respectful care in the high-stakes environment of the intensive care unit (ICU). Their novel, multi-method approach is presented in a dedicated supplement to the journal Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics.
	Cancer research pioneer works with Apple on mobile app to track breast cancer survivors' experiences UCLA cancer research pioneer Dr. Patricia Ganz and collaborators Apple and Sage Bionetworks today announced the launch of Share the Journey: Mind, Body and Wellness after Breast Cancer, a patient-centered mobile app that empowers women to be partners in the research process by tracking their symptoms and successes.
	Kleptomania, gambling, sex, physical exercise, work among addictions explored in new book Can someone actually get addicted to their indoor tanning salon?
	Birth rate depends on cultural models as much as income and childcare facilities Germany is mostly considered a low-fertility nation, at least in the public debate, the birth rate having been stagnating at an average of 1.39 children per woman since the 1990s. This figure gives the impression that couples everywhere in Germany are deciding for or against having children on the basis of similar patterns of behaviour and attitudes. But birth rates vary from region to region, in some cases dramatically. Sociologist Barbara Fulda explains the influence of regional cultural norms.
Information materials in general practice too complex for patients A substantial proportion of patient information materials in general practice are written at a level too complex for the population they serve, and may contribute to increasing health inequalities, a new study has found.
	French Parliament debates legalization of terminal sedation France's Parliament started debate Tuesday on a bill aimed at allowing doctors to keep terminally ill patients sedated until death comes, amid national debate about whether to legalize euthanasia.
	Curing cancer, one tax return at a time Those contribution lines on your 540 State Income Tax Return where you can fill in donation amounts for nearly 30 different California-based funds? Those are just nickel-and-dime funds without much impact, right?
New approach to HIV management in Tanzania and Zambia reduces deaths by almost one-third A new approach to care for patients with advanced HIV in Tanzania and Zambia, combining community support and screening for a type of meningitis, has reduced deaths by 28%.
Bird flu confirmed at second turkey farm in Missouri A bird flu deadly to poultry has been confirmed at a second turkey farm in Missouri, and state agriculture leaders are making efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
Regenstrief study finds natural language processing accurately tracks colonoscopy quality An accurate system for tracking the quality of colonoscopies and determining the appropriate intervals between these procedures could contribute to both better health outcomes and lower costs. Clinician-researchers from the Regenstrief Institute have created and tested such a system in the nation's first multiple institution colonoscopy quality measurement study utilizing natural language processing and report that it is as accurate but less expensive than human review.
	Tales from both sides of the brain When Michael Gazzaniga began working on the latest of his many books, he expected to write a scientific review of the last 50 years of the study of the split brain, work that added to the understanding of what many of us know as the left brain and the right brain.
	Can intensive mindfulness training improve depression? Depression affects about 350 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability. Mindfulness training is a promising approach to decreasing depressive symptoms. The success of an intensive mindfulness meditation program on reducing depression, and how factors such as age, gender, and spirituality affect an individual's response to training are presented in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Poland drafts regulations for in vitro fertilization Poland's government has drafted new legislation to clarify regulations for in vitro fertilization for married and unwed couples.
	Digital breast tomosynthesis beats prone stereotactic VAB (HealthDay)—Clinical performance of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) is superior to that of prone stereotactic (PS) VAB, according to a study published in the March issue of Radiology.
Maker of kids' Tylenol pleads guilty over metal particles A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal criminal charge that it sold over-the-counter infant's and children's liquid medicine containing metal particles.
Landmark medical marijuana bill introduced in US Congress US senators on Tuesday introduced the most comprehensive legislation on medical marijuana ever brought before Congress, a bipartisan effort aimed at ending federal restrictions on the increasingly accepted treatment.
UN report: Campaign has reduced mother and child deaths A new U.N. report says a $60 billion campaign to improve the health of women and children has led to a decrease in maternal and child death rates in all 49 targeted countries.
Study of weight-loss strategies for people with disabling conditions finds more approaches needed A review of nutrition and weight-loss interventions for people with impaired mobility found strategies are sorely lacking for people with neurological disabilities, according to a team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic.
	Federal health insurance aid in doubt for nearly 8 million Nearly 8 million people could lose up to $24 billion a year in health insurance subsidies in a Supreme Court case threatening President Barack Obama's law, according to a government report released Tuesday.
Burger King cuts soft drinks from kids' meals US fast-food chain Burger King said Tuesday it was cutting soft drinks from its children's meals amid mounting pressure to reduce the amount of sweet sodas that kids drink.

Other Sciences news

	By precisely gauging the age of juvenile fossils, researchers show how early human ancestors were unique For nearly a century, the debate has raged among evolutionary biologists: When working to understand how our early human ancestors developed, should juvenile fossils be thought of as fundamentally human or apelike?
	The oldest crab larva yet found A study of a recently discovered fossil published by LMU zoologists reveals the specimen to be the oldest known crab larva: The fossil is 150 million years old, but looks astonishingly modern.
	Look, something shiny! How color images can influence consumers When it comes to buying things, our brains can't see the big, black-and-white forest for all the tiny, colorful trees.
Study shows product placement, branding growing in popular music As branding and advertising creep into almost every facet of life, a new study from the University of Colorado Denver shows it's now making substantial inroads into popular music.
	Scientists race to halt decomposition of world's oldest mummies At least two thousand years before the ancient Egyptians began mummifying their pharaohs, a hunter-gatherer people called the Chinchorro living along the coast of modern-day Chile and Peru developed elaborate methods to mummify not just elites but all types of community members—men, women, children, and even unborn fetuses. Radiocarbon dating as far back as 5050 BC makes them the world's oldest man-made mummies.
Being 'laid off' leads to a decade of distrust People who lose their jobs are less willing to trust others for up to a decade after being laid-off, according to new research from The University of Manchester.
	CEO bonuses could cost companies in the long term Capping and regulating CEO payments, including performance bonuses, could help make companies more profitable in the long term, new research has found.
	London rioters linked to areas 'where there were tensions with police' Using anonymised data from the Metropolitan Police, they mapped the home addresses of more than 1,600 people charged with rioting, linking them with surveys of public attitudes towards the police carried out in different boroughs before the riots. The researchers show that rioters were more likely to come from boroughs in which local people had said they perceived a lack of respect from the police. The findings are published by the Oxford University Press journal, Social Forces.
	Involved dads are happier at work, experience less job-family conflict The more time fathers spend with their children on a typical day, the greater job satisfaction and less conflict between work and family they experience, according to a new study by Northeastern University researchers.
	US diggers unearth pharaonic tomb in Egypt's Luxor American archaeologists have unearthed a pharaonic tomb from the 18th dynasty in Egypt's famed temple city of Luxor, officials said on Tuesday.
New book seeks to address child poverty A new book by a professor of Public Policy at Victoria University and a University of Otago academic sends some clear messages around what can be done to alleviate child poverty in New Zealand.
Errors in property assessments hardest on low-income homeowners Indiana should review its property assessment practices because errors are causing some low-income homeowners to pay too much in property taxes while well-off homeowners pay too little, says a new study from Ball State University.
	More older adults from US volunteering in other countries Nearly 290,000 older adults from the U.S. volunteered abroad during 2012 - an increase of more than 60 percent in less than a decade, a recent study found.
	Obama calls for more rights for struggling student borrowers Issuing a clarion call to Americans saddled by student debt, President Barack Obama urged student borrowers Tuesday to stand up for their rights, and announced a medley of modest steps to bring some order to a notoriously chaotic system.