Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jan 9

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 9, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Physicists create first direct images of the square of the wave function of a hydrogen molecule

Astronomers discover a new co-moving group of stars

Engineers grow functioning human muscle from skin cells

Study suggests female advantage in life expectancy related to fundamental biological roots

New drug capsule may allow weekly HIV treatment

'Holostream' allows high-quality wireless 3-D video communications

Researchers demonstrate the existence of a new kind of magnetoresistance involving topological insulators

'Gyroscope' molecules form crystal that's both solid and full of motion

Lake Michigan waterfowl botulism deaths linked to warm waters, algae

Digital assistants duel for dominance at major electronics show

Bucking trend, Hyundai bets on hydrogen fuel cell for new car

Wind output in Denmark last year was a record-setter

Methane hydrate dissociation off Spitsbergen not caused by climate change

Saturn's moon Titan sports Earth-like features

Researchers identify the molecular target of J147, which is nearing clinical trials to treat Alzheimer's disease

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover a new co-moving group of stars A team of astronomers from Germany and Hungary has detected a new group of co-moving young stars. The newly found group is located in the Upper Centaurus Lupus (UCL) section of the Scorpius–Centaurus Association. The finding is reported in a paper published December 29 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Saturn's moon Titan sports Earth-like features Using the now-complete Cassini data set, Cornell astronomers have created a new global topographic map of Saturn's moon Titan that has opened new windows into understanding its liquid flows and terrain. Two new papers, published Dec. 2 in Geophysical Review Letters, describe the map and discoveries arising from it.
	Planets around other stars are like peas in a pod An international research team led by Université de Montréal astrophysicist Lauren Weiss has discovered that exoplanets orbiting the same star tend to have similar sizes and a regular orbital spacing. This pattern, revealed by new W. M. Keck Observatory observations of planetary systems discovered by the Kepler Telescope, could suggest that most planetary systems have a different formation history than the solar system.
	Black hole research could aid understanding of how small galaxies evolve Scientists have solved a cosmic mystery by finding evidence that supermassive black holes prevent stars forming in some smaller galaxies.
	Image: Veil of ice in Saturn's rings Saturn's rings, made of countless icy particles, form a translucent veil in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
	U.S. cargo spacecraft set for departure from International Space Station After delivering more than 4,800 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft will depart the orbiting laboratory on Saturday, Jan. 13. NASA will provide live coverage of Dragon's departure beginning at 4:30 a.m. EST.
SpaceX says rocket worked fine as spy satellite reported lost A SpaceX rocket worked fine in its weekend launch of a secretive government satellite, named Zuma, the company said Tuesday after reports the payload did not make it into orbit.
	Extra-terrestrial Hypatia stone rattles solar system status quo In 2013, researchers announced that a pebble found in south-west Egypt, was definitely not from Earth. By 2015, other research teams had announced that the 'Hypatia' stone was not part of any known types of meteorite or comet, based on noble gas and nuclear probe analyses.
	NASA Alaska-launched rockets to study space X-ray emissions and create polar mesospheric cloud NASA rockets launched during the Alaskan winter typically explore the interaction of solar winds with Earth's atmosphere and the resulting auroras that dance across the night sky. However this winter, between January 15 - 31, 2018, NASA personnel and university researchers are traveling to the Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR) in Alaska to launch several rocket-borne investigations for other purposes.
	First PEPSI data release The Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric and Spectroscopic Instrument (PEPSI) at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona released its first batch of high-spectral resolution data to the scientific community. In a series of three papers in the European journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, the PEPSI team presents a new spectral atlas of the sun, a total of 48 atlases of bright benchmark stars, and a detailed analysis of the chemical abundances of the 10-billion year old planet-system host Kepler-444.
	High-resolution X-ray gratings enable state-of-the-art spectrometer X-ray-optics technology has progressed such that future astrophysics X-ray observatories will have orders-of magnitude better performance than existing observatories such as NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. High-resolution soft X-ray spectroscopy offers particularly useful observations that can provide information about the evolution of large-scale structure in the universe, conditions near black holes, stellar atmospheres, and more.
	First ELT main mirror segments successfully cast The first six hexagonal segments for the main mirror of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) have been successfully cast by the German company SCHOTT at their facility in Mainz. These segments will form parts of the ELT's 39-metre main mirror, which will have 798 segments in total when completed. The ELT will be the largest optical telescope in the world when it sees first light in 2024.

Technology news

	'Holostream' allows high-quality wireless 3-D video communications A new platform enables high-quality 3-D video communication on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets using existing standard wireless networks.
	Digital assistants duel for dominance at major electronics show Virtual aides battled to rule "smart homes" on the eve of the official opening of the Consumer Electronics show gadget gala here.
	Bucking trend, Hyundai bets on hydrogen fuel cell for new car Hyundai unveiled Monday a hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle aimed at showcasing its newest technologies, bucking the all-electric trend of most rival automakers.
	Wind output in Denmark last year was a record-setter An impressive share of a country's energy consumption through wind? That is one more sign of wind energy's potential as countries look for cleaner energy alternatives. The spotlight goes on Denmark.
	World's smallest wearable device monitors UV exposure A Northwestern University professor, working in conjunction with the global beauty company L'Oréal, has developed the smallest wearable device in the world. The wafer-thin, feather-light sensor can fit on a fingernail and precisely measures a person's exposure to UV light from the sun.
	New technique eases production, customization of soft robotics By helping rubber and plastic stick together under pressure, University of Nebraska-Lincoln chemists have simplified the production of small fluid-carrying channels that can drive movement in soft robotics and enable chemical analyses on microscopic scales.
Smart robot falls dumb as LG touts 'connected life' A cute, table-top robot packed with digital smarts fell dumb on stage at an LG Electronics event touting "connected" lifestyles where machines obey spoken commands and anticipate needs.
Intel chief says chip flaw damage contained by industry Intel chief Brian Krzanich said Monday the impact of a recently discovered vulnerability in computer chips has been limited due to "remarkable" collaboration by the tech industry.
Tech a new religion at consumer gadget extravaganza Tech is the new religion, offering hope of salvation in a troubled world as industry leaders converge in Las Vegas this week.
Pole-dancing robots aim to spice up nerd fest They grind and gyrate around a pole, with moves like a real stripper.
	Intel CEO: Fixes on the way for serious chip security flaws Intel has big plans to steer toward new business in self-driving cars, virtual reality and other cutting-edge technologies. But first it has to pull out of a skid caused by a serious security flaw in its processor chips, which undergird many of the world's smartphones and personal computers.
CES 2018: Google Smart Displays are 'show and tell' answer to Echo Show Google Assistant has a message for its digital assistant rival: "Hey, Alexa, I can show stuff, too."
An Amazon-Target deal would mean a very different shopping experience Sooner rather than later, Amazon is going to buy a big, well-known, traditional retailer. When it does, expect the e-commerce giant to take aim at Target.
	France investigates Apple for slowing down old iPhones (Update) French authorities have opened an investigation into Apple over revelations it secretly slowed down older versions of its handsets, the Paris prosecutor's office said Tuesday.
	Researchers pioneer water-based, eco-friendly and energy-saving air-conditioner A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has pioneered a new water-based air-conditioning system that cools air to as low as 18 degrees Celsius without the use of energy-intensive compressors and environmentally harmful chemical refrigerants. This game-changing technology could potentially replace the century-old air-cooling principle that is still being used in our modern-day air-conditioners. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the novel system is portable and it can also be customised for all types of weather conditions.
Breast cancer research gets a mechanical boost One of the most puzzling questions in breast cancer research is why some tumors stay put, while rogue cells from others break free and spread to surrounding tissues, the first step toward creating a more lethal disease. Although researchers have found some signs in mutated genes or telltale proteins on the cell's surface, those discoveries don't tell the whole story.
	New artificial intelligence index tracks the emerging field Since the term "artificial intelligence" (AI) was first used in print in 1956, the one-time science fiction fantasy has progressed to the very real prospect of driverless cars, smartphones that recognize complex spoken commands and computers that see.
	Are you vulnerable to newly discovered online security risks? Last week, experts discovered two serious computer security flaws that could leave nearly all computer users vulnerable to hacking of personal information while online. The culprits, called Meltdown and Spectre, could wreak havoc on personal security if ignored. Physical Sciences editor Lois Yoksoulian spoke with computer science professor Chris Fletcher about the issue.
	Inexpensive and stable—The salt water battery Water could form the basis for future particularly inexpensive rechargeable batteries. Empa researchers have succeeded in doubling the electrochemical stability of water with a special saline solution. This takes us one step closer to using the technology commercially.
	Does Apple have an obligation to make the iPhone safer for kids? The average teen spends at least six hours a day looking at a screen, with most of it from using a smartphone.
	Why don't electric cars look like the future? Electric cars were supposed to be the future – or at least look like it. So now they're here, why do they still look like ordinary petrol and diesel cars and not dazzling props from a science fiction film.
Multi-model effort highlights progress, future needs in renewable energy modeling Models of the U.S. electricity sector are relied upon by sector stakeholders and decision makers, but the recent surge in variable renewable energy (VRE), such as wind and solar, led a team of modeling experts to examine how these models would represent scenarios with high penetrations of VRE. Four agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), hosted two workshops that led to a new report where the teams identified areas of importance for modeling VRE, performed experiments to determine key assumptions, and compiled a set of recommendations for future research in this area.
Kodak surges at it becomes latest 'cryptocurrency' convert Kodak, which traces its roots to the early days of film-based photography, is getting into the digital licensing and cryptocurrency market as part of a partnership with WENN Digital.
	Missing link for solar hydrogen is... ammonia? Ammonia (NH3) is key to enabling a solar hydrogen (H2) future, says a prominent Australian researcher.
Google engineer fired for sexist memo sues ex-employer A Google engineer who was fired after writing a memo defending the gender gap in Silicon Valley tech jobs as a matter of biology has sued his former employer for discrimination.
	Engineering solution for magnetic materials to significantly decrease costs of MRI research Researchers from the NUST MISIS Engineering Center for Industrial Technologies have developed an innovative technology for the production of magnetic materials and permanent magnets at a reduced cost. This engineering solution will allow scientists to produce affordable and efficient domestic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices for wide use in public health clinics. According to the developers' estimates, it will reduce the cost of analysis with new MRI technology by half.
	Modeling where the wind blows By incorporating geographical information into models for wind energy, researchers from KAUST have developed an innovative statistical tool that reduces the computational burden of locating global wind resources.
	EEG headset for emotion detection At the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) taking place in Las Vegas, Nev. Jan. 9-12, 2018, imec and Holst Centre will demonstrate a prototype of an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset that can measure emotions and cognitive processes in the brain. The headset is a major breakthrough in emotion measurement for therapeutic, learning and gaming applications.
Smoking iPhone battery forces evacuation at Zurich store An overheated and smoking iPhone battery forced the evacuation of about 50 people from an Apple Store in Zurich on Tuesday and left an employee slightly injured, police said.
	NREL launches electrification futures study series The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is spearheading the Electrification Futures Study, a research collaboration to explore the impacts of widespread electrification in all U.S. economic sectors—commercial and residential buildings, transportation, and industry. Over the next two years, NREL and its research partners—Electric Power Research Institute, Evolved Energy Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Northern Arizona University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory—will use a suite of modeling tools to develop and assess electrification scenarios designed to answer the following questions:
	The Latest: Toyota cars to integrate Amazon voice assistant The Latest on the CES technology show in Las Vegas (all times local):

Medicine & Health news

	Engineers grow functioning human muscle from skin cells Biomedical engineers have grown the first functioning human skeletal muscle from induced pluripotent stem cells.
	New drug capsule may allow weekly HIV treatment Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a capsule that can deliver a week's worth of HIV drugs in a single dose. This advance could make it much easier for patients to adhere to the strict schedule of dosing required for the drug cocktails used to fight the virus, the researchers say.
	Researchers identify the molecular target of J147, which is nearing clinical trials to treat Alzheimer's disease The experimental drug J147 is something of a modern elixir of life; it's been shown to treat Alzheimer's disease and reverse aging in mice and is almost ready for clinical trials in humans. Now, Salk scientists have solved the puzzle of what, exactly, J147 does. In a paper published January 7, 2018, in the journal Aging Cell, they report that the drug binds to a protein found in mitochondria, the energy-generating powerhouses of cells. In turn, they showed, it makes aging cells, mice and flies appear more youthful.
	Researchers identify a new chemical pathway that helps the brain detect sweet, savory and bitter flavors How do we taste the sugary richness of candy, or the bitter undertones of coffee? What about the savory flavors of smoked and cured meats?
	New technology will create brain wiring diagrams The human brain is composed of billions of neurons wired together in intricate webs and communicating through electrical pulses and chemical signals. Although neuroscientists have made progress in understanding the brain's many functions—such as regulating sleep, storing memories, and making decisions—visualizing the entire "wiring diagram" of neural connections throughout a brain is not possible using currently available methods. But now, using Drosophila fruit flies, Caltech researchers have developed a method to easily see neural connections and the flow of communications in real time within living flies. The work is a step forward toward creating a map of the entire fly brain's many connections, which could help scientists understand the neural circuits within human brains as well.
	Taking ibuprofen for long periods found to alter human testicular physiology A team of researchers from Denmark and France has found that taking regular doses of the pain reliever ibuprofen over a long period of time can lead to a disorder in men called compensated hypogonadism. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study, which involved giving the drug to volunteers and monitoring their hormones and sperm production.
	Different disease types associated with distinct amyloid-beta prion strains found in Alzheimer's patients An international team of researchers has found different disease type associations with distinct amyloid-beta prion strains in the brains of dead Alzheimer's patients. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of sliced brain fragments and what they learned about the nature of amyloid-beta prions.
	Hereditary facial features could be strongly influenced by a single gene variant, a new study finds Do you have your grandmother's eyes? Or your father's nose? A new study by the Universities of Oxford and Surrey has uncovered variations in singular genes that have a large impact on human facial features, paving the way to understanding what determines the facial characteristics passed on from generation to generation.
	Identical twins can share more than identical genes An international group of researchers has discovered a new phenomenon that occurs in identical twins: independent of their identical genes, they share an additional level of molecular similarity that influences their biological characteristics. The researchers propose a mechanism to explain the extra level of similarity and show that it is associated with risk of cancer in adulthood. The results appear in the journal Genome Biology.
Pioneering new technique could boost understanding of causes of heart disease The complex and mysterious mechanisms that drive communication and reactions within human cells could be on the verge of being unravelled, due to a pioneering new technique.
	New stem cell method sheds light on a tell-tale sign of heart disease While refining ways to grow arterial endothelial cells in the lab, a regenerative biology team at the Morgridge Institute for Research unexpectedly unearthed a powerful new model for studying a hallmark of vascular disease.
	General anesthetics do more than put you to sleep A new understanding of the complex ways in which general anaesthetics act on the brain could eventually lead to improved drugs for surgery. It remains unclear how general anaesthesia works, even though it is one of the most common medical procedures worldwide.
	Deep sea creatures provide a guiding light in the quest to develop cancer therapies A team of scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of USC is looking to some deep sea dwellers to create a better way to develop cancer-fighting therapies. Harnessing the power of the enzymes that give these marine animals the ability to glow, the team created a test that makes it easy for researchers to see whether a therapy is having its intended effect—killing cancer cells. The results of their study were published in Scientific Reports on Jan. 9, 2018.
	3-D imaging of fat reveals potential targets for new obesity treatments Stunning three-dimensional images of fat cells, the first of their kind, are the latest tactic in the ongoing fight against the global obesity epidemic. The above movie, produced by The Rockefeller University's Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, is part of a new report that reveals the inner workings of fat tissue in mice and identifies potential targets for new drugs to treat and prevent obesity and diabetes.
	Place of residence linked to heart failure risk Location. Location. Location.
Banning 7 terms at the CDC would have serious consequences, public health experts say "It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words," George Orwell writes in the fifth chapter of his dystopian novel "1984."
An opioid remedy that works: Treat pain and addiction at the same time Seven years ago, Robert Kerley, who makes his living as a truck driver, was loading drywall when a gust of wind knocked him off the trailer. Kerley fell 14 feet and hurt his back.
Scientists identify breast cancer patients who may develop incurable secondary cancers Scientists from King's College London, funded by Breast Cancer Now, believe they have found a way to identify lymph-node positive breast cancer patients who are most likely to develop incurable secondary tumours (metastases) and those who are less at risk. The research is published today in The Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research.
Scientists discover molecule that could revert celular ageing Researchers at Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM) João Lobo Antunes have found that manipulating a single RNA molecule is enough to revert cellular aging.
	Multimodal biomicroscopic system enhances the accuracy of cancer treatment A research team of Information and Communication Engineering at DGIST has developed the world's first multimodal biomicroscopic system to analyze the characteristics of tumors and to utilize them in tumor treatment technology research. The new imaging system accurately analyzes the characteristics of tumors using the mechanical, chemical, and structural properties of colorectal cancer. It is the result of a collaboration with the research team of Eunjoo Kim from the Department of Nano & Energy Research.
	New research shows a snag in leading by your own example You've heard of practicing what you preach. But what about preaching what you practice? It seems common sense that following this advice would make experts more compelling. However, according to new research from Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Department of Psychology, it can backfire for physicians working with overweight patients.
	Doctors already use phones to share clinical images of patients—legislation needs to catch up Imagine this scenario: you're a recently graduated doctor working at a medical clinic in rural Australia. A person presents with a bite of what seems to be a poisonous spider—but you're not sure. You take a photo of the skin lesion on your phone, and post it in a social media group to source swift advice from more experienced experts.
	Natural lung bacteria offer clues on treating airway infections, says expert Further research on the lung microbiome could uncover new, more effective approaches to managing lung infections, according to an Imperial researcher.
	Study shows link between regular attendance at religious services and health and longevity Researchers from the Emory Rollins School of Public Health have published a paper in PLOS ONE that links regular attendance at religious services with improved health and lowered mortality.
	New research agenda for malaria elimination and eradication Two Penn State researchers have participated in the formulation of a new updated research agenda for global malaria elimination and eradication. Together with more than 180 scientists, malaria program leaders, and policy makers from around the world, Manuel Llinás, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Jason Rasgon, professor of entomology and disease epidemiology, contributed to the Malaria Eradication Research Agenda (malERA) Refresh Collection, which defines a forward-looking research and development agenda that will accelerate progress towards malaria elimination and global eradication. The malERA Refresh collaboration resulted in seven research papers that were recently published as a special collection in the journal PLOS Medicine.
	Answers for diseases like schizophrenia may lie in how the brain maintains balance Pop psychologists tout "balance" as key to mental health, and they may be more right than they realize. Neuroscientist Dion Dickman is gaining insight into how the brain maintains healthy balance on a cellular level, work that may have implications for neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia.
	Combatting 'disinformation' about child abuse Children need nurturing, attention to health and basic needs, safety and appropriate supervision. Child abuse and neglect, also called "child maltreatment," too often endanger the health, well-being and even lives of children.
	How doctors are providing smarter care with electronic health records The source of the common hospital-acquired infection known as C. diff can be hard to pin down in a busy, sprawling hospital, where patients might pick up the bug in countless locations.
	Uneasiness in observers of unnatural android movements explained It has been decades in the making, but humanoid technology has certainly made significant advancements toward creation of androids – robots with human-like features and capabilities. While androids hold great promise for tangible benefits to the world, they may induce a mysterious and uneasy feeling in human observers. This phenomenon, called the "uncanny valley," increases when the android's appearance is almost humanlike but its movement is not fully natural or comparable to human movement. This has been a focus of study for many years; however, the neural mechanism underlying the detection of unnatural movements remains unclear.
	Gratitude helps drug abusers better cope with stress and challenges People who feel a sense of gratitude tend to be happier, healthier and better in dealing with stress. Two psychologists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) conducted a study on male drug abusers and they discovered that having a grateful disposition was associated with lesser drug use. Grateful abusers, in particular, have less severe drug use, and they are more likely to use positive coping mechanisms – such as taking action to address their problems or seeing the positive aspects of the situation – to manage stress and problems in their lives.
	Drugs, gums or patches won't increase your chances of quitting Using prescription drugs or over-the-counter products like gums, mints or patches won't increase your chances of quitting smoking a year later, according to a new study.
	Does my child have autism or is this 'normal' behaviour? Raising a child is often one of the most challenging and joyous events in a person's life. Watching your child grow and develop is a source of delight. However, some parents become concerned when their child appears to develop differently than others.
Capitalising on consumers' sweet spot has dangerous implications for public health Research conducted by public health experts at Wits University and their associates worldwide has explored how multinational global corporations that sell sugar sweetened beverages and fast foods undermine health, and have proposed how fiscal measures can protect health.
	Human nanomedicine drug showing promise in solid cancers The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) is one of four cancer centers involved in testing a new "nanomedicine" agent – known as BXQ-350 while in testing – in advanced solid tumors, including difficult-to-treat malignant brain tumors.
NeuroNext biomarker study explores natural history of infantile-onset SMA Research led by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to define the natural history of infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been "critical" to accelerate the development of effective therapies and hasten their approval by the FDA," said principal investigator Dr. Stephen J. Kolb, director of the OSU ALS/Motor Neuron Disease Translational Research Program at Ohio State's Neurological Institute.
	Prolonged sedentary periods associated with fat around internal organs A team of researchers from the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, UK – a partnership between Leicester's Hospitals, the University of Leicester and Loughborough University—has found new evidence to suggest that longer periods of sedentary time (defined as any sitting/reclining activity with low energy expenditure) are more strongly associated with the amount of fat deposited around internal organs.
	New study offers added hope for patients awaiting corneal transplants New national research led by Jonathan Lass of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has found that corneal donor tissue can be safely stored for 11 days before transplantation surgery to correct eye problems in people with diseases of the cornea. This is four days longer than the current conventional maximum of seven days in the United States.
	Proteomics analyses could present new opportunities to diagnose and treat dementias One of the most intriguing properties of the brain is its means to undergo synaptic plasticity which represents the basis for learning and memory, abilities that severely decline in the case of a dementia. New research, published on 9 January in the scientific journal Brain, suggests that particular proteins important in the communication between neurons could be targets for early interventions in patients with different types of dementias.
	Scientists find heightened attention to surprise in veterans with PTSD Fireworks on nights other than the fourth of July or New Year's Eve might be nothing more than inconsiderate neighbors, but for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the shock of noise and light may trigger a deeply learned expectation of danger.
Moms of obese children use different words to restrict eating It's a familiar scene at a birthday party: As a child goes back for a second cupcake or piece of cake, a parent says he has had enough sweets.
	Blood banks need January donors (HealthDay)—Want to make a difference right now? Consider donating some blood.
	Is your child ready for a smartphone? (HealthDay)—When is it appropriate to give kids a cellphone?
	CV exercise betters cardiac aging in sedentary middle-aged adults (HealthDay)—Two years of high-intensity exercise training (ExT) is associated with improved maximal oxygen uptake and reduced cardiac stiffness in previously sedentary healthy middle-aged adults, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in Circulation.
	Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura tied to higher CVD risk (HealthDay)—There is an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), especially those who undergo splenectomy, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	Abdominal obstetric binder helpful for cecal intubation (HealthDay)—Use of an abdominal obstetric binder (AOB) is associated with a faster and more effective colonoscope insertion during outpatient colonoscopy, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Kidney injury common after non-kidney transplants in children (HealthDay)—In children who receive a non-kidney solid organ transplant, acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the first year after surgery and is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online Dec. 29 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
	Charting intervention improves geriatric assessment notes (HealthDay)—A quality improvement intervention can improve documentation of geriatric assessments during transitions of care, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Genetic alteration can cause obesity among Greenlanders Four per cent of the Greenlandic population are, due to a specific genetic alteration, in the risk of developing obesity and diabetes, a new study from the University of Copenhagen, the University of Southern Denmark, the University of Greenland and the Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen concludes. The gene represent a possible treatment target, the researchers argue.
Some leukaemia patients may be missing out on new treatments Patients with an aggressive form of leukaemia, currently ineligible for any type of targeted therapy, may in fact benefit from some of these new drugs, according to new research by Queen Mary University of London.
Cluster of resistant tuberculosis pathogen discovered Between February and November 2016, the Institute of Medical Microbiology at the University of Zurich discovered a multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in eight refugees arriving in Europe from the Horn of Africa. The analyses provided an impulse for launching a transnational investigation and developing a pan-European alerting system.
	New treatments, screening methods dramatically reduce breast cancer deaths, study finds In the last few decades, dozens of new breast cancer drugs—from chemotherapies to targeted compounds—have become available for clinical use, and mammogram technology has gone from film to digital. But are the changes making a difference in how many women die of breast cancer?
	Targeting breast cancer through precision medicine University of Alberta researchers have discovered a mechanism that may make cancer cells more susceptible to treatment. The research team found that the protein RYBP prevents DNA repair in cancer cells, including breast cancer.
	Most patients with unknown spinal cord disease later given specific diagnosis, study shows A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that most patients with suspected spinal cord inflammation of unknown cause have an alternative, specific diagnosis. The research is published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Malnutrition frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated among hospital patients Malnutrition among hospitalized patients remains a serious issue that has been underdiagnosed and undertreated for decades. It is estimated that nearly one out of five pediatric patients and one out of three adult patients aged 60 and older are malnourished. In the current issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics healthcare experts focus on the latest findings in hospitalized patients with malnutrition in the US and present data elucidating the extent of this serious healthcare issue.
Heart health at risk for Latinas over worries about deportation A recent study conducted by researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley's Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH) found that worry about deportations was associated with multiple cardiovascular health risk factors in Latinas from California's Salinas Valley, an area with a large immigrant community. The study was published in the journal, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, on January 9.
	How quickly can children learn routes? New research from the University of Liverpool suggests that children as young as eight can learn a route after only a single experience of it.
Survival among young adults with cancer hasn't changed much over three decades Outcomes for children and older adults with cancer have improved greatly over the past three decades, but there's been little improvement in survival among adolescents and young adults with cancer.
	For city kids with asthma, telemedicine and in-school care cut ER visits in half Children with asthma in the Rochester City School District who received a combination of telemedicine support and school-based medication therapy were almost half as likely to need an emergency room or hospital visit for their asthma, according to new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC).
	Researchers find protein that mediates formation of HER2-driven breast cancer Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have identified for the first time that the estrogen receptor-binding protein MED1 is a critical mediator of HER2-driven breast cancer, identifying it as a potential therapeutic target.
	Nearly one-third of Canadians have used opioids: study Nearly one in three Canadians (29 percent) have used "some form of opioids" in the past five years, according to data released Tuesday as widespread fentanyl overdoses continue to kill.
	Severe flu season tightens its grip on U.S. (HealthDay)— Americans are being hit with one of the worst flu seasons in years, with misery now widespread across 46 states, health officials say.
	Too many babies still die needlessly of SIDS, CDC says (HealthDay)—Many parents still regularly risk their babies' lives as they put them to bed, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	HIV screening most optimal at 25 years of age if no risk factors (HealthDay)—For young adults without known risk factors, a one-time routine HIV screen at 25 years would optimize clinical outcomes and be cost-effective, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
	Binocular video game doesn't up visual function in amblyopia (HealthDay)—A home-based binocular falling-blocks video game does not improve visual outcomes more than placebo for children and adults with unilateral amblyopia, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Physical activity doesn't seem to reduce risk of frailty in elderly (HealthDay)—A long-term physical activity program is not associated with reduced risk of frailty among community-dwelling older adults with functional limitations, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Rituximab tops other disease-modifying tx options in MS (HealthDay)—Rituximab has better efficacy and lower discontinuation rates than other disease-modifying treatment (DMT) choices for newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a study published online Jan. 8 in JAMA Neurology.
	Urban, rural variation in fertility-related behaviors for U.S. women (HealthDay)—There is urban and rural variation in fertility-related behavior among U.S. women, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
	Follow-up delta CHA2DS2-VASc score better predicts CVA in A-fib (HealthDay)—Assessing change in the CHA2DS2-VASc score over time is more predictive of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) than the baseline score, according to a study published in the Jan. 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Oversimplifying beliefs about causes of mental illness may hinder social acceptance Belief that mental illness is biological has increased among both health experts and the public in recent years. But campaigns to treat it as a disease and remove stigma may be lacking because other factors, such as bad character and upbringing, still are viewed as playing a role, a Baylor University study has found.
Younger patients constitute half of hospital-acquired pneumonia cases, most of which originate outside of the ICU Hospital-acquired pneumonia has long been associated with the elderly and intensive care units (ICU). But according to a new multicenter nationwide study, nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) occurs across all units in all types and sizes of U.S. hospitals, putting every patient—the young included—at higher risk for developing the infection.
	Bad air quality along Utah's Wasatch Front causes more than 200 pneumonia cases each year Air pollution trapped by winter inversions along Utah's Wasatch Front, the state's most populated region, is estimated to send more than 200 people to the emergency room with pneumonia each year, according to a study by University of Utah Health and Intermountain Healthcare. Bad air quality especially erodes the health of adults over age 65, a population particularly vulnerable to the effects of pneumonia.
Illnesses caused by recreation on the water costs $2.9 billion annually in the US Swimming, paddling, boating and fishing account for more than 90 million cases of gastrointestinal, respiratory, ear, eye and skin-related illnesses per year in the U.S. with an estimated annual cost of $2.9 billion, according to a new report by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers.
	Ethical challenges for medical personnel in combat zones Licensed medical personnel on military operations abroad adapt easily to the military organisation but experience dual loyalties between the organisation and their medical ethics. This emerges in a new dissertation by Kristina Lundberg, doctoral student at the University of Borås and Jönköping University, Sweden.
	How we discovered the link between childhood trauma, a faulty stress response and suicide risk in later life When people experience stress, the adrenal glands that sit on top of the kidneys release a steroid hormone called cortisol. However, our latest study shows that people who have experienced high levels of trauma in childhood, and who have attempted suicide, tend to release less cortisol when put under stress. These findings build on our earlier work that showed that the stress response system may be "faulty" or "damaged" in people who have recently tried to take their own life.
	Physiological differences in women's ice hockey in Sweden and North America Female ice hockey players from North America have better financial conditions as well as greater leg strength and running acceleration than female ice hockey players from Sweden, who in return have less body fat. This according to Tommy Henriksson in his doctoral dissertation at Umeå University in Sweden.
Schools closed in Zambia as cholera toll rises to 61 The start of Zambia's school year has been postponed and all public gatherings banned to contain a cholera outbreak that has killed 61 people, officials said Tuesday.
Four practice characteristics facilitate integration of community health workers Four practice characteristics facilitate the integration of community health workers into medical home care teams: leaders who champion community health workers, a culture of innovation, recognition of patients' non-medical needs, and a positive perception of the financial sustainability of community health workers.
Patients who receive prescription opioids are more satisfied with care than other patients Patients with musculoskeletal conditions who receive prescription opioids are more satisfied with their care than comparable patients who do not receive opioids. In a study of nationally representative data, 13 percent (2,564) of more than 19,000 patients with musculoskeletal conditions used prescription opioids.
	New method stabilizes siRNAs without affecting gene silencing activity Researchers have reported the ability to modify the structure of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to improve their stability and therapeutic potential without negatively affecting their potency and ability to silence targeted genes. The oligonucleotide modifications used and the experimental measures of thermal stability, helical structure, and gene expression are described in an article published in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.
Strengths and challenges in interactions with newly diagnosed diabetes patients When patients are diagnosed with diabetes, primary care clinicians display high levels of technical knowledge and communication skill, but initial consultations are often driven by biomedical explanations out of context from patient experience.
	Public health-primary care testing has high uptake, doesn't identify hidden hepatitis C A strategy to test the general population for hepatitis B and C viruses in areas of high prevalence had high test uptake but did not detect hidden chronic hepatitis C infections.
	Can CranioSacral therapy improve symptoms of concussion and mild TBI among football players? This invited commentary references a preliminary study in which the integrative medicine technique known as CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was tested on a group of ex-National Football League (NFL) players who showed significant improvement in range of motion, pain, sleep, and cognitive function. The need for more clinical research data to better understand the potential effectiveness of CST in post-concussive syndrome, mild and more severe traumatic brain injury, and even perhaps chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is emphasized in the article published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM).
Physicians use complex process in addressing non-patient requests When confronted with a medical request from family or friends (non-patients), physicians follow a complex process in deciding how to respond.
New skin barrier product reduces costs for ostomy care Ostomy patients using a new type of skin barrier product—infused with ceramides that play an essential role in the normal barrier function of the skin—experience lower costs of care, according to a randomized trial published in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, the official journal of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society.
State administrative data can help identify children's adverse experiences Identifying children with adverse childhood experiences is crucial but challenging.
	How patients and healthcare providers communicate outside the office is changing How patients and their healthcare providers communicate with one another outside the clinic or doctor's office is changing. But how do patients and their physicians feel about email, cell phone and text interactions?
3 Native American tribes sue opioid industry groups Three Native American tribes in the Dakotas are suing opioid manufacturers and distributors, alleging they concealed and minimized the addiction risk of prescription drugs.
MSF warns of mounting cholera cases in flood-hit Kinshasa Floods and mudslides in the Democratic Republic of Congo's chaotic capital Kinshasa have caused cholera cases to rise over five-fold to more than 100 a week, medical charity MSF said Tuesday.

Biology news

	Study suggests female advantage in life expectancy related to fundamental biological roots A small team of researchers from Denmark and Germany has found evidence that suggests a biological reason for why women live longer than men. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group outlines their study which involved analyzing survival data from several periods in history when groups of people were subjected to extreme duress.
	Lake Michigan waterfowl botulism deaths linked to warm waters, algae Since the 1960s, tens of thousands of birds living on the Great Lakes have died during periodic outbreaks of botulism. The outbreaks have only become more common and widespread in recent years, leaving scientists who track the birds puzzled.
	Mass extinctions remove species but not ecological variety Sixty-five million years ago, clouds of ash choked the skies over Earth. Dinosaurs, along with about half of all the species on Earth, staggered and died.
First 'cell map' of 20,000 cells in mammalian embryo Scientists at the Wellcome—MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute have used cutting-edge technology to profile over 20,000 individual cells to produce the first 'cell map' describing all the major cell types present at the early stage of mammalian embryo development. The researchers used the map to identify an important new pathway involved in blood cell development and say the map could open up new avenues for medicine and drug development.
	How good bacteria control your genes Scientists from the Babraham Institute near Cambridge in collaboration with colleagues from Brazil and Italy have discovered a way that good bacteria in the gut can control genes in our cells. The work, published today (9th January) in Nature Communications, shows that chemical messages from bacteria can change the location of key chemical markers throughout the human genome. By communicating in this way, the bacteria may help to fight infections and to prevent cancer.
	Ants sacrifice their colony mates as parts of a deadly disinfection New research from the IST Austria (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), in collaboration with Royal Holloway, University of London, and the University of Würzburg, has found that Lasius neglectus ants sacrifice ill ants to protect their colony from infection.
	The bright side of an infectious protein: Stress sensors promote yeast cell survival Prions are self-propagating protein aggregates that can be transmitted between cells. The aggregates are associated with human diseases. Indeed, pathological prions cause mad cow disease and in humans Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The aggregation of prion-like proteins is also associated with neurodegeneration as in ALS. The regions within prion-like proteins that are responsible for their aggregation were termed prion-like domains. Despite the important role of prion-like domains in human diseases, a physiological function has remained enigmatic. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), the Biotechnology Center of the TU Dresden (BIOTEC), and the Washington University in St. Louis, USA have now identified for the first time a benign, albeit biologically relevant function of prion domains as protein specific stress sensors that allow cells to adapt to and survive environmental stresses. Uncovering the physiological function is an essential first step towards closing a gap in understanding the biological role of prion domains and their transformation into a pathological disease-causing state.
	Promise of new antibiotics lies with shackling tiny toxic tetherballs to bacteria Biologists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a method for rapidly screening hundreds of thousands of potential drugs for fighting infections, an innovation that holds promise for combating the growing scourge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The method involves engineering bacteria to produce and test molecules that are potentially toxic to themselves.
	Closing roads counters effects of habitat loss for grizzly bears It's simple math, says scientist Clayton Lamb. The closer grizzly bears are to humans, the more ways there are for the bears to die. Put more simply, more roads equal fewer grizzly bears.
	Some lemurs are loners, others crave connection If lemurs were on Facebook, Fern would have oodles of friends, liking and commenting on their posts. Captain Lee, on the other hand, would rarely send a friend request.
	How the dry rot Serpula lacrymans adapted to a new ecological habitat By comparing genetic information from similar organisms, researchers have gained insights on why the dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is so destructive in houses. A study involving six brown rot fungi reveals the genomic changes Serpula lacrymans has undergone in adapting to manmade environments.
	Is fishing with electricity less destructive than digging up the seabed with beam trawlers? While many people may be interested in the sustainability and welfare of the fish they eat, or the health of the environment, fewer probably worry about the effect that trawl fishing – which accounts for 20% of landings – has on the ocean.
	In urban streams, pharmaceutical pollution is driving microbial resistance In urban streams, persistent pharmaceutical pollution can cause aquatic microbial communities to become resistant to drugs. So reports a new study published today in the journal Ecosphere.
	Emperor penguins may shorten record fast by snacking The endurance of emperor penguins, trudging through the perpetual Antarctic night to their breeding colonies, is legendary. Many trek more than 100 km from their ocean feeding grounds to rookeries at inland locations in preparation for mating; and the male partners often face a lengthy fast of more than 100 days while mating and incubating their eggs before embarking on the lengthy return journey.
	Exotic animals and the hunt for gold Men, women and their families arrived in large numbers to northern California with the dream of striking it rich during the mid-19th century. What most people don't know about the California Gold Rush is that exotic animals became as much a part of the experience as the exotic medals.
How scientists saved us from scallop stock collapse For the first time in 5 years, WA scallop fishers were able to fish in the once-profitable waters surrounding the Abrolhos Islands in 2017.

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