Science X Newsletter Thursday, Dec 15

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 15, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Cellular reprogramming reverses signs of aging

Biggest and best diamonds formed in deep mantle metallic liquid

Microlensing study suggests most common outer planets likely Neptune-mass

Where is the ice on Ceres?

New global database will help scientists track role of lakes in Earth's ecology

Raw foodies: Europe's earliest humans did not use fire

Artificial intelligence creeps into daily life

'Junk RNA' molecule found to play key role in cellular response to stress

Study reveals how diabetes drug metformin prevents, suppresses cancer growth

Alzheimer's: Proteomics gives clues toward alternatives to amyloid

Timing may be key to understanding cognitive problems in Parkinson's disease

One protein's sweeping influence on the development of autism revealed

One gene mutation, two diseases, many insights into human heart function

Underwater volcano's eruption captured in exquisite detail by seafloor observatory

Europe's own satnav Galileo goes live (Update)

Astronomy & Space news

	Microlensing study suggests most common outer planets likely Neptune-mass A new statistical study of planets found by a technique called gravitational microlensing suggests that Neptune-mass worlds are likely the most common type of planet to form in the icy outer realms of planetary systems. The study provides the first indication of the types of planets waiting to be found far from a host star, where scientists suspect planets form most efficiently.
	Where is the ice on Ceres? At first glance, Ceres, the largest body in the main asteroid belt, may not look icy. Images from NASA's Dawn spacecraft have revealed a dark, heavily cratered world whose brightest area is made of highly reflective salts—not ice. But newly published studies from Dawn scientists show two distinct lines of evidence for ice at or near the surface of the dwarf planet. Researchers are presenting these findings at the 2016 American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
	Europe's own satnav Galileo goes live (Update) After 17 years, numerous setbacks and three times over budget, Europe's Galileo satnav system went live Thursday, promising to outperform rivals and guarantee regional self-reliance.
	Dust 'floats' above lunar surface—electrostatic dust transport reshapes surfaces of airless planetary bodies As millions on Earth enjoy a spectacular view of a supermoon on Dec. 14, a NASA-funded research team is reviewing the results of recent laboratory experiments that explain why dust "levitates" on the moon.
	Unexpected interaction between dark matter and ordinary matter in mini-spiral galaxies Statistical analysis of mini-spiral galaxies shows an unexpected interaction between dark matter and ordinary matter. According to the SISSA study recently published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, where the relationship is obvious and cannot be explained in a trivial way within the context of the Standard Model, these objects may serve as "portals" to a completely new form of Physics which can explain phenomena like matter and dark energy.
	Number of known black holes expected to double in two years with new detection method Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed a method that will detect roughly 10 black holes per year, doubling the number currently known within two years, and it will likely unlock the history of black holes in a little more than a decade.
	Astronomers discover dark past of planet-eating 'Death Star' An international team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Chicago, has made the rare discovery of a planetary system with a host star similar to Earth's sun. Especially intriguing is the star's unusual composition, which indicates it ingested some of its planets.
	Galileo, Europe's own satnav, to go online After 17 years and numerous setbacks and budget boosts, Europe's Galileo satnav system is due to go live on Thursday with promises of better-than-ever location services.
	A promising spot for life on Mars As NASA's Curiosity rover makes its way up the central peak of Gale Crater, it has been gathering evidence from ancient lake beds and long ago groundwater environments that are promising to life.
Galileo joins fast-growing satnav market Initially designed for the US military, satellite geolocation systems today power countless civilian applications, from car satnavs to browsing for shopping on mobile phones.
	NASA launches 8 mini-satellites for hurricane forecasting NASA launched eight mini-satellites Thursday morning to measure surface wind deep in the heart of hurricanes.
	Galileo: Europe's rival to GPS A snapshot of Europe's Galileo space-based navigation system which went online Thursday, designed to be far more precise than its US military-run rival GPS.

Technology news

	Artificial intelligence creeps into daily life Mark Zuckerberg envisions a software system inspired by the "Iron Man" character Jarvis as a virtual butler managing his household.
	Big data technique shrinks data sets while preserving their fundamental mathematical relationships One way to handle big data is to shrink it. If you can identify a small subset of your data set that preserves its salient mathematical relationships, you may be able to perform useful analyses on it that would be prohibitively time consuming on the full set.
	No more burning batteries? Scientists turn to AI to create safer lithium-ion batteries Scientists have spent decades searching for a safe alternative to the flammable liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries.
	Researchers combat antimicrobial resistance using smartphones A team of UCLA researchers has developed an automated diagnostic test reader for antimicrobial resistance using a smartphone. The technology could lead to routine testing for antimicrobial susceptibility in areas with limited resources.
	Ford studies using drones to guide self-driving cars Ford Motor Co. is studying a system to use drones to help guide self-driving vehicles, including on off-road adventures, company officials said.
	California tells Uber to stop rides in self-driving cars Hours after Uber began picking up San Francisco passengers in self-driving cars Wednesday, California regulators warned the ride-hailing company to stop immediately and get a special state permit—or face legal action.
	China's selfie app Meitu debuts on Hong Kong exchange China's popular selfie app developer Meitu made a muted debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange Thursday after the biggest IPO by a technology company in the city in almost a decade.
	Yahoo's big breach helps usher in an age of hacker anxiety Yahoo has become the worst-case example of an unnerving but increasingly common phenomenon—massive hacks that steal secrets and other potentially revealing information from our personal digital accounts, or from big organizations that hold sensitive data on our behalf.
	California, Uber in legal showdown over self-driving cars Uber is riding its self-driving cars into a legal showdown with California regulators.
	Nintendo to release Super Mario Run in mobile game test Nintendo will on Thursday release Super Mario Run, its first iPhone game and a key test of its foray into mobile gaming, hot on the heels of the Pokemon Go craze.
	Energy report provides guidance for evolving electric power sector Distributed energy resources—relatively small-scale power technologies such as solar, wind, energy storage, and power electronics and control devices—are being deployed rapidly in the global shift toward a low-carbon energy future. To ensure that both distributed and centralized energy resources are integrated efficiently, however, electric power systems in the U.S., Europe, and other parts of the world need major regulatory, policy, and market overhauls, says an in-depth report, "Utility of the Future," released today by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI). The report was developed in collaboration with the Institute for Research in Technology at Comillas Pontifical University (IIT-Comillas).
	Advances in transport infrastructure technology are quickly changing the landscape Sydney's transport system, long troubled by disjointed connections between bus, rail and ferry, should now be focused on delivering customised journeys that combine the modes rather than making users choose between them.
	360-degree airport simulator tests the future of air traffic control Heading home for the holidays may fill you with joy, as well as a little dread at the thought of the complexities of air travel at one of the busiest times of the year. The good news is that NASA is working on new technologies and concepts in air traffic management that will not only provide some relief from holiday travel headaches, but increase the efficiency, safety and environmental friendliness of air transportation.
	Rogue One highlights an uncomfortable fact – military robots can change sides The latest Star Wars movie, Rogue One introduces us to a new droid K-2SO that is the robotic lead of the story.
	Blocking access to illegal file-share websites won't stop illegal downloading The Australian Federal Court ruled today that TPG, Optus, Telstra and other internet service providers (ISPs) must take "reasonable steps" to stop customers accessing file-sharing websites The Pirate Bay, IsoHunt, TorrentHound and Torrentz.
	Contact lens material could produce electric cars that recharge in minutes Running out of battery has become an all-too regular occurrence for most people with a smartphone. So imagine if you could recharge it in seconds. Or if you could recharge an electric car in the same time it takes to fill up a petrol vehicle. It would probably make owning one much more attractive. Well, my colleagues and I have developed a new material based on soft contact lenses that could make this a reality by making traditional batteries a thing of the past.
	How news sites' online comments helped build our hateful electorate Critics may accuse President-elect Donald J. Trump and his supporters of dragging down public discourse in America, but civility took leave of open discussions years ago – online. Beneath digital news stories and social media posts are unmoderated, often anonymous comment streams showing in plain view the anger, condescension, misogyny, xenophobia, racism and nativism simmering within the citizenry.
	Businesses more likely to pay ransomware than consumers, study says IBM Security today announced results from a study finding 70 percent of businesses infected with ransomware have paid ransom to regain access to business data and systems. In comparison, over 50 percent of consumers surveyed said they would not pay to regain access back to personal data or devices aside from financial data.
Tackling the ethical challenges of big data An authority on social data, Susan Etlinger argues we need to apply critical thinking and exercise caution as we enter the age of "data ubiquity."
New report finds health wearable devices pose new consumer and privacy risks Personal health wearable devices used to monitor heart rates, sleep patterns, calories, and even stress levels raise new privacy and security risks, according to a report released today by researchers at American University and the Center for Digital Democracy. Watches, fitness bands, and so-called "smart" clothing, linked to apps and mobile devices, are part of a growing "connected-health" system in the U.S., promising to provide people with more efficient ways to manage their own health.
Malawi drone test centre to help with healthcare, disasters Malawi on Thursday launched Africa's first drone-testing corridor as developing countries explore how drones could be used during humanitarian crises such as floods, or to deliver blood for HIV tests.
	Mind-controlled toys: The next generation of Christmas presents? The next generation of toys could be controlled by the power of the mind, thanks to research by the University of Warwick.
	Yahoo hack shows data's use for information warfare (Update) The 2013 hack affecting a billion Yahoo users shows how seemingly innocuous bits of data gleaned from cyber attacks can be exploited for espionage and information warfare, as well as for profit.
	Facebook gets serious about fighting fake news (Update) Facebook is taking new measures to curb the spread of fake news on its huge and influential social network. It will focus on the "worst of the worst" offenders and partner with outside fact-checkers and news organizations to sort honest news reports from made-up stories that play to people's passions and preconceived notions.
GM begins testing autonomous cars on Michigan public roads General Motors has started testing fully autonomous vehicles on public roads around its technical center in suburban Detroit.
	Yahoo's mega breach shows how just how vulnerable data is The revelation of Yahoo's latest hack underscores what many Americans have known for years: All those emails, photos and other personal files stored online can easily be stolen, and there's little anyone can do about it.
	Amazon aims to blur lines between game, real life On Amazon's streaming game platform Twitch, the world of gaming is being intermingled with real life.
Swiss pharma company pays $5.5 bn for US capsule maker Swiss pharmaceuticals and life sciences group Lonza said Thursday it had bought US capsule maker Capsugel for $5.5 billion as it focuses more on health care.
	After US election hacks, France girds against cyberattacks French security officials, sobered by the destabilizing effect that computer hacking and email leaks had on the U.S. election, have taken the unprecedented step of allowing government cyber-snoops share their expertise with political parties.
	Trump tells anxious tech leaders: 'We're here to help' President-elect Donald Trump, who faced fierce opposition from some Silicon Valley leaders during the election campaign, strove to assure the titans of tech on Wednesday that his administration is "here to help you folks do well."
	Another Yahoo breach and investors are rattled Yahoo shares slid Thursday on worries that Verizon will walk away or slash its $4.8 billion offer for the company's digital operations after another massive data breach.
Suspect arrested in JPMorgan, Dow Jones data theft case A 32-year-old American formerly living in Moscow but wanted in the United States in connection with a massive theft of customer data from JP Morgan Chase and Dow Jones has been arrested, officials said Thursday.
Lower cost of LEDs reduce profitability for manufacturing landscape Although residential and commercial industries are widely adopting energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs), the drop in LED prices is driving away manufacturers because of decreased profitability, dramatically dislocating and restructuring the solid-state lighting marketplace, says a new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.
UN: Threat of a hacking attack on nuclear plants is growing The "nightmare scenario" is rising for a hacking attack on a nuclear power plant's computer system that causes the uncontrolled release of radiation, the United Nations' deputy chief warned Thursday.
	California, Uber meet amid self-driving car legal showdown California regulators are meeting privately Thursday with officials from Uber to hammer home their demand that the ride-hailing company immediately stop picking up San Francisco passengers in self-driving cars—or face legal action.

Medicine & Health news

	Cellular reprogramming reverses signs of aging Graying hair, crow's feet, an injury that's taking longer to heal than when we were 20—faced with the unmistakable signs of aging, most of us have had a least one fantasy of turning back time. Now, scientists at the Salk Institute have found that intermittent expression of genes normally associated with an embryonic state can reverse the hallmarks of old age.
	Study reveals how diabetes drug metformin prevents, suppresses cancer growth Considerable evidence has indicated that the drug metformin, used for more than 50 years to treat type 2 diabetes, also can prevent or slow the growth of certain cancers; but the mechanism behind its anticancer effects has been unknown. Now a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has identified a pathway that appears to underlie metformin's ability both to block the growth of human cancer cells and to extend the lifespan of the C.elegans roundworm, implying that this single genetic pathway plays an important role in a wide range of organisms.
	Alzheimer's: Proteomics gives clues toward alternatives to amyloid In Alzheimer's research, one particular protein looms large: plaque-forming amyloid-beta. Yet doctors now recognize that plaques can accumulate decades before symptoms appear. Recent clinical trials aimed at controlling or removing amyloid-beta have largely been disappointing.
	Timing may be key to understanding cognitive problems in Parkinson's disease When a cheetah chases a gazelle, it's not raw speed that predicts the outcome of the contest. Instead, it's the animal that times its movements better that has the advantage. That ability to consciously guide movements over a timeframe of a few seconds is a simple but universal thinking skill in mammals. It also is an ability that is consistently impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and for University of Iowa neurologist Nandakumar Narayanan that makes "timing" an ideal tool to study cognitive problems in PD.
	One protein's sweeping influence on the development of autism revealed As many as a third of autism cases could be explained by a scarcity of a single protein in the brain, Toronto scientists have revealed. The findings provide a unique opportunity to develop treatments for a disorder that is rooted in a motley crew of genetic faults.
	One gene mutation, two diseases, many insights into human heart function Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes linked a single gene mutation to two types of heart disease: one causes a hole in the heart of infants, and the other causes heart failure. Using cells donated by a family with the mutation, the researchers gained insight into congenital heart disease, human heart development, and healthy heart function.
	Analyzing brain patterns may help scientists increase people's confidence, reduce fear A new technique of analyzing brain patterns appears to help people overcome fear and build self-confidence.
	Research on galanin can result in new drugs for depression Depression afflicts a large number of people over their lifetime. In addition to suffering and a risk for suicide, the disease is associated with major cost for society.
	Team locates absence epilepsy seizure 'choke point' in brain A particular structure in the brain is a "choke point" for a type of epileptic seizure that affects mostly children, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found.
	Neurons anticipate body's response to food and water Using leading-edge technology, neuroscientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) gained new insight into the brain circuitry that regulates water and food intake. In a new study, the team of researchers monitored the activity of the neurons that secrete a hormone in response to ingesting food and water. In their paper, published online today in Neuron, the researchers demonstrated that a subset of neurons starts to prepare the body for an influx of water in the seconds before drinking begins. These neurons help regulate intake by anticipating the effects of drinking from the "top down," rather than taking cues from the body.
	Groundbreaking discovery has potential to improve therapies for cancer and other diseases The Retinoblastoma protein (pRB) has long been studied for its role in cell growth and the prevention of cancer. In a new study by Lawson Health Research Institute, scientists have discovered that pRB plays another, larger role with the potential to enhance therapies for cancer and other diseases such as HIV.
	New finding reveals battle behind gene expression The complex process regulating gene expression is often compared to following a recipe. Miss a genetic ingredient, or add it in the wrong order, and you could have a disaster on your hands.
	Waging a more effective war against viral outbreaks HIV, SARS, Ebola, H1N1, Zika, the list of communicable global health threats seems ever growing. And all too often, the limited resources available to fight these diseases must be picked up and redeployed, often haphazardly, as the next new threat emerges.
	Bad people are disgusting, bad actions are angering A person's character, more so than their actions, determines whether we find immoral acts to be 'disgusting,' according to new research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	The Angelina Jolie effect on breast cancer genetic testing Pop culture icons can influence our fashion choices, dietary habits and brand preferences, but can celebrities also influence our medical decisions?
Saliva test could offer new way to check immunity New research from the University of Birmingham shows that antibody levels in saliva are linked to those in blood serum, suggesting a new method for assessment of protection against bacterial infections.
Obesity in adolescents significantly increases their risk of heart disease regardless of ethnicity A new study published today in BMJ Open has found a link between obesity in adolescents and their risk of developing heart disease in early adulthood, regardless of ethnicity.
	Survey: Significant number of airline pilots report depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts Hundreds of commercial airline pilots currently flying may be clinically depressed, according to an anonymous survey of nearly 1,850 pilots conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
CCTV at metro stations could be used to identify people at risk of attempting suicide Nearly a quarter of attempted suicides at metro stations could be identified using real-time CCTV to spot certain behaviours for prevention, according to new research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health. This study is the first to examine the behaviours of people at metro stations using CCTV footage, and their association with suicide risk. Suicides occur in all urban transit systems where there are no physical barriers to block access to the tracks, and although most attempters do not die, they often suffer serious injuries as a result.
New parent home visiting program reduces infants' need for medical care Infants in families who participated in an intensive new parent home visiting program involving both nurses and lay educators used significantly less medical services during the first year of life, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Addition of MRI after 20-week scan could provide more certainty in diagnosing fetal brain abnormalities An extra scan using MRI could help to more accurately detect brain abnormalities and give more certainty for parents whose mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan showed a potential problem, according to a study published in The Lancet.
	Drugmakers push profitable, but unproven, opioid solution Pilloried for their role in the epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse, drugmakers are aggressively pushing their remedy to the problem: a new generation of harder-to-manipulate opioids that have racked up billions in sales, even though there's little proof they reduce rates of overdoses or deaths.
Aspirin slows growth of colon, pancreatic tumor cells Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and Oregon State University have found that aspirin may slow the spread of some types of colon and pancreatic cancer cells. The paper is published in the American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology.
	Tracking down therapy-resistant leukaemia cells Dr. Irmela Jeremias from Helmholtz Zentrum München and her colleagues have succeeded in finding a small population of inactive leukaemia cells that is responsible for relapse of the disease. Now the way is paved for research into new therapies that prevent disease relapse by eliminating the remaining, so-called dormant leukaemia cells. The research results have now been published in the Cancer Cell journal.
	Visuo-olfactory social affective matching in childhood Psychologists and neuroscientists have thoroughly investigated olfactory behaviours in newborns and adults, but relatively little is known about the characteristics of the sense of smell during infancy and adolescence. In a study carried out by SISSA in collaboration with the Please Touch Museum of Philadelphia (an interactive science museum for children), over 150 children aged 3 to 11 years old took part in a simple experiment allowing investigators to trace the curve of visuo-olfactory integration. In the study, published in Developmental Science, the researchers found that before the age of 5 children find it difficult to combine what they see and what they smell as to make decisions in a social context.
	Combination of environmental stressors could mean more cognitive impairment for vulnerable older adults Even with key steps taken to decrease air pollution in recent decades, there are serious health effects connected to auto exhaust and other pollutants in the air we breathe, especially for older adults.
Hearing loss prevalence declining in US adults aged 20 to 69 years Hearing loss among U.S. adults aged 20 to 69 has declined over the last decade, even as the number of older Americans continues to grow. These findings, published today in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, also confirm that hearing loss is strongly associated with age and other demographic factors such as sex, race/ethnicity, and education. Noise exposure, which is potentially preventable, was also significant but less strongly associated after adjustment for other factors. The research was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Many early-onset colon cancers are caused by genetic mutations passed through families One in every six colorectal cancer patients (16 percent) diagnosed under age 50 has at least one inherited genetic mutation that increases his or her cancer risk and many of these mutations could go undetected with the current screening approach, according to initial data from a statewide colorectal cancer screening study conducted at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James).
	Tumor gene test results can differ in same patients A preliminary study comparing two commercially available, next-generation genetic sequencing tests in the same cancer patients shows results can differ widely. The findings are reported Dec. 15 in JAMA Oncology.
Gastric cancer fueled by 'crosstalk' between nerves and cancer cells Gastric tumors are started by specialized cells in the stomach that signal nerves to make more acetylcholine, according to a study in mice. The multinational team of researchers who conducted the study also identified a substance called nerve growth factor that stimulates nerve development and, when blocked, inhibits stomach cancer development.
	Britain first country to approve 'three-parent' babies (Update 2) Britain is set to become the first country in the world to legally offer "three-parent baby" fertility treatments after regulators gave the green light.
Chinese herbal treatment shows signs of effectiveness in bone marrow recovery UCLA researchers have found that a Chinese herbal regimen called TSY-1 (Tianshengyuan-1) increased telomerase activity in normal blood cells but decreased it in cancer cells. Telomerase is an enzyme responsible for the production of telomeres, which play an important role in the regulation of normal cell division. These results indicate that telomerase-based treatments may play an important role in treating both blood cell deficiency and cancer.
	Why sex gets better in older age Aging is generally associated with improvements in our quality of life: We become more proficient in our work, learn how to manage our finances better and our bonds with loved ones deepen. With time and practice, most of the core domains of our lives improve as we develop skills and strategies to manage our lives with more mastery. An exception to this pattern is the quality of our sex lives, which has consistently been reported to deteriorate with age.
	New research finds brain activation in children viewing large portions of food Viewing large portions of high-calorie food activates reward and sensory processing areas in children's brains, according to a Penn State study.
Diagnosing, treating 'superbugs' is goal of clinical team Dr. Michael Satlin's patients aren't just battling cancer. Many are also fighting drug-resistant bacteria – "superbugs" that threaten their fragile immune systems, and their lives.
	Weight-lifting can help over 55s improve brain function and muscle strength Over 55s with mild cognitive impairment can improve their brain function by building muscle strength, a new study shows.
	Lack of sanitation facilities linked to higher rape incidents in India Women in India without bathrooms in their homes are more likely to face sexual violence, say University of Michigan researchers.
	Can a cancer drug treat a rare cardiac disease? About 1 in 2,500 babies born in the United States each year have Noonan syndrome (NS), a genetic disorder that results in severe heart defects, among other symptoms. A gene called PTPN11 causes the condition, for which there is no treatment. To identify a potential target for therapy, a team of Yale researchers studied mouse models of the disease.
Health and independence highlighted in ageing population Health, independence and caregiving in advanced age are investigated in a major report released today that will assist policy and services on the health care impacts of population ageing in New Zealand.
	Heart attack deaths are highest during December/January holiday season According to a study published in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), the winter holiday season is considered a risk factor for cardiac and noncardiac death.
	Traumatic head injuries should be treated by cooling down patients New research from Royal Holloway published today in Critical Care Medicine shows that lowering the body temperature of people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as soon as possible after the trauma may significantly improve chances of survival in adults.
	Reading with your children—books vs tablets Most of us have an opinion about whether we prefer reading on screen or paper: but what difference does it make for children? The truth is that technology is now encountered from babyhood. Anecdotes abound of toddlers swiping their fingers across paper rather than turning the page, while parents and teachers express their fear of screen addiction as tablets introduce new distractions as well as new attractions for young readers.
	Infections during pregnancy have a negative impact upon maternal care and can trigger depression in the child A viral infection in a pregnant woman not only affects her subsequent ability to provide maternal care but can also trigger depression in her offspring, which can then even extend into the next generation as a result of changes to genetic mechanisms in the brain. This is the central finding of a transgenerational study conducted at MedUni Vienna in collaboration with the Division of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology (Daniela Pollak) and the Division of Neonatology and Paediatric Critical Care (Angelika Berger), which has now been published in the leading journal Brain, Behaviour and Immunity.
Mental health courts improve relationships, help people manage health care Mental health courts provide a voluntary option for criminal offenders. These courts incorporate mental health assessments, treatment plans and ongoing monitoring to address the health needs of offenders in an effort to keep them out of jail, while also ensuring public safety. Proponents point to reductions in recidivism, or relapse into criminal behavior, as evidence to the effectiveness of mental health courts. Now, new research from the University of Missouri has found additional mental, social and health benefits for mental health court participants as an alternative to serving time in jail or prison.
	Researcher explores the barriers stopping men seeking information on sexually transmitted infections A researcher at Birmingham City University is undertaking research into the social and cognitive barriers hindering men who have sex with other men (MSM) from finding out more information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
	New findings about stem cells in the brain of patients with epilepsy Neural stem cells have been found in epileptic brain tissue—outside the regions of the brain where they normally reside. In a group of patients who underwent surgery for epilepsy, over half had stem cells where healthy individuals do not have them, according to a study from Sahlgrenska Academy.
Breast cancer study predicts better response to chemotherapy It is known from previous research that the ER-beta estrogen receptor often has a protective effect. A new study from Lund University in Sweden has found that this effect is more pronounced in patients that undergo chemotherapy.
The pill won't kill your sexual desire, researchers say Taking the pill doesn't lower your sexual desire, contrary to popular belief, according to research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The authors of the research, from the University of Kentucky and Indiana University in the US, say the evidence explaining what affects women's sexual desire is mixed and more research is needed.
	Study sheds new light on how socioeconomics impact childhood language comprehension New research from the University of Maryland Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences suggests that understanding the effect of socioeconomic status on children's ability to learn and understand language requires identifying not just what children hear but how they use it.
	Potential treatment for pregnant women who suffer from preeclampsia found in a vitamin Scientists in Japan and the US have found that vitamin B3 nicotinamide may help treat pregnant women who suffer from preeclampsia by preventing strokes and in some cases, even stimulating the growth of their fetus.
	How brain tissue recovers after injury A research team led by Associate Professor Mitsuharu ENDO and Professor Yasuhiro MINAMI (both from the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University) has pinpointed the mechanism underlying astrocyte-mediated restoration of brain tissue after an injury. This could lead to new treatments that encourage regeneration by limiting damage to neurons incurred by reduced blood supply or trauma. The findings were published on October 11 in the online version of Glia ahead of print release in January 2017.
	Re­search­ers cor­rect Par­kin­son's mo­tor symp­toms in mice A research group led by University of Helsinki Docent Timo Myöhänen has succeeded in correcting the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease in mice. These results are promising in terms of treatment, since Parkinson's disease is practically always diagnosed only after motor symptoms appear.
Incidence of consciousness during surgery lower than previous estimates An international study of 260 surgical patients found that, contrary to many previous studies, just more than four percent were conscious of the external world while under general anesthesia but before the start of surgery.
	Hormone-disrupting compound could provide new approach to malaria control A chemical that disrupts biological processes in female mosquitoes may be just as effective as insecticides in reducing the spread of malaria, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Key benefits of large-scale use of universal over conventional flu vaccines Universal vaccines that protect against multiple strains of influenza virus at once could offer key population-level benefits over conventional seasonal vaccines, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Immunotherapy for cancer: New method identifies target antigens by mass spectrometry New cancer therapies harness the immune system to fight tumors. One of the main principles behind these therapies is to find out precisely which molecules on cancer cells trigger an immune response. A team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry has for the first time identified suitable protein structures directly from patients' tumor cells. Unlike former approaches, their method does not rely on prediction algorithms but makes use of mass spectrometry. The procedure therefore opens up new possibilities for individualized targeted cancer treatments.
	Herpes virus linked to most common type of childhood cancer Newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)—a common virus in the herpes family—may have an increased risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), according to new research published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). The study suggests the risk is even greater in Hispanic children.
	Study maps brain's ageing connections Brain connections that play a key role in complex thinking skills show the poorest health with advancing age, new research suggests.
Chemists identify genetic mutation that opens door in combatting age-related diseases Researchers at the University of Surrey, in collaboration with the Universities of Reading and Cologne, and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, have discovered that it is possible to stop the activation of a group of proteins (NADPH Oxidase) known to cause most of the diseases of ageing. This will potentially pave the way for the development of drugs to treat a range of age-related diseases.
	Once-conjoined twins going to rehab 9 weeks after separation Formerly conjoined twins Jadon and Anias McDonald have transferred to a new hospital to begin rehabilitation nine weeks after being separated.
	Preeclampsia linked to risk of maternal retinal disease (HealthDay)—Preeclampsia is associated with increased risk of maternal retinal disease, especially traction detachments, retinal breaks, and diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published in the January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Depressed children respond differently to rewards than other kids For many children, December often is linked to presents and excitement, but when a young child doesn't seem all that enthused about getting gifts, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Measuring brain waves, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that clinically depressed children don't respond to rewards the same way as other children do.
	Patient prostate tissue used to create unique model of prostate cancer biology For the first time, researchers have been able to grow, in a lab, both normal and primary cancerous prostate cells from a patient, and then implant a million of the cancer cells into a mouse to track how the tumor progresses. The achievement, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center who led the research, represents a critical advance in the effort to understand the origin and drivers of this puzzling cancer—the most common in men. The study was published online today in Oncotarget.
	Potentially avoidable breast cancer surgeries cost patients and health-care system The number of breast cancer patients that have to be reoperated on in Canada is too high and impacts patient wellbeing and health care costs, according to UBC research.
	Coping mechanism suggests new way to make cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapies The same signal that drives aggressive growth in a deadly cancer cell type also triggers coping mechanisms that make it "notoriously" hard to kill, according to a study published online December 15 in Cell. When stressed, this cell type - far more than most cancer cells - encases its genetic messages in protein globs called "stress granules" that lessen the effect of chemotherapies.
New gene fusions and mutations linked to gastrointestinal stromal tumors In recent years, researchers have identified specific gene mutations linked to gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), which primarily occur in the stomach or small intestine, with 5,000 to 6,000 new cases per year in the United States.
	Cancer breakthrough—device shows which drugs will perform best Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have helped develop a lab device that could speed up the adoption of new anti-cancer treatments.
Inherited mutations in three genes predict for aggressive prostate cancer A study of three genes associated with the development of prostate cancer found that men with inherited mutations in these genes are more likely to develop aggressive forms of the disease and die from prostate cancer at an earlier age than those without the mutations. The study to be published in the journal European Urology looked at germline mutations in the ATM and BRCA1/2 genes and represents important progress on the goal of being able to predict which men are more likely to develop a lethal form of prostate cancer versus an indolent one.
	Attractive drug candidate identified to target glioma brain tumors In a paper published today in Cancer Research, researchers: 1) identify a biomarker enzyme associated with aggressive glioma brain tumors, 2) reveal the regulatory mechanism for that enzyme, and 3) demonstrate potent efficacy, using a mouse model of glioma, for a small molecule inhibitor they have developed.
	Predicting throat cancer recurrence with a blood test A new study suggests the possibility of predicting at its earliest stages when a type of head and neck cancer will come back.
	Does good-tasting food cause weight gain? Does eating good-tasting food make you gain weight? Despite the common perception that good-tasting food is unhealthy and causes obesity, new research from the Monell Center using a mouse model suggests that desirable taste in and of itself does not lead to weight gain.
Hormonal contraception is safer than expected for women with diabetes Strokes and heart attacks are rare for women with diabetes who use hormonal contraception, with the safest options being intrauterine devices (IUDs) and under-the-skin implants, new research published in Diabetes Care shows.
	There's a science to gift giving—experiences are better than material items If it's better to give than to receive, U of T Scarborough research shows that it's better to give an experience than a thing.
Repurposed drugs may offer improved treatments for fatal genetic disorders University of Rochester Medical Center researchers believe they have identified a potential new means of treating some of the most severe genetic diseases of childhood, according to a study in PLOS Biology. The diseases, called lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), are caused by disruptions in the functioning of the stomach of the cell, known as the lysosome. LSDs include Krabbe disease, Gaucher disease , metachromatic leukodystrophy and about 40 related conditions. In their most aggressive forms, they cause death of affected children within a few years after birth.
	Silencing fat protein improves obesity and blood sugar In a study published in the Journal of Lipid Research, Saint Louis University scientist Angel Baldan, Ph.D., reports that turning off a protein found in liver and adipose tissue significantly improves blood sugar levels, as well as reduces body fat in an animal model.
	The secret to raising a smart shopper: Pick the right parenting style Have you ever wondered how to raise children who will become wise consumers once they are adults?
	Computer model predicts potential impact of short-course therapy against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a computer simulation that helps predict under which circumstances a new short-course treatment regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis could substantially reduce the global incidence and spread of the disease.
CDC issues Texas city warning for pregnant women after Zika Federal health officials say pregnant women should consider postponing travel to Brownsville, Texas, because of concerns about mosquitoes there spreading the Zika virus.
	Study: Premium hikes add $10B to taxpayers' health law tab (Update) Taxpayers will fork over nearly $10 billion more next year to cover double-digit premium hikes for subsidized health insurance under President Barack Obama's law, according to a study being released Thursday.
Facial feminization surgery for transgender patients A new article published online by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery examines the role of rhinoplasty in facial feminization surgery for transgender patients.
	Drugmakers set to gain as taxpayers foot new opioid costs Critics say the answer pharmaceutical companies are pushing to address the ongoing opioid crisis boosts their profits while forcing taxpayers to shoulder the costs.
Cancer registries in resource-constrained countries can inform policy to reduce cancer burden Data from population-based cancer registries are vital for informing health programs, policies and strategies for cancer screening and treatment. A special issue of Cancer Epidemiology, prepared under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers lessons for planning and supporting cancer registration in resource-constrained settings to support data-driven policies on cancer prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment leading to significant cost savings for government and society as a whole.
	New approach for cancer prevention in BRCA1 mutation-positive women Women with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are at substantially higher risk of breast cancer. For these women, effective prevention strategies are their best hope to reduce their breast cancer risk. In FY11, Dr. Josef Penninger received an Innovator Award from the BCRP to pursue a project that could immediately impact breast cancer prevention.
Decreased rates of pressure injuries linked to better preventive care Rates of new pressure injuries in U.S. hospitals and other acute care settings have decreased by about half over the past decade, according to national survey data reported in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing.
Asian head and neck cancer patients live longer with immunotherapy than mixed race group Asian head and neck cancer patients live longer with the immunotherapy pembrolizumab than the overall population, according to a sub-analysis of the KEYNOTE-012 trial presented at the ESMO ASIA 2016 Congress in Singapore.
Pot stores open in Canada ahead of legalization Eight storefronts selling recreational marijuana opened in Montreal Thursday, flouting the law in a push to grab market share ahead of promised legalization in Canada that is still at least a year away.
Connecticut leads 20-state lawsuit over drug pricing Six generic drug-makers artificially inflated and manipulated prices to reduce competition for an antibiotic and oral diabetes medication, 20 state attorneys general, led by Connecticut, said in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday.

Biology news

	'Junk RNA' molecule found to play key role in cellular response to stress A study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found a surprising role for what had been considered a nonfunctional "junk" RNA molecule: controlling the cellular response to stress. In their report in the Dec. 15 issue of Cell, the researchers describe finding that a highly specific interaction between two elements previously known to repress gene transcription—B2 RNA and EZH2, an enzyme previously known only to silence genes—actually induces the expression of stress-response genes in mouse cells.
	Invasive fish threat to kelp forests Seaweed-eating fish are becoming increasingly voracious as the ocean warms due to climate change and are responsible for the recent destruction of kelp forests off the NSW north coast near Coffs Harbour, research shows.
	Study suggests rats smile with their ears (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the University of Bern in Switzerland has found that as part of feeling happiness, rats undergo a slight physical change. As the team notes in their paper uploaded to the peer-reviewed open access site PLOS ONE, the rats under study demonstrated happiness by lowering their ears.
	Exciting new creatures discovered on ocean floor Scientists at the University of Southampton have discovered six new animal species in undersea hot springs 2.8 kilometres deep in the southwest Indian Ocean.
	Wheat crop yield can be increased by up to 20% using new chemical technology UK scientists have created a synthetic molecule that, when applied to crops, has been shown to increase the size and starch content of wheat grains in the lab by up to 20%.
	Two major groups of rabies virus display distinct evolutionary trends Using hundreds of viral genome sequences, scientists have shown that two major groups of rabies virus have unique evolutionary tendencies. Their findings are presented in a new study published in PLOS Pathogens.
	Gene editing takes on new roles What combinations of mutations help cancer cells survive? Which cells in the brain are involved in the onset of Alzheimer's? How do immune cells conduct their convoluted decision-making processes? Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have now combined two powerful research tools - CRISPR gene editing and single cell genomic profiling - in a method that may finally help us get answers to these questions and many more.
	New spider species named after Harry Potter hat Indian scientists have discovered a new species of spider that looks "uncannily" like the sorting hat in Harry Potter and have named it after its owner Godric Gryffindor, they said Thursday.
	Scientists sequence the genome of the Iberian lynx, the most endangered felid Spanish scientists have sequenced the genome of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), currently one of the world's most endangered felines. They have confirmed the "extreme erosion" suffered by its DNA. The Iberian lynx has one of the least genetically diverse genomes. It is even less diverse than other endangered mammals, such as the cheetah or Tasmanian devil, or birds, like the crested ibis or osprey.
	New research paper challenges dogma of cell cycle control All textbooks describe the cyclin-dependent kinase complex as the one and only/exclusive regulator of the eukaryotic cell cycle. But now University of Groningen scientists have found evidence that a metabolic oscillator acts as the "conductor" of cell division. Their results were published online in the journal Molecular Cell on December 15.
	EU court upholds Monsanto GM soybean approval A top EU court on Thursday upheld the European Commission's approval of genetically modified soybeans made by US agri-chemicals giant Monsanto which environmentalists claim may harm human health.
	Merlin Bird Photo ID mobile app launches The Merlin Bird Photo ID mobile app has been launched and, thanks to machine-learning technology, can identify hundreds of North American species it "sees" in photos.
	When horses are in trouble they ask humans for help Research Fellow Monamie RINGHOFER and Associate Professor Shinya YAMAMOTO (Kobe University Graduate School of Intercultural Studies) have proved that when horses face unsolvable problems they use visual and tactile signals to get human attention and ask for help. The study also suggests that horses alter their communicative behavior based on humans' knowledge of the situation. These findings were published in the online version of Animal Cognition on November 24.
	First ever footage of rare wild turkey provides early Christmas present Bake slowly at 33C in the centre of a compost heap for several months. If that sounds like an unconventional way to cook your turkey this Christmas, imagine having to build your own oven before you start. The rare and elusive Waigeo brush-turkey, which has just been captured on video for the first time, has its own interpretation of the phrase 'oven-ready'.
	Land use affects spread of schistosomiasis-carrying snails in Asia Over the past six decades, China has carried out an aggressive program to control schistosomiasis, or snail fever, a disease caused by a parasitic worm that moves from its snail hosts to humans. Cases of the disease in China plummeted by more than a hundred fold. In recent years, however, areas where the parasite had been eliminated are seeing new infections, and the range of the snail host has expanded into new areas. Now, to help inspire new ways of stopping the spread of schistosomiasis, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have studied the dispersal patterns of the snails that carry the infection. Irrigation channels and other land use patterns, they found, affect the likelihood of the snails spreading between neighboring areas.
	Understanding X-chromosome silencing in humans Researchers have discovered new insights into how one of the two X-chromosomes is silenced during the development of female human embryos and also in lab-grown stem cells. X-chromosome silencing is essential for proper development and these findings are important for understanding how the activity of the X-chromosome is regulated to ensure the healthy development of human embryos.
Rare Omura's whale spotted off Australia A rarely seen Omura's whale has been spotted on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, officials said Thursday, one of the few sightings globally of a species that scientists know little about.
	Predicting suitable habitats for the Siberian flying squirrel in different felling scenarios In support of forest-related decision-making, methods are needed which enable the assessment of potential impacts of forest management activities and the comparison of different forest policies. The amount of suitable habitat for the Siberian flying squirrel in the future was predicted in different felling scenarios using a Finnish large-scale forestry dynamics model MELA and sample plot data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI).
	Does omega-3 algal oil improve osteoarthritis in dogs? Owners of dogs showing signs of osteoarthritis are being asked by the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences to take part in the first study of its kind to find out whether an omega-3 oil derived from algae can help dogs with osteoarthritis (OA).
	Get pets set for holidays early, vet warns Pet owners should take steps now to protect their animals during the holidays, a University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science academic has warned.
Mexico plans to catch, protect last few vaquita porpoises So few of Mexico's vaquita porpoises remain that the international committee to protect the endangered species is preparing to catch and enclose as many as it can in a last-ditch effort to save them from extinction, experts said Thursday.
Rare plant named after rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix California researchers have named a newly discovered rare plant after Jimi Hendrix.
	Mexico removes 'ghost' nets to save tiny porpoise The Mexican government has removed so-called "ghost" fishing nets that are left floating in the sea in another effort to save the world's smallest porpoise, the vaquita marina, from extinction.

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