Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 8

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 8, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Super-insulated clothing could eliminate need for indoor heating
- Perovskite solar cell reaches record efficiency
- Compact batteries enhanced by spontaneous silver matrix formations
- Know when to fold 'em: Researchers solve heads-up limit hold 'em poker
- 3-D 'pop-up' silicon structures: Transforming planar materials into 3-D microarchitectures
- Will the real monster black hole please stand up?
- 'Assassin' targets supernovae in our neighborhood of the universe
- Scientists illuminate mysterious molecular mechanism powering cells in most forms of life
- Monkeys can learn to see themselves in the mirror
- Hunting bats rely on 'bag of chips effect'
- Flashes from faster-than-light spots may help illuminate astronomical secrets
- Facial motion activates a dedicated network within the brain, research shows
- To trigger energy-burning brown fat, just chill
- Practice really does make perfect
- Moving origami techniques forward for self-folding 3-D structures

Astronomy & Space news

	'Assassin' targets supernovae in our neighborhood of the universe While many astronomical collaborations use powerful telescopes to target individual objects in the distant universe, a new project at The Ohio State University is doing something radically different: using small telescopes to study a growing portion of the nearby universe all at once.
	Will the real monster black hole please stand up? (Phys.org)—A new high-energy X-ray image from NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, has pinpointed the true monster of a galactic mashup. The image shows two colliding galaxies, collectively called Arp 299, located 134 million light-years away. Each of the galaxies has a supermassive black hole at its heart.
	Astronomers use vanishing neutron star to measure space-time warp In an interstellar race against time, astronomers have measured the space-time warp in the gravity of a binary star and determined the mass of a neutron star—just before it vanished from view.
	Study of Andromeda's stellar disk indicates more violent history than Milky Way A detailed study of the motions of different stellar populations in the disk of the Andromeda galaxy has found striking differences from our own Milky Way, suggesting a more violent history of mergers with smaller galaxies in Andromeda's recent past.
	Flashes from faster-than-light spots may help illuminate astronomical secrets (Phys.org)—If you sweep a laser pointer across the Moon fast enough, you can create spots that actually move faster than light. Anyone can do it.
	Image: Backbone of ExoMars To explore requires a strong backbone – and that goes double for space exploration.
	NASA's Juno spacecraft on its way to unveil Jupiter's mysteries The gas giant Jupiter safeguards many secrets crucial to our understanding of the evolution of our solar system. It could also provide insights on how giant planets form and the role these titans played in putting together the rest of the solar neighborhood. NASA's Juno spacecraft is on its way to reveal those mysteries as the probe is on course for its planned arrival at Jupiter on July 4, 2016. "On that date, Juno will make its first dive over the planet's poles, firing its rocket engine to slow down just enough for the giant planet's gravity to capture the spacecraft into orbit," Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, Juno's principal investigator told astrowatch.net. "All of Juno's instruments are healthy and working well. The Juno team anticipates some truly wonderful results when their experiments reach Jupiter."
	Researchers succeed in measuring the temperature at the heart of stars Researchers from the Université libre de Bruxelles and the Université de Montpellier have succeeded, for the first time, in measuring the temperature at the heart of certain stars, as well as dating them. Their study is published in the January 8 issue of Nature.
	SpaceX to attempt rocket, cargo launch Saturday SpaceX will try again Saturday to launch its Falcon 9 rocket, propelling the Dragon cargo ship toward the International Space Station and then attempting its first landing on an ocean platform.
	Shadows cast by a warp in a planet forming system Astronomers from MAD at Universidad de Chile present a viable scenario for the three dimensional geometry of a planet forming system. The finding is based on the discovery of shadows cast by a warped inner disk which bears strong implications for the dynamics of planet formation.
	Improved Saturn positions help spacecraft navigation, planet studies, fundamental physics Scientists have used the National Science Foundation's Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio-telescope system and NASA's Cassini spacecraft to measure the position of Saturn and its family of moons to within about a mile—at a range of nearly a billion miles. This feat improves astronomers' knowledge of the dynamics of our Solar System and also benefits interplanetary spacecraft navigation and research on fundamental physics.
	Helping rhinos from space Official figures suggest this year will be the deadliest yet for rhinos, breaking the 2013 record of 1004 deaths from poaching. A new idea using space telescope technology could help rangers in their difficult fight against illegal hunters.
	Image: Orion spacecraft in post-mission processing at Kennedy Space Center Bearing the marks of a spacecraft that has returned to Earth through a searing plunge into the atmosphere, NASA's Orion spacecraft is perched on a pedestal inside the Launch Abort System Facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it is going through post-mission processing. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, third from right, looks over the Orion spacecraft on the morning of Jan. 6, 2015.
	Novel vision of the death of massive stars An international consortium, in which the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Ikerbasque and CSIC are participating, has published in a single article a compendium of data obtained after the simultaneous research of three supernovas and of their corresponding Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB). The research enabled contrasting statistically that the supernovas associated with GRB emit greater quantities of nickel compared to those not linked to GRB. Participating in this study were researchers from 19 countries and who employed 13 telescopes distributed throughout the planet. The results have been published in the prestigious Astronomy & Astrophysics journal.

Technology news

	Perovskite solar cell reaches record efficiency A team of researchers with Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and Sungkyunkwan University has developed a new formula for mixing perovskite structures that has led to the team achieving a new record level of efficiency in solar cells made from them. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they came up with the new formula and what it might mean for the future of solar cell technology.
	Know when to fold 'em: Researchers solve heads-up limit hold 'em poker For over a half-century, games have been test beds for new ideas in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the resulting successes have marked significant milestones - Deep Blue defeated Kasparov in chess and Watson defeated Jennings and Rutter on Jeopardy! However, defeating top human players is not the same as actually solving a game, and for the first time researchers in the Computer Poker Research Group at the Faculty of Science, University of Alberta in Canada, have essentially solved heads-up limit hold'em poker.
	Intel to launch compute-on-a-stick device this year Intel has come up with a compute-on-a-stick device which is pre-installed with Windows 8.1 or with Linux. The stick is four inches long and it carries a quad-core Intel Atom processor. Call it by its name, Compute Stick, or think of it as a neat way to do your work in a pocket-sized form factor. The stick has an HDMI output, a USB port and a microSD card slot.
	Dyson gets rid of filter in its newest vacuum Dyson, the company that makes vacuum cleaners has announced that they have figured out a way to get rid of the filters in its machines, meaning that the claim that it will never lose its suction, will no longer have to come with an asterisk.
	Team works to counter a new class of coffee shop hackers If you're sitting in a coffee shop, tapping away on your laptop, feeling safe from hackers because you didn't connect to the shop's wifi, think again. The bad guys may be able to see what you're doing just by analyzing the low-power electronic signals your laptop emits even when it's not connected to the Internet.
Automakers on the road to self-driving cars at Consumer Electronics Show Forget 80-inch televisions or Wi-Fi-connected blenders. At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it's the automakers who are dominating the conversation.
Former 'Apple guy' Russell Wilson playing for Microsoft Like a lot of Americans born in the late 1980s, Russell Wilson didn't exactly consider himself a Microsoft person.
	Smart and pretty: Fashion designers spruce up smartwatches Smartwatches don't have to look ugly to be functional. Clothing and accessories designers are collaborating with engineers to produce computerized wristwatches that people will want to wear all day and night.
	Chip sales cushion Samsung Q4 profit decline Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone maker, flagged a lighter than expected profit decline in the fourth quarter Thursday, with memory chip sales cushioning a continued slump in mobile revenue.
	Drones at CES: Sky's the Limit When you're searching for the hottest gadgets on the floor of this year's consumer electronics show, be sure to look up. For the first time ever, there's an International CES section dedicated to drones. More than 20 companies are showing off dozens of different models.
Chinese city spends $24,000 on phone hacking software A Chinese city will spend $24,000 on Trojan horse computer software for monitoring mobile phones, state media reported Thursday, after a notice announcing the move inexplicably appeared on a local website.
Do sports cars have a future in a driverless world? Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Bugatti. The prestigious names embody performance and luxury across the automotive world.
	Sporty tech gadgets put data in users' hands Olympic cycling medalist Dotsie Bausch is hooked on data, and she wants everyone to know it.
	China smartphone maker Xiaomi wants a bite of Apple When the charismatic founder of upstart Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi took the stage at an Internet conference, he was open about his ambition: world domination.
	Tech enthusiasts turn up at Las Vegas gadget show At the International CES, the largest trade show in the Americas, tech enthusiasts have met in Las Vegas to see their dreams and fantasies about the future move closer to reality.
	Smart money is on storing energy, not carbon, says economist The question of whether the future will be powered by coal and oil or by renewable energy is crucially important, both to the medium-term future of the Australian economy and to the long-term future of the planet. For either to succeed, there is a storage problem to overcome.
Study examines effectiveness of regulation in electricity markets A study in the latest issue of the American Economic Review used recent state regulatory changes in electricity markets as a laboratory to evaluate which factors can contribute to a regulation causing a bigger mess than the problem it was meant to fix.
	Now with more materials and more colour, 2015 is the year to try 3D printing at home Have you considered buying a 3D printer? A major spectacle at the Consumer Entertainment Show in Las Vegas for the last two years, they're now available for as little as £300 – around the same price as the latest Xbox One or Playstation 4.
	We can build homes to survive bushfires, so why don't we? Dozens of homes and outbuildings have been destroyed in bushfires that have ravaged parts of South Australia reminding us again how poorly adapted we are to bushfire prone landscapes.
	Simulations aimed at safer transport of explosives In 2005, a semi truck hauling 35,000 pounds of explosives through the Spanish Fork Canyon in Utah crashed and caught fire, causing a dramatic explosion that left a 30- by-70-foot crater in the highway.
	Sony to delay China launch of PlayStation game console Japanese gaming giant Sony said Thursday it will delay the launch of its PlayStation consoles in China, originally scheduled for Sunday, but gave no specific reason.
	Some "next big things" in teaching technology never quite were From 15th-century, one-page hornbooks to "teaching machines" such as PLATO, to massive open online courses, or MOOCs, visionary educators long have trumpeted new technology to revolutionize classroom learning.
	Students test sanitation system in India using breathable fabric technology A group of University of Delaware students and researchers spent New Year's in an unconventional way—installing sanitation systems in India.
	'Zelda,' 'Batman' among anticipated games due in 2015 Link, Master Chief, Batman and Nathan Drake will be back in action.
	EU risks China solar power row flare-up The EU risked reopening a bitter feud with China over solar panel manufacturing after confirming Thursday it had launched a fresh trade probe into a key part of the sector.
	Apple, developers feasting on people's app-etite for apps (Update) Apple and thousands of mobile software developers are feasting on people's ravenous app-etite for apps.
	Gadget Show Review: Lots of noise, a few gems in smart home Technology forecasters are calling 2015 the year of the Internet of Things—that idea that everyday objects will use sensors and Internet connectivity to start thinking and acting for themselves. At the International CES gadget show this week, I explored many of the elements that could lead to a smarter home. Some were intriguing; others disappointing. Are the capabilities on offer worth the expense and hassle? I'm not entirely convinced.
	Consumer tech show spotlights gadgets for healthy living From bracelets that measure body fat to robots that coach children through chemotherapy, the Consumer Electronics Show brimmed with gadgets promising prescriptions for healthier lives.
	Apple turns stores into galleries for iPad, iPhone artists Apple is turning its retail stores into art galleries featuring the work of professional photographers and other artists who use iPads, iPhones and Mac computers to create.
	Govt considering using Internet, smartphones for 2020 census The days of the census taker with clipboard in hand may be numbered. The Census Bureau plans to test digital tools in preparation for the 2020 census, a change that could save millions of dollars.
	'Belty' offers tech solution to weighty problem Wearable tech can sometimes cut right to the chase: that's the case with "Belty," a smart belt unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show which aims to help people lose weight.
	Sony case statements could cause bind, depending on evidence The Obama administration's extraordinary decision to point fingers at North Korea over the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. could lead to a courtroom spectacle in the event charges are ultimately filed against someone without ties to the isolated country, such as a disgruntled employee or an unrelated hacker.
911 dispatcher uses Facebook to find injured hiker in Calif. Officials say a 911 dispatcher in training used Facebook to locate a Northern California hiker critically injured after falling a 150 feet down a cliff while hiking near Lake Berryessa.
	Cities join forces to retrofit districts All over Europe cities and towns strive to become climate smart. They revamp their energy districts, step-by-step, while looking across borders to learn from best practice.
	New study from Harvard compares design of fuel systems for soft robots By defining a set of key metrics to evaluate the fuel systems available to drive autonomous and wearable soft robots, a team of engineers and chemists are able to compare the advantages and limitations of current technology options. They assess various types of pneumatic energy sources and their benefits for specific applications in an article published in Soft Robotics.
	Selfie sticks: Tourist convenience or purely narcissi-stick? Selfies at tourist attractions are nothing new. But until recently, if you wanted a perfectly composed picture of yourself with Times Square or the Colosseum in the background, you might have asked a passer-by to take the photo.
	#JeSuisCharlie figures in more than 3.5 million tweets The hashtag #JeSuisCharlie (I am Charlie), in tribute to the 12 people killed in the attack on the Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, has now been used in more than 3.5 million tweets, Twitter said Thursday.

Medicine & Health news

	'Unfussy' brain finds ways of coping with loss of a hand People born without one hand, who are still able to use both limbs well in otherwise two-handed tasks, are likely to show brain activity which resembles that of people with two hands, an Oxford University study has found.
	Breathing in diesel exhaust leads to changes "deep under the hood" Just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust fumes can lead to fundamental health-related changes in biology by switching some genes on, while switching others off, according to researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health.
	Practice really does make perfect Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Plymouth have shown that follow-through - such as when swinging a golf club or tennis racket - can help us to learn two different skills at once, or to learn a single skill faster. The research provides new insight into the way tasks are learned, and could have implications for rehabilitation, such as re-learning motor skills following a stroke.
	To trigger energy-burning brown fat, just chill Those who overindulged during the holidays may want to get a shot of cold air to kick-start some extra fat-burning activity for the new year.
	Facial motion activates a dedicated network within the brain, research shows A face is more than a static collection of features. A shift in gaze, a tightening of the lips, a tilt of the head, these movements convey important clues to someone's state of mind. Scientists know that two particularly social and visual creatures, humans and rhesus macaque monkeys, have a network of small areas within their brains that become active when shown still images of faces. But it hasn't been clear if the same areas are responsible for processing changing expressions and other facial movements.
	Neuroprosthetics for paralysis: Biocompatible, flexible implant slips into the spinal cord New therapies are on the horizon for individuals paralyzed following spinal cord injury. The e-Dura implant developed by EPFL scientists can be applied directly to the spinal cord without causing damage and inflammation. The device is described in an article appearing online Jan. 8, 2015, in Science magazine.
Risks of youth rugby need urgent scrutiny The unknown risks of youth rugby need urgent assessment to ensure the safety of junior players, says a senior doctor in The BMJ this week.
A self-directed walking program for older people did not prevent falls The results of the Easy Steps randomised controlled trial, published online in the journal Age and Ageing, show that a self-directed walking programme designed for sedentary older people did not reduce incidence of falls, although it did increase mobility levels.
Nutrition intervention leads to dietary behavior changes in Latina breast cancer survivors Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in partnership with the New York City-based, not-for-profit Cook for Your Life initiative have published the results of an intervention designed to provide a diverse and under-represented group of Latina breast cancer survivors with the knowledge and skills needed to change and sustain dietary behaviors. Founded by a breast and kidney cancer survivor, the Cook For Your Life program helps fellow survivors adhere to recommended guidelines to eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and maintain these changes going forward. Using a culturally based hands-on educational approach, the Cook for Your Life program or ¡Cocinar Para Su Salud! is geared toward Latina breast cancer survivors whose are at higher risk of high obesity rates, low physical activity rates, and poorer access to quality healthcare.
Study suggests worsening trends in headache management Each year more than 12 million Americans visit their doctors complaining of headaches, which result in lost productivity and costs of upward of $31 billion annually. A new study by researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) suggests some of that cost could be offset by physicians ordering fewer tests and an increased focus on counseling about lifestyle changes.
	Five things to look for as govt writes new dietary advice For years, the government has told Americans to eat their vegetables. A rewrite of the government's dietary guidelines could include some new advice, too, on sugar, salt, meat and caffeine.
	Experts discuss pros and cons of maintenance of certification (HealthDay)—The pros and cons of the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) are discussed in two articles published in the Jan. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Compound inheritance ID'd in cases of congenital scoliosis (HealthDay)—In a case series of Han Chinese persons, compound inheritance of a rare null mutation and a hypomorphic allele accounted for a proportion of congenital scoliosis cases. These findings were published online Jan. 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Kidney disease treatment may be improving, study suggests (HealthDay)—Despite a rising incidence of kidney disease, rates of kidney failure and related deaths are declining in the United States, according to a new report.
	Health warnings clearer on plain cigarette packs The graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging are twice as likely to catch the eye of smokers when printed on non-branded packaging, a UK charity's report claims.
Burnt-out workers more likely to make irrational decisions Employees who are suffering from burnout are more likely to make spontaneous and irrational decisions.
	Can your cellphone help you lose weight? Like most Americans, you have packed on a few pounds with holiday fêting and feasting. If you're looking to trim down now, one of the best tools may be in the palm of your hand.
Finding new purposes for established or abandoned therapeutics It's a wonder new medications are ever developed at all. Taking a new drug from promising molecule to marketable product can cost upwards of a billion dollars and take a decade or more to move from clinical trials to approval. Oh, and the overall failure rate hovers near 95%.
	Changing kids' minds about bad behaviour Aggression and oppositional behaviour in childhood doesn't just make short-term problems for children, their friends and families. It also places kids at risk of long-term issues with mental and physical health. And while there are some effective treatments around, not all children respond to them. Now, neuroscience is helping guide better treatment.
	Physical activity intervention for the elderly Bone loss is not the only nemesis of the elderly. As the percentage of people aged 85 and older grows, the stakes are high for healthy individuals living independently who do not maintain their muscle mass and strength. Age-related muscle loss—which excludes disease-related muscle loss—is called "sarcopenia." This condition can lead to costly surgeries and hospital stays due to fractures after falls that occurred from weak muscles, says physiologist Roger Fielding.
Engineering research offers hope for heart valve patients There could soon be new hope for those facing one of humanity's biggest health issues, thanks to research from the College of Engineering.
	Majority of public unaware of alcohol's link with cancer More than half of the British public are unaware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, according to a survey from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA).
	Dietitian seeks to reduce obesity among college-age adults Smart phones and social media may help college-age adults make healthier choices when it comes to food and physical activity, according to Kendra Kattelmann, professor of health sciences and nutrition and director of the dietetics program.
Individuals may consider organic an important factor when defining healthy food When it comes to defining healthy foods, some individuals may see organic as key. This is according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. They examined consumers' understanding of healthy food and found that many thought organic was an important factor in deciding whether or not a particular food item is healthy. They also found that information about organic foods may compete with other healthy eating messages. In addition, some participants associated negative health outcomes with consuming non-organic foods.
	Getting fit may give motivation to quit smoking University of Queensland researchers are investigating whether high-intensity interval training can help women quit smoking.
Networks of the brain reflect the individual gender identity Our sense of belonging to the male or female gender is an inherent component of the human identity perception. As a general rule, gender identity and physical sex coincide. If this is not the case, one refers to trans-identity or transsexuality. In a current study, brain researcher Georg S. Kanz of the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the MedUni Vienna was able to demonstrate that the very personal gender identity of every human being is reflected and verifiable in the cross-links between brain regions.
	Power of speech could improve dementia diagnosis New research from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust found that only half of patients seen at neurology-led memory clinics at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital suffered with dementia.
Study shows direct link between ethnic discrimination and health New research from the University of Colorado Denver shows that women who experience racial discrimination while pregnant suffer significant health impacts that are passed on to their infants.
Workplace harassment might make employees sick, according to study Workplace harassment is directly tied to a variety of physical and psychological problems suffered by victims, including stress, loss of sleep, depression and anxiety, says a new study from Ball State University.
Although flu viruses are a moving target, this season's vaccine still offers protection While in baseball it's three strikes and you're out, it's not quite the same with flu vaccines. Though one of the targeted flu strains is slightly mismatched, this season's flu shot offers a great deal of protection. A Loyola Medicine flu expert says the current flu vaccine is still in the game and will keep people well and on the playing field.
New technique can help understand neurodegenerative diseases Cell biologists at Utrecht University have successfully moved selected parts of a neuron to another specific location within the cell. This allows them to accurately study which role the position of a cell component performs in the cell's function. This is vital in order to understand the origins of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and ALS. The researchers' research will be published in the 7 January 2015 issue of Nature.
	The astounding career of the calorie Contemporary Western societies place great emphasis on health and physical fitness, but what does the recent focus on performance tell us about how we live now? A new project at LMU looks at the causes and effects of the fitness boom.
	New recommendation for cervical cancer screening, using HPV test alone About 80 million U.S. women ages 25 to 65—or 1.2 million women across Alabama—should be screened periodically by their health care providers for cervical cancer. At present, the standard way to do that is a Pap smear alone, or co-testing using both a Pap smear and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test.
	Heart patients urged to exercise their calf muscles Scientists have a strange tip for heart disease sufferers: make sure you exercise your ankles.
	Hacking fat cells' metabolism does not affect insulin resistance In the race to find a safe and effective weight loss drug, much attention has focused on the chemical processes that store and use energy. But a new mouse study from Johns Hopkins suggests that tweaking these processes, even in a targeted way that affects only fat cells, may not yield a silver-bullet obesity cure. The study appears in the Jan. 13 issue of Cell Reports.
	T cell receptor ensures Treg functionality Misdirected immune responses that target the body's own tissue can result in diseases. regulatory T cells combat this effect by suppressing excessive immune responses and responses against our own bodies. Until now, scientists had been aware of two molecular properties of regulatory T cells that control these functions. Researchers at Technische Universitat Munchen have now shown that signals emitted by T cell receptor on the regulartory T cells' surface are also essential for their identity and suppressive functions.
	Blueberries: Small fruit delivers big reward Thinking about topping your morning cereal with a cup of blueberries? Do it. Just one cup of blueberries per day could be the key to reducing blood pressure and arterial stiffness, both of which are associated with cardiovascular disease.
	How quality of sleep impacts academic performance in children Making sure school-aged kids get to sleep at a regular hour is often a struggle for parents. But a study by researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal suggests it's well worth the effort: the researchers found that a good night's sleep is linked to better performance in math and languages - subjects that are powerful predictors of later learning and academic success.
	New book aims to clear up 'hookup culture' confusion As students return to campus post-holiday break, a Michigan State University professor has released an e-book she hopes will demystify the "hookup culture" that often accompanies the college social scene.
Blood vessel lining cells control metastasis Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg and from the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University paved the way for an innovative combination therapy against metastases: They treated mice with a combination of a low-dose metronomic chemotherapy and an antibody against Ang-2, a regulatory protein of the blood vessel lining cells. The treated animals had significantly less metastases.
Smoking, alcohol, gene variant interact to increase risk of chronic pancreatitis Genetic mutations may link smoking and alcohol consumption to destruction of the pancreas observed in chronic pancreatitis, according to a 12-year study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, published today in Nature Publishing Group's online, open-access journal Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, provides insight into why some people develop this painful and debilitating inflammatory condition while most heavy smokers or drinkers do not appear to suffer any problems with it.
Screening HPV infection alone more accurate than Pap test in detection of cervical cancer Screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection alone gives more accurate results than Pap (smear) testing for cervical cancer, say the authors of two papers to published today in the journal Gynecologic Oncology. HPV infection causes almost all cervical cancer, and it is estimated that more than half of sexually active people are infected with HPV at some point in their lives. Now new research has shown that in many cases, an HPV test alone can be used for cervical cancer screening instead of a Pap or cotesting with both an HPV and a Pap test, the researchers say.
	Focusing on lasting legacy prompts environmental action Prompting people to think about the legacy they want to leave for future generations can boost their desire and intention to take action on climate change, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
New study findings help physicians and patients determine prostate cancer risk A discovery by researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute shows that looking at whether a man's uncles and great-grandparents, among other second- and third-degree relatives, had prostate cancer could be as important as looking at whether his father had prostate cancer. A more complete family history would give physicians a new tool to decide whether or not a PSA test was appropriate.
	Alcohol warnings from parents matter Parenting practices and restrictions when it comes to alcohol use can make a difference with adolescent drinking, and there is considerable value to consistent and sustained parental attitudes about drinking, according to new research by a University at Buffalo psychologist.
Rihanna eases kids' pain after surgery Pediatric patients who listened to 30 minutes of songs by Rihanna, Taylor Swift and other singers of their choosing—or audio books—had a significant reduction in pain after major surgery, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
Oman reports first MERS death in nearly a year Oman reported Thursday its first death of a person from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in nearly a year.
Analysts: Pfizer's new type of cancer drug may get OK early (Update) The first in a new class of cancer medicines, Pfizer's Ibrance, appears poised for approval to treat advanced breast cancer within a few months and could quickly become a blockbuster, some analysts believe.
	Insulin nasal spray shows promise as treatment for adults with dementia and Alzheimer's A man-made form of insulin delivered by nasal spray may improve working memory and other mental capabilities in adults with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease dementia, according to a pilot study led by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
	Study links common human protein to adverse parasitic worm infections Worm infections represent a major global public health problem, leading to a variety of debilitating diseases and conditions, such as anemia, elephantiasis, growth retardation and dysentery. Several drugs are available to treat worm infections, but reinfection is high especially in developing countries.
	Malassezia yeasts—everywhere and sometimes dangerous Malassezia yeasts have been found in human dandruff, deep-sea vents, and pretty much everywhere in between. The skin of most if not all warm-blooded animals is covered with these microbes, and while they mostly live in peaceful co-existence with their hosts, they can cause serious diseases in humans and our furry friends. A Pearl (a short review) published on January 8th in PLOS Pathogens discusses the diseases caused by Malassezia, their detection, and treatment.
Smcientists explain spread of chikungunya vector The tropical disease chikungunya began twisting Western tongues in July when the first locally transmitted case was reported in Florida. Spotted in the Caribbean just last year, the disease spread explosively throughout the Americas in 2014. Chikungunya's arrival in Panama prompted Smithsonian scientists to examine how human activity spreads its mosquito vector and the serious implications this has for disease ecology everywhere.
	Researchers grow functional tissue-engineered intestine from human cells A new study by researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles has shown that tissue-engineered small intestine grown from human cells replicates key aspects of a functioning human intestine. The tissue-engineered small intestine they developed contains important elements of the mucosal lining and support structures, including the ability to absorb sugars, and even tiny or ultra-structural components like cellular connections.
OPTIMISTIC: New care model to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations of frail older adults A new study from Indiana University and Regenstrief Institute researcher-clinicians reports on the first year of the implementation of OPTIMISTIC, an innovative program they developed and implemented to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations of nursing facility residents.
	Sleeping on back in pregnancy tied to stillbirth risk in study (HealthDay)—Women who sleep on their backs in the later months of pregnancy may have a relatively higher risk of stillbirth if they already have other risk factors, a new study suggests.
	Low vitamin D levels linked to risk of preterm birth in study (HealthDay)—Women who have low blood levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to give birth prematurely, a new study suggests.
	Cancer groups urge more regulation of E-cigarettes (HealthDay)—The potential health hazards of e-cigarettes remain unclear, and more regulation on their use is needed, say two groups representing cancer researchers and specialists.
	Blood markers may reveal active spinal degenerative disease (HealthDay)—Serum biomarkers may be a measure for assessment of active degenerative spinal disease in older adults, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Earlier life adiposity trajectories linked to NAFLD in teens (HealthDay)—Earlier life trajectories of adiposity are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Novel anticoagulants rapidly adopted into clinical practice (HealthDay)—Novel anticoagulants have been rapidly adopted into clinical practice, and their use is associated with increased health care costs, according to a study published in the November issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
	High-risk scenario simulation useful for surgical residents (HealthDay)—An interprofessional simulation of high-risk clinical scenarios is useful for surgical residents, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in JAMA Surgery.
Poor acceptance of illness associated with worse quality of life in chronic heart failure Failure to accept illness is associated with poorer quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure, according to research published today in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Patients with lower illness acceptance more often had lower energy levels, more severe pain, negative emotional reactions, sleep disorders and limited mobility, and were socially isolated.
Are we there yet? A new tool to measure progress in cancer research From the "War on Cancer" to sponsored walkathons and races, society constantly aims to move cancer research forward. In a new paper published today in ecancermedicalscience, researchers aim to measure progress in cancer research through the use of an innovative first-of-its-kind tool— the PACE Continuous Innovation Indicators. Scientists brought together by Lilly Oncology's PACE (Patient Access to Cancer care Excellence) initiative developed these novel indicators to become one piece of the dynamic puzzle of assessing and quantifying "progress" and "value" in cancer research.
	Ruling puts foie gras back on California menus California restaurants can once again feature foie gras after a federal judge cut loose the ban on the fatty goose liver's sale in the state.
Ebola fight has coordination problem, says new UN mission chief The three west African countries worst hit by the Ebola epidemic should be leading the response against the killer virus, the UN's new mission chief on the disease said Wednesday, condemning "a problem of coordination" in the fightback.
	A 'check up from the neck up'—mental health screening kiosks During their time in college, most students learn the importance of looking out for their own health.
	Engineering professor makes major breakthrough in reducing cost of key AIDS drug A team of researchers led by a Virginia Commonwealth University engineering professor has invented a far more cost-effective way to manufacture a widely used AIDS drug, potentially greatly expanding access to the much-needed drug in countries with emerging economies, such as South Africa.
	Researchers develop suitcase laboratory for rapid detection of the Ebola virus No electricity, no reliable cold chain, no diagnostic equipment available – scientists in field laboratories who diagnose and deal with Ebola infections often work under challenging conditions. Researchers at the DPZ have developed Diagnostics-in-a-Suitcase, which contains all reagents and equipment to detect the Ebola virus within 15 minutes at point-of-need. Moreover, the mobile suitcase laboratory will be operated by an integrated solar panel and a power pack. The mobile suitcase laboratory will enter a field trial in Guinea in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal, the Public Health Institute of Guinea, the University of Stirling, Robert Koch Institute, and TwistDx Ltd. Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed, scientist in the Unit of Infection Models at the DPZ, is the innovator of the suitcase laboratory. He will assemble five suitcases, which will be used at the Ebola treatment Centres in Guinea during the current outb! reak.
German court hears nurse admitted more than 30 'boredom' killings (Update) A German court heard Thursday that a former male nurse had admitted killing more than 30 patients at a hospital where he worked, allegedly out of boredom.
A former NFL pro tackles weight gain on 'The Biggest Loser' It's a huge weight off Scott Mitchell's shoulders—or, to be more accurate, off his formerly swollen midsection, which until not long ago helped him tip the scales at 366 pounds.
	New research urges UK government to improve services for homeless people The UK homelessness charity, Crisis, has warned of a "tragic waste of young lives", as new Cardiff University research reveals that half of all homeless people first become homeless aged under-21, with the majority going through the experience again and again because they don't get the help they need.
Sipuleucel-T in prostate cancer: Added benefit is not proven Sipuleucel-T (trade name Provenge) has been approved since September 2014 for men with metastatic prostate cancer who have few or no symptoms and do not yet require chemotherapy. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether the drug offers patients an added benefit over one of the appropriate comparator therapies.
New recommendations for return to activity after concussion in military personnel Military service members with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, should follow a six-step process of progressive activity, leading to return to active duty, according to new clinical recommendations by an expert panel. The guidance appears in the January-February issue of The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, official journal of the Brain Injury Association of America, an annual special issue devoted to new research on TBI in the military.
	Huntington's disease: Therapeutic potential of triheptanoin confirmed A team of researchers from Inserm led by Fanny Mochel and located at the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute (Inserm/CNRS/UPMC/AP-HP) has just demonstrated the therapeutic potential of triheptanoin in ten patients with Huntington's disease. Derivatives of this triglyceride, with its unique composition, might be able to slow the progression of the disease by improving the energy metabolism of the brain. This research is published in the journal Neurology.
Albiglutide in type 2 diabetes: Hint of minor added benefit Albiglutide (trade name Eperzan) has been approved since March 2014 for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in whom diet and exercise alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether the drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapies in these patient groups.
Added benefit of idelalisib is not proven Idelalisib (trade name Zydelig) has been available since September 2014 for patients with follicular lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). 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. According to the findings, such an added benefit is not proven for any of the two therapeutic indications because the drug manufacturer presented no suitable data.
British Ebola nurse still critical condition: family A British nurse who contracted Ebola in west Africa remains in a critical condition inside a hospital isolation unit and her health may not improve for "some time", her family said Thursday.
Eliminating ACA subsidies would cause nearly 10 million to lose insurance, study finds Eliminating government subsidies for low- and moderate-income people who purchase coverage through federally run health insurance marketplaces would sharply boost costs and reduce enrollment in the individual market by more than 9.6 million, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Study provides insights into the role of genetic variants in kidney disease New research provides insights into the ties between certain genetic variants and kidney disease in African Americans. The genetic association is one of the strongest ever reported for a common disease, and these latest findings may help improve diagnosis and treatment. The study appears in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
AMP releases 'A Molecular Diagnostic Perfect Storm' white paper The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, non-profit organization serving molecular testing professionals, announced the release of an important white paper addressing the consequences of regulatory and reimbursement forces directed against molecular diagnostic testing that threaten patient care. The paper, titled, A Molecular Diagnostic Perfect Storm: The Convergence of Regulatory & Reimbursement Forces that Threaten Patient Access to Innovations in Genomic Medicine is now available online.

Biology news

	Scientists illuminate mysterious molecular mechanism powering cells in most forms of life A team led by structural biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has taken a big step toward understanding the intricate molecular mechanism of a metabolic enzyme produced in most forms of life on Earth.
	Algae blooms create their own favorable conditions, study finds Fertilizers are known to promote the growth of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater and oceans worldwide, but a new multi-institution study shows the aquatic microbes themselves can drive nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in a combined one-two punch in lakes.
	Algae use same molecular machinery as land plants to respond to a plant hormone Land-based plants—including the fruits and vegetables in your kitchen—produce and respond to hormones in order to survive. Scientists once believed that hormone signaling machinery only existed in these relatively complex plants. But new research from the University of Maryland shows that some types of freshwater algae can also detect ethylene gas—the same stress hormone found in land plants—and might use these signals to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
	Ancient maize followed two paths into the Southwest After it was first domesticated from the wild teosinte grass insouthern Mexico, maize, or corn, took both a high road and a coastallow road as it moved into what is now the U.S. Southwest, reports aninternational research team that includes a UC Davis plant scientistand maize expert.
	Research finds salt tolerance gene in soybean A collaborative research project between Australian and Chinese scientists has shown how soybean can be bred to better tolerate soil salinity.
	New insight on skull development in study of frogs Chances are, you'd be hard-pressed to name something you have in common with a chicken. Would you believe that one answer is the head on your shoulders?
	Scientists document longest-ever case of sperm storage in sharks Brownbanded bamboo sharks take the term "resourceful" to a whole new level. Steinhart Aquarium biologists at the California Academy of Sciences were taken aback when a shark egg case dropped by an adult bamboo shark showed signs of healthy development. The scientists had good reason for surprise: the aquarium's female Chiloscyllium punctatum adults had spent nearly four years—45 months—in complete isolation from males.
	Monkeys can learn to see themselves in the mirror Unlike humans and great apes, rhesus monkeys don't realize when they look in a mirror that it is their own face looking back at them. But, according to a report in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on January 8, that doesn't mean they can't learn. What's more, once rhesus monkeys in the study developed mirror self-recognition, they continued to use mirrors spontaneously to explore parts of their bodies they normally don't see.
	Hunting bats rely on 'bag of chips effect' When bats hunt in groups at night, they rely on the sounds of their fellow bats to tip them off on the best places to a grab a good meal. Researchers reporting their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on January 8 are calling this behavior the "bag of chips effect."
	Treatment for parasitic worms helps animals survive infectious diseases—and spread them (Update) Parasitic worms, which infect millions of people and other animals around the world, influence how the immune system responds to diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.
Pathogen strains competing for the same host plant change disease dynamics The epidemics caused by coinfection of several pathogen strains in a plant population is more severe than epidemics caused by single strains.
	Some creatures use electricity and vibrations in sex (and this can be dangerous) Most animals use touch, smell, hearing, taste and sight to identify and attract a mate (that goes for humans too). But some species have additional and unusual weapons in their sexual armoury – the ability to sense vibrations and electric signals which indicate that a similar creature is in the vicinity.
	Sophisticated system prevents self-fertilization in petunias Plants use genetic mechanisms to prevent inbreeding by recognizing self and non-self pollen. Researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Zurich have now found evidence that a group of 18 male proteins recognize 40 female proteins between them – in contrast to one-to-one relationships studied to date. The self-recognition mechanism in petunia shows similarities to the immune defense in vertebrates.
	Neurons that detect disease: Study reveals how mice avoid their sick peers Life in a group entails a major risk: that of being exposed to contagious pathogens. To counter this danger, different strategies have evolved in social species. In the case of rodents, specific olfactory signals emitted by sick individuals induce avoidance behavior among their peers. The team of Ivan Rodriguez, professor at the Faculty of Science of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, unveils the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior, in a study published in the journal Current Biology.
	Characterizing baobab, the nutritious African 'Tree of Life' A new publication, 'Descriptors for Baobab,' opens the way for accelerated and better-standardized research into this iconic tree. This highly nutritious African food tree is called the 'Tree of Life' because of its importance to local communities.
	Mapping snake venom variety reveals unexpected evolutionary pattern Venom from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake in the Everglades is distinct from the cocktail of toxins delivered by the same species in the Florida panhandle area, some 500 miles away. But no matter where you go in the Southeastern United States, the venom of the eastern coral snake is always the same. The results of a large-scale survey of venom variation in the two snake species, published January 8, 2015 in the journal Genetics, challenge common assumptions in venom evolution research, provide crucial information for rattlesnake conservation, and will help coral snake antivenom development.
An ecological rule for animals applies to flowers When, in 1833, Constantin Wilhelm Lambert Gloger published his key observation that warm-blooded animals tend to be more heavily pigmented or darker the closer they live to the equator, he probably didn't realize the degree to which the climate would change in the next 200 years or so.
	Japan whaling ships set out for Antarctic—to count, not hunt Japanese whaling ships set sail for the Antarctic on Thursday on the look out for whales, but only to count them and take skin samples, after a UN court ordered an end to the annual hunt.

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