Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 16

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 16, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Peering into building blocks of galaxies
- 'Shrinking bull's-eye' algorithm speeds up complex modeling from days to hours
- Best of Last Week – trapping light forever, turning paleontology on its head and a promising anti-aging drug
- Discovery of hidden earthquake presents challenge to earthquake early-warning systems
- Quantum computer coding in silicon now possible
- Team makes light-driven nanosubmarines
- Research team refrigerates liquids with a laser for the first time
- Beware, poker face: Automatic system spots micro-expressions
- A 'supergene' underlies genetic differences sexual behaviour in male ruff
- DNA from Inca boy sacrificed 500 years ago shows how humans spread to South America
- Fermi mission finds hints of gamma-ray cycle in an active galaxy
- Brain scans illuminate emotional response to sound
- Brushing up peptides boosts their potential as drugs
- Huawei shows super-fast battery charging at Japan event
- Male infertility might signal higher odds of testicular cancer

Astronomy & Space news

	Fermi mission finds hints of gamma-ray cycle in an active galaxy Astronomers using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have detected hints of periodic changes in the brightness of a so-called "active" galaxy, whose emissions are powered by a supersized black hole. If confirmed, the discovery would mark the first years-long cyclic gamma-ray emission ever detected from any galaxy, which could provide new insights into physical processes near the black hole.
	Peering into building blocks of galaxies (Phys.org)—When a giant cloud of molecular gas condenses, star clusters are born. It may sound simple but the formation of star clusters is a very complex process, not yet completely understood by scientists. By peering into this process we could get valuable information on the evolution of galaxies and improve our knowledge about large cosmic structures in the universe.
	Hubble views a lonely galaxy Only three local stars appear in this image, quartered by right-angled diffraction spikes. Everything besides them is a galaxy; floating like a swarm of microbes in a drop of water, and brought into view here not by a microscope, but by the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope.
	3-D visualisation redefines Milky Way's local architecture Astronomers have used modern techniques to visualise data from ESA's Hipparcos space astrometry mission in three dimensions. The treatment of the data has offered insights into the distribution of nearby stars and uncovered new groupings of stars in the solar neighbourhood, shedding light on the origins of the stars in Orion and calling into question the existence of the Gould Belt – an iconic ring-shaped structure of stars in the Milky Way. The results show the potential of 3D visualisation of the solar neighbourhood, an approach which is of particular relevance to ESA's Gaia mission which will map the Milky Way and Local Group in 3D with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy.
	We've got the beat: Astronomers discover a distant galaxy with a pulse Astronomers at Yale and Harvard have found a galaxy with a heartbeat—and they've taken its pulse.
	Space station suffers short circuit, power system degraded The International Space Station has taken a power hit, and spacewalking repairs may be needed. First, though, a replacement part must be delivered via rocket.
	What is interplanetary dust and can it spread the ingredients of life? NASA recently reported that a cloud of dust was surrounding Mars high above its atmosphere. The authors of the study ruled out Mars itself and its moons Phobos and Deimos as the sources of the dust and concluded that it must come from a larger dust cloud floating around between the planets in our solar system.
The "omics" of space travel The human body is incredibly complex. Every part of us—from our bones to our blood cells—is subject to a host of chemical reactions and molecular interactions that, without our conscious effort, keep us alive.
	Cygnus freighter fueled and loaded to resume American cargo launches to space station The largest and most advanced version of the privately developed Cygnus cargo freighter ever built by Orbital ATK is fueled, loaded and ready to go to orbit – signifying a critical turning point towards resuming American commercial cargo launches to the space station for NASA that are critical to keep it functioning.
	'Explody' Taurid meteors produce persistent trains "The landscape was just at the verge of trying to silently explode with vibrant colors of red, gold and oranges," said photographer Brad Goldpaint as he described the autumn view during his hike to Deadfall Basin in California to set up his cameras to try and capture a few Taurid meteors.
	Spectacular breakup of WT1190F seen by airborne astronomers Clouds hampered observations from the ground in Sri Lanka during the re-entry of WT1190F overnight, but a team of astronomers captured spectacular images of the object from a high-flying plane over the Indian Ocean very close to the predicted time of arrival.
	Researchers to study thermonuclear reaction rates to determine how much of certain elements exploding stars can produce We are all made from stars. And that's not just a beautiful metaphor.
	James Webb Space Telescope 'wings' successfully deployed Recently inside the clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, engineers successfully completed two deployments for the James Webb Space Telescope's "wings" or side portions of the backplane structure that fold up. The wings and telescope structure are essential because they make up the telescope's carbon fiber framework which will hold all 18 of the telescope's mirrors and the tower for the primary mirror.
Video: Lisa Pathfinder mission overview LISA Pathfinder will pave the way for future missions by testing in flight the very concept of gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy.
	Why aren't there eclipses every month? If the sun, Earth and moon are lined up, shouldn't we get a lunar and solar eclipse every month? Clearly, we don't, but why not?

Technology news

	Beware, poker face: Automatic system spots micro-expressions Humans have a tough enough time figuring out one another. We actually use two languages to communicate, through words and through facial expressions and sometimes they don't match.
	'Shrinking bull's-eye' algorithm speeds up complex modeling from days to hours To work with computational models is to work in a world of unknowns: Models that simulate complex physical processes—from Earth's changing climate to the performance of hypersonic combustion engines—are staggeringly complex, sometimes incorporating hundreds of parameters, each of which describes a piece of the larger process.
	Review: YouTube Music keeps the video groove going If you were going to reinvent MTV for a mobile generation, you'd probably come up with something like YouTube Music. It's a video-first music service that also plays in the background like you'd expect a music app to do. That sets it apart from other music apps out there, many of which give you a choice of videos or songs, but not interchangeably.
	Human roadblock for Japanese firms developing autonomous cars Japanese car manufacturers will have to convince the public that letting go of the wheel in a self-driving car is safe, while also dealing with the biggest threat to the cars' security: the humans using them.
	Heart rate tracking with the use of smartphone in pocket An MIT group project called BioPhone is doing research that involves biological signals from a smartphone's accelerometer. In their approach, motion sensors would recover heart and breathing rates of the users during stationary positions and activities such as listening on the phone.
	Google antsy as California slow on self-driving car rules Hustling to bring cars that drive themselves to a road near you, Google finds itself somewhere that has frustrated many before: Waiting on the Department of Motor Vehicles.
	A program that captions your photos Two researchers at Idiap, a research institute in Martigny that is affiliated with EPFL, developed an algorithm that – unlike systems recently unveiled by Google and Microsoft – can describe an image without having to pull up captions that it has already learned. To do this, the researchers used a program capable of making vector representations of images and captions based on an analysis of caption syntax.
	Researchers develop system to control information leaks from smartphone apps If you've used the fitness-tracking app Map MyRun, there's a chance that your password has been leaked.
	Huawei shows super-fast battery charging at Japan event Batteries that charge in minutes, the very concept is an attention-grabber. Huawei believes it has taken a real step forward and has videos to demonstrate its successful experiments with super-fast battery charging.
Facebook sets up safety check for Paris friends Facebook launched a check-in feature to let people know that friends in Paris were safe after a series of bombings and shootings in the French capital killed at least 120 people on Friday.
	French search for friends, shelter online after Paris attacks Survivors of the Paris attacks seeking shelter and people worried about friends or families all took to social media overnight following a wave of attacks in the French capital that killed 128.
	Xbox One update plays up the 'game' part of console Microsoft is giving the Xbox One a new look as the company tries to focus its video-game console on its main function: gaming.
Snapchat to charge 99 cents each for visual effects Snapchat has another way to make money from its disappearing-message app: pay up, and the fun stuff won't disappear.
As bitcoin's value surges, backers say the currency may soon go mainstream Long off the public radar, digital payment network bitcoin has been gaining momentum this fall, bolstering the views of some advocates that bitcoins will be a mainstream currency worldwide in the not-too-distant future.
Coming set-top box mandate may help break pay TV firms' hold over viewers That unsightly and costly metal box that funnels cable or satellite service into your TV might be going the way of the black rotary-dial telephone - in the technology trash heap.
	Review: New Apple TV has promise, but doesn't reach it yet When Apple unveiled its new digital set-top box in June, I wrote that Apple TV had the potential to revolutionize the way we use our televisions, transforming the simple boob tube into a computing device through which we could do a lot more than watch videos or play games.
Netflix for live, local TV? It could happen A couple of San Diego entrepreneurs, former executives from the wireless and cable TV industries, believe they can accomplish what might seem impossible: deliver live, local broadcast television - not bundled in a cable package - to any device with a web browser at an affordable price.
Review: Lost something? Tile can help you find it I wish I had all the time back that I've wasted looking for my keys.
	Review: 4K streaming no big advantage for Roku 4 Ultra-high definition video is the big new thing in television, and Roku is hoping to cash in on the trend.
	Coal not going away anytime soon despite renewables push Coal: Can't live with it and can't live without it—at least not yet.
	US startup challenges Japan to giant robot battle They've been popularized in movies, television and video games, but giant fighting robots still haven't left the realm of science fiction. That will soon change.
	Engineers give a girl a hand Sophie is eight years old. Her favorite animal is the cheetah. Her career aspirations, in no particular order, include: singer, preschool teacher, mother, President of the United States, veterinarian, environmentalist, and photographer or videographer. Sophie also has an arch nemesis: the monkey bars.
Quantum computing simulator offers a sneak peek into future of computing Despite all the advances in computing power, scientists say there are still problems that are so complex it would take a regular computer the lifetime of the universe to solve them.
	The promise and perils of predictive policing based on big data Police departments, like everyone else, would like to be more effective while spending less. Given the tremendous attention to big data in recent years, and the value it has provided in fields ranging from astronomy to medicine, it should be no surprise that police departments are using data analysis to inform deployment of scarce resources. Enter the era of what is called "predictive policing."
	New microscopy technology may help surgeons save more lives Biomedical engineers and neurosurgeons at the University of Arizona develop augmented microscopy technology to help surgeons operate with greater precision and reduced risk of harming patients.
	New tech helps handlers monitor health, well-being of guide dogs Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a device that allows people who are blind to monitor their guide dogs, in order to keep tabs on the health and well-being of their canine companions.
	Pandora boosts streaming music arsenal with Rdio assets Streaming music service Pandora announced Monday it is buying "key assets" from Rdio to bolster its position against Apple, Spotify and other rivals.
	Here we go again: Paris attacks may renew encryption debate The deadly attacks in Paris may soon reopen the debate over whether—and how—tech companies should let governments bypass the data scrambling that shields everyday commerce and daily digital life.
FAA tells drone owners to skip registration firms The government says requirements to register drones will be simple enough that owners don't need to pay a "drone registration" firm to do it for them.
	New supercomputer JURECA goes into operation "Eureka!" is what Archimedes is supposed to have exclaimed after having made his extraordinary discovery in the bath tub. In reference to this event, the new supercomputer developed by Forschungszentrum Juelich together with the Russian manufacturer T-Platforms and the HPC software and support company ParTec is called JURECA. With its enormous computing power of 2.2 quadrillion operations per second, it is hoped to provide researchers from all over Germany with numerous 'Eureka' moments by permitting the investigation of complex issues in a multitude of fields.
	Anonymous hackers declare war on IS The Anonymous internet hacking network declared war on the Islamic State group in a Youtube video Monday, vowing vengeance for attacks in Paris that left 129 dead and hundreds injured.
	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists win five R&D 100 awards Technologies that impact cyber security, increase our ability to detect trace amounts of chemicals, convert sewage into fuel, view energy processes under real-world conditions and forecast future electric needs are among the newest R&D 100 award winners. R&D Magazine honored five advancements developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at an event in Las Vegas on Nov. 13.

Medicine & Health news

	One-step test for hepatitis C virus infection developed UC Irvine Health researchers have developed a cost-effective one-step test that screens, detects and confirms hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Dr. Ke-Qin Hu, director of hepatology services, will present findings at the Annual Meeting of American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) in San Francisco, Nov. 14-16. Current blood-based HCV testing requires two steps and can be expensive, inconvenient and is not widely available or affordable globally.
	Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a stem cell disease A new study from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa is poised to completely change our understanding of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and pave the way for far more effective treatments.
How depleting the gut microbiota protects from obesity In the past few years, research on gut microbiota (that is, all microorganisms, mainly bacteria, inhabiting our gut) has started to unravel its tremendous role in our body, and how it symbiotically affects the functioning of our organs. In particular, microbiota has also an impact on the way calories are absorbed and how fat cells develop. By studying mice without microbiota, scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland, were able to demonstrate how the absence of microbiota has a remarkable effect against obesity. Indeed, it triggers a surprising metabolic mechanism: white fat cells - which in excess cause obesity and insulin resistance - are transformed into cells similar to brown fat (they are called "beige fat"), that protects the body against excess weight and its damaging consequences. This discovery, published in Nature Medicine, could open the door to completely new anti-obesity treatme! nts.
	Researchers decode patterns that make our brains human The human brain may be the most complex piece of organized matter in the known universe, but Allen Institute researchers have begun to unravel the genetic code underlying its function. Research published this month in Nature Neuroscience identified a surprisingly small set of molecular patterns that dominate gene expression in the human brain and appear to be common to all individuals, providing key insights into the core of the genetic code that makes our brains distinctly human.
	Breakthrough in the treatment of HIV—researchers develop prototype vaccine vector A team of scientists at Royal Holloway, led by Professor George Dickson, and as part of the UK HIV Vaccine Consortium, led by Professor Jonathon Weber at Imperial College London, has developed a prototype HIV vaccine vector using a similar approach to that used for a vaccination for Ebola and Malaria.
	Using Apple HealthKit to care for patients with Type 1 diabetes Lori Atkins' 16-year-old son, Blake, has Type 1 diabetes, and she used to track his blood-sugar readings by hand.
	Researchers find new way to force stem cells to become bone cells Imagine you have a bone fracture or a hip replacement, and you need bone to form, but you heal slowly – a common fact of life for older people. Instead of forming bone, you could form fat. Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine may have found a way to tip the scale in favor of bone formation. They used cytochalasin D, a naturally occurring substance found in mold, as a proxy to alter gene expression in the nuclei of mesenchymal stem cells to force them to become osteoblasts (bone cells).
	Researchers find way to make resistant brain cancer cells sensitive to treatment Scientists from the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and clinicians from Carilion Clinic have discovered how to sensitize drug-resistant human glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy.
	Male infertility might signal higher odds of testicular cancer (HealthDay)—Men with reduced fertility could be at increased risk for testicular cancer, according to a new study.
	Brain scans illuminate emotional response to sound Noisy gymnasiums, restaurants where conversations are nearly impossible and concert halls less than perfect for the music are all acoustical problems. Now Penn State acoustical engineers are using functional MRI to better understand room acoustics and the emotions they can cause.
	Team identifies emergency response system for blood formation Scientists at the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have determined how the body responds during times of emergency when it needs more blood cells. In a study published in Nature, researchers report that when tissue damage occurs, in times of excessive bleeding, or during pregnancy, a secondary, emergency blood-formation system is activated in the spleen.
	Modulating brain's stress circuity might prevent Alzheimer's disease In a novel animal study design that mimicked human clinical trials, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that long-term treatment using a small molecule drug that reduces activity of the brain's stress circuitry significantly reduces Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and prevents onset of cognitive impairment in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative condition.
	Lucentis proves effective against proliferative diabetic retinopathy A clinical trial among more than 300 patients has found that the drug ranibizumab (Lucentis) is highly effective in treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a complication of diabetes that can severely damage eyesight. The results, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, demonstrate the first major therapy advance for the condition in nearly 40 years.
Diabetes dilemma: Most Europeans unsure how to reduce type 2 diabetes risk, research finds Despite greater access to health information than ever before, new research illustrates many people remain confused about diet and lifestyle messages related to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research also revealed health awareness in relation to type 2 diabetes varies considerably across Europe and identified a significant gap between what Europeans know they should do to reduce their risk, and what they actually manage to achieve.
	Cesarean rate not significantly impacted in induction study (HealthDay)—For healthy nulliparous women with a Bishop score of 5 or less, elective induction did not significantly impact the rate of cesarean delivery compared with expectant management, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Low FODMAP diet cuts irritable bowel syndrome symptoms (HealthDay)—A diet with reduced content of fermentable short-chain carbohydrates (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides, and polyols [FODMAPs]) reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with reductions similar to those seen for traditional dietary advice, according to a study published in the November issue of Gastroenterology.
Five things young adults should know about buying health insurance Imagine what you could do with $2,000. If you're between 18 and 34, you might travel somewhere fun. Maybe buy a big TV. But would you buy health insurance?
FDA to review fortifying corn flour with folic acid to prevent birth defects The federal Food and Drug Administration has agreed to review a long-delayed petition to fortify corn masa flour with folic acid, a move advocates say is crucial to preventing devastating birth defects like those seen in an ongoing cluster of cases in Washington state and other cases in the nation's growing Hispanic population.
Team of sleuths stalks cancer Three men hunch over a table, scrutinizing a document. Maps paper the walls around them.
	Programmable electronic glasses provide children effective, digital lazy eye treatment A new study on lazy eye found that programmable electronic glasses help improve vision in children just as well as the more traditional treatment using eye patches. This "digital patch" is the first new effective treatment for lazy eye in half a century. Results from the first U.S. trial of this device will be presented at AAO 2015, the 119th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
	Child with drug-resistant tuberculosis successfully treated Johns Hopkins Children's Center specialists report they have successfully treated and put in remission a 2-year-old, now age 5, with a highly virulent form of tuberculosis known as XDR TB, or extensively drug-resistant TB. The case, researchers say, provides the first detailed account of a young child in the United States diagnosed and treated for XDR TB.
Improved gene therapy is a promising candidate for cystic fibrosis treatment An improved gene therapy treatment can cure mice with cystic fibrosis (CF). Cell cultures from CF patients, too, respond well to the treatment. Those are the encouraging results of a study presented by the Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy at KU Leuven, Belgium.
New guideline for treating acne in children and adults A new guideline aims to help Canadian physicians, nurses and pharmacists treat children and adults with acne, a disease that can severely affect quality of life. The guideline, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), updates the previous guidance published 15 years ago.
Antibiotic prescriptions increased in study to promote better prescribing for UTIs An initiative to improve prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs) resulted in better-quality prescribing of first-line antibiotics, although the number of prescriptions also increased, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Kids with Medicaid, CHIP get more preventive care than those with private insurance Children insured by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were more likely to get preventive medical and dental care than privately insured children in a study that compared access and use of health care for children in households with low to moderate incomes, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection integrated with community health services The rate of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was extremely low despite a high incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a study where pre-exposure antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection was dispensed at clinics in three metropolitan areas heavily affected by HIV, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Virtual reality could help people with autism learn social skills and develop employment opportunities Virtual reality technologies (VRTs) using head-mounted displays (HMDs) could help people with autism develop social skills and confidence according to a researcher from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).
Obesity protects dialysis patients with chronic inflammation A high body mass index (BMI) is linked to longer survival terms for several chronic serious diseases. A large European epidemiological study now shows that the protective effect does not apply to all patients with a high BMI. The findings, which are published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, indicate that chronic inflammation plays an important part in this so-called obesity paradox.
	Protein helps protect tissues from damage after a heart attack University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have observed levels of HAX-1, an anti-cell death protein, drop significantly in mice after a heart attack and during heart failure resulting in cardiac cells dying at a higher than normal rate.
	How do you get into downtown Cell City? It's kinda complicated Think of a cell as a city, a metropolis both constructed of and populated by proteins.
	10 percent of diabetes cases among adults aged 50+ are undiagnosed New research shows that 10% of adults aged 50 and over in Ireland, the equivalent to 120,000 older adults, have type 2 diabetes, rising to 16% in those aged 80 and over. The study from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), led by Trinity College Dublin further reveals that one in ten cases of the disease are undiagnosed in this population. A further 5.5% of the older population have pre-diabetes, placing them at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
	Study finds no threshold for safe gambling A new study into problem gambling and gambling addiction has found there is no safe level of gambling.
	Mental health risk for new dads Researchers have found anxiety around the arrival of a new baby is just as common as postnatal depression, and the risks for men are nearly as high as for women.
New findings in Alzheimers research Current Alzheimer's research focuses on the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is responsible for the formation of destructive plaques in the brain. Researchers from Bochum have now demonstrated that APP, in addition to forming those plaques, might also affect the development of Alzheimer's disease via another mechanism.
	Teens and parents agree: Electronic cigarettes need restrictions As electronic cigarette use skyrockets among youth, even teens agree with parents that what's known as "vaping" needs stricter rules.
Fit older adults are more active "We found that fitness level had the strongest association with physical activity, followed by gender and season. This means that fit older adults were more active than the unfit, females were more active than males and physical activity was higher in the warmer months of the year. In addition we found that higher education was associated with higher physical activity for males, but not for females. Among other interesting results, we found that the social environmental correlates, such as social support and living situation, were not associated with physical activity among the elderly", says the two first authors of the study, Hallgeir Viken and Nils Petter Aspvik, PhD candidates at NTNU.
	'Dangerously high' antibiotic resistance levels worldwide: WHO (Update) Antibiotic resistance, which can turn common ailments into killers, has reached dangerous levels globally, the World Health Organization warned Monday, saying widespread misunderstandings about the problem was fuelling the risk.
	Pediatricians' group urges cuts in antibiotic use in livestock (HealthDay)—Overuse of antibiotics in farm animals poses a real health risk to children, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns in a new report.
	Breast-feeding linked to reduced risk of preemie eye problem (HealthDay)—Breast-feeding a premature infant may help reduce the risk of a serious eye problem known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), new research suggests.
Curing cataracts without surgery? Cataracts are very common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20.5 million Americans age 40 and over have them. Cataracts slowly cloud your vision, and people struggling with them say it's like trying to look through a frosted window. Cataracts make it difficult to read or drive a car, especially at night.
	Using a weight-loss app? Study of millennials says it doesn't help much Young American adults own smartphones at a higher rate than any other age group. Researchers from Duke University wanted to see if capitalizing on that smartphone usage with a low-cost weight-loss app might help the 35 percent of young adults in the U.S. who are overweight or obese.
	Alzheimer's patients' health care costs higher already before diagnosis The health care costs of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) start to increase already one year before the diagnosis, shows a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The differences in the health care costs between AD patients and non-AD patients were the greatest during six months following the diagnosis, with AD patients having 5,088 euros higher health care costs per person-year. After the first six months, the differences evened out. Two years after the diagnosis, the health care costs of AD patients stabilised at a level two times higher than that of non-AD patients.
	Moderate coffee drinking may lower risk of premature death People who drink about three to five cups of coffee a day may be less likely to die prematurely from some illnesses than those who don't drink or drink less coffee, according to a new study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers and colleagues. Drinkers of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee saw benefits, including a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, type 2 diabetes, and suicide.
Lowering body temperature increases survival, brain function in cardiac arrest patients with non-shockable heart rhythms Lowering the body's temperature of cardiac arrest patients with "non-shockable" heart rhythms increases survival rates and brain function, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Thrombosis during sepsis is a consequence of protective host immune responses Researchers from the University of Birmingham have, for the first time, identified how Salmonella infections that have spread to our blood and organs can lead to life-threatening thrombosis.
	Study finds surprising links between bullying and eating disorders Being bullied in childhood has been associated with increased risk for anxiety, depression and even eating disorders. But according to new research, it's not only the victims who could be at risk psychologically, but also the bullies themselves.
	Transplant gives new face, scalp to burned firefighter A volunteer firefighter badly burned in a 2001 blaze has received the most extensive face transplant ever, covering his skull and much of his neck, a New York hospital announced Monday.
Lung transplant criteria biased against shorter patients Short people have several health advantages over tall people, including lower risk for cancer and heart disease, and longer life expectancy. But there's at least one health-related downside to being small: the odds of getting a lung transplant are considerably lower.
	Studies show China continues to lag in effective tobacco control Efforts over the past seven years to reduce tobacco use in China have been strikingly ineffective and leave tobacco use a top threat to the health and economic well-being of the world's largest country, according to research findings by the University of Waterloo's International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project).
	Failing sense of smell might be Alzheimer's warning (HealthDay)—Losing your sense of smell may mark the start of memory problems and possibly Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.
	Tick bites implicated in meat allergy in japanese study (HealthDay)—Tick bites can induce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal), a major IgE-binding epitope on red meat allergens, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in Allergy.
	Transitional care interventions cut risk of readmission in CHF (HealthDay)—For patients with congestive heart failure, transitional care interventions (TCIs), especially high-intensity TCIs, are effective for reducing the risks of readmission and emergency department visits, according to a review published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Primary aldosteronism screen cost-effective in resistant HTN (HealthDay)—For patients with resistant hypertension (RH), computed tomography (CT) scanning followed by adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a cost-effective screen for primary aldosteronism (PA), according to a study published online Nov. 10 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	Increased dwell time doesn't raise infection risk for PICCs (HealthDay)—Infants with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) do not have increased risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) with increased dwell time, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in Pediatrics.
	Accessory breast described in left inframammary fold (HealthDay)—A case of a woman with an accessory breast in the inframammary fold is described online Nov. 5 in BMJ Case Reports.
	Risk of fractures reduced in polycystic ovary syndrome (HealthDay)—The risk of fractures is reduced in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a study published online Nov. 6 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Research shows innovative approach serves health care consumers over long term Mailing yearly stool kits—an alternative to the often-dreaded colonoscopy—has helped Group Health to boost rates of lifesaving screening for colon cancer, according to new research from Group Health Research Institute.
	Safe spaces play important role in community-based HIV prevention, research finds The creation and sustainment of "safe spaces" may play a critical role in community-based HIV prevention efforts by providing social support and reducing environmental barriers for vulnerable populations, a new study from an Oregon State University researcher has found.
Overweight men just as likely as overweight women to face discrimination Men who are overweight are just as likely as overweight women to experience interpersonal discrimination when applying for a job or shopping at retail stores, according to new research from Rice University and the University of North Carolina, Charlotte (UNCC).
New study on patterns of electronic cigarette use among adults in the US Adding to a growing body of research on patterns of e-cigarette use, researchers from Rutgers School of Public Health and the Steven A. Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Truth Initiative have found evidence that among U.S. adults, some recent cigarette quitters may have done so with the assistance of electronic cigarettes. The research informs an ongoing debate as to whether e-cigarettes are effective aids for smoking cessation, promote uptake by non-tobacco users, discourage cessation via dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, or encourage relapse to cigarette use among former smokers.
A new target for immuno-oncology therapies By studying a type of immune cells, a team of researchers at the IRCM led by André Veillette, MD, identified the mechanism of action for a new target for novel immune-oncology treatments. Their discovery is published today in the print edition of the scientific journal the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Impact of high-fat diet on red blood cells may cause cardiovascular disease University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have discovered the negative impact a high fat diet has on red blood cells and how these cells, in turn, promote the development of cardiovascular disease.
	Study sheds light on why parasite makes TB infections worse Scientists have shown how a parasitic worm infection common in the developing world increases susceptibility to tuberculosis. The study demonstrated that treating the parasite reduces lung damage seen in mice that also are infected with tuberculosis, thereby eliminating the vulnerability to tuberculosis (TB) that the parasite is known to cause.
	Yoga may lessen side effects in men undergoing prostate cancer treatment Men with prostate cancer who are undergoing radiation therapy can benefit from yoga, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported at the Society of Integrative Oncology's 12th International Conference.
Research points to why some colorectal cancers recur after treatment Cetuximab, marketed as Erbitux, is one of the key therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer. Yet the cancer still returns in some patients, shortening overall survival.
	Regenerative medicine speeds healing of eye tissue following surgery A new regenerative medicine can heal the front of the eye in as little as two days after surgery by stimulating faster tissue repair, according to a new study. The drug also appears to relieve eye pain, burning, and light sensitivity following surgery. These findings by researchers in Turkey are being presented today at AAO 2015, the 119th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The results suggest that this compound could help millions of patients who undergo corneal transplants and refractive surgery each year heal faster with less discomfort.
FDA approves new therapy option for lung cancer patients who develop resistance to early generation EGFR inhibitors The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to grant accelerated approval for osimertinib (Tagrisso), an oral medication for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (T790M) and following progression after previous EGFR inhibitor therapies.
Johnson & Johnson multiple myeloma drug wins accelerated OK A Johnson & Johnson drug won Food and Drug Administration approval Monday for treating the incurable blood cancer multiple myeloma in patients who've failed prior therapies and have few options left.
	AMA: Pot use in pregnancy may pose risks, warnings needed (Update) Warning: Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding poses potential harms.
Adverse trends in mental health linked to disability assessments A National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded study by public health experts from the University of Liverpool has found that the programme of reassessing people on disability benefits may have had an adverse effect on the mental health of claimants.
	Falls and brawls top list of causes for eye injuries in US Falling and fighting top the list of major causes of eye injuries resulting in hospitalization over a 10-year period, according to research presented today at AAO 2015, the 119th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Falling was the No. 1 cause of eye injuries overall and accounted for more than 8,425 hospitalizations. Researchers also found that the cost to treat eye injuries at hospitals rose by 62 percent during that period and now exceeds $20,000 per injury.
Conjoined twins die in Bangladesh Conjoined twin girls have died in Bangladesh less than a week after they were born, the hospital treating them said Monday.
	The freedom to roam for people with dementia The debilitating effect of dementia on lifestyle is well-documented, not least relating to the ability and confidence of those with the condition to make their way around.
Patient knowledge is critical for solving hospital bed crisis The search for a solution to 'unnecessary' hospital admissions of older people has been impeded by incomplete evidence that omits the patient's experience.
Acting sick: Fake patients help teach medical students The "patients" wear hospital gowns, are poked and prodded and quizzed on their ailments.
Use rectal thermometer for accurate assessment of body temperature Evidence shows that peripheral thermometers, or those that can be used orally or under the arm, have poor accuracy compared with central thermometers, or those that can be used rectally or at other intravascular sites. The systematic evidence review and meta-analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Responding to 'C. diff'—concerted action needed to control health care-related infection Appropriate use of antibiotics is a critical step toward controlling the ongoing epidemic of health care-related Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), according to a special article in the November issue of Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice.
Gene variant may increase risk of liver disease in obese youth Researchers have found that a genetic variant is linked with an increased risk of fatty liver disease in obese youth; however, children with the variant tend to have lower total and LDL cholesterol levels.
Van Andel Research Institute expands into new areas of Parkinson's research Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) is continuing the expansion of its neurodegenerative disease research program, which aims to answer fundamental questions about diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, with the addition of two outstanding scientists.
Medicare launches major payment shift for hip, knee surgery Medicare is launching a major shift in how it pays for hip and knee replacements. The goal: improve quality and control costs.

Biology news

	A 'supergene' underlies genetic differences sexual behaviour in male ruff The ruff is a Eurasian shorebird that has a spectacular lekking behaviour where highly ornamented males compete for females. Now two groups report that males with alternative reproductive strategies carry a chromosomal rearrangement that has been maintained as a balanced genetic polymorphism for about 4 million years.
Gene drive reversibility introduces new layer of biosafety In parallel with their development of the first synthetic gene drives - which greatly increase the chance a specific gene will be passed on to all offspring - George Church, Ph.D., and Kevin Esvelt, Ph.D., helped pioneer proactive biosafety measures to ensure that gene drives are investigated effectively and safely in confined laboratory experiments. They envision that synthetic gene drives designed using an RNA-guided gene editing system known as CRISPR-Cas9 - which works like a pair of molecular scissors to precisely cut or edit DNA - could one day be used outside of the lab to prevent transmission of deadly insect and animal-borne diseases and eradicate invasive species that threaten the ecosystem and agriculture.
	Half the world's natural history specimens may have the wrong name As many as 50% of all natural history specimens held in the world's museums could be wrongly named, according to a new study by researchers from Oxford University and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
	Bats use weighty wings to land upside down Compared to birds and insects, bats have heavy wings for their body size. Those comparatively cumbersome flappers might seem a detriment to maneuverability, but new research shows that bats' extra wing mass makes possible a quintessential bit of aerobatics: the ability to land upside down.
	Nature and nurture: Human brains evolved to be more responsive to environmental influences Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, but what is it about the human brain that makes us so different? Researchers at the George Washington University may have unearthed another piece of the puzzle. In a study published on Nov. 16, scientists discovered that human brains exhibit more plasticity, propensity to be modeled by the environment, than chimpanzee brains and that this may have accounted for part of human evolution.
	Researchers sequence genomes of parasite that is actually a 'micro jellyfish' It's a shocking discovery that may redefine how scientists interpret what it means to be an animal.
	Mysteries of bony fish genome evolution As the 20th-century novelist Joseph Conrad famously wrote, "It's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes, I suppose," and Nature is very busy, so she makes lots of them. But as a genius, she can use them to advantage. Take for example whole genome duplication—an error in DNA replication, or mating between different species, that doubles the number of chromosomes, leading to a duplication of the vast majority of genes. Such grand mistakes turn out to be among the major forces accelerating evolution.
	'Orphan gene' may have potential to boost protein value of crops A recently published study from two Iowa State University scientists shows that a gene found only in a single plant species can increase protein content when introduced into staple crops.
	Researchers use computer models to learn about ice age survivor species Researchers have found that the extinction of North America's megafauna, such as large mammal species including mammoths and saber toothed cats, dramatically changed how species interacted after the end of last ice age, the Pleistocene, some 11,000 years ago.
	Large-scale modeling shows confinement effects on cell macromolecules Using large-scale computer modeling, researchers have shown the effects of confinement on macromolecules inside cells—and taken the first steps toward simulating a living cell, a capability that could allow them to ask 'what-if' questions impossible to ask in real organisms.
	High yield crops a step closer in light of photosynthesis discovery Crops with improved yields could more easily become a reality, thanks to a development by scientists.
	Plant metabolic protein tailored for nighttime growth Everyone who took high school biology learned that photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae and select bacteria transform the Sun's energy into chemical energy during the daytime. But these photosynthetic organisms activate other biochemical pathways at night, when they generate energy by breaking down the sugars, starches, and oils that they created during the day. New work that focused on this nighttime growth found a protein that is necessary for it to occur and, surprisingly, the role of this protein was linked to the construction of the plant's cellular membranes. It is published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Changes in metabolites can regulate earliest stages of development Changes in cellular metabolites have been shown to regulate embryonic stem cell development at the earliest stages of life. Metabolites are simple compounds generated during life-sustaining chemical activities in cells.
	RNA-based drugs give more control over gene editing In just the past few years, researchers have found a way to use a naturally occurring bacterial system known as CRISPR/Cas9 to inactivate or correct specific genes in any organism. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing activity runs continuously, though, leading to risk of additional editing at unwanted sites. Now, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Ludwig Cancer Research and Isis Pharmaceuticals demonstrate a commercially feasible way to use RNA to turn the CRISPR-Cas9 system on and off as desired—permanently editing a gene, but only temporarily activating CRISPR-Cas9. The study is published November 16 by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Scientists uncover re-evolution of disruptive camouflage in horned praying mantises A scientist from The Cleveland Museum of Natural History led research that revised the horned praying mantis group and traced the evolution of its distinctive camouflage features. Dr. Gavin Svenson and his colleagues identified a new genus and new tribe of praying mantis and discovered that disruptive camouflage evolved twice within the group. The second, more recent, occasion occurred after the re-evolution of a special leg lobe that disguises the body profile to help the insect hide from predators. The research was published Nov. 16, 2015 online in the journal Systematic Entomology.
Ohio zoo staff cares for newborn polar bear; second cub died The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium says a polar bear gave birth to a pair of cubs, and though only one survived, staff are "cautiously optimistic" about its health.
EPA bans sale of pesticide that's toxic to honeybees It's the end of the line for sulfoxaflor, a pesticide used on a wide variety of produce, but that has been found to be toxic to honeybees that are crucial to pollination of crops.
Future uncertain for rare white deer at former weapons site Hundreds of ghostly white deer roaming among overgrown munitions bunkers at a sprawling former Army weapons depot face an uncertain future after living and breeding largely undisturbed since the middle of last century.
	Can sorghum crops cope with climate change? Climate forecasts to 2050 suggest sorghum is set to remain Queensland's top crop as temperatures rise and rainfall decreases across the State.
	Why cats are fussy eaters but dogs will consume almost anything Anyone who's watched a cat throwing up after munching on grass knows that our feline friends aren't natural plant eaters. So you might be surprised to discover that these carnivorous animals share some important genes that are more typically associated with herbivores. And this might help explain why cats aren't always easy to please when it comes to food.
	Bunbury dolphins face foreshore developements Bunbury dolphins are at risk of increased underwater noise levels and vessel disturbance, with proposed works to the Koombana Bay area.
Bird decline shows that climate change is more than just hot air Scientists have long known that birds are feeling the heat due to climate change. However, a new study of a dozen affected species in the Western Cape suggests their decline is more complex than previously thought – and in some cases more serious.
	Earwigs raised without parents demonstrate limited maternal care of their own offspring For young animals depending on maternal care for survival, the loss of parents often leads to serious consequences and even death. The effect of the loss of parents among animals that could, in principle, survive without maternal care has now been researched by scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) using the example of the earwig - with surprising results. Contrary to expectations, earwigs raised without mothers became even larger as mature adults compared to those that were raised by their mothers. But when they produced their own offspring, they were less liable to care for them. Astonishingly, the loss of the mother had transgenerational effects which became apparent in the characteristics of the offspring of the orphaned animals. In other words, the loss of the mother in the case of earwigs was associated with a short-term advantage but with long-term cost. Observing and investigating earwigs is enabling scie! ntists to study how social behavior and family life have evolved.
Long-term effects of common pesticides on aquatic species New research indicates that commonly-used insecticide mixtures continue to impact aquatic invertebrate species over multiple weeks, even when the chemicals are no longer detectable in water.
	Kenya to destroy vast ivory stockpile from thousands of elephants Kenya's wildlife authority on Monday vowed to destroy the east African country's vast ivory stockpile from several thousand elephants, nine times more than the largest pile torched so far.
How new technologies will impact the engineering of biological systems A new Biotechnology and Bioengineering viewpoint article provides insights on how rapid advancements in DNA reading and writing technologies will impact how researchers go about engineering biological systems, which include processes that occur within and around cells.
Flowers that point to the sky may attract more moth pollinators Plants that have flowers that point towards the sky may be better at attracting moth pollinators than plants that have 'shy' flowers that point sideways.

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