Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 8

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 8, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Could 80-year-old ether experiments have detected a cosmological temperature gradient?
- Study suggests remarkable approach to MS treatment
- Best of Last Week–New property of superconductivity, contact lens video screens and HPV causing throat and mouth cancers
- Researchers pinpoint origin of sighing reflex in the brain
- Early human ancestor didn't have the jaws of a nutcracker, study finds
- Nanoscale cavity strongly links quantum particles
- Mechanical chameleon blends with color backgrounds (w/ Video)
- Facebook blog explains cut in six degrees of separation
- Chiral magnetic effect generates quantum current
- Vasopressin: Social hormone promotes cooperation in risky situations
- Earth-like planets have Earth-like interiors
- Cockroach inspires robot that squeezes through cracks (w/ Video)
- Timebomb in the testicles investigated
- Study examines evolution of cancer
- Circadian misalignment helps explain higher risk for cardiovascular disease

Astronomy & Space news

	Earth-like planets have Earth-like interiors Every school kid learns the basic structure of the Earth: a thin outer crust, a thick mantle, and a Mars-sized core. But is this structure universal? Will rocky exoplanets orbiting other stars have the same three layers? New research suggests that the answer is yes - they will have interiors very similar to Earth.
	Meet "Hedgehog": Engineers build cube-like rover for exploration of asteroids, comets Your best guess is that the landscape is as inhospitable as it gets: An irregular range of sharp boulders and loose rubble piles strewn among jagged crevasses and deep troughs of dust. But then again, it's just a guess because no one's ever actually seen this landscape up close. Now imagine that you need to send a robot across that landscape, from a perch at the lip of a steep crater to the edge of an ice-encrusted hole 1,000 meters away. And imagine that gravity is a tiny fraction of what we have on Earth. And you can't communicate with the robot because it's 50 million miles away and circling to the far side of Mars. What would that robot need to look like?
	Star formation in the outskirts of galaxies Star formation environments can be roughly grouped into three types, categorized by the density of their gas (or more precisely, the projected "surface" density of the gas, which is easier to determine than the conventional volume density). In moderately high density regions, where the gas is primarily molecular in form rather than atomic, there is a strong correlation between the amount of star formation taking place and the density. This result is the basis for concluding that stars form from molecular material. In very high density regions like those found in merging and starbursting galaxies, the star-formation rates compared to the total mass of available material are even larger. In low-density regions there is little known about correlations between the total gas and star-formation activity.
	Red or white? Healthy humans need both When it comes to wine, we can choose red or white depending on our tastes. With blood cells, however, we need both red and white in order to stay healthy and function well.
	Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, 6th man on moon, dies in Florida Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who became the sixth man on the moon when he and Alan Shepard helped NASA recover from Apollo 13's "successful failure" and later devoted his life to exploring physics, the mind, and unexplained phenomena such as psychics and aliens, has died in Florida. He was 85.
N. Korea says rocket launch early as Sunday North Korea's widely-condemned launch of a long-range rocket could happen within a matter of hours, after Pyongyang shortened and brought forward the start of the launch window to Sunday morning.
N. Korea triggers fresh outrage with space rocket launch North Korea said Sunday it had successfully put a satellite into orbit, with a rocket launch widely condemned as another defiant step towards developing a missile capable of striking the US mainland.
	New Horizons could help us locate possible planets beyond Neptune The recent discovery of evidence of a giant planet lurking in the outskirts of the solar system made by Caltech astronomers, has re-ignited the discussion about the existence of planets beyond Neptune. We could be really on the verge of confirming the presence of a hypothetical 'Planet Nine' and NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, our messenger to Pluto and trans Neptunian objects might have the final word in this debate.
	Sentinel mission teams prepare for critical days Moments after Sentinel-3A separates from its rocket, a team of European mission control specialists will assume control, shepherding the new spacecraft through its critical first days in space.
'Meteorite' kills man in south India, authorities say (Update) Indian authorities say a falling object that killed a bus driver and injured three others was a meteorite. If proven, it would be the first such death in recorded history.
	Artistic space odyssey to broadcast people's messages to the stars Messages from around the world are to be beamed into space at the speed of light as part of a cultural project to create a celestial time capsule.
	Studying the solar system with NASA's Webb Telescope NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will look across vast distances to find the earliest stars and galaxies and study the atmospheres of mysterious worlds orbiting other stars. But the observatory also will investigate objects in Earth's own neighborhood - planets, moons, comets and asteroids in our solar system.
	Image: Final mirror installed in James Webb Space Telescope Inside a massive clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland the James Webb Space Telescope team used a robotic am to install the last of the telescope's 18 mirrors onto the telescope structure.

Technology news

	Facebook blog explains cut in six degrees of separation Hop, hop, hop and you're in a connection with somebody else. Strange notion but Facebook researchers have been crunching numbers. They found that the six degrees of separation theory where everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away are actually less.
	Mechanical chameleon blends with color backgrounds (w/ Video) Name one intense research area and you will not go wrong in choosing camouflage. ACS Nano has published "Mechanical Chameleon through Dynamic Real-Time Plasmonic Tuning."
	Cockroach inspires robot that squeezes through cracks (w/ Video) Our fear and disgust that cockroaches can quickly squeeze through the tiniest cracks are well justified, say University of California, Berkeley scientists.
	DeepMind's AI team explores navigation powers with 3-D maze Two players, an empty board, white and black circles that look like stones as playing pieces, and AI news around the world is made.
	May Google cars on the move one day roll over transmitters in ground for juice? Self-driving cars may one day take a direction away from wires that are needed to plug in for charging.
	Search engines will know what you want ... sooner If you enter "Oklahoma" in a search engine, you might get a travelogue, news about the oil industry, Oklahoma State football scores or an article on Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. What appears at the top of the list might – and should – depend on what you were actually looking for.
	New algorithm improves speed and accuracy of pedestrian detection What if computers could recognize objects as well as the human brain could? Electrical engineers at the University of California, San Diego have taken an important step toward that goal by developing a pedestrian detection system that performs in near real-time (2-4 frames per second) and with higher accuracy (close to half the error) compared to existing systems. The technology, which incorporates deep learning models, could be used in "smart" vehicles, robotics and image and video search systems.
	Claims for solar cell efficiency put to test at NREL The sheet of paper taped to the door of Keith Emery's office tells the story. On the paper is a simple fever chart showing the improvements made in increasing the efficiency of two dozen types of solar cells. Some of the lines marking record efficiencies date to the mid-1970s. Others start much more recently, with the advent of newer technologies.
	Swedish telecom chief to steer web body ICANN to independence Sweden's Goran Marby was Monday named head of the body that manages Internet addresses, pledging to uphold checks and balances as it steps out from under US government oversight.
	Tiny diatoms boast enormous strength Diatoms are single-celled algae organisms, around 30 to 100 millionths of a meter in diameter, that are ubiquitous throughout the oceans. These creatures are encased within a hard shell shaped like a wide, flattened cylinder—like a tambourine—that is made of silica. Researchers in the lab of Julia Greer, professor of materials science and mechanics in Caltech's Division of Engineering and Applied Science, have recently found that these shells have the highest specific strength—the strength at which a structure breaks with respect to its density—of any known biological material, including bone, antlers, and teeth.
	LinkedIn shares dive on weak forecast LinkedIn shares plunged more than 40 percent on Friday after a weak outlook from the career-focused social network fueled fears of a slowdown.
	Obama seeks to double US funds for clean energy research President Barack Obama on Saturday proposed doubling US funding over the next five years for clean energy research and development, as part of his ongoing effort to tackle climate change.
	Chinese market electrifying for 'green' cars Government subsidies are fuelling a boom in electric vehicles in China, driving hopes for the industry's global future as the world's biggest car market offers economies of scale that could make the technology mainstream.
	Insider Q&A: Competing with cable's Internet offerings Chet Kanojia, the founder of startup TV service Aereo, has a new offering that could shake up the cable industry again. His new Internet service, Starry, would compete with cable companies in big cities.
	NASA software to help avoid weather-related travel delays in the sky More than 75,000 ticketholders will fill Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for Super Bowl 50, but more than one million people are expected to take part in activities nearby. A large portion of them will fly into the San Francisco Bay Area for the big game throughout the first week of February. NASA is working on technology to help future Super Bowl fans – and everyone else – avoid weather delays and arrive at their destinations safely and efficiently.
	The future will be built on open data – here's why Data has the power to revolutionise and disrupt the way societies are governed. None more so than open data, which is free to access, free to use and can be shared by anyone. It's non-personal and can be used to identify and predict large-scale trends and behaviours. This is as opposed to closed data that is restricted to internal use by an organisation.
	The future of TV? How feely-vision could tickle all our senses Imagine a party on a warm summer's evening. You can see the beautiful greenery and the dipping sun, you can smell the freshly cut grass and taste the cool drinks on offer. You hear someone walk up behind you and feel them tap you on the shoulder. Now imagine you're not really at the party – but sat at home and the scene and all these sensations are coming from your TV.
Feds find Fiat Chrysler gear shifters can confuse drivers (Update) Electronic gear shifters on some newer Fiat Chrysler SUVs and cars are so confusing that drivers have exited the vehicles with the engines running and while they are still in gear, causing crashes and some serious injuries, U.S. safety investigators have determined.
	Wirelessly supplying power to brain Human and animal movements generate slight neural signals from their brain cells. These signals obtained using a neural interface are essential for realizing brain-machine interfaces (BMI). Such neural recording systems using wires to connect the implanted device to an external device can cause infections through the opening in the skull. One method of solving this issue is to develop a wireless neural interface that is fully implantable on the brain.
	Yelp shares roller-coaster on early earnings release Yelp shares took a roller coaster ride on Monday after quarterly earnings that beat expectations were accidentally released before the close of market.
	TV producers may start making you wait for new shows online The Golden Age of Online Television may be in peril.
US: More registered drone operators than licensed pilots The Federal Aviation Administration says there are now more registered drone operators in the U.S. than there are licensed pilots.
	Multinational companies perform majority of US business R&D Multinational companies perform the majority of all research and development (R&D) done by companies located in the Unites States, according to a new report from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES).
	Twitter moves to actively seek out terrorist supporters (Update) Twitter is now using spam-fighting technology to seek out accounts that might be promoting terrorist activity and is examining other accounts related to those flagged for possible removal, the company announced Friday.
App launched with uniquely African emojis App developers have launched a series of uniquely African emojis of characters dressed in colorful traditional attire using popular local expressions and gestures.
Obamas seek better WiFi service for next first couple President Barack Obama says one improvement he'd like to make at the White House for his successor is to upgrade the WiFi system.
	Microgrids in the American power network Siemens is working with customers in the United States to move generation closer to load sources, increasing distributed energy sources on the grid. Many large energy users – military bases, universities, commercial campuses, etc – are looking to invest in on-site generation and infrastructure due to the significant value of increased resiliency and energy security of having their power source nearby that they can control independently from the serving utility. Microgrid design and software control easily integrates and optimizes existing energy infrastructure, renewable generation, and load sources while providing a scalable infrastructure for future expansion.
	Researching suitable concepts and prototypes for automated driving Automobiles increase the mobility of their users. However, their maneuverability is pushed to the limit by cramped inner city conditions. Those who need to park their vehicles frequently, such as delivery services and mobile care providers, lose a lot of working time searching for and then getting into parking spaces. New chassis types with wheels that can be steered individually and electric drives make it possible to increase maneuverability and therefore efficiency, particularly in flowing urban traffic. The OmniSteer project, which is funded by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research, is aimed at researching suitable concepts and prototypes by 2018 and has a budget of € 3.4 million.
Apollo Education to go private in $1.1B deal Apollo Education is being taken private in a $1.1 billion deal by a consortium led by private investment firm The Vistria Group.
	India regulator deals blow to Facebook in Internet row India's telecom regulator on Monday dealt a blow to Facebook's plans to offer free mobile Internet through its controversial Free Basics service, by outlawing differential pricing for data packages.
NY Times launches Spanish-language digital version The New York Times on Monday launched a Spanish-language digital edition, aiming to expand the global reach of the prestigious US daily.
NREL patents method for continuous monitoring of materials during manufacturing The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was recently issued a patent for a novel method that rapidly characterizes specialized materials during the manufacturing process. This approach significantly improves on standard quality control techniques by allowing for complete monitoring of materials without interrupting workflow.

Medicine & Health news

	Study suggests remarkable approach to MS treatment (Medical Xpress)—Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath enveloping and insulating the nerves. A progressive disease that often results in severe neurological disabilities, it is also characterized by acute attacks in which sufferers experience such symptoms as partial paralysis, loss of feeling in the extremities, optic neuritis, memory problems, and problems with speech and swallowing.
	Researchers pinpoint origin of sighing reflex in the brain "You must remember this: a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh."
	Vasopressin: Social hormone promotes cooperation in risky situations A hormone implicated in monogamy and aggression in animals also promotes trust and cooperation in humans in risky situations, Caltech researchers say.
	Pioneering discovery leads to potential preventive treatment for sudden cardiac death More than 15 years ago, David Warshaw, Ph.D., and coworkers discovered the precise malfunction of a specific protein in the heart that leads to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common culprit in cases of sudden death in young athletes.
	Proteomics and precision medicine As medical professionals search for new ways to personalize diagnosis and treatment of disease, a research team at the University of Iowa has already put into practice what may be the next big step in precision medicine: personalized proteomics.
	Why do some people always agree with others? The science of social conformity New brain imaging research from the Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences (MICCN) suggests that some people experience mental distress when faced with the prospect of disagreeing with others. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, reveal that some individuals choose to agree most of the time with others to spare themselves feelings of discomfort.
	New device to get people with paralysis back on their feet The brain machine interface consists of a stent-based electrode (stentrode), which is implanted within a blood vessel in the brain, and records the type of neural activity that has been shown in pre-clinical trials to move limbs through an exoskeleton or to control bionic limbs.
	Gut environment could reduce severity of malaria Microorganisms in the gut could play a role in reducing the severity of malaria, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Louisville.
	Common colds at school a primary driver of asthma hospitalizations for children The most dangerous times of year for children with asthma are soon after their schools reopen after a break, and a new study finds that cold viruses are largely to blame.
	Circadian misalignment helps explain higher risk for cardiovascular disease Shift workers frequently undergo circadian misalignment, disruption of the "body clock," caused by inverted wake and sleep cycles. Although shift work, which requires workers to be awake when the brain's circadian clock is expecting sleep, is known to be a risk factor for hypertension, inflammation and cardiovascular disease, little is known about the specific impact of circadian misalignment on cardiovascular disease risk in humans.
Timebomb in the testicles investigated Oxford scientists have for the first time been able to identify the origins of some severe disease-causing mutations within the testicles of healthy men. This discovery will help our understanding of how certain serious genetic disorders can occur in the offspring of healthy parents, who do not themselves have the genetic defect. The research is published in the journal PNAS.
	Study examines evolution of cancer A novel Yale study answers age-old questions about how cancers spread by applying tools from evolutionary biology. The new insights will help scientists better understand the genetic origins of tumor metastases, and lead to more effective targets for treatment, said the researchers.
	Study finds possible new jet-lag treatment Exposing people to short flashes of light while they're sleeping could provide a fast and efficient method of preventing jet lag, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Study details molecular mechanism that regulates how the heart pumps blood In a finding that could lead to new drugs to treat heart failure, researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanism that regulates how the heart pumps blood.
	Sleep deprivation linked to false confessions Sleep-deprived people are much more likely to sign false confessions than rested individuals, according to a groundbreaking study that has important implications for police interrogation practices.
	New target, potential treatment found for unhealthy levels of fat that can occur in type 1 diabetes Researchers have new insight into the complex interchange that can raise blood levels of unhealthy lipids, or fat, in type 1 diabetes, and early evidence that a drug under study to block cancer cell growth can restore healthier levels.
	Engineers 3-D-print a new lifelike liver tissue for drug screening A team led by engineers at the University of California, San Diego has 3D-printed a tissue that closely mimics the human liver's sophisticated structure and function. The new model could be used for patient-specific drug screening and disease modeling. The work was published the week of Feb. 8 in the online early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Possible marker for recurring HPV-linked oropharyngeal cancers A look-back analysis of HPV infection antibodies in patients treated for oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancers linked to HPV infection suggests at least one of the antibodies could be useful in identifying those at risk for a recurrence of the cancer, say scientists at The Johns Hopkins University. A report on the study is published in the February issue of Cancer Prevention Research.
	Gene family turns cancer cells into aggressive stem cells that keep growing An examination of 130 gene expression studies in 10 solid cancers has found that when any of four related genes is overexpressed, patients have much worse outcomes, including reduced survival.
First Zika-linked deaths reported in Colombia The mosquito-borne Zika virus sweeping through Latin America has claimed three lives in Colombia, as the United Nations urged increased access to abortion because of fears of severe birth defects.
Brazil's anti-Zika war goes house to house Sao Paulo resident Juliana Matuoka always thought her stunning tropical flowers were something to appreciate from afar. Now, however, they are enemy territory.
Hondurans mobilize to wipe out Zika Armed with brooms, spades and hoes, Hondurans by the thousands took part in a day of national mobilization to try and eradicate mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, the government said.
Brazil mosquito repellent sales surge amid Zika outbreak Mosquito-borne viruses including Zika, which is feared to cause brain damage in babies, have driven a surge in sales of insect repellent in Brazil, manufacturers say.
Faces of black children as young as five evoke negative biases A new study suggests that people are more likely to misidentify a toy as a weapon after seeing a Black face than a White face, even when the face in question is that of a five-year-old child.
Treatments that reduce knee buckling may help prevent falls in older adults Symptoms of knee instability in older adults may indicate an increased risk of falling and of experiencing the various physical and psychological effects that can result from falling, according to a study published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The findings indicate that determining effective treatments for knee instability should be an important priority as clinicians care for aging patients.
	Study compares effectiveness of phone-based and web-based smoking cessation programs in four states A new analysis indicates that states' Web-based and phone-based tobacco cessation programs can help people quit smoking, but certain personal characteristics may lead individuals to prefer one type of program over the other. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings may help states optimize their tobacco cessation and cancer control programs.
	Doctors offer suggestions for electronic health records (HealthDay)—Physicians recently met in Seattle to discuss the difficulties and benefits associated with electronic health records (EHRs) in a third town hall meeting on the subject, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
	Surviving spouse still influenced by the other (HealthDay)—The influence of a husband or wife on their spouse's quality of life remains strong even after death, a new study says.
	Record heat, drought may explain Zika outbreak in Brazil: research (HealthDay)—There may be a link between the recent hot and dry winter and spring in Brazil and the outbreak of the Zika virus, preliminary research suggests.
Muscles on-a-chip provide insight into cardiac stem cell therapies Stem cell-derived heart muscle cells may fail to effectively replace damaged cardiac tissue because they don't contract strongly enough, according to a study in The Journal of Cell Biology. The study, "Coupling Primary and Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes in an In Vitro Model of Cardiac Cell Therapy," by Yvonne Aratyn-Schaus and Francesco Pasqualini and colleagues, may help explain why stem cell-based therapies have so far shown limited benefits for heart attack patients in clinical trials.
	Light therapy may bring new hope for migraine sufferers Migraines often involve heightened sensitivity to light. In a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, a team of researchers from the Medical University of Vienna is investigating new therapies to treat light sensitivity, which greatly disturbs those affected.
	New goal-setting app promotes help-seeking from teen perspective Innovative new research, in collaboration with young people and Western Sydney University, has taken 'Truth or Dare' to a whole new level for 2016.
	Military spouses say needs for children with autism unmet The majority of U.S. military spouses say the needs for their children with autism are unmet, according to a Penn State study.
	Personal mobile therapist keeps watch on blue moods A personalised mobile therapist developed by Deakin University psychology experts could be the answer to treating depression.
Removal of complex renal tumors performed safely by robotic surgery in selected patients Robotic Nephrectomy for Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus Has Favorable Outcomes and Reproducibility When Performed by Surgeons with Adequate Robotic Experience, According to First Multi-Institutional Report, Published in The Journal of Urology.
	Coexisting conditions signal future health trouble for girls Researchers have found teenage girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are three-times more likely to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than girls without PCOS.
	Hallucinogens use could protect against intimate partner violence Evidence in a study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia along with University of Alabama at BirminghamSchool of Public Health Associate Professor Peter S. Hendricks, Ph.D., suggests hallucinogens such as psilocybin or LSD may have therapeutic potential for reducing intimate partner violence, or IPV.
	Fall detector for older people Pressure measurements enable a newly developed fall detector to "observe" falls that current sensors do not register, thus improving safety for older people who live at home.
Cocaine users present alterations in the function and structures of the brain A new study published in Addiction Biology has shown the presence of alterations in brain functioning and structure in cocaine users. The researchers used three different magnetic resonance imaging techniques to study the brain activation patterns and the integrity of grey and white matter in cocaine users.
	New wireless sleeve to help people recover arm use after stroke Scientists at the University of Southampton are to develop and trial a new wearable technology to help people who have had a stroke recover use of their arm and hand.
Sustained aerobic exercise increases adult neurogenesis in the brain It may be possible to increase the neuron reserve of the hippocampus – and thus improve preconditions for learning – by promoting neurogenesis via sustained aerobic exercise such as running
	Wbp2 is a novel deafness gene Researchers at King's College London and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom have for the first time demonstrated a direct link between the Wbp2 gene and progressive hearing loss. The scientists report that the loss of Wbp2 expression leads to progressive high-frequency hearing loss in mouse as well as in two clinical cases of children with deafness with no other obvious features. The results are published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.
	How scared of death are we really – and how does it affect us? If death is the final taboo, it might not be for much longer. There has, in recent years, been increasing effort to promote conversations about death and dying, both in the home and in more public settings. For example, death cafes, first launched in Switzerland in 2004, have spread around the world, enabling people to speak about their fears over cake and coffee.
	Where infants sleep may affect how long they are breastfed A new study indicates that mothers who frequently sleep, or bed-share, with their infants consistently breastfeed for longer than mothers who do not bed-share. Also, pregnant women who expressed a strong motivation to breastfeed were more likely to bed-share frequently once their baby was born.
Experts establish standards for psychosocial care of children with cancer and their families Children with cancer and their families often experience considerable psychological and social challenges during and after treatment. A special issue of Pediatric Blood & Cancer now offers evidence-based standards for pediatric psychosocial care.
	Why your muscles get less sore as you stick with your gym routine The first time back to the gym after a long break usually results in sore muscles. Fortunately, the return trip a few days later—if it happens—is generally less painful.
Variation in hospice visits for Medicare patients in last two days of life Medicare patients in hospice care were less likely to be visited by professional staff in the last two days of life if they were black, dying on a Sunday or receiving care in a nursing home, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Difference in PSA testing among urologist and primary care physician visits Declines in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing differed among urologist and primary care physician visits in a study that compared testing before and after a 2011 recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force against PSA screening for all men, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Multicomponent intervention linked to better sun protection for kids A multicomponent intervention including reminder text messages, a swim shirt for children and a read-along book was associated with increased sun-protection behaviors among young children and a smaller change in children's skin pigment, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Risk of suicide increased three-fold in adults after a concussion The long-term risk of suicide for adults who have had a concussion is three times higher than the population norm, and the risk increases further if the concussion occurred on a weekend, found a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Scientists discover a unique mechanism for a high-risk leukemia A research team led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists has discovered details of how the abnormal breakage and rearrangement of chromosomes in white blood cells triggers a particularly aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Such leukemias are cancers of white blood cells, in which genetic mutations trigger overproduction of immature cells, called lymphoblasts.
Will more states ban nonmedical exemptions for childhood vaccination? For more than 30 years, Mississippi and West Virginia were the only states in the country that disallowed nonmedical exemptions to mandatory school vaccination laws for religious or philosophical reasons, until they were joined by California last year. These exemption laws have provoked debate over the rights of parents versus the responsibility of government to protect public health. Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, led by James Colgrove, PhD, professor of Sociomedical Sciences, conducted a review of vaccination policies through legislative rulings and accounts by health officials. They found policy changes remain controversial and alternatives exist to eliminating nonmedical exemptions entirely. The paper appears in the February issue of the journal Health Affairs.
	Expanding use of vaccines could save up to $44 for every dollar spent, study suggests Vaccinations, long recognized as an excellent investment that saves lives and prevents illness, could have significant economic value that far exceeds their original cost, a new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.
	Research finds no easy answers to use of drug screening for pain patients Doctors who treat patients suffering from chronic pain face a quandary, according to research from the University of Houston and the University of Texas Medical Branch. Monitoring patients through urine drug screenings, part of the standard protocol to ensure patient safety, is associated with an increase in the odds that the patients won't return for future treatment.
	Past experiences affect recognition, memory, study finds New research from the University of Guelph on the brain and memory could help in developing therapies for peoplewith schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
	Wholesome wholegrain When it is a matter of health, whole grain has the X factor—or rather the BX factor—in the form of a certain group of bioactive compounds called benzoxazinoids, or BX. Scientists from Aarhus University have documented the uptake of these compounds in humans and their possible beneficial effect on the immune system.
New type 2 diabetes biomarker identified Researchers from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) have found an epigenetic mechanism implicated in the regulation of blood sugar. The study, published in the journal Molecular Human Genetics, reveals that the methylation of the TXNIP gene is associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 and, in particular, average blood glucose levels. These results, replicated in two patient cohorts, could help to both identify patients at risk of developing diabetes and control treatment response, as well as generating possible future therapies for this disease, one of the major cardiovascular risk factors in the population.
	Brain scars in multiple sclerosis patients reveal possible cause of taste problems Taste deficits appear to be more prevalent among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients than previously reported and correlate with brain lesions left by the debilitating disease, a new study from the University of Pennsylvania's Smell and Taste Center and the department of Radiology found. The more lesions spotted on an MRI, the worse the taste function of the patient, the multi-institutional team reported in the Journal of Neurology.
	Chocolate ethics: Millennials say one thing but do another when choosing chocolate, study finds The majority of millennials may not be putting their money where their mouths are when selecting chocolate, according to a Kansas State University expert in psychological sciences.
	Research discovers neuroprotective protein in blood is biomarker of Alzheimer's disease Medical professionals have to conduct a long series of tests to assess a patient's memory impairment and cognitive skills, functional abilities, and behavioral changes to accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease. They also have to execute costly brain imagining scans and even, sometimes, invasive cerebral spinal fluid tests to rule out other diseases. The process is laborious at best—and subjective at worst.
Persistent ADHD associated with overly critical parents For many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, symptoms appear to decrease as they age, but for some they do not and one reason may be persistent parental criticism, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
New research identifies drug target for dengue virus No vaccine or drug has yet become available against the Dengue virus. A flavivirus like the newly prominent Zika virus, Dengue has become a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries. Now a team of Dutch investigators has data suggesting that a protein in dengue virus that goes by the scientific name, NS4B, would make a promising target for antiviral drug development. The research is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
New study links traffic-related air pollution to facial dark spots A largescale study that included women from Germany and China has demonstrated a link between levels of traffic-related air pollution and air pollution-associated gases with the formation of dark spots on the skin, known as lentigenes. The most pronounced changes were observed on the cheeks of Asian women over the age of 50. The report is published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
	Researchers identify new Borrelia species that causes Lyme disease Mayo Clinic researchers, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health officials from Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, have discovered a new bacterial species that causes Lyme disease in people. The new species has been provisionally named Borrelia mayonii. Prior to this finding, the only species believed to cause Lyme disease in North America was Borrelia burgdorferi.
	PCPs have important role to play in senior visual health (HealthDay)—Primary care physicians (PCPs) can play an important role in preserving visual health and maximizing quality of life (QOL) for elderly patients with visual loss, according to a review published online Jan. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Microneedling appears promising in darker skin types (HealthDay)—Microneedling represents a promising treatment modality for dermatologic conditions in darker skin, according to a review published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Subclinical hypothyroidism may not up VTE recurrence risk (HealthDay)—In the elderly, subclinical hypothyroidism is not associated with significantly increased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (rVTE), according to research published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	Patients more satisfied with care from hospitalists (HealthDay)—More patients report satisfaction with overall care in a nonteaching hospitalist service than in a general medicine teaching service, according to research published in the February issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Central retinal vein occlusion ID'd after phendimetrazine use (HealthDay)—A case of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) two days after phendimetrazine use has been documented and published online Feb. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	CDC: fewer blacks consistently retained in HIV care (HealthDay)—Fewer blacks are consistently retained in HIV care compared with other racial/ethnic groups, according to research published in the Feb. 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Newer pain management strategies can lead to quicker, shorter recovery after total knee replacements According to a new literature review in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), a team-based care approach (consisting of the patient, family members, the orthopaedic surgeon and other medical practitioners) on total knee replacement (TKR) procedures, in conjunction with newer pain management strategies, is key to maximizing patient outcomes.
	Older and younger adults surf different brain waves Cognitive scientists have found more evidence that aging brains work differently than younger brains when performing the same memory task, pointing to a potentially new direction for age-related cognitive care and exploration.
	Patients with PTSD together with sleep apnea may have reduced quality of life New research finds patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experienced lower quality of life, more sleepiness, and less adherence and response to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.
	Predicting who will develop multiple sclerosis A team of investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has launched a study of individuals at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). By focusing on first-degree family members of MS patients, the research team seeks to better understand the sequence of events that leads some people to develop the disease. Their work also sets the stage for developing and testing interventions with which to block the onset of MS. The research team introduces the Genes and Environment in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) project, a large prospective natural history study, in a publication in the Annals of Neurology.
Device hits pancreatic tumors hard with toxic four-drug cocktail, sparing the body A highly lethal cancer sometimes requires large doses of highly toxic drugs. However, a blitzkrieg approach can be unfeasible for some patients due to severe side effects. Now a powerhouse team of researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has revealed that an implantable device can deliver a particularly toxic cocktail of drugs directly to pancreatic tumors to stunt their growth or in some cases, shrink them - all while showing signs that the rest of the body would be spared toxic side effects.
Scientists elucidate genetic underpinnings of congenital heart disease Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect and the leading cause of all infant deaths in the United States. Mutations in the gene TBX5 have been shown to cause both rare and more prevalent forms of congenital heart disease, yet the underlying mechanisms have remained unclear.
	Researchers find that antiretroviral therapy reduces HIV in the female reproductive tract For the first time, investigators in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have determined how antiretroviral therapy (ART) affects the way HIV disseminates and establishes infection in the female reproductive tract. These observations have significant implications for future HIV prevention, vaccine and cure studies. A recent HIV prevention clinical trial demonstrated 93 percent protection against secondary heterosexual transmission when infected partners received early ART. Vaginal transmission accounts for the majority of new HIV infections worldwide. Globally, 35 million people are living with HIV and 2.1 million are newly infected each year. These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on Monday, Feb. 8.
	Twin births almost double in rich countries: study Twin births have almost doubled in developed countries in four decades, said researchers Monday who cautioned about the associated health risks.
Study evaluates pay-for-performance program for Medicaid children in an ACO The first pay-for-performance (P4P) evaluation of pediatricians under a full-risk Medicaid accountable care organization (ACO) for children shows P4P incentives were partially responsible for higher performance on quality measures across Partners for Kids' primary care network of employed and affiliated physicians, according to study authors at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Partners for Kids (PFK), the oldest and largest pediatric Medicaid ACO in the United States, emerged a leader in children's accountable care with its 5-year cost and quality outcomes shared last year in the journal Pediatrics. On January 25, JAMA Pediatrics published the evaluation of the P4P physician incentive program that has been in place at Partners for Kids since 2012.
Puerto Rico declares health emergency over Zika virus The US territory of Puerto Rico declared a health emergency Friday over the Zika virus as the number of cases on the Caribbean island rose to 22, including a pregnant woman.
101 die in Nigeria from Lassa fever outbreak A growing Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has killed 101 people, as West Africa battles to contain a flare-up of the virus, according to data from the nation's health authorities released Saturday.
4th patient infected during mold outbreak at hospital dies A fourth transplant patient who contracted a fungal infection during a mold outbreak at a western Pennsylvania hospital has died, officials said Sunday.
	In rebuilding noses, age-old practice lives on Sam Most has rebuilt nearly 1,000 severely damaged or destroyed noses over the past 15 years, in many cases using a surgical technique commonly called the "forehead flap" that dates from ancient times.
	Project aims to improve learning in young people with Down Syndrome Children with Down Syndrome face many unique challenges, including being able to communicate effectively as they enter into their school years. A new Penn State study is looking to improve communications aids to better meet their academic and social needs.
Uncovering cardiovascular disease genetics February is American Heart Month, a great time to take a closer look at cardiovascular disease (CVD). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 17.5 million people die each year from CVD, a figure representing 31% of all deaths worldwide. Physicians recommend regular exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to prevent development of CVD, but many healthy individuals still die from this disease. As with other complex diseases, both genetic and environmental factors influence disease risk, and some families are highly predisposed to the disease.
Alcohol consumption in Valencia rockets during Fallas It is possible to measure the alcohol consumption of a given population based on the presence of a stable metabolite excreted in urine in wastewaters: ethyl sulphate. The University of Valencia has taken part in this study, which has scientifically quantified the massive spike in drinking in Valencia during local festivities.
Poverty simulation helps shape future health care professionals NDSU nursing and pharmacy students will get a glimpse into how a family in poverty navigates the complexities of life. Approximately 70 senior nursing students and third-year professional pharmacy students are scheduled to take part in a poverty simulation experience Friday, Feb. 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Room.
Over 180 swine flu deaths in Ukraine since September: ministry More than 180 people have died of swine flu in Ukraine since late September, the health ministry said on Monday, adding that three of the victims were children.
Europe creates Zika drug 'task force' Europe's medicines watchdog said Monday it had assembled an expert team to aid the development of drugs and vaccines against Zika virus, feared to cause brain damage in unborn babies.
	Obama asking Congress for emergency funding to combat Zika President Barack Obama is asking Congress for more than $1.8 billion in emergency funding to fight the Zika virus and the mosquitoes that spread it here and abroad, but says "there shouldn't be a panic on this."
	Zika virus: Five things to know A concise "Five things to know about.... Zika virus infection" article for physicians highlights key points about this newly emerged virus in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
	Vaccine development assistance nearly quadrupled over 14 years The February issue of Health Affairs explores the current environment in which vaccines are discovered, produced, and delivered. The issue also contains several studies examining the economic benefits and value of sustainably financing vaccinations in the United States and globally.
VA health system faces significant challenges, studies find Three reports that discuss the future demands facing the VA Health Care System, the current resources in the system and how care is provided to veterans outside the federal system have been released by the RAND Corporation.
	Mapping the Danes' kitchen skills Last year, researchers from Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University developed a so-called quality index, a tool applied when mapping the factors that matter in Danish people's perception of food quality. This year, the tool has been adjusted and extended. The "Quality Index 2015" was ordered and financed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark (now: the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark) as part of an agreement with Aarhus University on research-based public sector consultancy.
	Is it possible for humans to regenerate limbs? Unlocking the complex biological and regenerative processes that would enable humans to regrow digits and limbs "would radically change the prognosis and quality of life for amputees," state the authors of "Looking Ahead to Engineering Epimorphic Regeneration of a Human Digit or Limb," a Review article published in Tissue Engineering, Part B, Reviews.
	A new book by neuroscientist offers strategies for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease Diet, exercise, a good night's sleep—all sound recommendations for mitigating one's risk for everything from heart disease to diabetes and, as it turns out, Alzheimer's.
	Planning for end-of-life and palliative care among African-Americans A new model developed to examine the relationship between factors that impact how African Americans approach advance care planning (ACP) reveals how little is known about improving ACP in this population and points to new approaches to improve care and quality of life. The model is described in an article published in the special issue "Palliative and End-of-Life Care for African Americans" of Journal of Palliative Medicine.
Johns Hopkins approved for HIV-positive organ transplants Johns Hopkins Medicine has recently received approval to perform organ transplants between HIV-positive donors and recipients.
	No increase in the utilization of timely living donor kidney transplants A kidney transplant is a life-changing and life-saving procedure. Yet, a new study conducted by Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan shows that only one-third of patients who ultimately receive a living donor kidney transplant receive it pre-emptively (i.e., before starting dialysis). Less than two-thirds receive a transplant either pre-emptively or within a year of starting dialysis.

Biology news

	Assessing the biosimilarity of protein drugs: New study shows method's precision A first-ever interlaboratory study of four versions of a therapeutic protein drug—all manufactured from living cells—reports that an established analytical tool akin to magnetic resonance imaging reliably assessed the atomic structures of the biologically similar products, yielding the equivalent of a fingerprint for each.
	Many white-tailed deer have malaria: Researchers discover first-ever native malaria in the Americas Two years ago, Ellen Martinsen, was collecting mosquitoes at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, looking for malaria that might infect birds—when she discovered something strange: a DNA profile, from parasites in the mosquitoes, that she couldn't identify.
	More detailed analysis of how cells react to stress Stress in the body's cells is both the cause and consequence of inflammatory diseases or cancer. The cells react to stress to protect themselves. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now developed a new technique that allows studying a fundamental response to stress in much more detail than previously possible: the ADP-ribosylation of chromatin. In the long term, this method could help finding ways of blocking disease-causing processes.
	Wolf species have 'howling dialects' Largest quantitative study of howling, and first to use machine learning, defines different howl types and finds that wolves use these types more or less depending on their species, resembling a howling dialect. Researchers say findings could help conservation efforts and shed light on the earliest evolution of our own use of language.
	Scientists propose 'pumpjack' mechanism for splitting and copying DNA UPTON, NY-New close-up images of the proteins that copy DNA inside the nucleus of a cell have led a team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, Rockefeller University, and the University of Texas to propose a brand new mechanism for how this molecular machinery works. The scientists studied proteins from yeast cells, which share many features with the cells of complex organisms such as humans, and could offer new insight into ways that DNA replication can go awry.
	Turning the volume of gene expression up and down Gene expression can be turned on and off like a switch, or it can be finely adjusted , as with a volume control knob. Dr Garth Ilsley, research scientist in Prof. Nick Luscombe's unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), has developed a mathematical model that shows how to predictably tune gene expression. This was validated experimentally using a technique for adjusting gene expression in fruit fly embryos pioneered by Dr Justin Crocker in the group of Dr David Stern at Janelia Research Campus in the U.S. This study, published in Nature Genetics, has important implications in cellular and developmental biology, with potential applications in stem cell reprogramming and regenerative medicine.
Search technique helps researchers find DNA sequences in minutes rather than days Database searches for DNA sequences that can take biologists and medical researchers days can now be completed in a matter of minutes, thanks to a new search method developed by computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University.
	Top dog: scientists measure canine IQ Scientists are measuring the IQ of dogs in the hope of boosting understanding of the link between health and intelligence; proving that canines really are man's best friend
	A step closer to understanding fertilization Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have taken a step closer to understanding the mechanism that leads to the fusion of egg and sperm at fertilisation. Using the technique X-ray crystallography, they have determined the 3D structure of Juno, a mammalian egg protein essential for triggering gamete fusion. Their findings are not only interesting from an evolutionary perspective, but also reveal the shape of a possible target for future non-hormonal contraceptives.
Team explains the higher cellulolytic activity of a vital microorganism Researchers at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) say better understanding of a bacterium could lead to cheaper production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels.
	Lab offers new strategies, tools for genome editing Rice University bioengineers have found new techniques for precision genome editing that are more accurate and have fewer off-target errors.
	Researchers identify most dangerous strains of often-deadly bacteria A multi-disciplinary group of researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) have for the first time determined the genetic makeup of various strains of E. coli, which every year kills hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
	Sea turtles with tumors fill Florida hospital The young patient writhes on the operating table, kicking its flippers. A team of medical attendants turns it over, revealing an underbelly cluttered with tumors, some as big as golf balls.
	New luminous creatures found in the Red Sea The Red Sea is known as one of the best tourist destinations for good relaxation and scuba diving, but few imagined that this place is inhabited by many sea creatures awaiting discovery. An international team of biologists, which included researchers from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Russian Academy of Sciences, has discovered a new kind of beautiful luminous creature. They also report for the first time that the localization of luminescence in certain parts of the body can distinguish different species of organisms that have otherwise identical structures. The collections of the MSU have been enlarged by these new fauna species and their DNA.
	Raising Lady Gaga-ntuan and her (hopefully) world record breaking young It's not often you get to raise a clutch of stick insects that can grow to nearly 60cm long. But I was given the rare privilege of doing so recently when I nursed the batch of eggs laid by the longest Australian phasmid, Ctenomorpha gargantua, nicknamed "Lady Gaga-ntuan".
Experts urge extreme caution on 'rewilding' to save wild places European bison imported from Poland now roam Denmark's Baltic island of Bornholm in places where the animals haven't lived for thousands of years. Meanwhile, in a far corner of Siberia, scientists are attempting to reconstruct an ecosystem that was lost many thousands of years ago along with the woolly mammoth by introducing bison, musk oxen, moose, horses, and reindeer to a place they call Pleistocene Park.
	Climate change helps bats to spread their wings Climate change is most likely behind the extraordinary spread of a type of vesper bat across Europe over the last four decades. Kuhl's pipistrelle has extended its range by nearly 400 percent, says Leonardo Ancillotto, lead author of a study supervised by Danilo Russo of the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, in Springer's journal The Science of Nature. It is the first to record a range expansion for bats on such a continental scale.
	A new role for vitamin B6 in plants Vitamin B6, which exists in different natural forms called vitamers, is essential for all living organisms, as it participates in numerous aspects of cells' everyday life. Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have discovered an unexpected role for this micronutrient, in relation to nitrogen metabolism. Described in the journal The Plant Cell, the results indicate that one of the vitamers informs the plant of its content in ammonium, a basic nitrogen compound needed for the biosynthesis of various molecules essential for life, such as proteins. In the future, vitamin B6 could be used to ascertain the nitrogen status of plants and eventually prevent the overuse of nitrogen-containing fertilizers that are currently having detrimental effects on the environment.
	'Hidden fish' genus described for two new weakly electric mormyrid species from Gabon A new weakly electric mormyrid fish genus of two new species has been described from only three specimens collected over a period of 13 years in the rivers of the Central African country of Gabon. The genus has been named Cryptomyrus, meaning 'hidden fish' in Greek, and is the first new genus to be described within the family Mormyridae since 1977.
	Baby sea lion found napping in California restaurant A hungry baby sea lion picked the best seat in the house after wandering into a beachside restaurant in San Diego.
	Expression of a "Ouija Board" protein that can summon "monster" genes Steroid hormones are biologically active substances that play important roles in the development and sexual maturation of individuals, as well as in maintaining homeostasis, regardless of species. Steroid hormones are biosynthesized from cholesterol in specific endocrine organs via multi-step enzymatic reactions. Consequently, it is important that the gene groups that provide instructions for those biosynthetic enzymes are expressed in limited forms in the organs where steroid hormone biosynthesis takes place. While progress has been made on research in vertebrates, the mechanism controlling limited gene expression in the steroidogenic organs of invertebrates is largely unknown.
	Virtual toolbox to bolster Europe's food and agricultural security The EU PLANTFOODSEC project has developed an extensive virtual toolbox to help protect both agriculture and plant life from biological weapons that could contaminate Europe's food supply chain.
	Centre seeks more space to save monkey-eating Philippine eagle A Philippine breeding centre trying to save the country's critically endangered monkey-eating eagle has been so successful it is now scrambling for space, officials said Monday.
	Anarchistic proteins could hide secret to develop crops with high stress resistance Some proteins behave rather anarchistic. Unraveling their unusual behavior might hold the secret to develop crops with a higher tolerance to stress. A group of researchers at the University of Copenhagen will unveil the mysteries of these disordered proteins thanks to a 7 million kr grant from the Villum Foundation Young Investigator Program.
Indiana to lift most bird flu-related restrictions soon Animal health officials monitoring the bird flu outbreak in southwestern Indiana say they will lift most restrictions in two weeks if ongoing testing finds no additional infections.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com