Science X Newsletter Friday, Jan 12

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 12, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Accelerating light beams in curved space

Nanostructure boosts stability of organic thin-film transistors

New exotic phenomena seen in photonic crystals

Study reveals what sleep talkers have to say

New nanotweezers able to move sub-micrometer size objects in fluids

Nature article turns theory of stellar evolution upside-down

Surprising discovery could lead to better batteries

Fast-moving electrons create current in organic solar cells

California's water saving brings bonus effects

Anxiety: An early indicator of Alzheimer's disease?

Jet stream changes since 1960s linked to more extreme weather

An innovative PET tracer can measure damage from multiple sclerosis in mouse models

Finnish firm detects new Intel security flaw

Misty Robotics seeds bright future for home, office robots

Fast food makes the immune system more aggressive in the long term

Astronomy & Space news

	Nature article turns theory of stellar evolution upside-down This week, Nature published an article that could challenge the theory of stellar evolution.
	Black hole spin cranks-up radio volume Statistical analysis of supermassive black holes suggests that the spin of the black hole may play a role in the generation of powerful high-speed jets blasting radio waves and other radiation across the universe.
India launches rocket carrying dozens of satellites India launched a rocket carrying dozens of satellites from India and six other countries Friday from its island space center.
	GeoCarb—a new view of carbon over the Americas A new NASA Earth science mission in the early stages of design may achieve a transformational advance in our understanding of the global carbon cycle by mapping concentrations of key carbon gases from a new vantage point: geostationary orbit. Satellites in geostationary orbit travel at the same speed as Earth's rotation, allowing them to remain over the same place on Earth's surface at all times.
	Is the cosmic colossus RCS2J2327 heavier than allowed? An international team of scientists led by researchers from the Argelander Institute for Astronomy has mapped the mass distribution in a distant galaxy cluster (RCS2J2327). This cosmic colossus is located in the constellation Pisces at a distance of approximately 6.4 billion light years. According to current research results it consists of about 85 percent invisible dark matter.
	Augmented reality 'sandbox' shows how gravity works At the University of Iowa, you can see how gravity works by playing in the sand.
	Virgin Galactic conducts 7th glide test of spacecraft Virgin Galactic says the latest glide test of its space tourism rocket plane was a success, nearly reaching the speed of sound high over California.

Technology news

	Surprising discovery could lead to better batteries A collaboration led by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory has observed an unexpected phenomenon in lithium-ion batteries—the most common type of battery used to power cell phones and electric cars. As a model battery generated electric current, the scientists witnessed the concentration of lithium inside individual nanoparticles reverse at a certain point, instead of constantly increasing. This discovery, which was published on January 12 in the journal Science Advances, is a major step toward improving the battery life of consumer electronics.
	Finnish firm detects new Intel security flaw A new security flaw has been found in Intel hardware which could enable hackers to access corporate laptops remotely, Finnish cybersecurity specialist F-Secure said on Friday.
	Misty Robotics seeds bright future for home, office robots What's in a dev kit coming in February? A whole lot of potential for those inclined to run the gamut of their imagination, in working to develop home robots. And by "those inclined" we do not mean roboticists per se. The Dev kit's creators, Boulder, Colorado-based Misty Robotics, would say Oh No.
	GM seeks US approval for car with no steering wheel General Motors is seeking approval from US regulators for an autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, the automaker announced Friday.
	With headbands, sensor socks, wearable tech seeks medical inroads Want to manage your stress? A "neurofeedback" headband could help. Need to be sure your elderly father is taking his medication? Attach a sensor to his sock.
Comcast, IBM back blockchain fund Comcast Corp.'s venture capital arm and IBM Corp. have agreed to finance MState, a fund that invests in early-stage firms looking to sell blockchain-based services to big corporations.
	Facebook edits feeds to bring less news, more sharing Facebook is changing what its users will see to highlight posts they are most likely to engage with and make time spent on social media more "meaningful."
Beyond the car: how tech firms are exploring the future of transport Carless commuting is cruising in the fast lane at the Consumer Electronics Show, with companies showing off electric bicycles, scooters, skateboards and more aimed at making the internal combustion engine a thing of the past.
	Gadgets for kids still big at tech show despite concerns The children's section at the giant Consumer Electronics Show this week touted "innovations that enable 21st century kids to learn and play smarter than ever.​"
	Facebook is making a big change to your news feed Facebook is radically altering the formula that determines what bubbles to the top of people's news feed, part of sweeping changes the giant social network has planned to address growing controversy over the role it plays in people's lives and in society.
	What sort of stream networks do scientific ideas flow along? "Panta rhei, everything flows." If Heraclitus of Ephesus was correct, ideas, like rivers, should flow. Tracking the flow of ordinary ideas can be difficult. In the case of scientific ideas, it is much easier. The researchers exchanging them usually produce joint publications.
	It's time to get ready for augmented reality The world's largest annual consumer technology show—CES 2018 in Las Vegas—ends today and some of the most exciting gadgets this year were on display in the augmented reality (AR) marketplace.
	New dams in Africa could add risk to power supplies down the line In the 1980s and 1990s parts of Africa saw a surge in dam building for energy production. After a brief hiatus there has been renewed interested. Many new construction projects are planned and underway across sub-Saharan Africa.
	Aerial vehicle flying freely with independently controlled main wings Professor Dongsoo Har and his team in Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Green Transportation in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) lately developed an aerial vehicle that is able to control the main wings separately and independently.
	A look at Facebook's changes over the years in what you see Facebook is once again tweaking what you see to focus more on personal connections and take the spotlight off brands and news articles.
	Q&A: What Facebook's shift could mean to users, businesses In coming days, Facebook users will see fewer posts from publishers, businesses and celebs they follow. Instead, Facebook wants people to see more stuff from friends, family and other people they are likely to have "meaningful" conversations with—something the company laments has been lost in the sea of videos, news stories (real and fake), and viral quizzes on which "Big Bang Theory" character you are.
	Stingray-inspired soft biobot UCLA bioengineering professor Ali Khademhosseini has led the development of a tissue-based soft robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics.
Nepal accesses internet through China, ending India monopoly Nepal opened an optical fiber link across the Himalayan mountains to China on Friday, ending years of dependency on India for internet access.
	BMW drives to new sales record but still lags Mercedes German high-end carmaker BMW said Friday it booked record sales for the seventh year in a row in 2017, but continued to trail rival Mercedes-Benz.
Overwatch League partners with Twitch in two-year broadcast deal Twitch fans now have a guaranteed way to watch the first two Overwatch League seasons.
	Make sure your smartphone apps aren't spying on you There have been some rumblings recently about smartphone apps using your phone's microphone to collect data on your TV- and movie-watching choices.
Orlando startup faces off with high-profile investor on podcast; new guided-tour city app launches An Orlando entrepreneur impressed a high-profile startup backer on the experienced investor's podcast recently, although the host wasn't exactly excited that she was from Orlando.
	Amazon's Alexa, Google's Assistant compete at CES to control the smart home Amazon's Alexa is extending its domain to a whole new set of gadgets. Smoke alarm? Check. A $1,300 smart mirror? Check. Personal computers? Check.
Gadgets: Device lets you keep your eyes on the road Now, this is cool and more important, useful.
First, Pizza Hut began delivering beer. Now, a self-driving car may bring your pizza Your delivery order from Pizza Hut may eventually arrive in a self-driving car.
	Cybersecurity firm: US Senate in Russian hackers' crosshairs The same Russian government-aligned hackers who penetrated the Democratic Party have spent the past few months laying the groundwork for an espionage campaign against the U.S. Senate, a cybersecurity firm said Friday.
	China's Tencent draws $41 bn orders for $5 bn bond sale Chinese gaming and social media titan Tencent has raised $5 billion in a bond issue which attracted orders totalling more than $41 billion for its biggest dollar-denominated sale so far, Bloomberg reported Friday.
India's Infosys profits soar after TCS slide Indian software firm Infosys reported a massive increase in quarterly profits on Friday a day after rival Tata Consultancy Services said its earnings had slid.
India's TCS signs 'largest deal' worth $2 billion India's largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Friday announced bagging its biggest new deal valued over $2 billion from a US-based insurance company, a day after reporting a slide in its quarterly earnings.

Medicine & Health news

	Study reveals what sleep talkers have to say A team of researchers with members from several institutions in France has conducted a study regarding sleep talking and has found that most sleep talking is not only negative in nature, but involves a large amount of swearing. In their paper published in the journal Sleep, the group describes their study, which involved watching and recording hundreds of volunteers as they slept.
	Anxiety: An early indicator of Alzheimer's disease? A new study suggests an association between elevated amyloid beta levels and the worsening of anxiety symptoms. The findings support the hypothesis that neuropsychiatric symptoms could represent the early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older adults.
	An innovative PET tracer can measure damage from multiple sclerosis in mouse models The loss or damage of myelin, a cellular sheath that surrounds and insulates nerves, is the hallmark of the immune-mediated neurological disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). When segments of this protective membrane are damaged, nerve impulses can be disrupted. Symptoms range from tingling and numbness to weakness, pain and paralysis.
	Fast food makes the immune system more aggressive in the long term The immune system reacts similarly to a high fat and high calorie diet as to a bacterial infection. This is shown by a recent study led by the University of Bonn. Particularly disturbing: Unhealthy food seems to make the body's defenses more aggressive in the long term. Even long after switching to a healthy diet, inflammation toward innate immune stimulation is more pronounced. These long-term changes may be involved in the development of arteriosclerosis and diabetes, diseases linked to Western diet consumption. The results will be published in the journal Cell.
	Researchers identify new potential drug target for Huntington's disease A team of researchers led by the University of Michigan, the Baylor College of Medicine and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences has identified a new drug target for treating Huntington's disease, a fatal neurological disorder for which there currently is no cure or preventative therapy.
	Study suggests people dislike you more for humblebragging than for regular boasting A team of researchers from Harvard University and UNC-Chapel Hill has conducted a study regarding humblebragging—in which a person boasts about an achievement but tries to make it sound less boastful by minimizing it—and report what they learned. In their paper published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the group describes their study and what they found.
	New immunotherapy approach boosts body's ability to destroy cancer cells Few cancer treatments are generating more excitement these days than immunotherapy—drugs based on the principle that the immune system can be harnessed to detect and kill cancer cells, much in the same way that it goes after infectious microorganisms. Yet these treatments only benefit some patients, and remain ineffective in the vast majority of cases. Cancer cells are crafty, and they have many ways to protect themselves from immune onslaught.
	New method to map miniature brain circuits In a feat of nanoengineering, scientists have developed a new technique to map electrical circuits in the brain far more comprehensively than ever before.
	Cancer's gene-determined 'immune landscape' dictates progression of prostate tumors The field of immunotherapy - the harnessing of patients' own immune systems to fend off cancer - is revolutionizing cancer treatment today. However, clinical trials often show marked improvements in only small subsets of patients, suggesting that as-yet unidentified variations among tumors result in distinct paths of disease progression and response to therapy.
	Does an exploding brain network cause chronic pain? A new study finds that patients with fibromyalgia have brain networks primed for rapid, global responses to minor changes. This abnormal hypersensitivity, called explosive synchronization (ES), can be seen in other network phenomena across nature.
Age is not a risk factor for complications after surgery among older patients Among older patients, frailty and cognitive impairment before surgery are associated with developing complications after surgery, but age is not, a new study suggests.
	Digital technology is helping women to explore their sexuality Women who consume Internet pornography are using technology to explore their sexuality and connect with others to discuss their sexual interests, according to research from the University of Waterloo.
	Asthma costs the US economy more than $80 billion per year Asthma costs the U.S. economy more than $80 billion annually in medical expenses, missed work and school days and deaths, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Patients' unfavorable views of hospital care strongly linked to nurse numbers Patients' unfavourable views of hospital care in England are strongly linked to insufficient numbers of nurses on duty, rather than uncaring staff, indicates observational research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
	Emotionally demanding workload and confrontational patients key stressors for GPs The emotional impact of their daily workload and confrontational patients are among the key stressors for family doctors in England, reveals an analysis of feedback from general practitioners (GPs), published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Young and sober: Drinking on the wane for Australian teens Drinking among Australian teenagers has declined sharply in the past two decades, with parents less likely to supply kids with booze and youths increasingly conscious of their health, researchers said Friday.
	Breast cancer gene does not boost risk of death: study Young women with the BRCA gene mutation that prompted actress Angelina Jolie's pre-emptive and much-publicised double mastectomy are not more likely to die after a breast cancer diagnosis, scientists said Friday.
	As CHIP money runs out, millions of U.S. kids may lose health care (HealthDay)—Time is running out for millions of American kids covered by the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
	FDA bans use of opioid-containing cough meds by kids (HealthDay)—Trying to put a dent in the ongoing opioid addiction crisis, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday slapped strict new restrictions on the use of opioid-containing cold and cough products by kids.
	Having too little of this nutrient could harm a woman's fertility (HealthDay)—Nearly half of U.S. women have at least a mild deficiency in the nutrient iodine, and new research suggests it could impair their fertility.
	More sought mental health specialty care in 2008 to 2015 (HealthDay)—Between 2008 and 2015 there was an increase in the number of U.S. adults who received outpatient mental health care in the specialty sector, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
	AMA online tools address systems-level physician burnout (HealthDay)—Tools and resources have been developed to help address physician burnout at the systems level, which may affect more than half of doctors, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
	Progress in fighting antibiotic resistance shown in CDC map (HealthDay)—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new data in its Antibiotic Resistance Investment Map, which shows states' progress in combating antibiotic resistance.
	Prenatal PPI, H2 blocker use linked to asthma risk in child (HealthDay)—Prenatal, maternal, acid-suppressive drug use is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma, according to a review published online Jan. 11 in Pediatrics.
	Tobacco's grip on U.S. veterans (HealthDay)—Nearly 40 percent of U.S. military veterans smoke or use some form of tobacco.
	Why the US is 'the most dangerous of wealthy nations for a child to be born into' It's no surprise that the United States ranks absolutely last in child mortality among the world's wealthiest countries—that's been true for years. A new study examines how this sad situation came to be.
	Correct warm-up reduces soccer injuries in children by half A warm-up program developed specially for children reduces soccer injuries by around 50 percent. Sports scientists from the University of Basel have reported these findings in the academic journal Sports Medicine. A total of 243 teams comprising around 3,900 children from four European countries took part in the study.
Link between NYC cancer cluster and Chernobyl disaster A new study led by a University at Albany professor has found a potential link between a cluster of cancer diagnoses in New York City and the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.
iPS cell technology to elucidate mechanisms of longevity and related diseases Regenerative medicine is a broad term used to describe approaches to repair or replace damaged or diseased human cells or tissues. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches, including the use of stem cells and stimulating the body's own repair mechanisms. Due to its wide implications in science, technology and ethics, regenerative medicine has attracted the attention of a multitude of 'stakeholders' from scientists and physicians to those involved in ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI).
Does eating more fish protect you from depression? According to the world health organisation (WHO), depression is the greatest single cause of disability worldwide. Therefore, understanding mechanisms leading to depression and how to minimise its risks is very important.
	Longevity insights from demographic, phenotypic and genetic studies Understanding the demographic, phenotypic and genetic features associated with ageing has been the subject of many studies worldwide. Japan offers a unique opportunity for such studies since it has a large population with a very high longevity rate. Recent studies have shown that the number of centenarians in Japan increased from 154 in 1963 to 61,568 in 2015, and has increased 4.2-fold between 1996 and 2006, compared to an increase of 2- and 1.6-fold in France and Denmark, respectively.
	Chronic inflammation causes loss of muscle mass during aging People start losing muscle mass at the age of 40—about some 10 percent of the total muscle mass for each 10-year period, which may lead to fall-related injuries, slowing metabolism and reduced quality of life. Today, very little is known as to why muscle mass diminishes with age, but one theory is that it is caused by what has been termed inflammaging. It is characterised by chronic, moderately elevated levels of inflammation markers in the blood.
	Scientists identify a key mechanism regulating a protein required for muscle and heart function Scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) and Columbia University in New York have discovered an important mechanism in the regulation of a protein that plays an essential role in the function of skeletal muscle and the heart. The study, published today in Nature Communications and coordinated by CNIC researcher Jorge Alegre-Cebollada, describes a new mechanism in the regulation of the elasticity of the giant protein titin. Titin, explained Alegre-Cebollada, is a key protein in the functioning of striated muscles throughout the body, particularly in the heart: "the proof of this is that mutations in the titin gene are a common cause of diseases affecting the muscles of the body and the heart."
	Sleep quality improves with help of incontinence drug A drug used to curtail episodes of urinary incontinence in women also improves quality of sleep, a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine reports.
	Domestic travel key to distribution of flu across Australia New scientific research on the spread of flu across Australia has revealed that all major cities appear to experience outbreaks of flu around the same time each year, published today in PLOS Pathogens.
Hot spot policing focusing on guns is most effective strategy for reducing gun violence in Baltimore, study finds A Baltimore program that assigns detectives to work in neighborhoods at high risk for gun violence was more effective at reducing gun violence in Baltimore than other initiatives, a new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds.
Molecular weapon targets bad bacteria Instead of prescribing a broad-spectrum antibiotic, like a tiny nuclear missile that indiscriminately kills both bad and good bacteria, Greg Gloor is working on developing a targeted molecular weapon that will combat only the body's most detrimental, infectious invaders.
	Women prefer health and fitness, not perfection Images of fit, toned bodies on social media claim to provide fitness inspiration, but millions of photos tagged #fitspo could be having the opposite effect.
	Kids' sleeping habits disrupted by sneaky media use Preschoolers who spend more time watching television, playing video games or using computers—especially if they're sneaky at bedtime—get less sleep, say University of Michigan researchers.
	Progression of Parkinson's disease follows brain connectivity A study by a group of researchers including those from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital of McGill University has tested the theory that brain degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) originates in subcortical regions and spreads along neural networks to the cerebral cortex.
	Cycling does not damage men's sexual or urinary functions Cycling is increasingly popular for transportation, exercise, and leisure, and its impact on sexual health has received a great deal of media attention, especially regarding erectile function. In a new report in The Journal of Urology, researchers found that contrary to some previous studies, neither recreational nor intense cycling appear to have a negative impact on men's sexual and urinary function.
	Genetic analysis can improve depression therapy The failure of drugs such as SSRIs, used to treat depression, can be a result of genetic variations in patients. Variations within the gene that encodes the CYP2C19 enzyme results in extreme differences in the levels of escitalopram achieved in patients, according to a new study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. Prescribing the dose of escitalopram based on a patient's specific genetic constitution would greatly improve therapeutic outcomes. The study was conducted at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden in association with researchers at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, Norway.
Curry spice holds clues to Alzheimer's drug targets Californian researchers have shed more light on the action of an experimental Alzheimer's drug based on a modified component of the curry spice turmeric. The researchers from the Salk Institute, found that the drug, J147, targets cell processes in the mitochondria – an area of the cell responsible for generating the energy. The results are published in the journal Aging Cell.
	Cardiac arrest survivors have trouble returning to work, social life Tom Parker was 32 when his heart suddenly stopped. At home in Washington, D.C., his wife quickly started CPR with guidance from a 911 dispatcher. An emergency medical technician arrived on the scene minutes later. Using a portable defibrillator, he shocked Parker's heart to get it pumping again.
	Seeing Alzheimer's disease What if we could diagnose early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) by looking into a person's eyes?
	Mindfulness training leads to kindness toward socially ostracized strangers, study finds People receiving brief instruction in mindfulness exhibited more kindness to strangers who had been ostracized or socially excluded by their peers, according to a new study by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University.
	Localized cooling of the heart limits damage caused by a heart attack Cardiologists at the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven have succeeded in the localized cooling of the heart during a heart attack, a world first. By cooling part of the heart prior to and following angioplasty, the cardiologists believe that the damage from a heart attack can be limited. On 11 January cardiologist Luuk Otterspoor received his doctorate at Eindhoven University of Technology for this study.
	Obese fat becomes inflamed and scarred, which may make weight loss harder The fat of obese people becomes distressed, scarred and inflamed, which can make weight loss more difficult, research at the University of Exeter has found.
	'Blue Monday' is a hoax – but it could become the most depressing day of the year if you don't watch out Over the past decade, hordes of innocent people have bought the idea that the third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year – despite there being no scientific evidence to support it. While retailers, beauty salons, travel agents and many other commercial bodies have capitalised on the concept, originally conceived by a PR company, mental health professionals have despaired. That's because, to many people, the Monday blues is a reality.
	How can CRISPR genome editing shape the future of cancer research? The genome editing technology CRISPR is causing plenty of excitement in cancer research.
	Discovery could lead to new therapies for diabetics New research by MDI Biological Laboratory scientist Sandra Rieger, Ph.D., and her team has demonstrated that an enzyme she had previously identified as playing a role in peripheral neuropathy induced by cancer chemotherapy also plays a role in peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes.
Newborn immune activation may have long-term negative impact on brain function McLean Hospital neuroscientists have found that even a brief episode of immune system activation within days of birth can cause persistent changes in sleep patterns concurrent with increases in epilepsy-like brain activity—a combination of symptoms common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental conditions. The detailed findings are available in the January 12, 2018, issue of Neuropsychopharmacology.
Researcher discovers commonalities in brains of people with HD and PD A new study strongly suggests that the brains of people who have died of Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) show a similar response to a lifetime of neurodegeneration, despite being two very distinct diseases.
Study suggests risk management approach to combat EMS fatigue Extended shift work has historically been linked to interrupted sleep patterns and risk of injury, and is a persistent problem for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who are tasked with delivering acute care under significant pressure.
	New antifungal provides hope in fight against superbugs Microscopic yeast have been wreaking havoc in hospitals around the world—creeping into catheters, ventilator tubes, and IV lines—and causing deadly invasive infection. One culprit species, Candida auris, is resistant to many antifungals, meaning once a person is infected, there are limited treatment options. But in a recent Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy study, researchers confirmed a new drug compound kills drug-resistant C. auris, both in the laboratory and in a mouse model that mimics human infection.
Research shows importance of second pediatric blood-pressure screening Nearly one-quarter of children and teens who had their blood pressure screened at a primary care appointment showed a reading in the hypertensive range, but less than half of those readings could be confirmed after the blood pressure was repeated, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study released today in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. The research shows the importance of taking a second blood pressure reading for those ages 3 to 17 years when the first reading is elevated.
	Has flu season, in full swing, reached its height? Flu is now widespread in every state except Hawaii, but the good news is the season appears to already be peaking.
	FDA approves first drug for tumors tied to breast cancer genes (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the first drug aimed at treating metastatic breast cancers linked to the BRCA gene mutation.
	Pregnant women still getting UTI meds linked to birth defects (HealthDay)—Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be problematic for pregnant women and their babies, but so can two antibiotics used to treat these infections, U.S. health officials warn.
	Is it a cold or flu? Here's how to tell (HealthDay)—With a severe flu season now widespread across 46 states, do symptoms you or a loved one have point to the dreaded illness?
	Readjusting calorie consumption as you lose weight (HealthDay)—If you find that your weekly weight loss is slowing down, maybe it's time to readjust your calorie intake.
	Surgery practice patterns differ by location of residency (HealthDay)—Nonuniversity-based residency (NUBR)-trained surgeons and university-based residency (UBR)-trained surgeons have distinct practice patterns, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in JAMA Surgery.
	Corynebacterium, Kingella abundance tied to HNSCC risk (HealthDay)—The overall oral microbiome composition is not associated with the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but greater abundance of genera Corynebacterium and Kingella is associated with decreased HNSCC risk, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JAMA Oncology.
	Duration of diabetes, prediabetes linked to presence of CAC (HealthDay)—Diabetes and prediabetes duration are both independently associated with the presence of coronary artery calcified plaque (CAC) and left ventricular dysfunction, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in Diabetes Care.
	Serial intralesional steroids may improve tracheal stenosis sx (HealthDay)—For adults with subglottic and proximal tracheal stenosis (SGS/PTS), serial in-office intralesional steroid injection (ISI) after endoscopic dilation is associated with a prolonged surgery-free interval (SFI), according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
	Patient satisfaction ratings impacted by nurse staffing (HealthDay)—Patients' unfavorable views of hospital care are strongly linked to nurse numbers, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in BMJ Open.
	Past exposures shape immune response in pediatric acute respiratory infections Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are the leading global cause of death in early childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lower respiratory tract infections, including bronchiolitis and viral and bacterial pneumonia, take a toll on children's health, too, causing the majority of pediatric hospital admissions for infectious diseases.
	Researchers offer new model for uncovering true HIV mortality rates in Zambia A new study that seeks to better ascertain HIV mortality rates in Zambia could provide a model for improved national and regional surveillance approaches, and ultimately, more effective HIV treatment strategies.
	Don't let skiing and snowboarding injuries take you downhill Skiing and snowboarding are fun winter sports. As the popularity of these winter sports continue to rise, according to a review article published in the January 1, 2018, issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the number of skier and snowboarder injuries also continues to rise.
VA clears the air on talking to patients about marijuana use "Don't ask, don't tell" is how many veterans have approached health care conversations about marijuana use with the doctors they see from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Scientists have created a device for remote diagnosis of heart condition Researchers at the National Research Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN) have developed a software and hardware system to remotely assess deviations in heart activity and identify cardiovascular diseases at an early stage. The CyberHeart intelligent supercomputer technology is designed to serve both patients and cardiologists.
	Insights into the molecular mechanisms leading to kidney dysfunction in diabetic patients About one-third of diabetes patients suffer from renal failure. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms linking diabetes to renal damage (diabetic nephropathy) would benefit patients as it would help in developing new therapeutic targets and strategies. Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) is a protein that is involved in cellular stress responses and has been implicated in diabetic nephropathy. However, the exact role of renal Sirt1 on the pathogenesis of renal damage in diabetes has not been fully elucidated.
Extreme heat in sport—why using a fixed temperature cut-off isn't as simple as it seems Record-breaking temperatures during the Ashes cricket test match in Sydney on Sunday led many to wonder: how hot is too hot to continue playing sport safely?
How to stop overdoses? Prevent them to begin with The Public Health Agency of Canada recently released projections that 2017 will have seen a total of more than 4,000 opioid-related deaths.
Kentucky is first to get OK for Medicaid work requirement Kentucky became the first state to require many of its Medicaid recipients to work to receive coverage, part of an unprecedented change to the nation's largest health insurance program under the Trump administration.
	'Hundreds' of lawsuits filed over Lactalis salmonella: association Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against French dairy giant Lactalis by families who say their children got salmonella poisoning after drinking powdered milk made by the company, an association representing victims said Friday.

Biology news

	Shark biologist teams up with aerospace engineer to discover behaviors of oceanic whitetips Oceanic whitetip sharks move with extreme efficiency, exploiting physics to maximize their energy surplus for both hunting and downtime.
	Lanternfish reveal how ocean warming impacts the twilight zone A new study from the British Antarctic Survey shows how lanternfish, small bioluminescent fish, are likely to respond to the warming of the Southern Ocean.
	Researchers explain how snakes can crawl in a straight line Snakes are known for their iconic S-shaped movements. But they have a less noticeable skill that gives them a unique superpower.
Experts raise concerns over raw meat diets for cats and dogs Experts are warning dog and cat owners to be aware of the risks associated with feeding their pets raw meat-based diets (RMBDs), instead of the more conventional dry or canned pet foods.
	The circadian clock sets the pace of plant growth Researchers at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) have discovered that the members of a protein family associated with the internal clocks of plants act sequentially to limit plant growth until the end of the night. This could help researchers to understand how plants deal with different kinds of stress that affect their growth, such as drought or high temperature.
	The nanoscopic structure that locks up our genes For decades, scientists could only speculate about the shape of heterochromatin, a type of chromatin that consists of tightly packed DNA and proteins. Recently, however, researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate University (OIST) and Waseda University have been able to define its structure thanks to new, high-contrast imaging in cryo-electron microscopy. Their work appears this January in the journal Molecular Cell.
	Invasive worms spreading in Arboretum forests, limited effects so far When researchers found invasive Asian jumping worms at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum in 2013, they spotted an opportunity to follow the invaders, and their effects, from the beginning.
	How scientists are monitoring whale health by using drones to collect their blow Macquarie University researchers have led the design and construction of a new system that can be fitted to a custom-built, waterproof drone in order to sample whale microbiota – the combination of natural bacterial colonies that live in an organism – by flying over and collecting the exhaled vapours from their blowholes. The collaborative research project, which involved an array of experts including drone pilot and engineer Alastair Smith from Heliguy Pty. Ltd., Sydney, sea vessel experts, microbiologists and marine biologists, used the customised drone collection technique in order to monitor the health of whales in a non-invasive manner.
	New smart sensor to help farmers spot lameness in sheep A new smart wearable device that can automatically detect lameness in sheep is being developed by veterinary researchers at the University of Nottingham and industry partners Intel and Farm Wizard.
	Meet Africa's bird master of vocal imitation Singing a duet in a foreign language isn't just for opera stars—red-capped robin-chats do it too. These orange-brown birds with grey wings can imitate the sounds of 40 other bird species, even other species' high-speed duets.
	Research scientists discover new production pathway for plant SOS signals When harmful insects attack a plant, it defends itself. It forms protective substances that are poisonous for the insects. This defense response is activated by messengers, jasmonates. Their biosynthesis had been deemed to have been elucidated for almost two decades. But now plant physiologists from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart and the National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC) in Madrid have found an alternative synthesis pathway for jasmonates. This means that plant physiologists will now have to rethink many explanations of resistances and hormonal activity. The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Chemical Biology.
	Secretin protein with a crown Bacteria are consummate survivalists. They are aided in this by their ability to assimilate DNA from their surroundings, which allows them to constantly acquire new characteristics. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics and Goethe University in Frankfurt have now gained new insights into exactly how bacteria import DNA.
	Thailand seizes large elephant tusks worth over $450,000 Thai authorities have seized 148 kilograms (326 pounds) of African elephant ivory, including three large tusks, worth around 15 million baht ($469,800) from a Bangkok airport.

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