Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 8

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 8, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Physicists investigate unusual form of quantum mechanics
- The amazing camera that can see around corners (w/ video)
- Rare mergers of binary neutron stars found as the source of radioactive plutonium-244 in nature
- Boosting experience-dependent neuroplasticity in adult brains
- Researchers develop nanoscale probes for ssDNA sustainability under UV radiation
- Researchers resolve structure of a key component of bacterial decision-making
- Plant-inspired power plants: Developing catalysts that turn excess atmospheric CO2 into liquid fuel
- New theory describes ice's slippery behavior
- Playing 3-D video games can boost memory formation, study finds
- Discovery of new fossil species reveals unique binocular vision of the first ancient marine reptile
- 'Quasiparticles' reveal incredibly minute distortions in light waves
- On-the-go ultrahigh vacuum storage systems
- Portable device can quickly determine the extent of an eye injury
- Why focusing on a visual task will make us deaf to our surroundings
- Researchers identify key biological markers for psychotic disorders

Astronomy & Space news

	New US space mining law to spark interplanetary gold rush Flashing some interplanetary gold bling and sipping "space water" might sound far-fetched, but both could soon be reality, thanks to a new US law that legalizes cosmic mining.
	Astronomers solve mystery of 'born again' stars with Hubble Space Telescope University of Texas astronomer Natalie Gosnell has used Hubble Space Telescope to better understand why some stars aren't evolving as predicted. These so-called "blue stragglers" look hotter and bluer than they should for their advanced age. It's almost as it they were somehow reinvigorated to look much younger than they really are.
	Peering through Titan's haze This composite image shows an infrared view of Saturn's moon Titan from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, acquired during the mission's "T-114" flyby on Nov. 13, 2015.
	Titan supercomputer helps researchers explore explosive star scenarios Exploding stars may seem like an unlikely yardstick for measuring the vast distances of space, but astronomers have been mapping the universe for decades using these stellar eruptions, called supernovas, with surprising accuracy.
	What to look for when buying a telescope I'm often asked what inspired me to become an astronomer, and I explain that a pivotal moment for me was stargazing through my grandfather's telescope.
	What are Wormholes? With all my enthusiasm for humanity's future in space, there's one glaring problem. We're soft meat bags of mostly water, and those other stars are really really far away. Even with the most optimistic spaceflight technologies we can imagine, we're never going to reach another star in a human lifetime.
	First light from Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instrument onboard ASTROSAT ASTROSAT is India's first dedicated science space mission which was launched on 28 September 2015. The Large Area X-ray Propositional Counter (LAXPC), designed and developed at TIFR, Mumbai, is one of the major payloads on ASTROSAT. The LAXPC instrument became fully operational on 19 October 2015 for the first time in space. A cluster of three co-aligned identical detectors provides a large area of collection of about 8000 cm2. LAXPC will provide the largest effective area among all the satellite missions flown so far, worldwide, and will remain so for the next 10 years, for X-ray studies in the 3-80 keV energy range. The large detection volume (15 cm depth) filled with xenon gas at ~ 2 atmospheres pressure, results in detection efficiency greater than 50%, above 30 keV.

Technology news

	Wikipedia university rankings standing on mathematical grounds Whether from well known or little known sources, lists attempting to rank the top schools in the world draw many eyeballs. Parents are eager to see which schools are prestigious and to be sought after for their children's futures; adolescents planning later schooling want to know the prestige names; generally people voice opinions and recall their experiences against names on lists.
	Life-saving, 3D-printed airway splint steps closer to market A new agreement opens the door for groundbreaking, 3D-printed technology that saved four babies' lives to help more children.
	Realistic facial reconstructions enhanced by combining three computer vision methods Disney Research and Carnegie Mellon University scientists have found that three computer vision methods commonly used to reconstruct 3-D scenes produce superior results in capturing facial details when they are performed simultaneously, rather than independently.
	California firm Hyperloop to test engine in southern Nevada A California company with visions of building a futuristic transportation system to one day zip people and packages at nearly the speed of sound announced Tuesday it is building a test facility in southern Nevada.
	Sophisticated malware won't budge in simple OS re-install Security watchers had a menace on their minds Monday, and it is payment card malware dubbed Nemesis.
Netflix to double production of original series next year Internet streaming giant Netflix has plans to double production of original series next year, its head of content said Monday.
	South Korea unveils ambitious green car push South Korea unveiled on Tuesday an ambitious plan to dramatically increase the production of environmentally friendly cars by 2020, as part of global efforts to cut carbon emissions and curb climate change.
	Collaborative unmanned systems extinguish fire in demonstration Lockheed Martin demonstrated its ability to integrate unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations into the National Airspace System (NAS) using its prototype UAS Traffic Management (UTM) capabilities. During the demonstration on Nov. 18, the Stalker XE UAS provided data and a precise geolocation to the unmanned K-MAX cargo helicopter, which conducted water drops to extinguish a fire, while the UTM tracked the UAS operations and communicated with Air Traffic Control in real time.
	Stuck in traffic? These pedometer apps think you're walking GPS navigator, recipe finder, camera, music player: the phones that most of us use today go well beyond voice-to-voice communication.
	How renewables can help protect energy companies from climate change lawsuits Climate change lawsuits are becoming more and more likely, but adopting renewable energy could help mitigate that. A new study from Michigan Tech researchers reviewed how climate-related liability for energy companies is calculated and how it could be prevented. The results will be published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.
	EU to impose rules on Internet firms to prevent cyber attacks EU member states and lawmakers have clinched a deal to prevent cyber attacks by requiring Internet firms like eBay, Amazon and Google to boost their defences and report breaches, officials said Tuesday.
EU starts anti-trust action against Qualcomm The European Union's anti-trust watchdog says it suspects that Qualcomm illegally made exclusivity payments to a major customer and sold chipsets below cost to force a competitor out of the market.
Minuscule pillars double the efficiency of solar cells Solar cells are generally flat. However, by adding minuscule silicon pillars to the surface, it is possible to more than double the amount of energy produced for each surface. This has been demonstrated by research by academics at the University of Twente research institute MESA+. In an article published last week in the scientific journal Advanced Energy Materials, they show what the optimum height and doping depth of the pillars is.
	Imec advances drive current in vertical 3D NAND memory devices At this week's IEEE IEDM conference, nano-electronics research center imec showed for the first time the integration of high mobility InGaAs as a channel material for 3D vertical NAND memory devices formed in the plug (holes) with the diameter down to 45nm. The new channel material improves transconductance (gm) and read current which is crucial to enable further VNAND cost reduction by adding additional layers in 3D vertical architecture.
On a scale of 1 to 5, how distracting is talking to your car? Past human factors/ergonomics studies have shown that some in-vehicle technologies intended to help with driving tasks are actually competing for drivers' attention and undermining driving safety. Human factors/ergonomics studies over the past 10-plus years have examined a variety of distractors. The December 2015 special section of Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society leads off with research proposing a method for assessing cognitive distraction while driving and elicits pro and con responses from experts in the field.
	UK police campaign targets hackers as young as 12 Britain's National Crime Agency on Tuesday launched a campaign to discourage youngsters from becoming hackers after it found the average age of suspects had plummeted to 17.
	Are computers creative? High-tech automation is eliminating jobs like Pac-Man gobbling yellow dots. According to a 2013 study by the Oxford Martin School, 47 percent of U.S. jobs are susceptible to takeover by machines in the coming decades. Whether you work in manufacturing, the service industry, in medicine, law or any number of other industries, chances are that your occupation is in the middle of an unprecedented algorithm-driven paradigm shift. One area we tend to view as safe from automation is creativity - but perhaps even artists will soon have to compete with computers.
Microsoft's Allen, Transportation Department offer $50 million in 'Smart City' contest Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen is teaming with the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer a $50 million prize to the winner of a "Smart City" competition aimed at promoting high-tech solutions to traffic snarls.
What's next for leadership at long-struggling Yahoo? A persistent question has dogged Yahoo Inc. for many years now: Can the beleaguered company turn itself around?
Snapchat ends awkward exclusion, finally opens Fusion to US users Snapchat put startup cable network Fusion in an awkward position early this year.
	Coldplay to stream album on Spotify after delay British rockers Coldplay, one of a select number of acts that have shied away from Spotify, will put their latest album on the leading streaming site after a one-week delay.
	After the VTech hack, some tips on keeping your kids safe Parents around the world have been understandably shaken by the hacking of a VTech database containing information on the more than 6 million children who use the company's toys.
	Auto safety ratings to include collision prevention systems (Update) The government on Tuesday announced plans to update its safety rating system for new cars and trucks to include whether the vehicle has technology to avoid crashes, in addition to how well it protects occupants in accidents.
	Review: Ditch your PC, if you're willing to suffer a little Plenty of people do all their Facebooking, YouTubing, Web surfing and whatnot on mobile devices. But not everyone. Lots of us still rely on personal computers for plenty of tasks. Take writers, for instance, for whom a physical keyboard is often a must.
	Verizon sees possible bid for Yahoo assets Verizon's top executive on Tuesday left open the possibility that the US telecom giant could make a bid for Yahoo if the Internet firm puts itself up for sale.
Facebook lifts ban on content from rival social network Tsu Facebook has lifted a ban that blocked material from Tsu.co, a small rival challenging the world's largest social network's financial dependence on free content shared by its 1.5 billion users.
	In war-torn Gaza, a tiny high-tech sector emerges As a student graduating from computer college two years ago, Mohammed Qudih was dreading the "painful" unemployment in the Gaza Strip—a war-battered territory where nearly half the population is without work.
	GOP hopefuls overstating on NSA phone records In the wake of the California shootings, Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and Lindsey Graham are complaining that U.S. intelligence agencies have lost their authority to collect phone records on Americans under a controversial National Security Agency surveillance program. They want the government to bring that program back.
	Are we overdoing aviation security? The attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York on 11 September 2001 made a huge impression on the entire world. Not in our worst nightmares had we imagined that planes would be used as weapons in carrying out acts of terrorism.
	Cost-effective silicon photonics production to benefit EU industry Researchers have taken key steps towards building a European-based silicon photonics supply chain and speeding up industrialisation of the technology.
Improved tools for structured matrix computations To design and analyze a model of a mechanical system such as an electrical network or a chemical reaction process is often a complex problem that requires high-quality mathematical theories and computational tools. The parameters and data are often influenced by the various types of disturbances and, in addition, there may be errors in the model description. Andrii Dmytryshyn defends his thesis on December 11th, at Umeå University.
	Team develops novel intelligent transportation system for personalized reliable driving routes PolyU has been assisting the HKSAR Government in the development and application of real-time intelligent transportation systems, including the "Real-time Traffic Information System", "Hong Kong eRouting" and "Hong Kong eTransport" available on the Hong Kong Transport Department's website, as well as journey time indicators like "Journey Time Indication System", and "Speed Map Panels". The real-time intelligent transportation systems aforementioned utilize different types of real-time traffic data collection technologies, involving different types of data and sample sizes, making data fusion difficult. Given their high cost, there are only a limited number of traffic detectors in use, with long distance in between. In addition, due to privacy issues, only data of registered commercial vehicles can be used, amounting to about 25% of the total number of licensed vehicles in Hong Kong, resulting in a limited sample size of traffic da! ta collected on real-time basis.
	Ames Laboratory-developed titanium powder processing gains international customer base Titanium powder created with Ames Laboratory-developed gas-atomization technology has hit the market. Praxair Inc. now offers fine, spherical titanium powder for additive manufacturing and metal injection molding of aerospace, medical and industrial parts. It marks the first time large-scale amounts of titanium powder are available to industry with a potential for low-cost, high-volume manufacturing.
NREL estimates economically viable US renewable generation Analysts at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are providing, for the first time, a method for measuring the economic potential of renewable energy across the United States.
US lawmakers want social media firms to report terrorists Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require technology companies to report online terrorist activity they become aware of to law enforcement.

Medicine & Health news

	Boosting experience-dependent neuroplasticity in adult brains (Medical Xpress)—Experience-dependent neuroplasticity refers to the brain's capacity to change in response to experience, repeated stimuli, environmental cues, and learning. It's a fundamental property of brain function, and researchers note that its impairment is a feature of many neurological and psychiatric disorders including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Improving impaired plasticity is thus a subject of interest for psychological researchers.
	Chemicals in e-cigarette flavors linked to respiratory disease Diacetyl, a flavoring chemical linked to cases of severe respiratory disease, was found in more than 75% of flavored electronic cigarettes and refill liquids tested by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Two other potentially harmful related compounds were also found in many of the tested flavors, which included varieties with potential appeal to young people such as Cotton Candy, Fruit Squirts, and Cupcake.
	Antidepressant with novel action appears safe and effective in phase 1b clinical trial A small clinical trial of a novel antidepressant that stimulates neurogenesis - the production of new brain cells - shows that the compound appears to be safe and may be effective against depression. Results of the phase 1B trial, led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators, show that treatment with the drug currently identified as NSI-189 improved both depressive and cognitive symptoms in study participants and that its effects appear to persist for several months after treatment discontinuation. The study was supported by the pharmaceutical company Neuralstem.
	Hormone therapy for prostate cancer tied to possible Alzheimer's risk (HealthDay)—Hormone therapy for prostate cancer might dramatically increase a man's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a large-scale analysis of health data suggests.
Liposomes loaded with anesthetic payload provide method for repeatable, adjustable local pain management A pair of preclinical studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Nano Letters reveal two methods for using a laser to trigger on-demand release of a local anesthetic to provide repeatable, long-lasting pain management, either directly at the site of an injury or by blocking pain signals transmitted from an injury.
	Eat fat to burn fat and push through Research from Massey University's School of Sport and Exercise Science has revealed changing what athletes eat can actually change the ability of their muscles to burn different fuels – findings that could help everyday people improve their body composition.
	Study says Alzheimer's plaques can also affect the brain's blood vessels Amyloid beta, the plaque that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, may also contribute to Alzheimer's by interfering with normal blood flow in the brain, according to investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
	Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off sleeping sickness parasite Some infectious diseases are particularly difficult to treat because of their ability to evade the immune system. One such illness, African sleeping sickness, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted by the tsetse fly, and is fatal if left untreated. The trypanosome parasite is transmitted to mammals through fly bites and eventually invades major organs such as the brain, disrupting the sleep cycle, among other symptoms.
	Scientists discover new computerized linguistic approach to detect Alzheimer's disease Researchers have discovered how to diagnose Alzheimer's disease with more than 82 per cent accuracy by evaluating the interplay between four linguistic factors; and developing automated technology to detect these impairments.
	Fighting liver fibrosis, the wound that never heals Chronic damage to the liver eventually creates a wound that never heals. This condition, called fibrosis, gradually replaces normal liver cells—which detoxify the food and liquid we consume—with more and more scar tissue until the organ no longer works.
	Playing 3-D video games can boost memory formation, study finds Don't put that controller down just yet. Playing three-dimensional video games - besides being lots of fun - can boost the formation of memories, according to University of California, Irvine neurobiologists.
	Why focusing on a visual task will make us deaf to our surroundings Concentrating attention on a visual task can render you momentarily 'deaf' to sounds at normal levels, reports a new UCL study funded by the Wellcome Trust.
	Researchers identify key biological markers for psychotic disorders A team of researchers led by faculty at the University of Georgia has identified a number of biological markers that make it possible to classify mental disorders with greater precision. Their findings, published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry, may one day lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for those suffering from mental illness.
	Multiple myeloma patient study shows promise for natural killer cells A first-in-human Phase I study of multiple myeloma patients combined expanded cord blood-derived natural killer cells with transplantation of a patient's own stem cells and high-dose chemotherapy with little or none of the side effects seen with current treatments.
Alcohol aromatherapy eases nausea in the ER Nauseated patients in the emergency department who sniffed pads saturated with isopropyl alcohol were twice as likely to obtain relief from their symptoms as nauseated patients who sniffed pads saturated with saline solution, according to a study published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Isopropyl Alcohol Nasal Inhalation for Nausea in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial").
New clinical practice guidelines recommend use of arteries rather than veins in heart bypass surgery The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has released new clinical practice guidelines that recommend expanding the use of arteries from the chest and forearm rather than using veins from the leg when performing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in certain patients. The guidelines, posted online today, will appear in the February 2016 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Poor kidney function prior to heart surgery linked with longer hospital stay, higher costs Poor kidney function prior to heart surgery can lead to worse outcomes, higher surgical costs, and a longer hospital stay, according to an article posted online today by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
	If you make impulsive choices you should blame your parents—it's genetic Opting for smaller rewards immediately instead of waiting for bigger payoffs later is associated with problems such as impulsivity and addiction to food, drugs and alcohol. Now, new research indicates that such decision-making tendencies have a genetic link to brain pathways that underlie these disorders.
	US food firms pushing halt to GMO labeling by end of year U.S. food companies are mounting an aggressive year-end push to head off mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods.
	Link between PCOS in the mother and autism in the child Children born to mothers with polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, are at an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorders, according to a new epidemiological study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet. The findings, which are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, support the notion that exposure to sex hormones early in life may be important for the development of autism in both sexes.
	Getting the most from your stretching routine The conclusions of a systematic review of hundreds of studies contradict the most common static stretching findings from the last 15 years. This research is available today in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism and the findings have been endorsed by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), Canada's resource and voice for exercise physiology and health & fitness.
	Jimmy carter's recovery highlights power of new cancer treatments (HealthDay)—Former President Jimmy Carter's remarkable response to his treatment for brain cancer can be chalked up in part to significant recent advances in medicine, cancer experts say.
	Many US primary care docs feel unprepared for complex cases: survey (HealthDay)—Compared to their international peers, doctors on the front lines of U.S. medicine feel they aren't prepared to treat the sickest patients, a new survey finds.
	Marijuana chemical shows promise for hard-to-treat epilepsy in kids (HealthDay)—Evidence is mounting that a marijuana-derived oil might benefit some children with epilepsy whose seizures aren't controlled by approved medications, two new studies show.
Gov't survey: Fewer Americans struggle to pay medical bills For the fourth straight year fewer Americans are struggling to pay medical bills, according to a major government survey released Tuesday. Most of the progress has come among low-income people and those with government coverage.
	New technology traces resistance gene quickly A new resistance gene has been found in coli bacteria among pigs, broiler meat and humans in China. Bacteria with the same resistance gene have now also been found in Denmark, according to a new Danish study. The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and Statens Serum Institut have been able to quickly create an overview of the situation in Denmark because many bacteria have had their DNA-profile mapped with the help of whole genome sequencing.
Anti-platelet therapy does not significantly reduce pain crises in sickle cell disease Treatment with the antiplatelet agent prasugrel does not significantly reduce the rate of pain crises or severe lung complications in children with sickle cell disease, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine describing one of the largest and most geographically diverse international clinical trials on sickle cell disease to date.
	Children with common allergies have twice heart disease risk Children with allergic disease, particularly asthma and hay fever, have about twice the rate of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, setting them on a course for heart disease at a surprisingly early age, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.
	One in four new doctors may be depressed—and their patients may suffer because of it More than one in four doctors in the early stages of their careers has signs of depression, a comprehensive new study finds. And the grueling years of training for a medical career may deserve some of the blame.
Newly trained family physicians want to provide broader scope of practice Graduating family medicine residents have indicated they intend to provide a broader scope of practice than that reported by current family physicians, including for prenatal care, inpatient care, nursing home care, home visits, and women's health procedures, according to a study in the December 8 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on medical education.
Medical students in emergency departments and patient length of stay An analysis of more than 1.3 million emergency department visits found an increase in patient length of stay of approximately 5 minutes associated with the presence of medical students in the emergency department, which was statistically significant but likely too small to be of clinical relevance, according to a study in the December 8 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on medical education.
Mayo Clinic researchers identify six potential biomarkers for bipolar I disorder Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a series of proteins that could be diagnostic markers to identify bipolar I disorder. If this discovery sample can be validated through replication these markers may help as a diagnostic tool for psychiatrists treating mood disorders. The findings appear in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
	Researchers find new pathway underlying multiple myeloma relapse One of the biggest questions about the treatment of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, is why nearly all patients treated with current therapies eventually suffer relapse. A Yale Cancer Center study may have solved this mystery by identifying how cancer cells escape treatment, leading to recurrence. The findings were presented Dec. 6 at the 57th annual meeting of the American Hematologic Society in Orlando, Florida.
Study identifies prevalence, treatment patterns of psoriasis in older patients In the first known study to examine the prevalence and treatment of psoriasis in older Americans, experts from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found that black patients receiving Medicare are less likely to receive biologic therapies –medications derived from human or animal cells or tissues – for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis than white patients. Additional results show that psoriasis patients who do not have low income subsidy (LIS) – additional coverage provided for prescription drugs, also known as Medicare Extra Help – as part of their Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) plan are less likely to receive biologics than Medicare recipients with full low income subsidy benefit. The findings, presented in the December issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, are the first to suggest the presence of economic and racial barriers that impact the treatme! nt of moderate to severe psoriasis.
	Life expectancy not declining as rapidly as believed, but health inequality has worsened While previous findings of dramatic decreases in life expectancy for some socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in the United States have been overstated, health inequalities persist and, in fact, have worsened, according to new research from the University of Michigan.
	Physical activity, reading beat screen time for kids' brain development Amid a growing market of television shows, electronic toys and apps targeted at young children, the impact on early childhood cognitive development from those sedentary activities is under scrutiny by a group of researchers at the University of Alberta.
How killer -T-cells migrate towards virus-infected cells Joost Beltman (LACDR, Leiden University) has provided novel insights in the way T-killer cells migrate towards virus-infected cells. This was accomplished by a combination of experimental research in the group of Ton Schumacher (Dutch Cancer Institute, NKI) and computer simulations in collaboration with Rob de Boer (Utrecht University). The results have been published in the December edition of the Journal of Immunology.
	Battling the world's second biggest killer There's a good chance that you know someone who's either had a stroke or is going to have one: it's the second most common cause of death worldwide, causing one in every 10 deaths.
Oral chemo still too expensive even after doughnut hole closes Access to expensive oral chemotherapy drugs will still be out of reach for millions of Americans with Medicare coverage, even when one of the most touted reforms in health care coverage takes place in 2020. The analysis, which assesses out-of-pocket health care costs for cancer patients after the Medicare Part D doughnut hole (or coverage gap) closes, shows with unprecedented clarity that the financial burden for prescription drugs for many cancer patients will still be too high – in some cases, up to one-third of their household budget.
	Researchers create world's first ibuprofen patch Researchers at the University of Warwick have worked with Coventry-based Medherant, a Warwick spinout company, to produce and patent the World's first ever ibuprofen patch delivering the drug directly through skin to exactly where it is needed at a consistent dose rate.
New advances in cancer diagnosis A University of Warwick computer scientist is working with technology that could revolutionise how some cancers are diagnosed.
	Maternal suicides – more could be prevented A UK-wide study of pregnancy-related deaths in women has found that while overall numbers are falling, some women could receive better care, particularly in relation to their mental health.
World first in imaging technology developed for PET/MRI scanners Scientists at Lawson Health Research Institute, in collaboration with Ceresensa Inc., have produced the first commercial imaging product available in the world for PET/MRI scanners. The novel PET-transparent MRI head coil provides unparalleled images to advance the study, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases.
	Study establishes biomarkers to help diagnose, treat psychosis In a groundbreaking study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center, a comprehensive set of empirical biomarkers has been established to aid in diagnosis and treatment of psychosis.
Eating disorder prevention program reduces brain reward region response to supermodels Change your attitude. Change your behavior. Change your brain. Discussing the costs of pursuing the unrealistic thin beauty ideal reduces valuation of this idea.
	Most teens' physical activity occurs at school (HealthDay)—About half of young teens' daily physical activity occurs at school, but it accounts for just a fraction of their time there, according to a new study.
	Scientists reveal mysteries of the brain The human brain, a 3-pound organ and source of symphonies, mathematics, politics, hate and crime, is often hailed as the most complex biological entity in the known universe.
NIH isn't ensuring that clinical trials account for different outcomes by sex Twenty-two years after Congress ordered the National Institutes of Health to include women in the clinical trials it funds to test medical treatments, women make up more than half the participants in those trials.
Superbug gene outsmarts 'antibiotic of last resort' A new gene that makes bacteria highly resistant to a last-resort class of antibiotics has been identified in China, and doctors are warning of the global implications.
New schizophrenia treatments may be effective for subgroup of patients Mounting evidence indicates that disturbances in the brain's glutamate pathway contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus, the glutamate pathway has become the target of a number of new drug therapies. Findings published in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggest that at least one of these drugs may be an effective treatment for individuals in the early course of the illness.
Rapid molecular assay may help diagnose sepsis Measuring the levels of RNA biomarkers in blood may help quickly differentiate sepsis from infection-negative systemic inflammation, according to research published this week in PLOS Medicine. Leo McHugh, Ph.D. of Immunexpress, Seattle, Washington, and colleagues describe the discovery and validation of a molecular classifier consisting of 4 RNA transcripts (SeptiCyte Lab), which in several selected patient cohorts was able to diagnose sepsis more accurately than procalcitonin or clinical parameters, and more quickly than blood culture.
Eliminating food deserts may not achieve improved dietary quality in the US Initiatives to eliminate food deserts, low-income geographic areas that lack access to a supermarket or large grocery store, may not have an effect on improving dietary quality or reducing disparities in diet quality according to Jason Block and S V Subramanian from Harvard University, United States, in a Policy Forum article published this week in PLOS Medicine.
Call for police killings, police deaths to be reported as public health data Although no reliable official data currently exist on the number of law enforcement-related deaths each year in the U.S., counting these deaths can and should be done because the data constitute crucial public health information that could help prevent future deaths, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
New risk score identifies link between lifestyle risk factors and mortality A new lifestyle risk score based on six health behaviors identified two new risk factors (sedentary behavior and sleep) that can be used in addition to traditional risk factors, such as smoking and excessive alcohol use to predict risk of mortality. These findings by Ding Ding and colleagues from the University of Sydney, Australia, are published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
	Researchers gain understanding of why the brain makes mistakes A study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University investigated the brain's neural activity during learned behavior and found that the brain makes mistakes because it applies incorrect inner beliefs, or internal models, about how the world works. The research suggests that when the brain makes a mistake, it actually thinks that it is making the correct decision—its neural signals are consistent with its inner beliefs, but not with what is happening in the real world.
	Lack of sleep tampers with your emotions Cranky or grumpy after a long night? Your brain's ability to regulate emotions is probably compromised by fatigue. This is bad news for 30 percent of American adults who get less than six hours of sleep per night, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Human trials suggest 'rescued' drug could be safer treatment for bipolar disorder A drug destined for the scrap heap has been rescued by Oxford scientists, who may have found it a new role in treating bipolar disorder.
	What contributes to healthy living behaviors among children? It depends... Scientists from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute participated in several peer-reviewed articles that published today in the International Journal of Obesity Supplements. The series (including 16 original contributions) was prepared by the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) research group, a global collective of leading obesity research experts from 12 countries located on five continents.
	Telemedicine effective for patients, helps providers establish important relationships More than 50 million Americans live in rural areas, and many have limited access to health care. For someone living far from an urban area, local specialty care for complex health issues is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. For years, telemedicine programs across the country have connected rural patients to specialists in urban settings. Now, a study by University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers shows that patients and providers alike are satisfied with video-based health care.
Hip osteoarthritis may not appear on X-ray In the majority of cases, hip x-rays are not reliable for diagnosing hip osteoarthritis (OA), and can delay the treatment of this debilitating disease.
	UN says malaria cases drop but progress in Africa is slower The number of malaria cases worldwide has dropped in recent years but the countries with the biggest outbreaks have made the least progress, according to a new report Tuesday by the World Health Organization.
	Access to the Internet makes us less willing to say we know things People are less willing to rely on their knowledge and say they know something when they have access to the Internet, suggesting that our connection to the web is affecting how we think.
	New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren Twelve percent of U.S. children and teens had a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 2011, a number that has jumped by 43 percent since 2003, according to a large national study based on parental reports of an ADHD diagnosis. This analysis suggests that 5.8 million U.S. children ages 5 to 17 now have this diagnosis, which can cause inattention and behavioral difficulties, says lead researcher Sean D. Cleary, PhD, MPH, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University.
Aspirin use does not improve outcomes for cancer patients, but may lower breast density Whether aspirin may help prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer remains a hotly debated research question. While past studies have indicated a potential benefit, most recently in hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, one new study from Penn Medicine suggests otherwise. Aspirin does not appear to be protective or associated with improved clinical outcomes or survival among breast cancer patients with aggressive disease, the researchers of one study report. However, another study suggests aspirin may in fact help reduce breast tissue density, which could lead to earlier detection of some breast cancers. Results of both studies will be presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (Abstracts PD1-04 and PD1-05, respectively) on Wednesday, December 9.
	Counseling with genetic cancer screening may increase knowledge and decrease anxiety Many BRCA 1/2-negative patients choose to proceed with comprehensive testing for genetic mutations that increase cancer risk, and when presented with counseling before and after testing, most make informed decisions and experience decreased levels of anxiety, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Basser Center for BRCA in Penn's Abramson Cancer Center. The study will be presented on Thursday, December 10, as part of the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (Abstract #P2-09-01).
	Clinical trial explores treatment for metastases while continuing overall breast cancer therapy An ongoing phase IIR/III clinical trial presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium seeks to answer an important question in the treatment of early metastatic breast cancer: Should surgery or stereotactic body radiation be used to "weed the garden" of a few sites of metastasis while continuing treatment that may still be controlling the initial tumor?
One-two punch of palbociclib and paclitaxel shows promise against advanced breast cancer Combining the new breast cancer drug palbociclib with paclitaxel (Taxol) shrank tumors in nearly half of patient with estrogen-receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results will be presented Saturday at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (Abstract P6-13-08). A second study (Abstract P4-13-04), to be presented Friday provides new clues to how breast cancer develops resistance to the palbociclib, a common occurrence among many patients who take the drug.
	Optimistic outlook may boost recovery after heart attack (HealthDay)—Having an optimistic attitude after a heart attack may be good for your health, Harvard researchers report.
	Study shows stimulation helps stroke patients A new study involving UT Dallas researchers shows that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) technology could help improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people who suffer weakness and paralysis caused by strokes.
Top gynecologists oppose FDA ruling on minimally invasive procedures for uterine fibroids Two UNC physicians have joined other leading experts in gynecology and related specialties across the country in asking the Food and Drug Administration to rescind or revise a warning it issued severely restricting use of a device commonly employed in minimally invasive procedures to treat uterine fibroids.
	Study links body fat, weight loss, and chromosome length in breast cancer patients It is well documented that a healthy diet and exercise are key in cancer prevention and management, but the exact mechanism hasn't been clear. Now, Yale Cancer Center researchers have found an explanation in the tiny protective ends of chromosomes called telomeres. The findings will be presented Dec. 11 at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
FDA OKs Baxalta's drug for von Willebrand bleeding disorder U.S. regulators on Tuesday approved the first genetically engineered treatment for the most common inherited bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease.
Kanuma approved for rare missing-enzyme disease (HealthDay)—Kanuma (sebelipase alfa) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first treatment for a rare but often-deadly disease caused by an enzyme deficiency.
	Meet vincent, the cat with the titanium legs (HealthDay)— Vincent the cat's nine lives are far from over: He's recovering well after receiving high-tech hind legs that replace those lost when he was a kitten.
	Mobile stroke treatment unit feasible for acute stroke care (HealthDay)—A mobile stroke treatment unit (MSTU) is feasible for providing acute stroke treatment, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Neurology.
	Skin lesions for 29 percent with anti-TNF treatment in IBD (HealthDay)—For patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, skin lesions frequently develop but rarely necessitate treatment discontinuation, according to research published online Dec. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Review compares outcomes, safety for once-weekly GLP-1RAs (HealthDay)—Cardiometabolic outcomes and safety vary among different once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) treatments, according to a review published online Dec. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Recurrent aphthous stomatitis linked to oxidative stress (HealthDay)—Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is associated with increased total oxidative status and oxidative stress index values, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
	Overtesting for diabetes patients reaps negative rewards In a study released online today in The BMJ, researchers from Mayo Clinic report a national trend toward overtesting glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers use gene therapy to extend estrogen's protective effects on memory The hormone estrogen helps protect memory and promote a healthy brain, but this effect wanes as women age, and even estrogen replacement therapy stops working in humans after age 65. Now researchers at University of Florida Health have used gene therapy in a rat model to show that the expression of a particular receptor can reinstate lost memory function.
FDA clears cold cap to save hair during breast cancer chemo Hair loss is one of the most despised side effects of chemotherapy, and now breast cancer patients are getting a new way to save their locks.
	More former inmates getting Medicaid under Obamacare, study finds (HealthDay)—A growing number of former inmates are getting Medicaid coverage, which benefits both them and society, a new report suggests.
New study finds adult fresh pear consumers had a lower body weight than non-pear consumers It's National Pear Month and the perfect time to enjoy juicy, sweet pears. If that isn't reason enough to fill your shopping basket, there's another reason to add this fruit to your grocery list. A new study, 'Fresh Pear Consumption is Associated with Better Nutrient Intake, Diet Quality, and Weight Parameters in Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2010,' published in Nutrition and Food Science, revealed new information regarding the health benefits of pear consumption.1 Of particular interest given the high rates of obesity in the United States, the study found that adult pear consumers had a lower body weight than non-pear consumers and they were 35 percent less likely to be obese.
	Innovative tissue engineering strategies to repair spinal disc herniation New therapeutic approaches to repair herniated discs in the lumbar spine using novel tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies have shown promising outcomes in preclinical studies and target the underlying problem of disc injury or instability, unlike current nonsurgical and surgical treatments. Though these emerging biological repair methods still face challenges as they advance to and through clinical testing in patients, they may be able to offer significant pain reduction and restore flexibility and motion of the spine, according to a Review article published in BioResearch Open Access.
	Stratification of the severity of non alcoholic fatty liver disease With an estimated prevalence of about 40 % in Europe and 50 % in the general world population, NAFLD, also referred to as steatosis, is a major public health issue highly related to our sedentary life style and high-fat diets. The prevalence is expected to increase rapidly leading to an epidemic status. It has been estimated in Europe that approximately 26 % or higher health costs account for NAFLD patients.
	Boston College: 80 sickened after eating at Chipotle Boston College said Tuesday the number of students complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at a Chipotle this weekend has climbed to 80, up from the 30 it reported the previous day.
Health care for Syrian refugees: A guide for Canadian physicians What unique health needs will Syrian refugees face, and how can Canadian physicians best provide health care to them and their families? A practice article posted online today in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) provides recommendations on screening and advice for primary care physicians to deal with this specific population's health care needs. The goal of health settlement is to link newly arriving refugees to the primary health care system.
	Deep dive: Research combats oxygen toxicity in navy divers For the first time, ketone esters-oral supplements useful in epilepsy treatment-are being studied to fight seizures caused by hyperbaric oxygen toxicity, a life-threatening byproduct of breathing too much oxygen that impacts deep-water divers.
Further testing can't confirm E. coli in Costco salad parts Federal officials said Tuesday further testing was unable to confirm the presence of E. coli in the onions and celery used to make chicken salad at Costco warehouses across the country.

Biology news

New type of kill switch to prevent genetically modified microbes from wreaking havoc (Phys.org)—A combined team of researchers from MIT and Harvard has come up with two new ways to hardwire a kill switch into a genetically modified microorganism to prevent it from going rogue. In their paper published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, the team describes their technique, why they think it is better than other approaches and the ways it could be used.
	Researchers resolve structure of a key component of bacterial decision-making For bacteria that swim, determining whether to stay the course or head in a new direction is vital to survival. A new study offers atomic-level details of the molecular machinery that allows swimming bacteria to sense their environment and change direction when needed.
	Scientists discover surprising differences in genomes of microbial communities Tiny microbes are hiding big secrets. Scientists often use a collection or community of microbes to study molecular functions, but the more complex the community, the more difficult it is to tease out functions and interactions. Now, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have peered into two microbial communities of blue-green algae to collect near-complete genomic information for all 20 members in each community.
	Study identifies, characterizes lipid accumulation pathways With the increasing emphasis on sustainable energy sources, biofuels derived from animal or plant lipids—oils and fats—have been proposed as a promising substitute for fossil fuels. In particular, the yeast species Yarrowia lipolytica has strong potential as a biofuel-producing organism because it accumulates large amounts of lipids, but little is known about the key biological processes involved.
	Boosting milk-production efficiency can reduce cow methane-emission intensity These are not your grandfather's dairy cows.
	In the driver's seat of evolution Humans have had a profound influence over evolution; ours and the evolution of many other species.
	How a cellular sensor that triggers the innate immune system distinguishes viral from cellular nucleic acids Ludwig Maximilian University researchers have elucidated how a cellular sensor that triggers the innate immune system distinguishes viral from cellular nucleic acids – and why it must expend energy to do so.
	'Kill switches' could make genetically modified food more palatable In the US you can buy and eat genetically modified apples that don't go brown, potatoes that are less likely to cause cancer, and – as of recently – salmon that grow faster. But in Europe, 19 out of 28 member states have banned the growing of genetically modified crops altogether due to public concerns.
	Cooperating bacteria isolate cheaters Bacteria, which reciprocally exchange amino acids, stabilize their partnership on two-dimensional surfaces and limit the access of non-cooperating bacteria to the exchanged nutrients.
	Pigs that are resistant to incurable disease developed Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus was first detected in the U.S. in 1987. Pigs who contract the disease have extreme difficulty reproducing, don't gain weight and have a high mortality rate. To date, no vaccine has been effective, and the disease costs North American farmers more than $660 million annually. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Missouri, Kansas State University, and Genus plc have bred pigs that are not harmed by the disease.
	Textbooks on cells should be rewritten Ground-breaking new Danish research has shown that the current scientific description of the human cell cycle needs to be revised. These findings could also lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to target an Achilles' heel in different types of cancers.
	New model to track animal paths from solar geolocators The ability to track animal movements across long distances has revolutionized our understanding of animal ecology and has been helpful to conservation. Until recently, our ability to record this information was limited to larger animals that could carry satellite transmitters. However, recent technological advances have developed miniaturized devices that extend our ability to track much smaller animals, especially migratory songbirds.
International investigation begins on the effect of microplastics on manta rays The effect of tiny plastic particles on the health of manta rays and whale sharks is the focus of a new research project through Murdoch University.
	People's experience of wildlife predators must be highlighted in the debate about them. After having been practically wiped out Norway, as well as in generally in Western and continental Europe, wolves and other predators are back. But is there a place for predators in Norway?
	Measurement of volatile organic compounds may reveal wild rocket salad quality When consumers buy fresh fruit and vegetables freshness is of essential importance. Most of us have brought home packaged wild rocket salad or other leafy green vegetables from the supermarket - only to discover upon opening the package that the leaves are rotten and unfit for human consumption.
Breeding confident mink can have side benefits Mink that are confident by nature are easier for the mink farmer to work with. They also get less stressed when handled. These are two good reasons why mink farmers include this trait when selecting animals for breeding. A study from Aarhus University now shows that there is yet another benefit of breeding confident mink: They have a better fur quality.
	From food waste to food delicacies How do you like your fruit and vegetables - in the shape of crystals, syrup, powder or crisps? A new treatment method for waste products from the production of fruit and vegetables can turn some or all of the products that we usually throw out into delicious and exciting food products.
	Using infrared cameras to measure sow temperature can lower piglet mortality Early detection of fever in sows can reduce piglet mortality and the consumption of antibiotics. Research from Aarhus University has refined a method that uses an infrared camera to remotely measure the sow's body temperature.

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