Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jan 14

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 14, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New classes of topological crystalline insulators having surface rotation anomaly

Connecting the dots in the sky could shed new light on dark matter

How to verify that quantum chips are computing correctly

AstroSat observations unveil properties of black hole binary MAXI J1820+070

Magnetic storms originate closer to Earth than previously thought, threatening satellites

Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy metals as biggest contributors to IQ loss

Life's clockwork: Scientist shows how molecular engines keep us ticking

The advantage of changing sex in fish population recovery

New climate models suggest Paris goals may be out of reach

How nodules stay on top at the bottom of the sea

Controlled phage therapy can target drug-resistant bacteria while sidestepping potential unintended consequences

New study finds evidence for reduced brain connections in schizophrenia

Custom-built molecules enable editing of genes previously obscured by DNA's innately protective structure

What we're learning about the reproductive microbiome

Gut bacteria could guard against Parkinson's, study finds

Astronomy & Space news

	AstroSat observations unveil properties of black hole binary MAXI J1820+070 Simultaneous spectral and temporal observations of the newly detected black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) MAXI J1820+070 using the AstroSat spacecraft, have delivered more insights into the properties of this source. Results of the study, presented in a paper published January 6 on arXiv.org, could be helpful in improving our understanding of black hole binaries in general.
	Data from antipodal places: First use of CMB polarization to detect gravitational lensing from galaxy clusters Galaxies. Amalgamations of stars, interstellar gas, dust, stellar debris and dark matter. They waltz through the cold universe, gravity nurturing their embrace. Occasionally, galaxies snowball into enormous galaxy clusters with masses averaging 100 trillion times that of our sun.
	X-rays and gravitational waves combine to illuminate massive black hole collision A new study by a group of researchers at the University of Birmingham has found that collisions of supermassive black holes may be simultaneously observable in both gravitational waves and X-rays at the beginning of the next decade.
	'Cold Neptune' and two temperate super-Earths found orbiting nearby stars A "cold Neptune" and two potentially habitable worlds are part of a cache of five newly discovered exoplanets and eight exoplanet candidates found orbiting nearby red dwarf stars, which are reported in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series by a team led by Carnegie's Fabo Feng and Paul Butler.
	Final images from Cassini spacecraft Researchers are busy analysing some of the final data sent back from the Cassini spacecraft which has been in orbit around Saturn for more than 13 years until the end of its mission in September 2017.
	Hot gas feeds spiral arms of the Milky Way An international research team, with significant participation of astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), has gained important insights into the origin of the material in the spiral arms of the Milky Way, from which new stars are ultimately formed. By analysing properties of the galactic magnetic field, they were able to show that the dilute so-called warm ionized medium (WIM), in which the Milky Way is embedded, condenses near a spiral arm. While gradually cooling, it serves as a supply of the colder material of gas and dust that feeds star formation.
	NASA's Mars 2020 rover closer to getting its name NASA's Mars 2020 rover is one step closer to having its own name after 155 students across the U.S. were chosen as semifinalists in the "Name the Rover" essay contest. Just one will be selected to win the grand prize—the exciting honor of naming the rover and an invitation to see the spacecraft launch in July 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
	Betelgeuse: Star's weird dimming sparks rumors that its death is imminent Every season has its characteristic star constellations in the night sky. Orion—one of the most recognizable—is distinctly visible on crisp, clear winter nights in the northern hemisphere. The constellation is easy to spot even in light-polluted cities, with its bright stars representing the shape of a person.

Technology news

	Panasonic charms VR fans with aviator-style glasses Panasonic's gift to CES 2020? Panasonic shades. For a very special function. Virtual reality. The talking point about their being showcased at the event is that they are glasses in shape.
	Man versus machine: Can AI do science? Over the last few decades, machine learning has revolutionized many sectors of society, with machines learning to drive cars, identify tumors and play chess—often surpassing their human counterparts.
	NSA finds major security flaw in Windows 10, free fix issued The National Security Agency has discovered a major security flaw in Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system that could allow hackers to intercept seemingly secure communications.
	New helmet design can deal with sports' twists and turns As a neurologist, Robert Knight has seen what happens when the brain crashes around violently inside the skull. And he's aware of the often tragic consequences.
	Clearing the air (inside your car) Did you know that your biggest daily exposure to air pollutants comes while driving your car to work?
	The G7 wants to regulate artificial intelligence. Should the US get on board? With the introduction of new export controls on artificial intelligence software last week, the White House appealed to lawmakers, businesses, and European allies to avoid overregulation of artificial intelligence. It also maintained its refusal to participate in a project proposed by the Group of Seven leading economies, which seeks to establish shared principles and regulations on artificial intelligence, as the U.S. prepares to take over the presidency of the organization this year.
	Are self-driving cars safe? Expert on how we will drive in the future Cars are changing—fast. But are innovations such as autonomous and flying cars a bright new dawn, or just a wild pipe dream? And if they become the future's way of getting from A to B, can we trust them to take us there safely? Here are five key questions answered by an expert.
	The psychology of human creativity helps artificial intelligence imagine the unknown By learning to deviate from known information in the same way that humans do, an "imagination" algorithm for artificial intelligence (AI) is able to identify previously unseen objects from written descriptions.
	CES behind us, so now it's onto the next Galaxy Most of the products introduced at the just concluded CES will never see the light of day.
	Cutting the cord: As prices go up, here's how you can still save money streaming For years, cutting the pay-TV cord has been seen as a way to save money—you don't pay for channels you don't watch and are free from long-term contracts.
	Robocalls continue to rise, and these states get the most: Where does yours rank? Every state gets plenty of robocalls, but people in a few states, such as Maryland and Nevada, bear more than their share.
	Tinder, Grindr accused of illegally sharing user data Popular dating apps like Tinder and Grindr are sharing the personal data of their users to third parties in breach of EU regulations, a Norwegian consumer rights group said Tuesday.
	Encryption battle reignited as US govt at loggerheads with Apple Apple and the US government are at loggerheads for the second time in four years over unlocking iPhones connected to a mass shooting, reviving debate over law enforcement access to encrypted devices.
	Google says it will phase out web-tracking 'cookies' Google on Tuesday said is making progress in its quest to vanquish third-party "cookies" on its popular browser used to track people's online activities, a focus of many privacy activists.
	Boeing reports net drop in 2019 orders amid MAX crisis Boeing reported Tuesday a net drop in commercial plane orders in 2019 and much lower deliveries as its protracted 737 MAX crisis weighed heavily on operations.
	German carmakers beat global sales slump German car giants Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler have posted strong sales growth in the face of a contracting global market in 2019, shifting massive numbers of SUVs ahead of a pivotal year for electric mobility.
	Nissan denies reported plans to split with Renault Nissan is "in no way" planning to end its partnership with Renault, the Japanese auto giant insisted on Tuesday after a report suggested a divorce was possible in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn scandal.
	Softbank-funded hotel firm Oyo lays off 10% of India staff Indian hotel giant Oyo said Tuesday it is cutting 1,000 employees, or 10 percent of its local staff, as it battles multiple allegations including bribery and pressure from Japanese backer SoftBank to cut costs.
	New York Times hits 5 million subscribers The New York Times said Tuesday it now has more than five million total subscribers after adding one million for its digital offerings in the past year.
	Germany vows 62 billion-euro injection into railways The German government on Tuesday agreed to pump 62 billion euros ($69 billion) into its rail network as part of a wider plan to promote greener transport.
	Peugeot subsidiary Opel announces 2,100 job cuts in Germany Peugeot subsidiary Opel said Tuesday it would offer 2,100 more German workers voluntary redundancies, as it struggles to stay afloat faced with collapsing demand and an EU emissions squeeze.
	UK reaches deal to keep Flybe flying The UK government announced a rescue deal Tuesday for the troubled no-frills airline Flybe aimed at keeping Europe's largest regional carrier flying and preserving around 2,000 jobs.

Medicine & Health news

	Flame retardants and pesticides overtake heavy metals as biggest contributors to IQ loss Adverse outcomes from childhood exposures to lead and mercury are on the decline in the United States, likely due to decades of restrictions on the use of heavy metals, a new study finds.
	New study finds evidence for reduced brain connections in schizophrenia Advances in scanning have allowed researchers for the first time to show lower levels of a protein found in the connections between neurons in the living brains of people with schizophrenia.
	Gut bacteria could guard against Parkinson's, study finds A common bacteria that boosts digestive health can slow—and even reverse—build-up of a protein associated with Parkinson's, new research suggests.
	New discovery on the activity and function of MAIT cells during acute HIV infection In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers at Karolinska Institutet show that mucosa-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) of the human immune system respond with dynamic activity and reprogramming of gene expression during the initial phase of HIV infection. The study fills a knowledge gap, as previously, the function of MAIT cells during this particular phase was not well understood.
	Trick or treat? The role of uric acid and central obesity on the risk of metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a collection of conditions that happen together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
	Algorithm can predict gestational diabetes using nutritional and lifestyle changes A new computer algorithm can predict in the early stages of pregnancy, or even before pregnancy has occurred, which women are at a high risk of gestational diabetes, according to a study by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science reported today in Nature Medicine. The study analyzed data on nearly 600,000 pregnancies available from Israel's largest health organization, Clalit Health Services. Based on these predictions, it may be possible to prevent gestational diabetes using nutritional and lifestyle changes.
	Researchers find clues to drug resistance in medulloblastoma subtype A UNC Lineberger team led by Timothy Gershon, MD, Ph.D., associate professor in the UNC Department of Neurology, and Kirk Wilhelmsen MD, Ph.D., professor in neurology and the UNC Department of Genetics, reported in the journal Nature Communications that they have identified specific types of cells that cause targeted treatment to fail in a subtype of medulloblastoma. They found while the majority of cells responded to the treatment, diverse populations with in the tumor continue to grow, conferring treatment resistance.
	'Swiss cheese' bones could be cause of unexplained low back pain In experiments with genetically engineered and old mice, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have added to evidence that the vast majority of low back pain in people may be rooted in an overgrowth of pain-sensing nerves into spinal cartilaginous tissue.
	New small molecule to treat Alzheimer's disease and Dravet syndrome Gladstone researchers, in collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche group, have shown therapeutic efficacy of a new experimental drug in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and a rare genetic form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome. The small molecule increases the activity of a subset of neurotransmitter (NMDA) receptors that are found at synapses, the connection points between neurons. These receptors are known to support cognition and memory by enhancing communication between neurons. The new research shows that enhancing the activity of synaptic NMDA receptors helps restore the brain's rhythms to normal patterns, and improves memory.
	A solid vaccine for liquid tumors Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a deadly blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow and kills most of its victims within five years. Chemotherapy has been the standard AML treatment for over 40 years, and while it often causes the cancer to go into remission, it rarely completely eliminates the cancerous cells, which then lead to disease recurrence in nearly half of treated patients. Aggressive post-remission treatments, like high-dose chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants, can reduce the chance of recurrence, but many AML patients are not healthy enough to tolerate them.
	Brain blood flow sensor discovery could aid treatments for high blood pressure and dementia A study led by researchers at UCL has discovered the mechanism that allows the brain to monitor its own blood supply, a finding in rats which may help to find new treatments for human conditions including hypertension (high blood pressure) and dementia.
	Blood-clotting protein and blood platelets promote immune evasion, cancer progression A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James) reveals how a clotting protein and blood platelets can promote cancer progression and suppress immune responses to cancer.
	Hyperactive immune system gene causes schizophrenia-like changes in mice Excessive activity of an immune system gene previously linked to schizophrenia reproduces neural and behavioral aspects of the disease in mice, according to a new study publishing on January 14 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Ashley Comer and Alberto Cruz-Martín of Boston University and colleagues. The finding provides mechanistic support for the importance of the gene in the development of schizophrenia, and may offer a new avenue for therapy development.
	Brain model offers new insights into damage caused by stroke and other injuries He calls it his "chocolate and peanut butter moment."
	Children's packed lunches lack nutritional quality Fewer than two in every 100 packed lunches eaten by children in English primary schools meet nutritional standards, according to a major survey.
	Healthier school meals are evidence of the success of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act In a new analysis of studies conducted following the implementation of the 2010 Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA), researchers find positive effects on the dietary quality of meals served to school-aged children.
	Study finds persistent gender gap in medical paper publication A new study in the journal Family Practice, published by Oxford University Press, shows that there remains a meaningful gender gap between the number of biomedical papers written by women and those written by men.
Elevated leukemia incidence is found in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers Responders who worked at the World Trade Center site after the attacks on September 11, 2001, have an increased overall cancer incidence compared to the general population, particularly in thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and, for the first time ever reported, leukemia, according to a Mount Sinai study published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum in January.
Participants in environmental health studies vulnerable to re-identification Before sharing human research data, scientists routinely strip it of personal information such as name, address, and birthdate in order to protect the privacy of their study participants. However, reporting in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers at Silent Spring Institute and their colleagues show that for environmental health studies, that might not be enough—even anonymized data can sometimes be traced back to individuals.
	Hospital critical care resuscitation unit improves patients' chances of survival Patients with acutely life-threatening health conditions who were treated in the innovative Critical Care Resuscitation Unit (CCRU) received faster treatment and had better health outcomes, including a 36 percent lower risk of dying than those who were transferred from a hospital's emergency department then evaluated and treated in a traditional intensive care unit, according to a recent study in the Journal of Emergency Medicine conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
	Burnout linked with irregular heartbeat Feeling excessively tired, devoid of energy, demoralised, and irritable? You may have burnout, a syndrome associated with a potentially deadly heart rhythm disturbance. That's the conclusion of a large study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
	Only one in four Medicare patients participate in cardiac rehabilitation Too few people covered by Medicare participated in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or acute heart event or surgery, particularly women, the elderly and non-white patients, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	Long-term skin irritation linked to increased risk of tumor growth An antibody that usually helps defend the skin against harmful substances or infections may promote tumor growth during chronic tissue inflammation.
	Compassion training for parents may reduce their children's stress A new study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison shows that the young children of parents who take part in a compassion-based training program develop lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol over time.
	Access to Medicare increases cancer detection, reduces cancer mortality rate Access to Medicare significantly impacts detection of certain cancers and life expectancy following cancer diagnosis, according to a new study from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health that was recently published online in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.
	High-priced specialty drugs: Exposing the flaws in the system My husband, Andy, has Parkinson's disease. A year ago, his neurologist recommended a new pill that he was to take at bedtime. We quickly learned that the medication would cost US$1,300 for a one-month supply of 30 pills. In addition, Andy could obtain the drug from only one specialty pharmacy and would have to use mail order.
	Home-cooked meals linked to higher diet quality but lower-income Americans still fall behind Americans who cook meals at home frequently are more likely to have an overall better quality diet, but the association between cooking at home and diet quality differs between high- and low-income populations, according to a new study by University of Michigan researchers.
	Authors say vaccine advocates must harness power of story You know that old saw about how doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result constitutes insanity? Well, a new paper by researchers in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas doesn't go that far, but it does conclude that to counter anti-vaccine beliefs, those who favor universal vaccination against contagious diseases will have to do more than repeat the evidence denying the link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Instead, they will have to meet anti-vaxxers where they are: on contested ground where anecdotes, examples and conspiracy theories hold greater sway than scientific evidence.
	Discovery paves way for advances in treating cardiovascular disease A University of Otago researcher has made an innovative discovery which paves the way for advances in treating cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure.
	Virtual reality may be the next frontier in remote mental healthcare In recent years, experts have focused on finding better ways to improve remotely delivered mental health care.
	Busting myths about red meat More than half of Americans who make New Year's resolutions resolve to "eat healthier." If you're one, you might be confused about the role meat should play in your health.
	Getting to the heart of epinephrine use in pediatric cardiac arrest patients An international team of researchers led by Osaka University find that prehospital administration of epinephrine could result in a more favorable outcome for pediatric patients following out of hospital cardiac arrest
	What the heart has to do with the head If you want to protect your brain, get busy protecting your heart.
	Six curious facts about smell Don't underestimate the power of your nose. It makes our everyday eating experience pleasant and interesting and it warns us of spoiled food, corked wine and the dangers of gas and smoke. It evokes strong emotional reactions, influences sexual attraction and can be used as a sensitive analytical instrument.
	Preventing tuberculosis: A big drug price cut paves the way for global scale-up Lengthy negotiations ended in good news recently when the price of rifapentine, a lifesaving antibiotic, was marked down by 66% by its manufacturer Sanofi. When combined with another antibiotic (isoniazid), rifapentine can prevent tuberculosis (TB) disease. The move was announced at the Union World Conference on Lung Health in October 2019.
	Antibody technologies take a step closer to precision medicine The search for better cancer treatments continues, as current options often cause severe side effects. Less than 5% of experimental anticancer drugs are approved for use in humans, but scientists are bringing new technologies to the quest.
	Urgent action on diet needed to stem rising tide of chronic disease in less developed nations Researchers investigating differences in diet and related disease risk factors between men and women in lower income countries instead found an alarming degree of poor dietary habits that likely masked effects of gender, according to a new study published today.
	Racial discrimination accelerates telomere shortening, study finds An Auburn University-led study indicates that racism may result in tolls related to premature biological aging among African Americans. African Americans who reported more racial discrimination over a 10-year period showed signs of faster aging at the cellular level during the same time frame.
	Many older people's lens prescriptions are wrong Overall, Swedish 70-year-olds' eyesight is good, but many could see even better. Six in ten can improve their vision by getting eyeglasses or changing the power of the glasses they already have, according to a new study from the University of Gothenburg.
	Conversational difficulties with father affects adolescent health Conversational difficulties with father after a divorce affects the children's health negatively. "This demonstrates that contact with both parents after a divorce is important," says researcher Eivind Meland.
	Better surgical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients in hospitals with high case loads Patients with colorectal cancer have a greater chance of survival if they are operated in hospitals with a high case load. This is because complications that can occur after surgery can be better managed there.
	Exosomes promote remarkable recovery in stroke It's been almost a quarter century since the first drug was approved for stroke. But what's even more striking is that only a single drug remains approved today.
	Behavioral therapy first step for overactive bladder in men Among men with overactive bladder, combined behavioral and drug therapy is superior to drug therapy alone, but not behavioral therapy alone, for symptomatic improvement, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Physicians spend 16 minutes per visit on electronic health records use Physicians spend a considerable amount of time using electronic health records (EHRs) to support care delivery, with wide variation seen in the distribution of time within specialty, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Gout incidence down with SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes Adults with type 2 diabetes newly prescribed a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor have a lower incidence of gout than those prescribed a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Heart-function protein may help muscular dystrophy patients live longer A Rutgers-led team may have found the key to preventing Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)-related heart disease, the leading cause of death in patients living with the disease.
	Drinking deaths double in 2 decades with faster rate for women Deaths from boozing and bingeing more than doubled in the past two decades, as alcohol consumption per person rose 8%, with sharp increases in the rate for women and the middle-aged.
	Study links marijuana use in pregnancy to infant health risks Researchers in Minnesota and Iowa have found greater risks of social and emotional problems in infants whose mothers consumed marijuana during pregnancy.
	Large study of genetic differences reveals several new targets for variety of diseases While subtle differences in the number of genes copied from one individual and passed down to the next can be found in many healthy people, their role in disease may be much greater than previously thought.
	'Marshmallow test' redux: Children show better self-control when they depend on each other Children are more likely to control their immediate impulses when they and a peer rely on each other to get a reward than when they're left to their own willpower, new research indicates.
	Program decreases stress among parents in low-income diverse populations Low-income parents reported lower perceived parenting stress and better overall outcomes when parents participated in Parenting Journey, a community-delivered curriculum designed to increase resilience and support nurturing family relationships.
	Team identify molecule that suppresses melanoma tumors A promising route to develop new treatments for skin cancer has been identified by University of Bath scientists, who have found a molecule that suppresses melanoma tumor growth.
	Cannabinoids improve symptoms in mice with endometriosis Initial results from treating endometriosis in mice with cannabinoids suggest they can alleviate some symptoms of the disease, according to a new study in the open-access journal eLife.
	A quicker answer on cancer, with waits cut from 84 days to 6 A rapid diagnosis centre has cut waiting times for patients with non-specific symptoms who may have cancer from 84 days to 6, and costs less than current usual care if used at more than 80% of capacity, a new study by Swansea University researchers and NHS colleagues has shown.
	Siblings of children with intellectual disabilities score high on empathy and closeness The sibling relationship is the longest most people will enjoy in their lifetimes and is central to the everyday lives of children. A new Tel Aviv University and University of Haifa study finds that relationships between children and their siblings with intellectual disabilities are more positive than those between typically developing siblings.
	Two cancer-causing genes work together to promote metastasis Cancer-promoting genes MYC and TWIST1 co-opt immune system cells to enable cancer cells to spread, but blocking a key step in this process can help prevent the disease from developing.
	Sugar changes the chemistry of your brain The idea of food addiction is a very controversial topic among scientists. Researchers from Aarhus University have delved into this topic and examined what happens in the brains of pigs when they drink sugar water. The conclusion is clear: sugar influences brain reward circuitry in ways similar to those observed when addictive drugs are consumed. The results have just been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
	School indoor air quality cannot be reliably assessed based on pupils' symptoms In school buildings with indoor air quality related problems, such as moisture damage, temperature problems or poor ventilation, pupils experience slightly more symptoms than in buildings in which conditions are stated to be good based on expert evaluation.
	HIV 'hotspots' not necessarily major drivers of new infections Areas of high HIV prevalence, known as 'hotspots', do not necessarily fuel the epidemic in the wider population, say researchers.
	'Coolsculpting' inventors develop new non-surgical method for targeting fat How cool is this: the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) laboratory that invented cryolipolisis or "Coolsculpting," a popular non-surgical method for reducing fat under the skin, is developing a new form of the technology that can selectively reduce fat almost anywhere in the body using a safe, injectable ice solution or "slurry."
	Unfruitful: Eating more produce will not cure, stop prostate cancer National guidelines recommend that men with prostate cancer eat a vegetable-rich diet, suggesting it might decrease cancer progression and death. But in a Phase III randomized clinical trial, patients with prostate cancer assigned to eat seven or more servings of vegetables and fruits daily saw no extra protection from the increased consumption of micronutrients.
	Doctor replacement ratios higher in largest, hospital-owned practices (HealthDay)—From 2009 to 2016, more physicians entering the Medicare program worked at large group or hospital-owned practices than small group or independent practices, according to a research letter published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Robotic surgery saw 8.4-fold increase from 2012 to 2018 (HealthDay)—Hospitals that launch robotic surgery programs have a broad and immediate increase in the use of robotic surgery, accompanied by a decrease in traditional laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in JAMA Network Open.
	Reduced inhaler use is safe for infants with bronchiolitis Bronchiolitis, a lung infection that is one of the most common reasons for hospitalizations in young children, is most prevalent during the winter months and is usually treated with albuterol delivered via inhalers, despite evidence showing no benefit in most patients. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) redesigned the hospital's standard treatment for the infection and reduced albuterol use without compromising care.
	Study suggests new strategy for treating advanced, progressing bile duct cancer A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC—James) shows how resistance to a promising targeted drug develops in patients with a rare, lethal cancer of the bile ducts called cholangiocarcinoma.
	Impaired driving—even once the high wears off A study by McLean Hospital's Mary Kathryn Dahlgren, Ph.D., Staci Gruber, Ph.D., and their team from McLean's Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core and the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program, has found that recreational cannabis use affects driving ability even when users are not intoxicated by marijuana.
	Racial disparities in heart failure explained Researchers at UT Southwestern have uncovered evidence that the higher prevalence of "malignant" enlargement of the heart among blacks contributes to the higher incidence of heart failure in this population. The new study is published online in the journal Circulation.
Study examines attitudes toward transgender athletes As several states draft legislation that would force student-athletes to play as their gender identified on their birth certificate instead of on a team that matches their gender identity, a team of political scientists investigated underlying factors that drive public opinion on transgender athletes.
	NAU engineer developing biomaterial for improved treatment of cerebral aneurysms Tim Becker, an associate professor of practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Northern Arizona University, is developing a polypropylene glycol-based biomaterial called PPODA-QT, which is similar to body tissue, to treat aneurysms in the brain and improve outcomes for stroke and potential stroke patients.
Aid group warns of Yemen dengue epidemic after 78 child deaths At least 78 children in war-torn Yemen have died from dengue-related illnesses, Save the Children said Tuesday, warning of an epidemic.
	Genetics could explain how traumatic events affect people's health Facing the death of a loved one, being given a life-threatening diagnosis, or living through a natural disaster is difficult enough. But those who get through these traumatic life events often face further ill effects.
	Researchers listen to rural Kentuckians—then score a win for heart health Researchers who went into one of the nation's poorest regions to educate people about their health ended up getting a few lessons themselves—and together, they made some striking improvements.

Biology news

	Life's clockwork: Scientist shows how molecular engines keep us ticking In the popular book The Demon in the Machine, physicist Paul Davies argues that what's missing in the definition of life is how biological processes create "information," and such information storage is the stuff of life, like a bird's ability to navigate or a human's ability to solve complex problems. The "Demon" Davies refers to is Maxwell's Demon, as proposed by 19th century physicist James Clerk Maxwell as a thought experiment. Maxwell's hypothetical "demon" controls a gate between two chambers of gas and knows when to open the gate only to allow gas molecules moving faster than average to pass through it. This way, a chamber could be heated and create "energy" to be put to work. Such a demon would amount to a workaround of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. And that, as we know, is impossible. We also know, of course, that demons don't exist.
	The advantage of changing sex in fish population recovery Humans eat a lot of fish, in some areas of the world making up an essential part of our diet. Fishing can sometimes deplete fish populations to the point where the fish have difficulty reproducing and growing their numbers again. Establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that limit or eliminate fishing within their borders can help fish to replenish their populations. They can then be harvested when they venture outside the MPA, spilling out into surrounding waters where fishers benefit from the recovered abundance.
	Custom-built molecules enable editing of genes previously obscured by DNA's innately protective structure Protein editorial assistants are clearing the way for cut-and-paste DNA editors, like CRISPR, to access previously inaccessible genes of interest. Opening up these areas of the genetic code is critical to improving CRISPR efficiency and moving toward futuristic, genetic-based assaults on disease.
	What we're learning about the reproductive microbiome Most research has focused on the oral, skin, and gut microbiomes, but bacteria, viruses, and fungi living within our reproductive systems may also affect sperm quality, fertilization, embryo implantation, and other aspects of conception and reproduction. Yet, according to a review published January 14 in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, little is known about the reproductive microbiome.
	A simple twist of cell fate How do a couple of universally expressed proteins in stem cells and developing embryos influence an individual cell's ultimate fate—whether it ultimately becomes, for example, a retinal cell, a heart muscle cell, or a stomach lining cell?
	Cat parasite reduces general anxiety in infected mice, not just fear of feline predators The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause infected rodents to lose their fear of feline predators, which makes the mice easier to catch. Predators then spread the parasites through their feces. But this so-called fatal feline attraction theory is flawed, suggests a study publishing January 14 in the journal Cell Reports. Rather than exhibiting a loss of feline-specific fear, infected rodents actually show a decrease in general anxiety and reduced aversion to a wide range of threats.
	Malaria in the Amazon increases with deforestation A study by NSF-funded scientists Andy MacDonald at UC Santa Barbara and Erin Mordecai at Stanford found a direct relationship between deforestation in the Amazon and the transmission of malaria by mosquitoes. Regions with a lot of deforestation saw many more cases of malaria. The increase in malaria was associated with a subsequent decrease in the rate of deforestation. The paper appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	RNA provides clues to explain longevity of ginkgo trees A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China and one in the U.S. has found that ginkgo biloba trees do not experience senescence. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their RNA analysis of Ginkgo biloba cambium and what they learned from it.
	Surprising beauty found in bacterial cultures Microbial communities inhabit every ecosystem on Earth, from soil to rivers to the human gut. While monoclonal cultures often exist in labs, in the real world, many different microbial species inhabit the same space. Researchers at University of California San Diego have discovered that when certain microbes pair up, stunning floral patterns emerge.
	Researchers discover new strategy in the fight against antibiotic resistance Bioscience engineers from KU Leuven in Belgium have developed a new antibacterial strategy that weakens bacteria by preventing them from cooperating. Unlike with antibiotics, there is no resistance to this strategy, because the non-resistant bacteria outnumber resistant ones. The findings are published in Nature Communications.
	New study reveals international movements of Atlantic tarpon, need for protection The results of an 18-year study of Atlantic tarpon by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science revealed that these large silvery fish take extensive seasonal migrations—1,000s of kilometers in distance—beyond U.S. borders. The new findings can help protect the fish, which is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN—International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the main draw of a more than $6 billion catch-and-release sport fishing industry in the United States.
	New research finds ranchers consider diverse factors in managing their land Wetlands in the Intermountain West, a region nestled between the Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range, and the Sierra Nevada, are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Wetlands may only make up two percent of the region, but 80 percent of wildlife rely on the rich habitat they provide. The majority of these wetlands are located on private ranchlands. While the persistence of these "working wetlands" depends on the management decisions of ranchers, their perspectives are often missing from conservation and policy-making discussions.
	Scientists bolt down the defenses against ambrosia beetles Exotic ambrosia beetles are costly pests of ornamental and fruit trees nationwide—from front-yard plantings of Japanese maple and oak to commercially grown orchards of cherry, peach, plum and even avocado.
	Sea urchins could prove to be Rhode Island's next climate-resilient crop Atlantic purple sea urchins are common in coastal waters along the East Coast, and University of Rhode Island scientist Coleen Suckling thinks the Ocean State could become the home of a new industry to raise the spiny marine creatures for consumption in Japan and elsewhere around the world.
	Australia's bushfires could drive more than 700 animal species to extinction The scale and speed of the current bushfire crisis has caught many people off-guard, including biodiversity scientists. People are scrambling to estimate the long-term effects. It is certain that many animal species will be pushed to the brink of extinction, but how many?
	Is that plant healthy? Using the waxy surface of leaves to monitor their health We can't easily monitor the health of plants, by the time we see that they're sick it's usually too late to save that. That's an issue for your house plants, a field of wheat, orchards and plantations.
	Five things to know about rats For some people, just the sight of a rat's naked tail or beady eyes may be enough to cause them to shriek or get the shivers. But Cummings School program coordinator Virginia Shugrue was unfazed when her daughter, Elise, expressed an interest in getting pet rats a few years ago.
	Getting to know your microbiome better In recent years, our gut microbiome has expanded from the relative obscurity of a culture dish to become firmly established in popular culture.
	Parasitoid wasp species discovered in the Amazon can manipulate host's behavior A research group from the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku studies the diversity of parasitoid insects around the world. Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) are one of the most species rich animal taxa on Earth, but their tropical diversity is still poorly known. In the latest study, the group discovered 15 new, sizable species that parasitize spiders in the lowland rainforests of the Amazon and the cloud forests of the Andes.
	Microorganisms fed with toxic gas to produce biofuel Today, various processes are used to convert organic waste into biogas. By combining two different processes, it is possible to obtain even more of valuable substances such as hydrogen and methane. The key is to make the most of the microorganisms that do the work.
	Egg trading between hermaphroditic fish: Why would you give when you can just take? The sex life of hermaphroditic animals is determined by one fundamental question: Who assumes the female role and produces the costly eggs? Hamlets avoid this dilemma by engaging in reciprocal egg trading. Scientists have now used microeconomic models to analyze the circumstances required for this complex system of trading to work. Their results have been published in The American Naturalist.
	Scientists seek urgent action on impacts of climate change on reptiles and amphibians World leaders in reptile and amphibian research say there is an urgent international need to acknowledge the evidence for global climate change and take immediate action to help save these vulnerable animals.
	Plant genomes reveal the basis for adaptation to contrasting climates It is an open question how we can ensure that our crop plants remain productive in a changing climate. Plants are confronted with similar climate adaptation challenges when colonising new regions, as climate conditions can change quickly across latitudes and landscapes. Despite the relevance of the question, there is very limited basic scientific insight into how plants tackle this challenge and adapt to local climate conditions. Researchers from Denmark, Japan, Austria and Germany have now published the results of their research on this very subject.
	Scientists hope to defeat infections after discovering bacterial espionage University of Tartu scientists hope to create a solution for chronic infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatment, after having discovered mechanisms for listening in on sleeping bacteria.
	Researchers develop tool to identify molecular receptors in worms Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have developed a tool to identify molecular receptors in worms that are involved in sensing pheromones related to mating, an advance that could speed up neuroscience research into pheromones by eliminating months of work.
	Makeshift koala hospital scrambles to save dozens injured in bushfires Dozens of injured koalas arrive at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park's makeshift animal hospital each day in cat carriers, washing baskets or clinging to wildlife carers.
	You can leave water out for wildlife without attracting mosquitoes if you take a few precautions Australia is in for a long, hot summer. The recent bushfires have been devastating for communities and wildlife. Drought is also impacting many regions.
	New E. coli-infecting bacteriophage introduced in PHAGE A new coliphage—a bacteriophage that infects and can destroy Escherichia coli—is presented and characterized in PHAGE: Therapy, Applications, and Research.

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