Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 30

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 30, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New membrane improves energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis
- Missing link found between turbulence in collapsing star and hypernova, gamma-ray burst
- Tiny octopods catalyze bright ideas: Study shows plasmonic sensors and catalysts need not be mutually exclusive
- Male vs. female brain? Not a valid distinction, study says
- Quantum insulation: Intemperate atoms can't come to equilibrium
- Study suggests blue hue for tarantulas not about attracting a mate
- Best of Last Week – Surprising new particle, a black hole eating a star and cannabis damaging white matter
- New redox flow lithium battery has ten times the energy density of current RFBs
- Looking back 3.8 billion years into the root of the 'Tree of Life'
- Researchers find new phase of carbon, make diamond at room temperature
- Scientists plan to observe outer solar system moons using JWST
- Schizophrenia-associated genetic variants affect gene regulation in the developing brain
- Simulating the jet streams and anticyclones of Jupiter and Saturn
- Very large volcanic eruptions could lead to ice sheet instability
- Immune cells make appendix 'silent hero' of digestive health

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists plan to observe outer solar system moons using JWST NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), often touted as Hubble's successor, is slated to be launched in 2018 to study every phase of cosmic history, mainly by observing the most distant objects in the universe. The telescope will also be useful for investigating extrasolar planetary systems as well as planets within our solar system. Now, a team of researchers led by Laszlo Kestay, the director of the U.S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Science Center, has laid out its plan to use the telescope's capabilities to better understand our planetary neighborhood by putting emphasis on outer solar system moons and their geology.
	Missing link found between turbulence in collapsing star and hypernova, gamma-ray burst A supercomputer simulation of a mere 10 milliseconds in the collapse of a massive star into a neutron star proves that these catastrophic events, often called hypernovae, can generate the enormous magnetic fields needed to explode the star and fire off bursts of gamma rays visible halfway across the universe.
	NASA's space-station resupply missions to relaunch NASA's commercial space program returns to flight this week as one of its private cargo haulers, Orbital ATK, is to launch its first supply shipment to the International Space Station in more than 13 months.
	Simulating the jet streams and anticyclones of Jupiter and Saturn A University of Alberta researcher has successfully generated 3D simulations of deep jet streams and storms on Jupiter and Saturn, helping to satiate our eternal quest for knowledge of planetary dynamics. The results facilitate a deeper understanding of planetary weather and provide clues to the dynamics of Earth's weather patterns evidenced in jet streams and ocean currents.
	James Webb 'Pathfinder Telescope' successfully completes second super-cold optical test Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope's "pathfinder telescope," or "Pathfinder" completed its second super-cold optical test that resulted in the first checkout of specialized optical test equipment designed to illuminate the telescope's optics through to the instrument focal planes, and the procedures used to operate this test equipment.
	What if we dug a tunnel through the Earth? Long distance air travel sucks. Anyone who's ever had to sit on an airplane for 17 hours, enduring screaming babies, terrible internet, and the constant threat of deep vein thrombosis knows how bad it sucks. I know, I know, it's the miracle of flight, and I really shouldn't complain. But there's got to be a better way.
	Unexpected activity on the moon The lunar space environment is much more active than previously assumed. The solar wind is reflected from the surface and crustal magnetic fields of the moon which has effects on for instance lunar water levels. This according to a dissertation by Charles Lue at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and Umeå University in Sweden.
	NASA image: A precocious black hole In July 2015, researchers announced the discovery of a black hole, shown in the above illustration, that grew much more quickly than its host galaxy.

Technology news

	New redox flow lithium battery has ten times the energy density of current RFBs (Tech Xplore)—A team of researchers working at the National University of Singapore has developed a new hybrid redox flow battery (RFB) that they claim has ten times the energy density as conventional RFBs. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the researchers describe how they combined lithium battery ideas with RFBs and altered the membrane generally used in RFBs to come up with a battery they call the redox flow lithium battery (RFLB).
	Rotting wood turns Austria's poorest town into green model Broke, remote and deprived of jobs—just 25 years ago, the border town of Guessing close to Hungary was one of the poorest in Austria, a forgotten frontier along the Iron Curtain trail.
	Saying cheese as style curiosity: Yearbook photos studied Writers, anthropologists, historians make use of written records, relics and works of art to tell a complete story but now researchers from the University of California Berkeley and Brown remind us that there is another path to humanities research, and this is where computer and social sciences cross paths. That path is in photographs and the technique involves making good use of photo datasets.
	How can people safely take control from a self-driving car? New cars that can steer and brake themselves risk lulling people in the driver's seat into a false sense of security—and even to sleep. One way to keep people alert may be providing distractions that are now illegal.
	Amazon delivery drone shows hybrid nature of vertical-to-horizontal (w/ video) Amazon wants to acquaint us with their future delivery system, which has been designed to get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less using small unmanned aerial vehicles—yes, drones.
	US ends bulk collection of phone data The US government has halted its controversial program to collect vast troves of information from Americans' phone calls, a move prompted by the revelations of former intelligence analyst Edward Snowden.
	Online sales on track to break 'Cyber Monday' record Online sales for the key holiday retail day of "Cyber Monday" were on track for a record, helped by surging smartphone shopping, market trackers said.
High-tech Barbie stokes privacy fears The new Barbie doll is "intelligent" and connected. Too connected for some privacy activists.
	Robot adds new twist to NIST antenna measurements and calibrations The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been pioneering antenna measurement methods for decades, but a new robot may be the ultimate innovation, extending measurements to higher frequencies while characterizing antennas faster and more easily than previous NIST facilities.
Facebook ramps paid leave time for new dads With Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg about to become a dad, the social network boosted the amount of time fathers can take off to bond with their new babies.
S Carolina shoppers latest to pay taxes on Amazon sales A sales-tax break the Legislature gave Amazon in 2011 expires Jan. 1, making South Carolina the last state to collect among those where officials cut similar deals with the online retail giant.
Nuclear crossroad: California reactors face uncertain future Six years ago, the company that owns California's last operating nuclear power plant announced it would seek an extended lifespan for its aging reactors. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. envisioned Diablo Canyon as a linchpin in the state's green energy future, with its low-carbon electricity illuminating homes to nearly midcentury.
Don't get Grinched by cybercrime during the holiday season Online fraud spikes during the holiday shopping season, as people searching for the perfect gifts take to cyberspace and head to traditional stores armed with their smartphones.
	South Korea IT firms see shares surge after online banking nod South Korea's top messaging app operator saw its share price soared 13 percent Monday—a day after being named by financial regulators as one of two companies permitted to start Internet-only banking services.
	For some people, the older the smartphone, the better Between splashy launches, lavish new-phone offers (get a free HDTV on activation!) and frequent software updates that slow down your old handset, it sometimes feels like the entire technology industry is pushing you to buy the latest smartphone. Yet some holdouts resist.
	How to solve a Rubik's cube in five seconds This week, 14-year-old Lucas Etter set a new world record for solving the classic Rubik's cube in Clarksville, Maryland, in the US, solving the scrambled cube in an astonishing 4.904 seconds.
	Don't let VW scandal destroy your faith in car industry The Volkswagen emissions scandal has shattered trust in the automotive industry the world over. After news broke that VW had knowingly circumvented US emissions regulations, shares in a number of car companies took a hit, while other regulators launched investigations of their own, finding similar breaches.
	A full fibre network is the only way to future-proof Britain Another day, another government announcement heralding the coming of high-speed broadband for all – in this case the call, by the prime minister, David Cameron, call to make broadband a universal service obligation that would put broadband on the same footing as the water supply. But such statements are two-a-penny, while the decisions and resources needed to make them a reality are sadly scarce.
Finding fake feedback posted online How can you, the consumer, trust the customer feedback posted at online shopping sites when hoping to make a purchasing decision? Conversely, as the company running the site, how can it protect its reputation from false negative feedback? Researchers in Australia hope to answer these questions with computer software that can detect false feedback and ensure the integrity of ecommerce trust management systems. They provide details in the International Journal of Trust Management in Computing and Communications.
Cyber Monday sales still on top, but losing some luster Retailers are rolling out online deals on so-called "Cyber Monday." But now that shoppers are online all the time anyway, the 10-year-old shopping holiday is losing some of its luster.
	EU anti-terror chief urges accord on passenger data collection by year end EU counter-terror chief Gilles de Kerchove called Monday for the European parliament to secure an agreement with member states that would require airlines to share passenger data by the end of the year.
	Google denies monitoring accord with Israeli government Internet giant Google on Monday denied a report from Israel's foreign ministry that it has reached an agreement with the government to jointly monitor YouTube videos inciting attacks.
Info on five million VTech customers and kids exposed in breach Kid's technology maker VTech says the personal information of about 5 million of its customers and their children may have been stolen by hackers.
NY program uses phone calls, text messages to teach English Candelaria Lopez had tried to learn English before, but it didn't work. She couldn't always make it to class, and when she could, it was hard to find the energy to sit through a three-hour session after her long days as a farmworker in the Hudson Valley region. So even after 20 years in the United States, the Mexican immigrant was still pretty much comfortable only saying "Hi."
Getting industrial flexibility monetized A more flexible electricity consumption of industrial plants in return for financial benefits can tackle two major challenges at the same time: the integration of variable renewable energy systems on the grid, and the rising electricity cost for industry. This requires successful Business Models that create actual win-win situations. The IndustRE workshop of 27 October 2015 in Brussels surveyed the standpoints of various stakeholders on the topic.
	New report outlines benefits and trade-offs of low-carbon energy If it's green, it's mostly clean, according to a new, comprehensive review of renewable energy sources released today by the International Resource Panel, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Medicine & Health news

	Male vs. female brain? Not a valid distinction, study says Are the brains of men and women truly different? Not if you look at the overall structure, a new study says.
	A breakdown product of aspirin blocks cell death associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases A new study finds that a component of aspirin binds to an enzyme called GAPDH, which is believed to play a major role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
	Testosterone replacement makes Type 2 diabetic men more sensitive to insulin Men with Type 2 diabetes who have low testosterone levels can benefit significantly from testosterone treatment.
	DNA repair protein BRCA1 implicated in cognitive function and dementia Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes have shown for the first time that the protein BRCA1 is required for normal learning and memory and is depleted by Alzheimer's disease.
	How gaps between genes interact to influence the risk of acquiring diseases New research from The University of Manchester and the Brabraham Institute has revealed how gaps between genes interact to influence the risk of acquiring diseases such as arthritis and type 1 diabetes.
	Posttraumatic stress disorder reveals imbalance between signalling systems in the brain Experiencing a traumatic event can cause life-long anxiety problems, called posttraumatic stress disorder. Researchers from Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet now show that people with posttraumatic stress disorder have an imbalance between two neurochemical systems in the brain, serotonin and substance P. The greater the imbalance, the more serious the symptoms patients have.
	Scientists find protein 'talks' to wrong partners in cystic fibrosis Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found evidence that a mutant protein responsible for most cases of cystic fibrosis is so busy "talking" to the wrong cellular neighbors that it cannot function normally and is prematurely degraded.
	Study offers insights to how ovarian cancer grows—and potential to stop it Can any cancer cell form another tumor, or is it only select cancer stem cells that give rise to new cancer cells? The answer, a new study finds, is both.
	Newly evolved, uniquely human gene variants protect older adults from cognitive decline Many human gene variants have evolved specifically to protect older adults against neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, thus preserving their contributions to society, report University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers in the November 30 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Researchers find sleep gene linked to heart failure Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a gene that, when working properly, appears to reduce the risk of heart failure and improve treatment outcomes, highlighting a possible target for the development of new drugs.
Shining light on microbial growth and death inside our guts For the first time, scientists can accurately measure population growth rates of the microbes that live inside mammalian gastrointestinal tracts, according to a new method reported in Nature Communications by a team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School.
	Schizophrenia-associated genetic variants affect gene regulation in the developing brain An international research collaboration has shed new light on how DNA sequence variation can influence gene activity in the developing human brain.
	Immune cells make appendix 'silent hero' of digestive health New research shows a network of immune cells helps the appendix to play a pivotal role in maintaining the health of the digestive system, supporting the theory that the appendix isn't a vestigial—or redundant—organ.
	Discovery of an embryonic switch for cancer stem cell generation An international team of scientists, headed by researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, report that decreases in a specific group of proteins trigger changes in the cancer microenvironment that accelerate growth and development of therapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs).
	Researchers grow retinal nerve cells in the lab Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a method to efficiently turn human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, the type of nerve cells located within the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain. Death and dysfunction of these cells cause vision loss in conditions like glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.
Brazil finds Zika virus causes deformities in babies The Brazilian health ministry confirmed Saturday that there was a link between cases of microcephaly, a head deformity, in babies and the Zika virus, transmitted by mosquitoes that spread dengue.
	Could your 'Holiday blues' be seasonal affective disorder? (HealthDay)—Some people who think they have the holiday blues may actually have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), an expert suggests.
	Dogs may ease a child's fears (HealthDay)—The companionship of a dog may lower a child's anxiety levels, a new study suggests.
Threats against children during the separation process for women in abusive relationships Mothers who separate from their abusive partners are four times more likely to report threats to take or to harm their children than those who stay in the relationship, a study by Sam Houston State University found.
Parental absence affects brain development in children Researchers in China have found that children who have been left without direct parental care for extended periods of time show larger gray matter volumes in the brain, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
MRI reveals weight loss protects knees Obese people who lose a substantial amount of weight can significantly slow the degeneration of their knee cartilage, according to a new MRI study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Imaging identifies cartilage regeneration in long-distance runners Using a mobile MRI truck, researchers followed runners for 4,500 kilometers through Europe to study the physical limits and adaptation of athletes over a 64-day period, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Reduced blood flow seen in brain after clinical recovery of acute concussion Some athletes who experience sports-related concussions have reduced blood flow in parts of their brains even after clinical recovery, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The results suggest a role for MRI in determining when to allow concussed athletes to return to competition.
Hospital-to-home transitions can stress out family caregivers, affect sick kids Bringing acutely ill children home from the hospital can overwhelm family caregivers and affect a child's recovery and long-term health, according to research in the journal Pediatrics.
Supervised injection facilities would be cost-effective in Toronto and Ottawa, study shows Researchers say it is highly likely that establishing up to three supervised injection facilities in Toronto and up to two facilities in Ottawa would be cost-effective.
HIV drug stocks not reaching African patients: report Efforts to get lifesaving antiretrovial drugs to HIV-positive patients in many sub-Saharan African countries are routinely failing at "the last mile", an international medical group said Monday.
	Always forget a face? So does Brad Pitt – don't just blame your memory Most of us occasionally fail to recognise people we know. This often happens when we meet someone we know in an unusual context, such as bumping into a work colleague in a supermarket. Nevertheless, the ability to recognise another person from their face is something most of us take for granted. But what would life be like if everyone's face looked the same to you?
	Online depression therapy proves a success A new internet-delivered intervention for depression, devised by Trinity spin-out company SilverCloud Health, could lead to greater access to treatment and improved outcomes for those suffering from mental health difficulties.
	Scientists offer sweet solution to marathon fatigue It turns out a spoonful of sugar might not just help the medicine go down, but could also help stave off tiredness faced by weary marathon runners – or other long-distance athletes – when they hit the wall.
	Concern grows over high-caffeine drinks availability Concern is growing even stronger among West Australians about the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to kids aged under 12, with health researchers calling for government policy to restrict sales to young people.
	Positive memories, attachments can stifle hatred of rivals This is Rivalry Week—and nothing gets football fans nationwide more riled up than trying to beat their long-time foes for bragging rights.
	Want to do something good for your health? Try being generous Every day, we are confronted with choices about how to spend our money. Whether it's thinking about picking up the tab at a group lunch or when a charity calls asking for a donation, we are faced with the decision to behave generously or not.
	Beware, asthma sufferers: Migraines may worsen Pre-existing asthma may be a strong predictor of future chronic migraine attacks in individuals experiencing occasional migraine headaches, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC), Montefiore Headache Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vedanta Research.
	NYC's novel salt warning rule set to take effect at chains (Update) New York City begins a new era in nutritional warnings this week, when chain restaurants will have to start putting a special symbol on highly salty dishes.
Air evacuation may do further harm in patients with brain injury, study says Over the past 15 years, more than 330,000 U.S. soldiers have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is one of the leading causes of death and disability connected to the country's recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of these patients were evacuated by air from these countries to Europe and the U.S. for further treatment. In general, these patients were flown quickly to hospitals outside the battle zone, where more extensive treatment was available.
	Genetic cause of cleft palates Some children are born with cleft palates and, of those children, some have an asymmetrical face and a malformed ear. A team of scientists led by Berlin-based researcher Enno Klußmann of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) has taken an important step towards discovering the genetic causes of this condition, known as Goldenhar syndrome.
Level of computer use in clinical encounters associated with patient satisfaction Patients at safety-net hospital clinics where there was high computer use by clinicians were less likely to rate their care as excellent, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease death Cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death but it was not associated with the development of coronary artery calcification in a long-term study of a large racially diverse group of U.S. adults, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care releases updated guideline For adults aged 65 years or older living in the community, there is no benefit to screening for cognitive impairment if they are asymptomatic, according to a new Canadian guideline published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Vital statistics data can help fill gap about prescription opioid-related deaths A new study indicates that Statistics Canada data could be used to estimate the number of prescription opioid-related deaths in Canada to aid in national surveillance of this important public health issue by provincial and national public health agencies.
	Inflammation is associated with bone growth Researchers use induced pluripotent stem cells in a mouse model to show that diseased bone growth may be stimulated by a key molecule for inflammation. Inhibition of activin-A was found to repress the bone overgrowth typically seen in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive. This model provides a new platform for drug discovery and bone growth.
	Rare disease is a lens on cancer What can a rare genetic childhood disease teach us about cancer? Dr. Ayelet Erez of the Weizmann Institute's Biological Regulation Department says: "A single-mutation disease can act as a 'lens.' If we find exactly what malfunctions in the sick child, we can zoom in and understand the role of the same gene among the many genetic changes that accompany cancer." In findings that recently appeared in Nature, Erez and a team of researchers used this approach to reveal how a metabolic cycle that is 'broken' in two childhood diseases gets hijacked to benefit cancer cells.
	Scientists publish new findings on differentiation and malignant transformation of B lymphocytes B-cell lymphoma is one of the most common cancers derived from the lymphoid system. Lymphomagenesis is often linked to the so-called germinal center reaction. B lymphocytes represent a subgroup of the white blood cells, whose expansion after infection leads to germinal center formation. Within the germinal center, the 'light' zone selects the most highly functional germinal center B cells that have been generated in the 'dark' zone. This zoning leads to an efficient immune response. Klaus Rajewsky's group at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin has now helped illuminate the processes within the dark zone.
	Improving health, one step at a time It may be surprising, but Canadians who live in densely-populated areas where stores, banks, schools and other services are close by do not walk as much as they should. These are the findings of new research, published in the current issue of BMJ Open, by a team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). This cross-sectional analysis of a large sample of Canadians was unique in combining objective measures of physical activity with digital map based measures of walkable neighbourhoods.
	Good medicine left on the shelf? A controversial new paper by James Cook University scientist claims many useful new treatments are being left on the shelf by medical researchers.
Shall I sing for you? How Europe's oldest woman joined the 116 club Emma Morano, Europe's oldest person and the second oldest in the world, marked her 116th birthday by offering to sing her favourite song for visiting well-wishers, Italian media reported Monday.
	Teens more cautious about sex when parents set rules, study finds (HealthDay)—A new analysis suggests that parents who set rules and keep tabs on their teenagers may have kids who are more cautious about sex.
Empliciti approved for multiple myeloma (HealthDay)—Empliciti (elotuzumab), in combination with two other drugs, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat the blood cancer multiple myeloma. The drug is only approved for patients who have already been given one-to-three prior therapies for the disease.
	Telephone counseling benefits overweight breast CA survivors (HealthDay)—Telephone weight-loss counseling is similarly effective to in-person counseling for breast cancer survivors with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m², according to a study published online Nov. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Review: changes in vending machines can promote health (HealthDay)—Pricing and availability strategies can improve nutritional quality of purchases from vending machines, according to a review published in the December issue of Obesity Reviews.
	Shorter duration of dysphagia symptoms without stent (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing laryngotracheoplasty, posterior cricoid split laryngoplasty, tracheal resection, and cricotracheal resection, dysphagia duration is shorter for those without versus those with stents, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
	Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease predicts MACE in STEMI (HealthDay)—For patients without diabetes with ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (FLD) independently predicts impaired myocardial perfusion and adverse in-hospital outcomes, according to a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Mortality rate increases with age in emergency abdominal surgery (HealthDay)—Emergency major abdominal surgical procedures are associated with high mortality in older adults, with the odds of death increasing with age, according to a review published online Nov. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Trimethoprim-induced aseptic meningitis described (HealthDay)—Drug-induced aseptic meningitis following trimethoprim use has been described in a research letter published online Nov. 20 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Neurotoxicity seen with acyclovir at recommended dose in dialysis (HealthDay)—Acyclovir-induced neurotoxicity should be considered for patients with herpes zoster on hemodialysis, according to a case report published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of Dermatology.
	AAP provides guidance on pediatric peri-op anesthesia (HealthDay)—Guidance is offered for the pediatric perioperative anesthesia environment in a policy statement published online Nov. 30 in Pediatrics.
	Novel technique described for full thickness scalp defects (HealthDay)—Reconstruction of scalp defects including application of Integra bilayer wound matrix followed by delayed split-thickness skin grafting results in low morbidity, with minimal wound care, according to a study published online Nov. 25 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
	Basal insulin peglispro beats glargine for glycemic control (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, basal insulin peglispro (BIL) provides better glycemic control than insulin glargine, with increased triglycerides, aminotransferases, and liver fat content, according to a study published online Nov. 23 in Diabetes Care.
Size matters: Stockholm clinic launches penis measuring tape Forget reassurances to insecure teens: a Stockholm youth health clinic is handing out special measuring tapes to young men and asking them to size up their penises, it said on Monday.
	Researchers unravel abilities of the immune system's giant cells If rubbish is too big and unwieldy for normal household waste, its removal becomes the job of specialized experts. Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now discovered, in cooperation with colleagues from the UK, how large, fused cells help our body to deal with bulky items that may otherwise obstruct normal physiological processes. While scientists have long known about these giant cells, a clear picture of their abilities was still lacking. The current studies, published in the December issue of Cell Reports, explain why a new treatment for systemic amyloidosis, currently undergoing clinical trials, may be so effective.
	Promising new antimicrobials could fight drug-resistant MRSA infection A novel class of antimicrobials that inhibits the function of a key disease-causing component of bacteria could be effective in fighting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the major drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, according to researchers at Georgia State University.
	With climate change, malaria risk in Africa shifts, grows: study A larger portion of Africa is currently at high risk for malaria transmission than previously predicted, according to a new University of Florida mapping study.
	Safe form of estrogen helped multiple sclerosis patients avoid relapses in clinical trial Taking the pregnancy hormone estriol along with their conventional medications helped patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) avoid relapses, according to results of a Phase II randomized, placebo-controlled study led by UCLA researchers.
	Researchers chart 'fitness landscape' to fight Hep C virus Borrowing from several statistical science models, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel computational approach for massively accelerating the search for a hepatitis C vaccine.
Critically ill patients at long-term risk for bone fracture One year after being hospitalized in intensive care, patients have reduced bone mass that puts them at greater risk for fractures, according to a new study published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Telepathology consultations benefit patients in China International telepathology consultations can significantly improve patient care, according to a new study by UPMC and KingMed Diagnostics researchers. Their review of more than 1,500 pathology cases submitted electronically to UPMC over three years found that consultation with UPMC pathologists resulted in significantly altered treatment plans for more than half of the cases in which a patient's primary diagnosis had been provided from referring hospitals in China.
	Processing facial emotions in persons with autism spectrum disorder Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulty recognizing and interpreting how facial expressions convey various emotions - from joy to puzzlement, sadness to anger. This can make it difficult for an individual with ASD to successfully navigate social situations and empathize with others.
	Female hormone supplements with estrogen and progestin linked to breast cancer risk Postmenopausal African American women who use female hormone supplements containing estrogen and progestin ("combination" therapy) are at an increased risk for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
	Our epigenome is influenced by our habitat and lifestyle Research on the genomes of Pygmy hunter-gatherer populations and Bantu farmers in Central Africa, carried out by scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS in cooperation with French and international teams, has shown for the first time that our habitat and lifestyle can have an impact on our epigenome - the entire system that controls the expression of our genes without affecting their sequence. In this study, the scientists have shown that moving from a forest habitat to an urban environment has a profound impact on the epigenetic patterns of the immune response. Conversely, the different historical lifestyles of these populations - sedentary farming or nomadic hunting and gathering - are likely to affect more lasting functions, such as those associated with development, by modulating their genetic control via natural selection.
Combining tests leads to better prediabetes detection Using a combination of two blood sugar tests rather than a single test would improve detection of prediabetes in American children and adults, according to a new study by researchers at the School of Public Health at Georgia State University.
Drug-resistant bacteria carried by nursing home patients focus of study A Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital study found that a small percentage of nursing home patients carrying multi drug-resistant bacteria are admitted to hospitals without showing symptoms caused by the bacteria. The research, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, highlights the importance of hospital and nursing home infection control practices.
Latino youth who feel discriminated against are more depressed, less likely to help others Recent conversations in the United States have centered on discrimination issues; yet, little is known about how discrimination affects youths' mental health and their willingness to help others. Now, University of Missouri researchers found Latino immigrant youth who reported feeling discriminated against had more depressive symptoms and were less likely to perform altruistic behaviors six months and a year after experiencing discrimination.
	Unassuming 'Swiss Army knife'-like protein key to new cancer drug's therapeutic action When preliminary tests show that a new drug has remarkable effectiveness against a lethal illness, everyone wants to know how it works. Often, a mechanism of action is hard to pin down, but when it can be, a candidate drug's chances increase. Knowing how it works sometimes means you can figure out ways to enhance its effectiveness or take another tack if patients develop resistance to it.
	Researchers identify genes linked to stress-triggered heart disease Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Barrow Neurological Institute have for the first time identified genetic risk factors that are linked to stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC), a rare type of heart disease.
	Scientists identify critical pathway to improve muscle repair Researchers at the University of Louisville have discovered a mechanism involved in skeletal muscle repair that may enable clinicians to boost the effectiveness of adult stem cell therapies for diseases such as muscular dystrophy. The research, published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, describes the role of TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), an adaptor protein and E3 ubiquitin ligase, in ensuring the vitality of stem cells that regenerate muscle tissue.
Inserting computers into heart and soul of medicine, the doctor-patient relationship The latest technological innovation to affect the doctor-patient relationship is the examination room computer with its promise of supporting safer, more efficient and more effective patient care. But exam room computing is challenging and there is growing evidence that it can be a threat to patient safety and detrimental to good relationships and health outcomes.
	Tracing a path toward neuronal cell death A fruit fly model of a rare, neurodegenerative disease is helping researchers trace the series of steps that lead to neuronal cell death. Damage to astrocytes - star-shaped cells found in the brain and spinal cord - is found in many neurodegenerative conditions, but it's been unclear exactly what role astrocyte dysfunction plays in the development of disease.
Combination therapy successfully treats hepatitis C in patients with advanced liver disease A large multi-center clinical trial has found that a combination of antiviral medications can eradicate hepatitis C infection in more than 90 percent of patients with advanced liver disease. Known as the ASTRAL-4 trial, the study was co-led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Intermountain Medical Center and published online Nov. 17 in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Black women less likely to benefit from early chemotherapy, study shows It is well documented that black, Hispanic, and Asian women typically develop advanced-stage breast cancer more often than white women. As a result, black women are more likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or chemotherapy prior to surgery, in hopes of improving outcomes. However, a Yale Cancer Center study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that among minority women treated with early chemotherapy, black women fare worse than the other groups.
Medicaid expansion improves breast cancer screening for low-income women Low-income women in Medicaid expansion states in the U.S. are more likely to have a breast screening performed than those in non-expansion states, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Fighting AIDS a top priority in western Kenya Between plantations of bananas, mangoes and avocados, a small group of men trek along paths freshly carved out by the November rains on a mission to inform and educate in an area of western Kenya where AIDS remains rife.
'Live positively': Togo's 'Tino' sets example for HIV/AIDS Augustin Dokla is arguably Togo's most famous person with HIV, having lived with the virus—against the odds—since 1999. Sixteen years later, he's still fighting for the rights of those infected.
Method of postoperative pain relief may influence recovery from total knee replacement surgery A new study published today in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association compared outcomes from two types of postoperative pain control methods in a group of patients who had both of their knees replaced.
First outcomes report from novel heart surgery registry shows excellent results for TAVR Four years after its approval in the United States, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to evolve and demonstrate positive outcomes for patients with aortic stenosis, a common heart problem, according to a report published online by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
High Court rules against Northern Ireland's abortion law A Belfast High Court ruling is expected to ease Northern Ireland's strict anti-abortion laws to make it easier for women to terminate pregnancies in some cases.
	Can the oxygen in the blood be measured if the nails have been painted? When a patient is admitted to ED, one of the first clinical actions is to measure the concentration of oxygen in the blood by using a pulse oximeter positioned along the length of the nail. To prevent any possible interference, any nail varnish is removed. A study conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by a team of the UPV/EHU establishes that the alteration caused by nail varnish lies within the standard margin of error (± 2%) for pulse oximeters.
BBC reports BAT tobacco giant paid bribes in east Africa British American Tobacco paid bribes to officials in east Africa, including two members of a convention created under the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat smoking, according to a BBC investigation airing on Monday.
	Obesity not a factor in racial/ethnic variation in cancer screening compliance The higher rate of cancer-related deaths among racial minorities has often been attributed to disparities in cancer screening compliance, however, a new study did not find that the association between body weight/obesity, in particular, and cancer screening adherence vary by race/ethnicity. The results of this focused look at one particular factor, body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity, suggests that some screening disparities may be decreasing, as reported in the study published in Journal of Women's Health.

Biology news

	Study suggests blue hue for tarantulas not about attracting a mate (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Akron and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has found via lab study that the blue color present in many species of tarantula does not appear to be related to attracting a mate. As they report in their paper published in the journal Science Advances, both genders have limited eyesight and do not appear able to discern the color blue.
	Looking back 3.8 billion years into the root of the 'Tree of Life' NASA-funded researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are tapping information found in the cells of all life on Earth, and using it to trace life's evolution. They have learned that life is a master stenographer - writing, rewriting and recording its history in elaborate biological structures.
	Many smaller animals clean themselves to survive, study finds Going without a shower for a few days might make you feel gross, but for small animals like bees and houseflies, keeping clean is a matter of life or death.
	Negotiating parental duties as simple as talking about it for birds Deakin University scientists have completed a world-first study into how birds negotiate parental workloads, finding the answer is as simple as talking to each other.
	Phenomenon observed in worms suggests mothers are hardwired to sacrifice health to produce future generations A newly discovered biological mechanism channels a mother's available energy - in the form of fat - straight to the reproductive system during stressful times, protecting future offspring at the cost of the mother's health.
	'Battle of the Sexes'—How inhibition of male flower production lets female flowers emerge Most people don't know this, but the cucumbers we buy in the supermarket are purely female - grown from plants which were carefully cross-bred to produce female-only flowers. But while farmers have long known that "femaleness" factors into agricultural success - the greater the percentage of female flowers, the greater the yield of both seeds and fruit - it is only recently that scientists have revealed the molecular basis of plant sex determination.
	Scientists use CRISPR technology to edit crop genes CRISPR gene-editing is allowing rapid scientific advances in many fields, including human health and now it has been shown that crop research can also benefit from this latest exciting technology.
	Cage the fly: Walk-in field cages to assess mating compatibility in pest fruit flies Fruit flies mating compatibility studies have been examined by an international team of researchers to assess the usefulness of walk-in field cages in studying the sexual behavior within fruit fly species complexes and recognition of taxonomically misplaced flies. In addition, they have also evaluated the relevant chemical signals during pheromone emission for species discrimination. The experimental part was conducted with the support of Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture in Seibersdorf, Austria. Their findings are published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
	Study suggests bees aren't the be all and end all for crop pollination Farmers who used pesticides that spared bees but sacrificed killed other insects might be ignoring important sources of crop pollination, according to an Australian-led international scientific study.
	Red clover genome to help restore sustainable farming The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) in collaboration with IBERS, has sequenced and assembled the DNA of red clover to help breeders improve the beneficial traits of this important forage crop. The genome is published in Scientific Reports, a journal from the Nature publishing group.
	Factoring for cosmic radiation could help set a more accurate 'molecular clock' Scientists long have used the "molecular clock" to establish when species may have branched from each other on the Tree of Life.
	Neuroscientists identify neural patterns birds use to learn their songs Male zebra finches, small songbirds native to central Australia, learn their songs by copying what they hear from their fathers. These songs, often used as mating calls, develop early in life as juvenile birds experiment with mimicking the sounds they hear.
	Hong Kong's dolphins at risk of disappearing As Hong Kong seeks to expand its international airport and with a major new bridge project under way, campaigners warn that the dwindling number of much-loved pink dolphins in surrounding waters may disappear altogether.
Novel technique to find salt-tolerant plants University of Adelaide researchers are developing a novel technique to easily measure root growth on growing cereal plants, to identify varieties that are more tolerant to salt stress.
Avian influenza expert raises concerns as USDA stockpiles vaccines The U.S. Department of Agriculture is creating a stockpile of avian influenza vaccines, but an expert suggests careful consideration of the strategy and cautions that the strain of the next outbreak is unknown.
	Studying strange visitors from an ecosystem far, far away Strange creatures are visiting our shores each summer.
	Microbiologists discover enigmatic comammox microbes Nitrification plays a key role in Earth's natural nitrogen cycle and in agriculture. Now an international team of scientists led by Holger Daims and Michael Wagner, microbiologists at the University of Vienna, has discovered microbes that perform complete nitrification on their own: A result contrasting textbook knowledge and a milestone of microbiology. The study is currently published in the journal Nature.
	New insights into the family tree of modern turtles Today's sea turtles are the sole survivors of a once diverse ecosystem of marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs. Sea turtles first appeared during the Cretaceous period, 130-140 million years ago and likely evolved from freshwater ancestors. However, these ancestors have yet to be discovered. In a new study, Dr. Chang-Fu Zhou of the Shenyang Normal University of Liaoning and Dr. Márton Rabi of the Biogeology Workgroup of the University of Tübingen and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences seek to identify the ancestors of modern sea turtles among fossils of the Jehol Biota in northeastern China. Their findings were published in Scientific Reports this November.
	The evolutionary history of symbioses between tropical ants and their plant hosts Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich biologists have studied the evolutionary history of symbioses between tropical ants and their plant hosts. The results show that such relationships are not fixed, and that initial symbionts are likely to be displaced in the long run.
	Carnaby's future bleak according to latest count The population of an iconic, endangered WA cockatoo species continues to decline, according to the latest data from one of Australia's largest citizen science surveys.
	Fungi aids plants in scavenging nutrients from ancient soils A super fungi subset, discovered by scientists in two-million year old soils along WA's coastal plains, may be the key to plant survival in nutrient deficient soils.
	Animals in Africa 1000 years ago A team of local scientists have wound back the clock by 1000 years to reconstruct wildlife populations across Africa to help us better understand how they have shaped the world we live in.
	Proteins better known as visual sensors play a role in the heat-seeking movement of sperm In their arduous journey to the egg, sperm 'feel' the heat of the fallopian tube and 'taste' the chemical signals of the ova. But a new Weizmann Institute study published in Scientific Reports shows that sperm actually make quite a bit of use of sensors that have mainly been known to belong to the visual system.
	A horse's eye view: does a pony see what we see? Ever wonder how animals see the world? New research suggests that animals, or mammals at least, see the world the same way humans do. In a study published in the Nov. 25th issue of Biology Letters, researchers from Japan and France report that the eye view of ponies, dolphins, chimps, and humans are surprisingly similar despite having evolved in different environments.
	Strolling salamanders provide clues on how animals evolved to move from water to land Around 390 million years ago, the first vertebrate animals moved fromwater onto land, necessitating changes in their musculoskeletal systems to permit aterrestrial life. Forelimbs and hind limbs of the first tetrapods evolved to support moreweight. But what specific mechanisms drove changes in bone function?
	Waters are more polluted than tests say Bodies of water are "sinks", and thereby bind contaminants particularly well. If even slightly toxic concentrations in water are to be detected, the growth and swimming behavior of small crustaceans, mini-snails and copepods should be used for ecotoxicological assessments. This was the conclusion of a scientist from the TUM, who carried out a number of studies on the subject in cooperation with the University of California in Davis. She also confirmed that it is more informative to test several substances in parallel on various aquatic species, rather than only carrying out individual toxicity tests.
	Marine fish are influenced by the food supply upon which they depend and competition for those resources For years, scientific literature—as well as fisheries management and conservation efforts—has assumed that the survival of adult fish is relatively constant through time and that most fluctuations in the number of adults come from variation in the number of young that are produced and survive to maturity.
	Efforts to 'turbocharge' rice and reduce world hunger enter important new phase A long-term project aimed at improving photosynthesis in rice is entering its third stage, marking another step on the road to significantly increased crop yields that will help meet the food needs of billions of people across the developing world.
	Brook trout study identifies top climate change pressure factor Results from a 15-year study of factors affecting population levels of Eastern brook trout in the face of climate change show that high summer air temperatures have a large influence, in particular on the smallest fry and eggs, which are most important to wild trout abundance in streams.
	Japan to resume 'research' whaling in Antarctic: media Japan will resume "research" whaling in the Antarctic by the end of March next year, local media reported Saturday, despite a call by global regulators for more evidence that the expeditions have a scientific purpose.
	Japan says to resume whaling, fleet sails to Antarctic Tuesday Japan will dispatch a whaling fleet to the Antarctic on Tuesday after a one year suspension, the government said, defying international criticism and a UN legal ruling that the "research" expedition is a commercial hunt in disguise.
	A bright idea to protect local wildlife from cats Bright-coloured collars that could reduce the amount of prey caught by cats will be trialled in a joint Victoria University of Wellington and Wellington City Council project.
Research to improve resistance to costly wheat fungal disease Research is underway that will pave the way for new, improved wheat varieties that are more resistant to a significant fungal disease that costs Western Australian growers $108 million each year.
	Food sector innovations tap nutritional potential of fish The results of the EU-funded SECUREFISH project were discussed at an agrifood parallel session of the EU's Bioeconomy Investment Summit, held November 9 and 10 2015 in Brussels. Project coordinator Dr Nazlin Howell from the University of Surrey in the UK outlined the recently completed project's key successes and how these will benefit both SMEs in Europe and communities in the developing world.
	DNA sequences in GMOs: Largest database now publicly available The JRC has published a new database, JRC GMO-Amplicons, which contains more than 240 000 DNA sequences appearing in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It will help to verify the presence of GMOs in food, feed and environment. To date, this new database is the largest and most comprehensive in this area and could be key to developing new methods for detecting GMOs in food and feed.
	Six years of pest fruit fly species investigation compiled in a new special volume Considered among the agricultural pests with the greatest economic impact, the tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are a serious worldwide problem. Destroying fruit and vegetable production and markets across all major continents, some key species have raised international attention, leading to six years of coordinated multidisciplinary research that will contribute to overcome phytosanitary trade barriers and apply more sustainable pest management strategies such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).
High concentration of CO2 protects sorghum against drought and improves seeds The rising atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), chief among the greenhouse gases fueling global warming and climate change, is beneficial for the physiology of sorghum, an economically and nutritionally important crop grown worldwide. This is the conclusion of a study performed at the University of São Paulo's Bioscience Institute (IB-USP) in Brazil.
	Three food grade colorants identified for citrus In citrus fruit, the color of the peel is a major factor in consumer selection; fresh oranges with a dark orange peel are favored. In order to appeal to consumer preferences, citrus that is picked when it hasn't reached peak color is often "degreened", and then may be treated with an emulsion containing Citrus Red No.2 (CR2) to improve peel color. A new study reveals three food grade colorants that are promising natural alternatives to CR2.
	Common kitchen practices detrimental to tomato aroma Aroma, which is produced by a complex mixture of volatile compounds, plays an important role in consumers' perceptions of fresh fruits and vegetables. For example, studies have shown that the familiar aroma of fresh tomatoes has diminished during the last 50 years - and less fresh tomato aroma is leading to more consumer complaints. The authors of a recent study say that not only do pre- and post-production practices such as time of harvest, use of plant growth regulators, and storage temperature/atmosphere affect tomato aroma, common kitchen practices such as refrigeration and blanching are also detrimental.

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