Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Nov 17

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 17, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- X-ray microscope reveals 'solitons,' a special type of magnetic wave
- Researchers test the limits of toughness in nanocomposites
- Observing distinctive geologic features on asteroid Toutatis
- Functionalized porous electrode used for radioactive waste product
- We are all stardust—carbon star LX Cygni provides insights on the chemical evolution of the universe
- A new symmetry underlies the search for new materials
- Decoding the natural soundtrack—human emotions influenced by the acoustic environment
- Chemists create adaptable metallic-cage gels
- Protein complex may help explain magnetic sensing in insects and animals
- Electrons always find a (quantum) way
- Researchers develop the first platform for DNA simulations
- How to eliminate pain tied to tooth decay
- Gene mutation linked to reckless drunken behavior
- Nanotech-based sensor developed to measure microRNAs in blood, speed cancer detection
- Big Texas welcome for Google self-driving cars

Astronomy & Space news

	We are all stardust—carbon star LX Cygni provides insights on the chemical evolution of the universe (Phys.org)—A carbon star is a giant red star nearing the end of its life, with an atmosphere containing more carbon than oxygen. LX Cygni could be an interesting example of an object that is currently in the process of transitioning into a carbon star. An international team of astronomers, led by Stefan Uttenthaler of the University of Vienna, has recently published a paper on Arxiv describing LX Cygni as a new carbon star being born, that could help us collect substantial information regarding the chemical evolution of the universe.
	Observing distinctive geologic features on asteroid Toutatis (Phys.org)—Asteroid (4179) Toutatis, an Apollo-type near-Earth object (NEO) was thoroughly studied by Chinese Chang'e-2 spacecraft in 2012, when the space rock flew by Earth at a distance of 18 lunar distances. The probe, imaging the asteroid in high-resolution, has provided compelling information regarding Toutatis' geological structure. Now, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has published a paper on arXiv that sums up the findings about the asteroid's distinctive geologic features.
	Image: A supermassive black hole in action Scientists often use the combined power of multiple telescopes to reveal the secrets of the Universe – and this image is a prime example of when this technique is strikingly effective.
	'Chemical laptop' could search for signs of life outside earth If you were looking for the signatures of life on another world, you would want to take something small and portable with you. That's the philosophy behind the "Chemical Laptop" being developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California: a miniaturized laboratory that analyzes samples for materials associated with life.
	Curiosity Mars rover heads toward active dunes On its way to higher layers of the mountain where it is investigating how Mars' environment changed billions of years ago, NASA's Curiosity Mars rover will take advantage of a chance to study some modern Martian activity at mobile sand dunes.
Surprisingly complex fingerprint of PAH molecules in space Astronomers searching for interstellar PAH-molecules interpret their data incorrectly. This is concluded by researchers from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Leiden Observatory, the Radboud University and NASA Ames Research Center. In a joint publication in the Astrophysical Journal they show that the infrared fingerprint of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) is far more complex than what was assumed thus far.
	What is tidal locking? The moon is tidally locked to the Earth, which means that it always shows one face to our planet. In fact, this is the case for most the large moons in the solar system. What's the process going on to make this happen?
	Cosmologist thinks a strange signal may be evidence of a parallel universe In the beginning, there was chaos.
	Synthetic muscle experiment will likely return to Earth in March A synthetic muscle experiment on board the International Space Station (ISS) that was developed with the help of Princeton Plasma Physicists Laboratory scientists is now tentatively scheduled to return to earth in March of 2016 on a new SpaceX-10 rocket. It would be returning eight months later than originally planned after an unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket headed for the ISS exploded a few minutes after liftoff in late June.
	Image: Fingerprints of water on the sand NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren took this photograph on Nov. 11, 2015 from the International Space Station, and shared it with his followers on social media. Lindgren wrote, "The delicate fingerprints of water imprinted on the sand. The #StoryOfWater."
	NASA vs. cigarettes—a numbers game People often criticize the amount of money spent on space exploration. Sometimes it's well-meaning friends and family who say that that money is wasted, and would be better spent on solving problems here on Earth. In fact, that's a whole cultural meme. You see it played out over and over in the comments section whenever mainstream media covers a space story.

Technology news

	Facebook gives sneak peek into sci-fi future Mike Schroepfer is sitting in a conference room inside Facebook's Frank Gehry-designed headquarters. His ultra-modern surroundings—22-foot ceilings, raw steel beams, polished concrete pathways that flow through acres of open desks—suit his responsibilities.
	Automated energy analytics platform collects data on commercial buildings to improve energy efficiency Big data may soon make buildings greener. With a recent major acquisition, MIT alumni-founded Retroficiency, which has assessed hundreds of thousands of buildings, is poised to bring its advanced energy analytics platform to millions of commercial buildings.
	Researchers develope software for finding tipping points and critical network structures If you wanted to know whether shifts in the African climate during Paleolithic times correlated with the appearance and disappearance of hominin species, how would you find the answer? It's a tricky question because of the massive amounts of noisy, complicated data you would need to analyze.
	Big Texas welcome for Google self-driving cars With Google's self-driving cars slowed in a gridlock of California regulation, Texas is offering a fast lane.
	Washington group spells out concern over cross-device tracking Consumer privacy advocates find this seriously annoying: Some ads use inaudible sound to link your phone, TV, tablet, and PC. Dan Goodin of Ars Technica issued a "Beware" to readers earlier this month and the matter has concerned other technology-watching sites as well.
	Power in numbers applies to robots learning grasping skills National Public Radio said it well: How can robots learn new tasks? Practice, practice practice.
	Attacks revive debate on encryption, surveillance The deadly Paris attacks have reignited debate on encrypted communications by terror cells and whether law enforcement and intelligence services are "going dark" in the face of new technologies.
Facebook 'safety check' at the ready after Paris attacks A Facebook tool that let people check whether friends were safe after deadly attacks in Paris will be used more widely in the future, the social network said.
Young, impulsive, IT savvy = greater cybersecurity risk Researchers from the University of Adelaide say Australian businesses should start to think outside the square when it comes to preventing cybersecurity threats in the workplace – such as profiling their staff's computer behaviour.
	Microsoft and Code.org team up to bring 'Minecraft' to Hour of Code Microsoft Corp., Mojang AB, and Code.org on Monday unveiled a "Minecraft" coding tutorial for students and educators, created especially for the third-annual Hour of Code, a campaign to broaden global participation in computer science, held during Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 7–13. The new tutorial, now available at https://www.code.org/mc , introduces players to basic coding within the fun and popular "Minecraft" environment. Created by "Minecraft" game designers together with Code.org, the tutorial features Steve and Alex from "Minecraft" and "Minecraft"-inspired challenges that will be familiar to its more than 100 million players around the world.
Studying the differences in similarities Data mining is not just about numbers: It is premised on human behaviour, and the multitude of decisions that we make every day. A researcher from Singapore Management University is trying to identify useful patterns from large amounts of information.
	Mathematical and computational methods to analyze de-centralized information Scientific advances typically produce massive amounts of data, which is, of course, a good thing. But when many of these datasets are at multiple locations, instead of all in one place, it becomes difficult and costly for researchers to extract meaningful information from them.
	Could a smart car seat save a child's life? "I wouldn't buy that. I would never forget my baby was in the car."
	Managing the data deluge for national security analysts After a disaster or national tragedy, bits of information often are found afterward among vast amounts of available data that might have mitigated or even prevented what happened, had they been recognized ahead of time.
	UK to double funding to fight cyber-attacks Britain on Tuesday said it will double its investment in cyber-security to counter threats including from the Islamic State group, in the wake of the Paris attacks claimed by IS.
Apple Pay expands as it vies for broader acceptance Apple's year-old mobile-payments service is expanding to more countries, banks and merchants, as it faces growing competition and some challenges before it becomes as commonplace as plastic cards.
	Five awesome uses for drone technology Interest in flying robot technology is skyrocketing, bringing a thrilling wave of novel uses for drones from saving lives to creating new entertainment.
	Entrepreneur developing accessibility mapping app For Maayan Ziv, a recent graduate of Ryerson's Master of Digital Media program and current DMZ-based entrepreneur, getting around isn't always easy. "I'm someone who uses a wheelchair, and there are a lot of places that are not accessible. Sometimes I'm trying for hours even just to find out if I can get into a location – if it's actually accessible to me, and if I'm okay when I get there. The kind of information that I'm looking for is not easily available, and when I do find good information, it's often very unreliable.
	Roads that charge electric cars are part of a brave new automotive world The popular perception of electric vehicles is that it is a pain to keep them powered up. So imagine a world where the road itself keeps your battery juiced or your driveway starts recharging your car as soon as you park. It is a dream that would not only demand massive infrastructure investment, but which also raises some very fundamental questions about automotive philosophy.
	Gift Guide: Six ways to get streaming video to your big screen Watching video on a phone or personal computer can sometimes feel less than awesome—not to mention kind of lonely, given the limited viewing angle of the small screen.
	A flight management system available to all The aircraft industry is worth billions. But it's not just jets driving the dollars up—it's the complicated electronics that help them fly.
	Some US ski resorts explore possibility of 'drone zones' A drone hovers about 30 feet above the skier's head, then quickly swoops down for a tighter angle so its video camera can capture his every move as he carves down a steep powder stash.
	Hacker collective claims to hit 5,500 IS accounts The hacker group Anonymous claimed Tuesday to have taken out 5,500 Twitter accounts linked to the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.
Clean energies in need of a long term vision Although cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuel-based energy, electricity derived from renewable sources lacks clear regulations that would enable it to be used at large scale.
	Using math to improve disaster recovery The text message Heidi Hurst received from her father contained only four words: "headed for higher ground." Sitting in a Harvard classroom, she felt helpless as her father frantically packed the car to escape floodwaters that were rapidly approaching the family's Colorado home.
Speech signal processing technology for smart devices to achieve multilingual speech translation service Hitachi today announced that it has developed a speech signal processing technology for smart devices to achieve a better multilingual speech translation service on the market. By removing background noise excluding speaker's voice, this innovative technology offers a speech recognition capability in noisy urban street environments in which its noise level is 70 dB. In addition, its automatic detection of speech intervals enhances usability with an accurate recognition of speech timing without requiring user to press a button for determining the intervals. This technology will contribute to the commercialization of the multilingual speech translation service at service counters in various stores or at information center in public transportation systems.
Pitt project aims to turn world on to DC power In the late 1880s, Pittsburgh native son George Westinghouse (using the work and genius of Nikola Tesla) won the campaign to base the United States' electric power grid on alternating current (AC). Thomas Edison, a proponent of direct current (DC), tried to paint AC as dangerous, but as things stood at the time, an AC grid was cheaper and more efficient, could carry electricity over longer distances, and was easier to build—so it prevailed.
	NY state seeks court shutdown of fantasy sports sites New York state's attorney general asked Tuesday for a court order shutting down fantasy sports websites DraftKings and FanDuel in the latest move in a legal battle over the operations.
US advised to examine 'hack back' options against China The United States remains ill-prepared to combat state-backed cyber intrusions from China and lawmakers should look at whether U.S.-based companies be allowed to 'hack back' to recover or wipe stolen data, a congressional advisory body said Tuesday.
Can data on TV watching predict presidential election outcomes? A provocative new study shows that big data-derived models developed and trained based on people's television viewing behavior in "safe" U.S. states can be used to forecast the presidential election outcomes in "swing" states. The model design, potential for its use in 2016 and beyond, and implications for the billions of dollars of advertising spent in presidential elections are discussed in an Open Access article published in Big Data.

Medicine & Health news

	Decoding the natural soundtrack—human emotions influenced by the acoustic environment (Medical Xpress)—Cognitive and emotional sensitivity to the environment are critical for survival, and researchers have speculated that human emotions might track to specific changes in the acoustic environment. In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers in Australia and China report that changes in acoustic attributes known to evoke emotional responses in speech and music also stimulate an emotional response when they occur in nature, including sounds arising from human speech, wind and weather, machinery and natural phenomena. This is evidence, they suggest, that protolanguage vocalizations mimicking natural sounds eventually resulted in the evolution of music systems.
	Study provides strongest evidence yet of a link between breakfast quality and educational outcomes A direct and positive link between pupils' breakfast quality and consumption, and their educational attainment, has for the first time been demonstrated in a ground-breaking new study carried out by public health experts at Cardiff University.
	Nearsightedness progression in children slowed down by medicated eye drops Researchers say medicated eye drops may be the key to fighting rapidly worsening eyesight in children with myopia. Results from a five-year clinical trial show that drops of low-dose atropine significantly slowed the progression of nearsightedness in children with fewer side effects than higher dosages. The research is being presented today at AAO 2015, the 119th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The findings suggest that this medication could potentially be an effective treatment in the fight against the global surge in nearsightedness.
	Metabolic profiles distinguish early stage ovarian cancer with unprecedented accuracy Studying blood serum compounds of different molecular weights has led scientists to a set of biomarkers that may enable development of a highly accurate screening test for early-stage ovarian cancer.
	Hallucinations linked to differences in brain structure People diagnosed with schizophrenia who are prone to hallucinations are likely to have structural differences in a key region of the brain compared to both healthy individuals and people diagnosed with schizophrenia who do not hallucinate, according to research published today.
	Recognizing the basic structure of language is not unique to the human brain A team led at Newcastle University, UK, has shed light on the evolutionary roots of language in the brain.
	How a mutated gene wreaks havoc on white matter An inherited disease of myelin marked by slow, progressive neurological impairment is caused by mutations of a gene that controls lipid metabolism, a finding that may shed insight into mechanisms to control the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), a Yale team has found.
	Marijuana dependence influenced by genes, childhood sexual abuse Genetic variation within the endocannabinoid system may explain why some survivors of childhood adversity go on to become dependent on marijuana, while others are able to use marijuana without problems, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis.
	How to eliminate pain tied to tooth decay Dual discoveries at USC propose a promising method to regrow nonliving hard tissue, lessening or even eliminating pain associated with tooth decay, which the National Institutes of Health calls the most prevalent chronic disease.
	Gene mutation linked to reckless drunken behavior University of Helsinki researchers have identified a genetic mutation which renders carriers susceptible to particularly impulsive and reckless behaviour when drunk. More than one hundred thousand Finns carry this mutation.
	Scientists find surprising trait in anti-HIV antibodies Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have new weapons in the fight against HIV.
Being at 'high risk' of ill health has become a disease in its own right Classifying an individual as being at "high risk" of developing a particular condition/disease has become a disease in its own right, and is turning the healthy into the sick, argues an expert in an editorial published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
	'No place' for genetic testing to spot young sporting talent or boost performance No child or young athlete should be subjected to genetic testing to spot sporting talent or boost performance, concludes an international panel of experts in a consensus statement published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
	Alcoholism drug may help design HIV cure, study says A treatment for alcoholism can reactivate dormant HIV, potentially allowing other drugs to spot and kill the virus hiding out in human immune cells, researchers said Tuesday.
	Treating epilepsy and brain traumas via neurotransmitters During development, GABA exerts a depolarizing action on immature neurons. However, at the network level, the effects of GABA are complex involving both excitatory and inhibitory actions. The group of scientists shows that GABA actions critically depend on the network state.
	Scientists determine that 'human thoughts are material' Researchers of Tomsk State University and New Bulgarian University claim that human thoughts are able to materialize an object. They've published results of their experiments in the article "Remember down, look down, read up: Does a word modulate eye trajectory away from remembered location?" in the journal Cognitive Processing. The authors are researchers from NBU Armina Janyan and Ivan Vankov, and TSU researchers Oksana Tsaregorodtseva and Alex Miklashevsky.
	Why yoga belongs in gym class Awkward gym uniforms, regulated fitness tests, being the last one picked – for many high school kids, gym class is anything but fun and games.
	Researchers find experimental drug can help fight debilitating side effect of ovarian cancer Women who have ovarian cancer often develop a condition called ascites, which is a buildup of fluids in the abdomen. The most common treatment for ascites is puncturing the abdomen and manually draining the fluid, which is painful and risky and must be repeated every few weeks.
How to have a well-stocked first-aid kit A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. Ideally, one kit should be in the home and one in the family car.
	Sense of purpose makes molehills out of mountains Having a purpose in life can make an uphill climb seem like a walk in the park. A Cornell developmental psychologist in an outdoor laboratory has found that people with a sense of purpose are more likely to perceive a steep hill as easier to climb.
Nearly half of hepatitis C patients on Medicaid denied coverage for life-saving drugs Nearly 50 percent of Medicaid patients infected with chronic hepatitis C whose doctors had prescribed newer, life-saving antiviral drugs were denied coverage to the therapies because they weren't considered "a medical necessity" or because the patients tested positive for alcohol/drugs, among other reasons, according to new Penn Medicine research. The data was revealed through a prospective analysis of prescriptions submitted to a specialty pharmacy that services patients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
Potential target for reducing obesity-related inflammation found Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have identified a potential molecular target for reducing obesity-related inflammation. Researchers have known that overeating (that is, excess calorie consumption) by individuals with obesity often triggers inflammation, which has been linked to such diseases as asthma and Type 2 diabetes. In their study, published recently in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, the investigators found that a protein called SIRT3 provides resistance to this inflammatory response and could potentially prevent or reverse obesity-associated diseases of inflammation.
	Virtual heart care saves lives Lives are saved, long hospital stays prevented and quality of life improved when people with heart failure are monitored and supported at home by health professionals using technology as simple as the phone and electronic scales to transmit a patient's weight, a report has found.
	Learning to read infant hunger cues Obesity is the second highest contributor to poor health and premature death in Australia and it's on the rise, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Abuse as a child brings a lifetime burden—study finds a third of self-harm due to abuse Child maltreatment contributes up to a third of depression, self-harm and anxiety, the first Australian study to calculate the burden of child abuse on society has found.
	What leads to the local adoption and implementation of recreational marijuana policies? When states move to legalize marijuana, local governments are faced with enacting—or in some cases restricting—the policy change in their jurisdictions. Using Colorado as a case study, a new study finds that public opinion, tax revenues and existing medical marijuana policies affect local governments' decisions to allow the sale of recreational marijuana. This study is published today in State and Local Government Review.
	Chemist talks HPV, antivirals, progress toward cure Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That fact alone makes the work of James Bashkin, a professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, important.
New technology set to revolutionize standard blood tests Healthy or not, all of us at some time have been subjected to one of the most common forms of medical diagnostics—the dreaded blood test. But what if there was a way to avoid this uncomfortable process?
	Anaesthesia with surgical precision Ultrasound technology will soon be helping doctors to anaesthetise patients more accurately. And the technology is being developed in Trondheim, Norway.
The unwanted extras in your morning filter coffee Research by Müller et al published in Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A examines chemical leaching into coffee from filter coffee machines and electric kettles. The alarming results suggest that caffeine consumption is not all we have to worry about in our coffee culture.
New research reveals millions of those infected with HIV have never been diagnosed due to the fear of being tested Academics from Royal Holloway, University of London, have carried out the largest global review of psychological barriers behind HIV testing and the factors that may influence people's decision to be tested.
	Repairing neurons with light Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München have succeeded in stimulating the regeneration of injured neurons in living fish by the use of light. To this end, they employed so-called Optogenetics, i.e. light inducible protein activation. The results have recently been published in the journal Current Biology.
	Can you think yourself into a different person? For years she had tried to be the perfect wife and mother but now, divorced, with two sons, having gone through another break-up and in despair about her future, she felt as if she'd failed at it all, and she was tired of it. On 6 June 2007 Debbie Hampton, of Greensboro, North Carolina, took an overdose of more than 90 pills – a combination of ten different prescription drugs, some of which she'd stolen from a neighbour's bedside cabinet. That afternoon, she'd written a note on her computer: "I've screwed up this life so bad that there is no place here for me and nothing I can contribute." Then, in tears, she went upstairs, sat on her bed, swallowed her pills with some cheap Shiraz and put on a Dido CD to listen to as she died. As she lay down, she felt triumphant.
	First insights into changes to developing brain caused by gene associated with autism A study led by the University of Utah School of Medicine provides new insights into how the subtle changes within cells, caused by disruptions in a gene called Kirrel3, could underlie some types of intellectual disability and autism.
Endurance athletes who 'go against the grain' become incredible fat-burners Elite endurance athletes who eat very few carbohydrates burned more than twice as much fat as high-carb athletes during maximum exertion and prolonged exercise in a new study - the highest fat-burning rates under these conditions ever seen by researchers.
	Men eat more food when dining with women If you're a man, how much you eat may have more to do with the gender of your dining companions than your appetite. A new Cornell University study, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, found that men will eat significantly more food in the company of women than they will with other men.
Study shows patients benefit most from gestational diabetes mellitus screening A local research study conducted by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS) has found that pregnant patients benefit most from gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening as it allows for timely interventions and brings about health benefits that far outweigh the cost. The study supports offering screening of GDM for all pregnant women, and corroborates with the recent recommendations of several international studies in other developed countries calling for screening of GDM in all pregnant women.
	What's in a name? More than you think... What's in a name? In the case of the usernames of video gamers, a remarkable amount of information about their real world personalities, according to research by psychologists at the University of York.
	For kids prone to wheezing with respiratory infections, early antibiotics help Respiratory infections are common in preschoolers, but while most children recover fairly easily from the typical coughs and congestion, a significant number develop illnesses severe enough to interfere with breathing and warrant trips to urgent care clinics or emergency rooms.
Team approach may reduce readmissions due to falls in seniors A comprehensive care program that involves a team of specialists from multiple medical disciplines for treating injuries sustained from falls in older adults could help reduce hospital readmissions, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
New drowsy driving position statement calls for greater public awareness, education A new position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warns that drowsy driving is a serious public health concern requiring greater public awareness and increased efforts to improve preventive education.
	Studies find decline in rates of PSA screening, early-stage prostate cancer Two studies in the November 17 issue of JAMA examine the change in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and prostate cancer incidence before and after the 2012 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening recommendations.
	Measuring immune cells before surgery may help predict recovery time, study finds The behavior of a type of white blood cell can indicate how soon patients will be back on their feet after hip surgery, according to a study by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Study compares risk of anaphylaxis among marketed IV iron products Cunlin Wang, M.D., Ph.D., of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md., and colleagues studied recipients of intravenous (IV) iron (n = 688,183) enrolled in the fee-for-service Medicare program from January 2003 to December 2013. The study appears in the November 17 issue of JAMA.
	Women recognize abuse in 'Fifty Shades' film Young adult women who watched "Fifty Shades of Grey" found the relationship between the characters Christian and Anastasia somewhat exciting and romantic, but also expressed grave concerns about Christian's abusive behavior, new research finds.
	Nondrug interventions improve quality of life for Chinese cancer patients A meta-analysis of dozens of studies of traditional Chinese medicine and other nonpharmacological interventions meant to improve patients' quality of life affirms that these approaches, on the whole, help alleviate depression, fatigue, pain, anxiety, insomnia and gastrointestinal problems in Chinese cancer patients.
	Self-help books: Stressed readers or stressful reading? Consumers of self-help books are more sensitive to stress and show higher depressive symptomatology, according to a study conducted by researchers at the CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal) and the University of Montreal, the findings of which were published in Neural Plasticity.
Researchers find new risk posed by opioid pain medication Patients with no recent history of taking opioid pain medication had a 25 percent higher risk of chronically using the drugs if they received them when discharged from the hospital, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
	Team discovers compounds with potential to treat persistent tuberculosis Tuberculosis has been infecting humans for several millennia, making it one of the most horribly successful diseases in history. Today, it is still a major killer, responsible for some 1.5 million deaths each year.
Midwife-led maternity care costs EUR 182 less per woman than consultant-led care The average cost of maternity care for a woman in a midwife-led unit is €182 less than in a consultant-led unit, according to new research conducted by the School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Medicine (Health Policy and Management) at Trinity College Dublin.
Minority patients less likely to receive analgesic medications for abdominal pain New research indicates that minority patients seeking care in the emergency department were 22-30 percent less likely than white patients to receive analgesic medication.
	Vitamin D deficiency may limit immune recovery in HIV-positive adults A University of Georgia researcher has found that low levels of vitamin D may limit the effectiveness of HIV treatment in adults.
To reduce risk of infant death, shed excess pounds before becoming pregnant Achieving a healthy weight before becoming pregnant and gaining an appropriate amount of weight during pregnancy significantly reduce the risk of the baby dying in his or her first year of life, according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes harm bone health Obesity and Type 2 diabetes have been linked to several health issues, including an increased risk of bone fractures. In a new animal study, University of Missouri researchers examined how the development of obesity and insulin resistance contribute to bone-fracture risk and whether exercise prevents weight gain and diabetes and protects bone health. They found obesity and Type 2 diabetes negatively affected bone, but exercise prevented weight gain and diabetes and increased bone strength. These findings could inform interventions to improve bone health among individuals with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers devise new diabetes diagnostic tool Researchers at University of Exeter have developed a new test to help diagnoses diabetes, which they say will lead to more effective diagnosis and patient care.
	Mother's age at birth may influence symptoms of depression in daughters The daughters, but not the sons, of women who give birth at age 30 or older are more likely to experience symptoms of depression as young adults, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia rates rising for first time in years: CDC (HealthDay)—The number of cases of three key sexually transmitted diseases increased last year for the first time since 2006, concerned U.S. health officials reported Tuesday.
	Here's your chance to stop smoking (HealthDay)—Making the decision to quit smoking is the most important step in kicking the habit, and that's what smokers are being encouraged to do as part of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19.
	Approaches compared for aspirin prophylaxis for preeclampsia (HealthDay)—The best approaches to low-dose aspirin prophylaxis for the prevention of preeclampsia seem to be the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations and universal prophylaxis, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Head lice infestation could cause iron deficiency anemia (HealthDay)—Head lice infestation could cause iron deficiency anemia in the absence of any other cause, according to a case report published online Nov. 5 in BMJ Case Reports.
	GLP-1 receptor agonists can manage postprandial glucose (HealthDay)—Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists appear beneficial for postprandial glucose management in type 2 diabetes, according to a report published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
	Preventive HIV treatment shown effective at health clinics (HealthDay)—Real-world application of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications appears to be effective for the prevention of HIV, but racial discrepancies exist, new research suggests. The studies appear online Nov. 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	MRI-ultrasound fusion improves prostate biopsy cancer detection (HealthDay)—Magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasound fusion targeted prostate biopsy (MRF-TB) improves detection and risk stratification of high-grade disease and limits detection of clinically insignificant prostate cancer, according to a study published in the December issue of the The Journal of Urology.
	Continuation of antibiotics for UTI often inappropriate (HealthDay)—For patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs), initiation of antibiotics in the emergency department is frequently inappropriate, as is continuation of antibiotics after admission, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Knee bracing no benefit over nonoperative program in knee OA (HealthDay)—For patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), knee bracing offers no benefit over a multidisciplinary nonoperative program, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Scientists find bone protein inhibits prostate cancer invasion Scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in collaboration with researchers from University of California campuses at Merced and Davis have found that a secreted protein predominantly expressed in bone inhibits prostate cancer metastasis to bone.
	Researchers identify a new mode of drug resistance to emerging therapies in prostate cancer Advanced prostate cancer is a disease notoriously resistant to treatment. New research by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of California, San Francisco sheds light on a new mode of drug resistance to emerging therapies in metastatic prostate cancer. This discovery ultimately may help predict which patients may benefit most from treatment.
20 pneumococcal serotyping methods tested; concern about US healthcare quality measures Many recently developed pneumococcal serotyping methods detect the dominant serotype in a laboratory or field sample, but several fail to detect minor serotypes, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. This investigation of 20 current methods, conducted by Catherine Satzke of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, and colleagues, indicates that a microarray analysis with culture amplification is a top-performing method, but a cheaper culture and latex sweep method represents a viable alternative.
	African-Americans with depression more likely to have strokes, heart attack African Americans with major depressive symptoms - perceived stress, neuroticism, life dissatisfaction - had almost twice the increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Quality and Outcomes.
Ranibizumab found effective against diabetic retinopathy In a randomized clinical trial of more than 300 participants, researchers from Johns Hopkins and elsewhere have found that ranibizumab—a drug most commonly used to treat retinal swelling in people with diabetes—is an effective alternative to laser therapy for treating the most severe, potentially blinding form of diabetic retinal disease. Results of the government-sponsored study also show that the drug therapy carries fewer side effects than the currently used laser treatment.
Study quantifies risk of cardiac arrest in children during spine surgeries Although the vast majority of pediatric spine surgeries are safe, a handful of neuromuscular conditions seem to fuel the risk of cardiac arrest during such operations, according to research led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
Researchers use vagus nerve stimulation outside the forebrain A group of leading clinicians and experts dedicated to translational research in spinal cord injuries has recognized the work of a research fellow in the Texas Biomedical Device Center at UT Dallas.
	'Good' mozzie virus might hold key to fighting human disease Australian scientists have discovered a new virus carried by one of the country's most common pest mosquitoes.
Study advances potential test to sort out precancerous pancreatic cysts from harmless ones In a "look-back" analysis of data stored on 130 patients with pancreatic cysts, scientists at Johns Hopkins have used gene-based tests and a fixed set of clinical criteria to more accurately distinguish precancerous cysts from those less likely to do harm. The findings may eventually help some patients in real time safely avoid surgery to remove harmless cysts. A report on the findings is published in the November issue of Gastroenterology.
	Stretch mark science: What happens to your skin when pregnancy gives you a stretch mark? Don't believe the hype when you see those creams and ointments promising to prevent or reduce pregnancy stretch marks. Dermatologists are still learning about what causes stretch marks in the first place, and skin stretching is not the only risk factor.
	Blood test results vary from drop to drop in fingerprick tests When it comes to needles and drawing blood, most patients agree that bigger is not better. But in the first study of its kind, Rice University bioengineers have found results from a single drop of blood are highly variable, and as many as six to nine drops must be combined to achieve consistent results.
Social and practical barriers keep HF patients from benefits of exercise therapy Although supervised aerobic physical activity is a proven therapy for heart failure patients, lack of social support and practical barriers such as lack of transportation, keep many patients from benefitting from cardiac rehab programs, according to new research in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Report raises concern over health risks of Tasers Tasers are increasingly being used by UK police yet recent studies suggest the health risks are greater than previously thought, reports The BMJ this week.
	Pharmacy researcher developing nicotine vaccine, novel drug A University of Rhode Island researcher in its College of Pharmacy is developing a nicotine vaccine and accompanying drug delivery system that he believes could lead to one of the most effective methods of combating cigarette smoking and other tobacco use.
	Canada to ban junk food ads targeting kids? As you may have heard, we have a new Prime Minister here in Canada. This week he gave marching orders to members of his cabinet, and as you might expect, he has some interesting goals for our new Minister of Health, Dr Jane Philpott (full letter available here), which doesn't seem to have received much specific attention as of yet. All of the goals seem reasonable and beneficial to public health, but the ones related to nutrition were of most interest to me, and to this blog (emphasis mine)
	Neural circuitry feeding into the lateral hypothalamus, by Matthew Soleiman At first blush, eating as a daily behavior may seem fairly straightforward. However, neuroscientists are still getting a handle on the complexities of how the brain controls eating – complexities which may explain how eating goes awry, such as in eating disorders.
Guinea begins countdown to end of Ebola after nearly two years Authorities have started the countdown to the end of Ebola in Guinea, the last country still reporting cases after nearly two years and more than 11,000 deaths worldwide, health officials said Tuesday.
Last known Ebola case in Guinea recovers: MSF The last known Ebola case in Guinea, a three-week old girl, has recovered from the virus, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday, starting the countdown to the end of the epidemic.
Blood phosphorus levels can help predict kidney failure risk in African-Americans An increase in serum phosphorus levels in African Americans with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with faster progression to kidney failure, known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), according to new research presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3-8 in San Diego, CA. Previously confirmed in primarily Caucasian populations, the Indiana University School of Medicine study confirms serum phosphorus is linked to ESRD risk in African Americans.
NYC sets goal of screening all new mothers for depression New York City health officials are setting a goal of screening every pregnant woman and new mother for maternal depression.

Biology news

	Protein complex may help explain magnetic sensing in insects and animals (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University has identified a protein that aligns with a magnetic field when polymerized and coupled with another well known protein. In their paper published in the journal Nature Materials, the researchers suggest the protein complex may be the means by which many insects and animals orient themselves using the Earth's magnetic field.
	Why are some wild animals more tolerant to human interaction than others? When most wild animals first encounter humans, they respond as they would to any predator—by running, swimming or flying away.
	Researchers suggest modern gourds would not have survived without domestication (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from several institutions in the U.K. and U.S. has found evidence that suggests that modern gourds would have gone extinct long ago if humans had not domesticated them. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their study of the history of gourds in the New World and why they needed domestication to survive.
	Researchers create better cellular factories to churn out novel biopolymers Using bacterial genomes that have been entirely recoded, Yale scientists have developed a way to induce cells to produce novel protein-based polymers that can be used for new materials and therapeutics.
	After more than a century, endangered shortnose sturgeon find historic habitat post dam removal Endangered shortnose sturgeon have rediscovered habitat in the Penobscot River that had been inaccessible to the species for more than 100 years prior to the removal of the Veazie Dam in 2013.
	Without grandmothers we might not be here at all As adults, we're often nostalgic for our childhood. A time when life seemed so much simpler. When we were free from the hassles of money, pressures of work and responsibilities of family and care.
	Low intensity burns favour Gouldian finches Advocates for mosaic burning practices in the Kimberley's longstanding debate into fire regimes have received a boost, with recent research finding the striking Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) thrive on the low-intensity burns.
	Falling tuna catches sends Filipino fishers further offshore New research reveals that Filipino tuna fishermen in General Santos City are fishing further offshore whilst facing declining individual catches.
	CRISPR-Cas9-edited plant genomes may not be classified as GMOs The Swedish Board of Agriculture has, after questions from researchers in Umeå and Uppsala in Sweden, confirmed the interpretation that some plants in which the genome has been edited using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology do not fall under the European GMO definition. This is important for the wide use of such plants to contribute to solving some of the escalating challenges of mankind.
The value of biodiversity is particularly high in poor environmental conditions The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning greatly depends on the prevalent environmental conditions. An interdisciplinary team consisting of microbiologists and ecological modellers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Stockholm Resilience Centre has now tested this hypothesis which is considered crucial for biodiversity research. Through extensive laboratory experiments on microbial communities, the researchers were able to demonstrate that although bacterial species may exhibit functional redundancy, the magnitude of this redundancy is strongly affected by environmental conditions. Species that play a minor role in how an ecosystem functions in favourable environmental conditions may assume a key role in unfavourable environments. This is another argument in support of sustaining biodiversity in times of climate change.
Fungus causes emerging snake disease found in Eastern US Researchers working for the U.S. Geological Survey have identified the fungal culprit behind an often deadly skin infection in snakes in the eastern U.S. Published this week in mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, the research shows that Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola is the definitive cause of snake fungal disease (SFD), which will help researchers pinpoint why it is emerging as a threat to snake populations and how its impacts can be mitigated.
	New technique could prevent dangerous biofilms on catheters Biofilms frequently coat the surfaces of catheters, and of various medical implants and prostheses, where they can cause life-threatening infections. New research at the Sahlgrenska Academy show that coating implants with a certain "activator" can prevent Staphylococcus aureus, the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, from forming biofilms.
New fruit fly research pinpoints genomic hallmarks of human high altitude adaptation 21 percent. That's the amount of oxygen in the air that we breathe——with the exception of the extreme high-altitude dwellers on the Tibetan or Andean mountains.
	The South American origins and spread of the Irish potato famine pathogen Using some ancient DNA detective work, a new study led by University of California Berkeley postdoctoral researcher Mike D. Martin and University of Copenhagen professor Tom Gilbert has linked the culprit behind the 19th-century Irish potato famine, which was transported to Europe in the 1840s, to a fungus-like organism that originated in South America.
	UTA landscape architect creating sustainable plantings through 'polycultures' of plants that work together Landscape architect David Hopman isn't only installing plants on a sparse patch of ground just west of the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs Building: he is shaping a new way of thinking about how and what to plant.
	A plethora of images from live-bearing brittle stars allows a 3-D look inside these unique starfish relatives Published today in GigaScience is an article that describes high-resolution 3D images, data, and videos of five individuals from three different species of live-bearing brittle stars [1]. The entire associated 100GB of data is freely available in the GigaScience database, GigaDB [2].
	Highlighting nearly 500 exotic plant species on a conservatory park in Malaysia As a one-stop spot for native and exotic plants, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Conservatory Park features a collection of nearly 500 species of such plants.
	Allergy care for pets in spring Spring is one of the busiest times of year for veterinary dermatologist Dr Mandy Burrows at Murdoch University's Veterinary Hospital.
	Understanding seal movement can help mitigate seal-fishery conflict Understanding the differences in the behaviour of different seal species can help in the choice of the most effective measures to mitigate the seal-fishery conflict and in the sustainable management of seal stocks. A new study from the University of Eastern Finland provides novel and detailed information of the movements of ringed seals and grey seals in the Baltic Sea. The PhD thesis of Sari Oksanen, MSc, discovered that Baltic ringed seals range over large areas during the open water season, while most grey seals remain on smaller areas near their terrestrial resting sites.

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