Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jan 12

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 12, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers attempt to uncover the origins of water's unusual properties
- Gravitational wave rumors ripple through science world
- New way to make a CuPd catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to methane
- Shark research leads biologists to create 'Beastcam'
- Uncovering oxygen's role in enhancing red LEDs
- Singing in the brain: Songbirds sing like humans
- The most energetic light ever observed from a few kilometers large star
- Scientists identify molecule that appears to fuel deadly genetic illness
- Clouds, like blankets, trap heat and are melting the Greenland Ice Sheet
- Researchers uncover 'predictive neuron orchestra' behind looking and reaching movements
- Revealed: The awful anchor that lets UTIs take hold
- Chemists discover how a single enzyme maintains a cell's pool of DNA building blocks
- Spider web research shows promise for noninvasive genetic sampling
- Intel Skylake bug in complex workloads seen
- Long haul, night repairs for British, US spacewalkers

Astronomy & Space news

	The most energetic light ever observed from a few kilometers large star Scientists working with the Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) observatory have reported the discovery of the most energetic pulsed emission radiation ever detected from the neutron star in the center of the supernova of 1054 A.D., known as the Crab pulsar.
	Time running out for comet probe Philae Scientists will send a few final prods to robot lab Philae, incommunicado on the surface of a comet hurtling through space, but hopes for a reply are running out, they said Tuesday.
	Long haul, night repairs for British, US spacewalkers The first-ever spacewalk on Friday for British astronaut Tim Peake will require a long journey outside the space station to replace a failed power unit while under cover of darkness, NASA said Tuesday.
	China plans more than 20 space launches in 2016 China has announced its busy 2016 launch manifest, with more than 20 missions scheduled for this year. The country that conducted 19 successful space flights in 2015, intends to launch its Tiangong 2 space laboratory and a manned spacecraft Shenzhou 11, among other military and commercial orbital missions.
	Space bids farewell to Bowie, one of its own David Bowie's death has plunged fans around the world into grief, but his music lives on—not only on Earth but in space.

Technology news

	Deep neural networks trained on images help decide who is hot The Computer Vision Laboratory, ETH Zurich, is branching out into a hotness-judging application leveraging its technology strengths in computer-based interpretation of 2D and 3D image data sets from image sources—both conventional and nonconventional.
	Algorithm protects general privacy in searches by identifying group members to target for closer look (Tech Xplore)—A small team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has developed a search algorithm that they claim offers privacy for protected groups while exposing those sought for a designated purpose. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes the essence of their algorithm, instances in which it might prove useful, and the results they found when running it on publicly available user databases.
	Uncovering oxygen's role in enhancing red LEDs Oxygen is indispensable to animal and plant life, but its presence in the wrong places can feed a fire and cause iron to rust.
	Shark research leads biologists to create 'Beastcam' When University of Massachusetts Amherst biologist Duncan J. Irschick was working with sharks in Florida last spring to better understand their body shapes, he longed for a simple, quick tool for creating 3-dimensional (3D) models of them, which would allow him to compare complex shark body shapes among different species. He soon realized that such a device would be useful for creating 3D models of the living geckos he studies, as well.
	Brain monitoring takes a leap out of the lab Bioengineers and cognitive scientists have developed the first portable, 64-channel wearable brain activity monitoring system that's comparable to state-of-the-art equipment found in research laboratories.
	Intel Skylake bug in complex workloads seen A bug was identified which can freeze systems with a Skylake processor, causing a system to hang under complex workloads. Intel has recognized the issue and in its own words:
	Auto industry's green push challenged by low gas prices Beneath the hoods of the cars showing in Detroit this week lie engines that are as powerful as ever, but are smaller and, helped by direct injection, guzzle less gas.
	Preventing food waste better strategy than turning it into biogas Turning your old banana peels and last night's leftovers into biogas sounds like a win-win situation for you and the environment: You don't have to feel guilty about having cooked too much pasta, and the use of biogas reduces CO2 emissions when it replaces fossil fuels.
	Samsung reaches partial agreement with sick workers Samsung Electronics reached a partial agreement on workplace safety with sickened workers and their families, nearly a decade after the death of a 22-year-old chip worker from leukemia galvanized concern about conditions in South Korea's semiconductor industry.
Chinese firm buys majority of gay dating app Grindr A Chinese gaming firm has bought a controlling stake in the hugely popular US gay dating app Grindr, despite homosexuality remaining a sensitive subject in the Asian giant.
Fantasy sports sites can operate in New York for now New York state's Supreme Court on Monday allowed two fantasy sports websites to remain in operation while a legal battle plays out over whether they are illegal gambling enterprises or games of skill.
	SAP tops 2015 targets due to 'exceptional' cloud business German software giant SAP said on Tuesday that full-year earnings exceeded targets last year, powered by "exceptional" growth in its cloud business.
	Amazon reportedly developing a 'beer can' size Echo device Amazon.com is reportedly working on a scaled-down version of its Echo voice-controlled speaker.
	New tech to help companies detect and respond to cloud computing performance bugs In late 2012, Helen Gu presented a research paper on a new tool designed to prevent disruptions in cloud computing. Less than four years later, she has launched a start-up to help companies that use cloud computing improve the user experience for their customers.
	Swedish prosecutors launch Volkswagen emissions probe Swedish prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation related to the emissions scandal at German automaker Volkswagen.
	Guardrails with inbuilt noise barriers are on the way A combined solution offers better protection against traffic noise – and can also benefit two-wheeled road users.
Thinking innovatively about the risks of tech innovation If you've been following this month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), you'll know with absolute certainty that the future is cool, shiny and stuffed to the brim with "must-have" gadgets.
	The differences between the new online cable bundles Traditional cable providers are launching TV packages that don't require cable boxes—good for you because you save on monthly equipment fees and don't need a technician to come install it for you.
	UW computer scientists to make financial products better and more available for the poor In Kenya, the ease of transferring money via mobile phone has increased incomes in rural areas, enabled small businesses to thrive and reshaped the country's economy.
	Auto Show: Some see sales slowdown; fuel economy quandary The North American International Auto Show opens to the public Jan. 16 in Detroit. Here are some of the things we learned at this week's media preview:
	Review: New ways to get cable without an ugly cable box Getting cable service no longer requires a technician who'll come and install an ugly cable box.
	Twitter adds live Periscope broadcasts to timelines Twitter on Tuesday began weaving live Periscope video broadcasts into timelines streamed to its application tailored for Apple mobile devices.
	European court rules employers can monitor online communication Employees in Europe will have to think twice about using the Internet to send private messages during office hours after Europe's top rights court ruled Tuesday that companies could monitor workers' online communications.
	PC sales fall for fourth consecutive year The PC industry had another down year in 2015, as global shipments fell for the fourth-consecutive year despite new models and the release of Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.
Gov't to announce new safety relationship with automakers Using the aviation industry as a model, automakers have agreed to work on fundamental changes in their relationship with the U.S. government in order to spot safety trends before they become problems and get new technology to the marketplace faster, a top safety regulator and a person familiar with the discussions said Tuesday.
	California regulators reject Volkswagen recall plan California regulators on Tuesday rejected Volkswagen's recall plan for some of the German automaker's most popular diesel models that used software to intentionally deceive government emissions tests, including the Beetle, Jetta, Golf and Passat.
Culture clash breaks up marriage of old, new media It looked like a marriage that could bring together the storied history of a century-old magazine and the culture-changing dynamism of Facebook.
	Google expects partners for self-driving car project Google plans to partner with automakers on its self-driving car project, but is not yet ready to announce anything concrete, the head of the project said Tuesday.
India's TCS profits rise 12 percent despite flood damage India's biggest IT outsourcing firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Tuesday reported stronger than expected quarterly earnings despite the impact of deadly floods in Chennai.
	CRIQ and INRS awarded a patent for a system that removes micropollutants from wastewater A US patent was recently awarded jointly to Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ) and Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) for a system and a process that remove emerging micropollutants from industrial wastewater.

Medicine & Health news

	New type of antidepressant found to act quickly in mice The compound CGP3466B, already proven nontoxic for people, may effectively and rapidly treat depression, according to results of a study in mice.
	Brain receptor regulates fat burning in cells Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered an unusual regulator of body weight and the metabolic syndrome: a molecular mechanism more commonly associated with brain cells. Lowering levels of P75 neurotrophin receptor (NTR)—a receptor involved in neuron growth and survival—protected mice fed a high-fat diet from developing obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
	Hitting the 'cellular sweet spot'—new delivery system for regenerative therapies One of the main stumbling blocks in regenerative medicine has been the inefficient delivery of targeted treatments to control how cells behave—one way is to regulate the genes inside damaged cells by efficiently delivering specific molecules. With the emergence of gene editing and reprogramming many scientists are working towards enhancing the ways in which these technologies can be used inside cells and correct the genome of patients with genetic disorders such as muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis.
	Scientists discover 'back door' into the brain that circumvents self-control in addicts Individuals addicted to cocaine may have difficulty in controlling their addiction because of a previously-unknown 'back door' into the brain, circumventing their self-control, suggests a new study led by the University of Cambridge.
	Untapped region in brain cell offers goldmine of drug targets for new autism treatments UCLA scientists have discovered that an overlooked region in brain cells houses a motherlode of mutated genes previously tied to autism. Recently published in Neuron, the finding could provide fresh drug targets and lead to new therapies for the disorder, which affects one in 68 children in the United States.
	Atherosclerosis is Alzheimer's disease of blood vessels, study suggests In atherosclerosis, plaque builds up on the inner walls of arteries that deliver blood to the body. Studying mice and tissue samples from the arteries of patients, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine​ in St. Louis suggest this accumulation is driven, at least in part, by processes similar to the plaque formation implicated in brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
	Scientists identify molecule that appears to fuel deadly genetic illness Researchers have identified a molecular target and experimental treatment strategy for DNA repair defects behind Fanconi anemia - a complex genetic disorder responsible for birth anomalies, organ damage, anemia and cancer.
	New pathway to differentiation found, shedding light on some cancers In humans the differentiation of stem cells into hundreds of specialized cell types is vital. Differentiation drives development from fertilized egg to a newborn, and it underlies the continuous replacement of the 5 billion cells that die every hour in an adult. On the downside, mutations in differentiation pathways of different cell types can be drivers of cancers.
	Researchers uncover 'predictive neuron orchestra' behind looking and reaching movements Different groups of neurons "predict" the body's subsequent looking and reaching movements, suggesting an orchestration among distinct parts of the brain, a team of neuroscientists has found. The study enhances our understanding of the decision-making process, potentially offering insights into different forms of mental illness—afflictions in which this dynamic is typically impaired.
	Revealed: The awful anchor that lets UTIs take hold To establish an infection in the urinary tract, bacteria must be able to withstand the tremendous forces of urine flow so they're not simply washed away. New research is giving scientists a remarkable view of a strange, spring-like shock absorber used by the most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) to survive and thrive where other bacteria cannot. By better understanding how these bugs anchor themselves to the urinary tract lining, doctors will be able to devise new drugs and vaccines to stop them.
	Lung cell found to act as sensor, regulator of immune response An uncommon and little-studied type of cell in the lungs has been found to act like a sensor, linking the pulmonary and central nervous systems to regulate immune response in reaction to environmental cues.
	Prevalence of folate deficiency 14.1 percent in multiple myeloma (HealthDay)—The prevalence of folate deficiency is 14.1 percent among patients with multiple myeloma (MM), according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 19 in the International Journal of Laboratory Hematology.
Higher costs for traditional-dose isotretinoin therapy (HealthDay)—Traditional-dose isotretinoin therapy is associated with higher overall costs than high-dose therapy, according to a letter to the editor published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Small plates can help us lose weight when we self-serve There are small easy steps that we can take to tackle the burgeoning problem of obesity. One of those solutions is surprisingly simple: use smaller plates.
	Innate immune defenses triggered by unsuspected mechanism To the amazement of researchers in immunology and genetics, a previously unsuspected mechanism is activated in the presence of pathogens after only a few hours. "In the hours following an attack by bacteria, we observed the activation of thousand of genes in the cells of the innate immune system (the one we are born with) and the triggering of its immune defences," said Luis Barreiro, a researcher at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU Saint-Justine) and professor at the University of Montreal. "We were surprised that the bacterial infection caused thousands of changes in DNA methylation, while this epigenetic imprint was thought to be stable and non-reactive to environmental perturbations," he added.
Heart valves made from tissue rather than metal may be better for middle-aged patients Patients between the ages of 40 and 70 who undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR) may fare better with tissue-based valves rather than metal-based valves, according to a review article posted online today by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Taking statins before heart surgery can help reduce post-surgical complications Using statins before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery can help reduce cardiac complications, such as atrial fibrillation, following surgery and also can reduce the risk of death during and after surgery, according to a review article posted online today by The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The article will appear in the February issue of the journal.
El Salvador issues alert against illness-bearing mosquitos El Salvador on Monday issued a national alert against a mosquito that transmits tropical diseases, in an effort to contain human infection.
	Why single mothers may need a nap Who are the most sleep-deprived people in America? Federal researchers say the answer is clear: single mothers.
	Researchers bring gene editing to patients with deadly diseases Tiny vials of recently repaired blood cells are thriving in a Stanford incubator, proof that a powerful new gene-editing technique is fixing errant genes that cause so much human suffering.
	That Powerball fever you're feeling has a name: dopamine That lottery fever sweeping the country in anticipation of Saturday night's record $800 million Powerball drawing? Scientists have a name for it: dopamine.
	Are childhood asthma rates declining? Childhood asthma has made headlines in recent years because of an upward trend in the number of cases. That may have changed: A government study published in the journal Pediatrics shows asthma rates may be leveling off or declining, but not for poor children.
	Excessive hair growth documented after IFN-beta Tx (HealthDay)—Excessive hair growth can occur after local administration of interferon (IFN)-β treatment for malignant melanoma, according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Dermatology.
	Inflammation markers could guide depression treatments Psychiatrists investigating depression have been energized in recent years by reports of rapid, successful treatment with drugs that interfere with the brain chemical glutamate, such as the anesthetic ketamine.
	Opinion: We don't just need precision medicine, we need precision health We are coming up on one year since President Obama, in his State of the Union address, committed the nation to a $215 million investment in precision medicine. Since then, we have seen many breakthroughs in the development of therapies tailored to individual patients to treat the deadliest of diseases. Recently we heard the remarkable story of President Carter's advanced cancer in remission from a new immunotherapy treatment. Developments like these give us all hope that we can beat the most difficult medical conditions facing humankind.
	Why do college-aged young adults use e-cigarettes? Numerous studies have examined the reasons adults use e-cigarettes. But what drives another important group—college-aged young adults—to use them? Turns out, like most things they are known to try, it's for enjoyment.
The band of psychiatrists who are looking to reclaim psychedelics for medicine again At 6.30am on Thursday 29 October 2009, Friederike Meckel Fischer's doorbell rang. There were ten policemen outside. They searched the house, put handcuffs on Friederike – a diminutive woman in her 60s – and her husband, and took them to a remand prison. The couple had their photographs and fingerprints taken and were put in separate cells in isolation. After a few hours, Friederike, a psychotherapist, was taken for questioning.
	Was that my phone? Has this ever happened to you: You think you hear your cell phone ring or ping, or feel it vibrate, but then look to find no call or message?
Cellular pathway discovered that may re-energize immune cells to eliminate HIV Researchers at the University of Hawai'i (UH) and Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) have revealed a novel new immune pathway that can be targeted to increase the immune system's ability to eliminate HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS.
	Experts call for more tailored liver cancer care in developing countries International liver cancer guidelines could be preventing patients from getting life-saving treatments in developing countries, according to a new study published in the journal Heliyon. The authors of the research are calling for treatment guidelines that are more tailored to developing countries, to help save lives.
	What should be the role of computer games in education? Game advocates are calling for a sweeping transformation of conventional education to replace traditional curricula with game-based instruction. But what do researchers have to say about this idea and what is the role of policymakers? A new study out today discourages an educational revolution based on gaming and encourages adding promising features to games in schools including heightened use of explanative feedback in games and relevant pregame activities. This article is part of a new issue of Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences (PIBBS), a Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) journal.
	Is community water fluoridation cost effective? New research from Massey University shows community water fluoridation remains cost effective, despite an overall reduction in the average number of decayed teeth in both fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.
Estrogen protects women against the flu, study finds 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.
	Computer vision techniques for laparoscopic surgery training A team of European researchers, including an UPM group, is currently working on the development of training technologies and surgical evaluation based on laparoscopic videos assessments.
People who experience rage attacks have smaller "emotional brains" Neuroimaging studies suggest that frontolimbic regions of the brain, structures that regulate emotions, play an important role in the biology of aggressive behavior.
	New model sheds light on the relationship between Alzheimer and diabetes Recently, many epidemiological studies have found links between diabetes and Alzheimer´s disease. Researchers consider diabetes to be a significant risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, the two main causes of dementia. At the University of Cadiz, several researchers led by Dr. Monica Garcia-Alloza, including Juan José Ramos-Rodríguez and María del Carmen Infante-García, have focused on analysing the different types of diabetes—mellitus type 1 and type 2—and studying to what extent these affect and/or worsen central nervous system conditions by favouring development of dementia.
Source of stem cells used for bone marrow failure treatment varies worldwide Ayami Yoshimi, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Freiburg, Germany, and colleagues examined the use of peripheral blood stem cells and bone marrow as stem cell sources for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with bone marrow failure worldwide and factors associated with the use of each stem cell source. The study appears in the January 12 issue of JAMA.
	New tool estimates looming risk of kidney failure in people with kidney disease An online tool combining results of common medical tests can accurately estimate the risk of whether someone with chronic kidney disease will develop kidney failure in the next two to five years, an international team of researchers led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.
	Frozen vs. fresh fecal transplantation for C. diff. infection shows similar effectiveness Among adults with Clostridium difficile infection that is recurrent or not responsive to treatment, the use of frozen compared with fresh fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) did not result in a significantly lower rate of resolution of diarrhea, indicating that frozen FMT may be a reasonable treatment option for these patients, according to a study in the January 12 issue of JAMA.
Mental health conditions common among bariatric surgery patients Mental health conditions, such as depression and binge eating disorder, are common among patients seeking and undergoing bariatric surgery, according to a study in the January 12 issue of JAMA.
Treatment for severe emphysema improves exercise capacity In preliminary research for patients with severe emphysema, a minimally invasive intervention involving the implantation of coils in the lungs with an endoscope resulted in improved exercise capacity at 6 months, although with high short-term costs, according to a study in the January 12 issue of JAMA.
Women, men with heart failure both benefit from implanted defibrillators Women with heart failure benefit from implantable cardiac defibrillators as much as men, according to new research in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
	New insights into causes of loss of orientation in dementia New research has revealed how disease-associated changes in two interlinked networks within the brain may play a key role in the development of the symptoms of dementia.
	Key to the development of fundamental treatment methods for Parkinson's disease A group of researchers at Osaka University in cooperation with the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), succeeded in elucidating the secondary structure of Lewy bodies in the brain of Parkinson's disease patients for the first time with synchrotron Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy (FTIRM).
	Could red wine improve cognitive performance? "Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages," said Louis Pasteur. Through the biological activity of several classes of organic compounds such as anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids, red wine is known to have beneficial effects on health, when consumed in moderation. These natural organic compounds, in particular flavonoids, show anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties, thus beneficially affecting health. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the positive effects of flavonoids remain unknown.
	Science busts heat exercise myths Drinking excessive amounts of water before exercising and drenching your clothes are myths that local researchers suggest Perth athletes ditch this summer.
	The impact of ketogenic diet on cognition in older adults with HIV Poor cognitive function is a serious problem in the aging HIV-positive population, where it has been estimated that up to 59 percent of HIV-positive adults demonstrate at least mild cognitive impairment.
Two day break in treatment for dialysis patients could be fatal, study finds Patients who have kidney dialysis three times a week are more likely to be admitted to hospital or die after a two day break, according to a study by a leading kidney researcher at the University of Sheffield.
	Gut reaction: Smart pill smells out the body's fiber factor Researchers have conducted the first ever trials of smart pills that can measure intestinal gases inside the body, with surprising results revealing some unexpected ways that fibre affects the gut.
	Why can't anyone tell me how much this surgery will cost? Thanks to rising annual deductibles and a push toward consumer-driven health care, people are increasingly encouraged to shop around for medical care. Many states or state hospital associations have price transparency initiatives, and there are a number of private companies that also purport to help consumers find value for their health care dollar.
Sedentary behavior linked to poor health in adults with severe obesity Sedentary behavior is associated with poor cardiovascular health and diabetes in adults with severe obesity, independent of how much exercise they perform, a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health-led study showed for the first time.
	Researchers discover novel factor in Parkinson's disease A team of local researchers have discovered a previously unknown cellular defect in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, and identified a sequence of pathological events that can trigger or accelerate premature death of certain neurons in the brain seen in this disease.
	Researchers' advice to save the relationships of parents of small children According to Statistics Sweden, 30 percent of all parents of young children in Sweden separate. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have mapped the most important factors behind the separations and divorces - and offer five tips that can save the relationship.
	Cancer-killing proteins destroy tumor cells in bloodstream Cornell researchers have discovered potent cancer-killing proteins that can travel by white blood cells to kill tumors in the bloodstream of mice with metastatic prostate cancer. The breakthrough study will be published Feb. 10 as the cover article in the Journal of Controlled Release.
Pinning down the ticking of the neural clock Our innate ability to track time is important for our everyday lives. We would not be able to speak, or even walk properly if we were not able to get the timing of each action just right. How are we able to track time? Are there a bunch of neural clocks ticking away somewhere deep inside our brain, cuing us on when to perform different actions? Recent results by neuroscientists at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon provide support to current theories in the field advocating the existence of such clocks and demonstrate, for the first time, that they can be used to predict behaviour.
	Colorectal cancer more likely to affect minorities at younger age Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The chance of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. Now, a study by University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers shows that minority and ethnic groups are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at younger ages and more advanced stages than non-Hispanic whites.
	Men's strategies for dealing with masculine insufficiency more varied than expected Previous research has claimed that poor marginalized men tend to gravitate towards compensatory and violent masculinities to deal with their sense of masculine insufficiency. A recent PhD thesis from the University of Gothenburg shows, though, that this is not always the case.
	Long-term opioid use associated with increased risk of depression Opioids may cause short-term improvement in mood, but long-term use imposes risk of new-onset depression, a Saint Louis University study shows.
	Racial disparity in premature births contributes significantly to infant mortality problem Black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to have a baby born between 16 and 22 weeks gestation, a time period in which the life of a baby outside the womb is not viable.
	The long-term benefits of improving your toddler's memory skills If your toddler is a Forgetful Jones, you might want to help boost his or her brainpower sooner rather than later. New research shows that preschoolers who score lower on a memory task are likely to score higher on a dropout risk scale at the age of 12.
Anemic, underweight pregnant women at greater risk for deadly hepatitis E, study suggests Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found a link between pre-existing nutritional deficits and immune dysfunction and the risk of hepatitis E infection during pregnancy.
	Simplified artesunate regimen is non-inferior to WHO-recommended malaria treatment In African children, a 3-dose intramuscular (i.m.) artesunate regimen is non-inferior to the WHO-recommended regimen for the treatment of severe malaria, according to a trial published this week in PLOS Medicine. The trial, conducted by Peter Kremsner at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany and Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, Lambaréné, Gabon, and colleagues, did not show non-inferiority of a similar 3-dose intravenous (i.v.) regimen.
	A cultural look at moral purity: Wiping the face clean Moral people have a pure heart. Immoral acts feel dirty. Expressions that describe morality in terms of purity abound in English and numerous other languages. The idea is rooted in religions around the world as well. For example, ritual purification of the physical body symbolizes moral purification, from baptism of Christianity and mikvah of Judaism, to ablution of Islam and Buddhism, to bathing in the Ganges of Hinduism and amrit of Sikhism. Across human societies, bodily purity seems deeply intertwined with morality. Does it imply that the morality-purity link is a universal psychological phenomenon?
	Largest-ever study of cornea condition reveals hidden risk factors A large new study reveals previously unknown risk factors associated with an eye condition that causes serious progressive nearsightedness at a relatively young age.
Neurosurgeons challenged to eliminate all infant deaths from hydrocephalus Every year, thousands of babies worldwide die from untreated hydrocephalus, a condition in which the head swells from a buildup of excess fluid. But no baby need die from this condition, once called "water on the brain." Neurosurgeons now have the skills and tools to deal with the condition very effectively.
	Traumatic brain injury induces mental impairments using mechanisms linked with Alzheimer's A new study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston fills an important gap in understanding the link between traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
	Standardized approach makes outpatient thyroid surgery safe for even the elderly, super-elderly A standardized treatment approach that starts with good screening and ends with patients going home to well-prepared caregivers, means outpatient thyroid surgery is safe for the vast majority of patients, including the elderly and super-elderly, physician-scientists say.
Deep poverty puts young children at risk for poor health and development Young children in deep poverty, whose family income is below 50 percent of the federal poverty line, fare even worse on health and development indicators than children in poverty, according to a study released by the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. The study compared the well-being of children in deep poverty to children who are poor, but not in deep poverty, and to non-poor children.
	Parents in dark about using epinephrine shot for kids' food allergies When a child has a food allergy, it's critical for pediatricians and allergists to show parents when and how to use an epinephrine auto-injector and to provide a written emergency food allergy action plan for home and school. It is essential in case of a life-threatening reaction.
	New Jersey may be second state to raise smoking age to 21 New Jersey could become the second state to raise the smoking age to 21, as part of a movement that's been spurred in part by a major study released last year and a sharp increase in electronic cigarette use among young people.
	Implanted coils help some lung disease patients, study says A novel, minimally invasive way to treat severe breathing problems caused by lung disease showed modest but promising benefits in a small French study.
FDA panel favors approval for drug-oozing addiction implant (Update) Federal health advisers recommended approval Tuesday for an experimental implant designed to treat patients recovering from heroin and painkiller addiction.
	For cancer survivors, expenses keep mounting (HealthDay)—A cancer diagnosis is costly, and new research suggests that it remains costly even after the disease has been treated.
	Hyperbaric oxygen therapy no benefit for diabetic foot ulcers (HealthDay)—For patients with diabetes and chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) does not reduce indications for amputation, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes Care.
	False-positive mammography results are common (HealthDay)—For women undergoing digital mammography screening, false-positive results are common, especially among younger women and those with risk factors, according to research published online Jan. 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Azithromycin prescribed despite risk for QTc prolongation (HealthDay)—Azithromycin is frequently prescribed to hospitalized patients despite the presence of risk factors for QTc prolongation, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Nivolumab, contact immunotx treats in-transit melanoma (HealthDay)—Nivolumab in combination with contact immunotherapy can successfully treat in-transit melanoma, according to two case reports published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Dermatology.
Immigrant kids' diet is different, less nutritious than mom's The diet of Mexican immigrant children in the U.S. is different from what their mothers eat, according to Penn State sociologists, and that may mean kids are trading in the generally healthy diet of their moms for less nutritious American fare.
Concerns over prescribed opioid use among pregnant women The increase in use of prescribed opioids among women during pregnancy has probably contributed to the rise in neonatal abstinence syndrome, argues Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, in The BMJ today.
West Africa counts economic cost as Ebola outbreak ends Gold miner Dauda Kamanda has never been rich, but before Ebola hit Sierra Leone he was getting by selling the nuggets he unearthed to traders who exported them across Africa and the Middle East.
	Thousands of UK doctors walk off the job in pay dispute Thousands of junior doctors walked off the job Tuesday in England in a bitter dispute over pay and working conditions—the first such strike in 40 years.
Pomalidomide in multiple myeloma: No hints of added benefit Pomalidomide (trade name: Imnovid) has been approved since 2013 for the treatment of multiple myeloma that has returned and is difficult to treat. The drug is an option for adults who have received two or more prior treatment regimens, including treatment with the drugs lenalidomide and bortezomib, and in whom the last treatment had no sufficient effect. Pomalidomide is used in combination with the drug dexamethasone.
Doctors' strike causes disruption at English hospitals Tens of thousands of junior doctors went on strike in England Tuesday, causing major disruption to hospitals in the first walkout of its kind for 40 years.
Study finds geography influences government grading of medicare advantage plans Geographic location is an important predictor of the quality grades assigned to Medicare Advantage insurance plans, and the federal government should consider accounting for geographic differences to allow for fairer comparisons among plans, Boston University School of Public Health researchers say in a new study.
SCAI releases expert consensus for cardio-oncology patients treated in cardiac catheterization labs The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has released an expert consensus statement providing cardiologists, oncologists and internal medicine physicians guidance for treating patients facing concomitant cardiovascular disease and cancer. The document, "SCAI Expert Consensus Statement: Evaluation, Management, and Special Considerations of Cardio-Oncology Patients in the Cardiac Catherization Laboratory," was released in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions (CCI), and is endorsed by the Cardiological Society of India (CSI) and Sociedad Latino Americana de Cardiologia Intervencionista (SOLACI). The paper aims to increase the competency of cardiovascular professionals providing care to cancer patients.
Probe reveals problems in Italy childbirth deaths Italy's health ministry said Tuesday that probes into a spate of women dying in childbirth had uncovered issues in the handling of three fatal cases, but stopped short of suggesting lives might have been saved.
Nursing home therapy provider settles lawsuit for $125M Federal prosecutors say the nation's largest nursing home rehabilitation therapy provider has agreed to pay $125 million to resolve a lawsuit that alleged it knowingly had nursing homes submit false Medicare claims.
	Pfizer, Allergan CEOs: Tie-up aims for growth, not cost cuts The heads of drugmakers Pfizer and Allergan said Tuesday that the record $160 billion combination they're planning is meant to produce more medicines and boost revenue, not to just slash jobs and other costs as the companies previously have done.
New Louisiana governor starting Medicaid expansion plan On his first full day in office, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards reversed course from his Republican predecessor Tuesday and started the process of expanding Louisiana's Medicaid program.

Biology news

	Newly identified enzyme may be the culprit in Pierce's disease grapevine damage UC Davis plant scientists have identified an enzyme that appears to play a key role in the insect-transmitted bacterial infection of grapevines with Pierce's disease, which annually costs California's grape and wine industries more than $100 million.
Gene crowding affects cell development The crowding of genes inside the nucleus of a cell affects the way they replicate, and how they are turned on and off, according to a study led by the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland.
	Protein aggregates in cytoplasm interfere with important transport routes In the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, medical researchers can observe protein deposits, also called aggregates. For many years, these aggregates have been suspected to contribute to the death of nerve cells, and to diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Huntington's. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, led by Mark Hipp and Ulrich Hartl, have now shown that the location of protein aggregates strongly influences the survival of cells. While aggregates within the nucleus barely influence cellular function, deposits of identical proteins within the cytoplasm interfere with important transport routes between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. This results in a blockage of protein and RNA transport into and out of the nucleus. In the long run this can lead to the death of the affected cells, and progression of the disease. The results of these studies have now been published in t! he journal Science.
	Singing in the brain: Songbirds sing like humans A songbirds' vocal muscles work like those of human speakers and singers, finds a study recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The research on Bengalese finches showed that each of their vocal muscles can change its function to help produce different parameters of sounds, in a manner similar to that of a trained opera singer.
	Spider web research shows promise for noninvasive genetic sampling Using web samples from black widow spiders fed with crickets, researchers at the University of Notre Dame have successfully used DNA samples to identify both the spider and the species of its prey. Such noninvasive sampling to obtain genetic information could have practical implications in several fields including conservation research and pest management.
	How plants interact with beneficial microbes in the soil Scientists have wondered for years how legumes such as soybeans, whose roots host nitrogen-fixing bacteria that produce essential plant nutrients out of thin air, are able to recognize these bacteria as both friendly and distinct from their own cells, and how the host plant's specialized proteins find the bacteria and use the nutritional windfall.
	Real-time fishery management significantly reduces bycatch Using real-time management policies to regulate fisheries can reduce the accidental bycatch of juvenile fish and endangered species with substantially less economic impact on fishermen, a new Duke University-led study finds.
	Starvation suspected in massive die-off of Alaska seabirds Seabird biologist David Irons drove recently to the Prince William Sound community of Whittier to check on a friend's boat and spotted white blobs along the tide line of the rocky Alaska beach. He thought they were patches of snow.
	GPS vultures swoop down on illegal dumps in Peru The lowly vulture is a dirty scavenger to many, but Peruvian environmental authorities have recast the birds as superheroes and outfitted them with high-tech gear in a bid to crack down on illegal garbage dumps.
	Dozens of whales die after southern India stranding Dozens of whales have died after stranding themselves on a southern Indian beach, a forestry official said Tuesday, with local fishermen struggling to save others.
	Researcher at forefront of new field of macrosystems ecology A Purdue University researcher is co-editor of a special issue of the journal Landscape Ecology that focuses on macrosystems ecology, a relatively new field that looks to solve ecological issues by expanding the view of the problems.
Transparency key in decision to label modified ingredients, study says Take a look at any food label and there's a good chance all design elements, from the color palette to the smallest detail, were meticulously chosen.
	Why is the X chromosome so odd? Traffic analogy helped us crack the mystery You may not be aware of it, but one of your chromosomes – the X chromosome – is considerably different from the rest and has posed a puzzle for scientists for over a decade. Early in mammalian evolutionary history, what is now the X chromosome was just like any of our other chromosomes. But at some point it evolved to be different.
	Fungus attacks new type of grain thanks to an evolutionary trick For the past few years, mildew has been able to infect triticale grain, which up to then had been resistant to this fungal disease. So how was the pathogen able to spread to a different host plant? Researchers from the University of Zurich have shown that the new pathogen is a genetic mix of existing mildew forms.
	The complex causes of worldwide bee declines Over the past two decades, bee declines worldwide have drawn international attention. Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies decreased by 25% over 20 years in Europe and 59% over 58 years in North America, and many bumble bee populations in Europe and North America have gone locally extinct, resulting in dramatic range contractions. It is important to note that not all bees in all places are declining. Some populations are actually growing, and there are many more for which data are insufficient or nonexistent.
	Two new species of frogs are discovered in Madagascar The Tsaratanana Massif –the highest mountain on Madagascar and one of the island's most remote regions– is home to several indigenous species. Yet, the majority of these species remain unknown to science due to the fact that this woodland area is difficult to reach. Thanks to a European expedition to this area, however, a group of scientists has discovered, among other species, two new species of very elusive frogs that live on the forest floor.
	Researchers identify two proteins important for the demethylation of DNA Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz have identified a missing piece of the puzzle in understanding how epigenetic marks are removed from DNA. The research on DNA demethylation sheds new light on a fundamental process that is important in development and diseases such as cancer.Epigenetics is defined by heritable changes in gene expression that do not derive from changes in the DNA sequence itself.
Federal officials consider protections for cat-like predator Government officials will consider new protections for a small, fanged predator that thrives in old-growth forests of the Northern Rockies over concerns that trapping, habitat loss and poisoning could be harming the animal's population.
Protections rejected for wolf in decline For more than two decades, conservation groups have argued that a wolf and the rainforest in southeast Alaska where it lives are at risk.
Yellowstone chief: bison slaughters to continue for now Large numbers of migrating Yellowstone National Park bison are likely to face slaughter for at least the next couple of winters as officials weigh changes to a 15-year-old agreement that drives the practice, the park's superintendent said.
Grazing towards sustainability The first international Global Farm Platform conference hosted by the University of Bristol this week [12 to 15 January] will highlight the benefits of utilising pasture and robust cows over high-yield, intensive systems.
	Bottom beginning to fall out of ivory market: regulator Global efforts to crack down on illegal ivory trafficking are eating away at prices, a wildlife trade regulator said Tuesday, voicing confidence the bottom was falling out of the market.
	US zoo names penguin chick 'Bowie' A pygmy blue penguin born at a US zoo has been named "Bowie" in honor of British rock star David Bowie who died late Sunday.

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