Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 1

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 1, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Generalized Hardy's paradox shows an even stronger conflict between quantum and classical physics

Astrophysicists release IllustrisTNG, the most advanced universe model of its kind

Small molecules set up security system to defend the genome

Oklahoma's earthquakes strongly linked to wastewater injection depth

Distant galaxy group contradicts common cosmological models, simulations

Gene enhancers important despite apparent redundancy

Integrated metasurface converts colors of light over broadband inside a waveguide

Meet the 'odderon': Large Hadron Collider experiment shows potential evidence of quasiparticle sought for decades

Researchers observe electrons zipping around in crystals

New method efficiently generates hydrogen from water

Findings may help scientists understand how much carbon dioxide can be released while still limiting global warming

Study: CAR T-cell therapy safe and effective in youth with leukemia

Slow but steady: New study sheds light on the brain evolution of turtles

Rare ichthyosaur is only second known example

Geese reduce metabolic rate to cope with winter

Astronomy & Space news

	Astrophysicists release IllustrisTNG, the most advanced universe model of its kind Novel computational methods have helped create the most information-packed universe-scale simulation ever produced. The new tool provides fresh insights into how black holes influence the distribution of dark matter, how heavy elements are produced and distributed throughout the cosmos, and where magnetic fields originate.
	Distant galaxy group contradicts common cosmological models, simulations An international team of astronomers has determined that Centaurus A, a massive elliptical galaxy 13 million light-years from Earth, is accompanied by a number of dwarf satellite galaxies orbiting the main body in a narrow disk. In a paper published today in Science, the researchers note that this is the first time such a galactic arrangement has been observed outside the Local Group, home to the Milky Way.
	Image: Mount Sharp 'photobombs' Mars Curiosity rover A new self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle on Vera Rubin Ridge, which it has been investigating for the past several months. Directly behind the rover is the start of a clay-rich slope scientists are eager to begin exploring. In coming weeks, Curiosity will begin to climb this slope. In the image, north is on the left and west is on the right, with Gale Crater's rim on the horizon of both edges.
	Does Titan's hydrocarbon soup hold a recipe for life? NASA researchers have confirmed the existence in Titan's atmosphere of vinyl cyanide, which is an organic compound that could potentially provide the cellular membranes for microbial life to form in Titan's vast methane oceans. If true, it could prove to us that life can flourish without the ubiquitous H2O.
	Russia to start offering spacewalks for tourists Russia is planning to send paying tourists on the International Space Station out on spacewalks for the first time, an official from the country's space industry said Thursday.
	Supermassive black holes can feast on one star per year CU Boulder researchers have discovered a mechanism that explains the persistence of asymmetrical stellar clusters surrounding supermassive black holes in some galaxies and suggests that during post-galactic merger periods, orbiting stars could be flung into the black hole and destroyed at a rate of one per year.
	Russia launches 11 space satellites 'without glitch' Russia on Thursday successfully launched 11 satellites from its Vostochny cosmodrome, in the third rocket liftoff from the new spaceport, the space agency said.
	SpaceX blasts off Luxembourg government satellite SpaceX on Wednesday blasted off a four-ton secure military communications satellite called GovSat-1, a partnership between the government of Luxembourg and the satellite operator SES.
	Emission from the centre of a galaxy has a serpentine shape An international group of scientists led by members of the National Instituto of Astrophysics (Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino (INAF-OATo) has discovered a peculiar spiral-shaped blazar jet with many twists. The results of these observations are published today in Nature magazine.
	Astronomers find one of the first stars formed in the Milky Way Researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) have identified a star that is a key to the formation of the first chemical elements in the galaxy. The results of this research are published today in The Astrophysical Journal.
	Galaxies that feed on other galaxies An international team of astronomers led by Giuseppina Battaglia, researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), finds signs that the outer halo of the Milky Way contains stellar remains of massive dwarf galaxies that were devoured by our own.
	New galaxy survey to measure the expanding universe ANU will play a major role in the Taipan galaxy survey, which will for the first time measure the current expansion rate of the universe with one per cent precision.
	Europe claims 100 million users for Galileo satnav system The Galileo satellite navigation system, Europe's rival to the United States' GPS, has nearly 100 million users after its first year of operation, the French space agency CNES said Thursday.
	News about Tabby's star, the most mysterious star of 2017 KIC 8462852, or "Tabby's Star," named after Tabetha Boyajian, the researcher at Louisiana State University (USA) who is leading its study, is a medium sized star, some 50 percent bigger than the sun, and 1,000 degrees hotter, at a distance of around 1000 light years. However, its brightness rises and falls sporadically, without explanation. Many theories have been proposed to explain the unusual light curve of the star, including the existence of an alien mega-structure orbiting around it.

Technology news

	Machine learning algorithms go to work on Google Flights' delay predictions Google's penchant for giving us answers, in its new era of AI, is a gift that keeps on giving. A new item in Google's gift bag: extra trimmings on Google Flights.
	3-D printing of living cells Using a new technique they call "in-air microfluidics," University of Twente scientists succeed in printing 3-D structures with living cells. This special technique enable the fast and 'on-the-fly' production of micro building blocks that are viable and can be used for repairing damaged tissue, for example. The work is presented in Science Advances.
	UAE cyber firm DarkMatter slowly steps out of the shadows DarkMatter, a growing cybersecurity company in the United Arab Emirates that's recruited Western intelligence analysts, is stepping out of the shadows amid concerns by activists about its power and potential targets.
	Facebook booming even as time spent on it drops Facebook on Wednesday reported a big jump in profits even though people are spending less time on the world's biggest social network.
	Microsoft reports loss due to tax charge Microsoft on Wednesday reported a hefty loss in the past quarter, as it set aside billions of dollars for taxes on profits it expects to bring back to the United States following passage of a major tax overhaul.
	Apple challenged to show iPhone star shines With Apple set to report quarterly results Thursday investors and others are cautiously watching to see whether its newest iPhone will help fuel momentum for the world's most valuable company.
	White House seeking to slash renewable energy research: report The Trump administration will ask Congress to cut funding for clean energy and energy efficiency programs by 72 percent in this year's budget, according to a report in the Washington Post, underscoring its preference for fossil fuels.
	Nokia widens losses in 2017 Nokia said Thursday that its net loss widened in 2017, but that underlying profits improved, enabling the Finnish mobile phone maker to raise its forecasts for the coming years as operators prepare to roll out new lightning-fast 5G technology.
	Strava storm: why everyone should check their smart gear security settings before going for a jog Fitness tracking app Strava recently kicked off a privacy and security storm after it was revealed that its software had potentially exposed the location of secret military bases, courtesy of a data visualisation tool called a "heatmap".
	Smart cities need to be more human, so we're creating Sims-style virtual worlds Huge quantities of networked sensors have appeared in cities across the world in recent years. These include cameras and sensors that count the number of passers by, devices to sense air quality, traffic flow detectors, and even bee hive monitors. There are also large amounts of information about how people use cities on social media services such as Twitter and foursquare.
	Brave new world of robotic architecture dawning Sure, there have already been 3-D printed houses. And you can pick up a Nest Thermostat with artificial intelligence at your local hardware store. But a new book co-written and co-edited by Mahesh Daas, dean of the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design, argues that robotics can and soon will be even further integrated into the design processes at the heart of architecture.
How Facebook could really fix itself Facebook has a world of problems. Beyond charges of Russian manipulation and promoting fake news, the company's signature social media platform is under fire for being addictive, causing anxiety and depression, and even instigating human rights abuses.
	A step toward independence from fossil resources Instead of happening as a result of one big discovery, independence from fossil resources will most likely take place gradually. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremen have succeeded in taking another step in this direction. The scientists are now able to produce a paint primer on the basis of lignin, which, for example, can be obtained from plant residues. It is free of petrochemical raw materials and therefore has a significantly improved CO2 balance.
	Efficient use of resources in manufacture of metal components Additive Manufacturing has established itself in many industrial sectors as a method for making plastic parts. The 3-D printing of metals is on the road to becoming a similar success story. In the newly opened 3-D-Printing Lab for Metals and Structural Materials at the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI, researchers have investigated how resource- efficient the manufacturing process is when lightweight aluminum components are manufactured using additive methods. They discovered that even marginal reductions in the material and resources used per component yield high cost savings in series manufacturing.
	Lightweight robots harvest cucumbers Automation-intensive sectors such as the automotive industry are not the only ones to rely on robots. In more and more agricultural settings, automation systems are superseding strenuous manual labor. As part of the EU's CATCH project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK is developing and testing a dual-arm robot for the automated harvesting of cucumbers. This lightweight solution has the potential to keep crop cultivation commercially viable in Germany.
	Low-latency image data compression The number of cameras in cars is increasing. However, through the flood of data the internal networks are being pushed to their limits. Special compression methods reduce the amount of video data, but exhibit a high degree of latency for coding. Fraunhofer researchers have adapted video compression in such a way that a latency is almost no longer perceivable. It is therefore of interest for use in road traffic or for autonomous driving.
	Machine tools receiving a check-up Influences like temperature variation, drafts, and air humidity can heavily compromise precision. The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU is exposing machines to various climate zones around the world without actually shipping them to Southeast Asia, Canada, or Brazil: A newly inaugurated climate chamber is able to test how ambient conditions affect the function of lathes and other machines.
	Alibaba net profit soars 35% as Singles Day pays off Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Thursday posted a 35 percent surge in net profit in the third quarter, fuelled by a record-breaking sales bonanza during its annual Singles Day shopping festival.
	Facebook denies 'censoring' 19th-century vagina painting A long-running dispute over claims of censorship by Facebook came to a head in a French court on Thursday, with the social network denying it had deleted a user's account because he posted a picture of a 19th-century painting of a woman's genitals.
	Genius or joker: Elon Musk flamethrowers spark controversy After raising $1 million by hawking baseball caps, the visionary entrepreneur behind electric carmaker Tesla and private space firm SpaceX says he's set the market alight with his latest idea.
	Airbnb rules out 2018 share offering, shakes up ranks Homesharing giant Airbnb said Thursday it won't launch a share offering in 2018 as it announced key changes in its leadership team.
	Apple, once again, has a bad case of the iPhone jitters Apple is making more money than ever, but it doesn't seem to be enough. Not with conspiracy theories swirling around Apple's secret slowdown of older iPhones while a cloud of uncertainty looms over its high-priced iPhone X.
	Google parent Alphabet reports $3 bn loss on tax provision Google parent company Alphabet on Thursday reported a quarterly loss of $3 billion as it set aside $11 billion for taxes on its overseas profits being brought back to the United States.
	Profitable Daimler expects heavy spending on new tech German automaker Daimler made lots of money last year. That's a good thing, because the company says it will need to spend heavily this year to keep up with the technological change expected to disrupt the car industry.
	Diesel monkey tests: can harmful corporate research ever be justified? The recent allegations that researchers funded by the German car industry tested the effects of diesel fumes on humans and monkeys has raised serious questions about research ethics in the corporate world.
The Internet of Things is now wearable Thanks to a West Australian innovation, Australia is getting its first payment ring.
Tracking activity on social networks now possible with new research Researcher Fredrik Erlandsson at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden has now developed methods that enable human interaction to be traced and to systematically retrieve information from social networks.
	Israeli firm takes venture world with crowdfunding approach When Israeli venture capitalist Jonathan Medved launched his OurCrowd funding platform five years ago, he billed it as a novel way to give individual investors a piece of the action on the country's vibrant start-up scene, traditionally the playground of well-heeled venture funds.
	Facebook denies censorship in closing of Paris user's page Lawyers for Facebook Inc. denied the company engaged in censorship when it shut down the account of a French user after he posted a photograph of a famous 19th century painting of a naked woman's genitals and lower torso.
	Tajikistan says $4bn dam to open in November Tajikistan's $4-billion mega dam, intended to be the tallest in the world, could begin operations in time for a holiday honouring President Emomali Rakhmon in November, state media said on Thursday.
	New radiation detectors developed at Sandia used for New START inspections Sandia National Laboratories designed, tested and delivered new radiation detection equipment for monitoring under the New START Treaty. Defense Threat Reduction Agency inspectors recently used this equipment for the first time in Russia for a New START inspection.
	US car sales mixed in January; trucks stay strong Automakers reported mixed US car sales in January, with strong demand for SUVs and pickup trucks continuing to provide a cushion in a declining overall auto market.

Medicine & Health news

	Study: CAR T-cell therapy safe and effective in youth with leukemia Results of the global, multicenter, pivotal phase 2 study that led to the first FDA approval of a gene therapy/cell therapy approach known as CAR T-cell therapy, were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. The therapy, tisagenlecleucel, uses a patient's own white blood cells that have been genetically re-engineered to specifically target and kill cancer cells. It was approved in August 2017 to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. Senior authors on the study include Stephan A. Grupp, MD, PhD, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Michael A. Pulsipher, MD, of Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
	Study in mice identifies the molecular machinery responsible for dopamine release in the brain Studied for decades for its critical role in movement control and reward-seeking behaviors, the neurotransmitter dopamine has been the focus of numerous efforts to understand its activity, particularly when it goes awry in disorders such as Parkinson's and addiction.
	Minimally invasive blood test for Alzheimer's disease Scientists from Japan and Australia have teamed up to develop and validate a blood test for Alzheimer's disease, with the potential to massively ramp up the pace of Alzheimer's disease drug trials.
	CRISPR used to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy cells in the lab A team of researchers from the U.S. and Germany describes a novel CRISPR approach to produce healthy heart muscle using pluripotent stem cells from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the team describes the technique they used with CRISPR-Cas9 to overcome a problem that has prevented researchers from using the gene editing system with DMD cells.
	Why basal cell tumors return when drug treatment stops What happens when the most common and least threatening type of cancer gets complicated?
	Neurons get the beat and keep it going in drumrolls A neuron firing deep in the brain might sound a little like: Drumroll...cymbal crash! Drumroll...cymbal crash! Repeat. With emphasis on "repeat," according to a new study.
	Migraine linked to increased risk of cardiovascular problems Migraine is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular problems (conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels) including heart attacks, stroke, blood clots and an irregular heart rate, say researchers in a study published by The BMJ today.
Deaths from liver cancer nearly double since the 1990s, new figures reveal Over the last two decades, deaths caused by liver cancer have increased by 80%, making it one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer deaths worldwide.
	Boosting a key protein to help bones that won't heal When a patient breaks a bone, there's a possibility the fracture won't heal properly or quickly—even with the aid of pins, plates or a cast.
Study reveals substantial impact of chronic diseases on cancer risk Several common chronic diseases together account for more than a fifth of new cancer cases and more than a third of cancer deaths, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
	Standing several hours a day could help you lose weight, research finds Standing instead of sitting for six hours a day could help people lose weight over the long term, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Fitness in childhood linked to healthy lungs in adulthood Children who are fitter and whose fitness improves during childhood and adolescence have better lung function as young adults, according to a large study published in the European Respiratory Journal.
Early access to palliative care associated with better quality of life Patients with advanced cancer have a significantly better quality of life in the weeks before they die if they receive early access to palliative care, according to research published today.
	Scientists identify weight loss ripple effect People who make an effort to lose weight aren't just helping themselves, they may be helping others too.
Whites with mental illness far more likely to report insufficient money for care, delays White adults with mental illness were significantly more likely than those of other ethnicities to report having insufficient money for mental health care or facing delays in care, a Mount Sinai study found. Whites were 50 percent more likely than blacks to experience delays in care, and 20 percent more likely than blacks to lack enough money for treatments such as doctor visits and prescription drugs, the researchers found.
Fatal opioid overdoses on the rise in Canada Fatal opioid overdoses jumped in Canada last year, especially in British Columbia, where the potent sedative fentanyl was detected in eight of 10 overdose deaths, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday.
	Breast cancer treatments may increase the risk of heart disease Breast cancer patients may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases including heart failure and may benefit from a treatment approach that weighs the benefits of specific therapies against potential damage to the heart, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published in its journal Circulation.
	Patients and doctors often disagree in evaluation of surgical scarring When it comes to the physical scars surgery leaves behind, a new study shows patients and doctors often don't assess their severity the same way. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found patients and physicians disagreed in their scar evaluations 28 percent of the time, with patients more likely to focus on the depth of the scar while physicians were more likely to emphasize coloration and texture. The study's authors say these findings point to the need for better evaluation methods and improved preoperative counseling.
	Discovery of molecular nets inside heart muscles hold promise for new treatment Researchers in Singapore have discovered that a group of molecules called chondroitin sulfate, normally found in connective tissues such as the cartilage, accumulates and causes inflammation in the hearts of patients with heart failure. The discovery is now published in Circulation, a journal from the American Heart Association.
	Changes in genes involved in DNA repair and packaging linked to risk of multiple myeloma Researchers have identified two gene regions that contribute to multiple myeloma, an inherited cancer that occurs in bone marrow, through a new method that makes use of human disease pedigrees. Nicola Camp and Rosalie Waller of the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, and colleagues, report their findings February 1st, 2018, in PLOS Genetics.
	Pulling an all-nighter impairs working memory in women Over the last few decades, a wealth of evidence has accumulated to suggest that a lack of sleep is physically and mentally unhealthy. Working memory is important for retaining information for brief periods of time, which facilitates reasoning and planning. A team of sleep scientists from Uppsala University now demonstrates that acute sleep loss impacts working memory differently in women and men.
	0.5 percent of the population suffer from severe PTSD Trauma-related disorders were previously classified under one single diagnosis—post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, a representative survey carried out by a UZH psychopathologist has shown for the first time how often such disorders present in a more severe form. According to the findings, more than 0.5 percent of people in Germany suffer from complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
	Scientists reveal a molecule that may underpin neurological disorders Scientists from Japan have identified a molecule that aids a crucial "pruning" process in the brain that, if malfunctioning, could lead to disorders such as autism and dementia.
	Postnatal depression has greater impact on children's development when it is persistent and severe Postnatal depression which persists beyond 6 months after birth and is severe, increases the risk of children exhibiting behavioural problems, achieving lower GCSE mathematics grades at 16 years and having depression at 18 years of age. Postnatal depression which is persistent (whether moderate or severe) increases mothers' risk of continuing to experience depressive symptoms beyond the postnatal year, with high levels found up until 11 years after childbirth.
	Lungs mays hold key to thwarting brain damage after a stroke The harm caused by a stroke can be exacerbated when immune cells rush to the brain an inadvertently make the situation worse.  Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) are studying new ways to head off this second wave of brain damage by using the lungs to moderate the immune system's response.
	Research is changing the game for melanoma treatment Wilmot Cancer Institute patients with advanced melanoma (stage III) now have more options for treatment, thanks to research co-authored by a University of Rochester Medical Center surgical oncologist and published in The Lancet Oncology.
	Perceptual pathway linked with body size misperception increases risk of eating and exercise disorders A new study led by researchers at Macquarie University has identified a psychological pathway that can lead to body size and shape misperception in individuals, putting them at greater risk of developing conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia. The researchers report that the extent to which a person is dissatisfied with their own body impacts how much time they spend looking at thinner body types. This, in turn, causes adaptation of their brains' visual perception mechanisms, such that thinner bodies are perceived as 'normal'. This can lead to an overestimation of their own body size.
	Mental health impact of severe pregnancy sickness A systematic review of qualitative research on the impact of severe pregnancy sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum, HG) published today in the British Journal of Midwifery has shown that some women can become suicidal from the severity and long duration of symptoms.
	Kids' learning and health is shaped by genes they don't inherit, as well as genes they do It's a hoary old debate: how much do our genes define how we grow and learn, and how much is due to the environment? A new study by Kong and colleagues shows that parents' genes, even those not passed on to children, have major effects on kids' health and educational attainment.
	Poorer survival rates for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia living in deprived areas Adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia living in deprived areas of England have poorer survival rates, a new study has found.
Risk of suicide among hospitalised patients with depression decreases by half in Finland The risk of death by suicide among patients with depression who have undergone psychiatric inpatient treatment has significantly decreased since 1991. These are the results of a large Finnish cohort study, which tracked 56,826 patients who had been hospitalised for depression for the first time between 1991 and 2011.
	Health risks of smoking go beyond lung cancer Doctors ask patients about smoking habits for the same reason they check weight, blood pressure, breathing and heart beat during a visit.
	Not all genetic tests should be publicly funded — here's why New genetic technologies hold great promise in their potential to treat patients based on their individual genetic information. Advances in mapping the human genome mean the cost of doing a genetic test has fallen dramatically, though the costs of these tests – and subsequent treatment – are still high.
	Dopamine, drugs, and depression The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a major role in mental illnesses like substance abuse disorders and depressive disorders, as well as a more general role in reward and motivational systems of the brain. But there are still certain aspects of dopamine activity in the brain that we don't know much about.
	Most U.S. women don't know their personal risk for heart disease, poll finds High cholesterol, diabetes and obesity can all lead to heart disease and stroke. But most American women don't know if they're at risk, a new poll finds.
	More than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure, AHA says The number of Americans at risk for heart attacks and strokes just got a lot higher. An estimated 103 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, according to new statistics from the American Heart Association. That's nearly half of all adults in the United States.
	A handout or a hand up? How we judge others guides how we help others Charities often emphasize the desperation and dependence of those they assist—as in heart-tugging videos of starving children in Africa. Yet a focus on helplessness may change how we choose to help those in need, and not necessarily for the better, according to research by UC Berkeley Haas assistant professor Juliana Schroeder.
How the Navy SEALs' 40% rule can help you do more than you thought possible Do any of us ever really know what we're capable of?
	Trying to give up a bad habit? The worst thing you can do is to attempt not to think about it Let me set you a task. For the next minute, I want you to not think about Donald Trump. You must block all thoughts of Trump from your mind.
	The virtual door to online child sexual grooming is wide open The nature of sexual offending has changed with most interactions occurring online and involving younger victims. This change is seeing people taking more risks by virtually opening their door to "strangers".
Developing a urine test for various types of cancer Detecting cancer of various types, in a very early stage and using a simple urine sample. That is the ambition of the new startup company NanoMed Diagnostics. Years of research, by scientists of the University of Twente and the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (VUmc) led to a new approach using nanotechnology. Together with the new company, the researchers will further develop this towards a test that is ready for clinical use.
The importance of heterogeneity on the management of vector borne diseases Researchers at LSTM have been working with colleagues in the NTD modelling consortium to look at the role that heterogeneity in mosquito biting plays within the transmission of disease and what impact vector control has on that heterogeneity.
	Neurological disease in mice and humans linked to an unlikely gene Screening for mutations influencing the migration of nerve cells in mice, scientists found a gene that plays a role in the transport of proteins within nerve cells. If less of the protein is present in the developing mouse, the scientists found that its brain showed severe defects. Investigating the situation in humans, they discovered that a mutation of the same gene underlies neural degeneration.
	Foster care helps neglected children be more resilient, healthy Neglected children who are placed with foster care families earlier in life are more likely to be just as resilient and competent socially, academically and physically as their peers who have never been institutionalized when they reach their teenage years, according to new Stanford research focused on children in Romania.
Food preservative enhances schizophrenia treatment The common food preservative sodium benzoate improves symptoms in clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial led by Hsien-Yuan Lane, M.D., Ph.D., of China Medical University, Taiwan, showed that adding on sodium benzoate to the antipsychotic clozapine improved symptoms in patients who did not see results with any other medications, providing a new option for the hardest-to-treat patients.
	Severe and lingering symptoms occur in some after treatment for Lyme disease In a study of 61 people treated for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Johns Hopkins researchers conclude that fatigue, pain, insomnia and depression do indeed persist over long periods of time for some people, despite largely normal physical exams and clinical laboratory testing.
	Doctors warn of heart risk from some breast cancer therapies Save your life but harm your heart? Health experts are sounding a warning as potential side effects of a growing number of breast cancer treatments come to light.
	Lactalis salmonella contamination 'may go back a decade' Researchers raised fears Thursday that salmonella-tainted milk produced by French dairy giant Lactalis, which sickened dozens of babies, could have infected others over more than a decade.
	Study of social contact patterns in Hong Kong will give insight into spread of epidemic How people's social encounters influence the growth of epidemics
	Going under the knife? EEG biomarker could help anaesthetists get it right Patients having surgery could be better controlled with less chance of 'waking up', after scientists found a potential EEG biomarker for two standard anaesthetics.
	Set new milestones for exercise motivation (HealthDay)—A goal like having a flat stomach may give you the initial impetus to start exercising, but may not be enough to keep you on track.
	History of childhood kidney disease linked to risk of ESRD (HealthDay)—A history of childhood kidney disease is associated with increased risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in adulthood, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Induced labor after 39 weeks in healthy women may reduce the need for cesarean birth Approximately one-third of women in the United States give birth via cesarean delivery. While life-saving in the right circumstances, cesarean birth also carries with it significant risks, including an increased likelihood of infection, hysterectomy, placenta implantation abnormalities in future pregnancies, and respiratory illness in infants. In a study presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, researchers unveiled findings that suggest that induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation among healthy, first-time mothers reduces the rate of cesarean birth as compared to expectant management among the same population.
Analysis of global Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients registry underscores Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a a rare and fatal genetically-inherited degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects one in 5,000 newborn boys. While incurable, researchers are searching for therapies that might slow the progression of DMD while also investigating genetic and other approaches to disrupt the underlying disease mechanism. Examining data from the large TREAT-NMD Duchenne muscular dystrophy database, investigators were able to confirm that corticosteroid treatment can delay some of the clinical effects of DMD and that there is greater variability among patients in the progression of the disease than previously reported. Their findings appear in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases.
	Do NFL players face a higher risk of early death? (HealthDay)—The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots playing in Sunday's Super Bowl may have already taken a hidden hit before setting foot on the field, a new study suggests.
	California may slap cancer warning on coffee, but should java lovers panic? (HealthDay)—A lawsuit working its way through California's courts could mean that the Golden State's coffee shops might have to post cancer warnings for the beloved beverage.
Breathing problems linked to drug that treats opioid addiction A drug used to treat opioid addiction could cause breathing problems in some obese patients, according to a new study from UT scientists.
	Red wine proves good for the heart (again) Antioxidant compounds found in red wine are advancing the treatment of heart disease—the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.
	Study reveals how the most common DNA mutation happens Shape-shifters aren't just the stuff of fiction, they're real—and they're inside our DNA.
	Belief in conspiracy theories associated with vaccine skepticism People who believe Princess Diana was murdered or that John F. Kennedy's assassination was an elaborate plot are more likely to think that vaccines are unsafe, despite scientific evidence to the contrary, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Researchers discover the unexpected role of platelets in immune response Platelets play a much more important role in our immune system than previously thought, according to a study published by researchers from Université Laval and Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec Research Centre. In addition to their role in coagulation and healing, platelets also act as the immune system's first responders when a virus, bacterium, or allergen enters the bloodstream. This discovery, details of which have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), opens the door to new ways to treat patients with septic shock caused by viral or bacterial infection as well as people with auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
	Experimental therapy could boost stroke recovery An experimental therapy being tested by University of Alberta scientists that targets the spinal cord may one day be key to spurring on enhanced recovery for stroke victims.
	Deep brain stimulation may be promising Alzheimer's treatment (HealthDay)—For patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) at the ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) region is well tolerated and is associated with less decline on the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), according to a study published online Jan. 30 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
	Patient-initiated consultations beneficial in psoriasis (HealthDay)—For patients with psoriasis, a patient-initiated care consultation (PICC) intervention may offer clinical benefits compared with routine care, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Persistent pain common 1 month after elective pediatric surgery (HealthDay)—Many pediatric patients have persistent pain after common ambulatory surgeries, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
	Omega-3 fatty acids not found to up risk of heart disease (HealthDay)—Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids is not associated with fatal or nonfatal coronary heart disease or major vascular events, according to a review published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Cardiology.
	Ablation better than medical Tx for A-fib with heart failure (HealthDay)—Among patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure, catheter ablation is associated with a significant reduction in a composite end point of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	AHA: breast cancer patients at increased risk for CV disease (HealthDay)—Due to shared risk factors and impact on heart health from cancer treatment, comprehensive care is necessary for breast cancer patients to optimize both cancer treatment and cardiovascular health, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association published online Feb. 1 in Circulation.
More than skin deep: cosmetic surgery industry booming In the never-ending quest for youthful, magazine-cover looks, 8.6 billion euros ($10.7 billion) were spent last year on materials and chemicals used in cosmetic procedures worldwide, the IMCAS industry body said Thursday.
	New international practice guidelines for tamoxifen treatment based on CYP2D6 genotype An international group of clinicians and scientists representing the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) published the first-ever clinical practice guideline for using CYP2D6 genotype to guide tamoxifen therapy in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Tamoxifen is a hormonal agent used for the prevention and treatment of premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer that is estrogen receptor positive. CYP2D6 genotype is an inherited factor that alters the metabolism of tamoxifen.
	Evidence: Chaplains crucial for advance care planning in medical practice Research led by Rush Oak Park Hospital's spiritual care director provides empirical evidence of the need for - and effectiveness of - incorporating hospital chaplains as part of patient end-of-life planning before they are hospitalized.
Children with disabilities in West Africa experience violence from the day they are born Disabled children in West Africa experience significantly greater violence than their non-disabled peers and all experience violence from they day they are born, finds a study published in BMC Public Health by Janet Njelesani, assistant professor of occupational therapy at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
	Family impact of congenital Zika syndrome likely to last a lifetime The impact of congenital Zika syndrome on families will be substantial and will last a lifetime, given its severity and uncertainty about long-term outcomes for infants.
	Research unveils a developmental splicing program controlling neuronal maturation Neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain communicate with each other by transmitting electric signals, or firing action potentials, through long processes named axons (which send out signals) and dendrites (which receive signals). The capability of firing action potentials, among other functions of mature neurons, has to be acquired during development and neuronal maturation. However, the molecular mechanisms governing this complex process are so far poorly understood.
India unveils healthcare for 500 million of its poorest India on Thursday announced a national healthcare scheme for half a billion of its poorest citizens in a major giveaway to voters in the final budget before a general election.
	Pyeongchang sets Winter Olympic record - for condoms This month's Winter Olympics in South Korea will set a record even before the first athlete comes out of a starting gate, organisers said Thursday—for the largest number of free condoms handed out at a Winter Games.
How do sexual assault survivors fare? More than 150 girls and women testified in court about how former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused them. This is just the latest wave of survivors stepping forward to tell their stories, the result of shifting attitudes toward sexual abuse. Whether or not survivors share their stories publicly, they often carry lifelong scars associated with the abuse, says U. of I. kinesiology and community health professor Robyn Gobin, an expert on the long-term mental health consequences of sexual trauma. Gobin spoke to News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about what lies ahead for survivors.
	The subcellular dynamics of RNA stabilizing molecule in response to inflammation A research group at Osaka University revealed the regulatory mechanism of subcellular localization of Arid5a in response to inflammation. It has been known that an inflammatory accelerator is localized in the nucleus, and an inflammatory brake is localized in the cytoplasm.
A study proves oral health improves diabetes A clinical study conducted by researchers of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the UB shows that control of type 2 diabetes improves when the patient attends to dental hygiene.
Educating, empowering patients improves health More than 133 million Americans are affected by chronic disease, a number that is expected to reach close to 160 million by 2020, according to the National Health Council.
Warmer climate can give Europe dengue fever Large parts of Europe can suffer from the dreaded dengue fever unless climate change is attenuated. This is what Jing Helmersson shows in a new dissertation at Umeå University in Sweden. Mosquitoes transmit the disease, which needs some temperature and humidity to spread.
Pandemic risk: How large are the expected losses? The worldwide spread of a serious infectious disease could result in pandemic-related deaths of 700,000 and annual economic losses of $500 billion, according to a study in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Victoria Fan, an assistant professor in the Office of Public Health Studies in the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is lead author of "Pandemic risk: How large are the expected losses," which applied a theoretical model to calculate the expected number of deaths and economic losses in rare pandemic scenarios.
Parenting programme brings 'joy' to Africa's poorest communities A major initiative to help teenagers, parents and caregivers in disadvantaged communities to form stronger relationships and improve teenagers' safety has been shown to succeed, according to trial results published today in BMJ Global Health.
	PSMA PET/CT visualizes prostate cancer recurrence early, impacts radiation therapy A nuclear medicine scan may locate prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy early after disease recurrence and could help guide salvage radiotherapy, according to new research from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The study, which utilizes PET/CT with gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA-11), is documented in the featured article in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Biology news

	Small molecules set up security system to defend the genome Thousands of short RNA molecules with diverse genetic sequences serve as security guards to identify and silence attempts to invade the genome, such as DNA inserted by viruses or parasitic elements known as transposons.
	Gene enhancers important despite apparent redundancy Every cell in the body has the same DNA and genes, so a cell's properties and functions are determined by which genes are turned on. That's why it is critical to understand enhancers, short sections of non-coding DNA that regulate the expression of specific genes.
	Slow but steady: New study sheds light on the brain evolution of turtles A new study led by the University of Birmingham shows that the brain of turtles has evolved slowly, but constantly over the last 210 million years, eventually reaching a variety in form and complexity, which rivals that of other animal groups.
	Geese reduce metabolic rate to cope with winter New research shows that geese cope with the harsh winter climate by reducing their heart rate and body temperature.
	Polar bears finding it harder to catch enough seals to meet energy demands A new study finds polar bears in the wild have higher metabolic rates than previously thought, and as climate change alters their environment a growing number of bears are unable to catch enough prey to meet their energy needs.
	A squid graveyard and a deep-sea buffet A recent paper describes an unusual discovery: dead squid littered across the deep sea bottom of the Gulf of California. It's a squid graveyard that might be a boon for deep-sea animals.
	More rice, please: 13 rice genomes reveal ways to keep up with ever-growing population Billions of people around the world rely on rice as a mainstay of their diet. The grain provides about 20 percent of the calories consumed by humans worldwide. Rice production is critical for global food security, and demand will only grow as the world's population expands by an estimated 2-3 billion by 2050. To keep up, farmers will need new strains of rice that can be grown both efficiently and sustainably, in new environments and in a changing climate.
	House dust mites evolved a new way to protect their genome House dust mites are common pests with an unusual evolutionary history. They are tiny, free-living animals that evolved from a parasitic ancestor, which in turn evolved from free-living organisms millions of years ago.
	Even small changes within an ecosystem can have detrimental effects A mutualistic relationship between species in an ecosystem allows for the ecosystem to thrive, but the lack of this relationship could lead to the collapse of the entire system. New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York reveals that interactions between relatively small organisms are crucial to mutualistic relationships in an ecosystem dominated by much larger organisms, including trees and elephants.
	Ninety-six scientists co-author paper on rainforest mammals Imagine your hometown or city's entire population had to live on just one tenth of the land it used to—essentials like food and shelter would quickly go scarce, and it'd be just about impossible for the populace to sustain itself. This, in broad strokes, is what's happening to the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Forest, the second most biodiverse forest system in South America (after the Amazon).
	Fragmented habitats will lead to loss of insect species diversity in the near future Together with their colleagues from the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, scientists of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) were able to show that widespread insects are threatened with a serious decline in species diversity in the near future. The research team lists the fragmentation of habitats and the intensification of agriculture as reasons for the decline of these insect generalists. According to the study, published today in the scientific journal Biological Conservation, the genetic diversity among the examined butterfly species is also expected to decline sharply in the future—as a result, the insects will become more sensitive to environmental changes.
	What time is it? The Arctic charr's inner clock meets the midnight sun Below ice and snow, in pitch dark, Arctic charr's circadian clock still ticks with precision. The exception comes during the darkest and brightest weeks of the year, when daily activity rhythms break down.
	What is CRISPR gene editing, and how does it work? You've probably read stories about new research using the gene editing technique CRISPR, also called CRISPR/Cas9. The scientific world is captivated by this revolutionary technology, since it is easier, cheaper and more efficient than previous strategies for modifying DNA.
	Got starch? There's bacteria in your gut for that Soft foods like white bread and rice might seem like an easy thing for your body to digest, but a tiny organism in your gut is actually responsible for chowing down some types of starch and turning it into nutrients your body can use.
Cell skeleton and the brush border The epithelial cells lining organs like the intestines and kidneys build a special surface called the "brush border," which consists of a dense array of finger-like protrusions.
	Novel computational biology model accurately describes dynamics of gene expression Using a simple analytical framework for random events within a predictable system, computational biologists have found a new way to accurately model certain forms of gene expression, including the body's 24-hour internal clock. This new approach of applying a piecewise deterministic Markov process (PDMP) to gene expression could inform possible design principles for synthetic biologists.
	Are seismic surveys driving penguins from their feeding grounds? Whales, dolphins, squid and fish are among the many marine species that rely on underwater sounds for everything from foraging to communication. By listening to what's happening in the water around them they able to orientate themselves, locate prey, avoid predators or even select a mate.
	Magnesium makes chromosomes Japanese researchers report a new ion detector, MARIO. Using it, they show that changes in the intracellular concentration of free magnesium ions (Mg2+) is critical for the chromosome folding that must occur for cells to divide. The findings, which can be read in Current Biology, provide a new mechanism for chromosome organization.
	How South Africa is keeping invasive famine weed at bay The poisonous herb, Parthenium hysterophorus, is one of the world's most destructive invasive plants. It threatens biodiversity, national food security and human health. Native to parts of Central and South America (Gulf of Mexico) it has spread to more than 40 countries including Australia, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Swaziland and South Africa. In South Africa it's known as famine weed.
	The deepest-dwelling fish in the sea is small, pink and delicate Thanks to movies and nature videos, many people know that bizarre creatures live in the ocean's deepest, darkest regions. They include viperfish with huge mouths and big teeth, and anglerfish, which have bioluminescent lures that make their own light in a dark world.
	Using mosquito nets for fishing potential threat to both humans and nature Mosquito nets distributed to combat malaria are often used for fishing instead, impacting fish populations and human health in developing countries.
	How fungi make nutrients available to the world Like most of us, trees don't want to be eaten alive.
Genetically modified produce—misunderstood wonders From disease and drought-resistant crops to nutrient-boosted fruits and veggies, genetically modified (GM) plants are a marvel of modern science.
	Research in olive varieties steps up the fight against anthracnose Heavy rainfall in 1996 and 1997 provided the ideal conditions for the largest olive anthracnose epidemic recorded in recent decades, but at the same time prompted more intensive research into this pathogen.
	Judge: US must reconsider Yellowstone bison protections A federal judge has ordered U.S. wildlife officials to reconsider a 2015 decision that blocked special protections for the iconic bison herds that roam Yellowstone National Park and are routinely subjected to hunting and slaughter.

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