Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Nov 25

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 25, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Exploring the physics of a chocolate fountain
- 'Material universe' yields surprising new particle
- Study indicates teens are not as good at multitasking as adults
- Physicists set quantum record by using photons to carry messages from electrons almost 2 kilometers apart
- Astronomers say comet fragments best explanation of mysterious dimming star
- CERN collides heavy nuclei at new record high energy
- New technology makes metal wires on solar cells nearly invisible to light
- Study suggests fish can experience 'emotional fever'
- New insights on how cocaine changes the brain
- How cells 'climb' to build fruit fly tracheas
- At the edge of vision: Struggling to make sense of our cluttered world
- Low-energy, high-res displays, glazing stem from Oxford research
- Fastest pigeons tend to become flock leaders; leaders learn navigation skills more effectively than followers
- How cells in the developing ear 'practice' hearing
- Normalizing levels of MeCP2 in mouse model of MECP2 duplication syndrome restores neurological dysfunction

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers say comet fragments best explanation of mysterious dimming star Was it a catastrophic collision in the star's asteroid belt? A giant impact that disrupted a nearby planet? A dusty cloud of rock and debris? A family of comets breaking apart? Or was it alien megastructures built to harvest the star's energy?
	Aging star's weight loss secret revealed A team of astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope has captured the most detailed images ever of the hypergiant star VY Canis Majoris. These observations show how the unexpectedly large size of the particles of dust surrounding the star enable it to lose an enormous amount of mass as it begins to die. This process, understood now for the first time, is necessary to prepare such gigantic stars to meet explosive demises as supernovae.
	The hottest white dwarf in the Galaxy Astronomers at the Universities of Tübingen and Potsdam have identified the hottest white dwarf ever discovered in our Galaxy. With a temperature of 250,000 degrees Celsius, this dying star at the outskirts of the Milky Way has already even entered its cooling phase. The researchers also were the first to observe an intergalactic gas cloud moving towards the Milky Way - indicating that galaxies collect fresh material from deep space, which they can use to make new stars. These findings are published in the latest Astronomy & Astrophysics.
	James Webb Space Telescope receives first mirror installation NASA has successfully installed the first of 18 flight mirrors onto the James Webb Space Telescope, beginning a critical piece of the observatory's construction.
	A blue, neptune-size exoplanet around a red dwarf star A team of astronomers have used the LCOGT network to detect light scattered by tiny particles (called Rayleigh scattering), through the atmosphere of a Neptune-size transiting exoplanet. This suggests a blue sky on this world which is only 100 light years away from us. The result was published in the Astrophysical Journal on November 20 (and is available on ArXiV).
	Tracking new space missions from down under For beachgoers, Australia's pristine west coast is an ideal location to catch some rays. It is also ideal for catching signals from newly launched rockets and satellites, which is one reason why ESA is redeveloping its tracking capabilities down under.
	Cloudy with a chance of life: How to find alien life on distant exoplanets How do you go about hunting for life on another planet elsewhere in our galaxy? A useful starting point is to imagine looking from afar for signs of life on Earth. In a telescope like those we have on Earth, those aliens would likely just see the Earth and sun merged together into a single pale yellow dot.
	Image: NIRSpec on the James Webb Space Telescope Europe's NIRSpec instrument will be launched in 2018 as part of the NASA–ESA James Webb Space Telescope. This week, in recognition of the UN International Year of Light, a NIRSpec model is among the cutting-edge optical instruments on display at ESA's technical heart, coinciding with a gathering of optical experts.
	Who owns space? US asteroid-mining act is dangerous and potentially illegal An event of cosmic proportions occurred on November 18 when the US congress passed the Space Act of 2015 into law. The legislation will give US space firms the rights to own and sell natural resources they mine from bodies in space, including asteroids.

Technology news

	Stretch the new flex for programmable rubber keyboard Scientists at the University of Auckland have developed a soft, flexible, stretchable keyboard using a type of rubber known as a dielectric elastomer.
	New step towards producing cheap and efficient renewable fuels A significant advance has been made in the potential to produce renewable fuels from excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), with the discovery of a cheap and efficient catalyst with which to carry out this process.
	The ethics of robot love There was to have been a conference in Malaysia last week called Love and Sex with Robots but it was cancelled. Malaysian police branded it "illegal" and "ridiculous". "There is nothing scientific about sex with robots," said a police chief.
	Low-energy, high-res displays, glazing stem from Oxford research UK-based Bodle Technologies calls its technology simple—and revolutionary. Their story: ultra-thin structures capable of manipulating light using means, whether electrical, optical or mechanical. "Filter, steer or dim light at a flick of a switch" and don't worry about power—what you do consumes very little to no power after switching.
	River turbines turn Austria's Danube from blue to green The Wachau, a picture-postcard river valley in Austria, makes a lot of wine. Soon it could be producing its own electricity too, and in a way that will not spoil the stunning views.
Hilton hotels hit by cyber attack US hotel chain Hilton revealed Tuesday that hackers infected some of its point-of-sale computer systems with malware crafted to steal credit card information.
	Why government and tech can't agree about encryption Your phone is getting better and better at protecting your privacy. But Uncle Sam isn't totally comfortable with that, because it's also complicating the work of tracking criminals and potential national-security threats.
	China dreams of electric sheep at robot conference In a martial artist's white silk pyjamas, a man practised tai-chi in harmony with a motorised arm at a Beijing exhibition showcasing a vision of robots with Chinese characteristics.
	Researchers address battery power issue in 4K phone display What is the big deal with 4K? The term 4K refers to four times the number of pixels as standard screens. Describing the effect of 4K in TV, John Archer wrote in Trusted Reviews: "The extra resolution of 4K images adds more detail, more depth and more color resolution to the picture, resulting in images that look incredibly life-like – more like looking through a window than watching TV."
	How solar panels are making waves If you think of electrical current flowing like water from the grid to your home, you can start to imagine the waves your rooftop solar panels create when they try feeding current in the opposite direction.
	Anti-seismic bricks to improve buildings' response to earthquakes Sisbrick is a new class of earthquake-resistant building material that seismically isolates partition walls from the main building structure, significantly reducing the tension between them, thus minimizing the damage incurred.
	Visual authoring tool helps non-experts build their own digital story worlds Creating characters and situations that computers can use to generate stories for video games is a task that normally requires expert knowledge, but Disney Research is developing a new interface that can help more people build these digital story worlds.
	Review: Jumbo-sized iPad Pro lacks purpose When Apple released the iPad in 2010, it sought to fill a niche in the computing industry.
	Tech review: Samsung curved monitor is the envy of the office It's always nice when I get surprised by a new gadget. Samsung asked me if I'd like to review a few items for the holidays. The company sent over a Chromebook 2 and a curved monitor, and before I unboxed them, I was sure I'd highlight the Chromebook and just mention the monitor in the end of the review.
Amazon orders reset for some customers' passwords Amazon.com has required an undisclosed number of customers to reset passwords to their online accounts after the company said some passwords "may have been improperly stored" on devices.
As volume expands, ways of receiving parcels evolving for consumers Allegheny City Market, tucked inconspicuously into Pittsburgh's Mexican War Streets neighborhood, has built a customer base with its tidy convenience store and deli featuring locally themed sandwiches like the Randyland Reuben, named for artist Randy Gilson's colorful residence a block away.
Inside Snapchat's newest feature: Story Explorer Snapchat Inc. Chief Executive Evan Spiegel grabs his iPhone, opens his Los Angeles company's app and taps an icon for "Los Angeles."
	Smartphones overtake desktops for holiday shopping If the beginning of the holiday season is any indication, it could be a merry mobile Christmas for shoppers.
	Smart chip tells you how healthy your battery is Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have developed a smart chip which can tell you how healthy is your battery and if it is safe for use.
	Growth—but not expansion—in US Internet gambling market Internet gambling is slowly growing—but not expanding—after 2 1/2 years of online betting in the United States.
	PlayStation 4 console sales top 30 million Sony on Wednesday announced that PlayStation 4 video game consoles have sold at a furious pace, topping 30 million units worldwide.
	Hong Kong pollution in the spotlight at smart car show Asian countries are running out of time to combat air pollution, campaigners said Wednesday, as smart car firms converged in Hong Kong to promote clean energy vehicles.
	Google gets 348,085 'forget' requests in Europe Internet giant Google said Wednesday it has received 348,085 requests for select search results to be "forgotten" in Europe, with users in France and Germany leading the way.
As Yahoo Turns: What's next in its decade-long soap opera? Yahoo has starred in a decade-long soap opera during which it's run through five CEOs, fended off a hostile takeover bid from Microsoft and sparred (often unsuccessfully) with activist investors who muscled their way on to the Internet company's board.
	Yahoo's CEO is running out of time to turn things around Marissa Mayer's nearly four-year attempt to turn around Yahoo needs a turnaround itself, repeating a pattern of futility that has hobbled one of the Internet's best-known companies for the past decade.
	How to make sure your green home upgrades pay off Investing in making your home more energy efficient can help the environment, lower your utility bills and possibly help you fetch a higher sale price.
S. Korea, US ratify new civilian nuclear pact South Korea and the United States on Wednesday formally ratified a new nuclear cooperation agreement that stops short of granting Seoul the permission it had sought to start reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
Next-generation fuel cells are ready for low-emission electricity production VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, under the INNO-SOFC project and in collaboration with Convion Ltd and Elcogen Ltd, is developing a new-generation, long-life fuel cell system offering efficiency higher than that of competing technologies. The project will result in new, energy-efficient and commercially viable applications.
	Three new technologies to make energy cleaner, more efficient Three technologies - a computational tool to improve power grid planning, a process to create biofuel from kelp and a hybrid device that makes hydrogen and stores energy - are being developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and its partners under new projects just announced by the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E.
	Pakistan to invite PayPal, Alibaba to start e-commerce services Pakistan is set to invite global online payment giants PayPal and Alibaba to offer their services in the country, the IT ministry has said, after easing its e-commerce rules.

Medicine & Health news

	Study indicates teens are not as good at multitasking as adults (Medical Xpress)—A small team of researchers with University College London has conducted a study using volunteers that yielded results that indicated that teen girls are not as good at multitasking as adult women. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the team describes their study and results and why they believe that what they found might apply to parents, children and educators.
	Resting-state fMRI might be an amazing predictor of autism outcomes (Medical Xpress)—Autistic traits diagnosed in early childhood, including communication problems and adaptive behavior deficits, tend to persist into adulthood. A very few autistic individuals demonstrate improvement in their symptoms over time and achieve good outcomes, which are characterized by a high level of independence and social adaptivity.
	At the edge of vision: Struggling to make sense of our cluttered world As you're driving to work along a busy road, your eyes on the traffic lights ahead, hoping they won't turn to red, you pass signs warning of roadworks, ads on bus shelters... Suddenly a dog runs out in front of you. What are your chances of seeing it before it's too late?
	New insights on how cocaine changes the brain The burst of energy and hyperactivity that comes with a cocaine high is a rather accurate reflection of what's going on in the brain of its users, finds a study published November 25 in Cell Reports. Through experiments conducted in rats exposed to cocaine, the researchers mapped out the network of circuits that cause wild firing of neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates movement and emotion. The findings also help explain how cocaine use eventually leads to desensitization.
Normalizing levels of MeCP2 in mouse model of MECP2 duplication syndrome restores neurological dysfunction Gene duplications are a common cause of intellectual disabilities and autism as well as various other neurological disorders. In a new study that appears online in the journal Nature, Dr. Huda Zoghbi, professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, and director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, and her team showed that there is a new potential way to treat such disorders.
Immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes deemed safe in first US trial In the first U.S. safety trial of a new form of immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D), led by UC San Francisco scientists and physicians, patients experienced no serious adverse reactions after receiving infusions of as many as 2.6 billion cells that had been specially selected to protect the body's ability to produce insulin.
Discovery could open door to frozen preservation of tissues, whole organs Researchers in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University have discovered a new approach to "vitrification," or ice-free cryopreservation, that could ultimately allow a much wider use of extreme cold to preserve tissues and even organs for later use.
	Can physical exercise enhance long-term memory? Exercise can enhance the development of new brain cells in the adult brain, a process called adult neurogenesis. These newborn brain cells play an important role in learning and memory. A new study has determined that mice that spent time running on wheels not only developed twice the normal number of new neurons, but also showed an increased ability to distinguish new objects from familiar objects. These results are published in the first issue of Brain Plasticity.
	New strategy for treating arthritis discovered Arthritis patients could one day benefit from a novel form of medicine, according to researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Their early study indicates that arthritic cartilage, previously thought to be impenetrable to therapies, could be treated by a patient's own 'microvesicles' that are able to travel into cartilage cells and deliver therapeutic agents.
	International study uncovers mechanism behind Joubert syndrome The results of an international study published in Nature Cell Biology have identified a gene (TMEM107) associated with Joubert syndrome, and crucially uncovered the mechanism by which it functions in cells, leading to a better understanding of the cause of this brain disorder.
	Research team finds that protein motions regulate HIV infectivity Nearly 37 million people worldwide are living with HIV. When the virus destroys so many immune cells that the body can't fight off infection, AIDS will develop. The disease took the lives of more than a million people last year.
	Study points to enhanced detection of Parkinson's New research by biologists at the University of York could lead to improved methods of detection for early-onset Parkinson's Disease (PD).
	Antibody-drug compounds and immunotherapy to treat breast cancer To more efficiently treat breast cancer, scientists have been researching molecules that selectively bind to cancer cells and deliver a substance that can kill the tumor cells, for several years. Researchers from the University and University Hospital Basel have now for the first time successfully combined such an antibody-drug conjugate with a therapy that stimulates the immune system to attack tumor cells. This opens the door to new therapeutic options in the treatment of breast cancer, report the researchers in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Lower availability of omega-3 fatty acids associated with bipolar disorder People with bipolar disorder have lower levels of certain omega-3 fatty acids that cross the blood-brain barrier than people who do not, according to researchers from Penn State College of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The finding could have implications for dietary interventions for the disorder.
	Study finds higher risks for babies born at the weekend Babies born in English NHS hospitals at the weekend have a slightly greater risk of death within the first seven days, compared with those born during the week, finds a study in The BMJ today.
Breast cancer clinic attributes increased uptake of double mastectomies to Angelina Jolie effect Researchers at a breast cancer prevention clinic in Manchester, UK, have observed an increased uptake of preventative double mastectomies since May 2013, when Angelina Jolie announced that she had undergone the procedure.
	Researchers urge caution in prescribing commonly used drug to treat ADHD Authors of new Cochrane Review remain uncertain about effect of widely used medicine on ADHD symptoms, despite large amount of research. Some evidence of increased sleeplessness and loss of appetite leads researchers to encourage more caution in use of methylphenidate.
	Osteoarthritis finding sheds light on hyaluronic acid injection controversy A discovery by Cornell bioengineers is shedding new light on the controversy surrounding a common treatment for osteoarthritis that has divided the medical community over its effectiveness.
	Private rooms may save money by cutting hospital infection rates (HealthDay)—Patients in private hospital rooms are less likely to develop infections, which saves hospitals money in the long run, a new study reveals.
	Melatonin might help sleepless kids with eczema, study finds (HealthDay)—Children with the skin condition eczema often have trouble sleeping. Now, a new study suggests that over-the-counter melatonin might boost their shuteye.
Portrazza approved for advanced lung cancer (HealthDay)—Portrazza (necitumumab), in combination with two other chemotherapy drugs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer, the agency said Tuesday in a news release.
Certain factors may help identify patients for surgical procedure for obstructive sleep apnea Patients with more severe obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to receive greater benefit from the surgical procedure known as maxillomandibular advancement, according to a study published online by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Postoperative Clostridium difficile infection in the Veterans Health Administration The overall postoperative rate of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and life-threatening intestinal conditions, was 0.4 percent per year among more than 468,386 surgical procedures at the Veterans Health Administration, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery.
Changes in retail prices for prescription dermatologic drugs from 2009-2015 Prices among 19 brand-name prescription dermatologic drugs increased rapidly between 2009 and 2015, with prices for topical antineoplastic drugs to prevent the spread of cancer cells increasing an average of 1,240 percent, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.
	New technology promises fast, accurate stroke diagnosis Minutes count when treating stroke, but current diagnostics take as long as three hours, careful lab work, and skilled technicians to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. Scientists at Cornell University's Baker Institute for Animal Health have developed a device that helps diagnose stroke in less than ten minutes using a drop of blood barely big enough to moisten your fingertip. Having demonstrated proof of principle, the technology could eventually be expanded and used in point-of-care testing devices to diagnose other conditions in humans and animals, including traumatic brain injury (concussion), some forms of dementia, and even some types of cancer and heart disease. The study appears in the journal PLOS ONE.
	Culture factors into why we like or dislike people, new research shows Culture may play a key role in whether people "like" or "don't like" others, new Stanford research shows.
	Daily pill prevents HIV – reaching people who could benefit from PrEP CDC's latest Vital Signs report finds a continuing need to raise awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – a daily pill that can prevent HIV infection – among those who are at substantial risk for HIV infection.
	Connecting overeating, emotions and cognitive control in young children In the past 30 years, obesity has more than doubled in U.S. children and quadrupled in adolescents. In 6- to 11-year-old children, obesity increased from 7 percent in 1980 to 18 percent in 2012, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Passive smoking is associated with earlier delivery and lower birth weight It has been known for more than 50 years that a mother who smokes whilst pregnant is more likely to give birth to her baby prematurely. But what if a mother doesn't smoke but lives with someone who does? New research by academics from the University of Bristol has found women exposed to passive smoking, on average, deliver their babies earlier and with lower birth weights compared to unexposed women.
	Understanding a missing link in how antidepressants work Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich have now identified a new functional link between the established depression risk factor FKBP51 and epigenetic changes. This new link improves our understanding of how antidepressants work. It is hoped that as a result in the future we will be able to match pharmaceuticals so that they address more specific biological changes and, as such, will improve the chance of successful treatment thus helping the millions of treatment resistant patients.
How the explosion in prescription painkillers has created more heroin users In the early years of my clinical practice as a psychologist treating heroin users, I commonly saw adolescents and young adults using heroin as their first drug. A typical client was a male in his mid-teens, perhaps a runaway or living in foster care, or someone who had been in and out of juvenile detention, or dropped out of school and who was court-ordered into treatment. When we saw older heroin users in treatment, it was considered unusual. That's not the case anymore.
	Should the world's poorest countries be allowed to continue copying patent-protected drugs? The World Trade Organisation has agreed to extend a waiver that allows poor countries to copy patented medicines. The waiver, which was due to expire in January 2016, has now been extended to 2033.
Pay-for-performance fails to improve quality of health care payer programs Double bonuses paid to some Medicare Advantage plans under a pay-for-performance program did not result in higher quality ratings, according to research conducted by the University of Michigan.
	Low sugar diet makes foods taste sweeter but does not change preferred level of sweetness, study finds A new study from scientists at the Monell Center and collaborators reveals that while foods such as vanilla pudding taste sweeter following three months on a low-sugar diet, the level of sweetness most preferred in foods and beverages does not change. The findings may inform public health efforts to decrease the amount of added sugars that people consume in their diets.
NTDs disproportionately found in areas of poverty in Islamic Nations The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is an inter-governmental organisation of 57 Muslim-majority countries with a mission to promote human rights and advance science and technology development. In a new PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Editorial, Drs. Peter Hotez and Jennifer R. Herricks from the Baylor College of Medicine review the current state of neglected tropical diseases in OIC countries and how this corresponds to human development and poverty.
Two-thirds of studies on 'psychosocial' treatments fail to declare conflicts of interest Health services in many countries increasingly rely on prescribed 'psychosocial interventions': treatments that use counselling techniques to tackle mental health issues, behavioural problems such as substance abuse, and assist parents with new or troubled children.
Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: Increased risk for women with diabetes Air pollution is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and some people may be more susceptible to its effects than others. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health used data from a nationwide study of nurses to look for factors that made people more vulnerable to the effects of long-term air pollution exposure. One factor in particular stood out to the researchers: type 2 diabetes. The team reports its findings in a paper published November 25 in the Journal of the American Heart Association Report.
	A role for neural noise in animal behavior Researchers from EPFL and UNIL have used flies to show how behaviors may be shaped by seemingly random brain activity. This study raises new questions about the role of neural noise in moment-to-moment decisions.
	Have your say on wearable gadgets that help avoid sunburn Wearable gadgets are the new wave of sun protection offering the potential to reduce skin cancer rates to those most at risk of sunburn, young people aged 18-35, according to QUT researchers.
	Warm temperatures worsen cardiovascular disease but not diabetes risk in mice You might want to think twice before turning up that thermostat during the holidays. A new study led by UCSF researchers has found that mice who spend too much time in their thermal "comfort zone" while gorging on fatty foods more than double their risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to mice who stayed cool while eating the same diet.
	The silence of the genes – new insights into genomic imprinting Research led by Dr. Keiji Tanimoto from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, has brought us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of genomic imprinting. In this intriguing event, one copy of a gene is 'turned off', or silenced, depending on whether it was derived from the mother or the father. The research team has identified a segment of DNA that is essential in the imprinting process for the closely linked Igf2/H19 genes, two of the first imprinted genes to be discovered. If these genes are incorrectly imprinted, it can lead to the overgrowth (Beckwith–Wiedemann) or dwarfism (Silver Russell) syndromes, and also has a role in some kidney and liver cancers.
	Ultrasound examinations can identify patients at risk of stroke Ultrasound, a non-invasive technique commonly used to study the presence of atherosclerosis disease in blood vessels, can be used to identify patients at increased risk of future stroke who could benefit from surgery. Since surgical treatment to prevent stroke is only considered beneficial to some, ultrasound can prove useful in preventing unnecessary surgical intervention, new research at Umeå University in Sweden shows.
	Tackling negative body image among women by emphasising functionality Women who nurse negative thoughts about their appearance think that people look at them just as disapprovingly. Such a negative body image can lead to a wide range of complaints, from depression to eating disorders and obesity. A solution appears to be at hand: women who concentrate on what their body can do instead of what it looks like are far more satisfied about their appearance. Psychologist Jessica Alleva discovered this during her PhD project 'Give us a smile and lighten us up' that she carried out with funding from the Free competition of NWO Division for the Social Sciences. Alleva defends her PhD thesis on Wednesday 25 November at Maastricht University.
Researchers develop cell line to study obesity, other diseases A Kansas State University research team has created a cell line that can be used in studies aimed at understanding obesity and other disease in humans, a discovery that has caught the attention of a Canadian company that markets innovative work in the life sciences.
	Why bartenders have to ignore some signals A robotic bartender has to do something unusual for a machine: It has to learn to ignore some data and focus on social signals. Researchers at the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) of Bielefeld University investigated how a robotic bartender can understand human communication and serve drinks socially appropriately. For their new study, they invited participants in the lab and asked them to jump into the shoes of their robotic bartender. The participants looked through the robot's eyes and ears and selected actions from its repertoire. The results have now been published in the open-access research journal Frontiers in Psychology.
	Infrared thermography, a support tool for orthopedic diagnosis A research group at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) in collaboration with Clínica CEMTRO has carried out a study to establish the capacity of infrared thermography (IRT) to discriminate injuries and to evaluate its applicability in emergency trauma scenarios. Results show that this technology is a great support tool to correctly identify the presence o absence of injuries in a particular body part.
	A new diet provides hope for treating patients with drug-resistant epilepsy Scientists from Royal Holloway, University of London and UCL have identified how a specific diet can be used to help treat patients with uncontrolled epilepsy.
	Scientists homing in on new hepatitis C vaccine Trinity researchers have just commenced a major new study to evaluate a new vaccine for the prevention of Hepatitis C infection in HIV patients, who are at increased risk of contracting the common infection.
Health-care options as physician shortage looms The Association of American Medical Colleges projects that the nation will face a shortage of 12,000 to 31,000 primary-care physicians by 2025. So it's no wonder you may be finding it harder to find a doctor or to schedule an appointment with the one you have.
	Scientists identify promising new melanoma drug A new drug discovered by scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) may show promise for treating skin cancers that are resistant or unresponsive to today's leading therapies.
	Promising drug combination for advanced prostate cancer A new drug combination may be effective in treating men with metastatic prostate cancer. Preliminary results of this new approach are encouraging and have led to an ongoing international study being conducted in 196 hospitals worldwide.
	New treatment potential for heart attack sufferers New hope in the fight against cardiovascular disease has arrived, following breakthrough research identifying a pigment in our bile which could protect us.
New 'party pill' test could help authorities keep up with trends in drug (ab)use A new test for club drugs like ketamine can detect low levels of drugs in urine and plasma, making it faster, easier and cheaper to identify them. The authors of the study, published in Journal of Chromatography B, say it could give authorities the boost they need to keep up with trends drug (ab)use.
	Constant traffic noise may boost depression risk (HealthDay)—People who live with constant road noise may face a higher risk of developing depression, researchers say.
	Heart disease doesn't take a holiday (HealthDay)—People with heart disease should take a number of precautions if they travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, an expert suggests.
	Don't let reflux ruin your Thanksgiving (HealthDay)—Thanksgiving can be challenging if you suffer from heartburn, but there are a number of things you can do to have a more pleasant holiday, an expert says.
A different kind of anesthesia a possible treatment for stress-induced cardiomyopathy Stress induced cardiomyopathy after cerebral hemorrhage has been shown to increase the risk of further brain damage. These patients can now be identified by a simple blood test, and a possible treatment for stress induced cardiomyopathy has been discovered - a different kind of anesthesia than that currently being used. A new doctoral thesis at University of Gothenburg has explored these issues.
	Liver cell therapies closer as study reveals key to mass production Stem cell scientists have made a key find that aids the quest to produce therapies for patients with liver damage.
	Data scientists create world's first therapeutic venom database What doesn't kill you could cure you. A growing interest in the therapeutic value of animal venom has led a pair of Columbia University data scientists to create the first catalog of known animal toxins and their physiological effects on humans.
Overweight, obesity early in life increase risk of cardiac death Overweight and obesity throughout adulthood, and especially elevated weight in early adulthood, were associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death in a 32-year study of more than 72,000 women published today in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
Report: US abortions continue to decline, down 4 pct in 2012 U.S. abortions continue to fall, according to a new federal report released Wednesday.
	Topical retinol induces skin changes similar to retinoic acid (HealthDay)—Both retinol and retinoic acid have beneficial effects on cellular and molecular properties of the epidermis and dermis, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Animal-source, low-carb diet ups T2DM risk with past GDM (HealthDay)—For women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD), particularly one from animal-source foods, is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published online Nov. 17 in Diabetes Care.
	Impact of recurrence score assay varies with patient age (HealthDay)—For women with early-stage breast cancer, the impact of receipt of the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay varies with patient age, according to a study published online Nov. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	No direct survival effect for moderate drinking in seniors (HealthDay)—For older adults, light-to-moderate drinking does not have a protective effect on mortality after adjustment for health status and physical activity, according to a study published online Nov. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	How a genetic locus protects adult blood-forming stem cells A particular location in DNA, called the Dlk1-Gtl2 locus, plays a critical role in protecting hematopoietic, or blood-forming, stem cells—a discovery revealing a critical role of metabolic control in adult stem cells, and providing insight for potentially diagnosing and treating cancer, according to researchers from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
FDA approves booster-enhanced flu vaccine for seniors Federal health officials have approved a first-of-a-kind flu vaccine that contains a booster to help protect seniors vulnerable to the virus.
Number of people in latest E. coli outbreak expected to grow The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the number of people affected by an E. coli outbreak linked to Costco chicken salad will likely grow over the next few weeks, even though the product has been removed from store shelves.
	Progesterone supplements do not improve outcomes for recurrent miscarriages New research from the University of Birmingham has shown that progesterone supplements in the first trimester of pregnancy do not improve outcomes in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages.
	Heart disease patients who sit a lot have worse health even if they exercise Patients with heart disease who sit a lot have worse health even if they exercise, reveals research from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and published today in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention.
The harmful use of topical steroids in India is out of control, says expert The widespread misuse of skin creams and lotions that contain steroids in India is harmful and out of control, argues an expert in The BMJ this week.
	Mosquito-borne virus may lead to severe brain infection The mosquito-borne virus chikungunya may lead to severe brain infection and even death in infants and people over 65, according to a new study that reviewed a chikungunya outbreak on Reunion Island off the coast of Madagascar in 2005-2006. The study is published in the November 25, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Many cases have occurred in the United States in people who acquired the virus while traveling, but the first locally transmitted case in the U.S. occurred in Florida in July.
Women with diabetes exposed to air pollution at higher risk for heart disease Women with diabetes who are exposed to air pollution for long periods may have a much higher risk for heart disease, according to a long-term, nationwide study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
	Breast MRI after mammography may identify additional aggressive cancers Additional breast cancers found with MRI are sometimes larger and potentially more aggressive than those found on mammography, according to a study published online in the journal Radiology. Researchers said that in some cases MRI findings of additional cancers not seen on mammography may necessitate a change in treatment.
Arizona health insurance co-op to close shop Dec. 31 Executives with Arizona's nonprofit health insurance co-op said Tuesday that they have failed to come up with additional financial backing and the insurer plans to shut down all operations Dec. 31.
Gambian president calls halt to female genital mutilation Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has banned female genital mutilation, branding the practice as outdated and not a requirement of Islam, the information ministry announced Tuesday.
	Structural brain connectivity as a genetic marker for schizophrenia Schizophrenia has been considered an illness of disrupted brain connectivity since its earliest descriptions. Several studies have suggested brain white matter is affected not only in patients with schizophrenia but also in individuals at increased risk for the disease.
	New CDC estimates underscore the need to increase awareness of a daily pill that can prevent HIV infection A new Vital Signs report published today estimates that 25 percent of sexually active gay and bisexual adult men, nearly 20 percent of adults who inject drugs, and less than 1 percent of heterosexually active adults are at substantial risk for HIV infection and should be counseled about PrEP, a daily pill for HIV prevention.
To beat hunger, shift from food quantity to diet quality The biggest food challenge today is not hunger but nutritional deficiency. That's the conclusion of Cornell food security experts who spoke at the National Press Club Nov. 23.
National survey shows public supports rights, protections for transgender people From Donald Trump and the Syrian refugee crisis to terrorism and the Islamic State, there will be more than enough political fodder to go around the Thanksgiving dinner table this year.
	Stem cell trial success could lead to new heart disease therapies The key objective of the EU-funded CARE-MI project, which was completed in September 2015, was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AlloCSC-01, a suspension of allogeneic human cardiac stem cells (CSCs) in patients who have suffered a heart attack. This serious condition occurs when blood stops flowing to a part of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle.
Poll: Most Americans see personal tie to rising prescription painkiller abuse The growing abuse of prescription painkillers now touches home for a majority of Americans, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Proteome analysis for detection of diabetic nephropathy: Benefit remains unclear The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined the benefit of a diagnostic-therapeutic strategy using urinary proteome analysis for detection of diabetic nephropathy (DN) versus a conventional diagnostic strategy in patients with diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. After publication of the preliminary report in June 2015, interested persons and parties had the opportunity to comment on the preliminary results.
New study on complete response rates for late-stage cancer The report, 'Chemotherapy for Late-Stage Cancer Patients: Meta-Analysis of Complete Response Rates' by colleagues at Melbourne and Adelaide universities, has passed peer review on F1000Research.
	Optimal care for older cancer patients should target relevant HRQOL domains In a paper recently published in the European Journal of Cancer, EORTC researchers identified health related quality of life (HRQOL) components that should be considered as most relevant for achieving optimal care for older cancer patients.
As second anniversary nears of Ebola breakout in West Africa, nurse provides firsthand account of combating Ebola International nurse volunteers responding to the Ebola outbreak in West African encountered death on nearly every shift and worked under conditions that challenged their ingenuity in providing even basic care. That is according to one nurse's account in American Journal of Nursing, which provides a rare glimpse of the realities clinicians and patients with Ebola faced inside one Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU).
MZC microbicide gel outperforms Tenofovir 1% gel in preclinical evaluation of microbicide candidates New data from a preclinical safety and efficacy study of the candidate microbicide gel MZC, which targets HIV, herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV), shows that the gel performs as well as, or in many cases, better than, tenofovir (TFV) 1% gel, a leading microbicide candidate.
UK to give 'tampon tax' proceeds to women's charities Britain is give millions of pounds raised from a "tampon tax" to women's charities, including those tackling domestic violence, the government announced Wednesday.
	Better blood pressure control—by mobile phone An interactive web system with the help of your mobile phone can be an effective tool for better blood pressure control. Test persons lowered their blood pressure, were better able to understand how their lifestyle affects their blood pressure and actively participated in followup discussions. These results were shown in a doctoral thesis at the University of Gothenburg.
Turing reneges on drug price cut, rival's version sells well After weeks of criticism from patients, doctors and even other drugmakers for hiking a life-saving medicine's price more than fifty-fold, Turing Pharmaceuticals is reneging on its pledge to cut the $750-per-pill price.
	Clinical trial for type 1 diabetes begins at JGH, MUHC Investigators at Montreal's Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital and McGill University Health Centre have announced the start of a landmark clinical study aimed at restoring normal insulin secretion in people with longstanding type 1 diabetes.

Biology news

	Study suggests fish can experience 'emotional fever' (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers from the U.K. and Spain has found via lab study that at least one type of fish is capable of experiencing 'emotional fever,' which suggests it may qualify as a sentient being. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes their experiments with stressing zebra fish, how the fish reacted, and why they believe it should now be added to the list of organisms labeled as sentient beings.
	Drowning has emerged as a mysterious cause of death amongst groups of young common starlings Drowning has emerged as a mysterious cause of death amongst groups of young common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), according to research by a team of scientists led by international conservation charity the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
	Fastest pigeons tend to become flock leaders; leaders learn navigation skills more effectively than followers Many birds travel in flocks, sometimes migrating over thousands of miles. But how do the birds decide who will lead the way? Researchers at Oxford University, reporting in the journal Current Biology, can offer new insight based on studies in homing pigeons. For pigeons, it seems, leadership is largely a question of speed.
	How cells in the developing ear 'practice' hearing Before the fluid of the middle ear drains and sound waves penetrate for the first time, the inner ear cells of newborn rodents practice for their big debut. Researchers at Johns Hopkins report they have figured out the molecular chain of events that enables the cells to make "sounds" on their own, essentially "practicing" their ability to process sounds in the world around them.
	How cells 'climb' to build fruit fly tracheas Fruit fly windpipes are much more like human blood vessels than the entryway to human lungs. To create that intricate network, fly embryonic cells must sprout "fingers" and crawl into place. Now researchers at The Johns Hopkins University have discovered that a protein called Mipp1 is key to cells' ability to grow these fingers.
	Seasonal monarch butterfly migrations may help lower infection levels Seasonal migrations may help lower infection levels in wild North American monarch butterfly populations, according to a study published November 25, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Sonia Altizer from the University of Georgia, and colleagues.
	Halteres, essential for flight in all flies, are needed by some to climb walls (w/ video) Research from Case Western Reserve University indicates sensory organs on the backs of flies not only provide information crucial to body rotation and flight maneuvers, but are essential to some species when climbing.
	New gene map reveals cancer's Achilles heel Scientists have mapped out the genes that keep our cells alive, creating a long-awaited foothold for understanding how our genome works and which genes are crucial in disease like cancer.
	Researchers assess use of drug-susceptible parasites to fight drug resistance Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a model for evaluating a potential new strategy in the fight against drug-resistant diseases.
	Australia to use drones to track sharks from the air Testing of aerial drones to track the movements of sharks in Australian waters began Wednesday as the government admitted there was "no easy way" to protect swimmers from the predators.
	Dietary restriction gives fruit flies a rhythm for a long life Dietary restriction enhances the expression of the circadian clock genes in the peripheral tissue of fruit flies, according to research from the Kapahi lab at the Buck Institute. Publishing in Cell Metabolism, the researchers show that dietary restriction, induced by reducing protein in the diet, increased the amplitude of circadian clocks and enhanced the cycles of fat breakdown and fat synthesis. This improvement in fat metabolism may be a key mechanism in explaining why dietary restriction extends lifespan in several species, including the flies in this study.
	Massive 'development corridors' in Africa could spell environmental disaster In sub-Saharan Africa, dozens of major 'development corridors,' including roads, railroads, pipelines, and port facilities, are in the works to increase agricultural production, mineral exports, and economic integration. And, if all goes according to plan, it's going to be a disaster, say researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on Nov. 25. They assessed the potential environmental impacts of 33 planned or existing corridors—spanning 53,000 kilometers—that would crisscross much of the African continent, opening up vast areas of sparsely populated land.
	Cichlid fish view unfamiliar faces longer, from further distance than familiar faces Fish viewed digital models with unfamiliar fish faces longer and from a further distance than models with familiar faces, according to a study published November 25, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Masanori Kohda from the Osaka City University, Japan and colleagues.
	Insect DNA extracted, sequenced from black widow spider web Scientists extracted DNA from spider webs to identify the web's spider architect and the prey that crossed it, according to this proof-of-concept study published November 25, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Charles C. Y. Xu from the University of Notre Dame and colleagues.
	Genetically modified fly deployed against fruit pest WA fruit growers could soon have one more weapon against the state's most serious fruit fly pest, the medfly (Ceratitis capitata).
	New study suggests angler education can benefit sharks A new study finds fisher education can help protect vulnerable shark populations. The research, led by University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science scientists, showed that recreational anglers were more supportive of shark management and conservation if they had prior knowledge of shark conservation.
Horns and body of Nola the rhino to be preserved at Smithsonian The horns and body of Nola, the northern white rhino who died Sunday at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, are being sent to the Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to assist researchers.
EPA moves to withdraw approval of controversial weed killer (Update) The Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to withdraw approval of a controversial new weed killer to be used on genetically modified corn and soybeans.
	A changing season means a changing diet for bison, study finds North American bison adjust their diet seasonally in order to take full advantage of the growing season when grasses become less nutritious, a new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder has discovered.
	What have plants ever done for us? They provide the food we eat, the medicines we take, the fuel we use – and, of course, the oxygen we breathe. Plants have been indispensable to human beings for millennia, having a profound and often unexpected impact on our everyday lives.
	Wolves return to Warsaw area after decades Wolves have returned to a large national park on the northern outskirts of Warsaw, decades after they were wiped out in the area under a hunt launched by the communist authorities.

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