Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 14

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 14, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Most-luminous supernova ever discovered
- New theory of secondary inflation expands options for avoiding an excess of dark matter
- Water ice found on the surface of comet 67P
- How the cell's power station survives attacks
- A Milky Way twin swept by an ultra-fast X-ray wind
- Brain waves could help predict how we respond to general anesthetics
- Teenagers' role in language change is overstated, linguistics research finds
- Flexible film may lead to phone-sized cancer detector
- Making the invisible visible: Color-changing indicators highlight microscopic damage
- Northwest Atlantic Ocean may get warmer, sooner
- Happiness: Is it in your DNA?
- Closer look reveals nematode nervous systems differ
- Nanoprobe development will enable scientists to uncover more DNA secrets
- Brain waves may be spread by weak electrical field
- Study seeks nature's best biocatalysts for biofuel production

Astronomy & Space news

	Water ice found on the surface of comet 67P For the first time, scientists have spotted large patches of water ice on the surface of a comet, thanks to instruments aboard the European Space Agency's Rosetta orbiter.
	A Milky Way twin swept by an ultra-fast X-ray wind ESA's XMM-Newton has found a wind of high-speed gas streaming from the centre of a bright spiral galaxy like our own that may be reducing its ability to produce new stars.
	Most-luminous supernova ever discovered A team of astronomers, including Carnegie's Benjamin Shappee, Nidia Morrell, and Ian Thompson, has discovered the most-luminous supernova ever observed, called ASAS-SN-15lh. Their findings are published in Science.
	Juno spacecraft breaks solar power distance record NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter has broken the record to become humanity's most distant solar-powered emissary. The milestone occurred at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST, 19:00 UTC) on Wednesday, Jan. 13, when Juno was about 493 million miles (793 million kilometers) from the sun.
	ASTRO-H satellite ready for launch On 12 January 2016, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) presented their ASTRO-H satellite to the media at the Tanegashima Space Center, situated on a small island in the south of Japan. The satellite, developed with institutions in Japan, the US, Canada and Europe, is now ready to be mounted on an H-IIA rocket for launch on 12 February.
	Image: Uluru imaged by Proba-1 HRC Uluru/Ayers Rock in the Australian outback, imaged from 600 km away by the smallest camera on one of ESA's smallest satellites – the technology demonstrator turned-operational Earth-observing mission Proba-1.
	NASA adds third company to list of space station shippers NASA is adding a third company to its short list of space station suppliers, a Nevada business that will bring back a mini version of the shuttle.

Technology news

	Internet set to cut cord with US government this year A plan to end a key US government oversight role on the Internet is on track for completion this year, the head of the online address gatekeeper said, in a symbolic move towards asserting the independence of the web.
	How will climate policy affect energy access goals? Stringent climate policies would increase the cost of fossil fuels, including those used for the cleaner burning stoves (such as kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and piped gas) that are slowly replacing traditional cooking fuels. Without simultaneous targeted efforts to increase funding for energy access, many who would otherwise have been able to switch from traditional solid fuels to modern cooking fuels would no longer be able to afford the switch, according to a study published in the first issue of the new journal Nature Energy.
	Google Maps for Android harbinger of proactive apps On Wednesday there was much happy buzz about updates for Google Maps for Android, bringing the mapping app to version 9.19. In particular, of all the new features everyone was talking about its Driving Mode (for Google Maps for Android).
China faces nuclear energy choice: reprocess or not? China is coming to a crossroads as it hurriedly increases nuclear power production to cope with rising electricity demand and cut carbon emissions: Should it reprocess its nuclear waste or store it?
	Questions and answers about new self-driving car safety data While self-driving cars already are being tested on public roads, newly released safety data support the cautionary view that the technology has many miles to go before people can sleep at the wheel.
India's Infosys rides out Chennai floods, posts profit rise Indian software giant Infosys reported a better-than-expected 6.6 percent rise in quarterly earnings on Thursday, riding out the effects of deadly floods in Chennai and sending its stock soaring.
	The Truth About Cats and Dogs: Japan firm has an app for that Ever wonder what your pet Fido or feline is really thinking when you stroke or walk them?
Taiwan chipmaker TSMC posts record profits for 2015 Chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) posted record profits for 2015 Thursday, despite a slowdown in the second half of the year due to weaker global demand.
	Incorrect battery handling triggers explosion The major fire in Steckborn on December 21, 2015, was probably started by a lithium polymer battery in a model car, as the Thurgau cantonal police department recently announced. Battery experts from Empa have already conducted overcharging experiments on such batteries and provide tips on how to handle them safely.
	When it comes to Internet security and privacy, the public remains confused The UK government is proposing to follow Australia with the introduction of their version of data retention legislation called the Investigatory Powers bill. This will require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to maintain records of web addresses customers visit for a period of 12 months (in Australia it is 24 months).
	Wikipedia gets another source of cash for 15th birthday Wikipedia is getting another source of cash for its 15th birthday, expanding beyond fundraising drives that have already poured $250 million into the Internet's leading encyclopedia.
	Struggling with privacy tradeoffs in digital era Would you allow your insurance company to monitor your driving for a discount? Or let a "smart thermostat" save energy by tracking your family's movements around your home?
	Dutch student team to build the world's first car powered by formic acid Building a car that is powered by formic acid. That is the ambition of Team FAST, a new student team from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Since formic acid can store hydrogen, an environmentally-friendly fuel, it has more benefits than existing hydrogen or electric powered cars. Today the team presents the first concrete step: a scale model, a meter in size, which is able to drive on formic acid alone.
	Best Buy reports weak holiday shopping results, outlook Best Buy's shares sank Thursday after the nation's largest consumer electronics chain reduced its sales outlook for the fourth-quarter as it reported weak holiday business in mobile phones and personal devices.
	Struggling with privacy tradeoffs in digital era Would you allow your insurance company to monitor your driving for a discount? Or let a "smart thermostat" save energy by tracking your family's movements around your home?
	US government developing policies for self-driving cars The federal government wants to get autonomous vehicles on the road more quickly, and says it will fast-track policies and possibly even waive regulations to do it.
Hyatt says 250 hotels had malware last year Hyatt said Thursday that it found malicious software in about 250 of its hotels that may have exposed customers' credit- and debit-card numbers and other information to hackers.
Silk Road founder challenges conviction, life sentence A San Francisco man who created the online drug-selling site Silk Road asked a federal appeals court Wednesday to toss out his conviction and life prison sentence.
Addressing complex urban challenges by dynamically and continuously matching supply with demand The next time you find yourself in a heavy downpour, jostling with the crowd for taxis that seem to have gone into hiding, you might consider it a lesson in economics. The basic problem of limited supply versus unpredictable demand lies at the heart of many common frustrations of city life.
	Training scenarios for complicated, simultaneous disasters and interference A Japanese research project developed "DESTCloud," an evaluation platform that validates the disaster tolerance and fault tolerance of wide-area distribution systems consisting of multiple computers on a network. This platform, utilizing a wide-area virtualized environment comprised of multiple research institutes both inside Japan and overseas known as "distcloud," can validate disaster tolerance and fault tolerance of the systems that operate in the virtualized environment by intentionally causing interference to the network that interconnects the organizations.
	Vacuum insulation panels to fill gap in retrofitting market The next stage is for industrial partners involved in the EU-funded VIP4ALL project to fully commercialise the new all-natural insulation panels, which are manufactured from minerals and renewable organic by-products. The target market is low budget renovation and retrofitting projects, jobs which are often carried out by SMEs (indeed SMEs make up more than 99 percent of the EU construction sector).
	Renault shares plunge after anti-fraud raids over emissions Shares in Renault dived Thursday after French anti-fraud units conducted searches at the carmakers' facilities, prompted by the Volkswagen emissions scandal. They then recovered somewhat after the company said tests had not found any emissions-cheating software.
	How GE's new Boston home went from cold to hot (Update) Before it became a boomtown, Boston's Seaport District—soon the new home of General Electric's global headquarters—was a dreary backwater.
	Family of Angolan rebel Savimbi sue over 'Call of Duty' character The family of slain Angolan rebel chief Jonas Savimbi are suing the makers of the popular video game "Call of Duty" for representing his character as a "barbarian", their lawyer said Thursday.

Medicine & Health news

	How the cell's power station survives attacks Mitochondria, the power generators in our cells, are essential for life. When they are under attack—from poisons, environmental stress or genetic mutations—cells wrench these power stations apart, strip out the damaged pieces and reassemble them into usable mitochondria.
	Researchers show gene variant causes Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, may illuminate bone loss more generally Fragile bones are usually an old person's affliction, but sometimes children are born with them. Now, a team of researchers led by UConn professor Ernesto Canalis has shown in mice that a specific gene can cause the disease, called Hajdu-Cheney syndrome. Overabundant bone-absorbing cells may be causing the disorder's characteristic bone loss, and the researchers hope to find a potential treatment.
	How drugs can help your brain encode memories Medical researchers at the University of Bristol have uncovered a fundamental mechanism that explains the interaction between brain state and the neural triggers responsible for learning. The discoveries, made by researchers in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co., could lead to new ways of boosting cognitive function to counteract the effects of diseases such as Alzheimer's, as well as enhancing memory in healthy people.
	Odor biomarker for Alzheimer's disease A new study from the Monell Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and collaborating institutions reports a uniquely identifiable odor signature from mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. The odor signature appears in urine before significant development of Alzheimer-related brain pathology, suggesting that it may be possible to develop a non-invasive tool for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
	Drug 'cocktail' could restore vision in optic nerve injury Research from Boston Children's Hospital suggests the possibility of restoring at least some visual function in people blinded by optic nerve damage from glaucoma, estimated to affect more than 4 million Americans, or from trauma.
	Attention neuron type identified Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, have identified for the first time a cell type in the brain of mice that is integral to attention. By manipulating the activity of this cell type, the scientists were able to enhance attention in mice. The results, which are published in the journal 'Cell', add to the understanding of how the brain's frontal lobes work and control behaviour.
	Trio of autism-linked molecules orchestrate neuron connections New research from Duke University reveals how three proteins work in concert to wire up a specific area of the developing brain that is responsible for processing sensory information.
	Remembering to the future: Researchers shed new light on how our memories guide attention A team of researchers has discovered that differences in the types of memories we have influence the nature of our future encounters. Their findings show how distinct parts of the brain, underlying different kinds of memories, also influence our attention in new situations.
	Researchers find recurrent type of brain cancer tumor not a clone of the original (Medical Xpress)—An international team of researchers has found evidence that shows that cancers that reoccur in patients with medulloblastomas are not necessarily derived from the same source as the original tumor. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes genetic work they did with mouse models and then with whole-genome sequencing on human tumors, what they found and what they believe needs to happen to better treat patients going forward.
	Scientists uncover how part of a protein helps primates fight HIV Scientists have uncovered part of a protein found in humans and other primates that can help us fight off HIV. In a new study published in the journal Heliyon, researchers discover how this structure can stop HIV from working and switch on our immune system at the same time. The findings, say the authors of the study, could potentially be used in developing anti-HIV gene therapy in the future.
	'Bursting' cells gain the brain's attention for life-or-death decisions As you start across the street, out of the corner of your eye, you spot something moving toward you. Instantly, your brain shifts its focus to assess the potential threat, which you quickly determine to be a slow-moving bicycle - not a car - which will pass behind you as you complete your crossing.
	Brain waves may be spread by weak electrical field Researchers at Case Western Reserve University may have found a new way information is communicated throughout the brain.
	Happiness: Is it in your DNA? Happiness is a state of mind, the gurus say.
	Brain waves could help predict how we respond to general anesthetics The complex pattern of 'chatter' between different areas of an individual's brain while they are awake could help doctors better track and even predict their response to general anaesthesia - and better identify the amount of anaesthetic necessary - according to new research from the University of Cambridge.
	Researchers find a small protein that plays a big role in heart muscle contraction Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a previously unrecognized small protein in cells of the human heart that plays a key role in heart muscle contraction. The protein is made from an RNA that was previously believed to be a blank or non-coding RNA, suggesting there may be many other small 'non-coding' segments that play important biological roles.
	Health warning labels may deter parents from purchasing sugar-sweetened beverages for kids Health warning labels similar to those found on tobacco products may have a powerful effect on whether parents purchase sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) for their children, according to a new study led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The study is the first of its kind to examine the influence of SSB warning labels. Results show that regardless of a parent's level of education, they may be significantly less likely to purchase an SSB when a label warning that consuming beverages with added sugar may contribute to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay is present, compared to a label that only bears the calorie count of the beverage, or no label at all. Additional results suggest health warning labels improve parents' understanding of the health dangers associated with overconsumption of such beverages. The results, which come just one week after the U.S Department of Agriculture issued new eating gui! delines recommending added sugar be limited to 10 percent or less of daily calories, are published online in the journal Pediatrics.
Risk factors for weapon involvement in adolescents vary by race and gender In 2011, almost 13% of high school students had been victimized with weapons. Weapon-related violence among adolescents can lead to injuries and long-term mental health problems. In a new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that the risk and protective factors for carrying and using weapons vary by race and gender.
NHS Health Check study estimates 2,500 heart attacks and strokes prevented over five years The first major evaluation of the NHS Health Check in England has found that the programme is effectively identifying people at risk of developing a major cardiovascular incident such as heart attack or stroke, and is estimated over first five years to have prevented 2,500 cases from treatment following the check, as well as helping diagnose commonly linked conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.
	Average age of new US moms at all-time high, now over 26 The average age of first-time mothers is at an all-time high in the U.S—over 26.
Researchers develop novel cell line for screening of brain drugs Researchers from the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen have developed a cell line, which may be used to investigate new drugs and help predict whether they are able to enter the brain.
	HPV vaccine uptake is highest among girls in high poverty and majority Hispanic communities Adolescent girls living in high-poverty communities and majority Hispanic communities were more likely to have received at least one dose of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine than those living in low-poverty communities and in communities of other racial and ethnic compositions.
	How nutrition information leads you to buy more Have you ever been to the supermarket and chosen foods based on nutrition labels? If so, be cautious, because the nutrition values you see on labels can substantially differ based on the recommended serving size, with undesired consequences for your purchase behavior. According to a new research published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, smaller recommended serving sizes on nutrition labels can unknowingly lead you to buy more than you need.
Research reinforces call for early scoliosis detection, appropriate treatment In light of new research confirming the effectiveness of early and appropriate treatment for scoliosis, a newly revised position statement strongly supports timely screening and appropriate treatment to halt or minimize further curvature of the spine.
NHS policies failing to stop bullying by managers and staff sickness Bullying and discrimination by NHS managers has led to absences among mental health workers, and past policies have failed to stop this, research shows.
	Fad diets shape societal trends about health, scholar reveals From no-carb to juice cleanses, it's easy to dismiss diet trends as nothing more than passing fads.
Ebola epidemic is over but expect flare-ups: UN West Africa can expect flare-ups of Ebola in the coming year even if the world's worst outbreak of the disease will be declared effectively over, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.
Report finds more infections from dirty scopes at hospitals At least 250 people, mostly in the U.S., were sickened with life-threatening "superbug" infections linked to contaminated medical scopes in the past three years—more than previously estimated by federal regulators, according to a new Senate committee report released Wednesday.
	Incentive worth $550 fails to motivate obese workers to lose weight Promising workers lower health insurance premiums for losing weight did nothing to help them take off the pounds, a recent study found. At the end of a year, obese workers had lost less than 1.5 pounds on average, statistically no different than the minute average gain of a tenth of a pound for workers who weren't offered a financial incentive to lose weight.
WHO declares Ebola outbreak over as Liberia gets all-clear The world breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as a two-year Ebola epidemic that killed 11,000 and triggered a global health alert was declared over, with Liberia the last country to get the all-clear.
	Pilot programme helps new mums with learning difficulties New mothers with learning difficulties have benefitted from a pilot programme that helped them learn to care for and interact with their babies, an evaluation by University of Bristol experts has found.
	Street food—the impact and allure of this "dangerous culinary practice" Some people chase their dreams but the University of Toronto's Irina D. Mihalache spends a lot of time focusing on people who chase – food trucks?
Patients with high health insurance deductibles use fewer imaging tests In the first nationwide study to directly address the associations between high-deductible insurance plans and the use of diagnostic imaging, researchers including Kimberley Geissler at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that patients enrolled in such health plans use about 7.5 percent fewer diagnostic tests such as MRI, X-rays and CT scans, than patients without such plans. Details appear in an early online edition of Medical Care.
Higher dietary nitrate and green leafy vegetable intake associated with lower risk of glaucoma Greater intake of dietary nitrate and green leafy vegetables was associated with a 20 percent to 30 percent lower risk of primary open-angle glaucoma, according to a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology.
Palliative care initiated in the ED associated with improved quality of life A palliative care consultation initiated in the emergency department (ED) for patients with advanced cancer was associated with improved quality of life and did not seem to shorten survival, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
	How malaria fools our immune system Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) reconstructed the 3D structure of one of the proteins of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria and the antibodies that act as the first line of defense against the parasite. This research, published in Cell Reports, was conducted at the Structural Cellular Biology Unit, led by Prof. Ulf Skoglund. This study provides valuable knowledge for the design of anti-malaria drugs.
	Breast cancer study suggests new potential drug targets and combinations The largest analysis of breast cancer cell function to date suggests dozens of new uses for existing drugs, new targets for drug discovery, and new drug combinations.
	Experts view mental health status of discrimination victims as a public health concern Few would dispute the fact that discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other characteristics continues to be a problem in U.S., or that such injustices have contributed to everything from economic inequalities to inequities in some physical health outcomes.
	Studies show tobacco control lags in Southeast, with perception gaps between lawmakers and the public A series of three studies conducted by researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health highlight lagging progress on tobacco control with the southeastern U.S., through measures such as tobacco taxes and public smoke-free policies.
	Microfiber pad to improve diagnostics and treatment of urinary tract infection in infants and elderly patients Urinary Tract Infection is a common medical condition affecting between 8 and 10 million individuals in the United States every year. The infection is difficult to diagnose in infants and elderly patients, as the symptoms are vague and non-specific.
	Why you should stop cleaning your ear with cotton swabs Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't clean your ears with cotton swabs, as this could lead to hearing loss, damage or worst, said Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Senior Consultant Prof Dr Asma Abdullah of the Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital (HCTM) of The National University of Malaysia (UKM).
Alcohol industry report denies violence link An alcohol industry funded report that claims alcohol is not a cause of violence has been debunked by researchers in New Zealand and Australia.
	Major global investment needed to deliver alternatives to antibiotics A handful of alternatives to antibiotics have the potential to combat bacterial infections in the next decade, but they are unlikely to replace traditional antibiotics, according to a new independent report.
	Taste buds lining up as the first line of defence against obesity Training our taste buds to be more sensitive to the taste of fat could be key in the battle to curb the world's growing obesity problem.
Video: Adrenaline junkie researcher discovers why we need roller coasters People have an emotional need for roller coasters and the feeling of controlled fear they provide, a thrill-seeking QUT researcher has found.
	New USDA dietary guidelines validated by sugar research Just in time for flailing New Year resolutions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture have served up new dietary guidelines, including one of the biggest changes in recent years: For the first time, they've placed a clear limit of no more than 10 percent of daily calories from added dietary sugars.
	The S-stroke or I-stroke? Elucidating the mechanisms of the ideal crawl stroke The year 2016 is an Olympic year. Developments in high-performance swimwear for swimming continue to advance, along with other areas of scientific research. One area of research has focused on which type of crawl stroke is more effective—when the arm draws a curve in the water (S-stroke) or moves straight (I-stroke)—long a matter of debate in the world of competitive swimming. A research team led by the University of Tsukuba has carefully investigated this matter in terms of fluid mechanics, examining the ideal crawl stroke from every angle, based on the latest measurement and analysis data from Japan and around the world.
Novel insights in the attachment of the bacterial carcinogen Helicobacter pylori The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is highly adapted to survival in the human stomach and responsible for the majority of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer cases worldwide. An important survival strategy for the bacterium involves the tight binding to the stomach mucosa, out of reach of the noxious gastric juices. To do so, H. pylori adheres to blood group sugars found on gastric mucus and underlying cells.
	You eat what you are? Changing identity to motivate healthy eating If you've resolved to eat more healthily this New Year's, you might find that imagining yourself as a healthy eater is the key to changing your behaviour for the better.
	Researcher says 'no amount of alcohol is safe for pregnant women' Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the United States has long been estimated at no more than three children per 1,000. A new study published in the journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence reports that the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is between 3 and 8 per 1,000 and when combined with partial FAS (PFAS) the prevalence of both actually ranges between 11 to 25 children per 1,000.
Cholesterol levels affect our body's capacity to receive medicines Researchers found that Fenofibrate, a drug used to reduce cholesterol levels in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, is up to four times easier to deliver when the cholesterol concentration is at the levels of a healthy person than at levels 7-10% lower. They also found that cholesterol levels of a healthy person make it harder for the body to be treated by a number of medicines for other diseases than when the levels are lower.
Figuring out what happened in a psychotherapy intervention trial John Ioannidis, the "scourge of sloppy science" has documented again and again that the safeguards being introduced into the biomedical literature against untrustworthy findings are usually inconsistent and ineffective. In Ioannidis' most recent report , his group:
	Organ 'biological age' could predict transplant success Factors regulating the biological age of a transplanted kidney (miles on the clock ) as opposed to the chronological age (calendar years) are key to determining how well it will work after transplantation, a new study has revealed.
Weighing benefits and costs of azithromycin during delivery Some infants of lactating mothers given the antibiotic and antimalarial, azithromycin, during delivery may be protected from disease, or harmed by the drug. These findings are the results of the most comprehensive evaluation of the transfer of azithromycin into breast milk to date. "Young infants cannot metabolize medicines as well as older children or adults and so even relatively small amounts absorbed from breast milk may produce effects, both therapeutic and adverse, in some suckling infants," explained corresponding author Timothy Davis, MB, D. Phil. The research is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Researchers release data from 20-year twins study When identical twins take different paths in life, researchers take notice. And when foresighted and tenacious researchers have collected data on those twins, tracking measurements from birth through adolescence, the dataset serves as a treasure trove for geneticists and social scientists.
Engineering synthetic skeletal muscle We live in an age where new bionic limb models appear every week and tissues can be 3D-printed. Considering these exciting advances, it should come as no surprise that researchers are coming closer to engineering functional skeletal muscle.
	Using new technology to map signals in the brain Sensors based on nanothreads that are superconducting in liquid nitrogen are offering new ways of measuring activity in the brain. In the future, the technique may revolutionize brain research and add to our knowledge of how stress affects us, for example. It will also simplify diagnosis of patients suffering from neurological diseases.
	Vibration makes workouts 25 to 100 percent more effective By adding a 30 Hertz vibration to a workout session, the training impact of that workout can be boosted by 25 to 100 percent, researchers at TU/e have discovered. Their result is an important one, particularly for rehabilitating patients who need to regain their strength but have difficulty in generating the muscular effort needed for the exercises. Based on their work, the researchers built a new kind of fitness device that also enables sportsmen and women to become stronger more quickly.
	Making the tough medical decisions with patients Should I have surgery for prostate cancer? What are the pros and cons of taking a statin? Should I get a mammogram?
School shootings and street violence: How they're alike and different The two types of youth gun violence couldn't be more different, but the ways to prevent them remain largely the same, according to a new report by some of America's top violence researchers.
Novel blood thinner found to be safe and effective in women Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a staple of modern day medicine in which cardiologists place a stent in a blood vessel around the heart in order to restore blood flow in people with heart disease. Blood thinners allow for the procedure to be completed with a reduced risk of certain complications such as clots. In 2015, a potent intravenous blood thinner, cangrelor, was FDA approved for this purpose following positive results from a multi-center trial. However, the efficacy and safety of blood thinners in women has not been previously well studied.
	Rats pose health threat to poultry and humans, study says Rats can absorb disease agents from their local environment and spread them, according to a new UBC study. The results also indicate that the threat rats pose to the health of poultry and humans has been underestimated.
	Researchers kill drug-resistant lung cancer with 50 times less chemo The cancer drug paclitaxel just got more effective. For the first time, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have packaged it in containers derived from a patient's own immune system, protecting the drug from being destroyed by the body's own defenses and bringing the entire payload to the tumor.
	Drug curbs marijuana use, but with tough side effects Combining the drug topiramate with psychological counseling curbed marijuana use among young smokers significantly more than did counseling alone, according to newly published results of a small randomized, controlled trial at Brown University. The results come with a caveat, however: many study volunteers couldn't tolerate the medicine's side effects.
	Hay fever medicine reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome Researchers from KU Leuven, Belgium, have identified the cause of abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As a result, they were able to select a medicine that could reduce or end that pain. This medicine is already used to treat hay fever.
	Why fish intake by pregnant women improves the growth of a child's brain Researchers at Tohoku University's School of Medicine have found an explanation for the correlation between eating fish during pregnancy, and the health of the baby's brain.
	New tool may help predict patients' motor function recovery after stroke Graph theoretical analysis is proving to be helpful in understanding complex networks in the brain. Investigators in the Republic of Korea used a graph theoretical approach in examining the changes in the configuration of the two hemispheres of the brain in 12 patients after stroke. They found it helped understand the dynamic reorganization of both hemispheric networks in the brain and to predict recovery of motor function. Their findings are published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.
	Study finds how diabetes drug metformin inhibits progression of pancreatic cancer Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators may have uncovered a novel mechanism behind the ability of the diabetes drug metformin to inhibit the progression of pancreatic cancer. In their report that has been published in the open access journal PLOS One, the research team describes finding that metformin decreases the inflammation and fibrosis characteristic of the most common form of pancreatic cancer. Their findings in cellular and animal models and in patient tumor samples also indicate that this beneficial effect may be most prevalent in overweight and obese patients.
	New study indicates students' cognitive functioning improves when using standing desks Do students think best when on their feet? A new study by the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health indicates they do.
Mothers' comments linked to eating disorders in Asian young adults The first study to look at the influence of Asian parents on their young adult child's body dissatisfaction levels and disordered eating in Singapore has found significant differences with Western culture, leading to calls for a tailored approach to treatment.
	E-cigarettes, as used, aren't helping smokers quit, study shows Electronic cigarettes are widely promoted and used to help smokers quit traditional cigarettes, but a new analysis from UC San Francisco found that adult smokers who use e-cigarettes are actually 28 percent less likely to stop smoking cigarettes.
	Researchers discover key pathway involved in blood vessel occlusion Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding blood vessel occlusion by discovering a novel pathway involved in this process.
	Speed reading promises are too good to be true, scientists find Learning to speed read seems like an obvious strategy for making quick work of all the emails, reports, and other pieces of text we encounter every day, but a new report shows that the claims put forth by many speed reading programs and tools are probably too good to be true. Examining decades' worth of research on the science of reading, a team of psychological scientists finds little evidence to support speed reading as a shortcut to understanding and remembering large volumes of written content in a short period of time.
Studying 'inflamm-aging': Monocytes, cytokines, and susceptibility to pneumonia The chronic state of low-level inflammation seen in many elderly individuals (sometimes called "inflamm-aging"), is associated with diseases such as cardiovascular disease and dementia, as well as susceptibility to infections, especially pneumonia. A study published on January 14th in PLOS Pathogens reveals a crucial role of monocytes in the immune system changes that occur with age, and may help explain why older people are more susceptible to pneumonia.
Poor sleep in seniors linked to hardened brain arteries Poor sleep quality in elderly persons is associated with more severe arteriosclerosis in the brain as well as a greater burden of oxygen-starved tissue (infarcts) in the brain - both of which can contribute to the risk of stroke and cognitive impairment. The findings are reported in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.
Kidney stones are on the rise among youth, especially in females and African-Americans Kidney stones are increasing, particularly among adolescents, females, and African-Americans in the U.S., a striking change from the historic pattern in which middle-aged white men were at highest risk for the painful condition.
Low blood levels of bicarbonate linked to earlier death in healthy older adults Low blood levels of bicarbonate may indicate an elevated risk of premature death in generally healthy older individuals, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings suggest that the blood marker is an important health indicator and that future studies should examine the potential of increasing bicarbonate levels to prolong life.
	Is suicide a tragic variant of an evolutionarily adaptive set of behaviors? What do snapping shrimp, naked mole rats, ants, honeybees, and humans all have in common? They all share a similar colony-like organizational system that biologists have termed eusociality. Eusocial species have been remarkably successful in both surviving and thriving through the use of colony-level cooperation. One cooperative behavior used by all eusocial species is the self-sacrifice of individuals to defend the colony. For example, a eusocial bee may sting a predator to stop an attack but die in the process. This same self-sacrificial tendency is seen among humans across cultures and time periods, including among military recruits, first responders, and parents.
University reviewing study touting company's chocolate milk A study by the University of Maryland touting the benefits of a small company's chocolate milk is raising concerns about the potential conflicts-of-interest that can arise when food makers collaborate with schools on such efforts.
	Study of altruism during the Ebola outbreak suggests good intentions are in the details A study of risk communication as it relates to altruistic behavior has found that portraying an event as a distant risk, despite highlighting its importance and potential progression, fails to prompt altruistic behavior intention among the U.S. public.Results of the study by Janet Yang, a University at Buffalo expert on the communication of risk information related to science, health and environmental issues, suggest that holding a collective, communitarian belief system contributed to altruistic behavior, while those who hold more individualistic values are less likely to be altruistic regardless of how much risk is triggered.
	New research on preventing fall asthma exacerbations Experts from Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) co-led a team of researchers in studying new approaches to reducing fall asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients. Their findings were released online in late October and published in the December 2015 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), an official scientific journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the most-cited journal in the field of allergy and clinical immunology.
	Kindergartners with traumatic life experiences struggle more in school (HealthDay)—Childhood traumas of various sorts can cause kindergartners to struggle in class as well as life, new research contends.
	Cancer no. 1 killer of Asian-Americans, Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders: study (HealthDay)—Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, even though overall cancer incidence and death rates in these groups are lower than among white Americans, a new study finds.
	Screening rates down with increasing patient panel size (HealthDay)—The number of patients under a primary care physician's care (panel size) correlates with cancer screening, continuity, and comprehensiveness dimensions of care, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Pathway to heroin described in NEJM commentary (HealthDay)—U.S. researchers are challenging a leading theory about the nation's heroin epidemic, saying it's not a direct result of the crackdown on opioids. The commentary has been published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Tickborne bacteria identified in ticks from Texas (HealthDay)—About 23 percent of ticks from Texas carry bacterial DNA from at least one of the following: Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Ehrlichia spp., according to a report published online Jan. 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
	Lower live birth rate with minimal stimulation IVF (HealthDay)—Minimal stimulation in vitro fertilization (mini-IVF) is associated with reduced live birth rates compared with conventional IVF, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Study suggests that what you eat can influence how you sleep A new study found that eating less fiber, more saturated fat and more sugar is associated with lighter, less restorative, and more disrupted sleep.
Continuing debate regarding the validity of the evidence used to create the 2015 Dietary Guidelines "What did you eat yesterday and should we believe you?" The answer to that question, and others like it, are part of a continuing controversy about U.S. government-issued dietary recommendations presented in The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, which was released on January 7. Two Letters to the Editor of Mayo Clinic Proceedings follow up on a recent study and the accompanying editorial about data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a widely-cited source within the nutrition community.
Preventing HIV infection with prophylactic drugs important to reversing HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) taken as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could lead to a marked decline in HIV incidence—the annual rate of infection—among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK by the end of this decade, new modelling research published in The Lancet HIV journal suggests.
Spike in Legionnaire's disease in Michigan, amid water crisis An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease over the past 18 months has killed 10 people in the US state of Michigan, where officials are dealing with a major health crisis over lead-contaminated water.
Ebola outbreak ends but stigma stalks survivors They may have conquered Ebola but survivors of the fever and the heroic workers who saved them face a new struggle: acceptance by communities after the end of the deadly epidemic.
Ebola orphans struggle to resume their lives Saa Mathias Lenoh, a high school student in the Guinean capital Conakry, says he's "learning to smile little by little," like thousands of other youngsters orphaned by Ebola in west Africa.
	Study to examine obesity treatment Clinical researchers at the University of Bristol are studying treatment options for obesity, after a survey on behalf of National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) found more than four in 10 people in the West have noticed an increase in local obesity levels in the last five years. Despite the findings, the same survey shows that around three-quarters of the public in this region have a clear understanding of the most important causes of obesity: overeating and lack of exercise. This suggests that with obesity levels in the UK having almost trebled in the last 30 years, public understanding is not solving the problem.
Turkmenistan takes cigarettes off shelves in anti-smoking campaign Turkmenistan's authorities have forced shops to stop selling cigarettes, traders in Ashgabat said Thursday, after its president urged citizens to kick the habit.
	MUSC launches first clinical trial involving two powerful drugs for lung cancer In an international first, people with lung cancer will find out if a new combination of drugs can kick-start their bodies' ability to fight back against the disease. They'll be part of a clinical trial now enrolling participants at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Immunotherapy for Epstein-Barr related lymphomas Imagine that your immune system could be educated so that it was able to recognize specific diseases and then destroy them. Science fiction? Or perhaps futuristic? Not anymore.
	Dengue vaccine enters phase 3 trial in Brazil A large-scale clinical trial to evaluate whether a candidate vaccine can prevent the mosquito-borne illness dengue fever has been launched in Brazil. The vaccine, TV003, was developed by scientists in the laboratory of Stephen Whitehead, Ph.D., at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The Butantan Institute, a non-profit producer of immunobiologic products for Brazil, licensed the NIAID dengue vaccine technology and is sponsoring the placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 3 trial using test vaccine produced in Sao Paulo.
	Youths with gender dysphoria have higher rates of Asperger syndrome A new study provides clinical data to support growing evidence that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more prevalent in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria than in the general population. Among youths seen at a pediatric gender clinic who were screened for ASD, 23% possibly or likely had Asperger syndrome, according to the study published in LGBT Health.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as safe as aspirin PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is the first medicine that the Food and Drug Administration has approved to be shown effective to prevent infection with HIV. Nearly 50,000 new cases of HIV occur in the United States every year. Many doctors might be worried about prescribing PrEP for safety reasons.
	Debiopharm, EORTC investigate triptorelin for treatment of salivary gland cancers Debiopharm International SA (Debiopharm), part of Debiopharm Group, a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company, today announced a collaboration in order to supply triptorelin pamoate 3.75 mg 1-month formulation for patients suffering from salivary gland cancer participating in a clinical study sponsored by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).
	Medical school program addresses rural physician shortage Mirroring national trends, 97 percent of the 101 rural counties in Missouri are designated Primary Medical Care Health Professional Shortage Areas by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Many medical schools across the country have developed admission policies and clinical training programs to address rural physician workforce shortages in their state. Now, a recent study by the University of Missouri School of Medicine shows one of its programs enhances training and may increase interest in rural practice for graduating medical students.
Q&A: Legionnaires' disease adds to water concerns in Flint A water crisis in Flint has focused mostly on the impact of drinking supplies containing lead that had leached from old plumbing after the city switched sources to save money. But Michigan officials stunned the community this week when they also reported an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases over the past two years in Genesee County, where Flint is located.
	Report: Cruise ship stomach sickness becoming less common Health officials say cruise ship passengers are getting sick with a stomach bug less often.
Texas laws would limit access to abortions and create grave risk to the public health Nearly 60 leaders in the field of public health submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court last week arguing that two Texas laws restricting abortion clinics creates a 'grave risk to public health.' The Supreme Court is set to hear opening arguments March 2 on this landmark case, which is known as Whole Woman's Health v. Cole. The public health brief filed Jan. 4, 2016 by the American Public Health Association (APHA), deans of schools of public health, and other public health leaders from across the nation argues that the laws would effectively shutter many clinics that now provide abortions in Texas and make it hard, if not impossible, for many women to obtain necessary and constitutionally protected health care, thereby violating the 'undue burden' test established by the Court in 1992 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Gov't watchdog: many gaps in FDA's oversight of drug safety The Food and Drug Administration is speeding up its review of new drugs, yet often fails to keep track of safety issues with those medicines once they reach patients, according to government investigators.
	Health coverage improved as result of Affordable Care Act (HealthDay)—The Affordable Care Act is working as intended, extending health care coverage and ensuring that hospital care is financially compensated, according to two research letters published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Cancer 'moonshot' aims to speed fight against No. 2 killer Harking back to America's triumphant race into space, the Obama administration is launching what it calls a "moonshot" effort to cure cancer.

Biology news

	New blood test may expand scope of liquid biopsies When cells die, they don't vanish without a trace. Instead, they leave behind their fingerprints in the form of cell-free DNA. In people, these tiny fragments of DNA can be found in the bloodstream.
	Study shows first evidence for independent working memory systems in animals A new study from Indiana University could help ensure the hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year to develop potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease aren't wasted on targeting the wrong types of memory.
	Chimp friendships are based on trust It almost goes without saying that trust is a defining element of genuine human friendship. Now, a report in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on January 14 suggests that the same holds true among chimpanzee pals. The findings suggest that friendship based on trust goes way, way back, the researchers say.
	Scientists solve long-standing ecological riddle Researchers have found clear evidence that communities rich in species are substantially healthier and more productive than those depleted of species, once complicating factors are removed.
	Researchers develop first high-gravity, one-pot process for producing cellulosic ethanol The falling price of gasoline at the pumps may warm the hearts of consumers but it chills the souls of scientists who recognize that humankind must curtail the burning of fossil fuels to reduce the threat of climate change. Biofuels can help mitigate climate change and provide us with a sustainable source of transportation energy if yields and production costs are economically competitive. A major step towards achieving this goal has been achieved by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI).
	Medical imaging helps define Moa diet Medical scanners and the same software used to assess building strength after the Canterbury earthquakes, have revealed new information about the diet and dining preferences of New Zealand's extinct moa.
	Study seeks nature's best biocatalysts for biofuel production Researchers at the Department of Energy's BioEnergy Science Center are looking beyond the usual suspects in the search for microbes that can efficiently break down inedible plant matter for conversion to biofuels. A new comparative study from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory-based center finds the natural abilities of unconventional bacteria could help boost the efficiency of cellulosic biofuel production.
	Closer look reveals nematode nervous systems differ Nematodes, an abundant group of roundworms that exist in nearly every habitat, have long been used as model organisms for studying the function of neurons - the basic unit of animal nervous systems. For years, it was assumed that neuron anatomy was remarkably similar across this large and diverse group. A recent study by University of Illinois researchers turns that assumption on its head.
	Study reveals how birds learn through imitation Precise changes in brain circuitry occur as young zebra finches go from listening to their fathers' courtship songs to knowing the songs themselves, according to a study led by neuroscientists at NYU Langone Medical Center and published online in a Science cover report on January 14.
	Oh, snap! What snapping shrimp sound patterns may tell us about reef ecosystems If you put a microphone underwater near the oyster reef in North Carolina's Pamlico Sound, you can hear it: a crisp, crackling noise that sounds like someone just dumped a ton of Rice Krispies into the ocean. But it isn't cereal making that noise - it's thousands of small creatures known as snapping shrimp. Researchers believe that their noisemaking habits could play several key roles within the reef, including serving as an auditory indicator of the underwater ecosystem's health.
	Signals that make early stem cells identified Stem cells work throughout our lives as a sort of handyman, repairing damaged tissues and renewing some normal ones, like the skin we shed. Scientists have come to understand much about how stem cells function when we are adults, but less is known about where these stem cells come from to begin with, as an embryo is developing.
Sea lion pups washing ashore because ocean can't support them Once a year in June, sea lion mothers on the Channel Islands give birth to a pup. For the next 11 months, the mothers swim off to forage for days to provide food for themselves and milk for their progeny.
Donor's genotype controls the differentiation of iPS cells—source tissue insignificant Pluripotent stem cells derived from different cell types are equally susceptible to reprogramming, indicates a recent study.
	Could the digital world eventually compete with the biological world? A paper by Macquarie University and US researchers has highlighted the importance of understanding the internet as an organism that can evolve, opening up a can of widgets when it comes to the implications for life on our planet.
	How we rediscovered 'extinct' giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands – and how to save them The Galápagos Islands, 1,000 kilometres off the coast of South America, are probably most famous as the place that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. They are home to an extraordinary array of wildlife, including giant Galápagos tortoises, the world's largest land-living cold-blooded animals.
How variation in body size correlates with en-route migration performance in a long-distance migratory songbird? Researchers relate migration performance to body and wing size in migratory songbirds. The original article "The influence of morphological variation on migration performance in a trans-hemispheric migratory songbird" is available to read and download fully in open access on De Gruyter Online.
	Diversity may reduce our reliance on fertiliser Ecologists have, for the first time, teased out the many interacting factors that explain why species diversity and productivity vary so greatly between different grassland ecosystems across the globe.
	Regrowing functional joints in frogs In a first, Japanese researchers have regenerated functional joints in frogs by activating a newly-found "reintegration" mechanism. Further understanding of this process may help transplanted tissues integrate with the original organs and limbs after surgical removal or amputation.
	Chemicals threaten Europe's killer whales with extinction Killer whales in European waters face extinction due to outlawed but long-lived pollutants that also threaten several species of dolphins, according a study released Thursday.
	Serendipitous orchid: An unexpected species discovered in Mexican deciduous forests A new elegant orchid species that grows on rocks in deciduous forests of the Pacific slope of Oaxaca state, Mexico, has finally put an end to a long standing dispute among taxonomists. 'Sheltered' under the name of a close relative, the plant has been proved by a research team, led by Dr. Leopardi-Verde, to be different enough for a species of its own. Its distinct features, including shape, size and colors, are discussed and published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys.
	Deadly amphibian fungus may decline, study says A new study by WCS and other groups offers a glimmer of hope for some amphibian populations decimated by the deadly chytrid fungus: climate change may make environmental conditions for the fungus unsuitable in some regions and potentially stave off the spread of disease in African amphibian populations struggling to adapt to changes brought about by global warming.
Montana approves relocation of sage grouse to Canada Montana will send dozens of sage grouse to the Canadian province of Alberta in a plan approved Thursday that faces opposition from some lawmakers who say the state should first look to bolster its own fragile population of the bird.
Conservationists welcome Hong Kong move to ban ivory trade A pledge by Hong Kong to ban its ivory trade has been welcomed by conservationists who describe it as a key step toward curbing the slaughter of African elephants.
	Communities need greater involvement in measures to protect marine environment - study The continued social acceptability of marine conservation measures could be reliant on greater engagement with the industries and stakeholders they are designed to benefit, a study suggests.
	California's state fish can benefit from restoring and protecting streamside vegetation in high elevation meadows Rising temperatures can create stressful and possibly lethal stream habitat for native trout. To help understand the interactive effects of climate warming and livestock grazing on water temperature, researchers from the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) and University of California, Berkeley, conducted a six-year study documenting high elevation water temperatures in areas of the Golden Trout Wilderness. The wilderness area is located within the Sequoia and Inyo national forests in California and was designated Wilderness primarily to protect the native California golden trout, the state's official fish.
	Two more sperm whales wash up dead on Dutch beach Two more sperm whales became stranded and died on the Dutch coast a day after five others, likely from the same pod, lost their lives nearby in a rare North Sea beaching, experts said Thursday.
Poultry farming frozen for bird flu cleanup in French SW Poultry farmers in southwestern France have been ordered to freeze production of geese and ducks at least until late May as part of efforts to eradicate bird flu, the agriculture ministry said Thursday.
	Inspectors shut Rio zoo to smarten animal enclosures Authorities shut the public zoo in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday until the city improves living conditions for the animals there, environmental officials said.
	Mountain lion kittens found in mountains near Los Angeles The National Park Service says biologists recently discovered two mountain lion kittens in the Santa Monica Mountains west of Los Angeles.

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