Science X Newsletter Friday, Dec 12

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 12, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Assessing scientific research by 'citation wake' detects Nobel laureates' papers
- Researchers use real data rather than theory to measure the cosmos
- Researchers find a way to fool deep neural networks into 'recognizing' images that aren't there
- NASA scientist offers perspective on the factors that may lead to life on a planet
- Before an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, Earth experienced a short burst of intense volcanism
- Chemists crack the chirality code
- Magnetic fields on solar-type stars
- Deep learning could prevent you from drunk posting to Facebook
- Researchers use gold substrate to allow for electron cryomicroscopy on difficult proteins
- Imaging technique reveals that bacterial biofilms are associated with colon cancer
- Disney Research builds computer models to analyze play in pro basketball and soccer
- Oil-dwelling bacteria are social creatures in Earth's deep biosphere, new study shows
- New theory suggests alternate path led to rise of the eukaryotic cell
- A control knob for fat? Protein that makes other proteins also regulates fat levels
- Immune cells in brain respond to fat in diet, causing mice to eat

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA scientist offers perspective on the factors that may lead to life on a planet (Phys.org)—NASA space scientist Pamela Conrad has offered a Perspective piece in the journal Science, reminding readers that the search for life on planets such as Mars, isn't limited to just looking for water. Instead, she notes, most researchers believe that a combination of events must occur, likely simultaneously for life to get a start and then to be maintained.
	Cosmic impacts might help synthesize organic compounds Bullets of ice shot at high speeds can deposit organic compounds on surfaces they strike. The new findings suggest that comets might, indeed, have helped deliver key ingredients of life to Earth and perhaps elsewhere, researchers say.
	Two spiral galaxies in the process of merging At this time of year, there are lots of gatherings often decorated with festive lights. When galaxies get together, there is the chance of a spectacular light show as is the case with NGC 2207 and IC 2163
	Magnetic fields on solar-type stars The Sun rotates slowly, about once every 24 days at its equator although the hot gas at every latitude rotates at a slightly different rate. Rotation helps to drive the mechanisms that power stellar magnetic fields, and in slowly rotating solar-type stars also helps to explain the solar activity cycle. In the case of solar-type stars that rotate much faster than does the modern-day Sun, the dynamo appears to be generated by fundamentally different mechanisms that, along with many details of solar magnetic field generation, are not well understood. Astronomers trying to understand dynamos across a range of solar-type stars (and how they evolve) have been observing a variety of active stars, both slow and fast rotators, to probe how various physical parameters of stars enhance or inhibit dynamo processes.
	Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in living color Rosetta's OSIRIS team have produced a color image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as it would be seen by the human eye. As anticipated, the comet turns out to be very grey indeed, with only slight, subtle colour variations seen across its surface.
	Researchers develop method to drink espresso in zero-G The Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University (PSU) today announced another advance in the development of micro-gravity drinking cups.
	Crude oil cargo for ESA's first flight with China ESA is finalising its first experiment on a Chinese space mission: small containers of crude oil will help to improve our understanding of oil reservoirs buried kilometres underground.
	How to take photos of Earth while whizzing past at 17,000 MPH When you're flying above Earth in a spaceship or space station, taking a clear picture below is more than a point-and-shoot job. As NASA astronaut Don Pettit explains in this video, you need to account for the motion of your little craft to get the best pictures below. And Pettit should know, being a photographer who captured many stunning timelapses in space.
	Building a worldwide genetic library BRIC-by-BRIC A house is only as good as its foundation. Built solid and strong, the resulting structure should last for decades. NASA is laying a strong foundation of life science research with results from a recent investigation on the International Space Station called BRIC-19.
	Approaching storm scrubs California rocket launch An approaching storm has delayed the launch of a U.S. defense satellite from California's central coast.
	ESA image: Mexico City subsidence Five Sentinel-1A radar scans acquired between 3 October and 2 December 2014 were combined to create this image of ground deformation in Mexico City.

Technology news

	Researchers find a way to fool deep neural networks into 'recognizing' images that aren't there A trio of researchers in the U.S. has found that deep neural networks (DNNs) can be tricked into "believing" an image it is analyzing is of something recognizable to humans when in fact it isn't. They have written a paper about what they have discovered and uploaded it to the preprint server arXiv.
	Intel has end-to-end reference model for IoT Intel has declared its move to simplify and unify connectivity and security for the Internet of Things. Earlier this week, Intel announced platform, products and expanded company ecosystem designed to speed IoT adoption and innovation.
	Google Cardboard delivers fresh round of updates Remember all that loud talk back in June about the new Google Cardboard, an egalitarian virtual reality solution announced at I/O 2014? You can rest assured that Google is not about to put it on the shelf. TechRadar US News Editor, Michelle Fitzsimmons, summed up what's on tap: "The company added a dedicated collection page on Google Play for Google apps. There are now more places to pick up a Cardboard viewer, developers have access to SDKs for Android and Unity and makers scored some new building specs. Finally, Google said it's hiring for positions in Cardboard and VR, signaling this is far from the last we've heard about the DIY VR viewer." Andrew Nartker, Google Cardboard product manager, took to the developers blog at Google on Wednesday, saying since its debut the team continued working to improve Google Cardboard ever since and they now offer a fresh round of updates for users, developers and makers.
	Drone revolution hovers on the horizon Drones are about to have a big impact on our lives, even if they will not be delivering our orders from Amazon any time soon, say experts.
	New theory could yield more-reliable communication protocols Communication protocols for digital devices are very efficient but also very brittle: They require information to be specified in a precise order with a precise number of bits. If sender and receiver—say, a computer and a printer—are off by even a single bit relative to each other, communication between them breaks down entirely.
	Deep learning could prevent you from drunk posting to Facebook The immense popularity of social media seems to have redefined "privacy" from the sense of keeping information secret to being in control over how information is shared – among friends, colleagues, companies or the government. Perhaps it's no surprise then that the world's largest social network, Facebook, has announced it's aim to develop algorithms that could protect us from ourselves and the danger of the "overshare".
	Disney Research builds computer models to analyze play in pro basketball and soccer With the ball at the three-point line near the top of the key, what will Tim Duncan of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs do? Pass to a player posting up? Or does he take a shot? An analysis by Disney Research of player tracking data, however, suggests the highest probability is a pass to guard Tony Parker on his left.
	Egocentric videos: Finding clues to user identity Quick assumption: Head-mounted cameras reveal actions without showing the identity of the filmmaker. Message from computer vision experts: Not so fast.
	Sony to launch PlayStation consoles in China from January Japanese gaming giant Sony is to offer its PlayStation consoles in China from January, the company said, following rival Microsoft into the potentially lucrative market after China ended a 14-year ban.
China's Baidu to invest in taxi app Uber Chinese search engine Baidu, the country's equivalent of Google, will make a strategic investment of up to $600 million in the popular but controversial US taxi app Uber, state media said Friday.
	Robot 'shadow hand' Picking up an apple is one of those jobs requiring the delicate touch of the human hand – or its robotic counterpart.
	"JPEG changed our world" JPEG is the image format we use the most in the world, be it in our computers, smartphones or digital cameras. But it is actually more than that. JPEG is also an international group of experts, which recently elected as its head an EPFL Professor: Touradj Ebrahimi. The new President sheds light on the JPEG adventure and gives us an overview of new features in development.
	French court to rule on Uber ban in new challenge A French court is expected to decide Friday whether to ban the ride-hailing company Uber's service after a complaint from rival taxi and car services.
	Software engineering students on the 'cutting edge' of immersive virtual reality Back in 1987, Robert Teather received his very first Nintendo Entertainment System.
	We're still glued to the small screen, mostly – but that screen is getting ever smaller Communications watchdog Ofcom have released a report which reveals that, after decades of continual growth for the first time, the number of UK households with a television has fallen, from 26.33m at the end of 2012 to 26.02m at the end of 2013.
	NIST helps NTSB solve 787 battery fire puzzle In January, 2013, an auxiliary power unit battery aboard a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" experienced a "thermal runaway event" resulting in fire and heavy smoke at the front of the battery case. At the time, the airplane was parked at a gate at Logan International Airport in Boston.
	Stop-start driving in city centres creates higher pollution levels Traditional methods of modelling traffic pollution could be under-estimating emissions by as much as 60%, particularly in areas where congestion occurs for a large part of the day, a team at Newcastle University has concluded.
	Clearer future for blind thanks to vOICe device New findings from researchers in our Department of Psychology could pave the way for better treatments for blind and partially-sighted people using the revolutionary sensory substitution device, 'The vOICe'.
	Chrysler expands air bag recall Chrysler is bowing to demands from U.S. safety regulators and will add about 179,000 vehicles to a recall for air bags that could explode with too much force.
	French court says Uber may infringe on taxi law A French court ruled Friday that Uber's ride-hailing service may infringe French law and ordered the company to make changes to its popular mobile app-based service.
	London hit by air traffic control computer failure (Update) The British government has demanded an investigation after a computer failure Friday at one of Britain's two air traffic control centers caused a major disruption of air traffic into and out of London.
Too many drinks? New cellphone app may tell you so A new federally funded cellphone app allows people who may have had one too many to get an idea just how drunk they are—and hail a ride home.
	Can Amy Pascal's career survive Sony cyberattack? Amy Pascal, one of the most powerful women in the man's world that is Hollywood and the force behind such critical and commercial hits as "The Social Network" and "American Hustle" has had better days
	Web-surfers, newspapers worried over Google News closure in Spain Spain's main web-surfers' association warned Friday that national media will lose huge internet traffic when Google shuts its Google News operation next week in protest at being made to pay for content, while newspapers called for talks to prevent the closure.
Canada's competition watchdog probing Apple Canada's Competition Bureau said Friday it is poring over Apple's contracts with local wireless carriers to determine if the company illegally stifled competition when it first introduced the iPhone.
	Washington takes on Uber with its own taxi app Washington is developing a smartphone app to enable its taxis to compete head-on with Uber and other ride-sharing services, the US capital's taxi commission said Friday.
Hearst pays $81.3M for stake in AwesomenessTV Hearst Corp. is betting $81.3 million that Internet video network AwesomenessTV will live up to its name.
	Learning from new, very low-energy buildings A holistic approach is necessary to successfully plan and construct energy efficient buildings. But implementing best practices elsewhere is not a straightforward task.
	Assessing the performance of energy efficient buildings Monitoring so-called key performance indicators enables engineers to evaluate whether a newly erect building is as energy efficient as originally planned.
	Residential energy-saving retrofitting program engages local inhabitants One of the biggest challenges of retrofitting projects is to make them attractive to residents. Now, one of them, the EU-funded project R2CITIES, is analysing the initial first feedback received from residents of the Cuatro de Marzo district. And there is a lot at stakes. Being successful will help to replicate and extend these solutions elsewhere. "[our showcase site] is a mirror to [what can be done in] other European cities," says César Alonso González, general manager of a company for land and housing, called VIVA (Sociedad Municipal de Suelo y Vivienda), which is owned by the Valladolid municipality, in Spain. VIVA is a partner in the project, due to be completed in July 2017.
	New software solutions for streamlining maritime operations A new software application designed to make reporting obligations for shipping operators simpler and more cost effective has been developed through the FP7-funded EMAR project. The new system, called i-Ship, connects vessels, operators and reporting authorities together in a collaborative web-based reporting system that offers greater clarity and speed.
Re-imagining the network Communication networks are evolving to keep pace with increasing consumer needs and business demands. We've already experienced the progressive jumps from 1G to 4G wireless networks and 5G is looming in the not-too-distant future. But 5G is much more than 4G plus 1. In the manner of an evolutionary leap, 5G technologies and ICT networks bring the global competition for technological leadership to a whole new level. This is a truly wireless environment that will realize the promise of near-instantaneous, zero-distance online connectivity at any time, from anywhere and from almost any device or terminal.
	UC3M participates in a new simulator that provides training in cybersecurity Researchers from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the Universidad de Málaga have collaborated with the consulting and technology company Indra on the development of a new advanced simulator of training in cybersecurity, a system that teaches users how to carry out computer forensics, prevent cyber attacks and learn techniques of cyber defense.

Medicine & Health news

	Inhibitory neuron functionality as a consequence of more complex network dynamics The two major types of neuron in the brain's cerebral cortex are connected by intricate cortical circuits that process information. Excitatory neurons, which comprise 80 percent of all neurons in this region, increase activity in target cells. The other 20 percent of neurons are inhibitory, producing the opposite effect.
	Immune cells in brain respond to fat in diet, causing mice to eat Immune cells perform a previously unsuspected role in the brain that may contribute to obesity, according to a new study by UC San Francisco researchers.
11th century king inspires novel GP appointment system Getting a same-day appointment with a GP can often be a challenge, but one practice has found a novel way to meet the daily demand for appointments.
Left wing 'armchair socialists' more physically active than political centrists Left wing 'armchair socialists' are more physically active than people whose beliefs straddle the center of the political spectrum, suggesting that the term 'armchair socialist' is a bit of a misnomer, reveals research published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.
	What's on your surgeon's playlist? Music and medicine are deeply connected. But is operating to music a good idea? And, if so, what kind of music should theatre staff be listening to?
	Poor diet links obese mothers and stunted children Malnutrition is a major cause of stunted growth in children, but new UCL research on mothers and children in Egypt suggests that the problem is not just about quantity of food but also quality.
Jamie's Ministry of Food brings about changes in food attitudes and behaviors A study looking at Jamie's Ministry of Food Australia 10-week program has found that it brings not only a change in attitudes but also in behavior when buying healthy food. The research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health has found that these changes continue up to six months after completion of the program.
Chronic low-back pain research standards announced by NIH task force Recommended standards for clinical low-back pain research hold promise for more consistently designed research and, in the long term, better treatment solutions to support those living with chronic low-back pain. The recommendations from the National Institutes of Health Task Force on Research Standards for Chronic Low-Back Pain were published in several leading back pain journals.
	Hurricane Sandy increased incidence of heart attacks and stroke (Medical Xpress)—Heart attacks and strokes are more likely to occur during extreme weather and natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, according to a new Rutgers research study.
	Social skills training needed for people with depression (Medical Xpress)—People with depression should receive specific training and treatment in how to interpret and act in social situations, in a bid to overcome one of the major issues faced by depressive people, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.
	Many different factors can trigger holiday depression While the holidays are a time of merriment and festivities for many, some people struggle with depression during this time of year.
	Understanding intestinal microbiota to regain balance in the gut The human gut is its own ecosystem, hosting close to a thousand microorganisms, many of which are helpful and necessary.
Focus on numeracy and literacy helps fuel child obesity Professor Boyd Swinburn's recent article in the New Zealand Medical Journal clearly identifying that New Zealand children are continuing to get more obese is no great surprise.
	Hearing aids may improve balance Enhancing hearing appears to improve balance in older adults with hearing loss, according to new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Patients with hearing aids in both ears performed better on standard balance tests when their hearing aids were turned on compared with when they were off.
	Experts claim late cancer referral 'unlikely to be fault of GPs' It is unlikely that substandard work by doctors is to blame for late referral rates of suspected cancer patients, according to experts writing in The BMJ.
	Health advice from online forums putting people at risk Unvalidated health information received from online forums could be placing people at risk according to recently published research from the University of Melbourne.
Impact of adding bevacizumab to presurgery chemo for triple-negative breast cancer varies with subtype Among women with triple-negative breast cancer, the benefit of adding bevacizumab to standard presurgery chemotherapy was greater for those whose cancers were classified as basal-like by gene expression assay compared with those whose cancers were nonbasal-like, according to data presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13. In contrast, the benefit of adding carboplatin was equivalent across subtypes.
Adding ovarian suppression to tamoxifen reduced recurrence for some women with premenopausal breast cancer Among premenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, adding ovarian suppression to tamoxifen reduced breast cancer recurrence for those who had previously received chemotherapy and remained premenopausal, according to data from the randomized, phase III suppression of ovarian function trial (SOFT) presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13.
Novel computational modeling, GI tract microorganisms Dr. Arul Jayaraman, professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University and holder of the Ray B. Nesbitt Professorship, has collaborated with researchers from Tufts University School of Engineering in the computational evaluation of gastrointestinal (GI) tract microorganism function. The journal Nature Communications published the findings in a November 20 edition.
	Researchers tame the inflammatory response in kidney dialysis Frequent kidney dialysis is essential for the approximately 350,000 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the United States. But it can also cause systemic inflammation, leading to complications such as cardiovascular disease and anemia, and patients who rely on the therapy have a five-year survival rate of only 35 percent. Such inflammation can be triggered when the complement cascade, part of the body's innate immune system, is inadvertently activated by modern polymer-based dialysis blood filters. New work by Penn researchers has found an effective way to avoid these problems by temporarily suppressing complement during dialysis. Their work appears online in Immunobiology ahead of print.
Study shows sharp rise in teenage childbearing during Iraq War The nine-year Iraq War led to a sharp rise in teenage childbearing, according to new research published today (12 December) by the London School of Economics and Political Science.
	Kids not negatively impacted by weight management programs Weight management programs for overweight children do not negatively impact body satisfaction, research shows.
	More support maintains adolescent's healthy turnaround Health professionals say more support is needed to help adolescents maintain healthy lifestyle changes after a period of intervention.
	Still no alternative to the theory that Columbus brought syphilis across the Atlantic In 1495 a horrific new disease appeared in Europe. Acquired by sexual contact and initially spread through Europe by mercenary soldiers from the army of King Charles VIII of France returning from a successful invasion of Italy, this new disease was extraordinarily unpleasant. Commentators at the time described dark green "boils that stood out like acorns," accompanied by a stench so vile that if you smelt it you would imagine yourself infected, and by pains so severe that it was "as if the sick had laid upon a fire".
Newly-identified gene mutation could help explain how breast cancer spreads A newly-identified genetic mutation could increase our understanding of how breast cancer spreads and potentially guide treatment options for women with the disease, according to a study from Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) presented today at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
	'Working out' PTSD – exercise is a vital part of treatment In 1954, the first director-general of the World Health Organisation, Dr Brock Chisholm, famously stated: "Without mental health there can be no true physical health."
Link between low blood glucose and cardiovascular events revealed A study involving scientists from the University of Leicester has established a link between hypoglycaemia and increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with diabetes.
	My brain made me do it, but does that matter? Imagine that Brian promises to drive you to the airport but never shows up, and you miss your flight. When you confront Brian, he tells you that he remembered his promise but decided to watch a movie instead. Would you be angry? You betcha!
Training elderly in social media improves well-being and combats isolation Training older people in the use of social media improves cognitive capacity, increases a sense of self-competence and could have a beneficial overall impact on mental health and well-being, according to a landmark study carried out in the UK.
New TGen test uses the unique genetics of women to uncover neurologic disorders Using a basic genetic difference between men and women, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has uncovered a way to track down the source of a neurological disorder in a young girl.
Patient awakes from post-traumatic minimally conscious state after administration of depressant drug A patient who had suffered a traumatic brain injury unexpectedly recovered full consciousness after the administration of midazolam, a mild depressant drug of the GABA A agonists family. This resulted in the first recorded case of an "awakening" from a minimally-conscious state (MCS) using this therapy. Although similar awakenings have been reported using other drugs, this dramatic result was unanticipated. It is reported in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.
Migraine was not associated with BC in a pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies Migraine was not associated with breast cancer risk or differences in the endogenous sex hormones that have been proposed to be associated with migraines, according to a new study published December 12 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Last known Ebola patient in Mali cured: health official The last patient to be treated for Ebola in Mali has made a full recovery, a senior health ministry official told AFP Thursday.
Scientists to study causes of asthma in organisms without lungs Scientists from Royal Holloway, University of London, will research the biology of human asthma by using a slime mould, an organism which has no lungs but could hold the key to new treatments.
Sacrifice of dying cancer mother sparks debate in China The fate of a Chinese television presenter who died of cancer after refusing chemotherapy to save her unborn son sparked intense online debate Friday.
Lower probability of Ebola cases entering Australia A study published by University of Adelaide researchers has quantified the risk of Ebola importation to Australia over the next six months – with new visa restrictions halving the risk but better infection control outcomes in West Africa reducing the risk much more.
New research could prevent unnecessary prostate cancer treatment Radical treatments for prostate cancer could be avoided thanks to new research that links fat cells and obesity with the most common cancer among Australian men.
The state of euthanasia in Europe French legislation introduced Friday to ease restrictions on doctor-assisted death risks further diversifying the range of clashing national laws on euthenasia across Europe.
Capecitabine monotherapy does not improve survival in elderly patients with early-stage breast cancer In elderly breast cancer patients with moderate- to high-risk early-stage disease for whom standard chemotherapy is too toxic, the chemotherapy capecitabine, which causes fewer side effects than the standard chemotherapy agents, did not improve outcomes when tested as monotherapy, according to data from the phase III ICE trial presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13.
New, personalized online community helps patients live with dangerous heart rhythm Many people experience a slight quivering or racing heart at some point and usually give it little notice. But for those diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), that irregular heartbeat can be a serious condition that can increase the risk of stroke and needs medical attention.
	ELECTRX has the nerve to envision revolutionary therapies for self-healing Many chronic inflammatory diseases and mental health conditions affecting military service members and veterans involve abnormal activity in the peripheral nervous system, which plays a key role in organ function. Monitoring and targeted regulation of peripheral nerve signals offer great promise to help patients restore and maintain their health without surgery or drugs. Current neuromodulation devices are typically used as a last resort, however, because they are relatively large (about the size of a deck of cards), require invasive surgical implantation and often produce side effects due to their lack of precision. DARPA's Electrical Prescriptions (ElectRx) program is seeking innovative research proposals to help transform neuromodulation therapies from last resort to first choice for a wide range of diseases.
Atypical development of language in children "I have always been fascinated by language," says Professor Nikki Botting. "However my main motivation and interest has been developmental disorders - children growing up with difficulties. Atypical language is one important aspect for these children."
Scaling up screening for viral hepatitis in Europe A new toolkit on screening for chronic viral hepatitis seeks to raise awareness, improve knowledge and motivate public health professionals in Europe to take action. Knowledge and understanding of what works in screening for chronic hepatitis B/C has now been translated into practical and relevant tools, including videos and animations, to enable others to replicate successful screening programmes among at risk populations in their area.
	Nursing experts investigate whether hourly hospital ward rounds improve quality of care Researchers from Kingston University and St George's, University of London are examining whether hourly ward rounds really do help nurses deliver safe, compassionate, patient-centred care.
	22.7 percent of pregnant women suffer intimate partner violence A new study analyses the violent behaviours exhibited towards pregnant women. While 21% of women suffer emotional violence during pregnancy, 3.6% encounter physical or sexual violence. Furthermore, 36.1% of those who reported physical violence claimed that it happened "very often" or "daily".
UNICEF ups Ebola fight, needs $500mn for next six months The UN children's agency said Friday it was scaling up efforts to fight Ebola, including to help thousands of children in west Africa orphaned by the deadly virus.
Guinea-Bissau reports suspected Ebola case A man who entered Guinea-Bissau from neighbouring Guinea the day after the border reopened is being treated for suspected Ebola, a medical official said on Friday.
Sierra Leone cancels Christmas as Ebola crisis deepens Sierra Leone said Friday it was banning any public Christmas celebrations as the spiralling caseload of Ebola infections continues to spread alarm.
A matter of birth and death: Unsafe conditions still killing new mothers and newborns WaterAid and the London School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine today join the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA, SHARE Research Consortium and other organisations in a call to protect the lives of new mothers and their babies, by improving access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities and homes.
All children should have vision health screening between age 3 and 6, expert panel recommends All children should undergo vision health screening between age 36 and 72 months—preferably every year—using evidence-based test methods and with effective referral and follow-up, according to recommendations published in the January issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Perioperative Surgical Home improves quality, reduces health care costs The Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model consistently and significantly improves quality of care for patients and reduces health care costs, reports a first-of-its-kind, large-scale literature review of the PSH in the United States and abroad. The review, published online this month in Milbank Quarterly, provides further evidence to support the benefits, and encourage the adoption, of the PSH model.
Ebola death toll climbs to 6,583 Nearly 6,600 people have now died from the Ebola virus, almost all of them in west Africa, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Male and female breast cancers are not identical Results of the EORTC10085/TBCRC/BIG/NABCG International Male Breast Cancer Program conducted in both Europe and in the United States and presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium found significant improvement in survival for men with breast cancer, but this improvement was not as good as that observed for women. The study, which included 1822 men treated for breast cancer between 1990 and 2010, provides much needed information about the clinical and biological characteristics of male breast cancer.

Biology news

	Extinction of 23 pollinators in Britain since 1850 New research to be published today in the prestigious journal Science will challenge ideas about the historical causes of pollinator decline in the UK.
	Study shows how association, learning can lead to exposure to disease The ability to adopt new behaviors and ideas—whether learned or invented—has helped humans develop everything from stone tools and agriculture to revolutionary communications technologies like the World Wide Web. But new research shows that this ability may come with a very real cost, in an increased exposure to potentially deadly diseases.
	Imaging technique reveals that bacterial biofilms are associated with colon cancer Since the first "catalog" of the normal bacterial makeup of the human body was published in 2012, numerous connections between illness and disturbances in the human microbiota have been found. This week, scientists report yet another: Cancerous tumors in the ascending colon (the part nearest to the small intestine) are characterized by biofilms, which are dense clumps of bacterial cells encased in a self-produced matrix.
	New theory suggests alternate path led to rise of the eukaryotic cell As a fundamental unit of life, the cell is central to all of biology. Better understanding how complex cells evolved and work promises new revelations in areas as diverse as cancer research and developing new crop plants.
A control knob for fat? Protein that makes other proteins also regulates fat levels Like a smart sensor that adjusts the lighting in each room and a home's overall temperature, a protein that governs the making of other proteins in the cell also appears capable of controlling fat levels in the body.
Acupuncture helps sick owls return to wild in Spain The patient opens his yellow eyes wide but makes no sound as acupuncturist Edurne Cornejo pricks four fine needles into his legs.
World's oldest penguin undergoes cancer radiation A toddler on Tuesday peered through thick glass as Tess – the world's oldest African penguin, representing an endangered species set to vanish in the child's lifetime – dove into her pool at the Pueblo Zoo. It was the penguin's first swim since Colorado State University veterinarians used specialized radiation to treat an aggressive form of skin cancer on her face.
	Using the unique spectral signature of guano to identify unknown seabird colonies Scientists have discovered that penguin and seabird poo (guano) from colonies around the Antarctic Peninsula has a unique spectral signature that can be identified from satellite imagery. The results are published this week in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.
Researchers develop GenoSIGHT software for 'smart' microscopes Synthetic biologists at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute are at Virginia Tech pioneering new ways to overcome old problems in imaging cells.
	Predators get the advantage when bushfires destroy vegetation Bushfires are a part of life in Australia, and when they have run their course we pick up where we left off and carry on. But if you happen to be a small animal, surviving the bushfire is only the start of your worries.
	Research sows the seeds for improved food security Research from the University of Bath has shown that is possible to improve both seed size and seed number opening new avenues to increase crop yields and improving food security.
Kangaroos eating reptiles out of house and home Large numbers of kangaroos are threatening an endangered species and are eating some lizards out of house and home, new research has found.
	Plants with pocket-sized genomes Members of Genlisea, a genus of carnivorous plants, possess the smallest genomes known in plants. To elucidate genomic evolution in the group as a whole, researchers have now surveyed a wider range of species, and found a new record-holder.
	Synthesis of a symmetrical propeller protein with potential biotech applications Investigating the structure of protein subunits and how they join together to form larger multi-unit proteins such as β-propellers can yield important insights into the evolution and activities of these proteins. It could also guide the design of new protein structures for use in biotechnology applications. Researchers at RIKEN and Yokohama City University have used a computational technique to deconstruct and re-engineer a family of proteins known as β-propellers.
Viral 'fossils' study on birds finds fewer infections than in mammals In a contribution to an extraordinary international scientific collaboration the University of Sydney found that genomic 'fossils' of past viral infections are up to thirteen times less common in birds than mammals.
	A new trout species described from the Alakir Stream in Antalya, Turkey A group of researchers from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Faculty of Fisheries in Turkey discovered a new trout species. The newly described species Salmo kottelati, belongs to the Salmonidae family, which includes salmons, trouts, chars, graylings and freshwater whitefishes.
Native fungus suggested as another tool for restoring ghostly whitebark pine forests Cathy Cripps doesn't seem to worry about the grizzly bears and black bears that watch her work, but she is concerned about the ghosts and skeletons she encounters.
	Norway scraps controversial seal hunting subsidy Norway's parliament has voted to scrap a controversial subsidy for seal hunting, potentially spelling the end of the much-criticised activity, a lawmaker told AFP on Friday.
Getting the best out of citizen scientists Can "citizen science" ever be as effective as the real thing? At the joint meeting of the British Ecological Society and the Société Française d'Ecologie, Earthwatch scientists will share their experience of harnessing the power of non-scientific communities for FreshWater Watch - a first-of-its kind research project to help identify the drivers of good and bad freshwater quality in small water bodies on a worldwide scale.
Smithsonian launches major new initiative to better understand life on Earth Scientists across the Smithsonian have studied genomics for years, investigating how animal and plant species function, relate to one another, adapt to change and thrive or fail to survive. Genomics also play a key role in their research of climate change, disease and biodiversity conservation. The Smithsonian is now uniting these efforts and creating a plan for transformative future research with the establishment of the Smithsonian Institute for Biodiversity Genomics.

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