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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 3, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Tiniest spin devices becoming more stable
- Phosphine as a superconductor? Sure, but the story may be complicated
- Antibiotics may increase susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections
- Women found to be more susceptible to contagious yawning than men
- Galactic center's gamma rays unlikely to originate from dark matter, evidence shows
- Low-power chip processes 3-D camera data, could enable wearable device to guide the visually impaired
- Researchers extend lifespan by as much as 35 percent in mice
- Hack-proof RFID chips could secure credit cards, key cards, and pallets of goods
- Team discovers four new deep-sea worm species
- Scientists discover butterfly-like fossil insect in the deep Mesozoic
- Startup announces development of flexiramics—ceramics with paper-like properties
- Luxembourg's ultimate offshore investment: space mining
- Structure of brain plaques in Huntington's disease described
- Receptors inside nerve cells may be a key to controlling pain
- Brain formation pattern shows why early trauma may leave no clues

Astronomy & Space news

	Galactic center's gamma rays unlikely to originate from dark matter, evidence shows Bursts of gamma rays from the center of our galaxy are not likely to be signals of dark matter but rather other astrophysical phenomena such as fast-rotating stars called millisecond pulsars, according to two new studies, one from a team based at Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and another based in the Netherlands.
	The frigid Flying Saucer The international team, led by Stephane Guilloteau at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, France, measured the temperature of large dust grains around the young star 2MASS J16281370-2431391 in the spectacular Rho Ophiuchi star formation region, about 400 light-years from Earth.
	Philae comet probe: World prepares for final farewell In November 2014, a brave explorer on a daring mission strapped on a pair of studded boots and a hard hat, stuffed a cheese sandwich and a compass into a backpack, and leapt from a spacecraft.
	Researchers weigh the central parts of Saturn's most massive ring for the first time It seems intuitive that an opaque material should contain more stuff than a more translucent substance. For example, muddier water has more suspended particles of dirt in it than clearer water. Likewise, you might think that, in the rings of Saturn, more opaque areas contain a greater concentration of material than places where the rings seem more transparent.
	Small asteroid to pass close to Earth March 5 A small asteroid that two years ago flew past Earth at a comfortable distance of about 1.3 million miles (2 million kilometers) will safely fly by our planet again in a few weeks, though this time it may be much closer.
	Airborne asteroid impact chasers release findings on space junk object WT1190F The dramatic fall reentry of a piece of space debris has served as a dress rehearsal for researchers who observe small asteroid entries and impacts.
	Reflections on the habitability of Earth We know the Earth is habitable because—well, here we are. But would it look like a good candidate for life from hundreds of light-years away?
	Spacewalkers collect experiment, toss flash drive overboard (Update) Spacewalking Russians gathered seeds and spores that have been stuck outside the International Space Station for months if not years and gave a ceremonial send-off Wednesday to a flash drive containing special messages for their motherland.
	Luxembourg's ultimate offshore investment: space mining Luxembourg positioned itself Wednesday to pioneer the potentially lucrative business of mining asteroids in space for precious metals such as gold, platinum and tungsten.
	Astronomers reveal how black holes power the brightest objects in the cosmos What is the brightest object in the night sky?
	Tuning in to cosmic radio from the dawn of time Many wonders of the universe cannot be seen in visible light. Rather, we need to explore the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum to reveal their splendour.
	The forgotten moon landing that paved the way for today's space adventures Crashing into a planet is seldom a good idea. If you're trying to travel to another world, you're likely to land at tens of kilometres per second unless you do something serious to slow down. When Neil Armstrong famously became the first man on the moon in 1969, he piloted a lunar module onto the surface using thrusters that slowed the craft's descent.
	JWST instruments are coming in from the cold After being tested at extremely low temperatures for more than two months, the four instruments of the James Webb Space Telescope are preparing to come in from the cold. First indications from the NIRSpec and MIRI teams are that both instruments have performed remarkably well during these most recent tests in space-like conditions, but there are many weeks of data review to come before the teams will know if the instruments are ready to move to the next stage of integration with the telescope. By mid-February, the instruments will have reached room temperature and will leave the cryo-vacuum test chamber at Goddard for the last time.
	ESA image: London nightlife ESA astronaut Tim Peake took this image of London, UK, from the International Space Station 400 km above Earth. At the time it was midnight in the capital city and, because the Space Station runs on Greenwich Mean Time, it was also the same time for Tim Peake.
	New study challenges Jupiter's role as planetary shield, protecting Earth from comet impacts Not only is the "Jupiter as shield" concept, implying that the planet shields Earth from comet impacts, not true, but perhaps Jupiter's most important role in fostering the development of life on Earth was just the opposite—delivering the volatile materials from the outer Solar System needed for life to form. This new simulation study, and the previously underestimated role that Saturn may have also played in the evolution of life on Earth, are presented in an original research article published in Astrobiology. The article is available free for download on the Astrobiology website until March 3, 2016.

Technology news

	Low-power chip processes 3-D camera data, could enable wearable device to guide the visually impaired MIT researchers have developed a low-power chip for processing 3-D camera data that could help visually impaired people navigate their environments. The chip consumes only one-thousandth as much power as a conventional computer processor executing the same algorithms.
	Hack-proof RFID chips could secure credit cards, key cards, and pallets of goods Researchers at MIT and Texas Instruments have developed a new type of radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that is virtually impossible to hack.
	France has solar-strip paving ambitions for long stretch of roads France has ambitious plans to pave its roads using solar strips. How ambitious? The plan involves a 621-mile stretch of roads with the panels over the next five years, say reports.
	Energy-friendly chip can perform powerful artificial-intelligence tasks In recent years, some of the most exciting advances in artificial intelligence have come courtesy of convolutional neural networks, large virtual networks of simple information-processing units, which are loosely modeled on the anatomy of the human brain.
	Researchers find vulnerability in two-factor authentication Two-factor authentication is a computer security measure used by major online service providers to protect the identify of users in the event of a password loss. The process is familiar: When a password is forgotten, the site sends an SMS text message to the user's mobile phone, providing a verification code that must be entered to reset the password. Two-factor authentication may also be triggered if a user signs on from an unrecognized computer IP address.
	Google: Test drivers, engineers learn from simulation miles in millions Self-driving cars are by 2016 a "when" and not "if." All eyes are on the monthly how-are we-doing reports thanks to the Google Self-Driving Car Project tell-alls and the report for January is in. (All metrics are as of January 31.)
	China's Lenovo posts first revenue fall for six years (Update) Chinese technology giant Lenovo on Wednesday posted its first revenue decline for six years due to slowing growth in the smartphone market and falling PC sales, sending its shares plummeting.
	Adele, Bond help revamped Sony escape spectre of losses British pop diva Adele and suave spy James Bond may be unlikely stars in Sony's turnaround, but the firm is betting they are key to a corporate makeover that analysts say still has a long way to go.
	Taiwan approves TSMC plans for $3 bn plant in China Taiwan on Wednesday approved a plan by its leading chipmaker to build a $3 billion plant in China using state-of-the-art technology, after easing curbs on high-tech investment in the mainland.
	Taiwan's HTC reports third consecutive quarterly loss Taiwan's struggling smartphone maker HTC on Wednesday reported a third straight quarterly loss for October-December, although losses narrowed due to holiday season demand and the launch of a new phone.
	Dutch telecoms firm KPN sees 2015 net profits double Dutch telecoms firm KPN on Wednesday reported a doubling of net profit in 2015 thanks to selling some shares in Telefonica Deutschland, even though overall turnover continued a year-on-year slide.
	Panasonic cuts sales target on slowing China, emerging economies Panasonic on Wednesday cut its full-year revenue forecast, citing a slowdown in China and other emerging economies, but added that net profit soared in the nine months to December.
	Dutch police use real eagles to counter drones Dutch police are turning to a phalanx of winged predators to solve the problem of unauthorised drone flights in restricted areas such as airports and over crowds: eagles.
	Comcast loses fewest TV customers in 8 years Comcast is trumpeting its best year for traditional TV services in nearly a decade, even though it continues to lose TV subscribers.
	Protecting data assets with two-factor authentication To better protect the Institute's data – including employee data – from future cyber risks, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will begin deploying two-factor authentication to early adopters across campus in 2016. The Office of Development and the Office of the President are among the first offices to adopt this technology department-wide. Offices in the Division of Administration and Finance are scheduled to follow this year. Here's what you need to know.
	Scientist creates AI algorithm to monitor machinery health An artificial intelligence algorithm created by University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) principal research scientist Dr. Rodrigo Teixeira greatly increases accuracy in diagnosing the health of complex mechanical systems.
Super Mario gets social intelligence Tübingen University's Cognitive Modeling group, led by Professor Martin Butz, has developed software to give social skills – based on human thinking and behavior – to favorite video game figures Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Toad. Even as artificial intelligence plays an ever-greater role in computer games, socially intelligent systems have so far been little used. But the new video shows what socially intelligent game characters may be capable of in the future.
	Reaching new heights with connected skis Thanks to a small screen on their skis, backcountry skiers can see various data recorded by sensors as they ski. The length and number of turns going up, their cadence and even the symmetry of their steps appear on the device. It was developed by an EPFL spin-off that teamed up with a local equipment manufacturer.
	EU lawmakers back diesel test loopholes despite VW scandal EU lawmakers on Wednesday waved through plans to allow diesel car makers to exceed pollution limits, in a big victory for the auto industry after the Volkswagen scandal.
	Microsoft buys keyboard software maker SwiftKey Microsoft said Wednesday it acquired British-based software keyboard maker SwiftKey, saying it would be integrated with the tech giant's "intelligent systems" for mobile devices.
	Yahoo strategy falls flat on Wall Street (Update) Yahoo shares tumbled Wednesday in a sign that investors were skeptical about the faded Internet star's latest plan to return to glory.
	Sweden's Vattenfall results nuked by atomic energy tax Swedish state-owned energy group Vattenfall on Wednesday reported a record loss for 2015, blaming a tax on nuclear energy and sliding electricity prices.
	ESA image: Treemetrics woodland laser scan A commercial forest seen through the 'eyes' of a 3D laser scanning system developed by the ESA-supported Treemetrics company.
	Self-calibrated 10 mbit/s phase modulator with low power fractional PLL architecture At this week's IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC2016), nanoelectronics research center imec and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) presented a self-calibrated high-speed (10Mbits/s) phase modulator achieving an excellent Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) of -37dB at 10.25 GHz. The modulator is based on a l analog fractional subsampling PLL featuring a world leading -246.6dB Figure of Merit (FOM). It is an attractive solution for phase modulation in highly efficient polar transmitters.
	Small, low-cost and low-power chip for multi-gigabit 60GHz communication At this week's IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC2016), nanoelectronics research center imec and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) presented a four-antenna path beamforming transceiver for 60GHz multi Gb/s communication in 28nm CMOS technology. The transceiver is a breakthrough in developing a small, low-cost, and low power solution for multi-gigabit communication targeting WiGig as well as 60GHz wireless backhaul applications.
Rapid dispersal of aircraft pollution A series of aerofoil-shaped panels downwind of an airport runway could break up the plumes of exhaust gases from departing aircraft, preventing those gases from staying near the ground and so dispersing them more quickly.  A similar array could be used to prevent vehicle pollutants accumulating downwind of motorways, or even to disperse ground frosts over arable fields.
	Technology for instantaneous searches of a target image from a massive volume of images Fujitsu Laboratories today announced that it has developed technology that is installed on a server to specialize features with a specific functionality. In this way it is possible to search at high speed through an enormous archive to find even partial matches of a designated still image. It has confirmed that, compared to searches on general-purpose servers, the new approach resulted in an over fifty-fold improvement in processing time. Companies and other organizations routinely accumulate presentations and other materials. To thoroughly search through these materials, photos and illustrations to find a desired image, the problem has been that it requires time to search enormous volumes.
	In Tech: Instagram video series, billion-user club, Fitbit If a half-hour comedy is too long, how about a 15-second thriller?
	Microsoft wants you using Windows 10, like it or not If you're running an older version of Windows, you might suddenly find Microsoft's Windows 10 upgrade already downloaded on your machine.

Medicine & Health news

	Antibiotics may increase susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (Medical Xpress)—Commensal microbiota, populations of bacteria that inhabit the tissues of larger organisms, often have complex relationships with their hosts. Researchers have been aware for some time that commensal microbiota play a role in antiviral immunity by producing immune inductive signals that trigger inflammasome responses, among other things.
	Researchers extend lifespan by as much as 35 percent in mice Researchers at Mayo Clinic have shown that senescent cells - cells that no longer divide and accumulate with age - negatively impact health and shorten lifespan by as much as 35 percent in normal mice. The results, which appear today in Nature, demonstrate that clearance of senescent cells delays tumor formation, preserves tissue and organ function, and extends lifespan without observed adverse effects.
	Researchers link 'housekeeping' gene with male infertility Researchers at Iowa State University have found evidence that a "housekeeping" gene present in every cell of the body may have a link to male infertility.
	Brain formation pattern shows why early trauma may leave no clues Some of the earliest nerve cells to develop in the womb shape brain circuits that process sights and sounds, but then give way to mature networks that convert this sensory information into thoughts. This is the finding of a study led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and published in the February 3 edition of Neuron.
	Researchers make link between genetics, aging Scientists at the University of Georgia have shown that a hormone instrumental in the aging process is under genetic control, introducing a new pathway by which genetics regulates aging and disease.
	Receptors inside nerve cells may be a key to controlling pain In real estate, location is key. It now seems the same concept holds true when it comes to stopping pain.
	Structure of brain plaques in Huntington's disease described Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have shown that the core of the protein clumps found in the brains of people with Huntington's disease have a distinctive structure, a finding that could shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurodegenerative disorder. The findings were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Real time outbreak surveillance using genomics now possible in resource-limited conditions New research published in Nature has shown how genome sequencing can be rapidly established to monitor outbreaks.
New insights into the function of the main class of drug targets About thirty percent of all medical drugs such as beta-blockers or antidepressants interact with certain types of cell surface proteins called G protein coupled receptors. In collaboration with researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute, the group of Prof. Stephan Grzesiek at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel has now elucidated in detail how the structure of such a receptor changes when drugs bind and how the structural change transmits a signal to the cellular interior. These results have recently been published in Nature.
	It's all about the timing: Fetal expression of core clock gene determines lifespan in mice Abolishing the 24-hour clock by knocking out a key gene during development accelerates aging and shortens lifespan by two thirds in mice, but this effect is absent if the gene deletion is delayed until after birth, according to a new study published this week in Science Translational Medicine by scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
	Breakthrough in generating embryonic cells that are critical for human health Neural crest cells arise early in the development of vertebrates, migrate extensively through the embryo, and differentiate to give rise to a wide array of diverse derivatives. Their contributions include a large proportion of our peripheral nerves, the melanocytes that provide skin color and protection from damaging UV light, as well as many different cell types in our face, including muscle, bone, cartilage and tooth-forming cells.
	'Schizophrenia' does not exist, argues expert The term "schizophrenia," with its connotation of hopeless chronic brain disease, should be dropped and replaced with something like "psychosis spectrum syndrome," argues a professor of psychiatry in The BMJ today.
Doctor raises serious questions about medical awards system The system that awards national and academic honors to doctors is called into question by a senior doctor writing in The BMJ this week.
Backing from their GP could lead thousands more to take bowel cancer test Almost 40,000 more people might take a bowel cancer test in England each year if the letter inviting them to do so was endorsed by their GP, according to research funded by the National Institute for Health Research and published today (Wednesday) in the British Journal of Cancer.
Improved vigilance of non-prescription medicine needed to reduce abuse, according to new survey A cross-sectional survey has been used to estimate the prevalence of self-reported non-prescription medicine misuse, which has found that almost a fifth of people could have misused medicines in some way over their lifetime. The findings were published today in the Journal of Public Health.
	A combined carbon and sugar tax could have environmental and health benefits A combination of a carbon tax on food and a tax on sugary drinks in the UK could lead to health benefits, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise up to GB£3.6 billion revenue, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.
Reduced anxiety and depression for women participating in women-only cardiac rehab programs Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women globally. Women who have an acute coronary heart event may be more likely to die or to suffer complications during the initial recovery period than men, but are less likely to make use of cardiac rehabilitation programs. Although all models of cardiac rehab significantly improve heart health, investigators found that participating in women-only cardiac rehab resulted in significantly lower symptoms of anxiety and depression and improvements in diet. Their findings are published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Which comes first: Self-reported penicillin allergy or chronic hives? People who have self-reported penicillin allergy may have a three times greater chance of suffering from chronic hives. And people who have chronic hives tend to self-report penicillin allergy at a three times greater rate than the general population. Coincidence? Authors of a new study think not.
	Cluttered kitchens cause over-snacking Cluttered and chaotic environments can cause stress, which can lead us to grab more of the indulgent snacks— twice as many cookies according to this new study!
	Higher temperatures make Zika mosquito spread disease more In its brief lifespan, the mosquito that carries the Zika virus is caught in a race: Will it pass the disease to humans before it dies?
Vulnerable Asia fears Zika outbreak Densely packed slums, rampant mosquitoes and a history of rapidly spreading infections make Asia particularly vulnerable to the devastating Zika virus, posing a massive challenge for the region, health experts warn.
	Tips presented for encouraging treatment adherence (HealthDay)—Tips for increasing patient adherence to treatment plans include patient engagement and addressing barriers to adherence, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
	Protein preload boosts vildagliptin's effects in diabetes (HealthDay)—A protein preload enhances the glucose-lowering efficacy of vildagliptin in type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in Diabetes Care.
	Babies born late may be at risk for complications: study (HealthDay)—Babies born weeks after their due date may be at increased risk for complications and illness that can land them in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a new study suggests.
	Study sparks energy drink warning Drinking more than two energy drinks per day is associated with adverse heart reactions, including palpitations, a raised heart rate and chest pain.
	Two studies of veterans link PTSD to accelerated aging We've all heard of people "aging overnight" after a traumatic event. Scientists actually have a word for this phenomenon: "Marie Antoinette Syndrome," named for the French queen. When she was captured after fleeing Paris and sentenced to death by guillotine, observers claimed her hair turned white from shock.
New syndrome causing obesity and intellectual disability identified Scientists at The University of Manchester have discovered a rare new genetic syndrome of obesity, over-eating, mental and behavioural problems in six families, from across the world.
	Researchers discover a new target for the treatment of fatty liver disease Two proteins, p38 gamma and p38 delta, control the accumulation of fat in the liver, a process linked to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes, which are common outcomes of obesity. These findings are presented in an article published by researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC). The study, led by Dr. Guadalupe Sabio, shows that inhibition of these proteins with specific inhibitors has potential as a treatment for fatty liver disease. The results are published in the EMBO Journal.
	Surgical safety checklists associated with reduced risk of death, length of hospital stay The implementation of surgical safety checklists (SSCs) at a tertiary care hospital was associated with a reduced risk of death within 90 days after surgery, but not within 30 days, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery. Hospital length of stay was reduced after implementation of SSCs.
	Parental depression associated with worse school performance by children Having parents diagnosed with depression during a child's life was associated with worse school performance at age 16 in a new study of children born in Sweden, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
	Improving safety for volunteer wildlife rehabilitators Volunteer wildlife rehabilitators in Australia help protect the public from diseases carried by bats. A new study provides recommendations for future investment by state and territory governments that could reduce health risks to the volunteers themselves.
	Study uncovers how electromagnetic fields can amplify pain For years, retired Maj. David Underwood has noticed that whenever he drove under power lines and around other electromagnetic fields, he would feel a buzz in what remained of his arm. When traveling by car through Texas' open spaces, the buzz often became more powerful.
	Elderly at risk from rising mercury People over the age of 75 are especially at risk from the hot weather blanketing Queensland this week, particularly if they have recently had an infection.
	Study identifies enzyme key to link between age-related inflammation and cancer For the first time, researchers have shown that an enzyme key to regulating gene expression—and also an oncogene when mutated—is critical for the expression of numerous inflammatory compounds that have been implicated in age-related increases in cancer and tissue degeneration, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Inhibitors of the enzyme are being developed as a new anti-cancer target.
Heart disease still top killer of American women and men, symptoms differ Women tend to get palpitations, shortness of breath and "sharp" chest pain when suffering heart attacks, explains Stephanie Dunlap, DO, associate professor in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and medical director of the UC Health Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Center.
Skin infections rife among high school wrestlers, say researchers The first national survey of skin infections among high school athletes has found that wrestlers have the highest number of infections, with football players coming in a distant second, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Indian firm says developing 'world's first Zika vaccine' An Indian drugmaker on Wednesday said it was developing the world's first vaccine against Zika after the World Health Organization declared an global emergency over the rapidly spreading virus.
	Case of sexually transmitted Zika is confirmed in Texas Health officials say a person in Texas has become infected with the Zika virus through sex, in the first case of the illness being transmitted within the United States amid the current outbreak in Latin America.
Indonesia confirms Zika case, urges calm Indonesia Wednesday officially confirmed a case of the Zika virus dating back to last year but said it was prepared to handle any outbreak of the disease which has sparked alarm in the Americas.
	In kids, even low lead levels can cause lasting harm The recent firestorm over lead exposure from drinking water in Flint, Michigan is a reminder of the enduring risk posed by environmental lead. While we can all agree that it is unacceptable for children to be exposed to dangerously high levels of lead, there is less awareness of what this means.
	New research suggests alternative treatment target for schizophrenia A new study by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers suggests that dysregulation in the way two G protein-coupled receptors talk to each other may be responsible for some symptoms of schizophrenia and could lead to new treatment targets.
	Technique to detect breast cancer moving from lab to commercialization Cancer screening could soon be as simple as giving a urine sample using a patented device developed by a Missouri University of Science and Technology researcher. This week, Wyoming-based Cancer.im Inc., a Viratech Corp. company (Symbol: VIRA) and social network for cancer patients, survivors and caretakers, announced an agreement with Missouri S&T to commercialize the device.
Time between positive fecal blood test and colonoscopy varies widely Patients who received positive fecal blood test results as part of the screening process for colorectal cancer experienced wide variations in the time between a positive result and a follow-up colonoscopy across four U.S. health care systems, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
	Not enough kids receiving the recommended three doses of HPV vaccination Most cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) are preventable with a vaccine. Yet the infection is responsible for 27,000 cancer diagnoses each year in the U.S.
	Legacy of mistrust among African Americans persists on cancer treatment Mistrust toward breast cancer treatment and the health care system at large were expressed by African Americans who participated in Chicago focus groups, suggests new research led by an expert on the health of vulnerable populations at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Contraception not as affordable as health-care law intended Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has benefited millions of women by reducing out-of-pocket spending on contraception, many still continue to have to pay for all or some of their contraceptives.
	Diabetes discovery could lead to more effective drugs The formation of type 2 diabetes is directly related to how our muscles convert sugar, a landmark new study has found.
	Will gene editing create designer babies? On Feb. 1, Britain's fertility regulator approved the country's first research application to use a new gene editing technique known as Crispr on human embryos.
	Even moderate alcohol intake may harm people with HIV Moderate alcohol consumption is more harmful to people with HIV than uninfected individuals, raising the risk of both mortality and other negative health effects, say Yale researchers. Their study is the first to demonstrate the increased harm among patients who have suppressed HIV with modern antiretroviral treatment (ART).
	Closed-loop stimulation promises fewer side effects Could potential side effects in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with stimulation be avoided with a closed-loop approach, which constantly adapts to the symptoms? This is one of the key questions Dr. Ioannis Vlachos and his colleagues Taskin Deniz, Prof. Dr. Ad Aertsen, and Prof. Dr. Arvind Kumar address in a study that was now published in the journal PLoS Computational Biology.
	Brain volume changes after CBT After just nine weeks of internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy, the brain of patients suffering from social anxiety disorder changes in volume. Anxiety is reduced, and parts of the patients' brains decrease in both volume and activity. This study could help us develop more effective therapies for one of the most common problems in mental health.
Young adults needlessly anxious about their ideal weight According to a new study at the University of Helsinki, having a personal "ideal weight" does not aid weight loss. Most young women and nearly half of young men aged 24 would like to weigh less than they do. A decade later, only one in five women and one in seven men is at or beneath the previously defined ideal weight.
	The Zika virus – what do you need to know? The Zika virus is an arbovirus infection transmitted by several different species of Aedes mosquitoes. In adults, the most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes) (CDC). Symptoms are usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week and it is uncommon for it to require hospitalization. However, this isn't the case for newborns. The virus has been found to be highly neurotrophic, and has resulted in children being born with microcephaly, where they have smaller than normal brains. Within the span of a few months, there have been several thousand cases of children being born with microcephaly, and this is only the tip of the iceberg with the WHO predicting that three to four million people will be infected this year.
	Researchers discover new way to screen for cancer-killing drugs A technique called "mito-priming" is the latest method to be developed by researchers in the fight against cancer.
	Three ways synthetic biology could annihilate Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases In just a few short weeks, Zika has shot from being an obscure infection to a headline-hitting public health disaster. The virus is spreading rapidly across the Americas (and potentially beyond), is suspected of being associated with birth defects that affect brain development and currently has no specific vaccine or treatment.
Use of opioid painkillers increases fourfold in Australia in 10 years Use of common opioid painkillers such as codeine, morphine and oxycodone has more than quadrupled in Australia over the past decade and doubled worldwide over the same period a report published today in The Lancet (3rd February 2016) by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) reveals. Yet at the same time the authors warn that the majority of countries, particularly those in developing and poorer regions have little or no access to basic pain medication and there has been little change over the decade.
Anxiety disorder three times more likely among older adults with COPD The prevalence of past-year generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) for adults aged 50 and older with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is much higher compared to older adults without COPD (5.8% vs 1.7%), according to a new study published by University of Toronto researchers.
New research reveals how structure increases careful thought about decisions What factors contribute to making informed, responsible, thoughtful decisions? New research out of the University of Cincinnati uses a story about trees to examine how environmental structure plays a key role in making thoughtful decisions. The research also points to implications as to why people living in more chaotic environments, such as poverty, are less prone to use careful deliberation in decision making. The study is published online in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Practice makes perfect: Switching between languages pays off It's estimated that half of the world's population speaks two or more languages. But are there hidden benefits to being bilingual? Research from Concordia reveals a new perk visible in the problem-solving skills of toddlers.
	Investigating potential fetal exposure to antidepressants Depression is a serious issue for expecting mothers. Left untreated, depression could have implications for a fetus's health. But treating the disease during pregnancy may carry health risks for the developing fetus, which makes an expecting mother's decision whether to take medication a very difficult one. To better understand how antidepressants affect fetuses during pregnancy, scientists studied exposure in mice. They report their findings in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
	Researchers uncover new piece of the HIV puzzle New research has revealed that a key immune system component—innate lymphoid cells (ILC)—is destroyed during acute HIV infection. This may play a key role in understanding the progression of the disease from HIV to AIDS. HIV affects more than 35 million people worldwide.
No proof that radiation from X rays and CT scans causes cancer The widespread belief that radiation from X rays, CT scans and other medical imaging can cause cancer is based on an unproven, decades-old theoretical model, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Whooping cough booster vouchers don't boost immunization rates of caregivers Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have increased dramatically over the past five years, putting infants at risk of serious illness or death. Most infants are infected by a caregiver who has not received a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) booster, so caregiver immunization is particularly important. However, many caregivers go unvaccinated, and new strategies are needed to convince those living with infants to get the Tdap booster. To address this care gap, a team of researchers lead by Alison Buttenheim PhD, MBA, an Assistant Professor of Nursing and an Assistant Professor of Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, evaluated the feasibility and impact of different interventions aimed at increasing the number of vaccinated caregivers.
Study shows direct link between state spending habits and AIDS deaths Despite considerable advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS over the past 30 years, HIV infection rates have remained stagnant in the United States for the past decade. A study by researchers at the Yale Global Health Leadership Institute (GHLI) examines links between spending on social services and public health and AIDS deaths in the United States. The study was published online in the journal AIDS.
Intense work helped Michelangelo maintain use of hands despite osteoarthritis Prolonged hammering and chiselling accelerated degenerative arthritis in the hands of Michelangelo Buonarroti, sculptor, painter and one of the greatest artists of all time. But the intense work probably helped him keep the use of his hands right up until he died. That is the conclusion of doctors writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine who analysed three portraits of the artist to reach their diagnosis.
	Report: It's ethical to test embryos from DNA of 3 people (Update) It's ethical to test a provocative new fertility technique that would prevent mothers from passing on rare but devastating diseases by creating embryos from the DNA of three people—dad, mom and an egg donor—advisers to the government said Wednesday.
	Scientists find new tumor markers for the prognosis of head and neck cancer Head and neck cancers include a heterogeneous group of tumours located in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Despite therapeutic progress, the survival rate of patients with this pathology has hardly improved in the last decade. Many researchers are focusing on understanding the molecular biology of these tumours to improve their prognosis and treatment.
Ireland advises condom use to stop Zika virus Ireland on Wednesday urged men to wear a condom during sex for one month after returning from a country affected by the Zika virus, as Britain said returning travellers cannot donate blood for a month.
	Nutrient deprivation kills kidney cancer cells All cells need nutrients, but cancer cells are notoriously power hungry. As a result, cancer cells must alter their metabolism to provide the additional fuel needed for them to survive, grow and spread.
	Head injury patients develop brain clumps associated with Alzheimer's disease Scientists have revealed that protein clumps associated with Alzheimer's disease are also found in the brains of people who have had a head injury.
	Preventive surgery for women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer In a review article published in the Feb. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a pair of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center researchers provide an in-depth look at the issues associated with the care of women in families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome who have not yet developed cancer themselves. The article addresses optimal risk assessment for breast and ovarian cancers, the usefulness of risk-reducing surgery, side effects of these procedures, alternative strategies for cancer prevention and the best ways to help with the decision-making process.
Sex and Zika: Risk of virus spread? A case of sexual transmission on US soil of the tropical, mosquito-borne Zika virus, has stirred unease among ordinary people and experts alike.
	Zika: profile of an enigmatic virus The world's latest health scare is Zika: a tropical, mosquito-borne virus that holds little danger for most people, but could completely derail the lives of some.
	Participants in Personal Genome Project able to weigh risks and benefits of data sharing In the first systemic investigation of participants' views on open consent in the Personal Genome Project, researchers found that greater transparency and full disclosure of the risks involved in public sharing of genetic and health data could encourage, rather than deter, participation in human research.
Routine antibiotics should be reconsidered for malnourished children A new study suggests that the current recommendation to treat severely malnourished children with routine antibiotics does not increase the likelihood of nutritional recovery in uncomplicated cases. Given this finding, the study's authors say that routinely using antibiotics may not be necessary or beneficial for severely malnourished children being treated at home when there is adequate local health infrastructure.
Investigation casts doubt over trial used to support top-selling anti-clotting drug An investigation published by The BMJ today raises new concerns about the top-selling anti-clotting drug, rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
Why is calcific tendinitis so painful? Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, typically characterized by calcium deposits on the rotator cuff, is an extremely painful condition that can severely impair movement and life quality. A new study appearing in today's issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, found a significant increase in blood vessel and pain receptor growth among patients with this condition.
Scientists discover genetic cause of rare allergy to vibration Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a genetic mutation responsible for a rare form of inherited hives induced by vibration, also known as vibratory urticaria. Running, hand clapping, towel drying or even taking a bumpy bus ride can cause temporary skin rashes in people with this rare disorder. By studying affected families, researchers discovered how vibration promotes the release of inflammatory chemicals from the immune system's mast cells, causing hives and other allergic symptoms.
Canada moves to protect blood supply from Zika virus Canadian blood agencies announced Wednesday a temporary restriction on blood donations aimed at keeping the Zika virus out of the nation's blood supply.
Justice eludes India's medical negligence victims Four years after Shishir Chand's brother died when his heart condition was allegedly misdiagnosed as gas, his fight for compensation has barely begun in India's notoriously slow justice system.
French Caribbean facing Zika epidemic, taking extra measures Two French regions in the Caribbean face an epidemic of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which was just declared a global public health emergency, and France's government is sending extra hospital equipment and preparing extra medical staff to combat it, the health minister said Wednesday.
	NIH launches public health campaign on link between hypertension and brain health A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that uncontrolled high blood pressure is not only the leading cause of stroke but may also be linked to cognitive decline and dementia. Today, the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is launching a public health education campaign called Mind Your Risks. The campaign is designed to raise awareness about how controlling the risk factors for stroke in middle age, particularly high blood pressure, may reduce the risk of cognitive decline later in life.
Risk of premature death nine-fold among illicit drug users Premature deaths are almost nine times more common among illicit drug users than among the general Finnish population, shows a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The excess mortality is especially pronounced among female drug users, according to findings presented by Ifeoma Onyeka, MSc, in her doctoral dissertation. The most common causes of death were accidental overdose and suicide. The risk for all-cause death was the highest among intravenous drug users.
	Carnegie Mellon joins IARPA project to reverse-engineer brain algorithms Carnegie Mellon University is embarking on a five-year, $12 million research effort to reverse-engineer the brain, seeking to unlock the secrets of neural circuitry and the brain's learning methods. Researchers will use these insights to make computers think more like humans.
Clinical investigations of MRT are 'ethically permissible' if conditions met Conducting clinical investigations of mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRT) in humans is ethically permissible as long as significant conditions and principles are met, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. One of those conditions, among many laid out in the report, is that initial MRT clinical investigations should be limited to women who are at risk of transmitting a severe mitochondrial genetic disease that could lead to a child's early death or substantial impairment. Another is that in initial clinical investigations only male embryos created through MRT should be allowed to be placed in a woman for a possible pregnancy. The recommended restriction is predicated not on selection of one sex over another, but on the need to proceed carefully and to prevent potential adverse and uncertain consequences of MRT from being passed on to future generations. The committee that conduc! ted the study and wrote the report stressed that when balancing the benefits and risks of MRT clinical investigations, the primary consideration is minimizing the risk of harm to the child born as a result of the techniques.
What's the impact of new marijuana laws? The data so far... How has new legislation affected marijuana use in the United States? The best available data suggest that marijuana use is increasing in adults but not teens, with a decrease in marijuana-related arrests but an increase in treatment admissions, according to an update in the January/February Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
'How much does it hurt?' For preschoolers, cognitive development can limit ability to rate pain "Rate your pain on a scale of zero to ten"—for most adults and older children, it's a simple concept. But preschool-aged children generally lack the cognitive skills needed to make reliable pain ratings, according to an article in Pain, the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).
Europe must 'act early' to prevent Zika spread: WHO The World Health Organization urged European countries Wednesday to act swiftly to fend off the mosquito-born virus Zika, suspected of a surge in brain damaged babies in South America.
	Review reveals problems protecting workers from pesticides Dozens of farmworkers looked up at the little yellow plane buzzing over the Florida radish field, a mist of pesticide falling from its wings.
Sierra Leone frees 55 from Ebola quarantine, but seeks 48 others Only four people remained in quarantine in Sierra Leone on Wednesday after 55 others were declared free of the Ebola virus and released from hospital, officials and medical sources said.
	Obesity and weight gain in HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy: What's the harm? The percentage of HIV-infected adults who were obese-body mass index >30 kg/m2-when they began antiretroviral therapy (ART) doubled over a 12-year period. After 3 years of ART, 18% of adults who were overweight at initiation of therapy had become obese, and 22% of those with a normal BMI at initiation had become overweight, raising their risk of additional health complications, according to a new study published in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

Biology news

	Women found to be more susceptible to contagious yawning than men (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with Università di Pisa, in Italy has found via observational study, that women are on average twice as likely to yawn after seeing someone else yawn, than are men. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science the team describes how they carried out their five year study of yawing habits in people and what they learned as a result.
	New Zealand's little penguins are recent Australian invaders The little penguin species (popularly known as little blue penguins) found in southern New Zealand is a surprisingly recent invader from Australia, according to a new study led by University of Otago researchers.
	Hummingbirds provide insight into food specialization across the Americas A new study has mapped food specialization in hummingbird communities across the Americas, leading to a rare documentation of a large scale ecological pattern. It reveals that communities with high levels of food specializations coincide with a high number of smaller-ranged species. The study provides an evolutionary insight into how and where ecological specialization might occur. The study was led by the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.
Unbiased statistical analysis of insect fossil records finds diversity unchanged over the past 125 million years Insects are astonishingly diverse, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all named animal species living today, and their diversity is widely thought to have increased steadily over evolutionary time. A new study, however, finds that insect diversity actually has not changed much over the past 125 million years.
	Ants don't get Alzheimer's It's a poignant fact of life: no matter how much we exercise, or how many wheatgrass smoothies we slurp, our bodies still age. As the years pass, skin wrinkles, eyesight falters, hearing fades. It's called senescence—the natural course of aging. All animals succumb, except a rare and lucky few: the rougheye rockfish, for instance, can live more than 200 years with negligible signs of aging; ocean quahogs more than 500 years before dying from disease, accident, or predation. Such rare, ageless animals are a scientific curiosity, perhaps holding clues to how and why we humans age. And now, scientists at Boston University have added another critter to the list of forever young: minor workers of the ant Pheidole dentata.
	Climate change makes chicks hatch early A study led by Macquarie University researchers has found that climate change is affecting how quickly bird eggs develop and hatch; meaning warmer temperatures, particularly increasing frequencies of heat waves, may spell trouble for our feathered friends.
	Fruit flies adjust their courtship song based on distance Outside of humans, the ability to adjust the intensity of acoustic signals with distance has only been identified in songbirds. Research published Feb. 3, 2016 in Neuron now demonstrates that the male fruit fly also displays this complex behavior during courtship, adjusting the amplitude of his song depending on how far away he is from a female. Studying this process in the fruit fly can help shed light on the building blocks for social interactions across the animal kingdom.
	Team discovers four new deep-sea worm species A pink flatworm-like animal known by a single species found in waters off Sweden has puzzled biologists for nearly six decades. New discoveries half a world away by a team of scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, the Western Australia Museum, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have helped properly identify these elusive creatures through genetic analysis.
	New work sheds light on the structure of the cell cycle in bacteria and budding yeast Ninth graders across the country can recite the basic stages of the cell cycle—growth, DNA replication, division—but the world's best researchers are still trying to figure out how the thing actually works.
	Scientists discover butterfly-like fossil insect in the deep Mesozoic Large butterfly-like insects known as Kalligrammatid lacewings, which fluttered through Eurasian fern- and cycad-filled woodland during the Mesozoic Era, have been extinct for more than 120 million years. But with new fossil analyses, scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History have discovered that these ancient lacewings were surprisingly similar to modern butterflies, which did not appear on Earth for another 50 million years.
	'Molecular memory' of light exposure helps plants to remember daylight during winter nights Dmitri A. Nusinow, Ph.D., assistant member at the Danforth Plant Science Center and researchers in his lab studying plants' circadian clock have discovered a gene that allows plants to remember daylight during the long nights of winter, helping them tailor their growth appropriately to the seasons. The gene, PCH1 accumulates at dusk and stabilizes light signals in the early hours of the night, keeping the plant from growing too much during extended dark periods.
	Team sheds light on a crucial moment in the evolution of life: when cells acquired mitochondria Just as physicists comprehend the origin of the universe by observing the stars and archeologists reconstruct ancient civilizations with the artifacts found today, evolutionary biologists study the diversity of modern-day species to understand the origin of life and evolution.
	Mixed signals: Study finds insect species use very different chemicals to identify queens It had been thought that all ants, wasps and other eusocial insects used a common class of chemical compounds to distinguish queens from workers and other members of their colonies or hives. But new research finds that there is significant variation in these chemical signals, even between closely related species. The work was done by scientists at North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
	Same switches program taste and smell in fruit flies A new study sheds light on how fruit flies get their keen sense of smell.
	Modern microbial ecosystems provide window to early life on Earth New research from a University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science-led science team provides new insight into one of the world's most diverse and extensive ecosystems of living microbes. The study offers a new perspective on the growth and structure of rare, microbial reefs, called stromatolites, which are a window into the emergence and evolution of life on Earth.
	Researcher's quest to understand cancer by unraveling the mysteries of cell division There comes a defining moment for many scientists that divides their lives into before, and after. Neil Ganem remembers that moment. He was a PhD candidate at Dartmouth Medical School, with vague ideas of studying "some sort of neuroscience." He thought he might pursue Parkinson's disease, which had killed his father. But then came Duane Compton's black and white movie.
	Extinction means more than a loss of species to Australia's delicate ecosystems European settlement of Australia, and the exotic predators and herbivores they brought with them, caused rapid widespread biodiversity loss. As a result, for the past 200 years Australia has had the highest mammal extinction rate in the world.
	Research collaboration discovers potential 'Achilles heel' of potato blight Scientists working in Scotland and China have uncovered a potential Achilles' heel in the organism which causes potato blight, a global problem with associated costs estimated at $6billion around the world every year.
	Breaking through insect shells at a molecular level With their chitinous shells, insects seem almost invulnerable – but like Achilles' heel in Greek mythology, their impressive armor can still be attacked. Researchers at the universities of Bonn and Leipzig studied fruit flies (Drosophila) and discovered the molecular processes that are able to break through this protective casing. The enzyme chitinase 2 and growth factor idgf6 are especially important in correctly forming the insects' shells. These findings are relevant for fighting parasites, and will be published in the professional journal Scientific Reports.
	Galician red foxes present low levels of toxic metals in their bodies In order to know the level of an area's exposure to environmental contaminants, scientists can analyse metal concentrations in the organs of animals, who become environmental bioindicators. An example of this is the first study on red foxes in Galicia, which reveals low levels of cadmium, lead and zinc in northwestern Spain.
	Will climate change make the koalas' diet inedible? The koala could soon be even more endangered than at present, if it turns out that climate change alters the nutritional value of the only food it can eat—Eucalypt leaves. Assistant Professor Elizabeth Neilson from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences from University of Copenhagen has received a $5 million grant from the Villum Young Investigator Program for the search of how the chemical structure of the leaves is disrupted.
	Orangutans: Lethal aggression between females Researchers have for the first time witnessed the death of a female orangutan at the hands of another female. Even more extraordinary is that the perpetrator recruited a male orangutan as a hired gun to help her corner and attack the victim. Before this observation, lethal fights between females had never been observed in orangutans; in other primates such fights occur mainly between males, according to Anna Marzec of the University of Zurich in Switzerland. She is the lead author of a report on the fatal incident, which appears in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
	Journal publishes doctoral candidate's findings on beetle promiscuity Elizabeth Droge-Young has long been fascinated by the mysteries and motivations behind sexual selection. But the promiscuity among females of one particular species—the red flour beetle—had her particularly stumped. These beetles would mate multiple times over the course of a day, sometimes multiple times an hour. Were they getting something more out of the mating process than the sperm they needed to reproduce? If so, what?
Parasitic ants alter how captive ants recognize nest mates Enslaved Formica worker ants are more genetically and chemically diverse and less aggressive towards non-nest mates than free-living Formica ant colonies, according to a study published February 3, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Candice W. Torres and Neil D. Tsutsui from University of California - Berkeley.
Penguin chicks huddle up for heat, protection Location and environmental conditions may influence when gentoo chicks huddle in cold, wet Antarctic conditions, according to a study published February 3, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Caitlin Black from the University of Oxford, and colleagues.
Warming ocean may bring major changes for US northeast fishery species NOAA scientists have released the first multispecies assessment of just how vulnerable U.S. marine fish and invertebrate species are to the effects of climate change. The study examined 82 species that occur off the Northeastern U.S., where ocean warming is occurring rapidly. Researchers found that most species evaluated will be affected, and that some are likely to be more resilient to changing ocean conditions than others. The study appears in PLOS ONE, an online scholarly science journal.
	DNA analysis of sandpiper feces reveals a broad diet The researchers behind a forthcoming study in The Auk: Ornithological Advances have shown that Semipalmated Sandpipers on their annual stopover in Canada's Bay of Fundy eat a far broader diet than anyone suspected—and they did it by analyzing poop.
	Jays and crows act as ecosystem engineers A forthcoming Review in The Condor: Ornithological Applications explores how oaks and pines depend on corvids, the group of birds that includes ravens, crows, and jays, to reproduce and spread—and how birds may be the key to helping these valuable trees weather the challenges of habitat fragmentation and climate change.
	How synthetic biology will solve biological mysteries and make humans safer in space The release of the hit movie The Martian highlighted the diverse engineering challenges in visiting the distant surface of another world. More recently, the historic landing of SpaceX's Falcon first stage gives hope that access to space will only become cheaper in the years to come. Yet, there are biological hurdles to spaceflight that neither of these successes address, and which increase the danger of long sorties into the desolate, hostile waters of interplanetary space.
	Climate change and pets: More fleas, more heartworm Climate change doesn't just affect habitats for wildlife. It's also affecting cats and dogs.
Video shows only known US jaguar roaming Arizona mountains The only known wild jaguar in the United States is seen roaming around a creek and other parts of a mountain range in southern Arizona in the first publicly released video of the giant cat.
	Ailing gray seal pup has been rescued off New York beach A marine animal rescue group says an ailing gray seal pup has been rescued from a beach in New York.

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