Science X Newsletter Friday, Feb 2

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 2, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New quantum repeater paves the way for long-distance big quantum data transmission

Bacteria play critical role in driving colon cancers

Scientists discover chiral phonons in a 2-D semiconductor crystal

New source found for ultra-short bursts of light

In wine, there's health: Low levels of alcohol good for the brain

Radiocarbon dating reveals mass grave did date to the Viking age

Researchers discover a potential new therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer

Record-breaking efficiency for secure quantum memory storage

New mouse model makes stem cells light up green

Hatchet enzyme, enabler of sickness and of health, exposed by neutron beams

Woodpeckers show signs of possible brain damage, but that might not be a bad thing

Strange things happen when a crystal is split in two

Clinical trial tests feasibility of targeting particular classes of tumor types with certain drugs

Applying topological physics to lasing creates more highly efficient and robust lasers

Natural telescope sets new magnification record

Astronomy & Space news

	Natural telescope sets new magnification record Extremely distant galaxies are usually too faint to be seen, even by the largest telescopes. But nature has a solution—gravitational lensing, predicted by Albert Einstein and observed many times by astronomers. Now, an international team of astronomers led by Harald Ebeling from the University of Hawaiʻi has discovered one of the most extreme instances of magnification by gravitational lensing.
	Astrophysicists discover planets in extragalactic galaxies using microlensing A University of Oklahoma astrophysics team has discovered for the first time a population of planets beyond the Milky Way galaxy. Using microlensing—an astronomical phenomenon and the only known method capable of discovering planets at truly great distances from the Earth among other detection techniques—OU researchers were able to detect objects in extragalactic galaxies that range from the mass of the Moon to the mass of Jupiter.
	NASA's newly rediscovered IMAGE mission provided key aurora research On Jan. 20, 2018, amateur astronomer Scott Tilley detected an unexpected signal coming from what he later postulated was NASA's long-lost IMAGE satellite, which had not been in contact since 2005. On Jan. 30, NASA—along with help from a community of IMAGE scientists and engineers—confirmed that the signal was indeed from the IMAGE spacecraft. Whatever the next steps for IMAGE may be, the mission's nearly six years in operation provided robust research about the space around Earth that continue to guide science to this day.
	Russian astronauts take spacewalk to upgrade station antenna (Update) Spacewalking Russian astronauts removed an old electronics box as part of an antenna upgrade at the International Space Station on Friday, then tossed it overboard as a piece of junk.
	NASA mission launched; will revolutionize our understanding of space weather NASA's first mission to provide unprecedented measurements of, and changes in, the temperature and composition of Earth's upper atmosphere launched at 5:20 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 25, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

Technology news

	An unbiased approach for sifting through big data Researchers have developed a complex system model to evaluate the health of populations in some U.S. cities based only on the most significant variables expressed in available data. Their unbiased, network-based probabilistic approach to mine big data could be used to assess other complex systems, such as ranking universities or evaluating ocean sustainability.
	Extra dimension creates stronger, safer concrete A new type of concrete, which could significantly lower the number of deaths during bomb blasts, earthquakes and other disasters, is being developed by an expert from Northumbria University, Newcastle.
	Patent talk: Amazon eyes workers' bands, tracking A tisket a tasket, want a green and yellow basket? In 2018, Amazon, kingpin of fulfillment orders, would have to answer, you're kidding. They need to have systems that ensure accuracy, efficiency and leverage the best of appropriate technologies.
	Google's AI push comes with plenty of people problems Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently declared that artificial intelligence fueled by powerful computers was more important to humanity than fire or electricity. And yet the search giant increasingly faces a variety of messy people problems as well.
	Amazon's quarterly profit tops $1 billion for first time It was a prime holiday season for Amazon: The online retailer's quarterly profit soared past $1 billion for the first time in its more than 20-year history as it sold more voice-activated gadgets, enlisted new Prime members and benefited from its recent purchase of Whole Foods.
	Google parent hit by higher costs, names new chairman Google parent company Alphabet on Thursday reported a quarterly loss to set aside funds to pay taxes on repatriated profits, and named a new chairman to replace outgoing Eric Schmidt.
	Sony profits soar more than tenfold, forecast revised up Sony said Friday its nine-month profit had soared more than tenfold, and upgraded its annual profit forecast, demonstrating that its roaring comeback is continuing.
	Japan raids hacked crypto exchange, bitcoin plunges further Japanese authorities on Friday raided virtual currency exchange Coincheck, a week after the Tokyo-based firm lost $530 million in cryptocurrency to hackers.
	Record highs, record heists: where is cryptocurrency heading? A hacking theft that netted $530 million, a ban on Facebook advertising, regulation even in Russia and more wild price swings: despite another stomach-churning week for cryptocurrencies, analysts say they are here to stay.
	Apple delivers record profit, seeks to allay iPhone X fears Apple on Thursday said its earnings in the final three months of last year set new records, with sales of its flagship iPhone X topping its expectations.
System identifies music selections via brain scanning It may sound like science fiction, but mind-reading equipment is much closer to reality than most people realize. A new study carried out at D'Or Institute for Research and Education used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to read participants' minds and determine what song they were listening to. The study, published today in Scientific Reports, contributes to the improvement of the technique and paves the way to new research on reconstruction of auditory imagination and inner speech. In the clinical domain, it can enhance brain-computer interfaces in order to establish communication with locked-in syndrome patients.
	Airbus tests self-flying taxi Airbus said Friday that it had successfully held the first test flights of the Vahana, an electric, pilotless flying vehicle that it hopes will be able to ferry people around cities.
	Mimicking human driving in autonomous vehicles Researchers from the University of Leeds are contributing to a 30-month autonomous vehicle project that will culminate in the most complex journey yet attempted across the UK without driver input.
	Designers of mixed reality experiences shouldn't overlook the communal nature of video games Augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality headsets are gradually becoming more widespread. But the communal pleasure of video games is at risk when our friends disappear into solitary playing experiences that we can't see.
Video: Why traffic apps make congestion worse Has your smartphone traffic app ever led you into a traffic jam? Join the club.
	Does energy storage make the electric grid cleaner? Carbon-free energy: Is the answer blowing in the wind? Perhaps, but the wind doesn't always blow, nor does the sun always shine. The energy generated by wind and solar power is intermittent, meaning that the generated electricity goes up and down according to the weather.
	Are autonomous cars really safer than human drivers? Much of the push toward self-driving cars has been underwritten by the hope that they will save lives by getting involved in fewer crashes with fewer injuries and deaths than human-driven cars. But so far, most comparisons between human drivers and automated vehicles have been at best uneven, and at worst, unfair.
	Apple overtakes Samsung in shrinking smartphone market: survey Apple overtook Samsung in the fourth quarter as the largest smartphone producer in a declining global market for handsets, research firm IDC said Friday.
	Should Twitter, Facebook get serious about real names? Fake social media accounts can retweet a presidential candidate, boost the perceived influence of a celebrity—or both—so is it finally time to require real names?
	Mark Zuckerberg: People are spending 50 million fewer hours on Facebook a day Mark Zuckerberg warned in January that radical changes he's making to return Facebook to its roots connecting friends and family would curtail how much time people spend there.
	Researchers develop new algorithms to train robots Researchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin have developed new techniques for robots or computer programs to learn how to perform tasks by interacting with a human instructor. The findings of the study will be presented and published at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 2-7.
Algorithm identifies vulnerable people during natural disasters A new algorithm developed at the University of Waterloo will help first responders and home care providers better help the elderly during natural disasters.
	'Call me baby': Talking sex dolls fill a void in China With China facing a massive gender gap and a greying population, a company wants to hook up lonely men and retirees with a new kind of companion: "Smart" sex dolls that can talk, play music and turn on dishwashers.
	Holograms and mermaids: Top trends at Nuremberg toy fair The Nuremberg toy fair, the world's largest, opened its doors this week to an industry in the throes of reinvention as toymakers vie for the attention of children increasingly glued to smartphones and tablets.
	Sony CEO Hirai to step down Sony chief executive Kazuo Hirai, who led a major and successful overhaul at the Japanese electronics giant, will step down at the end of March, the firm said Friday.
	With Kamprad gone, will Ikea lose its compass? Will Ikea lose its way after the death of its almighty founder Ingvar Kamprad? Observers reject the notion, or at least downplay the risks facing the orphaned group.
	Japan's Honda revs up annual net-profit forecast Honda Motor on Friday nearly doubled its annual net-profit forecasts, citing strong growth in the sales of its cars and motorcycles, as well as US corporate tax cuts.
China orders microblog operators to tighten censorship Ratcheting up control over Chinese microblogs, regulators ordered operators on Friday to set up a mechanism to remove false information after the most popular service was criticized for allowing prohibited material to spread.
Spain extradites suspect thought to be spam kingpin to US Spain says it has extradited to the United States a Russian citizen who is suspected of being one the world's most notorious spammers.
	BT shares tumble on sliding sales Shares in British telecoms and television broadcasting company BT slumped Friday to a five-year low on news of shrinking quarterly revenue.
	German car sales shrug off new diesel woes The number of new car registrations in Germany leapt in January, industry data showed Friday, even as a new scandal related to diesel emissions shook the vital sector.
	Dell considers VMware purchase, going public again Dell Technologies is considering merging with business software provider VMware as part of several potential strategic options.
	Poland and Baltic states need energy plan by June: EU A senior member of the European Commission on Friday called on Poland and the neighbouring Baltic states to come up with a joint plan by June on how to synchronise their energy grids with the rest of Europe.
	Vodafone eyes European asset buy from Liberty Global British mobile phone giant Vodafone on Friday said it is in talks to buy European assets of US peer Liberty Global, dismissing reports the pair are planning a full merger.

Medicine & Health news

	Bacteria play critical role in driving colon cancers Patients with an inherited form of colon cancer harbor two bacterial species that collaborate to encourage development of the disease, and the same species have been found in people who develop a sporadic form of colon cancer, a study led by a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy research team finds. A second study in mice published concurrently by the same researchers shows a possible mechanism behind how one of these species spurs a specific type of immune response, promoting—instead of inhibiting—the formation of malignant tumors. Together, these findings could lead to new ways to more effectively screen for and ultimately prevent colon cancer, a disease that kills more than 50,000 people each year in the U.S. and is on the rise among younger adults age 20 to 50.
	In wine, there's health: Low levels of alcohol good for the brain While a couple of glasses of wine can help clear the mind after a busy day, new research shows that it may actually help clean the mind as well. The new study, which appears in the journal Scientific Reports, shows that low levels of alcohol consumption tamp down inflammation and helps the brain clear away toxins, including those associated with Alzheimer's disease.
	Researchers discover a potential new therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer In most pancreatic cancer patients, the diagnosis occurs when the disease is already advanced, and currently, there is no effective treatment. There have been no significant advances to combat it in recent decades, and unfortunately, its occurrence is on the increase. Now, a group of researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) may have found a new therapeutic approach. The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).
	New mouse model makes stem cells light up green Multipotent stromal cells are a hot topic in medical research. Scientists at the University of Bonn have now found a way to specifically mark these stem cells. This makes it possible to analyze their distribution pattern and their function in living organisms. The study, which included researchers from Oxford University, Tsukuba University and the Karolinska Institute Stockholm, is now published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.
	Clinical trial tests feasibility of targeting particular classes of tumor types with certain drugs A large team of researchers from the U.S., Spain and Australia has found that the efficacy of drugs for treating cancer aimed at targeting particular classes of mutations depends on the type of tumor tissue involved and the nature of the mutations. In their paper published in Nature, the team describes the clinical trial and the results they have seen thus far. Elaine Mardis with the Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio, offers a News & Views piece in the same journal issue outlining the study, and general research of abnormalities in genes linked to cancer and possible new treatment options.
	Study points to immune system's role in neural development Between the ages of two and four, the human brain has an estimated one quadrillion synapses – the electrical connections between neurons. As we age, pruning out extraneous synapses enables existing ones to run more efficiently and is just as important as forming new cellular connections. An imbalance between synapse formation and removal has been linked to developmental psychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia.
	Describing certain foods in a foreign language reduces aversion Restaurateurs apparently know what they're doing when they offer "escargot" on a menu rather than "snails." New research shows that people are more willing to eat foods that they find disgusting if those foods are presented in a foreign language.
	Brain scans show why some type 1 diabetics miss low blood sugar cues The brains of people with type 1 diabetes react differently to low blood sugar compared with healthy adults, say Yale researchers.
	Researchers discover two-step process to thwart cancer cells Scientists at the University of Delaware and the University of Illinois at Chicago have found a new way to kill liver cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth. First, they silence a key cellular enzyme, and then they add a powerful drug. They describe their methods in a new paper published in Nature Communications.
	Team in China grows ears and attaches them to human patients A team of researchers in China has, for the first time, created new ears for human patients by growing cartilage and implanting it. In their paper published on the open access site EBioMedicine, the group outlines how the ears were made, how they were attached and how well the ears are developing in the young patients.
	Study finds dialects and languages are processed differently Is saying 'breeks' instead of 'trousers' or 'tatties' instead of 'potatoes' like speaking a different language? New University of Dundee research suggests that dialects are processed differently to languages, an important finding as the distinction between the two is often controversial and politically charged.
	Research uncovers gene network that regulates motor neuron formation during embryonic development UCLA researchers have discovered the inner workings of a gene network that regulates the development of spinal motor neurons in the growing chicken and mouse embryo. The research also answers a long-standing question about why motor neurons, the nerve cells of the spinal cord that control muscle movement, form much faster than other types of neurons.
	Studies offer no clear answers on safety of cellphone use Two government studies that bombarded rats and mice with cellphone radiation found a weak link to some heart tumors, but scientists and federal regulators say don't worry—it is still safe to use your device.
	Researchers find grape-derived compounds may promote resilience against depression In a study to be published online February 2 in Nature Communications, scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describe an extensive analysis of novel grape-derived compounds, dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) and malvidin-3'-O-glucoside (Mal-gluc),which might be developed as therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression. The study results indicate that these natural compounds may attenuate depression by targeting newly discovered underlying mechanisms of the disease.
Regular exercise halves complication rate after lung cancer surgery Exercising regularly before surgery for lung cancer halves the complication rate afterwards, finds a synthesis of the available published evidence in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
	Ibuprofen in the first three months of pregnancy may harm future fertility of baby girls Pregnant women who take the pain killer ibuprofen in the first 24 weeks of their pregnancy may be reducing the store of eggs in the ovaries of their daughters.
Short section of DNA predicts kidney transplant success A landmark study has narrowed down the genes that best predict long term kidney transplant success, to a small stretch of DNA.
	Multidrug-resistant malaria spread under the radar for years in Cambodia The most comprehensive genetic study of malaria parasites in Southeast Asia has shown that resistance to antimalarial drugs was under-reported for years in Cambodia. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators have shown that the parasites developed multidrug resistance to first-line treatments extremely rapidly. They found that one main resistant strain had spread aggressively in the five years before clinical resistance was reported. Delays in detecting the spread of resistance could threaten global efforts to eliminate malaria.
	Anxious personality may be linked to heightened dog bite risk Personality type may be linked to a heightened risk of being bitten by a dog, with people of a more anxious disposition more likely to be nipped, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Standard medical tests miss nearly two-thirds of heart attack diagnoses Standard medical tests miss nearly two-thirds of heart attack diagnoses, reveals research presented today at CMR 2018.
	Philippines: Three deaths may be linked to dengue vaccinations Philippine health officials said Friday that the deaths of three children injected with a Sanofi Pasteur dengue vaccine may have "causal association" to the inoculation, including two who may have died because the vaccine failed.
	Individual patient data allow researchers to study brain function using detailed simulations Using patient measurement data, researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health have refined a brain modeling platform called the Virtual Brain. The software has been used in projects and publications across the globe. The latest findings have been published in eLife.
	Back to basics for heart health As heart month kicks off, doctors at Baylor College of Medicine say the first step to taking control of your health and preventing cardiovascular disease is understanding the basics and what they represent for your heart.
	Magnet-based drug delivery system shows promise for cancer treatment A team of researchers at the University of Georgia has developed a non-invasive method of delivering drugs directly to cancerous tissue using magnetic forces, a form of treatment that could significantly reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy.
	For the first time, Zika syndrome susceptibility in humans linked to genetic background Neural progenitor cells (NPC) derived from congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) affected and non-affected twins show different rates of virus infection and different RNA expression of genes associated with neural development. The expression imbalance happens even before the infection with the Zika virus in vitro. These results confirm the hypothesis of a genetic or epigenetic influence on susceptibility to CZS and microcephaly. The findings were published in Nature Communications on Friday, 2 February 2018.
Crash diets can cause transient deterioration in heart function Crash diets can cause a transient deterioration in heart function, according to research presented today at CMR 2018. Patients with heart disease should seek medical advice before adopting a very low calorie diet.
	Landmark firefighter health study leads to improved support The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and the University of Adelaide have conducted a landmark study into the mental and physical health of MFS firefighters.
	Persistent pain experienced by firefighters A recently released Western co-authored study is providing an eye-opening look into how physical pain and discomfort have become a way of life for many firefighters across the country.
Probiotics for respiratory illness could save millions A recent study suggests the use of probiotics to prevent respiratory tract infections in Canada could result in annual savings of nearly $100 million.
Surgeons prepared to treat abnormalities discovered during surgery absent patient consent New Zealand surgeons are often prepared to treat an abnormality discovered during an elective surgical procedure in the absence of patient consent, especially if the patient's health is threatened and the risk of the additional procedure is low.
	Streamlined, cost-cutting post-treatment dental advice via iPad With increased numbers of baby boomers using technology, Case Western Reserve University researchers investigate streamlined, cost-cutting post-treatment advice
	Culturally adapted intervention may help Hispanics with serious mental illness The first study to examine the initial impact of a culturally-adapted health care manager intervention aimed at helping Hispanics with serious mental illness finds the intervention shows potential for improving their health outcomes.
	Study tracks methylmercury in seafood Order a sushi platter in the U.S. and your plate will likely include tuna from the South Pacific, crab from the North Atlantic, and farm-raised shrimp from Asia.
	Can what you eat change your gut microbiome? Almost everything we eat has some effect on our gut microbiomes. There's good reason to be aware of that. We know from a dizzying number of studies that a diverse, well-balanced microbiome is associated with health benefits, such as improved glucose tolerance, better immune function, or better weight control. On the flip side, a poorly functioning gut microbiome, known as dysbiosis, can contribute to Crohn's disease, C. difficile colitis, and even autoimmune diseases.
	Why diets backfire: A year or more after weight loss, the desire to eat grows stronger Losing weight is, for most people, the easy part. The bigger challenge is trying to keep it off for more than a year.
	For Americans, understanding money eases old age anxiety A new household economics study from Hiroshima University suggests that financially literate people are more capable of accumulating wealth and worrying less about life in old age. This study is the first of its kind to examine how financial literacy influences anxiety about life in old age in the United States.
	What are school sores and how do you get rid of them? Impetigo, or "school sores", is a contagious infection of the very top layer of skin. It's most common in children aged two to six, and ends up spreading from child to child in schools and daycare centres, but can affect children and adults of all ages.
	Doctors must stop misleading women about cervical screening Cervical screening is one of the most effective screening tests, responsible for substantial reduction in death from cervical cancer. This disease used to affect two per cent of Canadian women and kill one per cent.
	Fixing pain management could help us solve the opioid crisis Australia is facing a critical public health issue of poorly managed pain. The combination of poor health outcomes, inappropriate prescribing for pain and non-prescription use of opioids has resulted in opioid-related deaths surpassing the national annual road toll.
Do you need vacation vaccines? Planning a winter vacation to somewhere warm and sunny? Then you've probably noticed the TV ad about the beaming family that took prescription anti-diarrheal medication before their trip, versus the luckless one that didn't.
	What genetic testing information to expect when you're expecting Experts have recommended greater support and choice of information for pregnant women who decide to have genetic testing.
	New system matches genetic anomalies with precision cancer treatments A team of computer scientists from the University of Delaware and Georgetown University has developed a new system to rapidly determine which cancer drugs are likely to work best given a patient's genetic markers. The first publicly available system of its kind, their database, eGARD (extracting Genomic Anomalies association with Response to Drugs), is described in PLoS One.
	Engineer locates brain's seizure onset zone in record time A University of Houston biomedical engineer is reporting a dramatic decrease in the time it takes to detect the seizure onset zone (SOZ), the actual part of the brain that causes seizures, in patients with epilepsy.
	Cutting off tumour supplies For a tumour to grow, it must develop blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen. Preventing tumour vascularization is therefore an interesting anti-tumour therapy that has been explored over the last ten years. But how to be truly effective? By identifying two cytokines, key factors in the recruitment of blood cells essential to the formation of new blood vessels, and above all by deciphering how these factors interact simultaneously with blood vessels, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) are highlighting an additional way of controlling tumour progression. Moreover, their results, to be read in Nature Communications, suggest that the combined use of existing drugs or under development could significantly increase their efficacy.
	Banning piercings for under 18s may be medically a good idea, but it takes away choice and self-esteem It is now an offence for under-18s in Wales to get any intimate piercings – meaning tongue, genitals and nipples. One of the main arguments for this ban is that young people under 18 are still physically developing and that these kinds of piercings can stifle that development and lead to infection.
	Blood-based marker for Alzheimer's disease shows diagnostic potential Researchers in Japan and Australia have used the ratio of different forms of the hallmark Alzheimer's protein, amyloid, in blood to detect those who have high levels of the protein in their brain. Their findings are published today in the scientific publication Nature and take researchers a step closer to developing a blood test for the Alzheimer's protein.
Low muscle strength identified as early risk factor for ALS Low muscle strength during the later teen years has been identified as a risk factor for much later onset of the neurological disease known as ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A study at Sahlgrenska Academy published in the Journal of Neurology also links low blood counts at a young age to ALS.
	Cause of severe genetic disease identified Mutations in the p63 protein lead to a number of disorders, but none is as severe as the AEC syndrome. Scientists at Goethe University Frankfurt in collaboration with a research group from the University of Naples Federico II have now discovered that this syndrome resembles diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or ALS more closely than it does other p63-based syndromes. Their results, which were recently published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), lay some groundwork for the development of new therapies.
	People with depression use language differently – here's how to spot it From the way you move and sleep, to how you interact with people around you, depression changes just about everything. It is even noticeable in the way you speak and express yourself in writing. Sometimes this "language of depression" can have a powerful effect on others. Just consider the impact of the poetry and song lyrics of Sylvia Plath and Kurt Cobain, who both killed themselves after suffering from depression.
	We view ourselves and those we care about through 'rose-tinted glasses', study says New research from City, University of London, University of Oxford and Yale University has shown that we see our own lives, and also those we care about, through 'rose-tinted glasses'.
	Why we should take Amazon's ambitions to disrupt healthcare seriously On Tuesday, three influential companies—Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase—announced a partnership to provide their more than 500,000 employees with an alternative to the current healthcare system. Though the companies released few details about their new venture, they did say it would focus on using technology to reduce costs. It's a move that could ripple across the entire American healthcare industry.
	Fish oil supplements may not help your heart: study (HealthDay)—Claims that fish oil supplements help prevent death from heart disease, heart attacks and stroke may be unfounded, British research suggests.
	'Bug bomb' foggers still making people sick (HealthDay)—Improperly used "bug bombs" are making Americans sick—and improved labeling isn't helping, government health officials say.
	Overvaluation, binge eating linked to functional impairment (HealthDay)—Overvaluation and binge eating are strong and unique predictors of distress and impairment among women with binge-eating disorder (BED), according to a study published recently in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
	Using hands is best method for splitting aspirin tablets (HealthDay)—Using your hands may be best for splitting an aspirin tablet, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
	Medicaid expansion cuts out-of-pocket spending (HealthDay)—States that expanded Medicaid cut the probability of non-elderly near-poor adults being uninsured and lowered average out-of-pocket spending, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Health Affairs.
	Just how bad is this flu season? Experts weigh in (HealthDay)—The United States is in the grip of a tough flu season, no doubt.
	Super Bowl snacks that don't put health on the sidelines (HealthDay)—Super Bowl Sunday is synonymous with greasy chicken wings, calorie-laden chili, salty potato chips and sugary brownies—but experts say there's no reason you can't enjoy tasty fare without sending your body into a nutritional tailspin.
	Why it's great to learn a second language (HealthDay)—Is learning a second language on your bucket list? Here's compelling evidence to get started right away.
New technology: Edible QR code can be the medicine of the future For the last 100 years, researchers have constantly pushed the boundaries for our knowledge about medicine and how different bodies can respond differently to it. However, the methods for the production of medicine have not yet moved itself away from mass production. Many who have a given illness get the same product with equal amount of an active compound.
Analyzing street drugs points to potential early warning system in opioid crisis In just two years, the powerful opioid fentanyl went from nonexistent to detected in more than 1 in 7 stamp bags analyzed by the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner, according to an analysis led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Stamp bags are small wax packets that contain mixtures of illicit drugs, most commonly heroin, packaged for sale and sometimes stamped with a graphical logo by drug dealers to market their contents.
Research highlights need for better support for thousands of informal dementia carers Directly involving the thousands of family members and friends who serve as 'informal carers' for people with dementia in the evaluation of patients' symptoms and behaviour could offer improved insights for healthcare professionals and help alleviate feelings of stress, guilt and isolation felt by many who fulfil these duties, a new study has found.
	Mini-primaquine does help stop people infecting mosquitoes with malaria A single dose of primaquine is thought to stop people with P. falciparum malaria infecting mosquitoes, which could help bring down malaria transmission. In this Cochrane Review update prepared by an international team of researchers and co-ordinated through the Cochrane infectious Diseases Group (CIDG) based at LSTM, the researchers added recent data to examine this question. Their findings are relevant to the global recommendation by the World Health Organization that mini-primaquine be given to all people unwell with malaria in areas where transmission is low to reduce transmission further.
Can your brain testify against you? Neuroscientific techniques continue to advance, but their applications in law raise concerns of a threat to individual rights. Previous applications of neuroscientific evidence include using brain scans to detect deception in an individual, and neurological responses to determine whether someone has intimate knowledge of a crime. However, just because we can use this technology, does it mean we should?
	Researchers identify gene largely accounting for 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome Researchers are closer to solving the puzzle of a complex neurological condition called 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome. Individuals with this condition are missing a small piece of chromosome 15 that usually contains six genes, but which one of the genes is responsible for the clinical characteristics of patients has not been clear. In this study, a multidisciplinary team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital has identified in a mouse model OTUD7A as the gene within the deleted region that accounts for many characteristics of the human condition. The researchers also discovered that mice deficient in the gene Otud7a have fewer dendritic spines, small protrusions involved in neuron communication, which might be related to the neurological deficits. The report appears in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
	As cancer survival rate grows, so does number of new cases Even as cancer treatment improves and survival rates go up, so too does the number of people afflicted with the deadly disease, experts said ahead of World Cancer Day.
Patients who achieve short-term weight loss before bariatric surgery have better outcomes For patients undergoing weight loss (bariatric) surgery, losing at least 8 percent of excess weight just one month before the procedure directly impacts their ability to shed even more pounds in the year following surgery, according to new study findings published as an "article in press" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print.
Cellular 'powerhouses' may explain health effects of stress How does psychological stress translate into physical health effects? A key piece of the puzzle may be found in specialized cellular structures known as mitochondria, according to a pair of articles in the January issue of Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society.
Genome wide association study of epigenetic aging rates in blood reveals a critical role for TERT Researchers from several institutions, including, UCLA, Boston University, Stanford University and the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, analyzed blood samples from nearly 10,000 people to find that genetic markers in the gene responsible for keeping telomeres (tips of chromosomes) youthfully longer, did not translate into a younger biologic age as measured by changes in proteins coating the DNA. This study was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Nurses with a mission: Send older ER patients home with help When 86-year-old Carol Wittwer took a taxi to the emergency room, she expected to be admitted to the hospital. She didn't anticipate being asked if she cooks for herself. If she has friends in her high-rise. Or if she could spell lunch backward.
	After 24 surgeries, Bangladesh 'tree man' relapses A year ago Abul Bajandar, a Bangladeshi rickshaw-puller dubbed "tree-man" for the bark-like growths that once covered his body, appeared to have made a full recovery from the rare condition that has afflicted him for a decade.
	Dengue vaccine row wreaks havoc on Philippine war on disease Widespread fears over a controversial dengue vaccine that some blame for child deaths are wreaking havoc on the Philippines' war on preventable diseases, with many parents refusing to get their children immunised, a senior health official said Friday.
	How kindness can make a difference in cancer care Cancer may not be life-ending, but it usually is life-changing. A cancer diagnosis instantaneously turns life upside down for patients and families. Cancer care is a "high-emotion" service, and the care team must not only effectively treat the disease but also address patients' intense emotions.
Birth control: there's an app for that After 65 years of putting up with the pill's side effects, women finally have an effective, drug-free alternative. And it's all thanks to one badass lady scientist (and her husband).
	Longevity industry systematized for first time The Biogerontology Research Foundation has embarked on a year-long mission to summarise in a single document the various emerging technologies and industries which can be brought to bear on aging, healthy longevity, and everything in between, as part of a joint project between The Global Longevity Consortium, consisting of the Biogerontology Research Foundation, Deep Knowledge Life Sciences, Aging Analytics Agency and Longevity.International platform.
	Fighting cancer with nanobodies and computer simulations Stimulating or enhancing someone's own immune system to fight cancer is not a new concept but scientists are taking it one step further by using nanoscience and computer simulations to improve existing treatments.
	Language matters in end-of-life conversations In general, the term "medical futility" applies when, based on data and professional experience, no further treatments, procedures or tests will provide benefit and may, in fact, be more burdensome and create undue suffering for the patient and the patient's family.

Biology news

	Woodpeckers show signs of possible brain damage, but that might not be a bad thing With woodpeckers, the answer's in the question—true to their name, they peck wood. And when they do, they peck hard—with each peck, the bird undergoes a force of 1,200 to 1,400 g's. By comparison, a measly force of 60-100 g's can give a human a concussion. The fact that a woodpecker can undergo fourteen times that without getting hurt has led helmet makers model their designs around these birds' skulls. However, a new study in PLOS ONE complicates this story by showing that woodpecker brains contain build-ups of a protein associated with brain damage in humans.
	Highly localised and current DNA information on river animals New research proves that environmental DNA survives for less than two days in small fast-flowing rivers and so provides highly localised and current information on species composition. This is crucial new evidence as biologists turn increasingly to new DNA sampling techniques to assess aquatic ecosystem health.
	Team pieces together the mystery of how single cell life forms evolved into multicellular organisms One of the big evolutionary questions in life is how and why single cell organisms organised themselves to live in a group, thereby forming multicellular life forms.
	Cheetahs' inner ear is one-of-a-kind, vital to high-speed hunting The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is a successful hunter not only because it is quick, but also because it can hold an incredibly still gaze while pursuing prey. For the first time, researchers have investigated the cheetah's extraordinary sensory abilities by analyzing the speedy animal's inner ear, an organ that is essential for maintaining body balance and adapting head posture during movement in most vertebrates. The study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports and led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History, finds that the inner ear of modern cheetahs is unique and likely evolved relatively recently.
	Bears avoid trails with motorized recreational activity, study confirms Bears use trails with motorized recreation less often than those without it, new University of Alberta research shows.
	Dog paralysis condition linked to eating chicken necks Feeding dogs raw chicken meat, particularly chicken necks, has been linked to a rare but potentially fatal type of canine paralysis.
	In a threatening environment, male cichlids delay the development of their striking color Male cichlids that are constantly threatened by predators grow faster and postpone the full expression of conspicuous breeding coloration for longer. This is shown by a study by biologists from the University of Bonn. Thereby, the animals reduce their risk of becoming prey. However, at the peak of their sexual maturity the animals give up their retarded breeding coloration: Even under risky conditions, they then vie for their potential sexual partners with magnificent colors. The article appears in the journal The American Naturalist.
	Nano-switches in the cell Mitochondria, best known for their role as cellular power plants, perform numerous vital tasks in the cell. During cell respiration, reactive oxygen species can be formed in mitochondria. If these are present in excess, their high reactivity leads to irreparable damage to important cellular components. This so-called oxidative stress is assumed to play a causal role in many diseases and in ageing processes. In low concentrations, however, reactive oxygen species can also act as important second messengers in the cell. Here, specific, so-called redox-active thiols in distinct proteins are modified. This type of oxidative modification is reversible and, like a nano-switch, can regulate the function of a protein.
	The raptors guarding Mexico City's airport Far from the crowds of passengers, lines and passport control, Madison spreads his wings on the side of a runway at Mexico City's international airport, the busiest in Latin America.
	To understand the sea, focus on the seabed A new review, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory scientists, sets priorities for the benefit of future benthic research.
	First study of its kind shows how foetal strength changes over time Bioengineers at Imperial have measured how the force of babies' kicks in the womb change over the course of pregnancy.

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