Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 4

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 4, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Nanoscale cryptography method gains robustness from stiction

'Mayonnaise effect' explains breakdown of 1929 viscosity equation

Astronomers discover an M-dwarf eclipsing binary system

Study of 385-million-year-old shark suggests humans and sharks shared common ancestor 440 million years ago

Creating 2-D dichalcogenide structures using chemical vapor deposition

Weighing massive stars in nearby galaxy reveals excess of heavyweights

Worm species lost 7,000 genes after evolving to fertilize itself

New class of soft, electrically activated devices mimics the expansion and contraction of natural muscles

In broadest view yet of world's low oxygen, scientists reveal dangers and solutions

Computer chip 'flaw' sparks security debate amid scramble for fix

Engineers make wearable sensors for plants, enabling measurements of water use in crops

Glucagon receptor structure offers new opportunities for type 2 diabetes drug discovery

Library of galaxy histories reconstructed from motions of stars

Autoimmune reaction successfully halted in early stage islet autoimmunity

Leaving flatland – quantum Hall physics in 4-D

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover an M-dwarf eclipsing binary system Astronomers have found a new eclipsing binary system by analyzing archival survey data and conducting follow-up radial velocity measurements. The newly found binary, designated SDSSJ1156-0207, is composed of two M-dwarf stars orbiting each other at a relatively close distance. The finding is presented in a paper published December 24 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Weighing massive stars in nearby galaxy reveals excess of heavyweights An international team of astronomers has revealed an 'astonishing' overabundance of massive stars in a neighbouring galaxy.
	Library of galaxy histories reconstructed from motions of stars Just as the sun is moving within the Milky Way, all the stars in galaxies are moving, but with very different orbits. Some of the stars have strong rotations, while others may be moving randomly with no clear rotation. Comparing the fraction of stars on different orbits, researchers can determine how galaxies form and evolve. An international team of astronomers has derived directly, for the first time, the orbital distribution of a galaxy sample containing more than 300 galaxies of the local universe. The results, published in Nature Astronomy, are based on the CALIFA survey, a project developed at Calar Alto Observatory and conceived from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC).
	James Webb Telescope to investigate mysterious brown dwarfs Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Astronomers are hopeful that the powerful infrared capability of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will resolve a puzzle as fundamental as stargazing itself—what IS that dim light in the sky? Brown dwarfs muddy a clear distinction between stars and planets, throwing established understanding of those bodies, and theories of their formation, into question.
	Global network of 1000 stations needed to build an Earth observatory Environmental challenges, climate change, water and food security and urban air pollution are all interlinked, yet each is studied separately. This is not a sustainable situation, for anybody anymore. To tackle this, professor Markku Kulmala calls for a continuous, comprehensive monitoring of interactions between the planet's surface and atmosphere in his article "Build a global Earth observatory," published in Nature, January 4, 2018.
	Two heads are better than one: ICON and GOLD teaming up to explore earth's interface to space Like Earth, space has weather. Except instead of swirling winds and downpours of precipitation, space weather is defined by shifting electric and magnetic fields and rains of charged particles. At the very beginning of space, starting just 60 miles above Earth's surface, there's a layer of the atmosphere that shifts and changes in concert with both types of weather.

Technology news

	Nanoscale cryptography method gains robustness from stiction Most of the cryptographic methods that keep important data secure use complex encryption software, and as a result, consume large amounts of power. As more and more electronic devices are being connected to the internet, there is a growing need for alternative low-power security methods, and this is often done by basing the security on hardware rather than software.
	New class of soft, electrically activated devices mimics the expansion and contraction of natural muscles In the basement of the Engineering Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, a group of researchers is working to create the next generation of robots. Instead of the metallic droids you may be imagining, they are developing robots made from soft materials that are more similar to biological systems. Such soft robots contain tremendous potential for future applications as they adapt to dynamic environments and are well-suited to closely interact with humans.
	Computer chip 'flaw' sparks security debate amid scramble for fix A newly discovered vulnerability in computer chips raised concerns Wednesday that hackers could access sensitive data on most modern systems, as technology firms sought to play down the security risks.
	China's solar highway ambitions are seen in Jinan stretch Where the solar panel meets the road—China is putting a solar highway to the test. The Hindu along with a number of other sites carried reports of the photovoltaic road project The Hindu, referring to reports from Xinhua, said this trial was "based on home-grown technology."
	Tesla falls short on Model 3, but overall sales rise in 2017 Electric car maker Tesla Inc. has again fallen short of production goals for its new Model 3 sedan.
BlackBerry, Baidu announce autonomous vehicle partnership Canadian telecommunications software company BlackBerry and China's web giant Baidu on Wednesday announced a partnership for autonomous and connected vehicles.
	Experiments boost solar power With global warming an ever-present worry, renewable energy – particularly solar power—is a burgeoning field. Now, two doctoral students in the School of Architecture & Design (Arc/D) have demonstrated methods of optimizing the capture of sunlight in experiments at the Center for Design Research.
	Advanced multi-junction solar cells deliver high efficiency, reduced costs for space Experts at the Air Force Research Laboratory continue to expand the scope of their technological expertise, rising above the Earth's surface to meet the power needs of next generation military spacecraft.
	Trust in digital technology will be the internet's next frontier, for 2018 and beyond After decades of unbridled enthusiasm – bordering on addiction – about all things digital, the public may be losing trust in technology. Online information isn't reliable, whether it appears in the form of news, search results or user reviews. Social media, in particular, is vulnerable to manipulation by hackers or foreign powers. Personal data isn't necessarily private. And people are increasingly worried about automation and artificial intelligence taking humans' jobs.
	Hyundai, Aurora to release autonomous cars by 2021 Hyundai Motor Co. said Thursday it will begin selling its first self-driving vehicles by 2021 in partnership with U.S. based self-driving technology startup Aurora Innovation Inc.
VW to build autonomous cars with Silicon Valley firm The world's largest carmaker Volkswagen said Thursday it would work with Silicon Valley firm Aurora to create self-driving cars, hoping to deploy fleets of autonomous taxis to city streets by 2021.
What to watch for at the CES technology show Every year one or two breakout technologies capture the imagination of consumers. Eighteen months ago, it was Pokemon Go, the first augmented reality mobile app to really catch fire. A few years before that, it was 3-D printers.
	Explainer: Who's affected by computer chip security flaw Technology companies are scrambling to fix serious security flaws affecting computer processors built by Intel and other chipmakers and found in many of the world's personal computers and smartphones.
	Facebook CEO's 2018 challenge: Fix Facebook Mark Zuckerberg says his "personal challenge" for 2018 is to fix Facebook.
Sprint names Michel Combes president and financial chief Sprint named Michel Combes president and chief financial officer, months after it called off a merger with rival T-Mobile.
	Science for a resilient EU power grid Electricity is the backbone of European society. When a natural disaster hits the power grid, recovery can happen in a matter of hours or it could take months to fully restore electricity supply. As well as hampering emergency response efforts, power cuts can trigger accidents and bring economic activity to a halt.
	Team improves optical efficiency in nanophotonic devices A team of physicists, headed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), have demonstrated the means to improve the optical loss characteristics and transmission efficiency of hexagonal boron nitride devices, enabling very small lasers and nanoscale optics.

Medicine & Health news

	Autoimmune reaction successfully halted in early stage islet autoimmunity Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München have discovered a mechanism that amplifies the autoimmune reaction in an early stage of pancreatic islet autoimmunity prior to the progression to clinical type 1 diabetes. If the researchers blocked the corresponding molecules, the immune system was significantly less active. The study was conducted under the auspices of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Researchers create novel compound targeting melanoma cells An international team of researchers has developed a novel compound that successfully inhibits growth of melanoma cells by targeting specific epigenetic modifying proteins in these cells.
	Can road salt and other pollutants disrupt our circadian rhythms? Every winter, local governments across the United States apply millions of tons of road salt to keep streets navigable during snow and ice storms. Runoff from melting snow carries road salt into streams and lakes, and causes many bodies of water to have extraordinarily high salinity.
	Bone marrow transplant stem cells can 'swim' upstream When a cancer patient receives a bone marrow transplant, time is of the essence. Healthy stem cells, which can restart the production of blood cells and immune system components after a patient's own are compromised, need to make their way from the circulatory system into the bones as quickly as possible. To do that, they must find the spots where blood vessels and bone are in close contact.
	New brainstem changes identified in Parkinson's disease A pioneering study has found that patients with Parkinson's disease have more errors in the mitochondrial DNA within the brainstem, leading to increased cell death in that area.
	Scientists take a big step toward building a better opioid For the first time, scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and collaborators solved the crystal structure of the activated kappa opioid receptor bound to a morphine derivative. They then created a new drug-like compound that activates only that receptor, a key step in the development of new pain medications.
	Gene therapy restores normal blood glucose levels in mice with type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in high blood levels of glucose. A study published January 4th in Cell Stem Cell demonstrates that a gene therapy approach can lead to the long-term survival of functional beta cells as well as normal blood glucose levels for an extended period of time in mice with diabetes. The researchers used an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to deliver to the mouse pancreas two proteins, Pdx1 and MafA, which reprogrammed plentiful alpha cells into functional, insulin-producing beta cells.
	Mechanism for resistance to immunotherapy treatment discovered An urgent question for cancer scientists is why immunotherapy achieves dramatic results in some cases but doesn't help most patients. Now, two research groups from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have independently discovered a genetic mechanism in cancer cells that influences whether they resist or respond to immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors.
	Stressed out? Try smelling your partner's shirt The scent of a romantic partner can help lower stress levels, new psychology research from the University of British Columbia has found.
X chromosome reactivation could treat Rett syndrome, other X-linked disorders A study from a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators points toward a potential strategy for treating X-linked disorders - those caused by mutations in the X chromosome - in females. Their report published online in PNAS Early Edition, describes how a dual-modality approach was able to reactivate the inactive X chromosome in mouse cell lines, leading to increased expression of the healthy version of protein underlying the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. Their work also suggested that X reactivation within the brain - the site of several serious X-linked diseases - could be safely accomplished in live mice.
	Specific microbes in digestive tract can boost success for cancer immunotherapy In the Jan. 5, 2018 issue of Science, researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine show that specific strains of commensal bacteria - the swarms of microorganisms naturally dwelling in the intestines - can improve the response rate to immunotherapy for patients being treated for advanced melanoma.
	Precision editing of gut bacteria: Potential way to treat colitis UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have used precision editing of the bacterial populations in the gut to prevent or reduce the severity of inflammation in a mouse model of colitis.
	Diabetes increases over time in children but adults account for most new cases in China Although China remains one of the countries with the lowest incidence of type 1 diabetes globally, a study published by The BMJ today shows that there has been a rapid increase in the number of new cases (incidence) of the condition in under 15s in the past two decades.
	Could sugar be responsible for the obesity and diabetes epidemics? The idea that sugar could be a fundamental cause of the global obesity and diabetes epidemics, with deleterious effects on the human body that go beyond just empty calories, should be considered seriously again, argues journalist and author Gary Taubes in The BMJ today.
Impact of US pay for performance programs 'limited and disappointing' say experts The impact of pay for performance programs in US hospitals has been "limited and disappointing" say experts in a study published by The BMJ today.
The BMJ reveals hundreds of drug company deals that commissioning groups fail to declare Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England have accepted hundreds of payments from drug companies that they have not disclosed to patients and the public, reveals an investigation by The BMJ today.
	When is the right time to start infants on solid foods? The first study of a nationally-representative group of U.S. infants reports that more than half of babies are currently introduced to complementary foods, that is, foods or drinks other than breast milk or formula, sooner than they should be. Babies who were never breastfed or breastfed for less than four months were most likely to be introduced to foods too early. These findings are reported in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and emphasize the need to introduce foods at the proper time to get the most benefit from breast milk or formula.
Wrecked and retching: Obscure vomiting illness linked to long-term pot use For 17 years, Chalfonte LeNee Queen suffered periodic episodes of violent retching and abdominal pain that would knock her off her feet for days, sometimes leaving her writhing on the floor in pain.
Surgery death rates in Africa are twice global average: study The risk of dying from scheduled surgery in Africa is more than double the global average, researchers said on Wednesday, in a study shedding light on one of the continent's biggest but poorly investigated healthcare problems.
Australia green-lights medicinal cannabis exports Australia agreed to allow exports of medicinal cannabis Thursday in a boost to budding domestic manufacturers, as it eyes becoming a leading world supplier.
The importance of therapy after sexual assault This year's Golden Globes will adopt a more serious tone as many celebrity women take a stand against sexual harassment and sexual assault by wearing black attire. This and other recent movements against sexual assault are helping to shed light on a difficult and little-discussed topic and may help victims on their healing journey, according to a Baylor College of Medicine expert.
	WHO gaming addiction classification an important step for treatment, says expert The World Health Organization's classification of video game addiction as a mental health disorder is similar to a decision in the late 1950s to recognize alcoholism as a medical condition, said Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University.
	Improving autism interventions "We have a huge need for efficient, reliable and objective autism-screening tools. Currently, there's nothing that could easily and dependably be administered to every single child."
Study: Sleeping sickness not just a sleeping disorder An international study from the Instituto de Medicina Molecular shows one of Africa's most lethal diseases is actually a circadian rhythm disorder caused by the acceleration of biological clocks controlling a range of vital functions besides sleep. By understanding which clock genes are affected by the parasitic disease, scientists hope the research will eventually prove useful in developing therapeutic alternatives to the toxic treatments that are occasionally fatal to patients.
	Uncovering asthma's genetic origins The statistics about asthma are staggering. According to a recent Global Burden of Disease Study, more than 334 million people worldwide may suffer from this common chronic disease. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that asthma afflicts an estimated 25 million people, about 8 percent of the population. It hits children even harder— about 10 percent of them have this respiratory malady that hinders breathing. Asthma accounts for a quarter of all emergency room visits and more than 500,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year. It kills about 3,500 Americans annually—most of these deaths are preventable with proper treatment—and contributes to another 7,000 deaths.
	Brain's immune system may be key to better treatments for psychiatric disorders Between the ages of two and four, the human brain has an estimated one quadrillion synapses – the electrical connections between neurons. That is the highest it will ever have, but as the world is not run by 3-year-olds, it shows that more synapses do not necessarily mean higher intelligence.
	Phase III clinical trials for stem cell-based cartilage regeneration therapy have started A group of researchers at Osaka University developed a synthetic tissue using synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating damaged cartilage, which had previously been incurable and had no effective therapies.
	Recommendations to improve the quality of ultrasound imaging in obstetrics and gynecology While ultrasound imaging is a commonly used diagnostic tool in obstetrics and gynecology, evidence suggests that the quality of ultrasound examination in clinical practice and ultrasound training in obstetrics and gynecology and radiology residency programs can be improved. To address these issues, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) convened a forum tasked with developing a roadmap for quality improvement in ultrasound imaging in obstetrics and gynecology and set up a task force to establish a consensus curriculum and competency assessment tools for residency training. The results of these efforts are published simultaneously today in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, and Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Bionic reconstruction – restoration at the psychological interface Bionic reconstruction, whereby a patient's lifeless hand is replaced by a mechatronic hand, restores hope following accidents. However, not everyone is suitable for this programme – certain psychological preconditions must be fulfilled. The research team headed by surgeon Oskar Aszmann from MedUni Vienna's Department of Surgery has now, for the first time, published the Viennese concept for a structured psychological assessment to determine whether a patient is psychologically suitable for bionic hand reconstruction.
Parkinson's treatment could be more effective, student finds A Binghamton University senior and her colleagues recently uncovered evidence that the current treatment for Parkinson's disease may not be as effective as it could be.
	We all want the same things in a partner, but why? Whether it's in reality TV or glossy magazines, sex appeal, fat bank accounts, kind eyes and cute smiles are often served up as the attributes that make for anyone's dream partner. But these characteristics merely reflect gross exaggerations of important evolutionary qualities that we actually want in a long-term partner.
	Are your health resolutions really a free choice? "I really should be taking better care of myself."
	Allowing mentally ill people to access firearms is not fueling mass shootings On a quiet Sunday last November, a young man wielding an assault-style weapon took aim at a church in rural Texas, killing 26 people.
	Immune cells surveil intestine to prevent infections As essential as food is for the body to work, its movement through the intestine poses an infection risk. A single layer of cells is tasked with a big responsibility: to keep harmful bacteria out while also maintaining friendly ones and extracting nutrients. Immune cells called intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) that reside at this barrier and are thought to play a role in preventing infection, yet little is known about their exact function.
	Consumption of processed meat may increase the risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. Consumption of processed meat may increase the risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.
	The first effective drugs for preventing migraine may be available soon I suffer from migraines. At least once a month, I have excruciating head pain, sensory problems and intermittent bouts of vomiting. The attacks can last for two weeks or more. Migraines have a huge impact on every aspect of my life, so it is with excited anticipation that I await the US Food and Drug Administration's decision on a new drug that could prevent these attacks. The FDA's decision is expected in the first half of 2018.
	Child sexual abuse—hearing the cry for help is not always a simple task Child sexual abuse is on the rise in the UK with the NSPCC announcing a 31% increase in police referrals in 2017 compared to the previous year. Worryingly, this is just the tip of the iceberg as child sexual abuse is widely under-reported. My research has revealed that a major factor in this issue is the use of language and a safeguarding system which is sometimes deaf to a child's cry for help.
Study finds gap between knowledge and practice in sexual health behaviour among factory workers in Sri Lanka More and more people are aware of modes of transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and ways to be protected from them with increased media proliferation in recent years. However, the increased awareness alone does not guarantee safer sexual behaviour, a study in Sri Lanka has shown.
1 in 4 pregnant women have mental health problems A new King's College London study published Thursday 4 January in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found that 1 in 4 pregnant women have mental health problems. This is more common than previously thought – but two simple questions can help identify these problems so that women can be treated.
	Nurses' experience of compassion impacts delivery of care (HealthDay)—Critical care nurses' experiences of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue influence their ability to deliver patient-centered care, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Herpes simplex infrequently found in infant meningitis eval (HealthDay)—Young infants assessed for central nervous system (CNS) infection rarely have herpes simplex virus (HSV), according to a study published online Jan. 3 in Pediatrics.
Future doctors and nurses learning to treat patients with food The click-clack of knives chopping on cutting boards and the savory smell of sauteed onions filled the air on a recent evening.
	Researchers detect a loophole in chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment A team of researchers in Italy and Austria has determined that a drug approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be less effective in a particular subset of patients. The study, which will be published January 4 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, reveals that ibrutinib has a diminished capacity to delocalize and kill tumor cells expressing an adhesive protein called CD49d, but combining ibrutinib treatment with drugs that block CD49d activation could prevent the tumor cells from sheltering in lymphoid organs.
Don't give up now—keeping your New Year's resolutions could reduce cancer risk The New Year is an excellent time to make resolutions for a healthier lifestyle - but by the end of the first week of January, even the best intentions may start to pall.
	Sleep-deprived brains may be asleep and awake at the same time For something that can occupy such a significant chunk of time, sleep still remains a mysterious part of our lives. Although it is known to play a role in mental and physical health, such as metabolism and memory, there is much that is still not well understood.
Cancer mortality in the US continues decades-long drop The cancer death rate dropped 1.7% from 2014 to 2015, continuing a drop that began in 1991 and has reached 26%, resulting in nearly 2.4 million fewer cancer deaths during that time.
Small-cell lung cancer patients face barriers to receiving standard-of-care treatment Despite decades of clinical research establishing chemotherapy with thoracic radiation as the standard-of-care for the initial management of non-metastatic small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), a large percentage of U.S. patients do not receive these treatments and in turn have lower overall survival, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Accessing your own genomic data is a civil right but requires strategies to manage safety The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, or GINA, expanded individuals' access to genetic information by forcing changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. These amendments, finalized in 2013 and 2014, gave Americans a civil right to obtain copies of their own genetic test results stored at HIPAA-regulated laboratories. In a commentary published January 4 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, Barbara J. Evans, Alumnae College Professor of Law and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Houston, describes how civil rights and safety concerns collided after these changes and offers strategies to reconcile the two.
	New cancer model shows genomic link between early-stage and invasive breast cancer types A new genetic-based model may explain how a common form of early-stage breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) progresses to a more invasive form of cancer say researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Tick exosomes may aid transmission of viruses to vertebrates Scientists have shown for the first time that exosomes from tick cells can aid transmission of viral proteins and genetic material from arthropod to vertebrate host cells, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens.
	Building stronger health systems could help prevent the next epidemic in Madagascar The peak epidemic season for plague in Madagascar is fast approaching and the severity of these outbreaks could be significantly reduced with improvements to their public health system, argues Matthew Bonds from Harvard Medical School and the nongovernmental health care organization, PIVOT, in a new Viewpoint publishing January 4, 2018 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
	Need motivation to exercise? Try the buddy system (HealthDay)—Exercising with a buddy can give you both mental and fitness boosts.
	Goodbye, needles? Patch might be the future for blood-sugar tracking (HealthDay)—Developers of a new patch hope to eliminate a big barrier in type 2 diabetes treatment—painful finger-sticks and injections. The new patch—which actually uses an array of tiny needles that researchers promise are pain-free—senses when blood sugar levels are rising and then releases medication to bring those elevated levels back down.
Understanding and treating long QT syndrome DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently read that long QT syndrome is quite common. What is it, and how is it diagnosed? I have read that fainting may be one sign of the disorder. Can long QT syndrome be treated?
Breast size dissatisfaction affects self-examination New research shows that women who are dissatisfied with the size of their breasts are less likely to carry out regular self-examinations to screen for breast cancer.
Poor dental health increases risks of frailty in older men Oral health issues are common among older adults. These issues include tooth loss, gum disease, tooth decay, and dry mouth. These conditions can also affect an older adult's well-being because they may make it harder to eat, swallow, speak, get adequate nutrition, and even smile.
	Aversion to holes driven by disgust, not fear, study finds Trypophobia, commonly known as "fear of holes," is linked to a physiological response more associated with disgust than fear, finds a new study published in PeerJ.
	Diabetics may often fare poorly in hospice care (HealthDay)—Decisions about diabetes care can become harder as people age, and that may be especially true for those needing hospice care.
	Scripted callbacks do not prevent 30-day returns of ER discharges (HealthDay)—For older adults discharged to home from the emergency department, telephone follow-up does not improve outcomes, according to a study published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Esketamine safe, effective for treatment-resistant depression (HealthDay)—Esketamine seems to be efficacious and safe for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), according to a study published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Immune-related adverse events up with checkpoint inhibitors (HealthDay)—Although patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease who receive checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are at risk for exacerbation of their disease, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), or both, events can often be managed without discontinuing CPIs, according to a review published online Jan. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Racial/ethnic disparities up for live donor kidney transplant (HealthDay)—Racial/ethnic disparities in the receipt of live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) among first-time kidney transplantation candidates in the United States increased from 1995-1999 to 2010-2014, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Non-cigarette tobacco use tied to future cigarette use in teens (HealthDay)—Non-cigarette tobacco use is associated with subsequent cigarette smoking among U.S. adolescents, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	CVD risk up with beta-2-agonist, antimuscarinic antagonist start (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), new initiation of inhaled long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and long-acting antimuscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Jan. 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	No reduced risk of T1DM with hydrolyzed casein infant formula (HealthDay)—Weaning to an extensively hydrolyzed casein formula is not associated with reduced incidence of type 1 diabetes among at-risk infants, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	2013 to 2015 infant mortality rate varied by state and race (HealthDay)—The infant mortality rate varied by state, from 4.28 to 9.08 per 1,000 live births in Massachusetts and Mississippi, respectively, in 2013 through 2015, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
	Eating more foods with choline during pregnancy could boost baby's brain When expectant mothers consume sufficient amounts of the nutrient choline during pregnancy, their offspring gain enduring cognitive benefits, a new Cornell University study suggests.
New Atopic Dermatitis Yardstick provides practical guidance and management insights Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) - also known as eczema - often face a tough, uphill battle for treatment. Symptoms include severe itching, scaly rashes, extreme dry skin and inflammation. Those who suffer from AD spend sleepless, itchy nights fearing they have nowhere to turn and their symptoms may never resolve. This creates therapeutic challenges for clinicians treating AD
Children with chronic illness often show signs of mental health problems Children commonly show signs of a mental disorder soon after receiving a diagnosis involving a of a chronic physical condition, according to a recent study in BMJ Open.
	Overweight children more likely to underestimate their body size Estimating your own body size and weight can be difficult. It turns out that this is true not only for adults, but also for children.
Team develops promising anti-obesity drug that shrinks fat without suppressing appetite Given the ever-increasing obesity epidemic, researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have discovered a promising developing drug that has been shown to selectively shrink excess fat by increasing fat cell metabolism. The drug significantly reduces body weight and blood cholesterol levels without lowering food intake in obese mice, according to a recent study published in Biochemical Pharmacology.
	People who sleep less than eight hours a night more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety Sleeping less than the recommended eight hours a night is associated with intrusive, repetitive thoughts like those seen in anxiety or depression, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	'Will I look dumb?' When virtual assistants deter help-seeking Virtual assistants have become increasingly sophisticated—and more humanlike—since the days when Clippy asked if you needed help with your document. These assistants are intended to make programs and apps easier to use, but research published in Psychological Science suggests that humanlike virtual assistants may actually deter some people from seeking help on tasks that are supposed to measure achievement. Psychological Science is a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Sedentary desk jockeys, stand up for your health: study Sit up, stand up, repeat often. Sedentary people can put their prolonged chair-sitting days behind them with a few simple, strategic behavioural changes, says a new study by researchers at Western University in London, Canada.
Common birth control shot linked to risk of HIV infection Transitioning away from a popular contraceptive shot known as DMPA could help protect women in Sub-Saharan Africa and other high-risk regions from becoming infected with HIV, according to a research review published in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrine Reviews.
	Mice with frequent flier miles advance the Alzheimer's cause Alzheimer's disease wreaks emotional havoc on patients, who are robbed of their memories, their dignity, and their lives. It's financially devastating as well: care for Alzheimer's patients is predicted to top $1 trillion by about the time children born today are having children of their own.
Girls' social camouflage skills may delay or prevent autism diagnosis On parent-reporting measures, girls with autism seem to struggle more than boys with performing routine tasks like getting up and dressed or making small talk, even when the study group is normalized to meet similar basic clinical diagnostic criteria across sexes. The findings add to the growing evidence that girls with autism may show symptoms differently than boys, and that some of the social difficulties experienced by females with autism may be masked during clinical assessments.
	Good new for parents: Teens are delaying having sex (HealthDay)—Fewer U.S. teens are sexually active these days, as many wait until later in high school to try sex for the first time, a new report reveals.
	More U.S. women obese before pregnancy, experts sound the alarm (HealthDay)—Prepregnancy weights continue to rise in the United States, with less than half of women at a healthy size before conception, U.S. health officials report.
	Boy who died 450 years ago gives clues to hepatitis research (HealthDay)— The mummified remains of an Italian boy who died 450 years ago suggest the hepatitis B virus has infected humans for centuries.
	Childbirth deaths declining in U.S., new report finds (HealthDay)—Improved management of excessive bleeding and high blood pressure during labor and delivery are helping to reduce the number of childbirth-related deaths in the United States, maternal health experts say.
	Evangelical women are shaping public attitudes about sex work Evangelical speaker and activist Christine Caine wants you to know: "Slavery still exists." Her organization A-21, which aims to abolish "injustice in the 21st century," says human trafficking affects 27 million people each year and is a $150 billion criminal industry.
Infectious diseases A-Z: Does your child have ear pain? Is your child complaining of an earache? It could be an infection. Children are more prone to ear infections than adults, and they can be painful. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases specialist says, "Ear infections can be caused by both viruses and bacteria. Some of the common cold viruses can cause inflammation of the middle ear.
Terrifying brush with death drives doctor to fight for patients The searing abdominal pain came on suddenly while Dr. Rana Awdish was having dinner with a friend. Soon she was lying in the back seat of the car racing to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where Awdish was completing a fellowship in critical care.
SNMMI publishes appropriate use criteria for somatostatin receptor PET imaging The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for somatostatin receptor PET imaging in neuroendocrine tumors. This AUC is part of a new series developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. The society's other recently released AUC are for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer; ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism, which is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians; hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain; and FDG PET/CT restaging and response assessment of malignant disease.
Trump administration toughens stance on recreational marijuana The US Justice Department on Thursday reversed official policy that had tolerated the growing state-based movement to legalize marijuana sales, just three days after California formally permitted recreational use of the drug.
Maternal mortality rates are on the rise, but more accurate estimates are needed A new Birth analysis has uncovered dramatic increases in the rates of maternal mortality—the death of a mother during pregnancy, childbirth, or post-partum—in Texas in recent years. There was an 87% increase when comparing 2011-2015 data with 2006-2010 data. Some of the increase is likely due to increased overreporting of maternal deaths due to errors in the data collection system, however.

Biology news

	Worm species lost 7,000 genes after evolving to fertilize itself UMD-led study finds that worms that fertilize themselves lost one-fourth of their genome, including genes that make sperm competitive.
	Study suggests new targets for improving soybean oil content Scientists working to increase soybean oil content tend to focus their efforts on genes known to impact the plant's seeds, but a Purdue University study shows that genes affecting other plant parts deserve more attention.
	For bonobos, it pays to have powerful allies Never trust anyone who is rude to a waiter, advice columnists say. For most people, acting nasty is a big turnoff.
	Hijacker parasite blocked from infiltrating blood A major international collaboration led by Melbourne researchers has discovered that the world's most widespread malaria parasite infects humans by hijacking a protein the body cannot live without. The researchers were then able to successfully develop antibodies that disabled the parasite from carrying out this activity.
	Scientists uncover a genetic mechanism that could enhance yield potential in cereal crops Solving the world's food, feed and bioenergy challenges requires integration of multiple approaches and diverse skills. Andrea Eveland, Ph.D., assistant member at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and her team identified a genetic mechanism that controls developmental traits related to grain production in cereals. The work was performed in Setaria viridis, an emerging model system for grasses that is closely related to economically important cereal crops and bioenergy feed stocks such as maize, sorghum, switchgrass and sugarcane.
Study shows importance of wildlife in controlling ticks Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, have found that a decrease in wildlife populations causes an upsurge in local tick populations, potentially increasing the threat of infectious diseases globally. The research team published their results in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
	Lightening up soybean leaves may boost food supply A new university-led study has shown that lightening the color of soybean leaves may increase the growth and yield of this major world food crop. The finding offers a strategy to help address Earth's future food needs.
	Norway lobsters' appetite for jellyfish caught on camera Norway lobsters' secret love of jellyfish has been caught on camera for the first time, raising questions about whether jellyfish blooms are pests or potential food sources for the commercial fishing industry.
Evolution of parasite viruses hints at how Leishmania first infected vertebrates More than a million people in tropical countries contract the parasite Leishmania every year through the bites of infected sand flies. Most people develop disfiguring – but not life-threatening – skin lesions at the sites of the bites. But if the parasite spreads to the internal organs, it causes a disease known as visceral leishmaniasis, which kills about 30,000 people every year.
	Protecting dogs in winter from extreme cold, ice, salt and deicers Dogs are just like people in that they have varying tolerance for different temperatures and ground conditions. Some dogs can run around in the snow for hours, and they actually end up panting—their version of sweating—from all the activity. Others start shivering and pulling at the leash to go back indoors after being outside for only a few minutes.
	Three new species of zoantharians described from coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific Three new species of zoantharians were discovered by researchers from the University of the Ryukyus and Kagoshima University, Japan, and the Palau International Coral Reef Center. Despite not being previously known, all three species were found widely across the Indo-Pacific, with at least two species found in the Red Sea, the Maldives, Palau, and southern Japan.
	Why it's so hard to keep track of ships that get up to no good South Korea recently seized two oil tankers that it says were illegally transferring oil to North Korean ships at sea. One was registered in Hong Kong, while the other flew the Panamanian flag. The ensuing fallout has focused mainly on who ordered the transaction and chartered the ship – but by the standards of North Korea's dubious shipping transactions, this is far from the most complicated.

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