Science X Newsletter Monday, Jan 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 22, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Quantum dot ring lasers emit colored light

The world's most powerful acoustic tractor beam could pave the way for levitating humans

Researchers use sound waves to advance optical communication

Researchers discover a blazar-like narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy

Best of Last Week – Environmental impact of microwave ovens, decoding thoughts and flu transmission via breathing

E-skin for manipulating virtual objects without touching them

Puzzling finding raises new questions about atmospheric physics of giant planets

Scientists discover material ideal for smart photovoltaic windows

Engineers design artificial synapse for 'brain-on-a-chip' hardware

New for three types of extreme-energy space particles: Theory shows unified origin

New metal-mesh membrane could solve longstanding problems and lead to inexpensive power storage

Big energy savings: Researchers build the world's smallest electro-optic modulator

Cells lacking nuclei struggle to move in 3-D environments

Meteorite hunters find first fragments of Michigan meteor

How long will patient live? Deep Learning takes on predictions

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers discover a blazar-like narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Researchers have identified a new blazar-like narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy that emits gamma-ray radiation. The new galaxy, designated SDSS J211852.96−073227.5, could offer insights into formation and evolution of jets of radiation produced by massive galactic central black holes. The findings are reported January 11 in a paper published on arXiv.org.
	Puzzling finding raises new questions about atmospheric physics of giant planets The hottest point on a gaseous planet near a distant star isn't where astrophysicists expected it to be - a discovery that challenges scientists' understanding of the many planets of this type found in solar systems outside our own.
	Meteorite hunters find first fragments of Michigan meteor Meteorite hunters who flocked to Detroit from across the U.S. after a meteor exploded are finding the fragments.
	Study shows first evidence of winds outside black holes throughout their mealtimes New research shows the first evidence of strong winds around black holes throughout bright outburst events when a black hole rapidly consumes mass.
	Kilopower—Pioneering space fission power system could provide up to 10 kilowatts of electrical power When astronauts someday venture to the moon, Mars and other destinations, one of the first and most important resources they will need is power. A reliable and efficient power system will be essential for day-to-day necessities, such as lighting, water and oxygen, and for mission objectives, like running experiments and producing fuel for the long journey home.
	A new bound on axions An axion is a hypothetical elementary particle whose existence was postulated in order to explain why certain subatomic reactions appear to violate basic symmetry constraints, in particular symmetry in time. The 1980 Nobel Prize in Physics went for the discovery of time-asymmetric reactions. Meanwhile, during the following decades, astronomers studying the motions of galaxies and the character of the cosmic microwave background radiation came to realize that most of the matter in the universe was not visible. It was dubbed dark matter, and today's best measurements find that about 84% of matter in the cosmos is dark. This component is dark not only because it does not emit light—it is not composed of atoms or their usual constituents, like electrons and protons, and its nature is mysterious. Axions have been suggested as one possible solution. Particle physicists, however, have so far not been able to detect directly axions, leaving their existence in doubt and reinvigorating the puzzles they were supposed to resolve.
	Asteroid 2002 AJ129 to fly safely past Earth February 4 Asteroid 2002 AJ129 will make a close approach to Earth on Feb. 4, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. PST (4:30 p.m. EST / 21:30 UTC). At the time of closest approach, the asteroid will be no closer than 10 times the distance between Earth and the Moon (about 2.6 million miles, or 4.2 million kilometers).
	Rocket Lab successfully sends rocket into orbit Aerospace company Rocket Lab said Sunday it had successfully fired a rocket into orbit for the first time from its New Zealand launch base.
	Most powerful Dutch supercomputer boosts new radio telescope Every day, thousands of enormous explosions go off in the sky: so-called Fast Radio Bursts. To better understand the flashes and the gigantic energies behind them, ASTRON—the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, an NWO institute—recently installed new high-speed cameras on the radio telescope in Westerbork, the Netherlands. These cameras have just received new brains: the most powerful supercomputer in the Netherlands.
	Image: Comet storm Perhaps you live in a part of the world where you regularly experience snow storms or even dust storms. But for many of us, the weather forms a natural part of everyday conversation – more so when it is somewhat extreme, like a sudden blizzard that renders transport useless or makes you feel highly disoriented as you struggle to fix your sights on recognisable landmarks.
	Image: Hubble's Cartwheel Galaxy This is an image of the Cartwheel Galaxy taken with the NASA/ESA (European Space Agency) Hubble Space Telescope.
	Looking at the universe through very different 'eyes' We are bathed in starlight. During the day we see the Sun, light reflected off the surface of the Earth and blue sunlight scattered by the air. At night we see the stars, as well as sunlight reflected off the Moon and the planets.
	Image: Prepping the Parker Solar Probe for space At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the Parker Solar Probe is lowered into the 40-foot-tall thermal vacuum chamber. Why?

Technology news

	E-skin for manipulating virtual objects without touching them A team of researchers from Germany and Austria has developed a type of e-skin that allows a wearer to control virtual objects without touching them. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the group describes their e-skin, how it works, and the applications they believe would benefit from its use.
	New metal-mesh membrane could solve longstanding problems and lead to inexpensive power storage A type of battery first invented nearly five decades ago could catapult to the forefront of energy storage technologies, thanks to a new finding by researchers at MIT and other institutions. The battery, based on electrodes made of sodium and nickel chloride and using a new type of metal mesh membrane, could be used for grid-scale installations to make intermittent power sources such as wind and solar capable of delivering reliable baseload electricity.
	How long will patient live? Deep Learning takes on predictions End of life care might be improved with Deep Learning. An AI program in a successful pilot study predicted how long people will live.
	Designs on a foldable mobile phone cast spotlight on LG Smartphone watchers are wagging tongues over what could possibly be up with Korea-based LG in what looks like bright ideas for a foldable phone.
	3-D printing improves cell adhesion and strength of PDMS polymer Combining two different polymer forms can switch manufacturing of silicone parts from molding, casting and spin coating of simple forms to 3-D printing of complex geometries with better mechanical characteristics and better biological adhesion, according to a team of Penn State researchers.
Inverse-design approach leads to metadevices Imagine wafer-thin eyeglasses or a smartphone camera so small it is invisible to the naked eye.
Missouri offered about $2.5 billion in incentives to Amazon The state of Missouri offered Amazon nearly $2.5 billion in incentives spread over 10 years in its failed bid to lure the company's second headquarters to the state, according to figures released Friday by the state Department of Economic Development.
	Facebook to let users rank 'trust' in news sources Facebook announced Friday it will ask its two billion users to rank their trust in news sources, in its latest attempt to combat the spread of misinformation on the social network.
	Airbus to get '10 years of visibility' from Emirates deal: CEO A $16 billion deal with Emirates airline for A380 superjumbos will give Airbus "at least 10 years of visibility", the European manufacturer's CEO Tom Enders said in an interview published Sunday.
AI, virtual reality make inroads in tourism sector A hotel room automatically adjusting to the tastes of each guest, virtual reality headsets as brochures: the tourism sector is starting to embrace new technologies, hoping to benefit from lucrative personal data.
UMass gets Chan Zuckerberg grant for scientific project The University of Massachusetts has received a $5.5 million grant from a philanthropy founded by the man behind Facebook and his wife to create a way to search millions of scientific research articles.
	Amazon to debut cashier-less store in downtown Seattle Amazon employees have been testing it, but is the public ready for a cashier-less store?
	Solar industry on edge as Trump weighs tariffs on panels Solar energy is booming in the United States, but companies riding the wave fear that President Donald Trump could undercut them this week if he decides to impose new tariffs on imported solar panels.
	Scientists improve nanofluids for solar power plants An associate of Siberian Federal University (SFU) teamed up with his foreign colleagues to increase the efficiency of the heat transfer medium used in solar power plants. The results of the study were published in Renewable Energy journal.
Companies plan European network of car charging stations Two companies plan a network of fast-charging stations for battery-powered cars in Europe that they say will help drivers of electric vehicles travel in and among the region's main cities.
	Microsoft researchers build a bot that draws what you tell it to If you're handed a note that asks you to draw a picture of a bird with a yellow body, black wings and a short beak, chances are you'll start with a rough outline of a bird, then glance back at the note, see the yellow part and reach for a yellow pen to fill in the body, read the note again and reach for a black pen to draw the wings and, after a final check, shorten the beak and define it with a reflective glint. Then, for good measure, you might sketch a tree branch where the bird rests.
	Fungi can help concrete heal its own cracks Infrastructure supports and facilitates our daily lives – think of the roads we drive on, the bridges and tunnels that help transport people and freight, the office buildings where we work and the dams that provide the water we drink. But it's no secret that American infrastructure is aging and in desperate need of rehabilitation.
	How blockchain is strengthening tuna traceability to combat illegal fishing In a significant development for global fisheries, blockchain technology is now being used to improve tuna traceability to help stop illegal and unsustainable fishing practices in the Pacific Islands tuna industry.
	Feedback enhances brainwave control of a novel hand-exoskeleton An extremely lightweight and portable hand exoskeleton may one day help the physically impaired with daily living. These are the hopes of EPFL scientist Luca Randazzo who is developing the exoskeleton with the Defitech Chair in Brain-Machine Interface led by José Millán. The results are published in the January edition of IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters.
	The next generation of cameras might see behind walls You might be really pleased with the camera technology in your latest smartphone, which can recognise your face and take slow-mo video in ultra-high definition. But these technological feats are just the start of a larger revolution that is underway.
	Amazon opens store with no cashiers, lines or registers No cashiers, no lines, no registers—this is how Amazon sees the future of in-store shopping.
	Facebook acknowledges social media's risks to democracy Facebook acknowledged Monday that widespread use of social media can be harmful to democracy, while pledging to work to minimize these risks.
	Rupert Murdoch says Facebook should pay for 'trusted' news Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch said Monday that large online platforms like Facebook should pay "trusted" news organizations as part of efforts to improve credibility and stem misinformation.
Chinese national sentenced to prison for stealing software code A Chinese national was sentenced to five years in prison on economic espionage charges in connection with the theft of proprietary software code from a US technology company, officials said Friday.
	Europe brings on charm and blue skies to lure Chinese tourists Chinese tourists are big spenders and with the numbers visiting Europe set to soar by nearly 70 percent over the next five years, the countries of the Old Continent are rolling out the red carpet to make the guests feel welcome.
	Facebook to train 65,000 in French job schemes Facebook said Monday that it will train 65,000 French people in digital skills in free schemes to help women set up businesses and the long-term unemployed get back to work.
	Thorium reactors may dispose of enormous amounts of weapons-grade plutonium Scientists from the School of Nuclear Science & Engineering of Tomsk Polytechnic University are developing a technology for the creation of high-temperature, low-power reactors with thorium fuel. The scientists propose to burn weapons-grade plutonium in these units, converting it into power and thermal energy. Thermal energy generated at thorium reactors may be used in hydrogen industrial production and for desalinating water. The results of the study were published in Annals of Nuclear Energy.
	The algorithms of our future thinking machines Behind every self-driving car, self-learning robot and smart building hides a variety of advanced algorithms that control learning and decision making. Some of the mathematical models that make up the backbone of automated systems are currently under construction by researchers from Uppsala University and KTH.
Maine airport moves to 100 percent recycled de-icing fluid Officials with Maine's largest city say Portland International Jetport is the first airport in the country to use 100 percent recycled de-icing fluid for aircraft.
	The secret history of Facebook depression To early users, the internet held such promise for people and communities. Now, on the eve of Facebook's 15th birthday, social media is making people depressed. What happened?
The new robotics technology set to change the construction industry Millennials, don't give up your smashed avo just yet. Hadrian the WA bricklaying robot is about to make construction of houses safer, faster and cheaper.
Smart rollator motivates elderly to exercise more VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Orton are exploring the benefits and impacts of technology in motivating seniors to increase physical activity. This is being done in the new MoveRoll project, funded by the Academy of Finland, based on a smart rollator developed by VTT. The basic idea is that even a small increase in physical activity can have a major effect on the well-being of elderly.
	Particle receivers to get first commercial trial—in Saudi Arabia A new solar technology is twice as efficient, cutting the cost of solar thermal energy, by raising operating temperatures to 1,000°C, almost twice the 565°C molten salt temperature in current concentrated solar power (CSP) tower plants.
	Largest Nordic bank Nordea bans employees' bitcoin trade Nordea, the Nordic region's biggest bank, said Monday it would bar employees from trading in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as of February 28 due to the unregulated nature of the market.
	SAP unveils big push into French tech start-ups Europe's biggest software company SAP on Monday said it will spend up to two billion euros investing in and nurturing French start-ups as part of its push into cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence.

Medicine & Health news

	Boosting cancer therapy with cross-dressed immune cells Researchers at EPFL have created artificial molecules that can help the immune system to recognize and attack cancer tumors. The study is published in Nature Methods.
	More surprises about blood development—and a possible lead for making lymphocytes Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have long been regarded as the granddaddy of all blood cells. After we are born, these multipotent cells give rise to all our cell lineages: lymphoid, myeloid and erythroid cells. Hematologists have long focused on capturing HSCs' emergence in the embryo, hoping to recreate the process in the lab to provide a source of therapeutic blood cells.
	Group suggests pushing age of adolescence to 24 A small group of researchers with the Royal Children's Hospital in Australia is suggesting that it might be time to change the span of years that define adolescence—from the current 10 to 19 to a proposed 10 to 24 years of age. In their paper published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, the group offers arguments for their suggestion and the benefits they believe would come about by doing so.
	Finding unravels nature of cognitive inflexibility in fragile X syndrome Mice with the genetic defect that causes fragile X syndrome (FXS) learn and remember normally, but show an inability to learn new information that contradicts what they initially learned, shows a new study by a team of neuroscientists. FXS is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism.
	New long-acting approach for malaria therapy developed A new study, published in Nature Communications, conducted by the University of Liverpool and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine highlights a new 'long acting' medicine for the prevention of malaria.
	Onions could hold key to fighting antibiotic resistance A type of onion could help the fight against antibiotic resistance in cases of tuberculosis, a UCL and Birkbeck-led study suggests.
	Anemia discovery offers new targets to treat fatigue in millions A new discovery from the University of Virginia School of Medicine has revealed an unknown clockwork mechanism within the body that controls the creation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. The finding sheds light on iron-restricted anemias that leave millions of people weak, tired and unable to concentrate - and it may point the way to better treatments as well.
	Researchers identify gene responsible for mesenchymal stem cells' stem-ness' Many doctors, researchers and patients are eager to take advantage of the promise of stem cell therapies to heal damaged tissues and replace dysfunctional cells. Hundreds of ongoing clinical trials are currently delivering these therapies to patients worldwide.
	New neuron-like cells allow investigation into synthesis of vital cellular components Neuron-like cells created from a readily available cell line have allowed researchers to investigate how the human brain makes a metabolic building block essential for the survival of all living organisms. A team led by researchers from Penn State optimized a new method to create the synthetic neurons, which they used to investigate a core enzyme involved in the synthesis of purines—a component of DNA that is involved in many other cellular and metabolic processes—and how the enzyme might change during infection by herpes simplex virus. An early version of the paper describing the enzyme appears online in Jan. 2018 in the Journal of Neurochemistry, and a paper describing the neuron-like cells appeared in the Dec. 2017 issue of the Journal of Virology.
	Infant mortality rates in Texas vary dramatically from one zip code to the next: study Infant mortality rates in Texas vary dramatically even across neighboring zip codes, according to a new analysis and mapping tool from researchers at The University of Texas System and UT Health Northeast. The analysis and searchable map, which are the first of their kind in Texas, use data from Texas Vital Statistics Linked Birth and Death Records from 2011-2014.
	US flu season gets worse, has 'lot more steam' than expected The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse.
Depressive symptoms linked to shorter survival in patients with head and neck cancer In a study of patients with head and neck cancer, even mild depressive symptoms were associated with poorer overall survival. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings indicate that patients should be screened and treated for depressive symptoms at the time of diagnosis. In addition, studies should examine parallel biological pathways linking depression to cancer survival.
	Alcohol consumption in late teens can lead to liver problems in adulthood Alcohol is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver-related deaths. Results of a large long-term study in Sweden have confirmed that drinking during late adolescence could be the first step towards liver problems in adulthood and that guidelines for safe alcohol intake in men might have to be revised downwards, reports the Journal of Hepatology.
	Study of learning and memory problems in OCD helps young people unlock potential at school Adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have widespread learning and memory problems, according to research published today. The findings have already been used to assist adolescents with OCD obtain the help they needed at school to realise their potential - including helping one individual go on to university.
Study reveals abnormalities in infants born in withdrawal after opioid exposure in utero A new study of infants born in withdrawal due to opioid exposure in utero shows a dramatic increase in torticollis - an abnormal twisting of the neck. Many of the infants also had plagiocephaly - a flattening of the head often seen in conjunction with torticollis.
	Epilepsy linked to brain volume and thickness differences Epilepsy is associated with thickness and volume differences in the grey matter of several brain regions, according to new research led by UCL and the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Changing GP opening hours might be unlikely to ease rising burden of A&E visits The observational study was led by Imperial College London and is published today in BMJ Quality & Safety.
Want a healthier population? Spend less on health care and more on social services Increased social spending was associated with health improvements at the population level, while health spending increases did not have the same effect, according to a large new Canadian study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	How metal scaffolds enhance the bone healing process A new study shows how mechanically optimized constructs known as titanium-mesh scaffolds can optimize bone regeneration. The induction of bone regeneration is of importance when treating large bone defects. As demonstrated in this preclinical study, both the speed and effectiveness of the process depend upon the stiffness of the implant used, with softer constructs enhancing the healing process. The findings have been reported in the current issue of Science Translational Medicine.
	Hedgehog signaling proteins keep cancer stem cells alive Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered that the survival of cancer stem cells is dependent on the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Targeting this pathway had previously shown no effect on the growth of colorectal cancer. Now, Charité scientists have demonstrated that using different drugs to target a specific aspect of the pathway may yield better treatment outcomes for patients. Results from this research have been published in the journal Cell Reports.
	Cavity prevention approach effectively reduces tooth decay A scientifically based approach that includes a tooth-decay risk assessment, aggressive preventive measures and conservative restorations can dramatically reduce decay in community dental practices, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco.
	Phone-addicted teens are unhappy, study finds Happiness is not a warm phone, according to a new study exploring the link between adolescent life satisfaction and screen time. Teens whose eyes are habitually glued to their smartphones are markedly unhappier, said study lead author and San Diego State University and professor of psychology Jean M. Twenge.
	How to tell if your symptoms are cold, flu or allergies A runny or stuffy nose can be a symptom of the flu, a cold or allergies, and it can be hard to discern which one you have. So how do you know what's really going on with your nose?
	How genes, pedigree, and environment influence adult obesity In 2004, the monkeys of the Vervet Research Colony got an unpleasant surprise. Scientists had noticed that the 350-or-so African green monkeys, also called vervets, were getting a little chunky, so they changed the animals' diet from regular monkey chow to high-fiber, high-protein fare. For the vervets, it was goodbye Hungry Man, hello Lean Cuisine.
	Researchers reveal new insights into motor control brain processes As with all things in life, healthy brain function depends on a balance of forces. We think of our brains as active, mobilizing limbs and body parts. But it is just as important for brains to stop these actions.
	Genes contribute to biological motion perception and its covariation with autistic traits Humans can readily perceive and recognize the movements of a living creature, based solely on a few point-lights tracking the motion of the major joints. Such exquisite sensitivity to biological motion (BM) signals is essential to our survival and social interaction.
	Cancer patients who tell their life story find more peace, less depression Fifteen years ago, University of Wisconsin–Madison researcher Meg Wise began interviewing cancer patients nearing the end of life about how they were living with their diagnosis. She was surprised to find that many asked for a transcript of the interview, saying that they had not talked about these issues with family or friends.
	Assessments often miss mental health issues for youth on probation An assessment tool used by many jurisdictions within the juvenile justice system that is intended to help recognize the effects of adversity and trauma in children's lives is not the best means of evaluating mental health problems faced by at-risk youth, according to new study by a University at Buffalo social work researcher.
	Virus shown to be likely cause of mystery polio-like illness A major review by UNSW researchers has identified strong evidence that a virus called Enterovirus D68 is the cause of a mystery polio-like illness that has paralysed children in the US, Canada and Europe.
	Not just a stem cell marker The protein CD34 is predominantly regarded as a marker of blood-forming stem cells but it helps with migration to the bone marrow too.
	Facts women and men should know about cervical cancer January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month and the message from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention is that "no woman should die from cervical cancer."
	A parent's guide to why teens make bad decisions From getting beyond drunk at a friend's party, to some seriously questionable outfit choices, teenagers often do things that seem outlandishly stupid. But we now know why: the areas of the brain that control decision-making don't fully develop until early adulthood.
	Expert says vaccination is still recommended for flu despite decreased effectiveness As the UK currently experiences the worst influenza season since the winter of 2010/2011, influenza expert Dr. Jeremy Rossman of the School of Biosciences at the University, worries that 'the number of cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks, with similar increases in GP visits and hospitalizations, enhanced by the current low temperatures throughout the country.
	15% of League of Ireland footballers report concussion, new study finds Over 15 percent of professional and semi-professional footballers in the SSE Airtricity League suffered a confirmed concussion during the 2014 season.
	Hyperthyroidism vs. hypothyroidism—what's the difference? In our daily life, we may sometimes feel run down, stressed or have unexpected weight fluctuations and think it is nothing out of the ordinary. Yet for some people, these symptoms could be a sign of an underactive or overactive thyroid.
	People with prosthetic arms less affected by common illusion People with prosthetic arms or hands do not experience the "size-weight illusion" as strongly as other people, new research shows.
	Don't waste your time taking antioxidant supplements after exercise The antioxidant market is big business and millions of pounds are spent every year on antioxidant supplements – such as vitamin A, C and E – as well as fruit and vegetable extracts and juices.
	'Depression education' effective for some teens In an assessment of their "depression literacy" program, which has already been taught to tens of thousands, Johns Hopkins researchers say the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) achieved its intended effect of encouraging many teenagers to speak up and seek adult help for themselves or a peer.
	24-hour primary care clinics would improve continuity of care (HealthDay)—A 24-hour primary care clinic with multiple doctors offering round-the-clock care would actualize better and more sustainable care, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
	Urinalysis is effective for UTIs in younger febrile infants (HealthDay)—For febrile infants age 60 days and younger, urinalysis is highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to a study published online Jan. 16 in Pediatrics.
	Higher inflammation in old age is linked to weaker strength and lower muscle mass Older people with higher levels of chronic inflammation are likely to have weaker muscles and lower muscle mass, according to a new study carried out at the University of Southampton.
	New treatments for drug resistant high blood pressure High blood pressure – also called hypertension – is a dangerous condition which, if left untreated, can lead to stroke, kidney problems and/or heart attack.
	When a mom feels depressed, her baby's cells might feel it too An estimated 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. These symptoms – including mood swings, fatigue and reduced interest in activities – can make it difficult for mothers to bond with their newborns.
	A method to measure diagnostic errors could be key to preventing disability and death from misdiagnosis In an effort to reduce patient misdiagnoses and associated poor patient outcomes from lack of prompt treatment, a Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality researcher is helping to lead the way in providing hospitals a new approach to quantify and monitor diagnostic errors in their quality improvement efforts. The approach, called Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error, or SPADE, is featured in a paper published today in BMJ Quality & Safety.
Speech analysis software predicted psychosis in at-risk patients with up to 83 percent accuracy Computer-based analyses of speech transcripts obtained from interviews with at-risk youths were able to predict which youths would later develop psy-chosis within two years, with an accuracy of up to 83 percent. In two independent cohorts of young people at risk for psychosis, a disturbance in the flow of meaning when speaking, other-wise known as being tangential or going off track, predicted who would later develop psychosis.
	Can't pay the rent? Kids' health may suffer (HealthDay)—Millions of American families struggle to find and keep stable housing—and the fight to do so may end up harming kids' health.
	Want to avoid winter weight gain? Exercise (HealthDay)—Don't let cold weather keep you from being active—that's a surefire route to winter weight gain. Exercise keeps you healthy, trim and happy, and it's a great antidote to the gray-weather doldrums.
Celgene acquiring cancer drug firm Juno Therapeutics for $9 bn US biotech firm Celgene on Monday announced a deal to acquire the bio-pharmaceutical company Juno Therapeutics for $9 billion or $87 per share.
	Improving vaccines for the elderly by blocking inflammation By identifying why skin immunity declines in old age, a UCL-led research team has found that an anti-inflammatory pill could help make vaccines more effective for elderly people.
Overall in-hospital cardiac arrest survival improves, lower survival on nights, weekends Overall survival has improved for the approximately 200,000 patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest in the U.S. each year, but patients who arrest during nights or weekends continue to experience lower survival compared to patients who arrest during daytime hours. Survival to discharge in patients who arrested during "off-hours" was an absolute 3.8 percent lower compared to patients who arrested during "on-hours," according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Powerful food-derived antioxidant can halt, prevent fatty liver disease in mice As obesity continues to rise in the U.S., non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major public health issue, increasingly leading to cancer and liver transplants.
Use of dirty heating oil in NYC concentrated uptown Residential buildings that continued to burn residual fuel oil were concentrated in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, as of late 2015. Compared to cleaner heating sources such as natural gas, these dirty fuels produce high levels of particulate matter, exposure to which is linked to asthma, obesity, developmental delays, and other health problems.
Housing instability negatively affects the health of children and caregivers When families don't have stable housing, their risk of struggling with poor health outcomes and material hardships, such as food insecurity, increases, according to a new study from Children's HealthWatch. Researchers surveyed over 22,000 families and found that one third of low-income renters were housing unstable, which was associated with negative impacts on their health.
	Microbiome predicts blood infections in pediatric cancer patients Cancer patients receive essential medicines, fluids, blood and nutrients through long, flexible tubes called central venous catheters, or central lines. But every year in the United States, these central lines are associated with an estimated 400,000 blood infections, many of which are fatal, and which cost the healthcare system upwards of $18 billion dollars annually. But what if some or even many of these infections aren't, in fact, introduced by central lines? A study by University of Colorado Cancer Center investigators working at Children's Hospital Colorado and published in the journal PLoS ONE explores another possible cause of cancer-associated blood infections, namely changes in the microbiome, the community of microorganisms that live within the human body. It may be that an imbalanced microbiome along with a leaky gut and not an unhygienic central line is the cause of some bloodstream infections.
Using social and risk networks helps identify people undiagnosed with HIV Conducting HIV testing among the social and risk networks of those recently diagnosed with HIV helps identify undiagnosed cases of HIV at significantly higher rates and at a lower cost than other testing approaches, finds a new study conducted in Ukraine by an international research team.
Philanthropists donate $100 million to 2 Boston hospitals Two of Boston's premier hospitals on Monday received a combined $100 million gift from a telecommunications executive and his wife that they hope will revolutionize innovation and patient care.
	Marijuana use does not lower chances of getting pregnant Marijuana use—by either men or women—does not appear to lower a couple's chances of getting pregnant, according to a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers.
	Severe flu season, tough winter a double whammy for blood banks (HealthDay)—A merciless flu season and lots of wintry weather are draining the U.S. blood supply, officials report.
	Workouts may boost life span after breast cancer (HealthDay)—Longer survival after breast cancer may be as simple as staying fit, new research shows.
	Carboxytherapy, platelet-rich plasma similar for stretch marks (HealthDay)—Both carboxytherapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are safe and effective for the treatment of stretch marks, with no significant difference between the two methods, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Decline in new cases of blindness in Germany (HealthDay)—In Germany, there was a significant reduction in incidence of blindness from 2008 through 2012, both among individuals with and without diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in Diabetes Care.
	Guidelines of care developed for skin cancer management (HealthDay)—Guidelines of care have been developed for the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), according to two reports published online Jan. 10 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Anticoagulation guidance issued for cardiopulmonary bypass (HealthDay)—Clinical practice guidelines for anticoagulation therapy for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have been developed and were published in the February issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
	Nutrients in child's first 1,000 days key for neurodevelopment (HealthDay)—The provision of adequate nutrients and healthy eating during a child's first 1,000 days is important for optimal neurodevelopment, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement published online Jan. 22 in Pediatrics.
	In-office angiolytic laser effective for vocal polyps (HealthDay)—In-office angiolytic laser procedures are effective for vocal fold polyps, though with occasional occurrence of minor adverse events, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
	Emotions faced by living kidney donors can impact daily life (HealthDay)—Living kidney donors experience a wide range of emotions throughout the donation process that influences the lives of donors on several levels, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in the Journal of Renal Care.
	Researchers find latent HIV reservoirs inherently resistant to elimination by CD8+ T-cells The latest "kick-and-kill" research to eliminate the HIV virus uncovered a potential obstacle in finding a cure. A recent study by researchers at the George Washington University (GW) found that latent HIV reservoirs show resistance to CD8+ T-cells, a type of white blood cell whose primary function is to kill infected cells.
	Study to determine which stool test is best for colorectal cancer detection No one wants a colonoscopy. But there's no getting around the lifesaving procedure—the gold standard for colon cancer detection.
Combination chemotherapy may significantly improve treatment for deadly brain tumor A diagnosis of the brain cancer glioblastoma carries a dismal prognosis, with most patients dying within five years. Now a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found that adding the chemotherapy drug hydroxyurea to the current chemotherapy protocol for glioblastoma significantly increased survival in animal models. The team's report has been published in the journal Neuro-Oncology.
Researchers borrow from AIDS playbook to tackle rheumatic heart disease Billions of US taxpayer dollars have been invested in Africa over the past 15 years to improve care for millions suffering from the HIV/AIDS epidemic; yet health systems on the continent continue to struggle. What if the investments and lessons learned from HIV could be used to improve care for those with other serious chronic conditions?
	Placental accumulation of flame retardant chemical alters serotonin production in rats A North Carolina State University-led research team has shown a connection between exposure to a widely used flame retardant chemical mixture and disruption of normal placental function in rats, leading to altered production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Evidence of endocrine, inflammatory and neurotransmitter signaling pathway disruption was also identified in the placentas. These data show, for the first time, that flame retardants can have sex-specific effects on placental functions critical for brain development.
Haiti's killer cholera epidemic could end this year: UN Haiti's killer cholera epidemic could be over this year, the United Nation's children's fund said on Friday, as the number of cases declines following the world's most virulent outbreak in modern times.
	World moves closer to eradicating Guinea worm disease A new report says the world is moving closer to eradicating Guinea worm disease, in which a meter-long worm slowly emerges from a blister in a person's skin.
Venezuela's prescription for drug shortage: herbs With an estimated five percent of needed medicines available, Venezuela on Friday launched a health plan that relies on herbs and natural remedies.
	Sanofi buys US haemophilia treatment firm for $11.6 bn (Update) French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi said Monday it had reached an agreement to purchase US biotech company Bioverativ, which specialises in treatments for haemophilia and rare blood disorders, for $11.6 billion.
Measles, malnutrition kill nearly 100 in Indonesia's Papua A measles outbreak and a spike in cases of malnutrition in Indonesia's easternmost Papua province have killed at least 95 people, mostly indigenous children, highlighting severely inadequate health care in the impoverished region.
	Map of brain cell activity may help us control when we sleep For many people who struggle to get a good night's rest, being able to switch on and off the brain circuits that control sleep would be a life-changer. The good news is that's exactly what scientists hope to do, but first they need to get a better understanding of what's going on.
A new assessment method for active ageing Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland have developed a new indicator for assessing active aging. The indicator is called the University of Jyväskylä Active aging Scale (UJACAS). Active aging refers to having initiative and doing things the aging person considers important. The indicator consists of a series of questions, which can be presented either in an interview or as a questionnaire. A score describing active aging is calculated based on the responses.
	New wearable to aid healthcare professionals assess frailty Frailty in the elderly has multiple adverse health outcomes, including disability, morbidity, falls, hospitalisation, institutionalisation, and even death. One project is adding tools to help healthcare professionals treat an aging population.
Protracted walking problems among hip surgery patients People who have undergone hip surgery with total hip arthroplasty often experience no difficulty in walking – but for some, mobility actually is impaired long after surgery. Research under way at Sahlgrenska Academy is focusing on how advanced motion analysis can lead to improvements for patients.
	Stroboscopic vision enhances sports training efficacy Rafael Ballester and Florentino Huertas, professors at the department of Science of Physical Activity and Sport of the Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV), have published an article on the uses of stroboscopic vision in sports in Scientific Reports.
Endothelial cells may contribute to formation of new vessels compensating for inadequate blood supply Cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels (endothelial cells) have the capacity to clonally expand and contribute to the development of new vessels due to inadequate blood supply to the heart, known as ischemia, according to a study in mice published in Circulation Research, an American Heart Association journal.
	Developing the VTX-1 liquid biopsy system: Fast and label-free enrichment of circulating tumor cells A new article in the February 2018 issue of SLAS Technology describes a new platform that could change the way cancer is diagnosed and treated by automating the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) directly from cancer patient blood. Entitled Fast and Label-Free Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells from Blood: From a Research Microfluidic Platform to an Automated Fluidic Instrument, VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System, this article provides unique insight into the development of a commercial system that has the potential to change the standard of care in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Direct patient care experience necessary for better transgender care "There are simply are not enough physicians comfortable with treating transgender patients," according to Joshua D. Safer, MD, FACP, associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM). To begin to address this issue, BUSM has created a medical school elective that combines the standard approach of teaching about transgender medical topics with sensitivity and appropriate terminology with evidence-based hands-on patient care.
Young men who have sex with men receive less HIV education Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are at much higher risk of HIV infection compared to their peers, but a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher suggests young MSM are less likely to receive school-based HIV education than young men who only have sex with women.
	The ins and outs of Area 25 Neuroscientists have charted the incoming and outgoing connections of a brain region located deep within the primate prefrontal cortex that has important roles in emotion and memory processes. The comprehensive, high-resolution map reported in JNeurosci provides new insight into how emotional regulation may become disrupted in psychiatric disorders.
Study examines differences in hip fracture rates among nursing homes In a nationally representative study, researchers found considerable variation in the rates of hip fractures across US nursing home facilities. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study identified a number of modifiable facility-level characteristics that might be addressed, but the majority of the variation in the risk of hip fracture remained unexplained.
	Gene delivery of drugs directly into arthritic joints is making the leap to patients Localized gene delivery to diseased joints to achieve sustained drug production at the site of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis is gaining momentum, with clinical trials underway in the U.S. and the first arthritis gene therapy recently approved in Korea. A detailed review of current trends in the field, gene delivery strategies, and ongoing clinical trials and product development are presented in an article published in Human Gene Therapy.
	First trimester exposure to antithyroid drugs associated with birth defects Taking antithyroid drugs (ATDs) during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for birth defects, particularly for women receiving prescriptions for methimazole (MMI) or both MMI and propylthiouracil (PTU). The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Biology news

	Cells lacking nuclei struggle to move in 3-D environments University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have revealed new details of how the physical properties of the nucleus influence how cells can move around different environments - such as "soft" tissue like brain and fat, or "stiff" tissue like cartilage or bone.
	Vaccines not protecting farmed fish from disease The vaccines used by commercial fish farmers are not protecting fish from disease, according to a new study.
	Digging deep into distinctly different DNA A University of Queensland discovery has deepened our understanding of the genetic mutations that arise in different tissues, and how these are inherited.
	Computational method speeds hunt for new antibiotics A team of American and Russian computer scientists has developed an algorithm that can rapidly search massive databases to discover novel variants of known antibiotics—a potential boon in fighting antibiotic resistance.
	New Caledonian crows extract prey faster with complex hooked tools Biologists at the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh have discovered why some crows 'craft' elaborate hooked tools out of branched twigs.
	Ancient rice heralds a new future for rice production Wild rice growing in northern Australia's crocodile-infested waters could help boost global food security, say University of Queensland researchers who have mapped its genetic family tree.
	Researchers discover that female cats are more likely to be right-handed Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have found that female cats are much more likely to use their right paw than males.
	Wild Sri Lankan elephants retreat from the sound of disturbed Asian honey bees For the first time, researchers have shown that Asian elephants in Sri Lanka are scared of honey bees, much like their African counterparts.
	Researchers reveal how microbes cope in phosphorus-deficient tropical soil A team led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has uncovered how certain soil microbes cope in a phosphorus-poor environment to survive in a tropical ecosystem. Their novel approach could be applied in other ecosystems to study various nutrient limitations and inform agriculture and terrestrial biosphere modeling.
	New study: Industry conservation ethic proves critical to Gulf of Maine lobster fishery A new study, led by scientists at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and colleagues at the University of Maine and NOAA, demonstrates how conservation practices championed by Maine lobstermen help make the lobster fishery resilient to climate change.
	Dutch shocked by call to ban EU electric pulse fishing The black clouds hanging over the boats in Dutch ports Friday were not the remnants of wild winter gales, but harbingers of another devastating storm brewing for Dutch fishermen.
	Spotted hyena returns to Gabon park after 20 years: researchers A spotted hyena has been sighted in a Gabon national park for the first time in 20 years, conservationists said Friday, the latest large predator to have returned to a region where many had gone locally extinct.
	Researchers disprove one of the most widespread assumptions among geneticists regarding DNA Ever since DNA was first isolated in 1869, the scientific community has constantly sought to determine how it works, and reveal its secrets. Despite advances in this field, a great deal still remains to be discovered. A good example is research published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by a University of Córdoba research led by professors Rafael Rodríguez Ariza and María Teresa Roldán Arjona.
	Combination of resistance genes offers better protection for wheat against powdery mildew University of Zurich plant researchers have tested newly developed wheat lines with improved resistance in field trials. They have demonstrated that a combination of two variations of a resistance gene provides wheat with better protection against the fungal disease.
How cells are able to turn Researchers have long wondered how our cells navigate inside the body. Two new studies, in which Lund University researcher Pontus Nordenfelt has participated, have now demonstrated that the cells use molecular force from within to steer themselves in a certain direction. This knowledge may be of great significance in the development of new drugs.
	New bug helps in annual hay fever battle The pollen from common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia causes pollinosis, also known as hay fever and respiratory diseases. The dominance of this exotic and invasive ragweed in parts of central Europe ensures that many people have tablets and tissues at the ready when summer comes around. And climate change makes it likely that ragweed, which originates from the U.S., will spread even further.
	Double trouble: Moisture, not just heat impacts sex of sea turtle hatchlings Alarming results from a recent gender ratio study revealed that 99 percent of young green turtles from Australia's Northern Great Barrier Reef are female and that male sea turtles are disappearing. Closer to home, researchers from Florida Atlantic University have documented a similar trend in sea turtle hatchlings in southeast Florida. Since 2002, they have studied sea turtles in Palm Beach County and discovered that 97 to 100 percent of the hatchlings have been female.
	A race against pine: Wood-boring wasp in North America threatened by a Eurasian invader Invasive species have diverse impacts in different locations, including biodiversity loss, as a result of native species being outcompeted for similar resources. A U.S. research team, led by Dr. Ann Hajek, Cornell University, studied the case of an aggressive Eurasian woodwasp that has recently established in North America and poses a threat to a native species. Their study is published in the open-access journal NeoBiota.
	Gabon says major ivory trafficking ring dismantled, 10 held Gabon says a major trafficking ring that smuggled six tons of ivory out of the country in 2017 has been dismantled, in a victory against poachers who have killed large numbers of forest elephants in the Central African country.

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