Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Feb 2

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 2, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Students develop an affordable everyday radio telescope
- Study shows winning causes people to be more likely to cheat the next time
- Exploring gambles reveals foundational difficulty behind economic theory (and a solution)
- Researchers find birds can theorize about the minds of others, even those they cannot see
- Model suggests Neanderthal extinction occurred due to human cultural superiority
- Researchers sequence bedbug genome, find unique features
- Study identifies genetic variants associated with preference to mornings or nights
- Researchers monitor the folding of an RNA hairpin in a living cell
- Only a minority of cancer cells affect the growth and metastasis of tumors
- EU and US reach new data-sharing agreement
- New galaxy-hunting sky camera sees redder better
- New drug target for Rett syndrome
- Sharpin emerges from the pack as a regulator of inflammation
- Novel nanoparticle made of common mineral may help keep tumor growth at bay
- Shark with lowest-known metabolism is a sluggish success

Astronomy & Space news

	Students develop an affordable everyday radio telescope (Phys.org)—A team of undergraduates from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) at the College of Engineering in Trivandrum, India, has designed and constructed a portable college-level radio telescope for amateur radio astronomers. The students have developed a radio telescope and also data analysis tools that are affordable for schools and colleges, combining low cost and ubiquitous accessibility of resources needed to build these instruments. The team described the project in details in a paper published online on Jan. 12 on the arXiv pre-print server.
	New galaxy-hunting sky camera sees redder better A newly upgraded camera that incorporates light sensors developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is now one of the best cameras on the planet for studying outer space at red wavelengths that are too red for the human eye to see.
	Pictor A: Blast from black hole in a galaxy far, far away The Star Wars franchise has featured the fictitious "Death Star," which can shoot powerful beams of radiation across space. The Universe, however, produces phenomena that often surpass what science fiction can conjure.
	Orion crew module for Exploration Mission-1 arrives at NASA's Kennedy Space Center The Orion crew module pressure vessel for NASA's Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) arrived today at the Shuttle Landing Facility operated by Space Florida at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Arrival of the module marks an important milestone toward the agency's journey to Mars.
	Researchers quantify unidentified gamma-ray sources In 2011, Francesco Massaro, a researcher at the University of Turin (Italy), and Raffaele D'Abrusco, a post-doc in the astrophysics group at the University Federico II of Naples (Italy), using all-sky data produced by the WISE satellite, discovered that blazars, the rarest and most extreme class of active galactic nuclei, display infrared emission with unique properties that set them apart from all other extragalactic sources.
	Cosmic encounters with alien life Numerous books have been penned on the exciting subject of life on other worlds, and the news almost daily carries stories about potential new habitable sites, ranging from water on Mars to oceans on Europa and exoplanets beyond the solar system. The Impact of Discovering Life Beyond Earth picks up where those books leave off and asks "what would happen if we actually discovered life?" The answer depends, of course, on the discovery scenario. The reaction to the discovery of microbes would be quite different to the reaction to the discovery of intelligent life. And if a message is deciphered, the reaction would quite different again, depending on the content of the message! All these scenarios and many more are covered in this highly original volume, written by scientists, philosophers, historians, anthropologists and theologians addressing the new field of astrobiology and society.
	Galileo signals covering more of the sky Europe's ninth and tenth Galileo satellites have started broadcasting working navigation messages.
	SwRI-designed miniature spacecraft selected to fly on rocket's test flight in 2018 NASA announced that a miniature solar particle research spacecraft to be built by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will launch aboard NASA's Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) rocket in 2018.
	Heliophysics CubeSat to launch on NASA's SLS Just a bit bigger than a box of cereal, one of the first CubeSats to travel in interplanetary space will be NASA's miniature space science station, dedicated to studying the dynamic particles and magnetic fields that stream from the sun.
	Agency: North Korea plans satellite launch this month Weeks after its fourth nuclear test, North Korea announced plans Tuesday to launch an Earth observation satellite on a rocket later this month, in what critics see as a covert test of banned technology for a ballistic missile that could strike the U.S. mainland.

Technology news

	Robot-human eye contact helps conversation flow Pop music is littered with titles that relay how romantic yearning is sparked and experienced wordlessly with one person staring at the other. Animals don't have it so good. "Most mammals generally interpret direct gaze as threatening or as a sign of dominance," wrote researchers in Frontiers In Human Neuroscience.
	EU and US reach new data-sharing agreement The European Union and the United States struck a deal Tuesday over data-sharing that will allow the likes of Facebook and Apple to continue sending people's information across the Atlantic—but a legal challenge to the pact is widely anticipated.
India's Tata decides to rename 'Zica' car as virus spreads India's biggest carmaker Tata Motors said Tuesday it would rename its new Zica hatchback as global alarm grows over an outbreak of the identical-sounding Zika virus.
Yahoo to announce job cuts: report Embattled Internet pioneer Yahoo will announce job cuts when it releases its quarterly earnings report on Tuesday, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
	Facebook-owned WhatsApp boasts a billion users Facebook-owned smartphone messaging service WhatsApp has hit the billion-user mark, according to the leading social network's chief and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg.
	Paris entrepreneur's 2CV tours to go electric The humble "Deux Chevaux", once ubiquitous in the French countryside, chugging down tree-lined roads—cue accordion music—is now more of a curiosity than a cheap and cheerful runabout.
	Nintendo says strong demand for Wii U games (Update) Nintendo said Tuesday its operating profit soared, as it pointed to strong demand for Wii U console games including shoot-em-up hit "Splatoon", but holiday sales fell and the positive impact of a weak yen hit its bottom line.
	Microsoft research project puts cloud in ocean for the first time In 2015, starfish, octopus, crabs and other Pacific Ocean life stumbled upon a temporary addition to the seafloor, more than half a mile from the shoreline: a 38,000-pound container. But in the ocean, 10 feet by 7 feet is quite small. The shrimp exploring the seafloor made more noise than the datacenter inside the container, which consumed computing power equivalent to 300 desktop PCs.
	Engineers develop the refrigerator of the future Cooling is a hugely important process in today's world. But how can cooling be carried out in future in a way that does not harm the climate and that helps to conserve natural resources? The approach taken by Professors Stefan Seelecke and Andreas Schütze from Saarland University focuses on systems that use shape memory materials, also known as 'metal muscles' or 'artificial muscles'. Working together with researchers in Bochum, they are developing a new method of cooling in which heat and cold are transferred using 'muscles' made from a nickel-titanium alloy. Extensive series of tests have yielded results that are now being used to develop a prototype cooling circuit that will be used to further increase the efficiency of the process. The German Research Foundation (DFG), which has been funding the project for the last three years, has agreed to invest a further 500,000 euros. In total, the project has brought around 950,000 eur! os in funding to the region.
	Kids are opting out of online social media When my digital media students are sitting, waiting for class to start and staring at their phones, they are not checking Facebook. They're not checking Instagram, or Pinterest or Twitter. No, they're catching up on the news of the day by checking out their friends' Stories on Snapchat, chatting in Facebook Messenger or checking in with their friends in a group text. If the time drags, they might switch to Instagram to see what the brands they love are posting, or check in with Twitter for a laugh at some celebrity tweets. But, they tell me, most of the time they eschew the public square of social media for more intimate options.
	News sites 'not liable for offensive reader comment' News websites are not responsible for "insulting and rude" comments by readers, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday, after a Hungarian website was sued for messages on its forum.
'Snow' better way to clean coordinate-measuring machine probes Manufacturers in search of the most effective, fast and green way to keep coordinate-measuring machine probes dirt-free and error-free should use a dry ice technique, known as carbon dioxide 'snow' cleaning.
	Alphabet passes Apple as biggest company—now what? Even before it became a household name, Google parent Alphabet has become the world's most valuable company, vaulting past Apple in a sign of an evolving technology landscape.
	US to rework arms control rule on exporting hacker tools The U.S. government is rewriting a proposal under arms control rules from 20 years ago to make it simpler to export tools related to hacking and surveillance software since they are also used to secure computer networks.
	Takata panel finds problems with its quality processes Embattled air bag maker Takata Corp. lacks processes that would improve the quality of its products, including air bag inflators that have been blamed for at least 11 deaths and 139 injuries, an outside panel hired by the company has found.
Extracting rare-earth elements from coal could soon be economical in US The U.S. could soon decrease its dependence on importing valuable rare-earth elements that are widely used in many industries, according to a team of Penn State and U.S. Department of Energy researchers who found a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to extract these metals from coal byproducts.
	Yahoo to cut 1,700 workers as CEO tries to save her own job Yahoo is laying off about 1,700 employees and shedding some of its excess baggage in a shake-up likely to determine whether CEO Marissa Mayer can save her own job.
A tool for simulation-based decision making for production The sheer complexity of today's production systems makes "going with your gut" decision making a questionable approach at best. So as part of the EU project DREAM, a simulation-based support system was developed to help decision makers in planning and managing production. And thanks to the project's pragmatic approach, the solution can be easily implemented – even by small businesses.

Medicine & Health news

	'Junk' DNA plays role in preventing breast cancer Supposed "junk" DNA, found in between genes, plays a role in suppressing cancer, according to new research by Universities of Bath and Cambridge.
	As genomic information grows, so do security risks As genomics information becomes more medically useful, the storage of this data in medical records will inevitably become more vulnerable, Yale researchers suggest. While large-scale genetics data is invaluable for research purposes, there is another side to the coin: A hacker can use subtle correlations implicit in the data to reveal sensitive facts related to patients—such as disease diagnosis.
	Research shows that cortex commands the performance of skilled movement The essential function of the central nervous system is to coordinate movement. Skilled movement requires many elements including planning, initiation, execution, and refinement. Scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have demonstrated in experiments with mice that the brain's sensorimotor cortex is essential for initiating and executing a complex movement. Temporarily switching off this part of the brain causes mice to pause abruptly in the middle of a trained task, which they successfully resume as soon as motor cortex activity is restored.
	The growing menace of HPV‑related throat and mouth cancers There's a new cancer epidemic on the rise. It's an aggressive throat and mouth cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)—the same sexually transmitted virus that leads to cervical cancer—but it's affecting mostly men in the prime of their lives. Public health officials estimate that nearly 90 per cent of the adult population has been infected with HPV. Most people spontaneously clear the virus within 18 months of exposure; it's not known why or how it stays around and develops into cancer in some.
	Study identifies genetic variants associated with preference to mornings or nights 23andMe, Inc. today announced the results of one of the largest genome-wide association studies of its kind, identifying genetic variants associated with being a morning person.
	Only a minority of cancer cells affect the growth and metastasis of tumors New research shows that a small minority of cancer cells in neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas contribute to the overall growth and metastasis of the tumour. This discovery was made by a research group at Lund University, in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet, in Sweden.
	New drug target for Rett syndrome Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers have identified a faulty signaling pathway that, when corrected, in mice ameliorates the symptoms of Rett syndrome, a devastating neurological condition. The findings could lead to the discovery of compounds or drugs that may benefit children affected by the disease, says neurobiologist Jeffrey Macklis, Max and Anne Wien Professor of Life Sciences in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, at Harvard University, who directed the work.
	Sharpin emerges from the pack as a regulator of inflammation It is normal—in fact necessary—for our immune system to occasionally fly into an inflammatory rage to defend the host (us) against pathogens or even tumor cells. Problems arise when the rage persists or is re-directed against one's self, as occurs in autoimmune disease. The cellular peacemakers assigned to block this unruly behavior are a class of immunosuppressive T cells called "Tregs" (short for "regulatory T cells"). Factors required for Treg well-being are therefore of great interest to immunologists and clinicians alike.
	What goes wrong in the brain when someone can't spell By studying stroke victims who have lost the ability to spell, researchers have pinpointed the parts of the brain that control how we write words.
	Scientists piggyback experimental HIV vaccine on cold viruses (HealthDay)—Scientists report progress in their bid to develop ways to piggyback an HIV vaccine on germs that cause colds.
	Drug prevents key age-related brain change in rats As brain cells age they lose the fibers that receive neural impulses, a change that may underlie cognitive decline. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine recently found a way to reverse this process in rats. The study was published Feb. 3, 2016 in The Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers caution that more studies are needed, but the findings shed light on the mechanisms of cognitive decline and identify potential strategies to stem it.
	Restructuring affects staff well-being regardless of job cuts Restructuring in organisations has a mainly negative effect on the welfare of employees regardless of whether there are job losses, according to a new study involving the University of East Anglia (UEA).
	No benefit from aliskiren-tied drops in albuminuria (HealthDay)—Reduction in albuminuria with the renin inhibitor aliskiren may be too small to confer clinical benefit in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
	Palliative care lacking for chronic lung disease patients (HealthDay)—Among patients who die in the intensive care unit (ICU), patients with chronic lung diseases receive fewer elements of palliative care than cancer patients, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Paper highlights best practices for omega-3 clinical trials with cardiovascular outcomes A paper published this week in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids sheds new light on recent neutral studies questioning the benefits of omega-3s for heart health. The paper titled, "Conducting Omega-3 Clinical Trials with Cardiovascular Outcomes: Proceedings of a Workshop Held at ISSFAL 2014," identifies experimental design issues in recent studies that have not demonstrated significant effects of EPA and DHA omega-3s on cardiovascular disease outcomes and suggests that it is too early to conclude that EPA and DHA do not provide cardiovascular health benefits.
Brazil issues Olympics warning as WHO declares Zika emergency Brazil warned pregnant women Monday to stay away from the Summer Olympics after the World Health Organization declared an international emergency over the Zika virus, blamed for causing a surge in brain-damaged babies.
	Drugmaker Sanofi Pasteur launches effort for Zika vaccine Drugmaker Sanofi Pasteur said Tuesday it is launching an effort to research and develop a vaccine to prevent the Zika virus, after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency over its explosive spread across the Americas.
	Scientists create imaging 'toolkit' to help identify new brain tumor drug targets Stopping the growth of blood vessels in tumours is a key target for glioblastoma therapies, and imaging methods are essential for initial diagnosis and monitoring the effects of treatments. While mapping vessels in tumours has proven a challenge, researchers have now developed a combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultramicroscopy 'toolkit' to study vessel growth in glioma models in more detail than previously possible. Their study is to be published in the journal eLife.
Thailand says man contracted Zika virus domestically A man has contracted the Zika virus in Thailand, officials said Tuesday, as a global alert intensifies over the mosquito-borne infection blamed for a surge in serious birth defects in South America.
	Zika virus vaccine a step closer Researchers are confident of quickly finding a vaccine for the Zika virus following the development of a vaccine for a similar mosquito-borne disease.
Controlling and avoiding mosquitoes helps minimize risk of Zika Taking steps to control mosquitoes and prevent bites can go a long way to protecting public health and curbing transmission of the Zika virus, says Purdue medical entomologist Catherine Hill.
	Researchers develop fast, accurate cystic fibrosis test Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a fast, inexpensive and highly accurate test to screen newborns for cystic fibrosis. The new method detects virtually all mutations in the CF gene, preventing missed diagnoses that delay babies' ability to begin receiving essential treatment.
	Vacations can lead to weight gain, contribute to 'creeping obesity' A week's vacation may leave many adults with a heavier midsection—extra weight that can hang around even six weeks post-vacation.
Dutch NGO offers pregnant women with Zika free online abortion aid A Dutch NGO said Tuesday it has launched an international effort offering pregnant women infected with the Zika virus free pills to trigger an abortion, aiming to halt any rush towards unsafe terminations.
	Inflammation attacks brain's reward center A new study by Neil Harrison and colleagues published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that a brain reward center, the striatum, may be directly affected by inflammation and that striatal change is related to the emergence of illness behaviors.
	Helicopter parents take extreme approach to homework Parents who take the overparenting approach, known as helicopter parenting, are possibly hindering their child's development by becoming too heavily involved in homework.
	Taking multiple medicines could send older Australians into 'spiral of decline' Using multiple medications is an unfortunate reality for many older Australians, however a new Monash University study has found that polypharmacy, which is the simultaneous use of five or more medications, can trigger a decline into frailty and death.
	Shops selling too much paracetamol, survey reveals An investigation in the north Midlands has revealed that stores across the UK could be selling larger than recommended amounts of aspirin and paracetamol – sparking calls for new laws.
	Microreactor replaces animal testing Researchers all over Europe are working on alternatives to animal testing that can be used to evaluate the adverse side-effects of medications. But many of these test methods still present problems. A microreactor developed as part of an EU-funded collaborative research project enables cultured liver cells to be used as test samples. Unlike animal testing, this novel method enables the assessment of potentially toxic substances on tissue in real time.
How mirror neurons can help improving autism A randomized controlled trial published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics introduces a completely new therapeutic opportunity for disturbances that are related to autism. In social interaction humans show spontaneous coordination of movements, i.e. imitation of facial expressions and postures and movement synchronization such as falling into lock-step when walking side by side. Interestingly, both imitation and synchronization have been reported to be altered in autism.
Psychoeducation may affect brain plasticity in bipolar disorder An investigation in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics explores how psychoeducation may affect white matter plasticity in bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mood disorder which is often difficult to treat. Pharmacological treatments are often effective in symptom management, but their effects are generally insufficient on a functional level. Among psychosocial interventions, psychoeducation has recently shown significant and long-lasting effects on treatment adherence, relapse prevention and global functioning. Psychoeducation is now positioned as an essential part of therapeutic strategies in BD, although its mechanistic neural action has not yet been precisely identified. In the present study the Authors tested the hypothesis that psychoeducation would be associated with anatomical changes of the frontolimbic connectivity in patients with BD.
Fearing global spread WHO creates Zika response unit The World Health Organization said Tuesday it had created a global unit to respond to the Zika virus, voicing fears the disease blamed for a surge in birth defects in South America could spread across Africa and Asia.
	Researchers identify way radiation may fight cancer cells escaping immune system A team of Georgia State University researchers is fighting cancers using a combination of therapies and recently found ways that radiation could maximize responses to novel immune-based therapeutic approaches to fight cancer.
	Scientists find DNA 'molecular scissors' are vital in preventing cancers Scientists at the University of Dundee have discovered that "molecular scissors" that repair damaged and abnormal DNA are critical for keeping cancers at bay.
	Keeping your child's mouth healthy February is National Children's Dental Health Month, an opportunity for parents of toddlers, young children or teenagers to explore questions about keeping your child's teeth clean, your child's first dental visit or how to protect children's smiles.
People choose scents that boost natural body odours A study by the University of Stirling has found that people choose fragrances that complement their natural scents.
	Cat stem cell therapy gives humans hope By the time Bob the cat came to the UC Davis veterinary hospital, he had used up most of his nine lives. Afflicted with a painful oral inflammatory disorder, Bob had already lost all of his teeth in an effort to treat the disease known as feline chronic gingivostomatitis, or FCGS. In a last-ditch effort, Bob's owner enrolled him in a clinical trial to receive a novel stem cell therapy treatment.
	Medical science to the people via an app Researchers at the University of Oslo are developing an app that can help spread new and credible knowledge.
Cell culture experiments reveal potent antiviral activity of Cistus incanus extracts against HIV and Ebola Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München discover that extracts of the medicinal plant Cistus incanus (Ci) prevent human immunodeficiency viruses from infecting cells. Active antiviral ingredients in the extracts inhibit docking of viral proteins to cells. Antiviral activity of Cistus extracts also targets Ebola- and Marburg viruses. The results were published in Scientific Reports.
Risk of breaking a bone in childhood depends on where you live The risk of a child breaking a bone can depend upon their ethnicity and where they live in the UK, according to a new study.
	Study determines saliva gland test can spot early Parkinson's disease Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Banner Sun Health Research Institute have determined that testing a portion of a person's submandibular gland may be a way to diagnose early Parkinson's disease. The study was published this month in Movement Disorders, the official journal of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society.
Turning down the volume on cancer When the audio on your television set or smart phone is too loud, you simply turn down the volume. What if we could do the same for the signaling in our bodies that essentially causes normal cells to turn cancerous?
Anti-bullying program focused on bystanders helps the students who need it the most Many programs to reduce bullying in primary and secondary schools have proven ineffective, but a new UCLA-led study finds one that works very well.
	A uniter and a divider: Purity keeps us together—and apart Purity is the moral foundation that drives people apart - and a glue that keeps them together, a new study shows.
Gun deaths in US remain highest among high-income nations Gun deaths are a serious public health issue in the United States and the scope of the problem is often difficult to illustrate. A new study published in The American Journal of Medicine lays out the risk in concrete terms. When compared to 22 other high-income nations, Americans are ten times more likely to be killed by a gun than their counterparts in the developed world. Specifically, gun homicide rates are 25 times higher in the U.S. and, while the overall suicide rate is on par with other high-income nations, the U.S. gun suicide rate is eight times higher.
Higher levels of mercury in brain not linked with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease In a study of deceased individuals, moderate seafood consumption was correlated with lesser Alzheimer disease neuropathology, and although seafood consumption was associated with higher brain levels of mercury, the higher mercury levels were not correlated with more Alzheimer disease neuropathology, according to a study in the February 2 issue of JAMA.
Drug does not significantly reduce duration of mechanical ventilation for COPD patients Among mechanically ventilated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and metabolic alkalosis, administration of the respiratory stimulant acetazolamide did not significantly reduce the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, according to a study in the February 2 issue of JAMA.
Airway disorder among smokers associated with worse respiratory quality of life Among current and former smokers, the presence of excessive airway collapse (in the trachea) during expiration is associated with worse respiratory quality of life, according to a study in the February 2 issue of JAMA.
Rate of office visits, cumulative costs prior to colonoscopies for colon cancer screening Kevin R. Riggs, M.D., M.P.H., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and colleagues analyzed billing data to determine the proportion of colonoscopies for colon cancer screening and polyp surveillance that were preceded by office visits and the associated payments for those visits. The study appears in the February 2 issue of JAMA.
Medication effective in treating nasal polyps for patients with chronic sinusitis Use of the medication dupilumab resulted in improvement of nasal polyps in patients with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis not responsive to intranasal corticosteroids alone, according to a study in the February 2 issue of JAMA.
Extending length of surgical trainees' shifts does not affect surgical patients' safety Allowing surgeons in training, otherwise known as residents, the flexibility to work longer shifts than currently allowed in the U.S. and/or take less time off between shifts to provide continuity of patient care is not associated with a greater risk to patients of early serious postoperative complications or death according to study results involving 117 U.S. general surgery residency programs and 151 hospitals. This flexibility was also reported by residents to make it less likely they would need to leave during an operation or hand off an active patient care issue to another provider.
	Parkinson's disease diagnosis may be preceded by increased risk of injury-causing falls Years before Parkinson's disease (PD) is diagnosed, patients may be at higher risk for injurious falls or hip fractures, according to research published this week in PLOS Medicine. Peter Nordström and colleagues at Umeå University, Sweden, found that patients with PD were more likely to have had a hip fracture or injurious fall in the years preceding their diagnosis than controls without PD, and individuals who suffered injurious falls were more likely than controls with no fall-related injuries to be diagnosed with PD in the following years.
	Adenosine deaminase may help the immune system fight HIV on its own New research findings published in the February 2016 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, suggest that a new therapeutic strategy for HIV may already be available by repurposing an existing prescription drug. The drug, an enzyme called adenosine deaminase, or ADA, ultimately may be able to activate the immune system against HIV and to help the immune system "remember" the virus to prevent or quickly eliminate future infection.
Researchers shed light on anti-adhesive molecule in vascular endothelium Researchers from the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology and the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear have gained new insight into how a non-inflammatory state is maintained in the body. Their work focuses on the role of endomucin, a key molecule with anti-adhesive properties that encourages neutrophils - prevalent white blood cells that sense signals of injury—to travel past the vascular endothelium. Their findings, published in the current issue of Nature Communications, represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of inflammation.
	Women more sensitive to irksome behavior than men Women may be friendlier than men, but that doesn't mean they like putting up with jerks.
Antiseptic baths to prevent infections deemed effective for long-term use Long-term use antiseptic soap in bathing critically ill patients to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) did not cause high levels of resistance in bacteria on the patients' skin, according to a new study published online in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
	Penn Nursing study answers: What's a good breakfast for kids? A team of researchers, led by Tanja Kral, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, concluded that a breakfast high in protein - like eggs - keeps children fuller longer than cereal or oatmeal, causing them to eat fewer calories at lunch. The study, recently published in Eating Behaviors, also concludes that the effects of a protein-rich meal don't last throughout the day. It only impacts a mid-day meal.
	Newly identified pathway links fetal brain development to adult social behavior Fetal development has been known to play an important role in social interaction, a fundamental behavior found in nearly all organisms, and later adult social behaviors. Autism, a highly heritable neurodevelopment disorder that causes difficulties with social interactions, has been postulated to be caused by neuron overgrowth in the prenatal period, although the precise timing and cause of this overgrowth has been unknown. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine and other institutions have recently uncovered abnormalities in embryonic brain development in mice, including transient embryonic brain enlargement during neuron formation, that are responsible for abnormal adult brain structures and behavioral abnormalities. These findings demonstrate a fetal origin for social and repetitive behavior deficits, as seen in disorders such as autism.
	Cell insight offers clues on biological processes linked to fertility Congenital disorders such as Down's syndrome could be better understood, following new insights into how healthy cells are formed.
	Increased risk of bacterial infection if food is exposed to light Listeria bacterium found in food, which can infect people and cause temporary gastro-intestinal distress, is a serious health risk for pregnant women and for people with compromised immune systems. According to a dissertation from Umeå University in Sweden, the bacterium, which sometimes causes the lethal illness listeriosis, reacts to light by activating defence mechanisms.
Emergency visits by youth for mental health, addiction rise by 32 percent over six years Demand for child and youth mental health care has been steadily rising throughout the health care system in Ontario, Canada, with the biggest growth being felt in emergency departments.
	Height influences risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer Scientists at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and the Harvard School of Public Health describe the relationship of the worldwide increase in height with the development of leading chronic non-communicable diseases in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Tall people have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, but a higher risk of cancer. The authors discuss which dietary factors and other mechanisms may explain these associations.
Flu vaccine shows promise for reducing risk of influenza-associated atrial fibrillation Influenza is significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, which could be reduced through influenza vaccination, according to new findings reported HeartRhythm.
Research links prenatal stress to babies' health in war zones Children from war-torn areas of the globe are affected by trauma even before they are born, according to a new University of Florida study.
	Study identifies mechanism for drug target to help block HIV's ability to spread University of Minnesota researchers have identified the mechanism of a potential HIV drug target, which could be a more cost-effective option than currently used HIV drugs.
Study suggests improvements in how mesothelioma is staged A new study suggests that significant improvements could be made in the scoring system physicians use to estimate the stage (severity) of mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly cancer.
New study finds simplified nutritional labels spur healthier choices in grocery stores When it comes to making healthier food purchases in our nation's grocery stores, the simpler the nutritional packaging is, the better. In fact, if one only has to look at a single number - a score that represents the nutritional value of what's inside the packaging - a consumer is more likely to buy healthier products.
World health officials mobilize on Zika threat World health officials mobilized with emergency response plans and funding pleas Tuesday as fears grow that the Zika virus, blamed for a surge in the number of brain-damaged babies, could spread globally and threaten the Summer Olympics.
	Texas reports case of sexually transmitted Zika virus: official (Update) Texas reported a case of the Zika virus being sexually transmitted Tuesday, fueling fears over the rapid spread of the disease blamed for a surge in the number of brain-damaged babies.
	Less than half of US babies receive flu vaccine: CDC (HealthDay)—Only about four out of 10 U.S. babies aged 6 months to 23 months are getting vaccinated against the flu, federal health officials reported Tuesday.
	Millions of pregnant women put their babies at risk with alcohol: CDC (HealthDay)—Drinking before and during pregnancy can cause lifelong physical, behavioral and mental problems for a child. Yet more than 3 million U.S. women risk exposing their baby to alcohol, federal health officials reported Tuesday.
	Lower risk of contrast-induced nephropathy with iodixanol (HealthDay)—Iodixanol is associated with lower risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) versus low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM); and among those receiving LOCM, the greatest risk reduction is seen for N-acetylcysteine and statins plus N-acetylcysteine, according to two reviews published online Feb. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Few adults discuss subjective memory complaints with doctors (HealthDay)—Few adults aged 45 years or older with subjective memory complaints (SMCs) report discussing these with a health care professional, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
	Ablative fractionated laser Tx promising for actinic keratosis (HealthDay)—For patients with actinic keratoses (AKs), one treatment with ablative fractionated laser (AFXL) produces a modest temporary reduction in AKs, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Echo underused during critical cardiovascular hospitalizations (HealthDay)—Despite increasing rates of use, echocardiography (echo) may be underused during critical cardiovascular hospitalizations, according to a study published in the Feb. 9 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Pelvic exams common among healthy older women (HealthDay)—Obstetrician-gynecologists report commonly performing external and speculum examinations in asymptomatic older women, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Each hour of sedentary time is associated with a 22 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes Each extra hour of daily sedentary time (for example spent sitting at a computer) is associated with a 22% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, concludes new research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes). The study is by Julianne van der Berg, Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and colleagues.
Online therapy can help those affected by body dysmorphic disorder Internet based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help people affected by body dysmorphic disorder, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
A clip-on repellent device offers protection against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes A product called the OFF! Clip-On repellent device could be an effective tool for preventing bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito—the primary vector of Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and yellow fever—according to an article in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
	Assessment of surgical danger when surgeons remove implanted small arms ammunition In the paper "Stratification of risk to the surgical team in removal of small arms ammunition implanted in the craniofacial region: case report, by Jonathan A. Forbes, MD, and colleagues (published today in the Journal of Neurosurgery), the authors discuss risk assessments that are necessary when a surgical team is required to remove embedded ordnance that may contain explosive materials.
Honduras declares national emergency over Zika virus Honduras on Monday declared a state of emergency after officials said the number of Zika infections is rising at an "alarming" rate in the Central American country.
Indian minister wants compulsory prenatal sex tests India's children's minister has called for mandatory tests to determine the sex of an unborn child to try to counter high levels of female foeticide, sparking fierce criticism Tuesday from women's activists.
The hidden costs of the financial conflict of interest in medicine In a paper published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Giovanni A. Fava, MD, provides an analysis of some subtle and yet important consequences of financial conflicts of interest in medicine. He also strongly criticizes the recent positions expressed by the New England Journal of Medicine which called for a reexamination of the views and regulations of financial conflicts of interest in medicine.
A new psychotherapy for overcoming trauma A randomized controlled trial published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics sheds new therapeutic opportunities for overcoming trauma. Although there are effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is little research on treatments with non-cognitive-behavioral backgrounds, such as gestalt therapy. The Authors tested an integrative gestalt-derived intervention, dialogical exposure therapy (DET), against an established cognitive-behavioral treatment (cognitive processing therapy, CPT) for possible differential effects in terms of symptomatic outcome and drop-out rates.
	When can sleep restore your energy? An investigation published din the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics by a group of Danish investigators explores the characteristics of restorative sleep.
The therapeutic relationship in internet intervention can be measured A study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics analyzes the therapeutic relationship in internet intervention. It is well known that the quality of the therapeutic relationship during face-to-face treatment contributes at least modestly to an effective treatment outcome.
The role of demoralization in predicting response to psychotherapy A report published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics explores the role of demoralization in predicting response to psychotherapy. In line with the need to deepen the understanding of the psychological characteristics of cyclothymia, the Authors assessed psychological factors derived from psychosomatic research in cyclothymic patients. In particular, four psychosomatic syndromes namely alexithymia, irritable mood, demoralization and type A were evaluated in 62 patients who were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: sequential combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and well-being therapy (CBT-WBT) or clinical management (CM).
Can well-being therapy be helpful in cocaine use disorder? A case report published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics explores the therapeutic potential of a special form of cognitive behavioral treatment that includes well-being therapy in cocaine use disorder.
Smokers in Italy hit with new fines to protect the young Smokers in Italy are now facing fines of up to 500 euros ($600) if they light up in a car with a child or pregnant woman—or if they toss a cigarette butt on the street—after new health and environmental laws went into effect Tuesday.
	Autophagy—a review of techniques In this comprehensive review with over 2,450 authors, the topics covered reflect the range of specialist fields within autophagy, and the diversity of animal, plant and fungal cell types that must inevitably invoke autophagy. Even within a single species or organism, the complexity is such that autophagy can be divided into many types.
Germany to make condoms a must for prostitutes' clients Germany will soon require all clients of prostitutes to use condoms, according to a draft law approved by the government Tuesday.
	Big data is transforming healthcare—from diabetes to the ER to research The ability to monitor, record, analyze, and integrate information about human biology and health, at scales ranging from molecular interactions to disease prevalence in large populations, is transforming biomedical science and human health. Exploring the opportunities and challenges for applying big data analysis to solve some of the biggest issues facing healthcare today is the focus of a special issue of Big Data.
	Study shows maternal diet alters the breast milk microbiome and microbial gene content 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, Maternal Diet Alters the Breast Milk Microbiome and Microbial Gene Content.
ADA presents guidance on managing diabetes in older adults in long-term care facilities The care of adults over age 65 with type 2 diabetes is a growing concern: the prevalence of diabetes is highest in this age group and is expected to grow as the U.S. population ages, with many needing care at long-term care (LTC) facilities. To ensure that this population receives proper care, the American Diabetes Association has issued its first position statement to address the management of diabetes in long-term care facilities, which include assisted living, skilled nursing and nursing facilities. The statement appears in the February 2016 issue of Diabetes Care.
	Congress: drugmakers planned price hikes to boost profits Two drugmakers have made a practice of buying and then dramatically hiking the prices of low-cost drugs given to patients with life-threatening conditions including heart disease, AIDS and cancer, according to excerpts from thousands of documents released by federal lawmakers.
Olympic organizers say Zika problem to decline in time Rio Olympics organizers said Tuesday they are concerned by the outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil, but confident the problem will have cleared up in time for the Games.
Nine people suspected dead of Lassa fever in Benin As the world ramps up its fight against the Zika virus, West Africa is battling to contain a growing outbreak of Lassa fever with nine people in Benin reported dead, a health official told AFP Tuesday.
White House proposes more money to battle heroin epidemic The Obama administration will propose a significant boost in federal spending to battle the nation's heroin addiction epidemic when the president unveils his budget recommendations next week.
Public health emergencies: a brief history By declaring a surge of microcephaly cases in Latin America to be a "public health emergency of international concern", the World Health Organization has sought to boost research into a little-understood condition.
	Pilot training program to improve transgender competency among medical staff in an urban clinic The widespread discrimination and mistreatment transgender individuals face in the healthcare system could be alleviated with specialized provider training to increase knowledge about transgender health and needs, and to promote positive attitudes. The evaluation of a pilot training program implemented in an urban clinic shows the potential to change attitudes and improve competency, as reported in a study published in Transgender Health.

Biology news

	Researchers find birds can theorize about the minds of others, even those they cannot see The question of what sets humans apart from other animals is one of the oldest philosophical puzzles. A popular answer is that only humans can understand that others also have minds like their own.
	Antiperspirant alters the microbial ecosystem on your skin Wearing antiperspirant or deodorant doesn't just affect your social life, it substantially changes the microbial life that lives on you. New research finds that antiperspirant and deodorant can significantly influence both the type and quantity of bacterial life found in the human armpit's "microbiome." The work was done by researchers at North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Rutgers University and Duke University.
	Exploring the genomic basis of parasitism The genes that cause parasitism in a group of intestinal worms, responsible for one of most prevalent tropical diseases in the developing world, have been identified by an international team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol.
	Compressing cells allows delivery of new fluorescent tags to track proteins in living cells Tagging proteins with a fluorescent label such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) is currently the best way to track specific molecules inside a living cell. However, while this approach has yielded many significant discoveries, GFP and similar tags are so large that they may interfere with the labeled proteins' natural functions.
	Peacocks might not shake those tail feathers for the reasons you think What if Darwin was wrong?
	Researchers uncover hypervirulent listeria clonal groups (Phys.org)—A large team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in France has conducted a two-pronged study of the bacteria that causes listeriosis and in so doing has identified strains that are more virulent than others and under which circumstances. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team discuses their study and outlines their findings.
	Researchers sequence bedbug genome, find unique features Purdue University researchers participated in a multi-institute project that sequenced the genome of the common bedbug, a blood-sucking insect that has reemerged globally as a hardy pest capable of withstanding most major classes of insecticides.The genome of Cimex lectularius uncovers the genetic underpinning of bedbugs' unique biology and offers new targets for controlling them. Purdue entomologists Ameya Gondhalekar and Michael Scharf contributed to the international effort by annotating the bugs' antioxidant genes, which detoxify the blood they ingest and likely play a role in disarming certain types of insecticides.
	Researchers monitor the folding of an RNA hairpin in a living cell Researchers often analyse isolated biomolecules in test tubes, and it is doubtful if the results can be applied to densely-packed cells. A team from Bochum, Dortmund and Greifswald monitored the folding of an RNA structure in the living cell and compared the results with those of test tube analyses.
	Shark with lowest-known metabolism is a sluggish success A new research paper from Mote Marine Laboratory reveals that nurse sharks have the lowest metabolic rate measured in any shark—new evidence of the sluggish lifestyle that has helped the species survive for millennia.
	Logging helps black rats invade rainforests Logging can encourage black rats to invade tropical rainforests by creating habitats they prefer, giving them the chance to displace native mammals.
Charisma counts: Focus on great apes creates glaring research gaps in tropical Africa and Asia Large national parks that are home to gorillas, chimpanzees and other great apes are focal points for much of the field research conducted in tropical Africa and Asia, resulting in crucial knowledge gaps and a biased view of broader conservation needs in those regions.
	Ship noise extends to frequencies used by endangered killer whales When an endangered orca is in hot pursuit of an endangered salmon, sending out clicks and listening for their echoes in the murky ocean near Seattle, does the noise from the nearby shipping lane interfere with them catching dinner? To find out scientists measured underwater noise as ships passed their study site 3,000 times. This unprecedented characterization of ship noise will aid in the understanding of the potential effects on marine life, and help with possible mitigation strategies.
	Researchers find shifting climate patterns are threatening native silverswords A new study published in Climate Change Responses by UH Mānoa researchers shows how shifting atmospheric circulation patterns that may be caused by climate change are threatening populations of the iconic silversword on Haleakalā, Maui. The native plant is found nowhere else in the world.
	Researchers use GPS trackers to determine how far domestic cats roam While flashy collar covers saved wildlife from the clutches of Perth's domestic cats it seems the same neck attire can't stop local felines from venturing outside to rock their fashion statements.
	Smooth hunters: How environmental awareness helped the Bushmen to poison their game Being responsible for providing their food straight from nature, the San tribes, also called Bushmen, have quickly found ways to evolve their hunting methods. It is assumed that it did not take long between the adoption of bowhunting and the application of poison arrow heads. An American team of researchers, led by Dr. Caroline S. Chaboo, University of Kansas, have studied the various substances and their sources used in different San groupings from Namibia and have their paper published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
	Lack of data increases risk to species' survival Incomplete information is leaving many endangered species off conservation priorities.
	National politics shape the impacts of park law enforcement Conservation efforts are designed to restrict activities in protected areas, but the restrictions can have unintended consequences. A University of Illinois researcher examined the results of a multi-million dollar European Union aid project in West Africa and found that a country's national governance quality can affect the livelihoods of families who rely on resources from national parks and other protected areas.
	You can teach an old dog new tricks—but younger dogs learn faster Aging affects the cognitive abilities of dogs, as a recent study by the Clever Dog Lab of the Messerli Research Institute at the Vetmeduni Vienna shows. A team of scientists studied dogs of different ages working on a specially designed touchscreen and discovered that although all dogs were capable of learning, older dogs learnt more slowly than younger ones. No age-related differences were found regarding long-term memory. The results were published in the journal Age.
	Uncommon surnames narrate the family history of those who bear them In most societies, surnames are passed on from father to son, just like the Y chromosome. This suggests that men who share the same surnames may have Y chromosomes that are related to one another. A new study analyses this correlation in Spain and reveals that a large number of men who are bearers of the same unusual surnames are distant relatives.
	Gray treefrogs provide clues to climate change According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2015 was the hottest year on record. According to a University of Missouri researcher, increasing temperatures and climate variability might have an effect on the sounds produced by gray treefrogs. According to a recent study, scientists found that a female's interpretation of male mating calls may not be affected by climate change; however, knowing how breeding habits are affected can help predict the health of ecosystems. These findings will contribute to the enhanced management practices of ecosystems by federal and state officials.
	Four new algae species discovered in Hawaii's deep waters Scientists working with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced the discovery of four new species of deep-water algae from Hawaii. Marine algae, or limu, are very important in Hawaiian culture, used in foods, ceremonies and as adornments in traditional hula. The new species of limu were collected between 200-400 feet, depths not typically known for marine algae.
	Open-access article on Mexican bean beetles offers control tips The Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) has flown under the research radar too long, despite the fact that it has been ravaging U.S. crops for almost a century, according to Louis Nottingham, lead author of a newly published article in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management. The article shines a light on the Mexican bean beetle and describes possible management strategies, including so-called "cultural methods" that can control this pest without insecticides.

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