Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 21, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Thermoelectric paint enables walls to convert heat into electricity

Your brain on math: Functional coupling between neural regions during mathematical cognition

Finding your diagnosis in the brave new world of genetics-based medicine

Molecular level investigation of water's hydrogen bonding network in salt solutions

Best of Last Week—Roundest object ever found, taking aim at 'fake' news and one face men recognize better than women

New clues emerge in 30-year-old superconductor mystery

New, detailed snapshots capture photosynthesis at room temperature

Cement materials are an overlooked and substantial carbon 'sink'

Large number of dwarf galaxies discovered in the early universe

Rice farming in India much older than thought, used as 'summer crop' by Indus civilization

Why fingers make handy, if not foolproof, digital keys

Study finds key protein that binds to LDL cholesterol

Serving teens with special diets: A tricky Thanksgiving recipe

DeepMind researchers boost AI learning speed with UNREAL agent

Frontline attack against HIV infection is closer to reality

Astronomy & Space news

	Large number of dwarf galaxies discovered in the early universe A team of researchers, led by University of California, Riverside astronomers, found for the first time a large population of distant dwarf galaxies that could reveal important details about a productive period of star formation in the universe billions of years ago.
	Forming stars in the early universe The first stars appeared about one hundred million years after the big bang, and ever since then stars and star formation processes have lit up the cosmos. When the universe was about three billion years old, star formation activity peaked at rates about ten times above current levels. Why this happened, and whether the physical processes back then were different from those today or just more active (and why), are among the most pressing questions in astronomy. Since stars are made from gas, the gas content of galaxies is a measure of their star formation potential and (at least in the local universe) the fraction of matter in form of gas, the "gas fraction", is a measure of the star formation capability.
	'Fire in space' experiment kicks off aboard US cargo ship (Update) How does fire act in space? Researchers will soon find out by trying to ignite nine different materials aboard an unmanned spaceship on its way to a fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, NASA said Monday.
	Image: Hubble nets a subtle swarm This Hubble image shows NGC 4789A, a dwarf irregular galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It certainly lives up to its name—the stars that call this galaxy home are smeared out across the sky in an apparently disorderly and irregular jumble, giving NGC 4789A a far more subtle and abstract appearance than its glitzy spiral and elliptical cousins.
	If we find ET, don't talk to it, says the man who wants to find ET The question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe has been asked by people for many years.
	No wrong side of Earth for Meteor Camera Network It has just become harder for surprise meteor showers to escape our attention.
	Saturn's gravity uncovered by satellite images Scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) are part of an international team that has discovered minute fluctuations in Saturn's gravitational field using several thousand images of the planet's moons obtained by the Cassini probe.
	How bad is the radiation on Mars? Human exploration of Mars has been ramping up in the past few decades. In addition to the eight active missions on or around the Red Planet, seven more robotic landers, rovers and orbiters are scheduled to be deployed there by the end of the decade. And by the 2030s and after, several space agencies are planning to mount crewed missions to the surface as well.
Video: Chinese space greetings Astronauts on Chinese space station Tiangong-2 greet ESA and Thomas Pesquet. This video was recorded inside the Chinese space station Tiangong-2 by astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong. The duo landed safely on Earth on 18 November after spending a month orbiting Earth. A few hours before their descent, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station.
	Image: Expedition 50 crew launches to the International Space Station In this one second exposure photograph, the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft is seen launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with Expedition 50 crewmembers NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, Kazakh time (Nov 17 Eastern time).

Technology news

	Why fingers make handy, if not foolproof, digital keys It sounds like a great idea: Forget passwords, and instead lock your phone or computer with your fingerprint. It's a convenient form of security—though it's also perhaps not as safe as you'd think.
	DeepMind researchers boost AI learning speed with UNREAL agent (Tech Xplore)—At Google's DeepMind, a team has made AI inroads in speed and performance.
	Researchers develop a new way to create more clean water with less energy, thanks to clever timing With water scarcity affecting nearly 2 billion people—many of whom live near the oceans—"water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink" has become a common cry for more than just wayward sailors. Desalination through reverse osmosis (RO) has long offered one solution to help meet global water needs in the face of population growth, development, and climate change. However, removing salt from water is energy-intensive.
	MekaMon combines virtual and augmented reality with real world spider-like robots (Tech Xplore)—A new type of gaming system is being sold just in time for the holiday gift-giving season—the Reach Robotics MekaMon. It combines virtual and augmented reality with real-world robots that look like colorful four-legged mergers of crabs and spiders.
	Wal-Mart kicks off Cyber Monday on Friday Cyber Monday is starting earlier and earlier.
	NuTonomy to test self-driving cars in Boston NuTonomy, a startup that makes driverless vehicles, says it will start testing its self-driving cars on public streets in Boston by the end of the year.
	Facebook announces 500 new jobs in 'global hub' London Facebook on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with hundreds of extra jobs but hinted its success depended on skilled migration after Britain leaves the European Union.
	Lensless camera technology for adjusting video focus after image capture Hitachi today announced the development of a camera technology that can capture video images without using a lens and adjust focus after image capture by using a film imprinted with a concentric-circle pattern instead of a lens. This camera technology makes it possible to make a camera lighter and thinner since a lens is unnecessary and allow the camera to be more freely mounted in devices such as mobile devices and robots at arbitrary positions without imposing design restraints. Moreover, since it acquires depth information in addition to planar information, it is possible to reproduce an image at an arbitrary point of focus even after the image has been captured. Focus can be adjusted anytime to objects requiring attention, so Hitachi is aiming to utilize this technology in a broad range of applications such as work support, automated driving, and human-behavior analysis with mobile devices, vehicles and robots.
	Fiction books narratives down to six emotional story lines Our most beloved works of fiction hide well-trodden narratives. And most fictions is based on far fewer storylines than many have imagined. To come to this conclusion, big data scientists have worked with colleagues from natural language processing to analyse the narrative in more than 1000 works of fiction. By deconstructing some of the structure of narrative in fiction books, they have also confirmed that there are six common ways of telling a story that can be found repeatedly in popular stories. They were inspired by the work of U.S. fiction author Kurt Vonnegut, who originally proposed the similarity of emotional story  lines in a Masters's thesis rejected by the University of Chicago.
	LifeLock soaring before the opening bell on $2.3B deal Shares of LifeLock are surging before the opening bell after the identity and fraud protection services company agreed to be acquired for $2.3 billion by the security software maker Symantec.
	Africa looks to solar for communities off the grid Above the sacks of seeds and coal, three kerosene lamps gather dust in the tiny shed that Kenyan chicken farmer Bernard calls home.
	How 'right to be forgotten' puts privacy and free speech on a collision course The age of digital technology, in which we can search and retrieve more information than we could in any previous era, has triggered a debate over whether we have too much information. Is the cure to "unpublish" things we think are wrong or out of date? Ought we have a "right to be forgotten"?
	Mapping migrations by using mobile phone data Researchers from the Complex Systems Group (GSC) at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) have used mobile phone data generated by 9 million users to study the mobility of population from Senegal. Results show a clear correlation between the increase of telephone calls and the migratory flows with agricultural activities and religious holidays held in this country. The usage of this data to know the communication and migration patterns can be of great utility to detect extreme events such as natural disasters, and to provide complementary information in order to optimize the management resources of such events.
	Improved microscale energy storage units for wearable and miniaturized electronic devices Energy storage units that can be integrated into wearable and flexible electronic systems are becoming increasingly important in today's world. A research team from KAUST has now developed a microsupercapacitor that exploits three-dimensional porous electrodes1. These micropower units are expected to enable a new generation of "smart"products, such as self-powered sensors for wearables, security, structural health monitoring and "internet of things" applications.
Computer scientists work to prevent hackers from remotely controlling cars One of these has now been closed by computer scientists at the Center for IT Security and Privacy (CISPA) and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)—with the help of software that manufacturers can retrofit into any car. In order to remotely brake a car traveling at more than 100 kilometer per hour, it was enough for the American security researcher Stephen Checkoway to use the music player software installed in the car together with a smartphone connected to it. "If the software were not connected to the internal network, the so-called CAN bus, of that mid-range sedan, then Checkoway would have had to work harder," explains Stefan Nuernberger, who leads the Smart Systems Lab at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI).
	Sweden to scrap taxes on solar energy in 2017 Sweden is set to ditch taxes on its production of solar energy in 2017 in a bid to run entirely on renewable energy by 2040, the government said on Monday.
	Online harassment affects half of Americans: study Almost half of US internet users say they have been a victim of online harassment or abuse ranging from name-calling to stalking to physical threats, a survey showed Monday.
	Facebook-owned Instagram keeps pressure on Snapchat Facebook-owned Instagram ramped up the pressure on Snapchat on Monday, adding ephemeral live video broadcasts and vanishing direct messages.
	Oracle buys cyber attack target Dyn Oracle on Monday announced it is buying Dyn, a Web traffic management firm recently hit with a cyber attack that closed off the internet to millions of users.
	British prime minister to pledge investment into R&D British Prime Minister Theresa May offered business leaders a trade-off Monday, pledging more investment in science and technology while insisting that the benefits of private enterprise must be more evenly spread around the country.
Investing in the 'bioeconomy' could create jobs and reduce carbon emissions A new article looks at the potential benefits of a Billion Ton Bioeconomy, a vision to enable a sustainable market for producing and converting a billion tons of US biomass to bio-based energy, fuels, and products by 2030.
EU plans center to combat hybrid warfare in Finland Finnish officials say the European Union is planning to set up a hybrid threat center in Finland to combat a growing number of cyberattacks and hybrid warfare, including disinformation and false news sent over social media sites.

Medicine & Health news

	Your brain on math: Functional coupling between neural regions during mathematical cognition (Medical Xpress)—While human infants, nonhuman primates and birds are capable of approximating or comparing rough arithmetic quantities, post-infant humans are unique in possessing precise mathematical cognition. Historically, what is known as the Triple Code model of numeric processing has hypothesized that symbolic, verbal, and abstract processing – for example, simple visual recognition of a numeral, determining the larger of two numerals, and verbal naming of a numeral, respectively – occur in well-defined coupled brain regions, all or some of which interact. Recently, however, scientists employing electrocorticography (ECoG) electrophysiological recording – in which electrodes are placed directly on the exposed surface of the brain's cerebral cortex – not only reconfirmed math-selective hubs within the lateral parietal cortex (LPC) and ventral temporal cortex (VTC), but more significantly found what they describe as a remarkable diversity of neural responses within each region at both millimeter and millisecond scales. The researchers suggest that numerical processing involves multiple bidirectional functional loops in these, and perhaps nearby, sites – and while acknowledging that their new model does not take other brain regions into account (such as frontal lobe or subcortical structures like the thalamus or basal ganglia) that are likely to be involved in numerical cognition, it may serve as a framework for future mathematical cognition studies.
	Finding your diagnosis in the brave new world of genetics-based medicine (Medical Xpress)—We've done a number of articles recently about some amazing individuals developing personalized treatments to their own currently uncurable disease. Whether it is a rare orphan disease like Sanfilippo Syndrome and Castleman Disease, or something more common like cancer, these patients have been able to draw on their own medical expertise, or other economic and social resource to create well funded foundations and registries to marshal support for their cause.
	Study finds key protein that binds to LDL cholesterol A Yale-led research team identified a protein that plays an important role in the buildup of LDL cholesterol in blood vessels. The finding could lead to an additional strategy to block LDL accumulation, which could help prevent or slow the clogging of arteries that leads to heart disease, the researchers said.
	Serving teens with special diets: A tricky Thanksgiving recipe Planning a holiday meal can be hectic, and some families will be managing an extra stressor: accommodating the dietary restrictions of teens on gluten-free, vegan or other special diets.
	Frontline attack against HIV infection is closer to reality Adelaide researchers have made significant progress in the development of a potential vaccine to protect against HIV infection.
	Anatomical and molecular analyses used to reevaluate the assignment of neurons in the sacral autonomic nervous system (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure in France and University College London has used both anatomical and molecular analyses of neurons in the sacral autonomic nervous system to show that such neurons need to be reassigned from the parasympathetic to the sympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system. In their paper published in the journal Science, the researchers describe their analysis of a type of neuron found in the pelvis and why they believe it should be reclassified. Igor Adameyko with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden offers a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue and further describes a type of biomedical device called a neural dust implant that is being used in electroceutical treatment of damaged nerves.
	Scientists successfully create blood from skin cells Researchers in Singapore have artificially generated new mouse blood and immune cells from skin cells. This is a significant first step towards the eventual goal: the engineering of new human blood cells from skin cells or other artificial sources.
	Research examines impact of foreign language on risk perception, moral judgment Researchers are only beginning to understand how a foreign language affects decision-making, with early findings coming in areas such as moral judgment and risk assessment.
	Turning back the aging clock Researchers from Caltech and UCLA have developed a new approach to removing cellular damage that accumulates with age. The technique can potentially help slow or reverse an important cause of aging.
New study reveals titin gene mutations affect heart function in healthy individuals A new multinational study by researchers from Singapore, the UK and Germany has discovered that gene mutations in a protein called titin affect the heart function in healthy individuals. It was previously thought that the mutations affect only patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, one of the most common forms of inherited heart disease.
	Reconditioning the brain to overcome fear Researchers have discovered a way to remove specific fears from the brain, using a combination of artificial intelligence and brain scanning technology. Their technique, published in the inaugural edition of Nature Human Behaviour, could lead to a new way of treating patients with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias.
Blood test could predict best treatment for lung cancer A blood test could predict how well small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients will respond to treatment, according to new research published in Nature Medicine today (Monday).
	Scientists tissue engineer human intestines and functioning nerves Scientists report in Nature Medicine using human pluripotent stem cells to grow human intestinal tissues that have functioning nerves in a laboratory, and then using these to recreate and study a severe intestinal nerve disorder called Hirschsprung's disease.
	Our brains have a basic algorithm that enables our intelligence, scientists say Our brains have a basic algorithm that enables us to not just recognize a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but the intelligence to ponder the broader implications of a bountiful harvest as well as good family and friends.
	The promise of precision medicine for rheumatoid arthritis In a new study, a Yale-led research team identified the mechanism of a gene that raises the risk of severe rheumatoid arthritis in susceptible individuals. The finding may lead to the development of treatment based on the genetic profiles of arthritis patients, the researchers said.
	New treatment for allergic response targets mast cells Researchers from North Carolina State University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a method that stops allergic reactions by removing a key receptor from mast cells and basophils. Their work has implications for the treatment of skin allergies and asthma.
	Insight into the brain's control of hunger and satiety Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) researchers have identified previously unknown neural circuitry that plays a role in promoting satiety, the feeling of having had enough to eat. The discovery revises the current models for homeostatic control—the mechanisms by which the brain maintains the body's status quo—of feeding behavior. Published online today in Nature Neuroscience, the findings offer new insight into the regulation of hunger and satiety and could help researchers find solutions to the ongoing obesity epidemic.
	Immune receptors amplify 'invader' signals by turning into mini-machines When a receptor on the surface of a T cell—a sentry of the human immune system—senses a single particle from a harmful intruder, it immediately kicks the cell into action, launching a larger immune response. But exactly how the signal from a single receptor, among thousands on each T cell, can be amplified to affect a whole cell has puzzled immunologists for decades.
	Schools remain a potential hotspot for measles transmission, even in the vaccine era Measles, one of the world's most contagious diseases, can spread more quickly in schools than previously thought, according to Princeton University-led research. The researchers report in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the only sure method of controlling measles among schoolchildren is to maintain very high vaccination rates.
	Common probiotics can reduce stress levels, lessen anxiety Probiotics, or beneficial live bacteria that are introduced into the body, have become increasingly popular as a way to improve health and well-being. Previous studies have shown a direct correlation between gut microbes and the central nervous system. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri, using a zebrafish model, determined that a common probiotic sold in supplements and yogurt can decrease stress-related behavior and anxiety. Studying how gut bacteria affect behavior in zebrafish could lead to a better understanding of how probiotics may affect the central nervous system in humans. Their results recently were published in Scientific Reports.
	Study reveals genetic explanation for cancer's higher incidence in males than females In a new study, a group of Boston scientists, including researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, offer a genetic explanation for the age-old conundrum of why cancer is more common in males than females.
Cancer in children adversely affects parents' income and employment Having a child with cancer led to income reductions for parents and job discontinuation among mothers in a recent study, even after adjusting for pre-diagnosis sociodemographic factors. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings indicate that childhood cancer affects parents' income and employment for years after the child's diagnosis, and that these effects are not equally distributed among mothers and fathers.
What impact do medication errors have on nursing home residents? A new analysis points to surprisingly low rates of serious impacts from medication errors affecting nursing home residents, despite the fact that these errors remain fairly common. The investigators noted that it's unclear whether medication errors resulting in serious outcomes are truly infrequent or are under-reported due to the difficulty in ascertaining them. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	One in four vacations includes a trip to the ER: survey If you've ever had to seek medical attention for an illness or an injury during a vacation, you're not alone. A new national survey by Orlando Health finds one in four vacations includes a trip to the ER and doctors say many patients are simply not prepared for the situation.
Montenegro's shunned donkey's milk new health trend Machines long ago usurped a donkey's traditional role as the farmer's beast of burden, but the animals are winning new fans in Montenegro—thanks to their luxury milk.
Neuropeptide may aid targeted anxiety therapy The targeted control of biochemical processes and neuronal signalling pathways using the messenger substance neuropeptide Y could help in the future treatment of anxiety disorders. This is demonstrated in research findings by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, which were recently published in the scientific journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
	Study finds yoga is relatively safe, but know your limits Participating in yoga is relatively safe, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who conducted the first large-scale examination of yoga-related injuries. Their conclusions? Injuries are more common in older participants, and having a qualified instructor is important.
	New magnetic tool enables fewer incisions in gallbladder surgery By attaching a magnetic clip to the gallbladder and using another magnet to manipulate it from outside the body, surgeons can reduce the number of incisions needed to remove the organ.
Among antidementia drugs, memantine is associated with the highest risk of pneumonia A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that among users of antidementia drugs, persons using memantine have the highest risk of pneumonia. The use of rivastigmine patches is associated with an increased risk as well.
	Tips for safe holiday meal preparation With the holidays approaching, you want the turkey and stuffing – or whatever you're preparing – to be safe to eat, and consume again as leftovers. To help you, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences food expert gives tips to make your culinary delights safe.
	Opinion: Why woman-bashing is a serious health threat Polls indicate that one demographic slice instrumental in electing Donald Trump was white women. Indeed, 53 percent of white women cast their votes in his direction.
	Obesity in adolescence may cause permanent bone loss Teenagers who are obese may be doing irreparable damage to their bones, according to a new study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	Researchers generate 3-D virtual reality models of unborn babies Parents may soon be able to watch their unborn babies grow in realistic 3-D immersive visualizations, thanks to new technology that transforms MRI and ultrasound data into a 3-D virtual reality model of a fetus, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	Musical training creates new brain connections in children Taking music lessons increases brain fiber connections in children and may be useful in treating autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to a study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	Early childhood household smoke exposure predicts later delinquency and dropout risk at age 12 Results of a new study led by Professor Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal's School of Psycho-Education show that the more children are exposed to household tobacco smoke in early childhood, the greater their risk of adopting antisocial behavior toward others, engaging in proactive and reactive aggression, having conduct problems at school, and dropping out at age 12.
	A new system to detect spinal deformity Hokkaido University researchers have developed a symmetry-recognition system for the surface of the human back that can three-dimensionally detect the early stages of idiopathic scoliosis, a type of spinal deformity, without the help of a specialist doctor.
Elder caregiving a growing burden to women in mid-career Women's long-term participation in the workforce faces a threat from the growing need for elder care.
	Gene testing first for warfarin patients in North West Health staff in Merseyside and Cheshire are using gene testing to prescribe individualised dosages of a commonly used, lifesaving drug.
	Does where you live affect what you weigh? Adult obesity rates in the United States have reached epidemic proportions, with one in four people considered obese. Yet, obesity rates vary considerably across states and counties.
	New model for studying Alzheimer's disease The vast majority of Alzheimer's disease cases are not directly inherited but linked to environmental and genetic factors. Yet most models used for studying Alzheimer's in animals mimic the inherited form of the disease.
Do people lie about their music tastes on "Desert Island Discs?" If you've ever been asked what your favourite music is, you may have struggled to come up with a satisfying answer. On some level, we all know that the answer says a lot about who you are as a person.
	New drug therapy targeting chronic kidney disease A new drug therapy based on technology developed by Western Australian research could potentially control protein leakage from the kidneys.
	Flavors influence appeal and use of most tobacco products, especially for youth Tobacco products like cigarettes and e-cigarettes are more appealing and are considered less harmful, especially to younger people, when they come in flavors like cherry, coffee or candy floss, researchers from the University of North Carolina Lineberger comprehensive Cancer Center found in a comprehensive research review.
Patient care and safety are priorities for surgery residents who work flexible schedules U.S. general surgery residents are selectively making the choice to work additional hours when needed to manage critical stages in patient care, according to results from a national survey conducted as part of the Flexibility in Duty Hour Requirements for Surgical Trainees (FIRST) Trial. The trial, the first-ever national multicenter randomized study of resident duty (work) hour policies, began with the 2015-2016 academic year.
	Study compares immune response of 2 vs. 3 doses of HPV vaccine In a study published online by JAMA, Ole-Erik Iversen, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Bergen, Norway, and colleagues examined whether human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific antibody responses would be noninferior (not worse than) among girls and boys ages 9 to 14 years after receiving 2 doses of the 9-valent HPV vaccine compared with adolescent girls and young women ages 16 to 26 years who received the standard 3 doses.
	Using light to map the circuitry of the brain Scientific progress has provided a solid understanding of the anatomy of the brain. However, there is still no reliable way to examine neuron to neuron communication, as it happens—a key to understanding the correlation between brain structure and brain function.
	Gut bacteria affect our metabolism Mice that receive gut bacteria transplants from overweight humans are known to gain more weight than mice transplanted with gut bacteria from normal weight subjects, even when the mice are fed the same diet. A study from the National Food Institute confirms this finding while seeking new perspectives on the reasons behind this link.
	What more boy births could reveal about South Africa's health status There are several ways to find out whether a population's health is improving or if people in a particular country, city or region are getting sicker. These measures are known as sentinel health events or indicators.
	The science of savoring every bite Before you gobble down that Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie, take a moment to maximize your enjoyment.
	More insight into Crohn's disease Researchers Robiël Naziroglu and Frans Vos have developed a method for improving the assessment of MRI images in cases of Crohn's disease. In time, this may well enable more targeted monitoring and treatment of this chronic intestinal inflammation. Naziroglu will take his doctorate on this subject at TU Delft on Monday 21 November.
	Men are more likely to ignore eye health symptoms and miss early medical attention until disease is significant Men are 16 percent more likely to present with advanced vision loss at eye clinics compared to women, according to researchers at City, University of London.
New research links genetic defects in carbohydrate digestion to irritable bowel syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects a large portion of the general population. New research coordinated by Karolinska Institutet now shows a link between defective sucrase-isomaltase gene variants and IBS.
	Alzheimer's disease proteins could be at fault for leading cause of vision loss among older people Research from the University of Southampton gives new insight into possible causes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss among people aged 50 and older.
	Family ties: Immune response size controlled by cell 'inheritance' Australian and Irish researchers have gained previously unachievable insights into how the size of our immune response is controlled, by developing new imaging and computational biology approaches to follow the behaviour of hundreds of cells.The research team discovered that in response to an infection, immune T cells develop in 'families' that are programmed to divide and die at different times after the infection is detected. This new understanding of how the immune response is controlled may underpin future improvements in vaccination or the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
	El Nino conditions in the Pacific precedes dengue fever epidemics in South Asia Researchers have found a strong association between El Niño-Southern Oscillation conditions in the Pacific to observed weather and dengue epidemics in Sri Lanka. According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, el Niño activity—measured in sea surface temperature in the pacific—impacts rainfall and temperatures in Sri Lanka and thus contributes to exacerbated dengue epidemics six months later.
'Minimal' shoes may reduce running injuries Runners who wear trainers with no cushioning and land on the ball of their foot rather than the heel put significantly less demand on their bodies, new research suggests.
Reason for pancreatic cancer's resistance to chemotherapy found A pioneering University of Liverpool research team have published a study that identifies the mechanism in the human body that causes resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy.
	Protein packaging may cause the immune attacks of type 1 diabetes Type-1 diabetes occurs when immune cells attack the pancreas. EPFL scientists have now discovered what may trigger this attack, opening new directions for treatments.
HIV treatment soars, but young African women suffer: UN The number of HIV-infected people taking anti-retroviral medicine has doubled in just five years, the UN said Monday, while highlighting high infection rates among young African women.
Study finds tailored post-hospital visits lower risk of readmission for Medicare Advantage patients Medicare Advantage patients who had tailored post-hospital visits with primary care clinicians, known as POSH visits, were less likely to experience hospital readmission than those who did not have an outpatient visit, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Schools environment associated with asthma symptoms Do air-borne allergens in schools affect students' asthma symptoms?
Antihypertensive medications and fracture risk: Is there an association? Further examination of randomized clinical trial data suggests that thiazide diuretics to treat hypertension may be associated with lower risk of hip and pelvic fractures compared with some other antihypertensive medications, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Dementia on the downslide, especially among people with more education In a hopeful sign for the health of the nation's brains, the percentage of American seniors with dementia is dropping, a new study finds.
	Risk of hemorrhage with statins and stroke prevention drug combination Two commonly prescribed statins appear to be associated with a higher risk of bleeding than others when combined with dabigatran, a drug often used for preventing strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to a study published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
	Sexism may be harmful to men's mental health Men who see themselves as playboys or as having power over women are more likely to have psychological problems than men who conform less to traditionally masculine norms, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
ATOMS device effectively treats male incontinence with high patient satisfaction In the largest study yet to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of the adjustable transobturator male system (ATOMS) to treat incontinence in men following invasive prostate treatment, the overall success and dry rates were 90% and 64%, respectively, after a median of 31 months.
Most women unaware of breast density's effect on cancer risk, study finds Most women don't know that having dense breasts increases their risk for breast cancer and reduces a mammogram's ability to detect cancer, according to a University of Virginia School of Medicine study.
Adding higher frequencies helps detect adolescent hearing loss Adding higher frequencies to the American Academy of Pediatrics hearing test protocol helps detect adolescent hearing loss, according to a team of pediatricians and audiologists.
New sensor system predicts heart failure events before they occur A suite of sensors can predict heart failure events by detecting when a patient's condition is worsening, according to John Boehmer, professor of medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, who presented the findings at the recent American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans.
	U.S. hospitals halve catheter infection rates: review (HealthDay)—U.S. hospitals have cut in half the number of potentially deadly bloodstream infections linked to so-called central-line catheters since 2008. But, too many critically ill patients are still exposed to dangerous bacteria, a new review from Consumer Reports contends.
	TV snack ads make preschoolers snack more: study (HealthDay)—Preschoolers who watched "Sesame Street" interrupted by TV ads for a salty snack food ended up eating more of that food soon after, a new study found.
	Teen 'choking game' played solo points to suicide risks (HealthDay)—About 4 percent of U.S. teens surveyed admit to trying the "choking game"—a potentially deadly game of temporary strangulation.
New study on the impostor phenomenon in the workplace shows how it affects career prospects and productivity Have you ever felt that you are not good enough and that someday soon someone will see through your façade of competence and expose you a fraud in your job? If so, you are not alone.
	Olfactory perception influenced by background and semantic information When two people smell the same thing, they can have remarkably different reactions, depending on their cultural background. Researchers at the Neuro have found that even when two cultures share the same language and many traditions, their reactions to the same smells can be different.
	New topical immunotherapy effective against early skin cancer A combination of two topical drugs that have been in use for years triggers a robust immune response against precancerous skin lesions, according to a new study. The research, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Harvard Medical School, shows that the therapy activates the immune system's T cells, which then attack the abnormal skin cells.
Targeted therapy drugs could radically increase the costs of leukemia treatment Adoption of novel oral targeted therapies for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) could raise the treatment costs for the blood-system cancer in the U.S. by almost 600 percent. In their analysis in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-led research team demonstrates how, at current prices, new targeted therapies for CLL - the most common form of leukemia in the western world - could financially burden patients and payers.
	Prevalence of Ph-like ALL in adults underscores need for genetic testing, clinical trials A high-risk subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) first identified in children is highly prevalent in adults with ALL and is associated with a poor outcome, according to an international collaboration led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The findings, published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, suggest that affected patients may benefit from treatment with available medications.
Study finds occupational therapy unable to delay Alzheimer's patients' functional decline In the first study to investigate whether two years of in-home occupational therapy might help those with Alzheimer's disease delay the loss of their physical function, researchers from the Indiana Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute have found that occupational therapy tailored to the individual patient's needs did not delay the loss of everyday functions such as walking, eating, bathing and toileting.
Protein that protects during stress sheds light on how diabetes drug prevents tumors Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a previously unknown mechanism that helps fortify the structure and tight junctions between epithelial cells—a basic cell type that lines various body cavities and organs throughout the body, forming a protective barrier against toxins, pathogens and inflammatory triggers. Breaches of this barrier can provoke organ dysfunction and development of tumors.
	Regular walking regimen can improve heart health Heart disease, the leading cause of death in America, can be combatted by implementing a simple walking regimen. Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York found that moderately intensive walking improves cardiovascular risk factors in the short term.
Expression of specific gene differentiates moles from melanoma Most melanomas are driven by mutations that spur out-of-control cell replication, while nevi (moles composed of non-cancerous cells at the skin surface) harboring the same mutations do not grow wildly. However, changes in the level of gene expression can cause nevi to become melanomas. Dermatologists surmise that 30 to 40 percent of melanomas (approximately 30,000 cases per year) may arise in association with a nevus. However, clinicians would like to be able to better distinguish between the two, especially in borderline cases when they examine skin tissue after a patient biopsy.
New study finds chronic wound patients who never receive opioids heal faster Patients with chronic wounds who never receive opioids heal faster than those who do receive the drugs, according to a new study by George Washington University (GW) researcher Victoria Shanmugam, M.D.
	Plant compounds may boost brain function in older adults, study says The same compounds that give plants and vegetables their vibrant colors might be able to bolster brain functioning in older adults, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia. The research from the department of psychology is the first to use fMRI technology to investigate how levels of those compounds affect brain activity and showed that study participants with lower levels had to rely on more brain power to complete memory-oriented tasks.
Drug and alcohol addiction treatment results improved when teens stopped smoking A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researcher has found that addiction treatment results improved when teens in a residential program stopped smoking. The findings are published in a new study in the November issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. They hold important implications for success in treating addiction since up to three out of four people with such disorders are smokers, a significantly higher proportion than the overall national smoking rate of one out of every four Americans.
	Opioids, NSAIDs no different overall for persistent pain after vehicle crashes Persistent pain is common among the nearly 4 million Americans who arrive each year at hospital emergency departments (EDs) after car crashes. A new study in the journal Pain that compared the two most common pain-relief drugs—NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and opioids such as oxycodone—found that the risk of reporting persistent pain six weeks after a crash was not statistically different among patients prescribed either medication at the ED.
	Cellular starvation kills treatment-resistant breast cancer Cancer rewires the metabolism of tumor cells, converting them into lean, mean, replicating machines. But like Olympic athletes who rely on special diets to perform, tumor cells' amped-up metabolism can also make them dependent on specific nutrients for survival.
Research reveals insight into how lung cancer spreads A cellular component known as the Golgi apparatus may play a role in how lung cancer metastasizes, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center whose findings were reported in the Nov. 21 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
African-American, white and Latino children have different food allergen profiles Allergy and immunology experts at Rush University Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have conducted the first study designed to assess and characterize the racial and ethnic difference in food allergies among children in the U.S.
Genetic differences in amino acid metabolism are linked to a higher risk of diabetes A study published today in the journal PLOS Medicine has identified the five genetic variants associated with higher levels of the branched-chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine and valine. The researchers also found that these genetic variants were associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
	Troubled preschoolers not getting effective treatment: report (HealthDay)—Most preschoolers with mood, behavior and social disorders would benefit from non-drug therapies, but few receive this type of help, a leading group of U.S. pediatricians reports.
	Metabolic benefit same with similar weight loss after surgery (HealthDay)—Early metabolic differences following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disappear when weight loss reaches 20 percent, regardless of surgery type, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in Diabetes Care.
	Treatment guidelines updated for patients with rosacea (HealthDay)—For patients with rosacea, phenotype-based treatments should be given for presenting signs and symptoms, according to updated treatment guidelines published online Nov. 12 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Lean Six Sigma methodology can cut cesarean rate (HealthDay)—Use of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology is effective for reducing the cesarean section rate, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
	Small increase in hematocrit with implantable testosterone (HealthDay)—Men treated with implantable testosterone pellets have a statistically significant increase in mean hematocrit, but it is unlikely to be clinically relevant, according to research published in the December issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Local anesthetic as safe as general anesthetic for TAVR (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), local anesthetic (LA) is as safe as general anesthetic (GA), with shorter procedure time and number of days in the hospital, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Economic burden of binge-eating disorder quantified (HealthDay)—Individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED) have significantly greater economic burden compared to those without BED, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
	ASN: Severe acute kidney injury ups risk of 28-day mortality (HealthDay)—Acute kidney injury is associated with increased risk of 28-day mortality among critically ill children and young adults, according to a study published online Nov. 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (Kidney Week), held from Nov. 15 to 20 in Chicago.
Novartis acquires US pharma research firm Selexys Pharmaceuticals Swiss-based pharmaceuticals giant Novartis said Monday it was acquiring Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corp., a US research lab in blood and inflammatory disorders, in a deal costing up to $665 million (627 million euros).
	Lawyers take Chinese organ-harvesting claims to Australia Two Canadian lawyers came to Australia's Parliament House on Monday to urge lawmakers to pass a motion calling on China to immediately end the practice of what they say is organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.
Australian man bitten by venomous snake twice in 3 days A man working to clear trees and shrubs in the Australian Outback was bitten by venomous snakes twice in three days.
Scientists publish seminal paper and announce project to develop biomarkers of aging Today the Biogerontology Research Foundation announced the international collaboration on signaling pathway perturbation-based transcriptomic biomarkers of aging. On November 16th scientists at the Biogerontology Research Foundation alongside collaborators from Insilico Medicine, Inc, the Johns Hopkins University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Boston University, Novartis, Nestle and BioTime Inc. announced the publication of their proof of concept experiment demonstrating the utility of a novel approach for analyzing transcriptomic, metabolomic and signalomic data sets, titled iPANDA, in Nature Communications.
Sabra recalls hummus amid listeria contamination fears Some varieties of Sabra hummus are being recalled amid concerns over possible listeria contamination.
A(H5N8) risk to humans is very low Eight European countries have reported highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) viruses in wild birds, zoo birds and poultry holdings. This is the second time this virus has been introduced into Europe via the autumn migration of wild birds although A(H5N8) has been circulating continuously in Asia since 2010. Full genome sequencing of recent HPAI A(H5N8) viruses suggest that these viruses remain essentially bird viruses without any specific increased risk for humans. No human infections with this virus have ever been reported world-wide. ECDC's updated rapid risk assessment concludes that the risk of transmission to the general public in Europe is considered to be very low.
Vitamin D supplements may benefit children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Vitamin D supplementation improved symptoms of autism in a recent trial.
Greater efforts are needed to encourage patients to report adverse drug reactions In a review of published studies addressing patients' perceptions and factors influencing their reporting of adverse drug reactions, most patients were not aware of reporting systems and others were confused about reporting.
Exercise may not provide benefit over physical therapy after knee replacement In a randomized trial of patients who underwent total knee replacement as a treatment for osteoarthritis, a group program of strengthening and aerobic exercises was not better at alleviating long-term knee pain or overcoming activity limitations compared with usual care, which included physical therapy.
Fat-free mass index predicts survival in patients with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Researchers have found that fat-free mass index, but not body mass index, was a significant predictor of survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a debilitating form of pneumonia. Unlike body mass index, fat-free mass index takes into account the amount of muscle mass a person is carrying.
Sooner on your feet after hip fracture An already available drug can help patients get back on their feet more rapidly after a hip fracture, according to an international study published in the Journal of Bone Joint Surgery. The results suggest that treatment with the drug accelerates the healing process in broken bones.
Study uncovers high prevalence of military sexual trauma among transgender veterans New research found a high prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST) among transgender veterans and an association between the experience of MST and certain mental health conditions.
Diet and exercise can improve kidney function in patients with fatty liver disease Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a potentially serious liver condition characterized by excess fat in the liver associated with inflammation and scarring. NASH may progress to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, and it can also compromise kidney function.
NFL player health: The role of club doctors How can we ensure that National Football League players receive excellent health care they can trust from providers who are as free from conflicts of interest as realistically possible? The lead article in a new Hastings Center Report special report concludes that conflicts of interest are inherent to the structure of the relationship between players and club doctors and that these conflicts pose a threat to players' health. The article proposes structural changes to reduce these problems.
Diabetes drug metformin corrects mitochondrial metabolism in familial cancer disorder Individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome are at an increased risk for a number of cancers, including breast and bone cancer. Li-Fraumeni syndrome is an inherited cancer disorder caused by mutations in the tumor suppressing protein p53, which are also linked to increases mitochondrial metabolism. It is not clear whether targeting these metabolic changes can effectively reduce the risk of cancer associated with p53 mutations.

Biology news

	Only half of a chromosome is DNA, study finds DNA makes up only half of the material inside chromosomes – far less than was previously thought – a study has revealed.
	Living fossil genome unveiled Published today in the open-access journal GigaScience, is an article that presents the genome sequence of Ginkgo biloba, the oldest extant tree species. The research was carried out by a team of scientists at BGI, Zheijiang University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who tackled and analyzed an exceptionally large genome, totalling more than 10 billion DNA "letters". Ginkgo is considered a "living fossil", meaning its form and structure have changed very little in the 270 million years since it first came into existence. Given its longevity as a species and unique position in the evolutionary tree of life, the ginkgo genome will provide an extensive resource for studies concerning plant defenses against insects and pathogens, and research investigating early events in tree evolution and in evolution overall.
	Study finds chimps perform grooming behavior the same way their mothers did Think of all the things your mom taught you - sit up straight, close your mouth when you chew your food, remember to say please and thank you...the list goes on.
	Structure of human astrovirus could lead to antiviral therapies, vaccines Human astroviruses infect nearly everyone during childhood, causing diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. For most people, it's not a serious disease, but structural biologist Rebecca DuBois saw how devastating it can be when she worked at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
	History of cells told through MEMOIR Researchers have developed a new method for reading the history and "family trees" of cells. Called MEMOIR, or Memory by Engineered Mutagenesis with Optical In situ Readout, the technique can record the life history of animal cells—their relationships with other cells, communication patterns, and the influential events that have shaped them.
	Fiji ants farm plants, study shows Ants found in the Pacific islands of Fiji behave as miniature farmers, carefully sowing and fertilising the seeds of at least six types of plant, a study said Monday.
Rockfish siblings shed new light on how offspring diffuse and disperse A splitnose rockfish's thousands of tiny offspring can stick together in sibling groups from the time they are released into the open ocean until they move to shallower water, research from Oregon State University shows.
	Scientists sequence, explore the genome of the river blindness parasite Scientists have sequenced the genome of the parasitic worm responsible for causing onchocerciasis—an eye and skin infection more commonly known as river blindness. Through their work, researchers have gained insight into the workings of the parasite and identified proteins that potentially could be targeted with existing drugs or provide areas for developing new treatments and a preventive vaccine. The research, which is described in a pair of papers published this week in Nature Microbiology, was conducted in part by scientists employed or supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
	Ottawa confirmed as the biodiversity hotspot for a subfamily of wasps in North America What usually comes to mind when speaking about biodiversity hotspots are tropical regions, pristine areas and magnificent forests. Meanwhile, it is quite rare that a city in a temperate zone is considered significant in terms of biodiversity, much less mentioned as a hotspot. Yet, the city of Ottawa together with its surroundings, despite having population surpassing 1 million people, is now confirmed to be the locality in North America with the most recorded species of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae, a group of parasitic insects that attack caterpillars and play an important role in the natural biocontrol of agriculture and forestry pests.
	Barley dormancy mutation suggests beer motivated early farmers Okayama University have identified the gene mutation and the enzyme it encodes to determine whether the dormancy of barley is long (better for food crops) or short (better for beer-making).
	Molecular 'sands of time' identified for fruitfly development Okayama University have identified genes and processes responsible for pupation timing in the development of fruit fly larvae into adult insects.
	Mate-guarding behaviour favours a familiar face Okayama University researchers confirm the role of mate-guarding in males for blocking the female's visual familiarity with rival males to improve mating success in a medaka fish model.
	Geneticists on cutting edge of effort to save ash trees When Kim Steiner created an ash plantation on the edge of Penn State's University Park campus in 1978, few Americans thought about "climate change," no one had heard of the emerald ash borer, and the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series, swinging primarily bats made from ash.
	Study examines effectiveness of conservation investments and programs Are conservation investments and programs achieving their intended goals on U.S. rangelands? A recently published paper in Ecological Applications determined the answer is no, and outlined ways to improve their effectiveness and outcomes.
	Vaccines hitch genomic ride to ward off deadly chicken disease A new study from University of California, Davis, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes how vaccines work against a deadly virus in chickens, and could offer a model for related human diseases such as chickenpox.
Mechanism of protective protein identified in fight against harmful bacteria Research from the University of Southampton, in collaboration with colleagues at A*STAR in Singapore, has provided new understanding of a protein which plays an important role in protecting bacterial cells associated with harmful infections.
	Scientist strengthens tools to track animal, ecosystem responses to environmental changes By charting the slopes and crags on animals' teeth as if they were mountain ranges, scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History have created a powerful new way to learn about the diets of extinct animals from the fossil record.
	Foreign beetle species recorded for the first time in Canada thanks to citizen science With social networks abound, it is no wonder that there is an online space where almost anyone can upload a photo and report a sighting of an insect. Identified or not, such public records can turn out to be especially useful—as in the case of an Old World beetle species—which appears to have recently entered Canada, and was recently discovered with the help of the BugGuide online portal and its large citizen scientist community.
Camera-trap project captures hundreds of thousands of Michigan wildlife selfies University of Michigan wildlife ecologist Nyeema Harris and graduate student Corbin Kuntze are deep in the woods in the southeast corner of the U-M Biological Station, a 10,000-acre property at the northern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
	Quota to protect Mediterranean swordfish: EU, NGO A conservation body grouping 50 fishing and shipping nations, approved a quota to protect the overharvested Mediterranean swordfish, the European Union and activist group Oceana announced Monday.
	A new species of quillwort named for the US state of Mississippi Stunningly underwhelming, species of the genus Isoetes, commonly known as quillworts, bear amazing similarity to grass plants with which they are often confused. The US state of Mississippi has now given its name to a new species of the enigmatic quillwort group. The study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.
	Efforts are needed to protect native species from feral cats Feral cats are among the most damaging invasive species worldwide, particularly in Australia where they have caused the extinction of more than 20 mammal species. New work has developed priorities for feral cat research and management, including preventing further extinctions, testing new management tools, and increasing potential for native fauna to coexist with cats.
	Kenya uses new technology to nab poachers at night: WWF Twenty-six poachers have been caught at night after a new thermal and infrared camera and software system was introduced in Kenya's famed Maasai Mara and its other national parks, WWF said on Monday.
	Humpback whale in cleaner Hudson River may be chasing a meal A humpback whale that has cavorted in the Hudson River for nearly a week, with sightings reported from the Statue of Liberty to well north of the George Washington Bridge about 20 miles away, may be after a meal.

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