Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 23

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 23, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Self-powered e-watch is powered completely by wrist movements
- The origin of the very first species and the start of Darwinian evolution
- Simulation shows diamond nanothread may not have to be so brittle after all
- Researchers find evidence of early genome duplications in conifers and other plants
- Organic catenane self-assembles in acidic water
- Scientists detect stellar streams around Magellanic Clouds
- Ants filmed building moving bridges from their live bodies (w/ Video)
- Loneliness triggers cellular changes that can cause illness, study shows
- Ancient viral molecules essential for human development, researchers say
- Earth might have hairy dark matter
- New research may draw a 'curtain of fire' on dinosaur extinction theory
- Study tracks gene changes during the introduction of farming in Europe
- No lens? No problem for FlatCam
- Best of Last Week—Quantum entanglement at room temperature, power over WiFi and healthy food differs between people
- Earth not due for a geomagnetic flip in the near future, researchers show

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists detect stellar streams around Magellanic Clouds (Phys.org)—Astronomers from the University of Cambridge, U.K., have detected a number of narrow streams and diffuse debris clouds around two nearby irregular dwarf galaxies called the Magellanic Clouds. The research also implies that one of these dwarf galaxies – the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) could be more massive than previously thought. A paper detailing these findings was published last week on ArXiv.
	Earth might have hairy dark matter The solar system might be a lot hairier than we thought. A new study publishing this week in the Astrophysical Journal by Gary Prézeau of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, proposes the existence of long filaments of dark matter, or "hairs."
	Hubble views a young elliptical galaxy At the center of this amazing Hubble image is the elliptical galaxy NGC 3610. Surrounding the galaxy are a wealth of other galaxies of all shapes. There are spiral galaxies, galaxies with a bar in their central regions, distorted galaxies and elliptical galaxies, all visible in the background. In fact, almost every bright dot in this image is a galaxy—the few foreground stars are clearly distinguishable due to the diffraction spikes (lines radiating from bright light sources in reflecting telescope images) that overlay their images.
	Where Alice in Wonderland meets Albert Einstein One hundred years ago this month, Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity, one of the most important scientific achievements in the last century.
	Sentinel-3A on its way The latest satellite for the European Commission's Copernicus environmental programme has left France bound for the Plesetsk launch site in Russia and launch late next month.
	A witness to a wet early mars Vast volumes of water once flooded through this deep chasm on Mars that connects the 'Grand Canyon' of the Solar System – Valles Marineris – to the planet's northern lowlands.
	How do astronauts keep fit in space? Imagine being the first human to walk on Mars—for today's youngsters such ambitions could really materialise as humankind steps closer to the next cosmic frontier.
	Inferring the star formation rates of galaxies Our Milky Way galaxy produces on average a few new stars every year across the entire system. Massive young stars emit large amounts of ultraviolet radiation which heats the local dust, and so the star formation process results in infrared emission. The IRAS satellite, launched by NASA in 1983 for a ten-month mission, discovered that some galaxies in the universe are ultra-luminous, radiating a hundred or even a thousand times as much light, mostly in the infrared, as does the Milky Way.
	Comet Catalina grows two tails, soars at dawn Amateur astronomer Chris Schur of Arizona had only five minutes to observe and photograph Comet Catalina this morning before twilight got the better of the night. In that brief time, he secured two beautiful images and made a quick observation through his 80mm refractor. He writes:
	Did we need the moon for life? For all we know, Earth is the only place in the Universe where life appeared. This makes the mystery of our existence even more puzzling. What were all the factors required to bring about the first lifeforms on our planet, and encourage the evolution of more complex, intelligent lifeforms.
	New early-warning system could protect Earth from explosive space weather The sun can erupt with flares more energetic than 30 billion times the yield of all nuclear weapons ever detonated. The energetic particles released by solar flares tunnel a path through our inner solar system with speeds regularly exceeding 6 million kph. If the Earth is unfortunate enough to sweep through the path of these particles, they can cause catastrophic problems by acting like bullets of radiation, damaging electrical and electronic equipment.
	Image: On the rim of Schiaparelli crater A 42 km-wide impact crater and numerous smaller craters straddle the northwestern rim of the 460 km-diameter Schiaparelli basin in this image taken by ESA's Mars Express on 15 July 2010.
Video: Principia mission overview Named after Isaac Newton's text Naturalis Principia Mathematica, ESA's Principia mission will be the eighth long-duration mission to the International Space Station.

Technology news

	No lens? No problem for FlatCam How thin can a camera be? Very, say Rice University researchers who have developed patented prototypes of their technological breakthrough.
	Virtual reality app brings crisis zones closer to home Bombed-out buildings tower overhead, and rubble is piled high in the deserted streets of Syria's onetime economic hub Aleppo. Gunshots can be heard in the distance.
	UAE channels oil money into alternative energy Rising from the desert outside Abu Dhabi, Masdar city is laying the groundwork for when the United Arab Emirates' oil wells run dry.
	Tandem solar cells are more efficient Stacking two solar cells one over the other has advantages: Because the energy is "harvested" in two stages, and overall the sunlight can be converted to electricity more efficiently. Empa researchers have come up with a procedure that makes it possible to produce thin film tandem solar cells in which a thin perovskite layer is used. The processing of peroveskite takes place at just 50 degrees Celsius and such a process is potentially applicable for low cost roll-to-roll production in future.
	Custom Alexa voice commands enrich Echo's options Amazon Echo is a wireless speaker and voice command device from Amazon. The device wakes up to the name "Alexa" which is Amazon's voice-controlled personal assistant. Alexa is the voice that delivers information and obeys commands. Both Echo and Alexa represent a powerful pair for households using the system.
	A row-bot that loves dirty water Polluted water can at times make swimming in the sea or a pool risky, on the other hand aquatic organisms such as water boatman need the nutrients in dirty water to feed on. Taking inspiration from water beetles and other swimming insects, academics at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) have developed the Row-bot, a robot that thrives in dirty water. The Row-bot mimics the way that the water boatman moves and the way that it feeds on rich organic matter in the dirty water it swims in.
	Study: Words can deceive, but tone of voice cannot A new computer algorithm can predict whether you and your spouse will have an improved or worsened relationship based on the tone of voice that you use when speaking to each other with nearly 79 percent accuracy.
Everyone loves same-day delivery, until they have to pay Everyone likes the idea of same-day delivery. But who wants to pay for it?
	Unique suit helps teach young people the dangerous effects of driving under the influence of illegal drugs Ford Motor Company has created a unique suit to dramatically teach young people about the dangers of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.
	Building Hitler's supergun—the plot to destroy London and why it failed The V-3 "supergun" was meant to win the war for Germany. In 1943, for the first time since World War II began, Hitler was on the back foot. Allied bombs were devastating German cities and the Fuhrer was rattled. His proposed V-3 cannon would be the biggest gun the world had seen.
	Solutions to reduce the effect of wind power on digital communications Using methods developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, wind farms can now be designed to minimize their effects on television broadcasting and mobile communications.
	Nuclear and renewable: S.Africa's ambitious new energy mix Heavily reliant on coal-fired electricity, South Africa is launching ambitious new projects aimed at diversifying its energy sources and avoiding the regular power cuts that have hobbled the economy in recent years.
Show me how you write on social media and I'll tell you your age and sex Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia (Polytechnic University of Valencia, UPV) have developed a new tool that can detect the sex and age range of the authors behind posts and other comments on social networks. Potential applications include its use in delinquent profiling and detection of pedophile cases. It is also a valuable tool for companies, offering a window onto their customer base and informing more focused marketing actions.
	Computers can perceive image curves like artists Imagine computers being able to understand paintings or paint abstract images much like humans. Bo Li at Umeå University in Sweden demonstrates a breakthrough concept in the field of computer vision using curves and lines to represent image shapes and furthermore to recognise objects.
	TV Buying Guide: Get out tape measure before shopping If you're shopping for a TV, get out a tape measure and do some quick calculations before you head to the store. And count the number of gadgets you'll want to connect to your screen.
	US moves toward mandatory registration of drones Owners of drones weighing 250 grams or more should provide authorities with their name and address and put an ID number on the aircraft, experts hired by the US government recommended Monday.
	New sensor provides first real-time, eagle-eye view of neural activity in mammalian brains Researchers at Duke and Stanford Universities have devised a way to watch the details of neurons at work, pretty much in real time.
New York launches app to fight terror New Yorkers can now warn authorities of suspect activities with a tap, thanks to a smartphone phone app to fight terror unveiled Monday on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday.
	After years of delays, Palestinians get high-speed mobile Political science lecturer Amjad Abu el-Ez lived in London and Dubai for 17 years before returning home in 2014 to teach in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. He was stunned to learn he could barely check his email on the commute from his nearby village because Palestinian mobile carriers do not offer high-speed data.
	Feline surreal: Belgians tweet cat photos for #BrusselsLockdown When Belgian police requested social media silence during a series of anti-terrorism raids, they might have expected a catty response from the Internet.
	Particle separators to meet stricter fine dust limits in Germany Renewable fuels, such as wood chips, pellets, and firewood are popular. For wood-fired heating systems and furnaces to comply with the new stricter fine dust limits in Germany, particle separators are used to clean the flue gas. The particle separator made by CCA, a spinoff of KIT, has now been granted the national technical approval by the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt). A long-term test revealed that it works effectively and in an economically efficient manner.
	Towards a bioeconomic future Can our forests, seaweed, grass and fisheries waste be transformed into new and valuable raw materials? Researchers are asking 1500 Norwegian companies what they're currently doing with their resources, and what they see themselves doing in 2030.
Innovative reports to help utility regulators, policymakers and electric industry The electric industry in the U.S. is undergoing significant changes for a number of reasons, including new and improved technologies, changing customer desires, low load growth in many regions, and changes in federal and state policies and regulations.
Big Data tells shoppers what's hot for holidays Is the Apple Watch a hot item for the holidays? What are the most popular Lego and Barbie toys?
Volkswagen to have fix proposals in by month's end Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller says the company will have technical details on fixing cars fitted with emissions-rigging software to German regulators by month's end, and most will not need major work.

Medicine & Health news

	Loneliness triggers cellular changes that can cause illness, study shows Loneliness is more than a feeling: For older adults, perceived social isolation is a major health risk that can increase the risk of premature death by 14 percent.
	Wireless sensor enables study of traumatic brain injury A new system that uses a wireless implant has been shown to record for the first time how brain tissue deforms when subjected to the kind of shock that causes blast-induced trauma commonly seen in combat veterans.
	Neurons encoding hand shapes identified in human brain Neural prosthetic devices, which include small electrode arrays implanted in the brain, can allow paralyzed patients to control the movement of a robotic limb, whether that limb is attached to the individual or not. In May 2015, researchers at Caltech, USC, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center reported the first successful clinical trial of such an implant in a part of the brain that translates intention—the goal to be accomplished through a movement (for example, "I want to reach to the water bottle for a drink")—into the smooth and fluid motions of a robotic limb. Now, the researchers, led by Richard Andersen, the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, report that individual neurons in that brain region, known as the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), encode entire hand shapes which can be used for grasping—as when shaking someone's hand—and hand shapes not directly related to grasping, such as the ges! tures people make when speaking.
	New class of RNA tumor suppressors identified A pair of RNA molecules originally thought to be no more than cellular housekeepers are deleted in over a quarter of common human cancers, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Breast cancer patients whose tumors lack the RNA molecules have poorer survival rates than their peers.
How the body stops the type 2 innate immune response from triggering allergic disease The innate immune response, which is the body's non-specific response to pathogens, was once believed to be a simple system relying on short-lived effector cells alone, but it is now known to be more complex, involving long-lived lymphoid cells. Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have now shown how the body suppresses the activation of the long-lived cells after infection, preventing the response for continuing when it is no longer needed.
	Gene identified that produces benefits of steroids, without the detrimental side effects Scientists have revealed that glucocorticoids, a class of steroid hormones that are commonly prescribed as drugs, enhance muscle endurance and alleviate muscular dystrophy through activation of the gene KLF15. Critically, this pathway is not involved in muscle wasting or the other major detrimental effects of prolonged steroid use. The discovery, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could lead to the development of new medications that improve muscle function without the negative consequences caused by long-term steroid exposure. This advance is especially important for progressive muscle wasting diseases like Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD).
	Forecasting the path of breast cancer in a patient USC researchers have developed a mathematical model to forecast metastatic breast cancer survival rates using techniques usually reserved for weather prediction, financial forecasting and surfing the Web.
	Scientists reveal potential treatment for life-threatening viral infections Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shown for the first time how a previously unknown process works to promote infection in a number of dangerous viruses, including dengue, West Nile and Ebola.
	High-fat diet prompts immune cells to start eating connections between neurons When a high-fat diet causes us to become obese, it also appears to prompt normally bustling immune cells in our brain to become sedentary and start consuming the connections between our neurons, scientists say.
	Blood from small children 'remembers' prenatal smoking exposure New Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research finds that blood taken from children up to the age of five contains molecular evidence about whether their mothers smoked during pregnancy.
Researchers identify genes connecting endocrine disruption to genital malformations University of Florida Health researchers have identified genes that are disrupted by abnormal hormone signaling at crucial points during development, a finding that may lead to a better understanding of how the most common male genital birth defects arise in humans.
	First-of-kind dopamine measurements in human brain reveal insights into how we learn Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have reported measurements of dopamine release with unprecedented temporal precision in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease. The measurements, collected during brain surgery as the conscious patients played an investment game, demonstrate how rapid dopamine release encodes information crucial for human choice.
New findings offer hope for diabetic wound healing University of Notre Dame researchers have discovered a compound that accelerates diabetic wound healing, which may open the door to new treatment strategies. Non-healing chronic wounds are a major complication of diabetes, which result in more than 70,000 lower-limb amputations in the United States alone each year. The reasons why diabetic wounds are resistant to healing are not fully understood, and there are limited therapeutic agents that could accelerate or facilitate their repair.
Experts propose revisions for international health regulations A trio of global health law experts from Georgetown warn the window for fundamental reform of the International Health Regulations—opened by the Ebola epidemic—is 'rapidly closing.'
Independent panel of global experts calls for critical reforms to prevent future pandemics An independent group of 19 experts from around the globe, convened by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, has issued a hard-hitting analysis of the global response to the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, published in The Lancet.
	Born with no voice and low odds, boy talks with new voice box Grant Hasse was born with two very rare conditions—one that's usually fatal, the other that should have left him unable to talk.
Hiding tobacco products at convenience stores reduces teens' risk of future tobacco use Keeping tobacco products out of view in convenience stores significantly reduces teenagers' susceptibility to future cigarette use compared to when tobacco advertising and products are visible, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Children who take ADHD medicines have trouble sleeping, new study shows Stimulant medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cause sleep problems among the children who take them, a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln concludes.
	Early childhood exposure to Medicaid linked to better adult health Expanding publicly funded health insurance to low-income children could have long-term benefits for adult health, according to new research from the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Published in the Journal of Health Economics, the study found that exposure to Medicaid in early childhood, from conception through age 5, is associated with significant improvements in adult health (age 25 to 54). The research suggests that the improvement in health may be linked to greater access to and use of health services by children whose families received Medicaid, and a decreased economic burden on families from medical expenses and debt.
	Why women should lower their holiday stress level (HealthDay)— The stress of making holiday time a happy time can put women at risk for heart problems, an expert warns.
Multipronged intervention works to reduce youth violence and injury A comprehensive prevention approach in one Michigan city has reduced youth violence and injury as a result of an intervention involving a combination of existing programs, researchers at the University of Michigan report.
	Tracing the roots of OCD in pets and people In 2011, science threw a curveball at Nicholas Dodman and Alice Moon-Fanelli. The two researchers were looking at bull terriers in hopes of finding the gene responsible for a debilitating behavior common in the breed. Up to 85 percent of any litter will compulsively chase their tails, sometimes to the point of savaging themselves or anyone who tries to interrupt them.
	New biomarker predicts development of preeclampsia at six weeks of pregnancy Preeclampsia is generally diagnosed later in pregnancy, but new research could lead to diagnosis in the first trimester, improving care and potentially leading to the development of preventative measures.
	Platelets promote the liver's regeneration process following surgery A team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna has discovered that certain platelet-derived growth factors are of major significance for the liver's regeneration processes. It has been shown that platelets can encourage the regrowth of liver tissue in patients who have had parts of their liver removed surgically. This may also act as a starting point for the prediction of potential post-operative problems. The work has been published in the key journal on liver medicine, Hepatology.
New early warning sign of knee osteoarthritis People who are at higher risk to develop knee osteoarthritis (OA) from being overweight or having injured their knee in the past may have normal x-rays, but worsening lesions or damage appearing on their MRIs predicts a significantly higher risk of soon developing knee osteoarthritis or painful symptoms, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.
	Pfizer, Allergan to merge in $160 bn tax-saving deal (Update 3) US-based Pfizer announced Monday a $160 billion merger with Ireland-based Allergan to create the world's biggest pharmaceutical group and shift to a lower-tax jurisdiction despite government policies discouraging such deals.
	New research into daylight exposure in heritage buildings to help balance access and conservation New research into the distribution of natural light and its level of exposure in historic buildings has been carried out by Loughborough University on behalf of the National Trust.
	Blocking body's endocannabinoids could be effective liver cancer treatment A new study reveals that the liver's cannabinoid receptors could be targeted to fight liver cancer in some patients; and it offers a way to predict what treatments have the best chance of working.
	Online porn may feed sex addicts' desire for new sexual images, study shows People who show compulsive sexual behaviour – sex addiction – are driven to search more for new sexual images than their peers, according to new research led by the University of Cambridge. The findings may be particularly relevant in the context of online porn, which potentially provides an almost endless source of new images.
	Expensive drugs that cure hepatitis C are worth the cost, even at early stages of liver fibrosis It is worthwhile to give patients expensive new drugs that can cure their hepatitis C much earlier than some insurers are now willing to pay for them, according to a UC San Francisco study that models the effects of treating the disease early versus late in its development.
	Young women who survive cardiovascular event have long-term risks Young women who survive a heart attack or stroke still face long-term risks of death and illness, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Proton pump inhibitors should be used judiciously to minimize rare adverse events Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), commonly used for heartburn and gastric distress, should be prescribed at the lowest dose possible and for the shortest length of time because of potential side effects, according to a review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Higher resting heart rate linked to increased risk of death from all causes A higher resting heart rate is associated with an increased risk of death from all causes in the general population, even in people without the usual risk factors for heart disease, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Food industry can help lower cardiovascular diseases by adding little seaweed to products Adding seaweed to processed foods such as frozen pizzas, hot dogs and dried pasta will reduce cardiovascular diseases, concludes a new scientific article. One suggestion is to replace 5% of the flour in pizza dough with dried and granulated seaweed.
	Blood sugar levels in response to foods are highly individual Which is more likely to raise blood sugar levels: sushi or ice cream? According to a Weizmann Institute study reported in the November 19 issue of the journal Cell, the answer varies from one person to another. The study, which continuously monitored blood sugar levels in 800 people for a week, revealed that the bodily response to all foods was highly individual.
	Clinical trial substantiates Wyss Institute's apnea prevention technology Scientists, engineers and clinicians at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and its collaborating institutions, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), have shown in a clinical trial in the BIDMC neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that their new prevention technology reduces apneic events and improves critical clinical parameters in preterm infants. The findings are reported in the November 23 issue of Pediatrics.
	Combination of bevacizumab and lomustine with first recurrence of glioblastoma prolongs PFS but not OS Results of EORTC trial 26101 presented today at The 20th Annual Scientific Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology showed that bevacizumab treatment in patients with progressive glioblastoma, despite prolonged progression-free survival, does not confer a survival advantage.
	Wearable equipment supports human motion where and when needed A new model of pneumatic muscle and an active type of assistive equipment incorporating this pneumatic muscle has been developed at Hiroshima University and Daiya Industry Co. Ltd., Japan. This wearable equipment, called the Unplugged Powered Suit (UPS), supports human movement without requiring any electronic devices and tanks because it employs a newly developed pneumatic muscle named Pneumatic Gel Muscle (PGM) as an actuator. The UPS improves the quality of life of not only elderly individuals but also healthy people who enjoy sports activities. The UPS will be displayed at the International Robot Exhibition 2015 in December.
NYU Langone enhances patient experience by reducing referrals to facilities after surgery Referring a patient to an acute care facility following major cardiac, joint and spine surgery rather than the patient's own home may not always be necessary—according to findings of a new self-examining study from NYU Langone Medical Center.
Impact of social-emotional learning on academic achievement Those promoting a "whole-child" approach to education contend that we need a holistic perspective that aims to nurture the full range of skills and capacities that will help children of today become healthy and competent future adults. But increasing scrutiny of academic achievement gaps among children in the United States, as well as between children in our country and other developed countries, has created an urgency to promotion of academic achievement that has left little time for the development of non-academic skills.
	Brains behind the wheel—could virtual reality teach us to avoid real life accidents? Using their state-of-the-art simulation facility in the School of Psychology scientists at The University of Nottingham are exploring the use of car driving simulators as tools for training and testing drivers in order to reduce road traffic accidents and fatalities.
Early childhood bronchiolitis increases asthma risk in adulthood Persons who have had bronchiolitis in early childhood have an increased risk of asthma at the age of 28-31 and a weaker health-related quality of life than their peers. In lung function tests, they also demonstrate changes indicative of irreversible airway obstruction, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland.
	New protein biomarker identifies damaged brain wiring after concussion Physicians and others now recognize that seemingly mild, concussion-type head injuries lead to long-term cognitive impairments surprisingly often. A brain protein called SNTF, which rises in the blood after some concussions, signals the type of brain damage that is thought to be the source of these cognitive impairments, according to a study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
	Study finds adults aged 50-59 now largest age group in opioid treatment programs Recent years have seen a change in drug use patterns, especially for older adults, with an increase in their admission to substance abuse treatment and increased injection drug use among those over the age of 50. Yet, there has been little research regarding the epidemiology, health status, and functional impairments in the aging population of adults accessing opioid treatment.
	Global effort to standardize diagnosis of kidney disease Kidney disease is a major health concern worldwide. It's estimated that 1 in 3 American adults are at risk of developing kidney disease, and 26 million adults already have kidney disease. Many are undiagnosed. Because kidney disease can go undetected until it's too late, effective and consistent diagnosis is essential. Physicians on Mayo Clinic's Rochester, Minn., campus - one of the world's leading kidney disease centers - are at the forefront of an effort to standardize the diagnosis of kidney disease.
	Want to remember new names? Sleep on it A new study by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) offers an additional reason to get a good night's sleep. In a closely controlled study of fourteen participants, researchers found that they were significantly better at remembering faces and names if they were given an opportunity to sleep for up to eight hours after seeing those faces and names for the first time. The team's findings appear in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory this week.
	Football strengthens the bones of men with prostate cancer Men with prostate cancer run the risk of brittle bones as a side-effect of their treatment. But one hour's football training a few times a week counters many of the negative effects of the treatment, according to University of Copenhagen scientists.
Complex hospital infection data confuses consumers Patients have difficulty deciphering complex numeric data on healthcare-associated infections used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help consumers choose hospitals, according to a new study published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
	Study explains racial and ethnic disparities in unintended pregnancy A new study from the University of Maryland School of Public Health examined why African American and Hispanic women have higher rates of unintended pregnancy than White women. Researchers found that there were unique factors explaining the differences in unintended pregnancy between African Americans and Whites (respondent's mother's age at first birth, income, and health insurance status) and the differences between Hispanics and Whites (U.S. born status and educational level). Maternal age and marital status differences also explained both racial and ethnic disparities. The study provides evidence in support of culturally-tailored public health interventions targeted to groups of women that may be younger, unmarried, lower-income, less-educated, non-U.S. born, or uninsured or publicly insured.
	New test may improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreactic cancers By collecting samples from the portal vein—which carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, including from the pancreas, to the liver—physicians can learn far more about a patient's pancreatic cancer than by relying on peripheral blood from a more easily accessed vein in the arm.
	Study counters long-time practice of prescribing more fertility hormones A Michigan State University study has found that too much of a hormone commonly used during in vitro fertility, or IVF, treatments actually decreases a woman's chances of having a baby.
Teaching problem-solving, leadership to young African-American girls lowers relational aggression A new study from the Violence Prevention Initiative at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) suggests that educators, particularly in urban schools, should teach elementary school-aged girls problem-solving skills and provide them leadership opportunities as a way to reduce their relational aggression. Relational aggression includes using gossip and social exclusion to harm others, which is the most common form of aggression among girls.
	Amblyopia, not strabismus, identified as key contributor to slow reading in school-age children Children with amblyopia, commonly known as "lazy eye," may have impaired ocular motor function. This can result in difficulties in activities for which sequential eye movements are important, such as reading. A new study conducted at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest determined that children with amblyopia read more slowly than children with normal vision or with strabismus alone. Their findings are published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).
	Ah-choo! Sneeze 'cloud' quickly covers a room, study finds (HealthDay)—Just in time for cold and flu season, a new study finds the average human sneeze expels a high-velocity cloud that can contaminate a room in minutes.
	Columbus did not bring syphilis back to Europe, research shows (HealthDay)—It's a common notion that after discovering America, Columbus and his crew then brought back the scourge of syphilis to Europe.
	Blackcurrant juice doesn't provide photoprotection (HealthDay)—Blackcurrant juice consumption with low or high vitamin C content is not associated with photoprotection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Bowel function index valid for opioid-induced constipation (HealthDay)—The Bowel Function Index (BFI) is a simple assessment tool for opioid-induced constipation, which is responsive to changes in symptom severity and has a threshold indicating constipation, according to consensus recommendations published online Nov. 19 in Pain Medicine.
	Review addresses diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents (HealthDay)—Unexplained persistent hyperandrogenic anovulation can be used to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents, according to a review article published online Nov. 23 in Pediatrics.
	Comorbid stress, depressive symptoms common in diabetes (HealthDay)—For individuals with diabetes, comorbid stress and/or depressive symptoms are common and increase risks for adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 17 in Diabetes Care.
	Team unveils neck collar that could protect athletes from mTBI (HealthDay)—A new type of lightweight and pressurized neck collar may help prevent mild traumatic brain injury during sports, according to the developers of the device.
	Fatal train derailment likely due to undiagnosed sleep apnea (HealthDay)—Findings from a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into a train derailment highlight the importance of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea, according to a report published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Stem cell treatment mediates immune response to spinal cord injury in pre-clinical trials When a blunt-force blow injures the spinal cord, the body's immune system can be both friend and foe. Sensing the injury, the immune system dispatches an inflammatory response composed of specialized cells called macrophages to dispose of dead tissue. However, together with the debris and blood from the initial injury, the macrophages also clear away healthy tissue, resulting in a larger lesion size at the injury site and additional spinal cord injury loss of function.
	Scientists explore a new approach to prevent newborn epilepsies Using the substance bumetanide in newborn mice, the scientists succeeded in attenuating the disease progression, allowing the animals to develop almost normally. These research results could pave the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies in humans.
	Adults born with heart defects have a substantially higher risk of stroke Adults with congenital heart defects have substantially higher rates of stroke compared to the general population, according to research published in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation.
Hepatitis C screening of prison inmates would benefit wider community, be cost-effective The benefits of screening prison inmates for infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treating those who test positive for the infection would extend far beyond the prison population, according to projections made by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. In a report published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the research team describes how their simulation found that a prison-based screening and treatment program could reduce HCV transmission in the general community and would be highly cost effective over the long run.
	Tuberculosis: Daily antibiotics recommended to prevent resistant strains A computer model of tuberculosis has shown that approved treatments prescribing antibiotic doses once or twice a week are more likely to lead to drug resistant strains than are daily antibiotic regimens.
Military data supporting damage control resuscitation has altered civilian practice A new study that surveyed Trauma Medical Directors (TMD's) at 245 trauma centers has found that damage control resuscitation (DCR) practices that originated in military settings have been widely adapted in civilian practices across the United States. The study, "Military to civilian translation of surgical battlefield innovations in surgical trauma care," is published in the December issue of Surgery.
	Association between stress levels and skin problems in college students College is a stressful time in the lives of students, and a new study by researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) and Temple University found that heightened levels of psychological stress are associated with skin complaints.
	A tick that feeds on birds may increase the range of Lyme disease If you have lived in the northeastern United States any time in the last 25 years or so, you have almost certainly heard of Lyme disease. You may have scrutinized odd-looking insect bites, wondering if they are developing the disease's tell-tale "bulls-eye" rash. And you may have become skilled at distinguishing blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), which can transmit the pathogen, from American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), which cannot.
	Anti-fat attitudes shaped early in life New findings from New Zealand's University of Otago suggest older toddlers—those aged around 32 months old—are picking up on the anti-fat attitudes of their mothers.
FDA approves Bristol-Myers drug for new use in kidney cancer Federal health regulators have expanded approval of a cancer drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb to treat an advanced form of kidney cancer.
Breastfeeding lowers risk of type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes Women with gestational diabetes who consistently and continuously breastfeed from the time of giving birth are half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes within two years after delivery, according to a study from Kaiser Permanente published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	ACP: Doctors should prescribe generic medications whenever possible All clinicians should prescribe generic medications whenever possible as a way to improve adherence to therapy and clinical outcomes while containing costs, the American College of Physicians (ACP) advises in a new paper published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Daily handful of walnuts linked to better diet and improvements in some health risk factors Eating a daily handful of walnuts is linked to better overall diet quality and an improvement in certain risk factors among people at high risk of diabetes, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
	UEA leads first systematic review of Ebola risks Looking after people with late-stage Ebola at home puts people at greatest risk of catching it themselves - according to research from the University of East Anglia.
City-wide effort boosts NYC's colorectal cancer screening rates and eliminates racial disparities in screening A concerted effort to increase colorectal cancer screening rates led to a dramatic increase in NYC screening colonoscopy rates among average-risk men and women and eliminated racial/ethnic disparities in screening. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the program may serve as a foundation for other communities to boost cancer screening rates.
	Big premium increases foreseen for Medicare drug plan With time running out on open enrollment season, many seniors are facing sharply higher premiums for Medicare's popular prescription drug program. The reason: rising drug costs have overtaken a long stretch of stable premiums.
	Questioning seasonal variation in antibiotic prescribing In the Northern hemisphere, cold and flu season usually strikes in late fall and early winter. Both are really unpleasant, but can't be treated by antibiotics because viruses cause the common cold and influenza. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, which, on average do not rise during the winter. So why do antibiotic prescriptions surge in the winter, as recently found in the United Kingdom?
Canada must respect physician objectors who do not wish to refer patients for assisted death Assisted dying may become legal in Canada on Feb. 6, 2016, and we must respect physicians' conscientious objections to assisted dying if it is against their principles.
Evolution of severely immunosuppressed HIV patients depends on the immunologic and virologic response Health authorities recommend HIV-infected patients starting treatment as soon as posible after diagnosis, regardless of the level of immunosuppression (which are measured by the number of CD4, cells responsible for the immune response and which are infected by the virus) and viral load.
Netupitant/palonosetron for prevention of nausea and vomiting: Added benefit not proven The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether the drug combination netupitant/palonosetron (trade name: Akynzeo) offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy (ACT). The drug combination has been approved since May 2015 for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting in adult patients receiving moderately or highly emetogenic (vomit-inducing) cancer chemotherapy. According to the findings, such an added benefit is not proven in moderately emetogenic or in highly emetogenic chemotherapeutic regimens.
Pembrolizumab in advanced melanoma: Added benefit for certain patients Pembrolizumab (trade name: Keytruda) has been approved since July 2015 for adults with advanced melanoma that can no longer be surgically removed or has already formed metastases. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.
Endocrine experts call for more research into leading cause of infertility More research is needed to better understand polycystic ovary syndrome - one of the leading causes of infertility, according to the Scientific Statement issued by the Endocrine Society.
Urgent attention needed to improve education for Syrian refugee children, report finds There is an urgent need to improve both short-term and long-term approaches to education for the large number of Syrian refugee children in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Why do medics from different backgrounds perform better or worse than others? A report commissioned by the General Medical Council and carried out by the Collaboration for the Advancement of Medical Education and Research (CAMERA) at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD) has reviewed the issues around why medics from one demographic group may perform differently from those from another on the same assessment.
Pioneering 'Science to Survive' pipeline gives cancer patients hope for a brighter future Potentially life-saving therapies for cancer will be accelerated into clinical trials more quickly due to a pioneering project launched by scientists and clinicians at the University of Sheffield.
ASTRO launches template to help radiation oncologists guide cancer survivors through ongoing care A new template published by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) standardizes and streamlines the creation of patient-focused plans for long-term cancer survivor care following radiation therapy (RT). As the number of cancer patients and survivors in the U. S. continues to grow - the American Cancer Society predicts a 37 percent increase in the number of cancer patients surviving five years or longer over the next decade - so does the need for greater attention to long-term survivorship care.
Exploring the causes of cancer Cells communicate with other cells in our bodies by sending and receiving signals. Cancer can occur when these signals are "dysregulated" and abnormal cells grow out of control.
Liberia seeks US help to determine cause of new Ebola cases Two experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are set to travel to Liberia to try to determine the cause of new Ebola cases confirmed last week, more than two months after the country had been declared free of Ebola transmission for a second time, a Liberian health official said Monday.
Common cause for complications after kidney transplantation identified The BK polyomavirus often causes complications after kidney transplantation. The research group of Professor Hans H. Hirsch from the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel has now been able to show, that the immunosuppressive drug Tacrolimus directly activates the replication of the virus and could thus be responsible for these complications. The American Journal of Transplantation has published the study.
	Seizure risk of anti-shivering agent meperidine greatly overstated Meperidine, an opioid analgesic commonly used to control shivering in accidental or therapeutic hypothermia, has been linked to increased seizure risk, but a new study finds little published evidence to support this risk. While use of meperidine for pain relief has declined, its role as an effective anti-shivering agent should continue to be explored, conclude the authors of the study "Seizures and Meperidine: Overstated and Underutilized," published in Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management.
Researchers study palliative care preferences of Latinos on dialysis The cultural values of Latinos have a major impact on their palliative care preferences and healthcare providers should be sensitive to their perspectives, according to a research letter by physicians at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
	$160B deal to combine Pfizer and Allergan raises outcry A $160 billion deal announced Monday to merge Pfizer and Allergan and create the world's biggest drug company renewed the outcry in Washington over "inversions," in which U.S. corporations combine with companies overseas to lower their tax bill.

Biology news

	Researchers find evidence of early genome duplications in conifers and other plants (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from several academic institutions in the U.S. has found that contrary to popular belief, conifers have experienced at least two complete genome duplication events over the course of their evolutionary history. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes their sequencing study of three types of plants and the comparisons they made with other plants that had been previously sequenced, and why they believe that what they found might help such trees survive as the planet warms.
	Study tracks gene changes during the introduction of farming in Europe The introduction of agriculture into Europe about 8,500 years ago changed the way people lived right down to their DNA.
	Ancient viral molecules essential for human development, researchers say Genetic material from ancient viral infections is critical to human development, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Ants filmed building moving bridges from their live bodies (w/ Video) Army ants build living bridges by linking their bodies to span gaps and create shortcuts across rainforests in Central and South America. An international team of researchers has now discovered these bridges can move from their original building point to span large gaps and change position as required.
	Hydra can modify its genetic program Champion of regeneration, the freshwater polyp Hydra is capable of reforming a complete individual from any fragment of its body. It is even able to remain alive when all its neurons have disappeared. Researcher the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have discovered how: cells of the epithelial type modify their genetic program by overexpressing a series of genes, among which some are involved in diverse nervous functions. Studying Hydra cellular plasticity may thus influence research in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. The results are published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
	The secret behind the power of bacterial sex discovered Migration between different communities of bacteria is the key to the type of gene transfer that can lead to the spread of traits such as antibiotic resistance, according to researchers at Oxford University.
	Scientists create malaria-blocking mosquitoes Using a groundbreaking gene editing technique, University of California scientists have created a strain of mosquitoes capable of rapidly introducing malaria-blocking genes into a mosquito population through its progeny, ultimately eliminating the insects' ability to transmit the disease to humans.
	A huge chunk of a tardigrade's genome comes from foreign DNA Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have sequenced the genome of the nearly indestructible tardigrade, the only animal known to survive the extreme environment of outer space, and found something they never expected: that they get a huge chunk of their genome - nearly one-sixth or 17.5 percent - from foreign DNA.
New research suggests a novel route in the fight against cancer In a new study published today in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, scientists from the University of Surrey have uncovered a collection of important proteins that carry out and regulate critical biological processes. As the malfunctioning of these proteins and processes are linked to diseases such as cancer, their findings could help with the development of more effective therapies for treating incurable and debilitating illnesses.
	New form of mRNA regulation characterized RNA, once thought to be a mere middleman between DNA and protein, is now recognized as the stage at which a host of regulatory processes can act to allow for flexibility in gene expression and thus the functions of cells and tissues.
Adapting to -70C in Siberia: A tale of Yakutian horses From an evolutionary perspective it happened almost overnight. In less than 800 years Yakutian horses adapted to the extremely cold temperatures found in the environments of eastern Siberia. The adaptive process involved changes in the expression of a plethora of genes, including some also selected in human Siberian groups and the extinct wooly mammoth.
	Rare white rhino dies in US A northern white rhinoceros—one of just four remaining worldwide—has died at the San Diego Zoo, officials said.
	Pesticide-makers point to other culprits in bee die-offs In a Nordic-inspired building tucked in a corner of the Bayer CropScience North American headquarters, high school students wander through 6,000 square feet dedicated entirely to the specialness of bees. Children taste different types of honey and examine the differences between honeybee and carpenter bee specimens.
Beavers restore dead wood in boreal forests New research shows that beavers create significant amounts of dead wood into the lowland shore forests of boreal wetlands. Particularly snags and deciduous dead wood are formed through the beavers' actions.
	Rare aerial imagery helping researchers access whale body condition Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit researcher Dr. Fredrik Christiansen; in collaboration with Professor Lars Bejder, is developing a research project to improve our understanding of baleen whale body condition and reproduction by using novel non-invasive technology.
	Harbour porpoises need large, oily fish Harbour porpoises eat approximately ten percent of their body weight in fish per day. Their diet mainly comprises gobies, whiting, sand lances, herring and sprats. These mammals are in constant danger of starvation. Other major causes of death include drowning after becoming entangled in fishing nets on the seabed, and being hunted and eaten by grey seals. These findings are from research carried out by Mardik Leopold from IMARES Wageningen UR. He will be awarded a PhD by Wageningen University on 20 November.
	Research sheds new light on enigmatic seabird They are a common sight off the UK's west coast in summer, but we still have much to learn about the Manx shearwater, a remarkably long-lived Atlantic marine bird.
	Marine airgun noise could cause turtle trauma Scientists from the University of Exeter are warning of the risks that seismic surveys may pose to sea turtles. Widely used in marine oil and gas exploration, seismic surveys use airguns to produce sound waves that penetrate the sea floor to map oil and gas reserves.
	Bird poaching continues to result in victims Illegal hunting continues to be a challenge for biodiversity conservation in addition to posing a serious threat to some migratory species. The province of Gipuzkoa in northern Spain, a transit area for birds migrating between Africa and Europe, is an example of just how this illegal activity can severely affect these animals.
Bivalve family tree offers evolutionary clues Florida State University researchers, along with an international team of scientists, have put together the most complete look to date of the evolutionary family tree of cardiid bivalves, commonly known as cockles and clams.
	Persian dwarf snake consists of six species, scientists discover The Persian dwarf snake is wrongly classified as one species, scientists say. New research shows it is composed of six different species, a finding which might be important for the conservation of the snake.
	Chromosome numbers in some antlions and owlflies could be inherited from a common ancestor Varying between organisms, the number of chromosomes, the structures of organised and packaged DNA information, are normally a constant amount, thus allowing for the successful reproduction of a species. However, it may vary greatly even within a certain family. In the present study, conducted by Drs. Valentina Kuznetsova, Victor Krivokhatsky and Gadzhimurad Khabiev, Russian Academy of Sciences, four antlion lacewings species and an owlfly one from two sister families have been examined and their chromosome number estimated. The paper, published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, shows some patterns within the genera and suggests their common origin.
	Bioart: An introduction Joe Davis is an artist who works not only with paints or pastels, but also with genes and bacteria. In 1986, he collaborated with geneticist Dan Boyd to encode a symbol for life and femininity into an E. coli bacterium. The piece, called Microvenus, was the first artwork to use the tools and techniques of molecular biology. Since then, bioart has become one of several contemporary art forms (including reclamation art and nanoart) that apply scientific methods and technology to explore living systems as artistic subjects. A review of the field, published November 23, can be found in Trends in Biotechnology.
	UF creates trees with enhanced resistance to greening After a decade of battling the highly destructive citrus greening bacterium, researchers with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have developed genetically modified citrus trees that show enhanced resistance to greening, and have the potential to resist canker and black spot, as well. However, the commercial availability of those trees is still several years away.
	Panama turtle eggs could 'fry' from rising temperatures: eco-group Sea turtle eggs laid in the sand of beaches in Panama risk getting fried before hatching because of rising temperatures, an environmental protection group in the Central American country is warning.
	NASA study finds microgravity reduces regenerative potential of embryonic stem cells A study performed on the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery showed that exposure of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to microgravity inhibited their ability to differentiate and generate most cell lineages, needed for the development of bone, muscle, the immune system, and other organs and tissues. This inhibition of mESC differentiation could have significant implications for the field of human tissue engineering and the use of stem cells to regenerate adult tissues, as described in the study published in Stem Cells and Development.

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