Science X Newsletter Monday, Dec 7

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 7, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New untraceable text-messaging system comes with statistical guarantees
- Unless they crane their necks all sperm would only turn left
- Dinosaur relatives and first dinosaurs more closely connected than previously thought
- Best of Last Week – New kind of carbon, best images yet of Pluto and a diabetic drug that favorably affects gut bacteria
- Circadian clock misalignment and consequences
- How our brains overrule our senses
- Chomsky was right, researchers find: We do have a 'grammar' in our head
- Engineers invent process to accelerate protein evolution
- Nanotube letters spell progress: Team analyzes stiffness of individual branching nanotubes
- What makes Tom Hanks look like Tom Hanks?
- Global fossil-fuel emissions could decline in 2015, study finds
- RHIC particle smashups find that shape matters
- Stretchable hydrogel electronics: Water-based "Band-Aid" senses temperature, lights up, and delivers medicine
- Engineers build biologically powered chip
- Physical activity may leave the brain more open to change

Astronomy & Space news

	To Jupiter with JunoCam When NASA's Juno mission arrives at Jupiter on July 4, 2016, new views of the giant planet's swirling clouds will be sent back to Earth, courtesy of its color camera, called JunoCam. But unlike previous space missions, professional scientists will not be the ones producing the processed views, or even choosing which images to capture. Instead, the public will act as a virtual imaging team, participating in key steps of the process, from identifying features of interest to sharing the finished images online.
	Imaging an expanding supernova shell Supernovae, the explosive deaths of massive stars, are among the most momentous events in the cosmos because they disburse into space all of the chemical elements that were produced inside their progenitor stars, including the elements essential for making planets and life. Their bright emission also enables them to be used as probes of the very distant universe. Not least, supernovae are astrophysical laboratories for the study of very high-velocity shocks and the physics of particles under extreme conditions.
	A distant close-up: New Horizons' camera captures a wandering Kuiper Belt object NASA's New Horizons spacecraft recently took the closest images ever of a distant Kuiper Belt object – demonstrating its ability to observe numerous such bodies over the next several years if NASA approves an extended mission into the Kuiper Belt.
	Radio shadow reveals tenuous cosmic gas cloud Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered the most tenuous molecular gas ever observed. They detected the absorption of radio waves by gas clouds in front of bright radio sources. This radio shadow revealed the composition and conditions of diffuse gas in the Milky Way galaxy.
Russia loses advanced military satellite after launch: reports Russia has lost communication with a newly developed military satellite after it apparently failed to separate from the booster rocket after its launch, a source in the country's air and space forces told TASS state news agency on Monday.
	Image: Hubble peers through the elliptical haze Like a lighthouse in the fog, the luminous core of NGC 2768 slowly fades outwards to a dull white haze in this image taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
New video shows Webb Telescope first mirror installation A new video from NASA shows the successful installation of the first of 18 flight mirrors onto the James Webb Space Telescope Structure, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The installation of the first mirror is the beginning a critical phase of the observatory's construction.
	Image: Artificial eclipse The sun experiences both calm and tempestuous periods of activity. At its most active, our star can fling out multiple bursts of particles in a single day in events known as coronal mass ejections, or CMEs. Particles within a CME are ejected at speeds of up to 2000 km/s.
	Mars compared to Earth At one time, astronomers believed the surface of Mars was crisscrossed by canal systems. This in turn gave rise to speculation that Mars was very much like Earth, capable of supporting life and home to a native civilization. But as human satellites and rovers began to conduct flybys and surveys of the planet, this vision of Mars quickly dissolved, replaced by one in which the Red Planet was a cold, desiccated and lifeless world.

Technology news

	New untraceable text-messaging system comes with statistical guarantees Anonymity networks, which sit on top of the public Internet, are designed to conceal people's Web-browsing habits from prying eyes. The most popular of these, Tor, has been around for more than a decade and is used by millions of people every day.
	What makes Tom Hanks look like Tom Hanks? Tom Hanks has appeared in many acting roles over the years, playing young and old, smart and simple. Yet we always recognize him as Tom Hanks. Why? Is it his appearance? His mannerisms? The way he moves?
	Two Amazon patents focus on augmented reality technology Amazon is making some noise in technology for augmented reality environments. Amazon Technologies in Seattle has two patents which present systems and methods for projecting a digital world into the room.
	Algorithm helps analyze neuron images Scientists looking for ways to stimulate the growth of neurons can spend hours painstakingly analyzing microscope images of cells growing in petri dishes. A new algorithm developed by Brown University researchers automates that process and analyzes images more accurately than previous automated approaches.
	36 countries launch world alliance for geothermal energy Thirty-six countries gave the official start Monday to an initiative to promote geothermal energy in developing economies as a cleaner alternative to oil, gas and coal.
	Drawing blood needle-free is topic of patent filed by Google A "needle-free blood draw" is the title of a patent that was filed in May 2014 by Google and was made known earlier this month.
	One Direction leads the way on Twitter's list of 2015 tweets Messages of love and gratitude shared by the boy band One Direction topped Twitter's charts this year, eclipsing President Barack Obama's celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision legalizing gay marriage.
Australia seeks 'ideas boom' with tax breaks, visa boosts Australia will introduce an entrepreneur visa and offer tax breaks for start-ups, the government said Monday as it tries to unleash an "ideas boom" to move the economy away from dependence on mining.
	Finally, interesting uses for the blockchain that go beyond bitcoin Most people who have heard the term think that the "blockchain" is only something to do with cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, litecoin, doguecoin and others. It's the technology that underpins digital currencies and ensures that all transactions are properly conducted and recorded. But what is stored on the blockchain need not be just a currency unit – it can be put to all manner of other interesting uses.
	15-year-old boy builds smart microwave that spares the salad A desire to help his father make a perfect cup of hot tea inspired this Oregon teenage tinkerer to use his advanced math and computer programming skills to transform a conventional microwave oven into an automated smart kitchen appliance.
German automakers want real-time car data for maps app Audi, BMW and Daimler want to turn their cars into real-time sensors that will provide data to the HERE map service they recently purchased from Nokia, the German automakers said Monday.
	Why 'no signal' appears in towns as well as the countryside – and what could help According to a RAC survey more than 4,500 miles of roads in Britain are out of range of any mobile phone network, while 14,500 miles lack any high-speed 3G coverage. In a rich developed country like the UK mobile phone coverage might be seen as a basic necessity, but in many areas it's still lacking.
	The world's tiniest temperature sensor is powered by radio waves Researchers at TU/e have developed a very tiny wireless temperature sensor that is powered in a very special way: from the radio waves that are part of the sensor's wireless network. This means that the sensor needs not even a single wire, nor a battery that would have to be replaced. The arrival of such sensors is an important development on route towards smart buildings, for instance. But the applications are many and various.
	Atomically-flat tunnel transistor overcomes fundamental power challenge of electronics One of the greatest challenges in the evolution of electronics has been to reduce power consumption during transistor switching operation. In a study recently reported in Nature, engineers at University of California, Santa Barbara, in collaboration with Rice University, have demonstrated a new transistor that switches at only 0.1 volts and reduces power dissipation by over 90% compared to state-of-the-art silicon transistors (MOSFETs).
Closing a malware security loophole An add-on for antivirus software that can scan across a computer network and trap malicious activity missed by the system firewall is being developed by an international team. Details are reported in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics. The research raises the issue that the developers of both operating systems and antivirus software must work more closely together to reduce the burden of malware on computer systems the world over.
	Apple Maps, once a laughingstock, now dominates iPhones Apple Maps quickly became the butt of jokes when it debuted in 2012. It overlooked many towns and businesses and misplaced famous landmarks. It marked New York's Madison Square Garden arena as park space because of the word "Garden." The service was a rare blunder for a company known for simple, easy-to-use products.
	Take the A train? Apple, Google and other apps can tell you HopStop, a pioneer in offering transit directions in major cities, disappeared in October—not because it failed, but because Apple bought it and shut it down after putting its engineers to work building Apple's own transit-navigation service. That feature went live on Apple Maps in September, narrowing a major feature gap with Google Maps.
	Key Twitter events: Paris attacks, #BlackLivesMatter The Paris attacks in January and November were among the key news events shared on Twitter this year, the social network said in a roundup Monday of 2015 trends.
	A cure for medical researchers' big data headache As medical research has become more specialized, the scientific community's understanding of the human body has increased, resulting in enhanced treatments, new drugs, and better health outcomes.
	PC market woes show no sign of easing Global PC sales are still falling, and will likely remain on the decline through 2016, a market tracker said Monday.
	Teens think Facebook uncool, but still use it American teens think Facebook has definitely lost its cool factor, but use it as much as ever.
	Clinton offers new 'exit tax' on US-foreign company mergers Hillary Clinton on Wednesday will unveil a proposal for a new "exit tax" aimed at cracking down on corporate inversions, a practice that permits U.S. companies to merge with corporations overseas to lower their tax bill.
	Keurig, maker of single-cup coffee machines, is being sold The battle over the world's coffee drinkers is getting hotter.
	Largest destroyer built for Navy headed to sea for testing The largest destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy headed out to sea for the first time Monday, departing from shipbuilder Bath Iron Works and carefully navigating the winding Kennebec River before reaching the open ocean where the ship will undergo sea trials.
DOT challenges cities to envision future transportation The Department of Transportation is challenging cities to envision how new technologies and data can improve the movement of people and goods.
Secret Service agent sentenced in online currency theft A federal judge on Monday sentenced a former Secret Service agent to nearly six years in prison following his conviction on charges related to the theft of electronic currency during a high-profile investigation into the online drug bazaar Silk Road.

Medicine & Health news

	Circadian clock misalignment and consequences (Medical Xpress)—Shift work sleep disorder comprises a group of symptoms including insomnia, proneness to accidents and inattentiveness that typically afflict people whose work schedules shift between day and night, disrupting their normal circadian cycles. The disorder heightens such health risks as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and may be implicated in increased incidence of cancer.
	Chomsky was right, researchers find: We do have a 'grammar' in our head A team of neuroscientists has found new support for MIT linguist Noam Chomsky's decades-old theory that we possess an "internal grammar" that allows us to comprehend even nonsensical phrases.
	How our brains overrule our senses Scientists have long known that when sounds are faint or objects are seen through fog in the distance, repetition of these weak or ambiguous sensory 'inputs' can result in different perceptions inside the same brain. Now the results of new research, described online Dec. 7 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, have identified brain processes in mice that may help explain how those differences happen.
	Discovery puts designer dopamine neurons within reach For decades, the elusive holy grail in Parkinson's disease research has been finding a way to repair faulty dopamine neurons and put them back into patients, where they will start producing dopamine again. Researchers have used fetal material, which is difficult to obtain and of variable quality. Embryonic stem cells represented a tremendous innovation, but making dopamine neurons from stem cells is a long process with a low yield.
	Early study links mothers' education level to telomere length in newborns A small study of new mothers suggests that not having graduated from high school – possibly an indicator of socioeconomic stress—may impact the likelihood of babies being born with shortened telomeres, molecules that cap the ends of chromosomes and protect them from damage. While the consequences of being born with shortened telomeres are not fully understood, reduced telomere length is a hallmark of cellular aging that, in adults, is associated with shorter lifespan and increased risk for conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cancer.
	Men's interest in babies linked with hormonal responses to sexual stimuli Young men's interest in babies is associated with their physiological reactivity to sexually explicit material, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	To earn gratitude, put some effort into it Many people hold the door open for strangers. But what do people give in return?
	Newly identified transmembrane protein plays a crucial role in the generation of calcium signals The ebb and flow of intracellular calcium concentrations is a universal mode of communication in mammalian cells. Among a wide variety of functions that impact nearly every aspect of cellular life, calcium signaling regulates the activity of T cells, which are an integral part of any effective immune response.
	Existing compound holds promise for reducing Huntington's disease progression Currently, there is no treatment to halt the progression of Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs sufferers of their physical and mental abilities. Now, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that an existing compound, previously tested for diabetes, offers hope for slowing HD and its symptoms.
Movies of cell growth explain skin graft success and may help understand cancer How to maintain healthy skin and heal wounds is an intricate problem. Maintaining the skin requires exactly the right number of cells to divide to replace those shed from the skin surface. Too many cell divisions can lead to cancer, whereas too few will result in ulcers. Wound healing needs a short burst of cell production to fill the gap in the skin. Latest research shows that all dividing skin cells can flip between two probability game modes and so have the potential to both maintain and heal skin, challenging the view that only rare stem cells matter.
	Shrinking tumors with an RNA triple-helix hydrogel glue Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have developed an efficient and effective delivery vehicle for gene therapy, and have used it to shrink tumors by nearly 90 percent in a pre-clinical model of triple-negative breast cancer.
	Researchers find repetitive DNA provides a hidden layer of functional information In the first study to run a genome-wide analysis of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) in gene expression, a large team of computational geneticists led by investigators from Columbia Engineering and the New York Genome Center have shown that STRs, thought to be just neutral, or "junk," actually play an important role in regulating gene expression. The work, which uncovers a new class of genetic variants that modulate gene expression, is published on Nature Genetics's Advance Online Publication website on December 7.
	Physical activity may leave the brain more open to change Learning, memory, and brain repair depend on the ability of our neurons to change with experience. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on December 7 have evidence from a small study in people that exercise may enhance this essential plasticity of the adult brain.
	Enzyme involved in cell division also plays a role in inflammation UT Southwestern Medical Center and California researchers today provide the first report that an enzyme previously known solely for its role in cell division also acts as an on-off switch in the innate immune system—the body's first defense against infection.
	Why do men have better sense of direction than women? It's been well established that men perform better than women when it comes to specific spatial tasks. But how much of that is linked to sex hormones versus cultural conditioning and other factors?
Characteristics that may increase breast cancer survivor's risk of developing leukemia following treatment A new analysis indicates that certain characteristics may increase a breast cancer survivor's risk of developing leukemia after undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings are a first step toward finding ways to prevent this serious and potentially life-threatening treatment-related complication.
Diabetics with foot complications have impaired cognitive function In a first-time study, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers revealed a new finding in people with diabetes who suffer from "diabetic foot." Patients with this condition also have significantly impaired cognitive function.
Frugal antibiotic prescribing associated with lower GP satisfaction scores Reduced antibiotic prescribing is associated with lower patient satisfaction on the national General Practice Patient Survey, according to a new study by King's College London. The study found a 25 per cent lower rate of antibiotic prescribing by a GP practice corresponded to a 5-6 point reduction on GP satisfaction rankings.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia mutations suggest new uses of existing cancer drugs Mining the DNA of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients uncovered 12 mutations that may be targetable using therapies already available for other cancers, Penn Medicine researchers reported at the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (Abstract 2929).
New vaccine strategy better protects high-risk cancer patients from flu Yale Cancer Center researchers have developed a vaccine strategy that reduces the risk of flu infections in cancer patients at highest risk for influenza. The findings were presented Dec. 6 at the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Orlando, Florida.
Grocery chains leave food deserts barren, AP analysis finds As part of Michelle Obama's healthy eating initiative, a group of major food retailers promised in 2011 to open or expand 1,500 grocery or convenience stores in and around neighborhoods with no supermarkets by 2016. By their own count, they're far short.
New cancer treatment hope for children Children suffering from a cancer of the nervous system could benefit from a potential new treatment, thanks to an international team led by researchers at the University of Kent and at the Institute of Medical Virology at the Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
	Scientists use breakthrough DNA technology to diagnose cases of TB faster Whole Genome Sequencing is a faster, cheaper and more effective way of diagnosing tuberculosis says a new study published in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
	Five early signs of autism If you're a parent or caregiver who is concerned that your child may have Autism Spectrum Disorder, getting a diagnosis as soon as possible is important because early intervention can be the key to the most optimal outcomes.
	Researchers answer long-standing question about lupus For years, biomedical researchers have suspected that a specific set of immune cells are responsible for causing disease in lupus patients, but until now they haven't known for sure one way or the other.
	Missing out on prescription medicines harms health Two new studies conducted by researchers at the University of Otago show that not being able to afford prescription medicines can harm people's health.
	One minute blood typing A collaboration between Monash University and Haemokinesis Pty Ltd has resulted in a momentous breakthrough in world health.  The creation of a novel category of low cost paper diagnostics that can identify a person's blood group in just one minute the innovation is named Group Legible Immunohematology Format (GLIF).
	Scientists discover new cellular mechanism for potential target protein for acute myeloid leukemia A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found a new significant correlation between the protein nucleophosmin (NPM) and the development of an aggressive form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
New insights into link between taste and behavior Evolutionary conserved brainstem circuits are the first relay for gustatory information in the vertebrate brain. While the brainstem circuits act as our life support system and they mediate vital taste related behaviors, the principles of gustatory computations in these circuits are poorly understood. Researchers at NERF (VIB/KU Leuven/imec) studied how the evolutionary conserved brainstem circuits of zebrafish encode gustatory information.
A new approach to predict evolution of influenza viruses can enhance vaccine efficacy New results from a study performed at the University of Helsinki suggest that genomic information from circulating influenza viruses can help in producing more efficient seasonal vaccines. The researchers were able to develop a simple approach for reliable real-time tracking and prediction of viral evolution based on whole-genome sequences of influenza viruses.
Pancreatitis often caused by gallstones—also statins increase risk Idiopathic pancreatitis is often caused by small gallstones that are difficult to observe prior to surgery, shows a study from the University of Eastern Finland. Small gallstones were found in surgery from two out of three idiopathic pancreatitis patients. The study also showed that acute pancreatitis was more common in statin users than non-users.
New research points to which leukaemia patients will need intensive treatment Researchers have identified a genetic fault in some leukaemia patients that could be responsible for halving survival times after diagnosis compared to patients without the fault – an average reduction from 16 years to seven years. The findings, from a study of over 800 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), could help doctors tailor treatment for this group.
	Research pinpoints chemical irritants in the workplace In an Australian first Curtin University scientists have compiled a comprehensive list detailing and grouping asthma-causing agents found across the nation's businesses.
	Hit fitness goals with half the work-out time Six one-minute sprints up Jacob's Ladder in King's Park can be just as beneficial as 45 minutes of regular jogging, research suggests.
	Why treat gene editing differently in two types of human cells? At the conclusion of the recent International Summit on Human Gene Editing in Washington, DC, its organizing committee released a much-anticipated statement recommending how human genetic engineering should be regulated. Co-organized by US, UK and Chinese national academies, the summit gathered preeminent researchers, clinicians and ethicists to grapple with how new gene editing technologies – particularly the method known as CRISPR – should be used. As CRISPR-cas9 is refined in the lab, several actual and proposed trials using the technique have raised ethical concerns.
Cadmium increases risk of fractures People who are exposed to higher levels of cadmium have an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Cadmium also affects the kidneys. A doctoral thesis at Sahlgrenska Academy explored this issue in a study of over 900 older men.
Looking for the best antioxidant fruit? Search no further than Black Raspberries As far as healthy foods go, berries make the top of the list. They contain potent antioxidants, which decrease or reverse the effects of free radicals – natural byproducts of energy production that can play havoc on the body and that are closely linked with heart disease, cancer, arthritis, stroke or respiratory diseases.
	Discovery of unique muscle fibers of upper airway in humans Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have discovered unique muscle fibers in the soft palate of the mouth in both infants and adults. The fibers seem to be present in greater number in snorers and sleep apnea patients. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Anatomy.
Scientists discover 'back door' of nuclear receptor On Monday 7 December the journal Nature Communications published the research findings of TU/e, Merck Research Laboratories and Leiden University concerning an entirely new way of antagonizing a human nuclear receptor. The Eindhoven researchers expect the discovery to have significant impact in the world of drug research. Nuclear receptors are modulatory proteins that control numerous crucial bodily functions and thus also play a key role in many pathologies. A new, potentially better method has been found to impact the function of these proteins. This opens an avenue whereby drugs could be developed with a decreased susceptibility to resistance, for the treatment of myriad diseases.
	Sleep disturbance in epilepsy: Causes and consequences Researchers are only beginning to understand the implications of disrupted sleep in people with epilepsy. Recent findings suggest that seizure-interrupted sleep could impede memory formation, impair cognitive performance and influence a myriad of other aspects of daily life. Four studies presented at the American Epilepsy Society's (AES) 69th Annual Meeting unveil previously unappreciated links between sleep disturbances and seizure control, and help clarify the causes and consequences of these issues in people with epilepsy.
	Genetic variants tied to increased risk of bone complications in young leukemia patients Variations in genes involved in normal bone development are associated with an 8-to 15-fold increased risk for osteonecrosis in young patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Children's Oncology Group investigators. The results were discussed today at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
	A supplement for myelin regeneration Multiple sclerosis patients continually lose the insulating myelin sheath that wraps around neurons and increases the speed of impulses in the central nervous system. Whenever neurons are demyelinated, OPCs migrate toward these cells and differentiate into mature, myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, but this process becomes less and less effective as people age.
Cancer study identifies genes that stop onset of leukaemia Genes that act as brakes to stop the development of an aggressive form of leukaemia have been identified by researchers.
	Alpha-blockers associated with increased risk of stroke in older men Older men starting α-blockers-blockers, commonly used for treating enlarged prostates, have a higher risk of ischemic stroke during the initiation phase, although this effect is not apparent in men already taking other blood pressure medications, found new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Unraveling the genetic basis of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy The leading cause of epilepsy-related death is a poorly understood phenomenon known as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The risk factors and causes of SUDEP remain unclear but researchers have proposed explanations ranging from irregular heart rhythm to genetic predisposition to accidental suffocation during sleep. Three studies to be presented at the American Epilepsy Society's (AES) 69th Annual Meeting parse the contributions of genetics to SUDEP in hopes of uncovering new strategies for prevention.
Weight increase in first year of life associated with risk of type 1 diabetes Weight increase during the first year of an infant's life was associated with risk for type 1 diabetes in study of children born in Norway and Denmark, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Home-delivered meals reduce loneliness, study finds When Congress passed the Older Americans Act in 1965 to support elderly people who were struggling—often alone—to continue to live at home, a major plank of the legislation provided for home delivery of meals to ensure their adequate nutrition. In the midst of the holiday season, a newly published study confirms another benefit of visitors regularly knocking on the doors of seniors in need: a significant reduction in their feelings of loneliness.
First tool to assess impact of co-illnesses in young cancer patients A team of researchers from LSU Health New Orleans Schools of Public Health and Medicine and colleagues have developed the first index identifying and documenting concurrent but unrelated diseases among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer in collaboration with investigators from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and cancer registries of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Called the AYA HOPE Comorbidity Index, it's a tool that permits measurement of the impact of other medical conditions on health care services needs and the general health status of these young cancer patients. The findings are published in the December 2015 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Experimental drug is first targeted therapy to improve survival in high-risk AML patients Midostaurin added to standard chemotherapy is the first targeted treatment to improve survival of a high-risk, genetically defined subgroup of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), reported Dr. Richard Stone, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, on behalf of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology group, in a plenary session at the 57th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando.
Iran swine flu outbreak kills 33 in three weeks: state media An outbreak of swine flu has left 33 people dead in two provinces of southwestern Iran in the past three weeks, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
Reform model not yet helping people with mental illness People who are diagnosed with mental health conditions did not see improvements in coordination and quality of care as hoped but did not experience large cuts in access as some had feared under an early alternative payment model designed to encourage coordinated health care, according to a team led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Researchers reveal the nature of atherosclerosis from plaque initiation to thrombosis For the first time, researchers can provide early detection of plaques that have a high likelihood of clotting and/or rupture. Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) scientists have observed the development and evolution of atherosclerotic plaques at the highest risk for thrombosis (clotting) by using non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Young adults with ALL have encouraging survival with pediatric regimen Using a pediatric chemotherapy regimen to treat young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) significantly improved their outcomes compared to what has historically been achieved with 'adult' treatment protocols, report Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction diminishes chemo brain Participation in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program yields robust and sustained improvement in cancer-related cognitive impairment, a prevalent and potentially debilitating condition that affects attention, memory and executive function in survivors, according to a new study from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine.
Older adults live independently longer when monitored by care team and technology Finding ways to help older adults "age in place" has been a focus of researchers at the University of Missouri for more than a decade. Now, a new study shows their work at TigerPlace, an independent living community that uses sensor technology and onsite care coordination to maintain residents' health, is successful.
	Screen all kids for cholesterol, depression and HIV, pediatricians' group says (HealthDay)—All kids should be screened for high cholesterol, depression and HIV, with some tests starting as early as age 9, a leading group of U.S. pediatricians recommends.
	Breaking up prolonged sitting benefits postmenopausal women (HealthDay)—Breaking up prolonged sitting with standing or walking improves postprandial markers of cardiometabolic health in overweight/obese, dysglycemic, postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in Diabetes Care.
	Statin treatment linked to reduced risk of cataracts (HealthDay)—Statin treatment is associated with reduced risk of incident cataract development, according to a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Guidelines developed for perinatal hematologic cancers (HealthDay)—Consensus guidelines have been developed for clinical management of hematologic malignancies during the perinatal period, according to a special article published online Nov. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Bariatric surgery beats medical control for diabetes remission (HealthDay)—Surgery is more effective than medical control for diabetes remission, with predictors including lower baseline glycemia and shorter diabetes duration, according to research published online Dec. 1 in Diabetes Care.
	ASH: longer red blood cell unit storage noninferior (HealthDay)—For children with lactic acidosis due to severe anemia, transfusion with longer-storage red blood cell (RBC) units is noninferior to shorter-storage RBC units, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held from Dec. 5 to 8 in Orlando, Fla.
	Omega-3 fatty acids may play role in bipolar disorder (HealthDay)—There may be a link between levels of omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar disorder, according to a small study published in the November issue of Bipolar Disorders.
	Transgender transition treatment deemed cost-effective (HealthDay)—Providing sex reassignment surgery and hormone treatment for transgender men and women is cost-effective, according to a study published online recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
	AFP levels predict fibrosis regression after SVR in hep C (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), lower post-treatment α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and HCV genotype 2 correlate with liver fibrosis regression after sustained virological response (SVR), according to a study published online Dec. 3 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	HIV rates fall, but not all groups benefit, US study finds (HealthDay)—The number of Americans diagnosed with HIV each year declined by about one-fifth during the past decade, but not all groups saw drops in prevalence, a federal government study shows.
	Study links Facebook connections, alcohol use in college-aged females Researchers at the University of Georgia have found links between certain patterns of connections among Facebook friends and drug and alcohol use among college-aged females.
	Infertile men have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, study finds Men diagnosed with infertility have a higher risk of developing other general health ailments, including diabetes, ischemic heart disease, alcohol abuse and drug abuse, compared with fertile men, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Negative beliefs about aging predict Alzheimer's disease Newly published research led by the Yale School of Public Health demonstrates that individuals who hold negative beliefs about aging are more likely to have brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Chronic kidney disease patients benefit from pacing left and right ventricles Patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease who received cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator had a lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure or death from this condition compared to patients who received only an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Team finds unique anti-diabetes compound using powerful new drug-discovery method Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have deployed a powerful new drug discovery technique to identify an anti-diabetes compound with a novel mechanism of action.
	Do you think before you breathe? Survey finds broad misperceptions about impact of cleaner indoor air Do you know how easy it is to improve the quality of the air you breathe every day? Or how much indoor air quality affects your health and productivity? If you're not sure, you're not alone. According to a recent survey by a group of Drexel University environmental and architectural engineering researchers, there is quite a bit of confusion about the costs and benefits of indoor air quality improvement—even among building owners, designers, managers and tenants.
	Excessive consumption of green tea impairs development, reproduction in fruit flies, study finds Although green tea is enjoyed by millions for its numerous health benefits, University of California, Irvine researchers have discovered that excessive consumption adversely affected development and reproduction in fruit fly populations.
Scientists redefine arterial wall inflammation, offer cardiovascular disease treatment hope Researchers from the University of Toronto have found that a specific cell type plays a key role in maintaining healthy arteries after inflammation. It's a discovery that could provide treatment options for cardiovascular disease—one of the leading causes of death in Canada.
	'Dark matter' in cancer genome prompts immune response Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a group of non-coding RNA molecules in cancer cells that sets off an immune response because they appear to have features similar to those of pathogens. As a result of these molecules being expressed and amplified in cancer, the immune response they generate may be influencing the cancer's growth, investigators say in their study, published in the PNAS early edition this month.
	Fighting prescription painkiller abuse among baby boomers Prescription opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions, with more than half of patients being treated for chronic pain reportedly misusing their medication at some point.
	Acetaminophen provides no benefits against the flu Some doctors may recommend that patients with the flu take acetaminophen, or paracetemol, to relieve their symptoms; however, a new randomized clinical trial found no benefits to the over-the-counter medication in terms of fighting the influenza virus or reducing patients' temperature or other symptoms.
Leukemia patients who switched kinase inhibitors had favorable outcomes Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who stopped taking the kinase inhibitors (KIs), ibrutinib or idelalisib, had mostly favorable outcomes when they switched to the alternate therapy, according to a large multi-center study, conducted in part at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Loss of enzyme promotes tumor progression in endometrial cancer Scientists have shown for the first time why loss of the enzyme CD73 in human cancer promotes tumor progression.
	Study finds most crowded US hospitals did not adopt proven interventions The most crowded emergency departments in the U.S. have not adopted proven interventions to address crowding, a major public health concern.
	Drug shows potential as safe and effective for most prevalent form of adult leukemia Clinical results published in the OnLine First edition of New England Journal of Medicine show that the new drug acalabrutinib (ACP-196) promotes high response rates that are durable in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) while producing minimal side effects.
Doctors set for first penis implant in US Johns Hopkins University doctors are preparing for what would be the first US penis transplant, a procedure that could potentially help hundreds of wounded veterans.
US group tries again at studying environment, child health The U.S. National Institutes of Health is launching a new project to help unravel how early-in-life environmental exposures may affect autism, obesity and certain other childhood disorders. It's a second shot at tackling those important questions, after a more ambitious research attempt failed.
	New technology may standardize sickle cell disease screening for infants Researchers from Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine presented new research findings this weekend at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Orlando.
Blood thinner, antidiabetic drug mix increases hospitalizations A blood thinner known for serious drug interactions is linked to increased hospitalizations for falls, altered mental state and insulin shock for Medicare patients who also take some diabetes drugs, according to a new study.
Obesity contributes to metastasis in ovarian cancer patients Ovarian cancer is a deadly disease, one that's hard to detect until it has progressed significantly. More than 75 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have metastasis at the time of diagnosis, resulting in a low five-year survival rate of less than 30 percent.
New personal monitoring devices for epilepsy may offer alternatives to inpatient video EEG Uncontrolled epilepsy affects more than 1.2 million Americans, often requiring a series of trials and errors to identify effective drug combinations. Continuous, long-term EEG data could streamline this process by revealing the full picture of a patient's seizure activity, but this would require a costly and inconvenient hospital stay.
RVG-exosome delivered MOR-RNAi rescues drug addiction MiRNAs are a class of naturally occurring small non-coding RNAs that have been linked to biological possesses and diseases development. In the previous study, Chen-Yu Zhang and colleagues have reported that expression profile of circulating miRNAs in human and other animals are the novel class of biomarkers for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. Furthermore, the same group has shown that cell selectively packages miRNA into exosomes and secreted miRNAs in exosomes were able to be delivered into target cells and modulated the biological functions of these cells via repression of miRNA target gene.
	Researchers launch collaborative project to build first complete fly brain model Researchers at the University of Sheffield have launched an ambitious project to simulate a complete model of the adult fruit fly brain for the first time.
Advice for Canada's new health minister Enact a national pharmacare program for Canadians. Let science and evidence guide health policy. Keep your promises. These are some of the recommendations that the editors of Canada's major medical journal, CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), make in an editorial to the new Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Philpott.
Adults born preterm at risk of early chronic disease: New review offers key pointers for doctors treating such patients Premature birth is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, pregnancy complications and other chronic diseases in adulthood. A new review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) aims to help physicians identify adults who were born premature to prevent and manage health conditions.
Risky sexual behavior by young men with HIV who have sex with men Young men who have sex with men and have detectable levels of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were more likely to report condomless anal sex, including with a partner not infected with HIV, than virologically suppressed young men who have sex with men, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Chasing invasive cancer cells with a laser What makes invasive cancer cells behave differently than the other cells in the tumor from which they arise? Let's turn them red with a laser and find out.
	New guideline addresses long-term needs of breast cancer survivors A new breast cancer survivorship care guideline created by the American Cancer Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology provides guidance to primary care and other clinicians in caring for the estimated 3.1 million female adult survivors of breast cancer in the United States.
Phase 1 results point to larger trial of enzalutamide and fulvestrant in breast cancer Results of a multicenter phase 1 clinical trial presented today at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium show that the anti-androgen agent enzalutamide is active and well-tolerated alone and with fulvestrant in patients with advanced breast cancer. The study takes another important step toward larger clinical trials targeting androgen receptors in breast cancer.
Target Validation platform launches The Centre for Therapeutic Target Validation (CTTV) has launched a new web platform for life-science researchers that helps them identify therapeutic targets for new and repurposed medicines. Today's launch underscores the CTTV's commitment to share its data openly to benefit the broader scientific community.
High response rates, long-term remissions in Penn trials of personalized cell therapy Ninety-three percent of pediatric patients (55 of 59) with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) went into remission after receiving an investigational therapy made from their own immune cells, with continuous remissions of over one year in 18 patients and over two years in nine patients. In an emerging new use of the same therapy, known as CTL019, more than half of patients (15 of 28) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) also responded to infusions of the personalized cellular therapy.
Most men with erectile dysfunction are satisfied with penile prostheses Most men who receive penile prostheses are very satisfied with the implants, indicating that the intervention is a valid treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Reducing pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the big toe Prefabricated foot orthoses and rocker-sole footwear (in which the sole of the shoe is curved) are effective at reducing peak pressure under the big toe in people with a condition called first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis, but new research shows that they achieve this through different mechanisms. Also, rocker-sole shoes exhibited lower peak pressure under the lesser toes and midfoot, while orthoses increased peak pressure in these areas.
Screenbased activities can't replace personal interactions A new article stresses the importance of direct interactions with family members for infants' development and finds no scientific evidence for benefits of iPad or DVD programs, which in fact might even cause language delays.
	Migraine triggers may all act through a common pathway Migraines can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, sleep disruption, noise, odors, and diet. The findings of a new Headache review indicate that many of these factors converge on a common pathway involving oxidative stress.
As many as 200 sickened in Seattle tower norovirus outbreak As many as 200 people have gotten sick in a norovirus outbreak at a downtown Seattle office building.

Biology news

	Unless they crane their necks all sperm would only turn left Spermatozoa need to crane their necks to turn right to counteract a left-turning drive caused by the rotation of their tails, new research has found.
	Discovery of stress-induced emotional fever in fish Fish react emotionally to stress, indicating a degree of consciousness, a groundbreaking new study by scientists at the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture has found.
	Modified mosquitoes could help fight against malaria For the first time, malarial mosquitoes have been modified to be infertile and pass on the trait rapidly - raising the possibility of reducing the spread of disease.
New massive dataset of bacterial proteins Scientists from Switzerland and the Netherlands have conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the proteins that the bacterium Escherichia coli expresses in 22 different growth conditions. More than 2,300 proteins were identified, some at average levels of one copy per cell. The resulting dataset describes most (>90 percent) of the protein mass in the cells and will be a treasure trove for cell biologists. A first description is published on 7 December in Nature Biotechnology.
	Gut bacteria important factor in cockroach gathering North Carolina State University research shows that bacteria in the gut of German cockroaches play a major role in how the cockroaches gather together, or aggregate. The findings could lead to more efficient roach baits and traps.
	Climate change governs a crop pest, even when populations are far-flung As delegates from 195 nations meet in Paris to debate mankind's response to global climate change, scientists from the University of Kansas and Rothamsted Research in England today issue a study of a major crop pest that underlines how "climate is changing in more ways than just warming."
	Researchers find molecular shift that stops stem cells in Drosophila from making tumors University of Oregon scientists studying neural stem cells in the fruit fly Drosophila have uncovered a molecular change experienced by stem cells as they age. During development of the central nervous system, a protein is expressed that blocks tumor formation.
	New molecular structure reveals how bluetongue virus enters host cells A five-year research partnership between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has revealed the atomic-level structure of the bluetongue virus (BTV), a disease that has killed an estimated two million cattle in Europe over the past two decades. The results are published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
	New Zealand and Australia lead Japan whaling protest New Zealand led an international protest on Monday against Japan's plans to resume killing whales in the Southern Ocean, while Australia said it was considering further legal action.
	Researcher calls southwestern foundation species too big to fail When a tree species supports more than 1,000 animals, birds, insects and microbes, the tree type can be considered too big to fail. "Cottonwoods are the General Motors of the plant world because they define a community and an ecosystem," said Tom Whitham, Regents' professor of biological sciences. Whitham's genetics-based research is designed to conserve cottonwoods in the face of climate change.
Protected area design secrets revealed in new study It is not only size that matters when planning a protected area, other spatial features such as shape are also critical to the number of animal species found there. A new study from the University of Exeter assessed the spatial characteristics of more than 400 South American protected areas - places legally protected for the long term conservation of nature - to determine what affects the number of amphibians, birds and mammals present.
	Huge organs defy austerity for tiny cave snails in the subterranean realm While most of the knowledge about tiny snails comes from studying empty shells sifted out from piles of dust and sand, the present research is the first contemporary microscopic exploration of organs in cave snails tinier than 2 mm. The paper, published in the open-access journal Subterranean Biology, reveals that underneath the seemingly fragile shells of the Zospeum genus, there are strikingly huge organs.
	Scientists find widespread ear tumors—and promising solution—for endangered Catalina Island foxes Until recently, endangered foxes on California's Catalina Island were suffering from one of the highest prevalences of tumors ever documented in a wildlife population, UC Davis scientists have found. But treatment of ear mites appears to be helping the wild animals recover.
Could hippos be meat eaters? People often think hippos are herbivores with big smiling faces. Every now and then, reports of a hippo of hunting down prey, eating a carcass, or stealing prey from a crocodile are heard, but they're typically considered 'aberrant' or 'unusual' behaviour.
	A new genus of plant bug, plus four new species from Australia A new genus of plant bug and four new species have been discovered in Australia. The newly discovered insects, which belong to the family Miridae and the subfamily Phylinae, are described in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America.
Australia threatens legal action against Japanese whaling Australia, one of most vocal opponents of Japanese whaling hunts in the Antarctic, threatened Monday to take legal action against the lethal expeditions, about a week after Tokyo began its latest hunt.
Invasive ants threaten native Australian butterfly A widespread invasive ant species is posing a significant threat to native Australian butterflies.
How fresh is your maple syrup? The maple syrup that's tapped from the tree may not be as fresh as you think it is.
Cities support a greater number of threatened species than non-urban areas The earth is facing a catastrophic species extinction crisis. The dominant approach to conservation has been to focus on protecting pristine environments, but new research from Australia demonstrates that on average, urban environments contain disproportionately more threatened protected species in a given area than non-urban environments.

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