Science X Newsletter Monday, Dec 15

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 15, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week – World record for tabletop accelerator, mystery of Earth's water source and roller coaster strokes
- 'Fibonacci quasiparticle' could form basis of future quantum computers
- Researchers find tidally distorted exoplanets may have unique signatures
- Migrating 'supraglacial' lakes could trigger future Greenland ice loss
- Fraud-proof credit cards possible with quantum physics
- Amazonian bird chicks mimic poisonous caterpillar to avoid detection
- Past global warming similar to today's: Size, duration were like modern climate shift, but in two pulses
- Molecular 'hats' allow in vivo activation of disguised signaling peptides
- Scientists observe the Earth grow a new layer under an Icelandic volcano
- Neuronal circuits filter out distractions in the brain
- Massive study provides first detailed look at how Greenland's ice is vanishing
- Researchers combine logic, memory to build a 'high-rise' chip
- Reshaping the horse through millennia
- Proteins drive cancer cells to change states
- Linguistic methods uncover sophisticated meanings, monkey dialects

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers find tidally distorted exoplanets may have unique signatures Astronomers could soon be able to find rocky planets stretched out by the gravity of the stars they orbit, according to a group of researchers in the United States. The team, led by Prabal Saxena of George Mason University, describe how to detect these exotic worlds in a paper in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	MESSENGER data suggest recurring meteor shower on Mercury The closest planet to the sun appears to get hit by a periodic meteor shower, possibly associated with a comet that produces multiple events annually on Earth.
	Signs of ancient Mars lakes and quakes seen in new map Long ago, in the largest canyon system in our solar system, vibrations from "marsquakes" shook soft sediments that had accumulated in Martian lakes.
	MAVEN mission identifies links in chain leading to atmospheric loss Early discoveries by NASA's newest Mars orbiter are starting to reveal key features about the loss of the planet's atmosphere to space over time.
	Fermi brings deeper focus to thunderstorm gamma-rays Each day, thunderstorms around the world produce about a thousand quick bursts of gamma rays, some of the highest-energy light naturally found on Earth. By merging records of events seen by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope with data from ground-based radar and lightning detectors, scientists have completed the most detailed analysis to date of the types of thunderstorms involved.
	Potentially hazardous asteroid surprises astronomers "Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour," could be still an actual description of our ability to predict asteroid threats to Earth. The sentence from the Bible (Matthew 25:13) sounds like a reminder of a vast number of more than 1,500 currently potentially hazardous objects, floating in space, meandering around in the Solar System. Some of them may be destined to pay our planet a close visit someday, unexpectedly, Chelyabinsk-style, as the one that hit Russia in February 2013, causing serious damages and injuring about 1,500 people. Who would have predicted that? Lately, one of the potentially hazardous asteroids, named 2014 UR116, created quite a buzz when various media reported that the 370 meters wide space rock may hit Earth. Its impact would cause an explosion 1,000 times greater than the Chelyabinsk meteor. But the discoverer of 2014 UR116, Vladimir Lipunov, a professor at Moscow State University, becalms the ! public. "This asteroid will not collide with Earth during the next 100 years," Lipunov told astrowatch.net.
	Engineering students aim to generate first breathable air on Mars A project by students from The University of Western Australia and Mars One astronaut candidate Josh Richards has reached the finals of an international competition to land vital experiments on the Red Planet.
Mars mission boost welcomed by scientists University of Leicester scientists, who are closely involved in the European mission to Mars –ExoMars- have welcomed support from the Government for the project.
	A watch for astronauts by ESA and Omega Swiss watchmaker Omega has announced a new version of its historic space watch, tested and qualified with ESA's help and drawing on an invention of ESA astronaut Jean-François Clervoy.
	NASA image: Super Guppy spends a restful night in the NASA Langley hangar NASA's Super Guppy aircraft, designed to transport extremely large cargo, rests after making a special delivery to the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The aircraft measures more than 48 feet to the top of its tail and has a wingspan of more than 156 feet with a 25-foot diameter cargo bay – the aircraft features a hinged nose that opens 110 degrees.

Technology news

	Researchers combine logic, memory to build a 'high-rise' chip For decades, the mantra of electronics has been smaller, faster, cheaper. Today, Stanford engineers add a fourth word - taller.
	Engineers identify, address cause of persistent solar cell issue University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineers have doubled the efficiency of a prominent solar cell technology by unraveling the origins of a phenomenon known to hinder cell performance, stability and evaluation.
	New algorithm a Christmas gift to 3-D printing—and the environment Just in time for Christmas, Simon Fraser University computing science professor Richard Zhang reveals how to print a 3D Christmas tree efficiently and with zero material waste, using the world's first algorithm for automatically decomposing a 3D object into what are called pyramidal parts.
	Dutch launch 'intelligent bicycle' that warns of danger The Netherlands on Monday launched its first-ever "intelligent bicycle", fitted with an array of electronic devices to help bring down the high accident rate among elderly cyclists in the bicycle-mad country.
	Microsoft's Skype moves toward auto-translation Microsoft announced Monday a new step toward real-time translation, launching a Spanish-English test program using its Skype messaging service.
	Sony asks media groups to delete 'stolen' data Sony Pictures Entertainment pressed media outlets Sunday against using data hackers may have leaked about the studio.
Norway probes spy equipment found in central Oslo Norwegian police said Sunday they have warned politicians about possible eavesdropping of cellphone calls after several listening devices were reportedly found in central Oslo, including near government buildings and Parliament.
Nuclear should be in the energy mix for biodiversity Leading conservation scientists from around the world have called for a substantial role for nuclear power in future energy-generating scenarios in order to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity.
Grad student helps people in Bangalore know when the next drop of water will come Many of the 9.9 million people in Bangalore, India, never know when they'll turn on the tap and find water flowing. Water is scarce and rationed. Each household gets about 4.5 hours of running water every other day—but when, and if, the water runs can be unpredictable. While high-income households can afford tanks that automatically turn on when the water does, low-income households cannot, meaning that women can devote hours on a weekly basis to waiting for and storing water.
	How huge numbers of people can organise online for data analysis Some achieve celebrity, and some have celebrity thrust upon them, to paraphrase Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This may be how Alex Geutsitskiy and Katie Verkovod feel, a couple from Oregon who were captured on camera by photographer Paul Wolfe at exactly the moment Geutsitskiy proposed on a peak in the Columbia River Gorge.
SurveyMonkey valued at $2 bn after funding round SurveyMonkey, a popular online survey service, announced Monday it has raised $250 million in capital to help fund expansion plans.
	Teaching robots to see Syed Saud Naqvi, a PhD student from Pakistan, is working on an algorithm to help computer programmes and robots to view static images in a way that is closer to how humans see.
Dutch watchdog demands privacy changes from Google A Dutch privacy watchdog on Monday ordered Google to make changes to the way it handles users' personal data or face fines of up to 15 million euros ($18.7 million).
	Google constitution archive adds Arabic documents Google's online archive of the world's constitutions on Monday launched an Arabic-language version with searchable documents from 54 countries.
	Sony meeting after hackers vow 'Christmas gift' Sony Pictures organized a town hall-style meeting with staff Monday to discuss the massive cyber attack on the Hollywood studio, a day after hackers promised a big "Christmas gift."
	Atari's 'E.T.' game joins Smithsonian collection One of the "E.T." Atari game cartridges unearthed this year from a heap of garbage buried deep in the New Mexico desert has been added to the video game history collection at the Smithsonian.
Research finds copyright confusion has 'chilling effects' in online creative publishing Online content creation has become easier than ever and is quickly reaching parity with content consumption. From writing a blog or social media post to letting an app turn your photos into a video montage, anyone with an Internet connection can publish these creations with the click of a button.
Britain's BT in talks to buy mobile operator EE BT Group PLC said Monday it is in exclusive talks to buy mobile phone operator EE from Germany's Deutsche Telekom and France's Orange for 12.5 billion pounds ($20 billion) in cash and shares.
	US appeals court hears Apple e-books challenge A US judge Monday expressed doubt towards the government's e-book antitrust case against Apple, saying the tech giant was challenging "predatory" pricing from rival Amazon.
	Sony threatens to sue for publishing stolen emails A lawyer representing Sony Pictures Entertainment is warning news organizations not to publish details of company files leaked by hackers in one of the largest digital breaches ever against an American company.
Microsoft builds support over Ireland email case Microsoft said Monday it had secured broad support from a coalition of influential technology and media firms as it seeks to challenge a US ruling ordering it to hand over emails stored on a server in Ireland.
	Merriam-Webster names 'culture' word of the year A nation, a workplace, an ethnicity, a passion, an outsized personality. The people who comprise these things, who fawn or rail against them, are behind Merriam-Webster's 2014 word of the year: culture.
	Students help Cornish dairy embrace renewables revolution Students from the University of Exeter are helping a family-run Cornish business reduce their carbon footprint by embracing the renewables revolution.
Riverbed Technology accepts $3.6B takeover bid Private equity firm Thoma Bravo and a Canadian teacher pension will pay about $3.6 billion to take Riverbed Technology private a couple months after the computer networking equipment maker promised a thorough review of its business.
	'Dragon Age' tops AP critics' best games of 2014 The top 10 video games of 2014, according to Lou Kesten:
	Anti-Uber taxi strike causes minimal disruption in Paris Dozens of taxi drivers held a go-slow in Paris on Monday in their latest protest against competition from the Uber taxi app.
Brazil: Google fined in Petrobras probe A Brazilian court says it has fined Google around $200,000 for refusing to intercept emails needed in a corruption investigation at state-run oil company Petrobras.

Medicine & Health news

	Neuronal circuits filter out distractions in the brain The next time you are in a crowded room, or a meeting, or even at the park with your kids, take a look around. How many people are on their phone? Distractions invade every aspect of our lives. Status updates, text messages, email notifications all threaten to steal our attention away from the moment. While we fight the urge to check the phone, our brains are making constant judgment calls about where to focus attention. The brain must continually filter important information from irrelevant interference.
	Are you genetically predisposed to antisocial behavior? Both positive and negative experiences influence how genetic variants affect the brain and thereby behaviour, according to a new study. "Evidence is accumulating to show that the effects of variants of many genes that are common in the population depend on environmental factors. Further, these genetic variants affect each other," explained Sheilagh Hodgins of the University of Montreal and its affiliated Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal. "We conducted a study to determine whether juvenile offending was associated with interactions between three common genetic variants and positive and negative experiences." Hodgins and her colleagues published the study on December 11, 2014 in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.
	Neurotransmitter binding-site function revealed with unprecedented accuracy What does it take for a drug molecule to turn on a protein? Sometimes nothing more than jostling a few atoms. New research from University at Buffalo scientists will help pharmacologists better understand how drugs work and how to make them more effective.
	Brain stimulation may hold key to treating anxiety Researchers at The University of Western Australia have found that that brain stimulation may help retrain unhelpful cognitive habits associated with anxiety and depression. The paper was published today in the international journal Biological Psychiatry.
	Algorithm identifies networks of genetic changes across cancers The algorithm, called Hotnet2, was used to analyze genetic data from 12 different types of cancer assembled as part of the pan-cancer project of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The research looked at somatic mutations—those that occur in cells during one's lifetime—and not genetic variants inherited from parents. The study identified 16 subnetworks of genes—several of which have not previously received much attention for their potential role in cancer—that are mutated with surprising frequency in the 3,281 samples in the dataset.
	Discovery may hold clues to treatments that slow aging In a study published today by Nature, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center used a microscopic worm (C. elegans) to identify a new path that could lead to drugs to slow aging and the chronic diseases that often accompany it—and might even lead to better cosmetics.
	Virtual bodyswapping diminishes people's negative biases about others What if you could, for a moment, have the body of someone of a different race, age, or sex? Would that change the way you feel about yourself or the way that you stereotype different social groups? In a paper publishing online December 15 in the Cell Press journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, researchers explain how they have used the brain's ability to bring together information from different senses to make white people feel that they were inhabiting black bodies and adults feel like they had children's bodies. The results of such virtual bodyswapping experiments are remarkable and have important implications for approaching phenomena such as race and gender discrimination.
Complex interactions between proteins Rbm38 and p53 govern tumor suppression, aging Scientists have long known the p53 protein suppresses tumors. However, a recent animal study by UC Davis researchers has uncovered a complicated relationship between p53 and another protein, Rbm38, highlighting how the body calibrates protein levels. Too much Rbm38 reduces p53 levels, increasing the risk of cancer. Too little Rbm38 allows p53 overexpression, causing premature aging. The study was published in the journal PNAS on Dec. 15.
	'Darwinian' test uncovers an antidepressant's hidden toxicity Because of undetected toxicity problems, about a third of prescription drugs approved in the U.S. are withdrawn from the market or require added warning labels limiting their use. An exceptionally sensitive toxicity test invented at the University of Utah could make it possible to uncover more of these dangerous side effects early in pharmaceutical development so that fewer patients are given unsafe drugs.
	Proteins drive cancer cells to change states A new study from MIT implicates a family of RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of cancer, particularly in a subtype of breast cancer. These proteins, known as Musashi proteins, can force cells into a state associated with increased proliferation.
	Making sense through order Cognitive scientists at the University of Rochester say they have an alternative to the standard explanation for why order matters when the human mind processes information. Instead of ignoring the order in which people receive information, they embrace it.
	Cake or carrots? Timing may decide what you'll nosh on When you open the refrigerator for a late-night snack, are you more likely to grab a slice of chocolate cake or a bag of carrot sticks? Your ability to exercise self-control—i.e., to settle for the carrots—may depend upon just how quickly your brain factors healthfulness into a decision, according to a recent study by Caltech neuroeconomists.
Long noncoding RNAs: A novel prognostic marker in older patients with acute leukemia A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) describes a novel marker that might help doctors choose the least toxic, most effective treatment for many older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML occurs mainly in older patients and has a three-year survival rate of 5 to 15 percent.
People with low numeracy feel negative about taking part in bowel cancer screening People who have problems with numbers may be more likely to feel negative about bowel cancer screening, including fearing an abnormal result, while some think the test is disgusting or embarrassing, according to a Cancer Research UK supported study published today in the Journal of Health Psychology.
	Teen use of e-cigarettes growing; Hawaii use rates higher than in mainland E-cigarette use among teenagers is growing in the U.S., and Hawaii teens take up e-cigarette use at higher rates than their mainland counterparts, a new study by University of Hawaii Cancer Center researchers has found.
	Potential cure for hepatitis B enters phase 1/2a clinical trial A new treatment developed by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers to promote the cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is now recruiting patients for a phase I/2a clinical trial.
Simple steps can safeguard against Ebola transmission through organ donation While serious infections can be transmitted from donated organs, the risk of passing Ebola virus disease from an organ donor to a recipient is extremely small. In a new editorial published in the American Journal of Transplantation, experts explain how simple assessments of donors can help ensure that the organ supply is safe, while having little impact on the donor pool.
Medicare payment reform saves money, helps patients, study finds Researchers have found evidence that Medicare reimbursement reform has reduced the incidence of easily preventable, hospital-acquired health problems.
FDA approves drug that extends survival in the most common type of lung cancer The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new drug to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), offering patients new hope in fighting this difficult disease. Lung cancer is expected to lead to over 150,000 deaths in the United States this year alone, and NSCLC accounts for about 85 percent of all lung cancers.
	Report shows challenges for working families in transition off of public benefits Getting a better job or more hours at work should be a boon to low-income individuals who are trying to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. But sometimes, instead, their families suffer more just when they should begin to thrive.
	Antibiotics resistance could kill 10m a year by 2050 A British government-commissioned review has found that resistance to antibiotics could account for 10 million deaths a year and hit global gross domestic product by 2.0 to 3.5 percent by 2050.
	Researcher develops robotic surgery technique to treat previously inoperable head and neck cancer In a groundbreaking new study, UCLA researchers have advanced a robotic surgical technique to successfully access a previously unreachable area of the head and neck.
New floor covering can lead to breathing problems in babies New flooring in the living environment of pregnant women significantly increases the risk of infants to suffer from respiratory diseases in their first year of life. This is the result of a study carried out by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the "St Georg" Municipal Hospital, which demonstrates that exposure to volatile organic compounds in the months before and after birth induces breathing problems in early childhood . The scientists therefore recommend that redecoration should be avoided during pregnancy or in the first year of children's life. According to an article written by the scientists in the scientific journal Environment International this could prevent at a rough estimate around 20,000 cases per year of wheezing requiring medical treatment in infants in Germany alone.
Skipping meals increases children's obesity and cardio metabolic risk Children who skip main meals are more likely to have excess body fat and an increased cardiometabolic risk already at the age of 6 to 8 years, according to a Finnish study. A higher consumption of sugary drinks, red meat and low-fat margarine and a lower consumption of vegetable oil are also related to a higher cardiometabolic risk. "The more of these factors are present, the higher the risk," says Ms Aino-Maija Eloranta, MHSc, who presented the results in her doctoral thesis at the University of Eastern Finland.
Lowering dietary fat intake reduces death rates in some women with breast cancer Among early-stage breast cancer patients who reduced their dietary fat intake for five years following a diagnosis, after over 15 years follow-up, death rates from all causes were significantly reduced in those who had hormone-unrelated breast cancer, according to data from the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13.
Researchers to present progression-free survival results Results from the final analysis of progression-free survival, response rate, and safety for the randomized, phase III Breast Cancer Trials of Oral Everolimus-1 (BOLERO-1) are to be presented here at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13.
	Blow to chest may trigger potentially dangerous heart rhythm A hard hit to the chest can cause an irregular heartbeat that may lead to death even days after the impact, according to an upcoming article in the journal Pediatrics, based on a case involving a 16-year-old Hawai`i football player.  The case, and its diagnosis by a University of Hawai`i (UH) medical professor, likely will change the way physicians diagnose the potentially fatal complication, and suggests chest protection gear should be standard in sports.
If cells can't move, cancer can't grow By blocking a widespread enzyme, Centenary researchers have shown they can slow down the movement of cells and potentially stop tumours from spreading and growing.
	Learning from Brazil's success with milk banks Maria Lima lovingly strokes her baby's chest as the infant sleeps in an incubator. Her child was born premature and won't be leaving the hospital soon.
Scientists' unique system of oral vaccine delivery to address global health threats Scientists at The Forsyth Institute and Tufts University have succeeded in describing and validating a unique system of oral vaccine delivery using a common bacteria found in the mouth. Findings published today by Elsevier in Microbes and Infection identify Streptococcus mitis as a successful vector for oral mucosal immunization, and further research will determine its potential clinical use in tuberculosis vaccine development.
	Risky driving linked to ADHD and drug use Drivers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who use drugs or alcohol are more likely to take part in risk-taking behaviour, research has shown.
	Immunologist explains why the flu shot might not be as effective this year You may have heard that this year's flu shot is less effective than normal. That's a scary prospect heading into the heart of flu season. But what exactly does that mean? Why would vaccines vary in effectiveness from year to year? To find out, I asked San Diego State University immunologist Joy Phillips to give me the rundown on how epidemiologists prepare for the annual onslaught of the influenza virus.
	Mice aid in age-related muscle wasting research A review by a UWA scientist into therapies for age-related muscle wasting (sarcopenia) has called into question the suggested use of stem cell therapy as a potential treatment.
	The psychology of conspiracy theories What makes a person more likely to believe in or create conspiracy theories—and whether that is related to mental illness—is the subject of new research from Victoria University of Wellington.
	Rare study of fake pot use among college students A survey of more than 300 college students reveals that college students who use "fake weed" or synthetic THC are most likely to have tried the drug because they were curious.
Claims of a cure for cancer? Ask For Evidence Did you hear the claim that sleeping naked can cut your risk of diabetes? Or have you read the advert on your Facebook page extolling the virtues of some new 'miracle cure'? What about the ads on the bus selling a 'superfood' supplement giving you more energy to face the day?
	Researchers tackle one of the biggest questions in dementia research Researchers in Southampton are tackling one of the biggest questions in dementia research; why might current approaches in Alzheimer's trials be failing? The new study is published in the Journal of Pathology and funded by Alzheimer's Research UK and the Medical Research Council.
	Research into aggression reveals new insights An international research consortium, including a biologist from Leicester, has heard that aggression in young male prisoners can be reduced by treating ADHD.
	Signaling mechanism could be target for survival, growth of tumor cells in brain cancer UT Southwestern Medical Center neurology researchers have identified an important cell signaling mechanism that plays an important role in brain cancer and may provide a new therapeutic target.
	'Genome editing' could correct genetic mutations for future generations Scientists at Indiana University and colleagues at Stanford and the University of Texas have demonstrated a technique for "editing" the genome in sperm-producing adult stem cells, a result with powerful potential for basic research and for gene therapy.
	Parkinson's patients identify balance and anxiety among top 10 research priorities Patients with Parkinson's, medics and carers have identified the top ten priorities for research into the management of the condition in a study by the University of East Anglia and Parkinson's UK.
Current practices in reporting on behavioural genetics can mislead the public "Media reports about behavioural genetics unintentionally induce unfounded beliefs, therefore going against the educational purpose of scientific reporting," writes the University of Montreal's Alexandre Morin-Chassé, following his study of 1,500 Americans. "Among other things, we wanted to know if the public understood (or misunderstood) popular science articles about a new research field, genopolitics, and whether this popularization indeed helped people have an informed opinion on human genetics," Morin-Chassé explained.
Novel agent decreases neuropathic pain in patients with type 2 diabetes Molecular Medicine, a peer-reviewed biomedical journal published by the Feinstein Institute Press, published the results of a new study reporting clinically significant pain reduction in type 2 diabetic patients. In an exploratory study conducted by Araim Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company developing novel treatments for chronic diseases, investigators also observed improvements in metabolic control in patients administered ARA 290. ARA 290 is a peptide engineered to activate the innate repair receptor, a receptor discovered by Araim scientists, which is only expressed following tissue damage or stress.
	Neurons listen to glia cells Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have discovered a new signal pathway in the brain that plays an important role in learning and the processing of sensory input. It was already known that distinct glial cells receive information from neurons. However, it was unknown that these same glial cells also transmit information to neurons. The glia release a specific protein fragment that influences neuronal cross-talk, most likely by binding to the synaptic contacts that neurons use for communication. Disruption of this information flow from the glia results in changes in the neural network, for example during learning processes.
War metaphors for cancer hurt certain prevention behaviors It's not unusual for people to use war metaphors such as "fight" and "battle" when trying to motivate patients with cancer.
Faces that distract from actions The sudden appearance of a face within our visual field can affect the motor action accompanying a gesture even if the face is totally unrelated to what we are doing and even if we try to ignore it. At one condition, though: the face must display an emotionally significant expression. A study conducted by scientists of the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste, and just published in Psychonomic Bullettin & Review, describes the phenomenon in detail.
Less than half of parents think their 18-year-olds can make a doctors appointment Most parents agree their children should be ready to move out of the pediatrician's office into adult-focused care by age 18 - but just 30 percent actually make that transition by that age, according to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.
Occasional heroin use may worsen HIV infection Researchers at Yale and Boston University and their Russian collaborators have found that occasional heroin use by HIV-positive patients may be particularly harmful to the immune system and worsens HIV disease, compared to persistent or no heroin use.
	Medication linked to fewer injuries in kids with ADHD (HealthDay) —Taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might reduce the risk of young patients accidentally injuring themselves, new research suggests.
	Vaccinating schoolkids cuts flu in communities: study (HealthDay)—Giving flu shots to schoolchildren also protects others, a new study finds.
	In nursing homes, statins often continued in advanced dementia (HealthDay)—For nursing home (NH) residents with dementia taking statins, most continue statins with the progression to advanced dementia, according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Gene-environment connection seen in peanut allergy study (HealthDay)—Infants of a particular generation born in Australia to Asian-born parents appeared to have an increased risk of peanut allergy compared with those of Australian-born parents, according to research published in the December issue of Allergy.
	Screening performance differs with distinct fecal test brands (HealthDay)—Different brands of fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) with the same cutoff hemoglobin concentration perform differently in detection of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published in the December issue of Gastroenterology.
	ICU diaries may aid survivors in recovery after discharge (HealthDay)—Patient diaries kept during a hospital stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a critical illness may be used as a therapeutic tool to assist survivors in recovery after discharge, according to research published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Cobalamin defects can explain neurologic regression in children (HealthDay)—Cobalamin defects can account for neurologic regression in healthy children, according to a case report published online Dec. 15 in Pediatrics.
	Webcast scheduled to discuss maintenance of certification (HealthDay)—New data relating to Maintenance of Certification (MOC) will be discussed in a free webcast to be held Dec. 17 by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
	Pre-op opioid use tied to higher post-op dependence (HealthDay)—Greater preoperative opioid use predicts increased immediate postoperative opioid demand and decreased incidence of postoperative opioid independence among spine surgery patients, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of Spine.
	Fiber fermentation by-product may help prevent weight gain (HealthDay)—Propionate, a fatty acid created when fiber ferments in the colon, appears to prevent weight gain and trim fat around the waist, according to research published online Dec. 10 in Gut. However, the chemical compound doesn't seem to help people lose pounds, and the preliminary study is so small that the findings could be misleading.
Researchers identify therapeutic strategy that may treat childhood neurological disorder UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a possible therapy to treat neurofibromatosis type 1 or NF1, a childhood neurological disease characterized by learning deficits and autism that is caused by inherited mutations in the gene encoding a protein called neurofibromin.
Tobacco cessation outreach to disadvantaged smokers Although tobacco use in the United States has declined, substantial socioeconomic, racial and ethnic disparities in smoking prevalence remain, particularly among smokers of low socioeconomic (SES) status, who have more difficulty quitting. New research from Brigham and Women's Hospital has now identified effective ways to help this population quit smoking. These findings are published online in JAMA Internal Medicine on December 15, 2014.
Women's age at first menstrual cycle linked to heart disease risk Women who had their first menstrual cycle at age 10 or younger, or age 17 or older, may be at higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and complications of high blood pressure, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Most patients don't get counseling about sex after heart attack Most patients don't receive counseling about resuming sexual activity after having a heart attack, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Injuries from indoor tanning include burns, passing out, eye injuries Skin burns, passing out and eye injuries were among the primary injuries incurred at indoor tanning sites and treated in emergency departments (EDs) at U.S. hospitals, according to a research letter published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Intravenous vs. oral antibiotics for serious bone infections in children Children with osteomyelitis (a serious bacterial bone infection) who were discharged from the hospital to complete several weeks of outpatient antibiotic therapy with an oral medication did not have a higher rate of treatment failure than children who received their antibiotic therapy intravenously, according to a study published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Feeling younger than actual age meant lower death rate for older people Turns out, feeling younger than your actual age might be good for you.
Receptor may be key to treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Inhibiting a nuclear receptor in the gut could lead to a treatment for a liver disorder that affects almost 30 percent of the Western world's adult population, according to an international team of researchers.
A novel tool to study life-threatening arrhythmias: A genetically engineered pig Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have developed the first large animal model of an inherited arrhythmic syndrome - an advance that will lead to a better understanding of the biologic mechanisms important in normal heart conduction and rhythm. The novel pig model points the way toward development of better treatments for inherited forms of life-threatening arrhythmias, which are a significant cause of sudden cardiac death.
Affordable Care Act increases reliance on emergency rooms, study finds The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may have provided health care insurance to an estimated 20 million Americans who lacked coverage, but it has not eased the demand on the nation's emergency departments. In fact, since the law's passage, reliance upon the nation's emergency rooms for non-emergency care has increased.
Psychologist links burnout and depression Research by City College of New York psychology Professor Irvin Schonfeld in the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership suggests a strong connection between burnout and depression.
Patients don't understand risks of unnecessary antibiotics, study shows Over prescription of antibiotics is a major factor driving one of the biggest public health concerns today: antibiotic resistance. In a first-of-its-kind study, research led by the George Washington University suggests that public health educational materials may not address the misconceptions that shape why patients expect antibiotics, driving doctors to prescribe them more. The research appeared in October in the journal Medical Decision Making.
	Even expectant dads experience prenatal hormone changes Researchers recently completed one of the most extensive investigations to date of prenatal hormones in first-time expectant couples. Women showed large prenatal increases in salivary testosterone, cortisol, estradiol, and progesterone, while men showed significant prenatal declines in testosterone and estradiol, but no detectable changes in cortisol or progesterone.
Non-Gluten proteins identified as targets of immune response to wheat in celiac disease Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have found that, in addition to gluten, the immune systems of patients with celiac disease react to specific types of non-gluten protein in wheat. The results were reported online in the Journal of Proteome Research.
Herceptin found to improve long-term survival of HER2-positive breast cancer patients VCU Massey Cancer Center physician-researcher Charles E. Geyer, Jr., M.D., was the National Protocol Officer for one component of a large national study involving two National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported clinical trials that demonstrated that trastuzumab significantly improves the long-term survival of HER-2 positive breast cancer patients. The combined study was designed to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of the drug trastuzumab, which is commonly known as Herceptin and is primarily used alongside chemotherapy to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. The combined study focused on both the overall survival rates of patients up to ten years post-treatment as well as the known and potentially harmful side effects to the cardiac system.
	Shame on us: Paper provides first step in arriving at accepted definitions of basic emotions Emotions are complicated and never more so than in the realm of the scientific, where commonly accepted definitions are lacking.
Indoor tanning injuries can require ER treatment Indoor tanning injuries have declined but still sent more than 1,000 people to emergency rooms in recent years.
Crunch time again for health insurance sign-ups President Barack Obama's push to cover America's uninsured faces another big test Monday.
Report highlights support for young people with learning disabilities and autism A report highlighting how best to support young people with learning disabilities and autism as they make the transition into adulthood was launched this week at an event in the Senedd.
Researchers study whether medication will help patients with atrial fibrillation fare better after a stroke The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is conducting a clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of a new rapid-onset anticoagulant medication known as Apixaban with the standard anticoagulant drug warfarin in stroke patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm.
	Is technology the key to faster recovery? Researchers from Flinders University and the Repatriation General Hospital are taking part in the world's largest trial looking at whether computer games, iPad apps and interactive games such as the Wii can help people recover from falls, strokes and brain injuries.
A two-minute delay in cutting the umbilical cord leads to better newborn developent A study conducted by University of Granada scientists (from the Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments) and from the San Cecilio Clinical Hospital (Granada) has demonstrated that delaying the cutting of the umbilical cord in newborns by two minutes leads to a better development of the baby during the first days of life.
Justices reject Arizona bid over abortion drugs (Update) The Supreme Court is refusing to allow Arizona to enforce stringent restrictions on drug-induced abortions while a challenge to those rules plays out in lower courts.
	New colorectal cancer risk factor identified Adiponectin, a collagen-like protein secreted by fat cells, derives from the ADIPOQ gene. Variations in this gene may increase risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. A new study that links specific variations in the ADIPOQ gene to either higher or lower colorectal cancer risk is published in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers.
Aflibercept in diabetic macular oedema: Added benefit not proven Since August 2014, aflibercept (trade name Eylea) has been available also for patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DMO). The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.
Ebola toll rises to more than 6,800: WHO More than 6,800 people have now died from the Ebola virus, almost all of them in west Africa, the World Health Organization said Monday.
	Can identifying mental illness stop terror attacks? A radical Muslim killed a soldier outside Canada's Parliament. A right-wing extremist opened fire on buildings in Texas' capital and tried to burn down the Mexican Consulate. An Al-Qaida-inspired assailant hacked an off-duty soldier to death in London.
Targeting inflammatory pathway reduces Alzheimer's disease in mice Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by the formation of β-amyloid plaques throughout the brain. Proteins known as chemokines regulate inflammation and the immune response. In both patients with AD and mouse AD models, the chemokine CXCL10 is found in high concentrations in the brain and may contribute to AD.
Review highlights ways to prevent and manage jaw bone disease A review of more than a decade's worth of research on osteonecrosis of the jaw—when the bone in the jaw is exposed and begins to starve from a lack of blood—points to an increased risk for patients taking certain drugs for osteoporosis, anticancer drugs or glucocorticoids, those undergoing dental surgery, and people with poor oral hygiene, chronic inflammation, diabetes, or ill-fitting dentures.
Mobility disabilities can contribute to complications during pregnancy A new study indicates that women with mobility disabilities often experience problems during pregnancy related to their functional impairments.
	New study reveals Montmorency tart cherry juice accelerated recovery after intense cycling Cyclists who are preparing for race day may have a new sports drink to give them an edge in recovery: tart cherry juice. A new study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism found that Montmorency tart cherry juice helped accelerate recovery, maintain muscle function and reduce certain markers of exercise-induced inflammation among a group of cyclists participating in a simulated road race.
Female sexual arousal: Facilitating pleasure and reproduction Despite numerous studies, publications, and commentaries on human female sexual arousal and orgasm, there is still so much to study and understand about women's sexual pleasure.
Rekindling marriage after combat deployment A new study offers strategies for rekindling marriage after a spouse returns home from combat with post-traumatic stress symptoms present in one or both of the spouses.
Appeals court upholds condom use in LA porn films A Los Angeles County ordinance requiring actors in pornographic films to use condoms does not violate the porn industry's First Amendment rights of free expression, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Biology news

	Amazonian bird chicks mimic poisonous caterpillar to avoid detection (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers has found and documented the case of a newly hatched bird with plumage that mimics a poisonous caterpillar to ward off predators. In their paper published in American Naturalist, Gustavo Londoño, Duván García and Manuel Sánchez Martínez, describe finding the young birds and observing their habits while in their nests.
	Baby cells learn to communicate using the lsd1 gene We would not expect a baby to join a team or participate in social situations that require sophisticated communication. Yet, most developmental biologists have assumed that young cells, only recently born from stem cells and known as "progenitors," are already competent at inter-communication with other cells.
	Cell biologists discover on-off switch for key stem cell gene Consider the relationship between an air traffic controller and a pilot. The pilot gets the passengers to their destination, but the air traffic controller decides when the plane can take off and when it must wait. The same relationship plays out at the cellular level in animals, including humans. A region of an animal's genome - the controller - directs when a particular gene - the pilot - can perform its prescribed function.
	Ancient wisdom boosts sustainability of biotech cotton Advocates of biotech crops and those who favor traditional farming practices such as crop diversity often seem worlds apart, but a new study shows that these two approaches can be compatible. An international team led by Chinese scientists and Bruce Tabashnik at the University of Arizona's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences discovered that the diverse patchwork of crops in northern China slowed adaptation to genetically engineered cotton by a wide-ranging insect pest. The results are published in the advance online edition of Nature Biotechnology.
	Research accelerated with computerized system that analyzes animal videos Studies of animal behavior have come a long way from the days when scientists followed their subjects around with pen and notepad. But although cameras have replaced clipboards, evaluating the resulting videos is still a cumbersome process.
	Reshaping the horse through millennia Whole genome sequencing of modern and ancient horses unveils the genes that have been selected by humans in the process of domestication through the latest 5.500 years, but also reveals the cost of this domestication. A new study led by the Centre for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with scientists from 11 international universities, reports that a significant part of the genetic variation in modern domesticated horses could be attributed to interbreeding with the descendants of a now extinct population of wild horses. This population was distinct from the only surviving wild horse population, that of the Przewalski's horses. The study has been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Linguistic methods uncover sophisticated meanings, monkey dialects The same species of monkeys located in separate geographic regions use their alarm calls differently to warn of approaching predators, a linguistic analysis by a team of scientists reveals. The study, which appears in the journal Linguistics and Philosophy, reveals that monkey calls have a more sophisticated structure than was commonly thought.
Scientists gain first glimpse of one of nature's measuring 'rulers' An international team of scientists, led by researchers from the University of St Andrews in the UK and Guelph in Canada, have used cutting edge X-ray and ultraviolet light studies to reveal the workings of the molecular ruler that helps bacteria to survive and outsmart the human immune system.
	Ecologists identify critical life stages for rainforest diversity The largest trees in a forest may command the most attention, but the smallest seedlings and youngest saplings are the ones that are most critical to the composition and diversity of the forest overall.
	Ecologists save endangered turtles weakened by the drought Biologists with the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science recently went on a rescue mission to save endangered turtles that have become dehydrated, emaciated and stressed-out by the extended drought.
	Study finds varied fish response to unexpected droughts When faced with sudden environmental change, some species fare more favorably than others.
	The importance of understanding the interactions of invasive species and native species The effect of invasive species on native species can be profound, yet very little is known about the complex interaction between the invaders and the native species, or, perhaps more importantly, between multiple invaders and native species. In a research paper "Complex replacement of invasive congeners may relax impact on native species: interactions among zebra, quagga, and native unionid mussels," lead author Lyubov E. Burlakova, research scientist with the Great Lakes Center discusses the importance of understanding those interactions. The study was published online in PLOS ONE on December 9, 2014.
	Researchers listen in on 'conversations' between calves and their mothers Researchers have been eavesdropping on 'conversations' between calves and their mothers—measuring the process of how cows communicate using detailed acoustic analysis for the first time.
	Show us how you play and it may tell us who you are The ways animals play with inedible objects may be precursors of functional behaviors such as tool use and goal directed object manipulation. For these reasons, species of high technical intelligence are also expected to play intensely with inanimate objects when no obvious goal is pursued.
	To know the enemy Recent collaborations between scientists in Okinawa and Australia are helping to spur genomic research of the Crown of Thorns starfish, a threat to coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region.
	A taxonomic toolkit ends a century of neglect for a genus of parasitic wasps In 1912, three species in the parasitic wasp genus Ophion were described by two different entomologists, increasing the number of known species in North America to eleven. It has long been known that the actual diversity is much higher; however, it took 102 years for any additional species to be described.
	Far from powerless: Ant larvae cannibalize eggs, are influenced by relatedness and sex To the casual observer, the colonies of social insects like bees and ants appear to be harmonious societies where individuals work together for the common good. But appearances can be deceiving.
	EU warns four more states in fight to end illegal fishing Illegally caught fish comprise a significant portion of both the global catch and of seafood imports, including to the world's leading fish-consuming markets. To counter this, the EU enacted strong fisheries laws and in 2012 began issuing warnings to – and imposing sanctions on – states which are accused of failing to comply with those regulations. The European Commission issued warnings to four states – St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu – for alleged shortcomings in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Norway says farmed salmon safe and urges public to eat more Farmed Norwegian salmon—repeatedly criticised for its supposed effects on health—can be safely eaten even by pregnant women, a new report by experts said Monday.
	Rare northern white rhino dies at California zoo A northern white rhinoceros that was only one of six left in the world died Sunday at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, zoo officials said.
How blood parasites colonize and persist in small island bird populations A new study highlights the complex factors at play for parasites that infect animal populations residing on small islands. The findings are important for understanding colonization and extinction as drivers of island biogeography.
Do crows have an impact on the population of their prey? They steal, raid nests, and keep the company of witches, but the unpopular crow may not be as big a menace as people think. A new Ibis study has found that crows—along with their avian cousins the magpie and the raven—have surprisingly little impact on the abundance of other bird species.
How trap-flowers attract and deceive pollinating food thieves Researchers have discovered a new pollination system that involves food-thieving flies as pollinators. These flies feed on insect secretions, available when a spider, a praying mantis, or other predatory arthropods feed on insects. The plant mimics compounds released from freshly killed insects to deceive flies that are in search of food.
Nutrient protecting 'peanut brittle' for cattle receives patent A U.S. patent has been issued for a Kansas State University-developed "peanut brittle" that ensures cows and other livestock eating it get their vitamins.
Study on farmers' markets shows presence of Salmonella and E. coli Researchers in Chapman University's Food Science Program and their collaborators at University of Washington have just published a study on the presence of Salmonella and E. coli on certain herbs sold at farmers' markets. The study focused on farmers' markets in Los Angeles and Orange counties in California, as well as in the Seattle, Washington, area. Specifically tested were samples of the herbs cilantro, basil and parsley. Of the 133 samples tested from 13 farmers' markets, 24.1 percent tested positive for E. coli and one sample tested positive for Salmonella.
	Fishermen, environmentalists pressure EU over fish quotas EU ministers went into difficult talks Monday to decide on fish catch limits for 2015 as they sought to balance conflicting demands from fishermen and environmentalists.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com