Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 5

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 5, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Internet Explorer 11 vulnerability allows policy bypass
- New process allows for stronger, lighter, flexible steel
- NASA's LRO discovers lunar hydrogen more abundant on moon's pole-facing slopes
- Tiny termites can hold back deserts by creating oases of plant life
- When scientists play with LEGO: A new creative version of pinned insect manipulator
- After merger, chimpanzees learned new grunt for 'apple'
- Learning with all the senses: Movements and images facilitate vocabulary learning
- Evolution continues despite low mortality and fertility rates in the modern world
- March of the moons: Hubble captures rare triple moon transit of Jupiter (w/ Video)
- Circadian clock-Angelman syndrome link established
- Researchers describe spontaneous cure of rare immune disease
- Stars are younger: 'Reionization' is more recent than predicted
- Not candy crush—scientists identify nature of candy sculpture
- The power of light-matter coupling
- Cesium atoms shaken, not stirred, to create elusive excitation in superfluid

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA's LRO discovers lunar hydrogen more abundant on moon's pole-facing slopes Space travel is difficult and expensive – it would cost thousands of dollars to launch a bottle of water to the moon. The recent discovery of hydrogen-bearing molecules, possibly including water, on the moon has explorers excited because these deposits could be mined if they are sufficiently abundant, sparing the considerable expense of bringing water from Earth. Lunar water could be used for drinking or its components – hydrogen and oxygen – could be used to manufacture important products on the surface that future visitors to the moon will need, like rocket fuel and breathable air.
	Rosetta swoops in for a close encounter ESA's Rosetta probe is preparing to make a close encounter with its comet on 14 February, passing just 6 km from the surface.
	Image: Curiosity trek through 'Pahrump Hills' spotted by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter NASA's Curiosity Mars rover can be seen at the "Pahrump Hills" area of Gale Crater in this view from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Pahrump Hills is an outcrop at the base of Mount Sharp. The region contains sedimentary rocks that scientists believe formed in the presence of water.
	Stars are younger: 'Reionization' is more recent than predicted The highly anticipated update of the analysis of data from the European Space Agency's Planck satellite starts with a first paper published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, which already holds in store a few major surprises. The first article in fact "rejuvenates" the stars of our Universe. Thanks to new maps of cosmic background radiation (in particular, those containing "polarization anisotropies" of radiation) scientists have found that the "reionization" process could be more recent than estimated until now.
	March of the moons: Hubble captures rare triple moon transit of Jupiter (w/ Video) These new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope images capture a rare occurrence as three of Jupiter's largest moons parading across the giant gas planet's banded face. Hubble took a string of images of the event which show the three satellites—Europa, Callisto and Io—in action.
Japan anime fans plan to send 'Spear of Destiny' to moon Sci-fi fans in Japan are trying to raise nearly $1 million to recreate in real life a fictional scene in which the "Spear of Destiny" is plunged into the moon.
	Jupiter reaches opposition on February 6th Did you see the brilliant Full Snow Moon rising last night? Then you might've also noticed a bright nearby 'star'. Alas, that was no star, but the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. And it was no coincidence that the king of the gas giants is near the Full Moon this February, as Jupiter reaches opposition this Friday on February 6th at 18:00 Universal Time or 1:00 PM EST.
	The earliest stages of star formation in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud Molecular cores are dense condensations within molecular clouds, in which stars are born. Guoyin Zhang et al. obtained 350 μm dust continuum data using the SHARC-II camera at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) telescope. A 350 μm map covering 0.25 deg2 of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud was created by mosaicing 56 separate scans. 75 cores have been identified on this high angular resolution map.The core mass function (CMF), which is the mass distribution of dense cores. They found that the whole and prestellar CMF are both well fitted by a log-normal distribution. This finding suggests that turbulence influences the evolution of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud. Their work, entitled "350 μm map of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud: core mass function", was published in SCIENCE CHINA Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy.
	Cosmology: Late news from the Big Bang Viatcheslav Mukhanov, cosmologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich, models the first instants after the creation of our Universe. Data from the Planck telescope have now confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt his theory of the quantum origin of structure in the Universe.

Technology news

	Internet Explorer 11 vulnerability allows policy bypass (Phys.org) —"Your authentication cookies could be up for grabs in the latest Internet Explorer 11 vulnerability," said Kareem Anderson in WinBeta on Wednesday. The targets are IE 11 on both Windows 7 and 8.1.
	Chassis 1A part from early computer resurfaces The National Museum of Computing has reported the discovery of a rare part of an early computer. With reconstruction expected to be completed later this year, the reconstruction team is eager to find out if there could be even more parts around. The EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) was one of the world's first computers, originally built in Cambridge in the late 1940s.
	Internet regulator admits US control may be extended The head of the Internet overseer ICANN conceded Thursday that the United States may have to extend its control over the group beyond September as governments bicker over a replacement regulatory regime.
	Navy unveils firefighting robot prototype at tech expo (w/ Video) Scientists unveiled a firefighting robot prototype Feb. 4 at the Naval Future Force Science & Technology EXPO, revealing details about its successful demonstrations last fall aboard the USS Shadwell, a decommissioned Navy vessel.
	Astronomy image analysis algorithms adapted to cancer screening method Astronomy and oncology do not make obvious bedfellows, but the search for new stars and galaxies has surprising similarities with the search for cancerous cells. This has led to new ways of speeding up image analysis in cancer research.
	New algorithms allow autonomous systems to deal with uncertainty People typically consider doing the laundry to be a boring chore. But laundry is far from boring for artificial intelligence (AI) researchers like Siddharth Srivastava, a scientist at the United Technologies Research Center, Berkeley.
	Octopus robot makes waves with ultra-fast propulsion Scientists have developed an octopus-like robot, which can zoom through water with ultra-fast propulsion and acceleration never before seen in man-made underwater vehicles.
	High efficiency concentrating solar cells move to the rooftop (w/ Video) Ultra-high efficiency solar cells similar to those used in space may now be possible on your rooftop thanks to a new microscale solar concentration technology developed by an international team of researchers.
More big brands are tapping creative crowdsourcing sites To fashion an alluring look for its latest pair of DC Shoes, Quiksilver extended far beyond its team of in-house artists. It challenged a worldwide crowd.
10 years later, Amazon celebrates Prime's growth For shoppers, Amazon Prime often comes through, delivering that last-minute purchase for an almost forgotten birthday or an overlooked necessity for vacation travel.
	Samsung launches Tizen-powered TVs in home market South Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co. has started domestic sales of high-end televisions powered by its Tizen operating system and plans to add washing machines, fridges and other appliances to the range of products that use the software.
	Apple in talks for streaming TV content Apple is in talks aimed at getting hold of content for a pay-television service, technology news website Re/code reported on Wednesday.
	Hackers infiltrate insurer Anthem, access customer details Health insurer Anthem said hackers infiltrated its computer network and gained access to a host of personal information for customers and employees, including CEO Joseph Swedish.
	Under Armour buys fitness app startups Athletic clothing maker Under Armour on Wednesday announced it is building its digital muscle with a pair of fitness application makers.
News Guide: Net neutrality and what it could mean to you (AP)—A top U.S. regulator just announced he wants more power to oversee Internet service, much in the same way that the government already regulates phone service and other public utilities. The goal is to prevent Internet service providers like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Sprint and T-Mobile from blocking or slowing down Web traffic, or striking deals with companies that provide content like Amazon, Google or Netflix to move their data faster than others.
Netflix streaming service heading for Japan Netflix on Wednesday said that it will expand its online streaming television and movie service to Japan late this year.
Singapore plans 'real-time' aircraft tracking system Singapore said Thursday it will introduce a new aircraft tracking system that will ensure complete surveillance of its airspace, amid global efforts to prevent a repeat of Flight MH370's inexplicable disappearance.
	Twitter 'in talks with Google to boost online presence' Twitter has reached a deal with Google to make its short messages more visible on the Internet, Bloomberg said Thursday.
	Technique enables energy-harvesting sensors to be miniaturized Imagine a world where bridges, roads, heart valves or knee replacements could monitor themselves and send a warning signal before they fail. Imagine then, if these advanced pieces of technology could power themselves and operate for years without needing any maintenance.
	Researchers to begin work with news organizations in an effort to advance aerial journalism Leaders with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership at Virginia Tech have outlined a research plan to study how reporters could use unmanned aircraft to gather news.
	Hundreds of ships go missing each year, but we have the technology to find them The seas are vast. And they claim vessels in significant numbers. The yachts Cheeki Rafiki, Niña, Munetra, Tenacious are just some of the more high-profile names on a list of lost or capsized vessels which grows by hundreds each year.
CEO-to-employee pay ratios are lower than popularly thought, according to study For the vast majority of United States commercial banks, the ratio of CEO-to-employee pay is substantially lower than the levels popularized in the financial media, according to a forthcoming study by accounting experts at Rice University and the University of Houston (UH). The study's findings carry special relevance in advance of this spring's proxy season, when America's publicly traded corporations hold their annual meetings to vote on company business, including CEO compensation.
Combined cyber and physical security system for charging electric vehicles As electricity grids become more sophisticated, grid administrators can collect instantaneous data on consumer and supplier behavior. The 'smart grid' then learns to improve the reliability, costs and sustainability of electricity distribution. However, smart grids present new security challenges, especially for mobile systems such as electric vehicles (EVs), which can be attacked both electronically and physically.
	Harnessing the power of drones to assess disaster damage When disaster strikes, it's important for responders and emergency officials to know what critical infrastructure has been damaged so they can direct supplies and resources accordingly.
	Hey Uber, expect a bumpy ride when Google drives into your market The news that Google is to get into the ride-hailing scene – the same taxis-that-aren't-taxis business pioneered by Uber – may have come as a surprise to some. We can speculate that it may even have come as a surprise to some at Uber that Google is to become a competitor, considering Google's chief legal officer David Drummond sits on Uber's board, and Google has invested hundreds of millions in the start up.
	Chances of saving with solar energy greater for Indiana farms than homes The probability of saving money by using solar energy rather than standard grid electricity is 92 percent for Indiana farm businesses and about 50 percent for homes, Purdue University energy economists find.
	Popular 'dashcams' catch everything from scammers to plane crashes The terrifying footage of a plane clipping a bridge in Taiwan and crashing into a river this week was a reminder that "dashcams" have become an increasingly standard piece of kit in cars around the world.
	Twitter steps up growth push as pressure builds Twitter is stepping up efforts to boost its user base and monetization as the messaging platform faces pressure from lackluster growth since its stock market splash debut in late 2013.
	Giant US health-data breach could lead to China Data on as many as 80 million customers at US health insurance giant Anthem was stolen by hackers, officials confirmed Thursday, in a cyberattack investigators have reportedly linked to China.
	Pfizer buying Hospira for about $15.23 billion (AP)—Pfizer is buying Hospira for approximately $15.23 billion, saying it is a good fit with its established global pharmaceutical business.
Health care stocks lead an early advance on Wall Street (AP)—Health care stocks were leading early gains in U.S. trading, while the energy sector also rose as the price of oil recovered from a stumble.
Do cops need college? A new study suggests college-educated cops are dissatisfied with the job, have negative views of their supervisors and don't necessarily favor community policing, a strategy aimed partly at reducing the number of deadly police-citizen incidents dominating the headlines.
Bosnian Serbs pass law limiting freedom of speech (AP)—Lawmakers in the Serb part of Bosnia passed a controversial law Thursday that allows authorities to fine people who post offensive content on social networks—a move rights activists have labeled as limiting freedom of expression.
Gov't investigating if Medicare data stolen in Anthem hack (AP)—The federal government is investigating whether the personal information of Medicare beneficiaries was stolen by hackers who breached health insurer Anthem's computer networks.
Your info has been hacked. Here's what you should do Hackers have stolen personal information from tens of millions of people with Anthem health insurance. The nation's second-largest health insurer, formerly known as WellPoint, said hackers stole Social Security numbers, names, birthdates, email addresses, employment details, incomes and street addresses of people who are currently covered or had coverage in the past.
Verizon gets $15B from wireline sale, tower leasing deal (AP)—Verizon Communications says it will make almost $15 billion from selling part of its wireline business and leasing thousands of wireless towers.
	LinkedIn's 4Q tops analyst views, stock surges to new high (AP)—LinkedIn maintained its perfect record of pleasant surprises as the online professional networking service expanded its reach during the fourth quarter and added more tools to help connect salespeople with potential customers.

Medicine & Health news

Team finds gene that confirms existence of psoriatic arthritis PsA is a common form of inflammatory form of arthritis causing pain and stiffness in joints and tendons that can lead to joint damage. Nearly all patients with PsA also have skin psoriasis and, in many cases, the skin disease is present before the arthritis develops. However, only one third of patients with psoriasis will go on to develop PsA.
	How communication among neurons changes over the course of development Using multiphoton imaging, scientists are now able to move beyond characterizing the properties of individual cells to investigate how communication among neurons changes over the course of development. In their paper published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies report substantial developmental changes in communication among cells that significantly improve the information processing capabilities of the brain.
	Researchers find that neurons in the primary visual cortex listen to just a small subset of synaptic inputs (Medical Xpress)—A team of bio-researchers with members affiliated with institutions in the U.K., Switzerland and Hong Kong, has found that neurons in the primary visual cortex of mice listen to just a small subset of the huge number of synaptic inputs vying for attention. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they combined two research methods to create a way to demonstrate how much impact different inputs have on neurons, at least in the visual cortex of mice. Benjamin Scholl and Nicholas Priebe, with the University of Texas, offer a News & Views perspective on the work in the same journal edition.
	Learning with all the senses: Movements and images facilitate vocabulary learning "Atesi" - what sounds like a word from the Elven language of Lord of the Rings is actually a Vimmish word meaning "thought". Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have used Vimmish, an artificial language specifically developed for scientific research, to study how people can best memorise foreign-language terms.
	Circadian clock-Angelman syndrome link established Monitoring participants' biological clocks may be the quickest way to determine the effectiveness of experimental drugs currently under development to treat Angelman syndrome: a debilitating genetic disorder that occurs in more than one in every 15,000 live births.
	Researchers describe spontaneous cure of rare immune disease A genetic phenomenon called chromothripsis, or "chromosome shattering," may have spontaneously cured the first person to be documented with WHIM syndrome, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The patient was the subject of a 1964 study that first described the disorder, a syndrome of recurrent infections, warts and cancer caused by the inability of immune cells, particularly infection-fighting neutrophils, to leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. In 2003, researchers identified the genetic mutations responsible for the disease, which occur in the CXCR4 gene.
Study highlights brain cells' role in navigating environment A new Dartmouth College study sheds light on the brain cells that function in establishing one's location and direction. The findings contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying our abilities to successfully navigate our environment, which may be crucial to dealing with brain damage due to trauma or a stroke and the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Carnivorous mushroom reveals human immune trick A carnivorous oyster mushroom defends itself against pest roundworms and can eat them too. One of the tricks it has is a hole-punching protein, just like one used by our immune system. Scientists say the humble oyster mushroom could tell us how our bodies fight disease.
	Age-related hepatitis B infection and the gut microbiome (Medical Xpress)—The hepatitis B virus (HBV), which affects the liver, behaves differently in different people depending on genetics and the age the person is when infected. Ninety-five percent of adults who contract hepatitis B clear the virus after several weeks. However, 90 percent of neonates and 30 percent of children under the age of five develop chronic hepatitis B, which can lead to liver damage.
Females with primary Sjogren's syndrome more likely to experience sexual dysfunction Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is the second most common systemic autoimmune disease behind rheumatoid arthritis, with female patients outnumbering males by a ratio of 9:1. Those affected often experience dryness of the eyes and mouth, together with a variety of other symptoms such as extreme fatigue and arthritis. There is also a high prevalence of vaginal dryness and difficult or painful sexual intercourse in women with pSS, along with symptoms common across rheumatic diseases such as pain, stiffness, negative body image, anxiety, reduced libido, and side-effects from treatments.
Improving the drug withdrawal process could reduce number of deaths The number of deaths associated with drugs that were subsequently withdrawn from the market could have been reduced had there been fewer delays in the withdrawal process, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine. This situation could be improved by better reporting of these deaths and quicker action from manufacturers and regulators.
	Major study links two new genetic variants to breast cancer A worldwide study of the DNA of 100,000 women has discovered two new genetic variants associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Large study of hypertension patients highlights key moments at which to intervene High blood pressure is the most common risk factor for heart disease and death worldwide, and yet the answers to some of the most basic questions about how to manage it - when to introduce new medications, intensify treatment or re-evaluate a patient - remain unclear. In a new study published this week in the British Medical Journal, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) examined the outcomes of 88,000 adults with hypertension to pinpoint the precise high-blood-pressure level and critical time points at which intervening was tied to a decrease in the risk of death.
	Research finds caloric energy benefit from cooking Have you ever wondered why it's so tough to put down that last slice of bacon? Part of the answer is that humans are evolutionarily programmed to crave fatty foods, which offer the biggest bang for the buck, nutritionally speaking, with more than twice the calorie density of protein- or starch-rich food.
Cannabinoids may be responsible for weight gain associated with schizophrenia Cannabinoids may be involved in the weight gain that occurs in people with schizophrenia who are treated with the antipsychotic olanzapine, according to a pilot study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology by researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM) and Université de Montréal (UdeM).
	Neuroscience study points to possible use of medical marijuana for depression Scientists at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) are studying chronic stress and depression, with a focus on endocannabinoids, which are brain chemicals similar to substances in marijuana.
	Fear the measles virus – not the vaccine, says virologist When it comes to the measles outbreak that originated at California's Disneyland, it truly is a small world after all.
Two major studies strengthen case for prostate cancer drug before chemotherapy Pioneering prostate cancer drug abiraterone significantly extends the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer if given before chemotherapy, the results of a major phase III clinical trial have shown.
	Research finds income, education affect calorie menu use Fast food restaurants around the country are starting to look a little different. Step up to the counter and you may notice calorie counts listed next to food items on the menu. Which customers notice and use that information to make healthier choices depends on their income and education level.
	Unique research method reveals significant return on additional health care spending Because Americans spend more per capita on health care than residents of any country, debate has rumbled on for years about whether all that investment yields sufficient results. Now a newly published study with a distinctive design, led by an MIT health care scholar, shows that increased spending on emergency care does, in fact, produce better outcomes for patients.
	Online comments influence opinions on vaccinations With measles and other diseases once thought eradicated making a comeback in the United States, healthcare websites are on the spot to educate consumers about important health risks. Washington State University researchers say that people may be influenced more by online comments than by credible public service announcements (PSAs).
Poor vision more common in China's well-off kids: study A study involving 20,000 children in China said Thursday that poor kids are far less likely to be nearsighted than their wealthier peers.
'Encouraging' Ebola drug results in Guinea: researchers For the first time since the west African Ebola outbreak began over a year ago, a clinical trial with a candidate treatment has yielded "encouraging" results, researchers announced Thursday.
New method to produce bone replacement implants for severely damaged skulls A biomedical engineering team based at the University of Sydney has developed a new low cost method for producing bone replacement implants for severely damaged skulls.
Researchers find new way to use electric fields to deliver cancer treatment A team of researchers has devised a new way to target tumors with cancer-fighting drugs, a discovery that may lead to clinical treatments for cancer patients.
Study identifies genetic variation in cellular stress A new Cornell study examines how genetic differences among individuals impact cellular stress, a first step in understanding how this stress response relates to human diseases, such as diabetes.
	Study links new genetic anomalies to breast cancer in African American families The "Jewels in our Genes" study, led by University at Buffalo researcher Heather Ochs-Balcom, has uncovered previously unknown segments of DNA shared by African American family members who have breast cancer.
Study suggests 33% of high school seniors support legalized marijuana New research from Journal of Psychoactive Drugs has found that 33 percent of High School Seniors support legalized marijuana and 25.6 percent believe marijuana should be considered a crime. As debate has swept the country—with legalization already passed in four states and Washington DC —this study focuses on a group with an exceptionally strong pull on the future.
	Text messages a new tool in the fight to prevent skin cancer Australians' love affair with mobile phones could save their life according to a joint QUT, Cancer Council Queensland and University of Queensland study using text messages to improve skin cancer prevention and promote sun protection.
	Seizures knock out brain arousal centers People with epilepsy who experience focal seizures sometimes remain mobile but are unable to hear or respond to their environment. Yale School of Medicine researchers have discovered a surprising explanation for this zoned-out state.
	New tool helps identify lung cancer patients who will respond to immune therapies A Yale-led team of researchers has developed a new assay, or investigative tool, to measure the anti-tumor immune activity in non-small cell lung cancer tumors that could lead to a more accurate determination of which patients will respond to immune therapy drugs. Findings from the study were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
	Britons aware of links between lifestyle and cancer, but action is lacking More Britons than ever are aware of the links between lifestyle and cancer risk, according to a survey carried out by an international cancer prevention charity.
	Consider changes to bulk billing carefully, study suggests Research into billing by GPs has found no association between whether patients pay and the time they spend with a doctor.
	Virologist hunts cryptic virus that may be responsible for a society-shattering disease in Central Africa In the Democratic Republic of Congo, they call it "epupuluga": a cluster of symptoms that affects children between the ages of 5 and 15. The children slip into epileptic seizures for several minutes, and then come out of the seizures with no memory of what's happened.
	Antipsychotic meds prompt zombie-like state among patients Interviews with community members who are taking antipsychotic medication for mental health problems have added to growing concerns about how the drugs are administered, their effectiveness against placebo and the severity of their side-effects.
	7 common symptoms of measles, and 1 pretty sure way to avoid it Measles is nothing to "sneeze at"—it can be deadly.
Demographic study suggests trouble for college-educated Indian women seeking eligible partners Marriage is an almost universal institution for men and women in India today. But by 2050, women could find it more difficult to find an eligible partner, particularly if they have been educated at university or college level, according to new research published in the journal, Demography.
	New biomarkers to spot pancreatic cancer early Pancreatic cancer could be diagnosed up to two years earlier by screening for two tumour markers found in blood, according to research published in Clinical Cancer Research.
	Next generation of dementia scientists to focus on lifestyle factors Scottish scientists investigating the causes of dementia will study how lifestyle factors impact on memory and brain degeneration as seen in dementia.
	Next generation of dementia scientists to explore genetic risk of Alzheimer's A gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 10 times will be the focus of a new research centre at the University of Sussex launched today (Thursday 5 February).
	Shuttling drugs across the blood-brain barrier The brain is protected by a barrier of cells that tightly regulates the transport of substances into this organ in order to prevent infection. The essential protective function of this barrier is also a red light for 98% of drug candidates for the treatment of the central nervous system. Today in Angewandte Chemie, scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) have presented a shuttle able to cross the blood-brain barrier and transport various substances into the brain. The team of chemists at IRB Barcelona is now studying its application for specific medical conditions. Together with clinical researchers, they are preparing treatments for glioblastoma—the most aggressive brain cancer in adults—, Friedreich's Ataxia—a hereditary neurodegenerative disease—, and a type of paediatric brain cancer.
Taking immunosuppressives, anti-cancer drugs may reactivate Hepatitis B Individuals previously infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) who receive chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment may be at risk of reactivating the disease according to a summary of report from the Emerging Trends Conference, "Reactivation of Hepatitis B," and published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Reactivation of HBV can be fatal and the study authors suggest routine screening of HBV in all patients prior to the start of treatment with immunosuppressives or anti-cancer drugs.
Parenting and depression study: Fathers are at risk, too In stressful family circumstances, parenthood sometimes take a bigger toll on fathers' mental health.
	Neurogeneticists harness immune cells to clear Alzheimer's-associated plaques New research from scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) shows that the body's immune system may be able to clear the brain of toxic plaque build-up that is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, reversing memory loss and brain cell damage.
Lyme disease costs up to $1.3 billion per year to treat, study finds Lyme disease, transmitted by a bite from a tick infected by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, had long been considered easy to treat, usually requiring a single doctor's visit and a few weeks of antibiotics for most people.
Study confirms accuracy of its NIFTY in nearly 147,000 pregnancies BGI has published a study tracking the clinical performance of its whole genome sequencing-based non-invasive prenatal test (the NIFTY test) in nearly 147,000 pregnancies, the largest such study to date. The results showed high sensitivity and specificity and no significant difference between high-risk and low-risk pregnant women.
Scientists discover a key pathway that protects cells against death by stress When it comes to protecting cells from death brought on by the calamities of environmental stress, the human body is particularly ingenious. From cellular components that suck up misfolded proteins to a vigilant immune system, the ways we protect our cells (and ourselves) are many and mysterious.
	MRI technique developed for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children Between 5 and 8 million children in the United States have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), yet most cases go undiagnosed. To help address this issue, researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technique to help clinicians and researchers better detect and evaluate NAFLD in children. The study is published Feb. 5 in Hepatology.
Researchers find link between microbiome, type 1 diabetes In the largest longitudinal study of the microbiome to date, researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the DIABIMMUNE Study Group have identified a connection between changes in gut microbiota and the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study, which followed infants who were genetically predisposed to the condition, found that onset for those who developed the disease was preceded by a drop in microbial diversity - including a disproportional decrease in the number of species known to promote health in the gut. These findings, published by Cell, Host & Microbe, could help pave the way for microbial-based diagnostic and therapeutic options for those with T1D.
Research team identifies link between inflammation and type 2 diabetes A Yale-led research team has identified the molecular mechanism by which insulin normally inhibits production of glucose by the liver and why this process stops working in patients with type 2 diabetes, leading to hyperglycemia.
	Human stem cells repair damage caused by radiation therapy for brain cancer in rats For patients with brain cancer, radiation is a powerful and potentially life-saving treatment, but it can also cause considerable and even permanent injury to the brain. Now, through preclinical experiments conducted in rats, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center researchers have developed a method to turn human stem cells into cells that are instructed to repair damage in the brain. Rats treated with the human cells regained cognitive and motor functions that were lost after brain irradiation. The findings are reported in the February 5 issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell.
	Malaria-in-a-dish paves the way for better treatments Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have engineered a way to use human liver cells, derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, to screen potential antimalarial drugs and vaccines for their ability to treat the liver stage of malaria infection. The approach may offer new opportunities for personalized antimalarial drug testing and the development of more effective individually tailored drugs to combat the disease, which causes more than 500,000 deaths worldwide each year.
	Acute psychological stress reduces ability to withstand physical pain Traffic slows to a crawl, then a stop. You are trapped in a bottleneck nightmare, and late for a meeting. The stress takes a toll on you psychologically - but your body is at risk as well, according to a Tel Aviv University researcher.
Salicylates, a class of NSAIDs, stop vestibular schwannomas growth Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology have demonstrated that salicylates, a class of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), reduced the proliferation and viability of cultured vestibular schwannoma cells that cause a sometimes lethal intracranial tumor that typically causes hearing loss and tinnitus.
	Overweight children may be at higher risk of oesophageal cancer as adults Overweight children may be at higher risk of oesophageal (gullet) cancer when they grow up than their slimmer friends, according to research published this week in the British Journal of Cancer.
Youth hockey brain imaging study suggests early marker for concussion damage James Hudziak, M.D., has two children who love ice hockey. His son skates for his college team and one of his daughters plays in high school.
	Scientists link aggressiveness of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia to genetic variability The genetic variability of a tumour could be a predictor for its aggressiveness: the greater the variability in gene expression, the more aggressive the tumour is likely to be. This is the hypothesis that the CNIO Structural Biology and Biocomputing Programme, led by Alfonso Valencia, is testing, after their findings on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), now published in the journal Genome Medicine.
New stats reveal almost half of the UK are unaware of link between diet and cancer development Surprising new statistics reveal that 41% of the British population are oblivious to the role that diet plays in the development of cancer - and even those with a family history of the disease are failing to consume potentially "cancer-preventing" compounds in their daily diet.
Scientists discover trigger for protective immune response to spinal cord injuries Hot on the heels of discovering a protective form of immune response to spinal cord injury, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have pinpointed the biological trigger for that response - a vital step toward being able to harness the body's defenses to improve treatment for spine injuries, brain trauma, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Medical marijuana for children with developmental and behavioral disorders As medical marijuana becomes increasingly accepted, there is growing interest in its use for children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral problems such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a review in the February Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
Pentagon study claimed Putin has Asperger's syndrome A Pentagon study from 2008 claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has Asperger's syndrome, giving him a need to exert "extreme control" when faced with crises, according to the report released Thursday.
Forever young: Meditation might slow the age-related loss of gray matter in the brain Since 1970, life expectancy around the world has risen dramatically, with people living more than 10 years longer. That's the good news.
	Why do new strains of HIV spread slowly Most HIV epidemics are still dominated by the first strain that entered a particular population. New research published in PLOS Computational Biology offers an explanation of why the global mixing of HIV variants is so slow.
Another breastfeeding benefit: Preparing baby's belly for solid food The moment of birth marks the beginning of a beautiful, lifelong relationship between a baby and the billions of microbes that will soon colonize his or her gastrointestinal tract.
	Device used in europe promising for refractory angina (HealthDay)—A stent-like device placed in the coronary sinus may benefit patients with refractory angina, according to a small clinical trial published in the Feb. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The Reducer device is already approved in Europe but not yet in the United States.
	Prehospital magnesium sulfate doesn't benefit stroke outcomes (HealthDay)—For patients with suspected stroke, prehospital magnesium sulfate therapy is safe but does not impact the degree of disability at 90 days, according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Meaning-centered group therapy beneficial in advanced cancer (HealthDay)—Meaning-centered group psychotherapy (MCGP) is effective for reducing psychological distress and improving spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Researchers identify predictors of awakening after acute coma (HealthDay)—For patients with acute coma, reversal and/or limitation of lateral brain displacement is associated with awakening, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Annals of Neurology.
	Early rehab doesn't increase adverse events post-CABG (HealthDay)—Early enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation does not increase major adverse event rates among patients who recently underwent open heart surgery, according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Complication rate low for CNRA lumbar epidural injections (HealthDay)—Complication rates for fluoroscopic-guided lumbar epidural steroid injections (LESIs) performed by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are similar to physician rates cited in the literature, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
	Intrauterine devices, implant contraception effective beyond FDA-approved use New research indicates that hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants remain highly effective one year beyond their approved duration of use, according to a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Drug-resistant bacteria lurk in subway stations, high school students discover Forget the five-million plus commuters and untold number of rats - many of the living things crowded into the New York City subway system are too small to see. An interest in the more menacing among these microbes led high school student Anya Dunaif, a participant in Rockefeller's Summer Science Research Program, to spend her vacation swabbing benches and turn styles beneath the city. Among her findings: bacteria impervious to two major antibiotics.
Signaling pathway helps protect healthy tissue from overly active immune responses Researchers have uncovered a pathway that's key for protecting healthy tissue from overly active immune responses. The findings, which are described in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), may help clinicians provide better treatments for patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases.
Sanofi profit soars on lower Lemtrada charge Sanofi SA says its net profit soared 26.3 percent in the fourth quarter thanks to lower charges against Lemtrada, its multiple sclerosis treatment.
	Avoiding injuries when playing sport Do you enjoy playing sport? Many of us start exercising at this time of year after worrying about overeating during the holiday season. The most important thing when trying to improve sporting ability or lose weight is to continue exercising. One of the things that stops us from keeping up with exercise is injuries. Below I will be introducing some of the global initiatives and the latest knowledge and methods for preventing injuries during sporting activity.
Older Australians feel vulnerable to emergency events A University of Adelaide researcher has for the first time revealed how prepared older South Australians feel when it comes to emergency events.
High student ignorance about sexual health issues increases multiple risks University students lack education in sexual and reproductive health by the time they start university. This is one of the results of doctoral thesis "Teaching strategies in Nursing for addressing sexuality, sexual health and reproductive health in adolescents and teenagers" performed by Dr. Manuel Antonio Velandia Mora. Maria Mercedes Rizo Baeza, one of the two directors of the thesis, said that students come to university with little knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and cases of sexually transmitted diseases among young people are increasing. More education in this field with an emphasis on prevention of STDs with barrier contraceptives (condoms) would be a solution.
	Head of FDA stepping down, chief scientist to take over (AP)—From food safety to tobacco and politically charged drug approvals, Margaret Hamburg reset the course of the embattled Food and Drug Administration, an agency that had often been seen as ineffective.
25 percent of homeless people surveyed in Toronto report vision problems Twenty-five per cent of homeless people surveyed in Toronto had vision problems up to and including blindness, four times higher than the rate of the overall population in North America, a new study by St. Michael's Hospital has found.
High-cost blood cancer drugs deliver high value Amid the growing debate about the high price of powerful new drugs in the United States, a recent analysis suggests that breakthrough therapies for blood cancers may, in many cases and with some important caveats, provide reasonable value for money spent. Researchers present this viewpoint, based upon a comprehensive analysis of published cost-effectiveness ratios, online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). The manuscript is being published as a Blood Forum article, a feature of the journal designed to present well-documented opinions on controversial topics and provide a sounding board for issues of importance to the science and practice of hematology.
IMF offers Ebola-hit countries $100 mn debt relief The International Monetary Fund announced Thursday $100 million in debt relief for the three West African countries struck hardest by the Ebola epidemic.
New approach to colorectal surgical care results in quicker recovery times and lower costs A new multidisciplinary approach to managing patients undergoing a colorectal operation results in shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and lower medical costs, according to research results published online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The study will appear in a print edition of the Journal this spring.
Patients with detectable PSA post-prostatectomy should receive more aggressive radiation therapy Prostate cancer patients with detectable prostate specific antigen (PSA) following radical prostatectomy should receive earlier, more aggressive radiation therapy treatment, according to a study published in the February 1, 2015 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). This study is a 10-year post-treatment analysis of the German ARO 96-02 trial, a prospective clinical trial that compared a wait-and-see approach versus an adjuvant radiation therapy approach for patients with node negative prostate cancer who had a prostatectomy.
Gap in US deaths narrows for blacks, whites with HIV (AP)—The gap appears to be closing between death rates for black and white Americans infected with the AIDS virus.
Uganda government under fire over health workers 'brain-drain' Uganda's government came in for fresh criticism Thursday over plans to send scores of qualified health workers to jobs in the Caribbean, with activists saying the controversial scheme was also riddled with corruption.
Puerto Rico declares flu epidemic; 1 dead, 140 hospitalized (AP)—Puerto Rico's health secretary has declared a flu epidemic in the U.S. territory that has temporarily shut down at least one school.
5 children at Illinois day care diagnosed with measles (AP)—Health officials say five children under age 1 who attend the same suburban Chicago day care have been diagnosed with measles.
	Perspective on dr. davidson: 'Be like mike' (HealthDay)—The tragic shooting of surgeon Michael Davidson can be used as an opportunity to find meaning in tragedy, according to a perspective piece published online Feb. 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Depth and rate of chest compressions during CPR impact survival in cardiac arrest The depth of chest compressions and the rate at which they were applied make a significant impact on survival and recovery of patients, a review of research by UT Southwestern Medical Center Emergency Medicine physicians shows.
Simple test detects increased risks in patients with acute kidney injury A simple test can help predict which patients with acute kidney injury will likely develop serious kidney problems and die in the hospital, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Using this test could help clinicians safeguard patients' health.
	Michelle Obama announces funding to fight childhood obesity (AP)—First lady Michelle Obama visited a school on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday to announce a $500 million donation funding the fight against childhood obesity.
Arkansas' 1st-in-the nation Medicaid expansion survives (AP)—Arkansas' first-in-the-nation program using federal funds to purchase private insurance for the poor survived another year after the state House reauthorized the program on Thursday, despite an influx of new Republican lawmakers elected on a vow to kill the hybrid Medicaid expansion.

Biology news

	Shade coffee is for the birds: But even in the Ethiopian home of Arabica, forests are needed too The conservation value of growing coffee under trees instead of on open farms is well known, but hasn't been studied much in Africa. So a University of Utah-led research team studied birds in the Ethiopian home of Arabica coffee and found that "shade coffee" farms are good for birds, but some species do best in forest.
	Researchers identify key hormone-transporting protein for plant fertility Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have identified a transporter protein at the heart of a number of plant processes associated with fertility and possibly aging.
	How tuna stay warm with cold hearts Scientists at The University of Manchester, working with colleagues at Stanford University in America, have discovered how prized bluefin tuna keep their hearts pumping during temperature changes that would stop a human heart. The research helps to answer important questions about how animals react to rapid temperature changes, knowledge that's becoming more essential as the earth warms.
	Researchers confirm that neonicotinoid insecticides impair bee's brains Research at the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee has confirmed that levels of neonicotinoid insecticides accepted to exist in agriculture cause both impairment of bumblebees' brain cells and subsequent poor performance by bee colonies.
	How did multicellular life evolve? Scientists are discovering ways in which single cells might have evolved traits that entrenched them into group behavior, paving the way for multicellular life. These discoveries could shed light on how complex extraterrestrial life might evolve on alien worlds.
	Science dates old dogs with new tricks Man's best friend has not been around for nearly as long as thought, according to a study Thursday that brings the emergence of modern dogs forward by some 15,000 years.
Evolution continues despite low mortality and fertility rates in the modern world Charles Darwin's theory on evolution still holds true despite lower mortality and fertility rates in the modern world, according to new research by the University of Sheffield.
After merger, chimpanzees learned new grunt for 'apple' Chimpanzees have special grunts for particular types of foods, and their fellow chimps know exactly what those calls mean. Now, by studying what happened after two separate groups of adult chimpanzees moved in together at the Edinburgh Zoo, researchers have made the surprising discovery that our primate cousins can change those referential grunts over time, to make them sound more like those of new peers.
	When scientists play with LEGO: A new creative version of pinned insect manipulator Scientists from the Natural History Museum London are facing the challenges of mass digitization of museum specimens by inventing a creative, functional and most importantly quite cheap way to capture old and fragile specimens.
	Tiny termites can hold back deserts by creating oases of plant life Termites might not top the list of humanity's favorite insects, but new research suggests that their large dirt mounds are crucial to stopping the spread of deserts into semi-arid ecosystems and agricultural lands. The results not only suggest that termite mounds could make these areas more resilient to climate change than previously thought, but could also inspire a change in how scientists determine the possible effects of climate change on ecosystems.
	Massively parallel sequencing technology for single-cell gene expression published A publication released today in the journal Science demonstrates a new, massively parallel technology to interrogate gene expression at the single-cell level using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Authors Christina Fan, Ph.D., Glenn Fu, Ph.D., and Stephen Fodor, Ph.D., from Cellular Research, Inc., describe the technology and report results from several gene expression studies of cells from the human hematopoietic system.
	British botanists find unknown 'warty' orchid species British botanists have found a previously unrecorded orchid in the mountains of Cambodia, they said Thursday, ahead of a major orchid show at London's Kew Gardens.
	Researchers produce first map of New York City subway system microbes The microbes that call the New York City subway system home are mostly harmless, but include samples of disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to drugs—and even DNA fragments associated with anthrax and Bubonic plague—according to a citywide microbiome map published today by Weill Cornell Medical College investigators.
	Brazil scientists fear golden mussel threat to Amazon River The world's mightiest waterway, the Amazon River, is threatened by the most diminutive of foes—a tiny mussel invading from China.
	1, 2, 3 octopuses: Divers conduct underwater census (AP)—To check on the health of the giant Pacific octopus population in Puget Sound, an unusual census takes place every year. Volunteer divers, enlisted by the Seattle Aquarium, take to Washington's inland waters to look for their eight-tentacle neighbors.
	What blind beetles can teach us about evolution Evolution is often perceived as being a "directional" or "adaptive" process. We often think of species evolving to become stronger or faster, or to have sharper teeth, for example. And we tend to see this as being inherently progressive.
	Scientists find potential way of controlling leaf blotch disease in wheat Scientists have found a genetic mechanism that could stop the spread of a "devastating" disease threatening wheat crops.
Improving genome editing with drugs One of the most exciting scientific advances made in recent years is CRISPR—the ability to precisely edit the genome of cells. However, although this method has incredible potential, the process is extremely inefficient. Fortunately, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered a way to enhance the efficiency of CRISPR with the introduction of a few key chemical compounds.
	Genetics lab unravels mystery killing at sea Observers on a NOAA Fisheries marine mammal survey some 200 miles off the coast of Central California had spotted the telltale signs of a killer whale attack through high-powered binoculars a few miles away. Frenzied swimming churned the ocean surface. Geysers of bloody water sprayed into the air. Hungry seabirds circled in search of leftovers.
	Emergency declared after Galapagos ship grounding Ecuador activated a state of emergency Wednesday at the famous Galapagos Islands, authorities said, a week after the stranding of a cargo ship loaded with supplies that included hazardous materials.
	Norwegian lemmings dress loudly and scream even louder to survive The conspicuous, bold colors of the Norwegian lemming's fur and its loud barks serve as warnings to predators that it is not a creature to be messed with. This ferocity makes it unique among small rodents. Research on the matter by Malte Andersson at the University of Göteborg in Sweden appears in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

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