Science X Newsletter Monday, Jan 18

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 18, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists discover blueprint of body's heat sensor
- Best of Last Week – Gravitational wave rumors, Internet cutting cord with US gov and recovering memory from low fat diet
- Study questions link between teen pot smoking and IQ decline
- New evidence in mice that cocaine makes brain cells cannibalize themselves
- Man-made heat put in oceans has doubled since 1997, study finds
- Why Spiderman can't exist: Geckos are 'size limit' for sticking to walls
- Tardigrade brought back to life after being frozen for thirty years
- Study maps potential route to effective dengue vaccines
- Explosive underwater volcanoes were a major feature of 'Snowball Earth'
- Light-activated nanoparticles prove effective against antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'
- Cheaper solar cells with 20.2 percent efficiency
- Laws of nature predict cancer evolution
- Researchers develop algorithm that takes the field of cell reprogramming forward
- Researchers uncover core set of genes for plant-fungal symbiosis
- Living in high-rise buildings associated with lower survival rates from cardiac arrest

Astronomy & Space news

	SpaceX to launch ocean satellite, try water return Sunday A $180 million satellite to study the world's oceans in a changing climate will blast off Sunday atop a Falcon 9 rocket, which SpaceX will try to land on a floating platform after launch.
	SpaceX fails to stick ocean landing after satellite launch (Update) SpaceX's unmanned Falcon 9 rocket broke apart Sunday as it tried to land on a floating platform in the Pacific, marking the fourth such failure in the company's bid to recycle rockets.
	Hubble views a galactic mega-merger The subject of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is known as NGC 3597. It is the product of a collision between two good-sized galaxies, and is slowly evolving to become a giant elliptical galaxy. This type of galaxy has grown more and more common as the universe has evolved, with initially small galaxies merging and progressively building up into larger galactic structures over time.
	The properties of pre-stellar cores Stars like the Sun begin their lives as cold, dense cores of dust and gas that collapse under the influence of gravity until nuclear fusion is ignited. These cores contain hundreds to thousands of solar-masses of material and have gas densities about a thousand times greater than typical interstellar regions (the typical value is about one molecule per cubic centimeter). How the collapse process occurs in these embryos in poorly understood, from the number of stars that form to the factors that determine their ultimate masses, as well as the detailed timescale for stellar birth. Material, for example, might simply fall freely to the center of the core, but in most realistic scenarios the infall is inhibited by pressure from warm gas, turbulent motions, magnetic fields, or some combination of them.
	First flowers in space bloom on space station The first flower grown in space has bloomed. NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly, International Space Station gardener, shared photos of the prized zinnias this weekend.
	NASA image: Pluto's haze in bands of blue This processed image is the highest-resolution color look yet at the haze layers in Pluto's atmosphere. Shown in approximate true color, the picture is constructed from a mosaic of four panchromatic images from the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) splashed with Ralph/Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) four-color filter data, all acquired by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft on July 14, 2015. The resolution is 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) per pixel; the sun illuminates the scene from the right.
	Support leg breaks as SpaceX rocket lands on ocean barge (Update) After successfully delivering a U.S.-European ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit, a Space X rocket made a hard landing on a floating barge in the roiling Pacific, breaking a support leg and toppling over Sunday.
	Latest: SpaceX: ice buildup may have led rocket to tip over (Update) The latest on the launch of an ocean-monitoring satellite from California (all times local):
	NASA's Stardust sample return was 10 years ago last week It was less than an hour into the new day of January 15, 2006 (EST), when tens of thousands of miles above our planet, two cable cutters and two retention bolts fired, releasing a spring which pushed a 101-pound (46-kilogram) sample return capsule away from its mother ship. Later, during its final plunge Earthward, the capsule would become the fastest human-made object to enter our atmosphere, achieving a velocity of about 28,600 mph (12.8 kilometers per second).
	Video: NASA's SDO captures cascading magnetic arches A dark solar filament above the sun's surface became unstable and erupted on Dec. 16-17, 2015, generating a cascade of magnetic arches. A small eruption to the upper right of the filament was likely related to its collapse.
	Five things that happen to your body in space Tim Peake is the first official British astronaut to walk in space. The former Army Air Corps officer has spent a month in space, after blasting off on a Russian Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station on December 15 last year, but the spacewalk will doubtless be his most gruelling test.
	One small step for mining's new frontier Once a figment of science fiction films, the sometimes risky notion of mining in space may soon become a reality if asteroid mining hopeful Planetary Resources has its way.
	Image: Jason-3 satellite launches The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen as it launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 4 East with the Jason-3 spacecraft onboard, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Technology news

	Heart-pounding action? Hollywood can now measure that Ever been told a movie is a heart-pounding thriller that'll have you on the edge of your seat? Thanks to wearable technology, Hollywood has the tools to prove it.
	Audi lends engineering know-how to moon rover initiative Audi has built a moon rover and it already gets around, namely landing in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show.
	Michigan team work on Braille tablet display to widen access Braille displays for the blind are one way for the blind to access information. The National Braille Press said technology for Braille displays has been around for several decades, but since blindness is a low incidence disability in the United States, "the size of this market does not encourage the same innovation as found in mainstream technology."
	ORNL's thermal cameras snoop beneath surfaces to reveal materials' secrets Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the use of infrared cameras to image additive manufacturing processes in hopes of better understanding how processing conditions affect the strength, residual stresses and microstructure of 3D-printed parts. This is just the latest application to build upon decades of expertise in IR cameras that have added scientific understanding to promising technological developments.
	Cheaper solar cells with 20.2 percent efficiency EPFL scientists have developed a solar-panel material that can cut down on photovoltaic costs while achieving competitive power-conversion efficiency of 20.2%.
	Denmark sets wind energy world record Danish wind turbines set a new world record by generating nearly half of all the electricity consumed by the Scandinavian country in 2015, an official from state-owned Energinet.dk said Monday.
	US, EU warned of fallout if no data protection deal by January 31 The top US and European trade groups have warned their leaders of enormous fallout for businesses and customers if the two sides fail to reach a new deal on data transfers by end January.
	Students design 'plant backpack' to combat air pollution Five Dutch students have hit on a unique idea to replace face masks used against air pollution, and are developing a "plant backpack" to give wearers instant fresh air.
	Housekeeping ATLAS-style: Tedious but each minute counts Sweeping up, tidying up, pushing the handle of a cleaner back and forth, kneeling for a stray paper and depositing it into a wastebasket, YAWN.
	Buyer beware: Solar power may be missing key ingredient Want to cut reliance on your fossil-fuel-burning utility, but don't have space for solar panels? Easy, the sales pitch goes, buy a share in the new "community solar array" being built on the outskirts of town.
	Belgium's ageing nuclear plants worry neighbours As the two cooling towers at Belgium's Doel nuclear power belch thick white steam into a wintry sky, people over the border in the Dutch town of Nieuw-Namen are on edge.
Netflix chief says 2016 will bring emphasis on family shows Netflix says it will make a special effort to produce programming for children and families, with the streaming service offering 20 new programs in the category this year led by the Feb. 26 premiere of the "Fuller House" remake.
	Tech at the symphony: Boston orchestra loaning patrons iPads A night at the symphony usually means silencing cellphones and mobile devices before the music starts.
	Top Chinese university hacked by IS infiltrator: reports A hacker proclaiming allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group infiltrated the internal network of one of China's top universities to display images of masked and mounted militants, reports said Monday.
	Even if Netflix is serious about blocking VPNs, it is unlikely to succeed Netflix has sent the world into a frenzy of anxiety by announcing through their blog that they will be trying to restrict users to only viewing content licensed to the country where they are physically located. This effectively means stopping customers from using a variety of techniques to get around geographical restrictions. Getting around "geoblocked" services is relatively easy and can be done using a VPN or proxy service provided by one of many companies that now provide these technologies.
Revolutionary concrete product achieves greater strength with half the volume An improved concrete product known as PrimeComposite has taken the global market by storm; with impressive reductions in volume required compared with traditional concrete, as well as superior mechanical properties, it offers environmental, structural and economic benefits in one package.
	Why are flexible computer screens taking so long to develop? It's common to first see exciting new technologies in science fiction, but less so in stories about wizards and dragons. Yet one of the most interesting bits of kit on display at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas was reminiscent of the magical Daily Prophet newspaper in the Harry Potter series.
	WhatsApp to drop renewal fees for the messaging service WhatsApp, a popular mobile messaging service owned by Facebook, says it will drop its 99-cent subscription fee over the next several weeks.
	Interior climate effects of plants in offices and care institutions The interior climate of many buildings is poor. This is also the case for offices, schools, hospitals, and other public and semi-public buildings. Small-scale research suggests that plants can make a significant contribution to the resolution of problems in interior climates. A group of research institutes, social organisations and companies is now set to perform large-scale research into this. Companies and care institutes wishing to participate can register.
Intelligent electronics to become durable, flexible and functional through new technology With the roll-to-roll overmoulding manufacturing process developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, components can be easily overmoulded into durable electronics products such as wearable sports solutions, toys and, for instance, household appliances equipped with an overmoulded solar cell.
	Pakistan lifts YouTube ban after Google launches local version Pakistan Monday lifted a years-long ban on video-sharing site YouTube after Google launched a country-specific version ensuring the filtering out of content deemed blasphemous.

Medicine & Health news

	Study maps potential route to effective dengue vaccines (Medical Xpress)—The mosquito-borne dengue virus infects up to 390 million people a year. Symptoms of dengue fever include a measles-like rash, fever, body aches and joint pain. In a small subset of cases, the disease develops into life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding and low platelet count; this can progress to dengue shock syndrome, which manifests as dangerously low blood pressure.
	New evidence in mice that cocaine makes brain cells cannibalize themselves Working with mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins have contributed significant new evidence to support the idea that high doses of cocaine kill brain cells by triggering overactive autophagy, a process in which cells literally digest their own insides. Their results, moreover, bring with them a possible antidote, an experimental compound dubbed CGP3466B.
	Study questions link between teen pot smoking and IQ decline A new analysis is challenging the idea that smoking marijuana during adolescence can lead to declines in intelligence.
	Thwarting abnormal neural development with a new mutation Researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan have discovered how to reverse the abnormal axonal development characteristic of CFEOM3, a congenital disease that affects the muscles that control eye movements. Published in Nature Communications, the work shows how creating a specific mutation rescued abnormal axonal growth in the developing mouse brain.
	Absence of transcription factor unleashes blood vessel growth Blood vessels play an important role throughout life. Their growth determines whether organs are supplied with nutrients in a timely manner during embryonic development. In adulthood, the development of new blood vessels is instrumental in repair and regeneration processes. When blood vessel growth is disturbed, it can be an important factor in the progression of cancer, diabetes and eye diseases. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim have now discovered that the growth of the innermost cell layer in blood vessels can be controlled via its metabolism. The results could serve as a basis for new treatments of diseases in which blood vessel growth plays a role.
	The yin and yang of sleep and attention Being able to pay attention during the day relies on doing the exact opposite at night, according to University of Queensland scientists.
	New studies examine cellular diversity in the hippocampus Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have uncovered unexpected diversity within a single, canonical cell type of the mammalian brain. Their analysis of cells called CA1 pyramidal neurons shows that for many genes, expression levels vary with the cells' anatomical positions, gradually building or weakening along the length of the hippocampus.
	Team develops wireless, dissolvable sensors to monitor brain A team of neurosurgeons and engineers has developed wireless brain sensors that monitor intracranial pressure and temperature and then are absorbed by the body, negating the need for surgery to remove the devices.
	Laws of nature predict cancer evolution Cancers evolve over time in patterns governed by the same natural laws that drive physical and chemical processes as diverse as the flow of rivers or the brightness of stars, a new study reports.
	New findings may enhance PARP inhibitors therapy in breast cancer Findings from a new study reveal that PARP inhibitors, an emerging class of drugs being studied in cancer clinical trials, may be enhanced by combining them with inhibitors targeting an oncogene known as c-MET which is overexpressed in many cancers.
	Living in high-rise buildings associated with lower survival rates from cardiac arrest The number of people living in high-rise buildings in rising, but along with the convenience and panoramic views of a downtown condo comes a risk: a new study found that survival rates from cardiac arrest decrease the higher up the building a person lives.
	Regular exercise critical for heart health, longevity The majority of citizens in developed countries should not be concerned by potential harm from exercise but rather by the lack of exercise in their lives, according to a clinical perspective published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology from the ACC Sports and Exercise Cardiology Leadership Council. According to the council, small amounts of physical activity, including standing, are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, but more exercise leads to even greater reduction in risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Easier diagnosis for fungal infection of the lungs A new clinical imaging method developed in collaboration with a University of Exeter academic may enable doctors to tackle one of the main killers of patients with weakened immune systems sooner and more effectively.
	Effort to curb overuse of antibiotics amid cold, flu seasons It's cold season and the miserable trudge in seeking antibiotics because of mucus turned green, or the cough has nagged for weeks.
CDC offers guidelines for schools' sex education topics The federal Centers for Disease Control has identified 16 topics which it says should be included in sex education classes offered to high school students in the U.S. Fewer than half of high schools and only a fifth of middle schools teach all 16.
Joy over Ebola victory crushed by Sierra Leone death The World Health Organization confirmed Friday a new death from Ebola in Sierra Leone just a day after west Africa celebrated the end of an outbreak which killed 11,000 people.
Zika virus: US issues travel warning for pregnant women The United States warned pregnant women Friday to avoid travel to 14 countries and territories in the Caribbean and Latin America due to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, linked to birth defects.
Three probes launched into tragic France drug trial French authorities launched three investigations Saturday at a research laboratory in the northwestern city of Rennes into a drug trial that left one person brain-dead and three others facing potentially irreversible brain damage.
	Man dies after taking part in botched French clinical trial A man died in a French hospital Sunday after taking part in an experimental drug trial for a painkiller, and five other participants remain hospitalized after one of France's most troubling medical incidents.
Hawaii reports first US case of Zika-linked brain damage The United States has reported its first case of a newborn suffering from brain damage linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus that has caused birth defects in Latin America.
	New app can help doctors predict risk of preterm birth A new app called QUiPP could help doctors to better identify women at risk of giving birth prematurely. The app, developed at King's College London, was tested in two studies of high-risk women being monitored at ante-natal clinics.
Ads for candy-flavored e-cigarettes could encourage vaping among school children Advertisements featuring e-cigarettes with flavours such as chocolate and bubble gum are more likely to attract school children to buy and try e-cigarettes than those featuring non-flavoured e-cigarettes, according to new research published in the journal BMJ Tobacco Control.
English hospitals plan to introduce sugar tax A sugar tax could be introduced in English hospitals in a move to tackle obesity that the National Health Service (NHS) said Monday could raise up to £40 million a year.
Discovery speeds up healing process Researchers at the Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB) have discovered a technique to accelerate the healing of wounds.
	Researchers test new pathogen detection technology Patients who are undergoing treatment for diseases such as cancer often face the added challenge of a compromised immune system, which can be a toll both of their condition and the drugs used to treat it, leaving them vulnerable to various opportunistic infections. Many of these infections are not only life-threatening, but caused by rare organisms that are extremely difficult to isolate and identify. However, the sooner an infection is pinned down, the faster and more effectively it can be treated. After developing a novel investigational technology called PathoChip that can rapidly identify elusive microorganisms, a team of Penn Medicine researchers recently succeeded for the first time in identifying a pathogen in a patient sample, demonstrating the proof of principle that this technology can be used to identify pathogens in human disease.
	Researchers discover new gene functions and possible cancer treatment target Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers have recently discovered new functions for Sperm Associated Antigen 6 (SPAG6), a gene previously thought to be only important for cilia motility. Deficiencies of the gene have been associated with male infertility, though the new findings could have implications for diagnosis and treatment for some cancers.
Experts believe lifestyle changes, public health efforts responsible for decrease in cancer deaths The American Cancer Society's recent report of a 23-percent decline in the cancer death rate since 1991 can partially be attributed to public health efforts, social change and public policies, such as the abundance of nonsmoking spaces and the tobacco sales tax, Virginia Commonwealth University experts say.
	New research examines suicide in new and expectant mothers A new King's College London study examines suicide deaths within and outside the period surrounding childbirth, specifically in women who had been in recent contact with mental health services.
	Walking for 150 minutes per week associated with improved wellbeing in over-50s New research using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin shows that being physically active, for example by walking for at least 150 minutes per week, is associated with more social participation and better mental health and wellbeing.
	Intelligent machines are better at health diagnostics than humans Until now, medicine has been a prestigious and often extremely lucrative career choice. But in the near future, will we need as many doctors as we have now? Are we going to see significant medical unemployment in the coming decade?
Researchers discover a way to potentially decrease peanut allergen Peanuts are widely used in food processing because they are rich in fats and protein, however they are also one of the eight major food allergens. In a recent study from the Journal of Food Science published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), researchers from Ningbo Institute of Agricultural Sciences in China found that seed germination could reduce the allergen level in peanuts.
Front of package food labels do not mean a food is healthy American grocery shoppers face an array of front of pack (FOP) nutrition and health claims when making food selections. But relying on the front of pack (FOP) claims to determine the nutrition quality of the food may not be a consumer's best option.
Five ingredients that can help with weight management Weight loss is often one of consumers' top resolutions for the New Year. While the basic premise of losing weight is to consume less calories than calories burned, weight management has evolved over the years and includes a focus on burning fat, building lean muscle, boosting metabolism and suppressing appetite. In the January issue of Food Technology magazine published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), contributing editor Linda Milo Ohr writes about six ingredients that can play a role in weight management.
	How reliable is resting state fMRI? Arguably, no advance has revolutionized neuroscience as much as the invention of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Since its appearance in the early 1990's, its popularity has surged; a PubMed search returns nearly 30,000 publications with the term "fMRI" since its first mention in 1993, including 4,404 last year alone. Still today, fMRI stands as one of the best available methods to noninvasively image activity in the living brain with exceptional spatiotemporal resolution. But the quality of any research tool depends foremost on its ability to produce results in a predictable and reasonable way. Despite its widespread use, and general acceptance its efficacy and power, neuroscientists have had to interpret fMRI results with a large dose of partially-blind faith, given our incomplete grasp of its physiological origins and reliability. In a monumental step towards validation of fMRI, in their new PLOS One study Ann C! hoe and colleagues evaluated the reproducibility of resting-state fMRI in weekly scans of the same individual over the course of 3.5 years.
	An image is worth a thousand kilos? OK, so maybe not a thousand kilos, exactly, but a study at the University of Alicante shows how a photo diary can keep dieters motivated, making them more likely to achieve their target weight.
	Study suggests fresh approach to autism research The more expressive people are, the better they are at understanding the feelings of others according to a study by researchers at The University of Aberdeen published in Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience.
	Potentially serious pathogens found in feral cats on Christmas Island A Murdoch University researcher has found a range of pathogenic bacteria and parasites which can have serious consequences if transmitted to humans in feral cats and black rats on Christmas Island.
	Ticks that transmit Lyme disease reported in nearly half of all US counties Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus), and the range of these ticks is spreading, according to research published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Professors: Congress made 'scientific judgment for which it is distinctly unqualified' Two Georgetown University professors say a section of the recently passed Congressional spending bill effectively undermines science and the health of women.
	Weekend catch-up sleep can reduce diabetes risk associated with sleep loss Two consecutive nights of extended sleep, a typical weekend occurrence, appears to counteract the increased risk of diabetes associated with short-term sleep restriction during the work week, at least in lean, healthy, young men eating a controlled diet.
Slow progress on stillbirth prevention: Parents of 2.6 million babies suffer in silence each year More than 2.6 million stillbirths continue to occur globally every year with very slow progress made to tackle this 'silent problem', according to new research published in The Lancet. Despite significant reductions in the number of maternal and child deaths, there has been little change in the number of stillbirths (in the third trimester of pregnancy) even though the majority are preventable.
	US ban on gun research continues despite deadly shootings (HealthDay)—Mass shootings have prompted agony, anger and angst in the United States, causing citizens to ask why these events continue to happen and what can be done to stop them.
	Nonverbal cues may reveal a physician's racial bias (HealthDay)—A physician's body language may reveal racial bias against seriously ill black patients, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
	Women may have better flu defenses The female sex hormone estrogen has anti-viral effects against the influenza A virus, commonly known as the flu, a new study in American Journal of Physiology—Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology reports.
	Brazil to fund development of vaccine for Zika virus The Brazilian government announced it will direct funds to a biomedical research center to help develop a vaccine against a virus linked to brain damage in babies.
Zika is latest mosquito-borne virus knocking on Texas' door Another mosquito-borne illness is rapidly spreading across South and Central America, one that may be linked to disturbing birth defects in Brazil.
Study: radiation an important addition to treatment for pancreatic cancer surgery candidates Radiation therapy was associated with a lower risk of cancer recurrence in pancreatic cancer surgery patients, making it, like chemotherapy, an important addition to treatment, Mayo Clinic research found.
	Lack of deep sleep may pave way for Alzheimer's, researchers say Forget about needing beauty sleep. It's your brain that may suffer the most from a lack of deep shut eye.
Heartburn medicines associated with chronic kidney disease risk A type of heartburn medication called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be linked to long-term kidney damage, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Cracking knuckles: Is it bad? What makes that sound? Snap, crackle, pop. If you're a knuckle cracker, that familiar sound when you consciously pop your joints is like comfort food. You know it might not be so healthy for your hands or ankles, but it feels oh-so-good.
NIH announces $240 million project to map human genomes The federal government is funding a monumental project to map 200,000 human genomes in an effort to understand the genetic causes of common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, epilepsy and autism.
FDA approves redesign of endoscope tied to infections (HealthDay)—A redesigned Olympus TJF-Q180V duodenoscope (a type of endoscope) that has a reduced chance of spreading infection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Foreign-born students in US have higher case rate of TB (HealthDay)—Foreign-born students in the United States have a higher case rate of tuberculosis (TB) than other foreign-born individuals, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Pertussis outbreak described in preschool in tallahassee (HealthDay)—A report published online Jan. 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases highlights a 2013 pertussis outbreak among mainly vaccinated preschool-aged children.
	Traditional foods can bring joy to dementia patients (HealthDay)—For patients with dementia, traditional dishes can create joy and boost patients' sense of well-being, according to research published online Jan. 11 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Stethoscope still valuable despite technological advances (HealthDay)—Despite advances in medical technology, the stethoscope still has important diagnostic value, according to an editorial published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Design of physician satisfaction surveys affects results (HealthDay)—Patient satisfaction scores are influenced by the design and implementation of patient surveys, according to an article published in the January-February issue of Family Practice Management.
	Ranolazine added to glimepiride cuts HbA1c in T2DM (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes on background glimepiride therapy, but not metformin, addition of ranolazine is associated with a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to research published online Jan. 8 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Ecuador hit with first Zika virus cases Ecuador said Friday it has detected its first two cases of the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease similar to dengue fever that has been linked to birth defects.
SLeone puts over 100 people in quarantine after new Ebola death Sierra Leone's government on Saturday urged the public not to panic as it announced that more than 100 people had been quarantined following a new death from Ebola just as the country seemed to have overcome the epidemic.
Report identifies positive news on kidney disease in the US, yet challenges remain The annual data report from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) reveals both positive and negative trends in kidney disease in the U.S.
Sanders unveils huge universal US health care proposal Senator Bernie Sanders, hours before taking the stage Sunday to debate Democratic presidential nomination favorite Hillary Clinton, unveiled his universal health care plan which would raise taxes on Americans across the board.
A new alternative to sodium—Fish sauce Cooks, chefs and food manufacturers are looking for natural ways to reduce sodium in recipes in nearly every culture. A big challenge to doing that is taste. Consumers typically describe reduced-sodium foods as lacking in taste and flavor. Findings of a study in the January issue of the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), found that Vietnamese fish sauce added to chicken broth, tomato sauce and coconut curry reduced the amount of sodium chloride by by 10-25 percent while still maintaining the perceived deliciousness, saltiness and overall flavor intensity.
Health care system of the future modelled What will our health care system look like in the future? The MEDPRO project of the Austrian Science Fund FWF seeks to deliver answers to this pertinent question. The project is analysing the interrelationship between medical progress, health expenditure and population ageing. The findings are fed into a new computer model that simulates the economic consequences of changes in health care under various theoretical assumptions.
Increased childbirth at Indian health facilities led to no matching reduction in maternal deaths To reduce maternal and neo-natal deaths, India launched a cash transfer programme in 2005 that provides monetary incentives for women to give birth in health facilities instead of at home. While the programme successfully increased the use of health facilities for child birth, it did not reduce maternal deaths as much, especially in poor areas. This is according to a doctoral dissertation published at Umeå University.
	Why count stools in the human microbiome? Last week, a not-yet-accepted-for-publication paper challenged the long-held view that bacterial cells outnumber human cells in a body 10 to 1. As "rewriting the textbooks" fueled media attention, I took a look, because I actually write – and rewrite – human anatomy and physiology and human genetics textbooks.
New biomarkers for improved treatment of severe heart- and lung disease New blood biomarkers reflecting vasoreactivity in lung blood vessels of patients with heart- and lung disease, can lead to simplified diagnostics and better evaluation of treatment for patients with the condition pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This according to a doctoral dissertation at Umeå University in Sweden.
New bill seeks to outlaw smoking in Salt Lake City airport A Utah senator plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would outlaw smoking lounges in the Salt Lake City airport.
Sierra Leone identifies more than 100 contacts in Ebola case Sierra Leone has identified 28 high risk contacts in the country's north after a new Ebola case emerged in the West African nation last week.
Slipping between Medicaid and marketplace coverage can leave consumers confused For people whose income changes shift them above or below the Medicaid threshold during the year, navigating their health insurance coverage can be confusing. Ditto for lower income people who live in states that may expand Medicaid this year.

Biology news

	Tardigrade brought back to life after being frozen for thirty years (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with Japan's National Institute of Polar Research has found that a microscopic creature known as a tardigrade, was able to "come back to life" after being frozen for over thirty years. In their paper published in the journal Cryobiology, the team reports on where the tardigrade was found, how it was frozen, the technique they used to thaw the creature and how its offspring fared.
	Why Spiderman can't exist: Geckos are 'size limit' for sticking to walls Latest research reveals why geckos are the largest animals able to scale smooth vertical walls - even larger climbers would require unmanageably large sticky footpads. Scientists estimate that a human would need adhesive pads covering 40% of their body surface in order to walk up a wall like Spiderman, and believe their insights have implications for the feasibility of large-scale, gecko-like adhesives.
	Researcher studies communal nesting in birds Balanced in a small boat on the reedy edge of a Panama lake, Christina Riehl rigged a camera above the nest of a bird called the greater ani, a species of cuckoo that lives in Central and South America. Checking the footage a few days later, she saw something that had never before been documented in the species. A female ani landed on the nest, cocked her head to inspect the single egg, and then pushed the egg out of the nest and into the water below.
	Nematodes with five distinct forms found (Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has found that at least one type of nematoad exhibits five distinct forms—each different enough that the microscopic worms were initially thought to be of different species. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes their study of the worms that live in South Africa, Vietnam and on La Réunion Island and possible reasons for such diversity among a single species.
	Researchers develop algorithm that takes the field of cell reprogramming forward An international team of researchers from the Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS), the University of Bristol, Monash University and RIKEN have developed an algorithm that can predict the factors required to convert one human cell type to another. These game-changing findings, recently published online on 18 January 2016 in the journal Nature Genetics, have significant implications for regenerative medicine and lay the groundwork for further research into cell reprogramming.
	Researchers uncover core set of genes for plant-fungal symbiosis A new study by researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) has uncovered a veritable trove of genes used by plants to form symbiotic relationships with fungi, vastly increasing the knowledge of the genetic basis for this agriculturally valuable interaction.
Biologist's gene-editing kit lets do-it-yourselfers play God at the kitchen table On the kitchen table of his cramped apartment, Josiah Zayner is performing the feat that is transforming biology. In tiny vials, he's cutting, pasting and stirring genes, as simply as mixing a vodka tonic. Next, he slides his new hybrid creations, living in petri dishes, onto a refrigerator shelf next to the vegetables.
	Washingtonians, meet Bei Bei the giant panda Washingtonians got their first close-up look Saturday at the giant panda cub Bei Bei, the new star of the National Zoo.
	Scientists propose an algorithm to study DNA faster and more accurately A team of scientists from Germany, the United States and Russia, including Dr. Mark Borodovsky, a Chair of the Department of Bioinformatics at MIPT, have proposed an algorithm to automate the process of searching for genes, making it more efficient. The new development combines the advantages of the most advanced tools for working with genomic data. The new method will enable scientists to analyse DNA sequences faster and more accurately and identify the full set of genes in a genome.
	Black death viral strains persisted to create repeated European outbreaks An international team of researchers has uncovered new information about the Black Death in Europe and its descendants, suggesting it persisted on the continent over four centuries, re-emerging to kill hundreds of thousands in Europe in separate, devastating waves.
	How munching Moa affected plant evolution For his PhD in Ecology and Biodiversity, Patrick Kavanagh compared plant species on offshore islands to their close relatives on the mainland to assess differences in size and growth patterns.
	Seagrass planting strategy needed to remove fast food option Efforts to restore Shark Bay's seagrass meadows by transplanting Posidonia australis at the edge of existing meadows are being hampered because resident fish are using the new seagrass as fast food.
	South-west bushfire turns up new flora Biodiversity has flourished amid the devastation left by a bushfire that tore through a section of the south-west last year, with an Albany botanist discovering a plant species in the region.
	No sex required: Team discovers gene trigger for asexual reproduction When a sperm and an egg cell merge a new life begins. This is the case in humans and in animals, but in principle also in plants. A German-Israeli team led by the biologists Professor Ralf Reski from Freiburg and Professor Nir Ohad from Tel-Aviv has discovered a gene trigger in the moss Physcomitrella patens which leads to offspring without fertilization. The researchers assume that this mechanism is conserved in evolution and holds the key to answer fundamental questions in biology. The study is published in the journal Nature Plants.
	Argentina snake invasion forces beach closures An invasion of poisonous snakes washed downriver in recent floods forced authorities to close beaches to summer holidaymakers in northern Argentina, officials said Monday.
	Rampaging elephants force Myanmar villagers to tree-top refuge Pushed from their forest home by encroaching farm land, wild elephants are driving fearful villagers in a Myanmar township to seek refuge in tree houses while the animals storm their rice paddies looking for food.
	Baby ape recovers after ordeal in Indonesia, finds new playmate A baby orangutan found abandoned and almost dead has made a swift recovery at an Indonesian rescue centre, and has been filmed playing happily with another young ape.
	CITES calls for urgent action to maintain pressure on illegal ivory and rhino horn trade With thousands of elephants and rhinos poached each year, the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) concluded its 66th meeting in Geneva today by demanding urgent action from some key countries to help stem the illegal rhino horn and ivory trade – and urging trade sanctions against three states implicated in this trade.
	Atomic force microscope will investigate muscle movement at molecular level In a concrete bunker set upon bedrock on the Northern Arizona University campus lies an instrument delicate enough to manipulate a single molecule.

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