Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 1

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 1, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Physicists investigate the structure of time, with implications for quantum mechanics and philosophy
- 3-D printing confirms physical model of brain folds
- Best of Last Week–Rewriting physics books, new wireless power transfer system and revealing how cancer cells form tumors
- Coupling two 'tabletop' laser-plasma accelerators: A step toward ultrapowerful accelerators
- Viral gene editing system corrects genetic liver disease in newborn mice
- Study tries to give C-section babies mom's germs they missed (Update)
- A heat-seeking slingshot: Liquid droplets show ability to cool extremely hot surfaces
- Piecing together the cells elevator-like mechanism for sodium
- Study suggests different written languages are equally efficient at conveying meaning
- Tiny bits of plastic threaten oyster survival
- Rapid formation of bubbles in magma may trigger sudden volcanic eruptions
- A highway for spin waves: Team develops process for controlling innovative information media
- Man-made climate change helped cause south of England floods, say scientists
- New technique to find copper deposits
- Curing disease by repairing faulty genes

Astronomy & Space news

	Understanding the magnetic sun The surface of the sun writhes and dances. Far from the still, whitish-yellow disk it appears to be from the ground, the sun sports twisting, towering loops and swirling cyclones that reach into the solar upper atmosphere, the million-degree corona - but these cannot be seen in visible light. Then, in the 1950s, we got our first glimpse of this balletic solar material, which emits light only in wavelengths invisible to our eyes.
	Phase of the moon affects amount of rainfall When the moon is high in the sky, it creates bulges in the planet's atmosphere that creates imperceptible changes in the amount of rain that falls below.
	Sandy selfie sent from NASA Mars rover The latest self-portrait from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the car-size mobile laboratory beside a dark dune where it has been scooping and sieving samples of sand.
	Hubble finds misbehaving spiral Despite its unassuming appearance, the edge-on spiral galaxy captured in the left half of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is actually quite remarkable.
	New tool provides successful visual inspection of space station robot arm Gas station attendant, electronics installer, home inspector: is there any fix-it job that NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) can't tackle during its four-year career? As NASA takes a break in RRM operations, it's looking back on past achievements and celebrating one of its latest accomplishments - the successful inspection of Canadarm2, the International Space Station's (ISS) robotic arm. In time, this visual inspection capability may help future servicing ventures at other orbits inspect for damage and failures on their spacecraft.
	NASA engineers tapped to build first integrated-photonics modem A NASA team has been tapped to build a new type of communications modem that will employ an emerging, potentially revolutionary technology that could transform everything from telecommunications, medical imaging, advanced manufacturing to national defense.
European Space Agency launches new laser communications hub The European Space Agency says a new laser terminal has been launched into orbit as part of wider efforts to develop Europe's first optical communications network, a system able to monitor natural disasters and other catastrophes.
	What is dark energy? We live in interesting times. For thousands of years, we have thought we knew what the universe – and everything in it – was made of: normal matter, the kind that make up the elements of the periodic table.
	SpaceX Crew Dragon conducts propulsive hover and parachute drop tests On the road to restoring US Human spaceflight from US soil, SpaceX conducted a pair of key tests involving a propulsive hover test and parachute drop test for their Crew Dragon vehicle which is slated to begin human missions in 2017.

Technology news

	Antenna-minded Mitsubishi turns to seawater for conductive plume Mitsubishi Electric, in the business of selling electrical and electronic equipment used in industries ranging from satellite communications, to energy and building equipment, is interested in coming up with innovative ways to building antennas and exploring new materials for antennas.
	MIT wins design competition for Elon Musk's Hyperloop MIT student engineers won a competition to transform SpaceX and Tesla Motors co-founder Elon Musk's idea into a design for a Hyperloop to move pods of people at high speed.
	Bad news for attackers: VirusTotal can scan for malicious code in firmware What can you do if the reason for your computer infection is so deep that malicious code cannot be detected even with the best antivirus scans? Firmware has become a notoriously great place for mischief, with malware planted at the firmware level.
	SkyBender project looks at 5G delivery with drones A number of sites have picked up on the story from The Guardian: Google is reportedly testing a 5G network and it is through drones. A subhead in TechRadar called it high-speed data for the people.
	World's first 'robot run' farm to open in Japan A Japanese firm said Monday it would open the world's first fully automated farm with robots handling almost every step of the process, from watering seedlings to harvesting crops.
	Sri Lanka takes stake in Google balloon Internet venture Sri Lanka's government announced Monday it would take a 25 percent stake in a joint venture with Google designed to deliver a high-speed Internet service powered by balloons and that tests would begin this month.
	World is embracing clean energy, professor says Renewable, energy efficient and flexible electricity sources are being adopted by policy makers and investors across the globe and this is sign of optimism in the battle against climate change, a University of Exeter energy policy expert is suggesting.
Mechanical trees become power 'plants' when they sway in breeze New tools for harvesting wind energy may soon look less like giant windmills and more like tiny leafless trees.
	Encryption fears for law enforcement overblown: study Encrypted communication is making law enforcement and counterterrorism investigations more difficult, but fears of "going dark" are overblown, a study said Monday.
	Google parent tops Apple as world's most valuable company (Update) Alphabet, Google's new parent company, topped Apple as the world's most valuable business in after-hours trading Monday after reporting surging earnings.
	Microsoft testing underwater datacenters Microsoft on Monday revealed that as the world turns to computing power in the cloud it is working to put datacenters under water.
Israel's cyber sector blooms in the desert A modern metropolis rising from Israel's Negev desert stands on the frontline of a global war against hacking and cyber crime, fulfilling an ambition of the country's founding father.
	Obama wants $4B to help students learn computer science President Barack Obama said Saturday he will ask Congress for billions of dollars to help students learn computer science skills and prepare for jobs in a changing economy.
	Bezos transforms Washington Post in digital age Under new owner Jeff Bezos, The Washington Post is no longer just a newspaper. It's reinventing itself as a "media and technology company" that hopes to blaze a trail for newsrooms struggling to transition to a digital era.
	Drone schools spread in China to field pilots for new sector Joysticks at their fingertips, the mostly male students packing the classroom lift their virtual helicopters into the air, part of a new cottage industry that's sprung up in China: drone pilot schools.
	Tech sector tackles America's concussion epidemic A number of technology startups are devising creative new ways of detecting concussions in pro and amateur athletes, using apps, tablets and sensors to monitor the often debilitating brain injury.
Health care startup Theranos hit with dose of doubt Was the story too good to be true? Born in the US capital, Elizabeth Holmes took the crown of youngest "self-made" woman billionaire thanks to revolutionary blood tests touted by her Silicon Valley startup Theranos.
	Better rovers yield better coffee Technology often develops through circuitous paths, but the one linking NASA's cutting-edge autonomous robotic vehicles with gourmet coffee might be one of the more surprising.
	In sea of satellite images, experts' eyes still needed The Islamic State group destroyed a sixth-century Christian monastery in Iraq in 2014, a fact confirmed last week by studying satellite images. The cultural loss is significant and is being widely lamented.
	Netflix's VPN ban cannot cure TV studios' chronic headaches In mid-January, Netflix announced a ban on the use of proxies, unblockers and virtual private networks (VPNs) – all technical work-arounds to view movies and TV programs unavailable in the subscriber's country. This announcement coincided with the company's global service launch into more than 130 new markets.
	Why the sun is setting on the Boeing 747 It's difficult to imagine now, in the age of mass global travel, that building an aeroplane to carry hundreds of people at a time was once seen as a huge risk. But as the world's first wide-body airliner, the Boeing 747 went on to change not only aviation but the entire tourism industry. Its economic design did much to move international travel within reach of middle-class holiday goers rather than just the privileged few.
	Software adapts speech to ambient noise level Loudspeaker announcements at railway stations are often incomprehensible, since the surroundings are noisy. With new software, the clarity of such announcements can be considerably improved. A microphone picks up ambient noise and adjusts the spoken messages perfectly to the noise level. Even calls over mobile phones will be understood more easily with the help of this technology.
	Mass-produced underwater vehicles Autonomous underwater vehicles are essential for tasks such as exploring the seabed in search of oil or minerals. Fraunhofer researchers have designed the first robust, lightweight and powerful vehicle intended for series production.
	Medical monitor with eyes and ears In intensive care Units (ICU), every second counts. In emergencies, doctors and nurses need to make the right decisions quickly. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a smart "proxemic monitor" which has optimized the processes in the most sensitive area of a hospital and clearly shows the data of the connected medical devices while avoiding false alarms. The screen can be controlled from a distance, without contact, by means of gestures and voice commands, thereby reducing the risk of transmitting pathogens.
	Long-lasting rust protection for offshore wind turbines Offshore wind farms generate energy from the raw winds out at sea. But the salty air causes them to rust. For such plants to be profitable, they have to re- main in service for at least 25 years – which is impossible without regular maintenance. In the future, the use of innovative materials and technologies will make this task less onerous and cheaper. Fraunhofer researchers are developing a protective film that will optimize the repair process and are working on the necessary inspection criteria.
	Tablet market ended year on weak note The global market for tablet computers ended 2015 with a whimper, as the once sizzling market showed further signs of cooling, a market tracker said Monday.
Senior citizens may accept robot helpers, but fear robot masters Senior citizens would likely accept robots as helpers and entertainment providers, but are leery of giving up too much control to the machines, according to researchers.
US man gets 27 months in international spam case A man who helped send millions of illegal spam messages to U.S. and international cellphones and computers has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison by a federal judge in Pennsylvania.
	Twitter shares take flight on take-over deal rumor Twitter shares shot up Monday amid reports of a possible deal with big-name investors to take over the struggling Internet firm.
	Researchers report on new tool to provide even better Landsat images For more than 40 years, Landsat satellites have provided a wealth of data that has informed our understanding of Earth features, phenomena, and environments as diverse as coral reefs, urbanization, tropical deforestation, and glaciers. Now, scientists at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology have developed a way to substantially improve images derived from Landsat systems.
EU says US data deal 'close' despite missed deadline The EU's top justice official on Monday said a deal towards sealing a new transatlantic data-sharing pact was close, despite a missed deadline that could mean a crippling blow to American online giants including Facebook and Google.
	Facebook blocks unlicensed gun sales (Update) Facebook has banned people using the social network for unlicensed gun sales after pressure from anti-gun violence groups alarmed over the ease with which firearms are sold online in the United States.
	A look at federal cases on handling classified information News that Hillary Clinton's home email server contained top-secret messages brings renewed attention to the security of her mail system and to the laws and regulations that control classified information.
	Connected autonomous vehicles promise travel freedom for older adults in the future An interdisciplinary team from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory is playing a key role in development of connected autonomous vehicles(CAVs) that have the potential to transform the lives of isolated older adults through creation of independent travel options.
	Novel semantic tagging tool to benefit digital journalism Researchers from the EU Media in Context (MICO) project have published highly promising results. These will help independent news organisations in extending their publishing workflows with cross-media analysis and linked data querying tools.
Taxi drivers jam Costa Rica's capital in Uber protest Hundreds of taxi drivers jammed streets in Costa Rica's capital San Jose on Monday demanding the government block the mobile app for Uber, saying the US-based ride-share company threatens their livelihood.
	Germany reassured "for now" over Belgian nuclear plants Germany's environment minister Barbara Hendricks said Monday she was reassured for the moment over the safety of Belgian nuclear power plants that have also worried the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
	Family of Angolan rebel Savimbi sue 'Call of Duty' makers The children of slain Angolan rebel chief Jonas Savimbi will try to convince a French court Wednesday that the wildly popular video game "Call of Duty" defamed their father by representing him as a "barbarian".

Medicine & Health news

	Teen suicide—ADHD medication as prevention Black-box warnings about the dangers of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications are confusing and could have serious consequences for the risk of youth suicide, according to researchers at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal) and the University of Montreal, whose correspondence has just been published in the most recent issue of the journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
	Higher dietary fiber intake in young women may reduce breast cancer risk Women who eat more high-fiber foods during adolescence and young adulthood—especially lots of fruits and vegetables—may have significantly lower breast cancer risk than those who eat less dietary fiber when young, according to a new large-scale study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
	Scientists discover stem cells capable of repairing skull, face bones A team of Rochester scientists has, for the first time, identified and isolated a stem cell population capable of skull formation and craniofacial bone repair in mice—achieving an important step toward using stem cells for bone reconstruction of the face and head in the future, according to a new paper in Nature Communications.
	Britain allows first genetic modification of embryos (Update 2) Britain on Monday granted its first research licence to genetically modify human embryos to a project that aims to give hope to women struggling to conceive, raising ethical concerns about "designer babies".
	Study examines age-related changes in the willingness to take risks A study conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in collaboration with the University of Basel, Yale University, and the longitudinal German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study at DIW Berlin provides insights into how and in which domains people's propensity to take risks changes with age. The results indicate that individual risk-taking propensity can be seen as a facet of personality that is subject to change. The study's results have been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and are available online as SOEPpaper No. 816.
	Delivering genes across the blood-brain barrier Caltech biologists have modified a harmless virus in such a way that it can successfully enter the adult mouse brain through the bloodstream and deliver genes to cells of the nervous system. The virus could help researchers map the intricacies of the brain and holds promise for the delivery of novel therapeutics to address diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's. In addition, the screening approach the researchers developed to identify the virus could be used to make additional vectors capable of targeting cells in other organs.
	Abnormal gene is a triple threat in driving pediatric brain tumors Oncology researchers have discovered that an abnormal fused gene that drives pediatric brain tumors poses a triple threat, operating simultaneously through three distinct biological mechanisms—the first such example in cancer biology.
	Study finds no link between subcortical brain volumes and genetic risk for schizophrenia Over the last decade, important contributions to our understanding of schizophrenia have come from two different types of studies.
	'BPA-free' plastic accelerates embryonic development, disrupts reproductive system Companies advertise "BPA-free" as a safer version of plastic products ranging from water bottles to sippy cups to toys. Many manufacturers stopped used Bisphenol A to strengthen plastic after animal studies linked it to early puberty and a rise in breast and prostate cancers.
	Study tries to give C-section babies mom's germs they missed (Update) Sharing bacteria in the operating room normally is a no-no but in a novel experiment, researchers are giving babies born by C-section a dose of presumably protective germs from mom's birth canal.
	Study suggests different written languages are equally efficient at conveying meaning A study led by the University of Southampton has found there is no difference in the time it takes people from different countries to read and process different languages.
Targeting upper motor neurons to treat ALS Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to specifically modify gene expression in diseased upper motor neurons, brain cells that break down in ALS.
	Cancer cells travel together to forge 'successful' metastases There's apparently safety in numbers, even for cancer cells. New research in mice suggests that cancer cells rarely form metastatic tumors on their own, preferring to travel in groups since collaboration seems to increase their collective chances of survival, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins.
	A better model for Parkinson's disease Scientists at EPFL solve a longstanding problem with modeling Parkinson's disease in animals. Using newfound insights, they improve both cell and animal models for the disease, which can propel research and drug development.
	Drug that could aid in vaccines activates innate immune system in novel way A new drug with the potential to aid in vaccine development has been identified by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Media narratives counter prejudice attitudes Research from several personality and social psychologists show that entertainment media with positive content or conciliatory messages can contribute to positive relationships between members of different ethnic groups and genders.
Proton therapy controls common pediatric brain tumor with fewer long-term side effects The use of proton radiotherapy to treat the most common malignant brain tumor in children is as effective as standard photon (x-ray) radiation therapy while causing fewer long-term side effects such as hearing loss and cognitive disorders, according to a study receiving online publication in Lancet Oncology. The paper from a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators describes patient outcomes an average of seven years after proton therapy for medulloblastoma, a fast-growing tumor that develops in the cerebellum at the base of the brain.
Oncologists issue guidance for allocating scarce chemotherapy drugs Claiming that clinicians lack formal and concrete allocation guidance when faced with a critical drug shortage, experts in pediatric oncology and bioethics have issued a framework to avoid waste and guide difficult prioritization decisions among children in need of scarce life-saving chemotherapy treatment. The commentary is published January 29 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
	Brazil leader vows to win war against Zika-carrying mosquito Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Friday announced a nationwide attack on the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, vowing to "win this war" against the insect that researchers in have linked to a rare birth defect.
Water crisis increases Zika threat in Venezuela Yurman Torres is standing in line at the foot of Avila mountain, on the edge of Caracas, to fill a large jug with water, a rare commodity in crisis-hit Venezuela.
	Asian countries urge sick travelers to report Zika symptoms The Zika virus is spreading rapidly in Latin America, and Asian governments have issued advisories in a bid to contain the mosquito-borne disease, which could be linked to birth defects and can cause temporary paralysis.
Colombia reports more than 2,000 Zika cases in pregnant women (Update) Colombia announced Saturday that more than 2,000 pregnant women have been infected with Zika, amid growing concern about the spread of the virus suspected of causing irreversible brain damage in newborns.
Repeated traumatic experiences throughout infancy multiplies by seven the risk of psychosis 50 pairs of siblings (one of them suffered psychosis while the other didn't) participated in this research, published in the renowned Journal of Psychiatric Research magazine
Guatemala confirms 105 Zika cases, says more are likely Guatemalan health officials said Saturday that at least 105 people there had been infected with Zika, the virus suspected of causing grave brain damage in newborns.
	Coffee diet woos Americans with 'Bulletproof' pledge A new coffee diet claiming to help lose weight and improve IQ is gaining a major following in the United States—and raising eyebrows among doctors skeptical of its benefits.
	Into Zika's heart: the Ugandan forest where virus was found Down winding paths through dense jungles, Gerald Mukisa kicks up the dry leaves noisily with his feet to provide warning sounds, noting that the late afternoon heat is "snake time".
A plea for help in Brazil city where Zika first confirmed Camacari was in chaos, its hospitals overflowing with sick people desperate to know what was happening to them, never suspecting theirs would be the first confirmed cases of Zika in Brazil.
Surgery for Bangladesh's 'Tree Man' to remove warts A Bangladeshi father dubbed "Tree Man" for massive bark-like warts on his hands and feet will finally have surgery to remove the growths that first began appearing 10 years ago, a hospital said Sunday.
Researchers say Zika case found in Indonesia An Indonesian research institute said Sunday it had found one positive Zika case on Sumatra island, adding that the virus has been circulating in the country "for a while".
Youngest ever conjoined twins separated in Switzerland: report Swiss doctors have separated eight-day-old conjoined twin sisters fused at the liver and chest—the youngest ever successfully separated, a Swiss paper reported Sunday.
	Do asthma and COPD truly exist? Defining a patient's symptoms using the historical diagnostic labels of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an outdated approach to understanding an individual's condition, according to experts writing in the European Respiratory Journal today (Feb. 1, 2016).
The dose makes the poison: Opioid overdose study supports call for caution in Rx levels When it comes to prescription painkillers, the difference between controlling pain and dying from an overdose may come down to how strong a prescription the doctor wrote, according to a new study in veterans.
Team-based treatment for first episode psychosis found to be high value New analysis from a mental health care study shows that "coordinated specialty care" (CSC) for young people with first episode psychosis is more cost-effective than typical community care. Cost-effectiveness analysis in health care is a way to compare the costs and benefits of two or more treatment options. While the team-based CSC approach has modestly higher costs than typical care, it produces better clinical and quality of life outcomes, making the CSC treatment program a better value. These findings of this study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will help guide mental health professionals in their treatment for first episode psychosis.
	Community lifestyle intervention reduces cardiovascular disease risk in diabetes patients It took just 16 two-hour classes on the basics of a healthy lifestyle to substantially reduce cardiovascular risks associated with type 2 diabetes and elevated fasting blood glucose levels for 110 patients, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
WHO declares global health emergency over Zika situation (Update) The World Health Organization on Monday declared that a surge in serious birth defects in South America was "strongly suspected" of being caused by the Zika virus and constituted an international health emergency.
	FDA warns of lead poisoning risk from cosmetic clay (HealthDay)—A beauty clay sold at major retail outlets may put users at risk for lead poisoning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.
	Demand for medical office space high and increasing (HealthDay)—Demand for medical office space for ambulatory care is at a high point and looks likely to continue increasing, according to an article published in Forbes.
	Innovative oral health app helps with diagnosis, treatment (HealthDay)—The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) has released an innovative app as part of its national oral health curriculum, Smiles for Life, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
	Severe reaction to pneumococcal vaccines in patients with CAPS (HealthDay)—Pneumococcal vaccines can trigger a severe local and systemic inflammatory reaction in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Guidance issued for endoscopic management of foreign bodies (HealthDay)—Guidelines, published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases, have been developed for endoscopic management of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
	Ezetimibe/Simvastatin ups clinical outcomes in IMPROVE-IT (HealthDay)—Lipid-lowering therapy with ezetimibe plus simvastatin is associated with improved clinical outcomes, with a reduction in total primary end point (PEP) events, according to a study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Physician anesthesiologists in many hospitals using modifier QZ (HealthDay)—Many hospitals that exclusively report the modifier QZ, defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to be used for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist service: without medical direction by a physician, have affiliated physician anesthesiologists, according to research published recently in A & A Case Reports.
	Coexistence of people with Rh+ and Rh- blood groups explained A new study published today in PLoS ONE showed that incidence and morbidity of many diseases and disorders correlate negatively with frequencies of Rh+ heterozygotes (i.e. the carriers of one copy of the gene for Rh positivity and one copy of the gene for Rh negativity) in the population of individual countries. At the same time, the disease burden associated with the same disorders correlated positively with frequency of Rh negative subjects in individual countries. Together with the observed worse health status and higher incidence of many disorders in Rh negative subjects published by the same research team last autumn, this result probably solved 80 years old enigma of coexistence of carriers of two variants of Rhesus gene in the same population.
	In a world with no antibiotics, how did doctors treat infections? The development of antibiotics and other antimicrobial therapies is arguably the greatest achievement of modern medicine. However, overuse and misuse of antimicrobial therapy predictably leads to resistance in microorganisms. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species (VRE) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have emerged. Certain CRE species are resistant to multiple antibiotics, and have been deemed "superbugs" in the news.
When loved ones battle cancer, families head to web for information more than support Loved ones of cancer patients are likely to search for further information about the disease online but less inclined to seek emotional support from social media forums, according to a University of Georgia study published recently in the journal Computers, Informatics, Nursing.
	A threatening future leads to a triumph of desire Uncertainty in the world will lead people – and even animals - to seek more immediate forms of gratification and fail to plan long-term.
Zika not likely to affect large parts of US, medical geographer says There's no reason to suspect Zika will be much different from dengue fever, and those outbreaks in the United States have been pretty locally contained, according to Jared Aldstadt, University at Buffalo associate professor of geography in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Younger breast cancer survivors face bigger hurdles Breast cancer takes a daunting toll on all women, but it hits younger women especially hard, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Meeting patients where they live is key to providing better health for vulnerable populations He was known as a "frequent flyer," a regular visitor to emergency departments and urgent care clinics who consistently failed to manage his diabetes. Living in Boston, he had access to some of the best medical care anywhere, but his illness remained out of control.
	Early, aggressive psychosis treatment justifies cost The additional cost of intensive treatment for individuals who have just experienced their first psychotic episode is justified by the significant improvement the treatment produces in quality of life, according to a Yale-led study published Feb. 1 in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.
	New study reveals who uses community pharmacy for flu vaccinations The Influenza (flu) vaccination can help to prevent ill health and reduce hospital admissions with research already showing that there is a need to protect an increasing number of at risk patients. These at risk patients include those who are under 65 years of age and suffer from other long term medical conditions, are long stay home care residents or healthcare professionals. Currently, those who are at risk are eligible for a free NHS vaccination, but not everyone who is eligible gets vaccinated. During the 'flu vaccination campaign' in England only around 52 percent of at risk patients were vaccinated, against a target of 75 percent during the 2014-2015 season.
	Low intensity help for depression under spotlight Psychologists at Massey University are investigating whether a form of low intensity psychological intervention, which has been successful in England, could be adapted to New Zealand to help thousands suffering depression and less severe mental health conditions.
	Why a walk in the woods really does help your body and your soul Have you ever wondered why you feel healthier and happier when you stroll through the trees or frolic by the sea? Is it just that you're spending time away from work, de-stressing and taking in the view? Or is there more to it?
	Extra purchasing power at the grocery promotes better diets for people on public assistance Very few of us eat enough fruits and vegetables, and for the more than 47 million Americans who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, that number is a bit smaller still.
	Genetic variants associated with colorectal brain metasases suscptibility and survival Approx. 4,700 people in Austria fall ill with bowel cancer every year. One to two percent of the victims also sustain brain metastases during the latter stages of the illness. In a joint study with the University of Southern California, USA, researchers of MedUni Vienna have now specified gene variations in the DNA sequence which allow more precise prognoses on the life span, but could also be significant as an approach for medicinal, personalised therapies. The results of the study with 70 patients, to date the largest patient group worldwide, have now been published in the renowned Pharmacogenomics Journal.
	Intense workouts best for exercising diabetics REALLY working up a sweat while exercising by ramping up intensity has eliminated the need to eat and drink in order to stabilise blood sugars before exercise in Type 1 diabetics.
	Grieving advice to improve support services When it comes to the death of a loved one, who better to give you advice than someone who has been in a similar situation?
	Future help for stroke patients with language problems Brain researcher Karsten Specht has found a new method of analysis to distinguish between stroke patients with language problem. The result may be individualised treatment for each patient.
Olfactory receptors in the blood Sandalore odorant inhibits growth of leukaemia cells Human blood cells have olfactory receptors that respond to Sandalore. This could provide a starting point for new leukaemia therapies, as researchers from Bochum report in in the journal Cell Death Discovery.
	New MRI technique offers faster diagnosis of multiple sclerosis A new way of using MRI scanners to look for evidence of multiple sclerosis in the brain has been successfully tested by researchers at The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
	New research shows it is easier for women to gain weight For many people preventing weight gain can seem like an uphill struggle but scientists led by the University of Aberdeen have discovered why it may be even harder for women.
Higher fitness linked to reduced risk of death after first heart attack Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the Henry Ford Health System report evidence that higher levels of physical fitness may not only reduce risk of heart attacks and death from all causes, but also possibly improve the chances of survival after a first attack.
Greater weight loss during aging associated with increased risk for MCI Increasing weight loss per decade as people age from midlife to late life was associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology.
Follow-up care low among adolescents with new depression symptoms While most adolescents with newly identified depression symptoms received some treatment within three months, some of them did not receive any follow-up care and 40 percent of adolescents prescribed antidepressant medication did not have any documented follow-up care for three months, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Rate of abuse in organizations serving youth The rate of abuse among children and adolescents by individuals in organizations that serve youth, including schools and recreational groups, was small compared with rates of abuse by family members and other adults, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Long-term pot use may make word recall tougher in middle age (Update) (HealthDay)—People who smoke marijuana as young adults may have a slightly harder time remembering words by the time they reach middle age, a new study suggests.
	When food alters gene function As the study shows, a high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation leads to epigenetic changes in the offspring. These changes affect metabolic pathways regulated by the gut hormone GIP, whereby the adult offspring are more susceptible to obesity and insulin resistance, the precursor to type 2 diabetes. Similar mechanisms cannot be ruled out in humans, according to Pfeiffer.
	Basic science disappearing from medical journals, study finds A new study has found a steep decline in the number of scholarly papers about basic science published in leading medical journals in the last 20 years.
Two thirds of cattle attacks on people involve dogs, new study finds Dog owners are being urged to remember to be vigilant with their pets when walking near cows in the countryside, following a new review into cattle attacks by the University of Liverpool.
	With a broken circadian clock, even a low-salt diet can raise resting blood pressure, promote disease In the face of a disrupted circadian rhythm, a low-salt diet and a hormone known to constrict blood vessels have the same unhealthy result: elevated resting blood pressure and vascular disease, scientists report.
	Study strengthens evidence linking autism to maternal obesity-diabetes Scientists show they can use electronic medical records and birth information to verify and strengthen an already suspected link between autistic children and pregnant mothers with obesity and diabetes.
Study may offer answers for treating depression in alcoholics A study by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is offering a glimmer of hope to alcoholics who find it hard to remain sober because their abstinence is hounded by stubborn, difficult-to-treat depression.
Young African-Americans underestimate stroke risk, according to nursing study Young African-Americans often hold a distorted view of their personal risk for a stroke, two nursing researchers at Georgia State University's Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions say in a recently published study in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.
	Heart attack: Gender matters in predicting outcomes Sex (biological and physiological characteristics) differences are increasingly being studied to assess symptoms, risk factors and outcomes for various diseases. Now, a new pan-Canadian study led by a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), suggests that gender rather than sex is associated with the risk of recurrence of cardiovascular events in adults. The results of this innovative research are now published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Study links irregular sleep schedules to adverse metabolic health in women A new study suggests that frequent shifts in sleep timing may be related to adverse metabolic health among non-shift working, midlife women.
	Imagining positive outcomes may bring pleasure now but pain later Positive fantasies about how future events will turn out can boost your mood in the here and now, but they may actually lead to increased depressive symptoms in the long run, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Insulin-like growth factor linked to hippocampal hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease The mechanisms underlying the stability and plasticity of neural circuits in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for spatial memory and the memory of everyday facts and events, has been a major focus of study in the field of neuroscience. Understanding precisely how a "healthy" brain stores and processes information is crucial to preventing and reversing the memory failures associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of late-life dementia.
Uncovering the financial ties of advocates for cancer drug approval Speakers who nominally represent cancer patients at advisory meetings on new drugs often have financial ties with the company seeking marketing approval. And those ties aren't always disclosed, according to an analysis appearing in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Most vaccine-related posts on Pinterest are anti-vaccine, reveals research 75% of the vaccine-related posts on Pinterest are negative towards vaccination, according to research published in Vaccine. The authors of the study, from Virginia Commonwealth University in the US, are calling for better communication about vaccination.
	Researchers develop concept for new sunscreen that allows body to produce vitamin D For the first time researchers have developed a process for altering the ingredients in a sunscreen that does not impact its sun protection factor (SPF), but does allow the body to produce vitamin D. The findings, published in the peer reviewed journal PLOS ONE, has led to the production of a new sunscreen called Solar D.
New hope for improved heart disease detection and treatment in type 2 diabetics With approximately two-thirds of deaths among people with type 2 diabetes related to cardiovascular disease, a new report holds hope for improving the treatment of heart disease for one of the country's and the world's most at-risk populations.
Study finds significant cognitive impairment in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors Cancer survivors of childhood brain tumors show significant deficits in intelligence, educational achievement and employment, even decades after treatment, an unprecedented study at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has found. The researchers said their findings will help guide efforts to prevent and alleviate such problems.
Does radiation therapy improve survival for women with ductal carcinoma in situ? Approximately 60,000 patients in the United States will receive a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 2016. DCIS is not an invasive form of cancer and the 10-year survival rate for women with DCIS is greater than 98 percent. However, incidence of DCIS has increased dramatically over the last three decades, and being able to determine which women are among the small percentage at higher risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality could help clinicians and patients tailor treatment to neither over treat nor under treat the disease. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found that a set of easily measurable risk factors can predict the magnitude of survival benefit offered by radiation therapy following breast cancer surgery. Their results appear online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on Feb. 1.
Prehypertension in late pregnancy linked with underweight newborns, stillbirths Women who develop prehypertension late in pregnancy may be more likely to give birth to underweight or stillborn babies than women whose blood pressure remains normal, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
	Tendency to stress easily in early adulthood linked to high blood pressure in later life A tendency to become easily stressed during early adulthood is linked to a heightened risk of developing high blood pressure in later life, suggests a large study of military conscripts, published online in the journal Heart.
	Blood pressure medicine improves conversational skills of individuals with autism An estimated 1 in 68 children in the United States has autism. The neurodevelopmental disorder, which impairs communication and social interaction skills, can be treated with medications and behavioral therapies, though there is no cure. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that a medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats may have the potential to improve some social functions of individuals with autism.
For older adults, serious depression symptoms increase risk for stroke and heart disease Depression and its symptoms increase as people age, and have been linked to heart disease and stroke in both middle-aged and older adults. But whether depression and its symptoms are risk factors for these two dangerous conditions has been unclear.
Noninvasive electrical stimulation may help relieve symptoms of PTSD and depression A new study indicates that a noninvasive treatment that stimulates nerves through an electrical impulse many help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression.
Infectious diseases cause significant emergency visits, hospitalizations for older adults In a first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers calculated that infectious diseases account for 13.5 percent of emergency room (ER) visits involving older adults—a higher percentage than ER visits for heart attacks and congestive heart failure combined. Infectious diseases are those that can be passed from person-to-person and caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
White House wants $1 billion to fund cancer 'moonshot' The White House said Monday it wants $1 billion to "jump-start" a new task force to end cancer, known as the Moonshot initiative headed by Vice President Joe Biden.
	Teens are more caring when they feel support from others Research from the University of Rochester finds that caring for others dips during adolescence. But when young people feel supported from their social circles, their concern for others rebound.
	Sparse coverage hinders infertility treatment access Evidence reported in a new review by Brown University researchers suggests that Americans are not using infertility treatments and technologies as much as they could. A major reason, the authors write, is that a lack of public or private insurance coverage for reproductive medicine leaves many people unable to afford to build a family.
	Team publishes research on how the media influence perceptions of obesity Researchers at Chapman University, UCLA, and Stanford have just published work on how news media coverage shapes perceptions of obesity. They examined how perspectives on obesity portrayed in news articles affect people's support for different obesity-related public policies and their prejudice towards fat men and women.
	Phone counseling found insufficient to help teen smokers stay quit into young adulthood In a 14-year study involving more than 2,000 teen smokers in 50 Washington state high schools, a team of cancer prevention researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that one year of telephone counseling using motivational interviewing and skills training delivered during the senior year of high school is insufficient to help the smokers quit and stay quit up to six years into young adulthood.
Researchers identify potential targeted therapy for lung cancer using fly model A drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for melanoma in combination with a common cholesterol-lowering drug may show promise in controlling cancer growth in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to new research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Study findings will appear in the February 16 print issue of the journal Cell Reports.
	Technique helps predict likelihood of migraines in concussion patients Researchers are using a mathematical tool to help determine which concussion patients will go on to suffer migraine headaches, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
	Planning for a disease outbreak? There's a game for that Computer scientists and statisticians at Colorado State University are turning disease outbreak planning exercises into a game. They're creating powerful new software that can predict, simulate and analyze a major disease outbreak - all in the form of an intuitive, multiplayer game.
	Blood work: Technology simulates how legs bleed To make training for combat medics more realistic, researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have designed the first detailed computer simulation model of an injured human leg—complete with spurting blood.
	Experts cite multiple contacts for hepatitis C virus exposure in Ghana West African residents have frequent opportunities for exposure to the hepatitis C virus, according to a comprehensive review in the journal PLOS ONE co-authored by infectious disease specialist Jennifer Layden, MD, PhD of Loyola University Medical Center and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Super Bowl celebrations spread flu Cover your coughs in the Carolinas and don't double dip in Denver. A Tulane University study published in the American Journal of Health Economics found cities with teams in the Super Bowl see a rise in flu deaths.
	What we know: WHO declares global emergency over Zika virus The World Health Organization has declared a global emergency over the rapidly spreading Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in the Americas, saying it is an "extraordinary event" that poses a threat to the rest of the world. Here is what we know about the mosquito-borne virus:
	WHO declares global emergency over Zika virus spread The World Health Organization declared a global emergency over the explosive spread of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in the Americas, calling it an "extraordinary event" that poses a public health threat to other parts of the world.
	Researcher warns US could see substantial impact of Zika virus A researcher at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) warns that Zika virus could spread quickly to and potentially within the US. The mosquito-borne virus, which is believed to cause microcephaly in infants who are exposed in utero, causes rash and flu-like symptoms in adults and children who have been infected. Zika virus dates back to 1947; however, the first well-documented outbreak in humans was not reported until 2007. An outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013 was responsible for 19,000 suspected cases, and since October 2015, nearly 4,000 cases of Zika virus-related microcephaly have been reported in Brazil. Microcephaly is abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development and a range of neurological complications.
	Views of green space help students perform better: study (HealthDay)—High school students who can gaze upon at least a patch green landscape from their classroom may perform better academically, a new study suggests.
	New blood pressure guidelines a danger to patients: study (HealthDay)—Scientists continue to debate when doctors should prescribe blood pressure medication for older Americans, with a new study saying delayed treatment puts people at greater risk of stroke.
	Painkillers don't ease disability due to nerve damage: study (HealthDay)—Taking prescription narcotic painkillers doesn't improve movement or reduce disability in people with pain related to nerve damage, researchers have found.
	Patients and families highlight value of nurse practitioners (HealthDay)—Patients and their families believe that teams in acute and primary care are more effective when they include nurse practitioners, according to research published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Malpractice concerns affect derm-path interpretive behavior (HealthDay)—Many dermatopathologists believe that malpractice concerns may lead to additional testing in their evaluation of cutaneous melanocytic lesions, according to research published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Fasting glycemia screening is alternative to 75-g GTT for GDM (HealthDay)—Screening for gestational diabetes with fasting glycemia seems to be an acceptable alternative to universal screening with the complete 75-gram glucose tolerance test, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Brazil urges pregnant women to avoid Olympics over Zika Pregnant women should not travel to Brazil for the Olympics because of the risk posed by the Zika virus, suspected of causing fetal brain damage, President Dilma Rousseff's chief of staff said Monday.
	Sunday night deadline for 2016 health insurance enrollment Sunday night is the sign-up deadline for subsidized private health insurance under President Barack Obama's health care law.
	Athletes in Rio stay inside, lather on repellent for Zika Aline Silva has had the dengue fever twice, and she's not taking any chances with the Zika virus.
US declares E. coli outbreak over at Chipotle restaurants US health authorities Monday declared an end to two separate outbreaks of E. coli that sickened dozens of customers at Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle in the United States.
	Dermatologists have a role in care of transgender patients (HealthDay)—Dermatologists can help with the physical transformation of transgender individuals, especially facial transformation for women, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Pre-op MRI improves accuracy for predicting extent of DCIS (HealthDay)—Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can add to mammography in predicting the extent of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), according to a study published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
College of William and Mary student contracts Zika virus University officials in Virginia say a College of William and Mary student contracted the Zika virus while traveling in Central America over winter break.
Lung health study published in top respiratory journal A team of investigators led from LSTM has published findings from a lung health study to determine the prevalence of lung disease among adults in Malawi, in the leading international respiratory journal, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	A new potential biomarker for cancer imaging A biochemical compound developed as a radioactive tracer for cell proliferation shows increasing potential for use in cancer imaging, according to a recent paper published in the Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology.
Canada needs national body to set standards for coroners, medical examiners Canada should create a national body to set and enforce standards for medically reporting death because no such body exists, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Does text messaging help with medication adherence in chronic disease? Medication adherence in chronic disease is poor. Can telephone text messaging help with adherence? A new article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine examines the question in a meta-analysis conducted by Jay Thakkar, F.R.A.C.P., and Clara K. Chow, Ph.D., of The George Institute for Global Health, the University of Sydney, Australia, and coauthors.
	Australian cancer drug licensed in $730M deal A promising new cancer drug, developed in Australia by the Cancer Therapeutics CRC (CTx), has been licensed to US pharmaceutical company Merck in a deal worth $730 million.
	New stem cell model valuable tool for studying Andersen's syndrome Successful reprogramming of muscle cells derived from biopsies of patients with Andersen's syndrome (AS) led to the formation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that can serve as a valuable model for understanding the cause of this rare disorder and discovering novel therapies. Details of the methods used to generate the AS-iPS cells and evidence of their capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency are presented in the study published in Stem Cells and Development. The article is available free on the Stem Cells and Development website until March 1, 2016.
	Baby formula maker Abbott to buy medical test provider Alere Abbott Laboratories will buy Alere for $4.8 billion as it tries to expand its medical-testing business.
	Targeted antibiotics may help protect against infections in men being tested for prostate cancer A new review indicates that antimicrobial therapy given before clinicians take transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies to diagnose prostate cancer may lead to lower rates of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening infection.
Lupus may contribute to pregnancy-related complications A new study found that lupus during pregnancy may have negative health impacts for women and their babies. The study included 13,598 Swedish women in their first pregnancy, and all were singleton pregnancies. Preeclampsia, hypothyroid disease, stroke, and infection were more common among women with lupus. Sixteen percent of pregnant women with lupus were diagnosed with preeclampsia compared with 5% from the general population. Among the women with subclinical lupus who later developed the condition after pregnancy, preeclampsia was found in 26% of women who developed lupus within 2 years post-partum and 13% for those who developed it 2 to 5 years post-partum.
	Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of liver cirrhosis Regular consumption of coffee was linked with a reduced risk of liver cirrhosis in a review of relevant studies published before July 2015.
Cancer drug helps combat asthma in mice In a mouse model of allergic asthma, dasatinib—an enzyme inhibitor approved for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia—reduced inflammation, enhanced airway repair, and improved lung mechanics.
Helping teens who self-harm and their families deal with shame and blame Talking openly about blame and shame can benefit teens who self-harm, their families, and therapists, according to a new article.
	Sleep apnea linked with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease New research published in Respirology suggests that sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease to a similar extent as hypertension.
	AHA, IBM Watson Health and Welltok team up to transform heart health Today, the first day of American Heart Month, the American Heart Association (AHA) announced plans to develop a first of its kind workplace health solution that leverages the cognitive computing power of IBM Watson. In the first application of Watson to cardiovascular disease, AHA, IBM, and Welltok will create a new offering that combines AHA's science-based metrics and health assessments with cognitive analytics, delivered on Welltok's health optimization platform. The effort is intended to help alleviate the burden of cardiovascular diseases, which affect more than 85 million Americans today.
New research uses nanotechnology to prevent preterm birth Using nanoparticles to engineer a special drug, a team of researchers has demonstrated in mice a new way to both reduce preterm birth and avoid the risks of medication in pregnancy to unborn babies.
Study shows time of hospital rounds for postpartum women impacts patient satisfaction In a study to be presented on Feb. 6 at 8:45 a.m. EST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, Routine versus delayed timing of morning hospital rounds for postpartum women on patient satisfaction: A randomized quality improvement trial.
Study shows impact of sleep on gestational weight gain during pregnancy In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, Short and long sleep durations in pregnancy are associated with extremes of gestational weight gain.
Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for pregnant women may differ by trimester In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, T-follicular helper (Thf) cell expansion varies by trimester after influenza vaccination in pregnancy.
Study shows increased risk of early mortality in women with hypertensive disease In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, Long-term mortality risk following hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP).
	Preventing cardiovascular disease in women—one physician's approach to juggling the many guidelines Nanette K. Wenger, MD, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) Emeritus, Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA), provides a comprehensive perspective on how to apply the many new and continuously updated guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and reducing CVD risk factors in women, in a clear and concise Review article published in Journal of Women's Health. The article is available free on the Journal of Women's Health website until March 1, 2016.
	New method can assess quality of centers performing colonoscopies Colonoscopies are now a routine preventive diagnostic test for millions of Americans each year. While rates are low, complications like perforation, bleeding, and anesthesia-related heart failure can occur. Yale School of Medicine researchers have now developed a quality measure that uses follow-up hospital visits to track the variation in colonoscopy quality among outpatient facilities.
Study develops new equation for estimating gestational age In a study to be presented on Feb. 6 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, The NICHD Fetal Growth Studies: Development of a contemporary formula for estimating gestational age from ultrasound fetal biometrics.
Study shows racial and ethnic disparities in use of 17-hydroxyprogesterone In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, Racial and ethnic disparities in use of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for prevention of preterm birth.
Study validates two-protein test for spontaneous preterm birth prediction In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from the Proteomic Assessment of Preterm Risk study (PAPPR study, #NCT01371019) with the title Clinical validation of a two-protein test for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) prediction in a large multicenter prospective study of asymptomatic women.
The benefits of chocolate during pregnancy In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, High-flavanol chocolate to improve placental function and to decrease the risk of preeclampsia: a double blind randomized clinical trial.
Does treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnant women impact IQ in offspring? On Feb. 4, in the oral plenary session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, Brian Casey, M.D. with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit will present findings from a 5-year follow-up study that looked at the treatment of pregnant women with subclinical thyroid dysfunction and whether, or not, that impacted the IQ of their children. The abstract received the Norman Grant award.
Study found adding azithromycin to standard antibiotic reduced infections in C-sections In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 in an oral concurrent session, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Women's Reproductive Health; University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston; Ochsner, New Orleans, La.; University of Utah and Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City; Columbia University, New York City; Mission Hospital, Ashville, N.C.; University of Mississippi, Jackson; and University of Texas, Houston present findings from a study that looked at the benefit of using adjunctive azithromycin to prevent infections after cesarean delivery.
Study finds use of antenatal late preterm steroids reduces neonatal respiratory morbidity In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 in the oral plenary session, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU) found that the administration of antenatal steroids in pregnancies at risk for late preterm delivery prevents respiratory and other neonatal complications.
Study on use of umbilical cord vs. biocellulose film for antenatal spina bifida repair In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral plenary session, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord (HUC) vs. Biocellulose Film (BCF) for Antenatal Spina Bifida Repair.
Effectively predicting cesarean delivery in nulliparous women In a study to be presented on Feb. 4 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings from a study titled, How to Predict Cesarean Delivery in the Nulliparous Patient: Results from the Prospective Multi-center Genesis Study. The objective of the Genesis study, was to assess the use of a range of demographic, clinical and ultrasound features to develop a predictive tool for cesarean delivery (CD) in nulliparous, singleton pregnancies.
Evidence-based health care: The care you want, but might not be getting As hospital leaders continue to feel pressure to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, a new study reveals one reason why many organizations fall short.
Colombia fears 'explosion' of nerve disease from Zika Colombia fears an explosion in cases of the potentially paralyzing nervous disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome, linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus that is devastating Latin America, the government said Monday.
Zika spreads in Latin America: 50 cases in Panama Panama on Monday said it has 50 cases of Zika virus infections and warned that the mosquito-borne disease, which is linked to birth defects, will end up spreading across the Central American nation.

Biology news

	New mathematical model illustrates link between energy use and aging Why does a great dane have a shorter lifespan than a pug? The answer lies in a complex relationship between energy usage and lifespan. That relationship is quickly being unraveled through the use of numerical modeling by a researcher at Missouri University of Science and Technology.
	How one species can end up becoming the dominant partner in a mutualistic relationship It sounds like the perfect arrangement. The plant receives vital nutrients such as phosphorous and potassium, and in return the friendly fungus gets the sugars and carbon it needs.
	Explaining species differences in bat mortality from white-nose syndrome Bat body type, and the environmental conditions bats use in their hibernation sites, may explain species differences in bat mortality from white-nose syndrome, according to a Colorado State University-led study published online Jan. 29 in Science Advances.
	Curing disease by repairing faulty genes The genome-editing technique known as CRISPR allows scientists to clip a specific DNA sequence and replace it with a new one, offering the potential to cure diseases caused by defective genes. For this potential to be realized, however, scientists must find a way to safely deliver the CRISPR machinery and a corrected copy of the DNA into the diseased cells.
	Viral gene editing system corrects genetic liver disease in newborn mice For the first time, researchers have treated an animal model of a genetic disorder using a viral vector to deliver genome-editing components in which the disease- causing mutation has been corrected. Delivery of the vector to newborn mice improved their survival while treatment of adult animals, unexpectedly, made them worse, according to a new study by investigators from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania The team published their findings this week in Nature Biotechnology.
	Competition between mothers starts in the womb, new study suggests Female mammals, including humans, may try to outcompete one another by producing bigger babies, ground-breaking research conducted by scientists at the University of Exeter has suggested.
	Piecing together the cells elevator-like mechanism for sodium Sodium, such that is found in ordinary table salt, is constantly transported back and forth our cells membrane in exchange for protons. This regulates sodium levels, cell volume and internal pH. Researchers have now been able to show the details in how the protein NapA carries out this process. In 2013, the researchers reported that the sodium-proton transport process in NapA involved large movements in the protein, which was surprising because the small size of the molecules transported. However, this model did not have a detailed picture of every step of this transport process.
	Why do scientists chase unicorns? Scientists chase unicorns because if they could prove the existence of the magical beasts, the world would be a better place. Take Maren Friesen, Michigan State University plant biologist, for example. Her quest was to find near-mythical bacteria that could fix their own nitrogen. Her search for such magical beasties was based on results from Germany published in the 1990s that seemed to confirm their existence.
	Transgenic plants' 'die and let live' strategy dramatically increases drought resistance Purdue University researchers found that engineering plants to produce high levels of a protein known as PYL9 dramatically boosted drought tolerance in rice and the model plant Arabidopsis.
	A 'gap in the armor' of DNA may allow enzyme to trigger cancer-causing mutations Research at Indiana University has identified a genetic mechanism that is likely to drive mutations that can lead to cancer.
	Disruptions to embryonic reprogramming alter adult mouse behavior Right after fertilization, embryos at the earliest stages of development tell their genes: "Forget what it was like in the sperm or egg where you came from."
	Models suggest little brown bats more susceptible to fungus than bigger bats (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from several institutions in New Zealand and the U.S. has found, via modeling, that little brown bats in North America are likely more susceptible to dying due to a certain fungal infection than bigger brown bats, due to their size and habitat. The team has published their results in the journal Science Advances.
	Ring- and arc-shaped pores drive stressed cells to a programmed death Damaged cells can commit suicide by a process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. If this mechanism fails to work properly, the cell can become cancerous. Tübingen researchers in a team headed by professor Ana García-Sáez of the Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry are helping to explain important steps in the process of apoptosis. They know from previous studies that apoptosis begins with the activation of what are known as Bax proteins. If a cell is under stress, Bax proteins deposit on the surface of mitochondria in symmetrical pairs. The researchers then observed that the otherwise impermeable shell of the mitochondria becomes permeable – letting through cytochrome c. Once that happens, the process of cellular death cannot be reversed. But what happened in between was a mystery which for a long time puzzled apoptosis researchers. Now Ana García-Sáez and her team have been able to use a supermicroscope to watch how! Bax proteins form pores in the mitochondrial shell, making it permeable.
	Small birds prefer flying in company Until now, scientists had observed that some large birds are sociable amongst each other. However, a new study has confirmed that this unique characteristic can also be seen among smaller birds such as the Eurasian siskin, a bird which is able to form bonds that last for a number of years. This intimacy may favour reproduction in addition to facilitating the process of adjusting to a new place.
	Only time will tell? Looking deeply into variable drivers of plant evolution For organisms that lack legs, plants get around plenty. Their variability across the landscape begs an evolutionary lens for geographical studies. This perspective promises to be increasingly insightful as global warming and anthropogenic environmental alteration take root as the new normal. Dr. Julie Etterson, Professor of Biology at University of Minnesota Duluth and co-editor of this American Journal of Botany special issue, says the adaptive capacity of wild plants offers "the basis for hope" for continued persistence of wild plants and our existence among them. Prior research has established that plants, by and large, are capable of evolution as their surroundings transform. This collection, "Evolutionary Insights from Studies of Geographic Variation: Contemporary Variation and Looking to the Future," builds on that knowledge by looking deeply into variable drivers of plant evolution.
	Emerald and gold: Two new precious-eyed endemic tree frog species from Taiwan Two endemic tree frog species, not recognised by science until now, have been identified in broadleaf forests in the island country of Taiwan. Unlike their siblings from mainland China and Southern Asia, they demonstrate reproductive behaviour, characterised with egg-eating (oophagous) tadpole embryos feeding on eggs, while still inside the mother's womb. What told them apart initially, however, were their gemstone-coloured eyes. The research team, led by Dr. Shu-Ping Wu, University of Taipei, have their study published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
	Global plant conservation's phase one: The world checklist of hornworts and liverworts Although it was Charles Darwin himself who more than a century ago voiced his intention to support a complete catalogue of all known plant species, such is yet to be realised. In the present paper, however, an international research team present the first ever worldwide checklist of hornworts and liverworts, covering 7485 species from across 396 genera and representing 92 families from the two phyla.
	High-tech river studies reveal benefits of habitat restoration for fish An emerging research method to gauge the benefits of stream restoration for salmon and other native fish is revealing improvements in fish numbers, survival and reproduction in key rivers across the Pacific Northwest, according to a new research paper describing the approach, known as intensively monitored watersheds, or IMWs.
	Traditional planting of fruit trees promotes animal diversity in the Mala Traditional fruit gardens planted by indigenous communities in the Malaysian rainforest increase the diversity of the animals who make it their home, research has found.
	Ethiopian lions rediscovered in Alatash Conservationists announced Monday the "amazing discovery" of a previously unknown lion population in a remote northwestern region of Ethiopia, confirming local reports with camera trap photographs for the first time.
	Land plant became key marine species The genome of eelgrass (Zostera marina) has now been unveiled. It turns out that the plant, once land-living but now only found in the marine environment, has lost the genes required to survive out of the water. Scientists from the University of Gothenburg participated in the research study, the results of which are published in the scientific journal Nature.
	Dominant ant species significantly influence ecosystems Ants and humans represent approximately the same amount of biomass on our planet. Together with other social insects, ants make up a third of the entire animal biomass in the tropics and hence have a major effect on their ecosystems. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) investigated the role of different ant species in various ecosystem processes in tropical rain forests. They discovered that the dominant role is often played by only a few or even a single ant species when it comes to consuming food resources, something that can make an ecosystem vulnerable. Researchers working with Dr. Florian Menzel of the JGU Institute of Zoology have identified ant species in the forests of Borneo that are extremely efficient and exploit the major proportion of the food resources available. This is the first time that biologists quantified resource consumption by ants in the field and differentiated between diurnal and noct! urnal ant communities.
Promise and peril: a primer on gene editing Britain's granting of a licence Monday for scientists to alter the genes of embryos for infertility research has thrown the controversial technique under a white-hot spotlight.
	Diversity of nature formulated We humans are affecting nature to a greater and greater degree and this is contributing to the reduction of biodiversity globally. To better assess the consequences requires a better understanding of the environmental conditions that the species in an ecosystem live under. A group of biophysicists from the Niels Bohr Institute have therefore analysed data and calculated how the species in an area affect each other and how an ecosystem can be in balance or out of balance. The results are published in the scientific journal, PLoS Computational Biology.
	New research sharpens understanding of poison-arrow hunting in Africa While academic awareness of African peoples' hunting with poison-tipped arrows extends back for centuries, knowledge of the ingenious practice has been scattered among chemistry, entomology and anthropology texts.
	Wildlife health experts aid national database Throughout history, native wildlife has been responsible for transmitting infectious diseases to humans and domestic animals, with some of these diseases potentially posing a threat to public health and biosecurity.
Biodegradable fishing nets may help protect marine animals When synthetic non-biodegradable fishing nets are lost, abandoned, or discarded at sea, they may continue to catch fish and other animals for a long period of time—a phenomenon is known as 'ghost fishing'.
	Eight dead sperm whales found on German beach Eight dead sperm whales have washed up on a German beach, just weeks after 12 of the giant mammals were found dead at other sites on the North Sea, officials said Monday.
	Canada protects ancient coastal forest from logging, hunting Decades of protests and then negotiations that brought together loggers, natives and environmental activists resulted Monday in a landmark deal to protect a huge swath of forest on Canada's Pacific coast.

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