Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 4

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Newsletter for February 4, 2016:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 3:27 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 4
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 4, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists guide gold nanoparticles to form 'diamond' superlattices
- Physicists discover new properties of superconductivity
- Are asteroid fragments drifting around a distant white dwarf star?
- Functional biological compass linked to light receptor protein
- A newly discovered form of immunity helps explain how bacteria fight off viruses
- Scientists take key step toward custom-made nanoscale chemical factories
- DNA evidence uncovers major upheaval in Europe near end of last Ice Age
- Walking on water: Researchers unravel science of skipping spheres
- Do venture capitalists matter? Yes, finds a study
- Innovative alarm protects your bag
- How gut inflammation sparks colon cancer
- Natural protein points to new inflammation treatment
- Scientists bridge different materials by design
- Scientists find brain plasticity assorted into functional networks
- Individuals' medical histories predicted by their noncoding genomes, study finds

Nanotechnology news

	Scientists guide gold nanoparticles to form 'diamond' superlattices Using bundled strands of DNA to build Tinkertoy-like tetrahedral cages, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have devised a way to trap and arrange nanoparticles in a way that mimics the crystalline structure of diamond. The achievement of this complex yet elegant arrangement, as described in a paper published February 5, 2016, in Science, may open a path to new materials that take advantage of the optical and mechanical properties of this crystalline structure for applications such as optical transistors, color-changing materials, and lightweight yet tough materials.
	New technique leads to creation of elastic high-strength carbon nanotube film (Phys.org)—A new technique developed by researchers at East China University of Science and Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University has led to the development of a high-strength carbon nanotube film that retains much of the elasticity of native carbon nanotubes. In their paper published in the journal Nano Letters, the team describes their technique and the characteristics of the materials they made.
	Scientists take key step toward custom-made nanoscale chemical factories Scientists have for the first time reengineered a building block of a geometric nanocompartment that occurs naturally in bacteria. They introduced a metal binding site to its shell that will allow electrons to be transferred to and from the compartment. This provides an entirely new functionality, greatly expanding the potential of nanocompartments to serve as custom-made chemical factories.
	Graphene is strong, but is it tough? Graphene, a material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms, has been touted as the strongest material known to exist, 200 times stronger than steel, lighter than paper, and with extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties. But can it live up to its promise?
	Discovery of the specific properties of graphite-based carbon materials Research collaborators have shown from detailed measurements that in atomically flat areas of a nitrogen-doped graphite surface in the absence of external magnetic fields, Landau levels manifest corresponding to super strong magnetic fields of approximately 100 tesla across bilayer graphene.

Physics news

	Physicists discover new properties of superconductivity New findings from an international collaboration led by Canadian scientists may eventually lead to a theory of how superconductivity initiates at the atomic level, a key step in understanding how to harness the potential of materials that could provide lossless energy storage, levitating trains and ultra-fast supercomputers.
	Superfast light pulses able to measure response time of electrons to light (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from Germany, the U.S. and Russia has found a way to measure the time it takes for an electron in an atom to respond to a pulse of light. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their use of a light field synthesizer to create pulses of light so fast that they were able to reveal the time it took for electrons in an atom to respond when struck. Kyung Taec Kim with the Gwangju Institute of Science offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue, outlining their work and noting one issue that still needs to be addressed with such work.
	Scientists bridge different materials by design Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown that it is possible to design and construct interfaces between materials with different structures by making a bridge between them.
	Walking on water: Researchers unravel science of skipping spheres It takes a perfect flick of the wrist and just the right angle to get a disk-shaped stone to skip across the surface of the water multiple times. So why is it so easy to get such impressive water-skipping performance from an elastic ball with only a mediocre launch?
Seeding better efficiencies in monocrystalline silicon solar cells Researchers at MANA have developed a single-seed silicon cast method. Compared with conventional casting, the new method enables dramatic improvements in the crystalline quality of the silicon that are expected to improve the efficiency of silicon solar cells.
	Super-resolution microscope promises faster, cheaper kidney disease diagnosis A discovery, published this month in the journal Biomedical Optics Express, could allow doctors to diagnose kidney diseases faster and for less cost – using a new super-resolution microscope adapted by physicists at the University of St Andrews.
Germanium-based photonics offer promise for novel sensors and faster internet Mid-infrared light, which has a wavelength longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves, has many important applications in remote sensing and communication technologies. Researchers in Japan have demonstrated the successful operation of several new photonic components that can effectively guide the passage of mid-infrared light. The research may lead to a faster internet and sensitive detectors for important molecules like carbon dioxide. The team presents their results at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC), held March 20-24 in Anaheim, California, USA.
	A fast solidification process makes material crackle What does it sound like when liquids solidify very quickly?
	Metal oxide sandwiches: New option to manipulate properties of interfaces A Franco-German cooperation has investigated a sandwich system of transition metal oxides at BESSY II. The scientists discovered a new option to control properties of the interface between the two layers, for instance the amount of charge transferred from one layer to the other or the emergence of ferromagnetism. Their insights might help to create new properties at the interface, not present in the primary materials, maybe even novel forms of High Tc superconductivity.
	A versatile optical sensor for the characterization of fluids Laser self-mixing is a technique usually used for the measurement of low velocities and vibrations. In a paper that has just been published in the journal Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, researchers from the Cockcroft Institute/University of Liverpool present how these measurements can be extended to velocities of fluids using additional seeding particles. Parameters of fluids such as velocity and the concentration of seeding particles were under study to understand the effect on the performance of the sensor for possible future use on gas jets.

Earth news

	Scientists map movement of Greenland Ice during past 9,000 years Scientists have created the first map that shows how the Greenland Ice Sheet has moved over time, revealing that ice in the interior is moving more slowly toward the edges than it has, on average, during the past 9,000 years.
	Russian scientists blow up ice to test their theories Supposing that a week ago, the air temperature was about zero, what is the best, safest method to blow up ice on rivers? What is the best way to plant explosives in conditions of low temperature when spring ice will not melt? The mechanics of Tomsk State University (TSU) have left their warm laboratories to test their methods in practice.
	Turning off Niagara Falls could yield insight on how waterfalls carve canyons, expert says It's not every day that you get to turn off a major waterfall.
	Plastic debris crossing the Pacific can transport more species with the help of barnacles The smooth surfaces of much of the plastic waste rapidly increasing in the ocean appear to provide poor habitat for animals—that is, until barnacles step in.
	New science helps put spotlight on unseen global impacts As the world grows more connected, "out of sight, out of mind" looms as a perilous consequence of globalization. A sustainability scholar presents an integrated way to track the many footprints that are made in global transactions in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment this month.
	Southwest sliding into a new normal: Drier conditions The weather patterns that typically bring moisture to the Southwest are becoming more rare, an indication that the region is sliding into the drier climate state predicted by global models, according to a new study.
	NASA measures ten days of US extreme precipitation from space For more than a week the weather over the continental United States has been punctuated by extreme events. NASA analyzed satellite data that measured the heavy precipitation over ten days from late January to early February.
Team calls for integrated field research network in Midwest to address climate adaptation From a global trade and agriculture perspective, the world heavily depends on the Midwest. The United States is the biggest exporter in the world of primary foodstuffs, such as corn and soybean, with most of that predominantly produced by Midwest farmers.
	The seawater temperature distribution in tropics causes the low amount of rainfall in East Asia A wide swatch of Asia, from the tropics to the mid-latitudes, which has wet and dry seasons, is significantly affected by "Asian monsoons." The amount of rainfall in particular has a close relationship to agriculture and damage from flooding. For this reason, understanding the mechanisms of changes in the Asian monsoon and being able to forecast such changes are vital to social and economic activities in the region. It is said that from the middle to the end of the 20th century, the amount of land-based rainfall from monsoons has declined globally. Looking at regions such as East Asia, major changes have been confirmed by region over a 10-year to multiple-decade period. The mechanisms of change in regional rainfall are extremely complex, and there remained great uncertainty in making future forecasts.
	Sustainable silage maize farming requires earlier varieties Dutch silage maize farmers can increase their yield in the long term by using earlier varieties. This was the conclusion reached by maize scientists at Wageningen UR based on many years of practical cultivation tests. The use of earlier varieties increases the chance that the maize will ripen properly and ensures better (soil) conditions for harvesting. Moreover, it would provide more space for growing a full-value after-crop, such as green manure crops or the creation of new grassland. A well-developed after-crop prevents minerals from leaching out of the soil and deposits organic material in the soil. This is important for maintaining soil fertility and, therefore, yields.
Seven ways we can fight back against flooding There is no panacea for flood events, but there a range of things we can either do better or start doing to mitigate or adapt to them.

Astronomy & Space news

	Are asteroid fragments drifting around a distant white dwarf star? (Phys.org)—WD 1145+017, a white dwarf star located some 570 light years from the Earth, captured the attention of astronomers last year, when evidence suggested that a rocky object orbiting it was being ripped apart. It was the first discovery of a planetological body transiting a white dwarf. Now, a team of astronomers lead by Saul Rappaport of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), unveils evidence that the mysterious object is an asteroid and its fragments are drifting around this dense star remnant. A paper describing the new findings was published online on Feb. 1 in the arXiv journal.
	Inside Rosetta's comet There are no large caverns inside Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. ESA's Rosetta mission has made measurements that clearly demonstrate this, solving a long-standing mystery.
	A violent wind blown from the heart of a galaxy tells the tale of a merger An international team led by a researcher from Hiroshima University has succeeded in revealing the detailed structure of a massive ionized gas outflow streaming from the starburst galaxy NGC 6240 (Figure 1). The team used the Suprime-Cam mounted on the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope on Maunakea in Hawaii.
	NASA's Juno spacecraft burns for Jupiter NASA's solar-powered Juno spacecraft successfully executed a maneuver to adjust its flight path today, Feb. 3. The maneuver refined the spacecraft's trajectory, helping set the stage for Juno's arrival at the solar system's largest planetary inhabitant five months and a day from now.
	Pluto's mysterious, floating hills The nitrogen ice glaciers on Pluto appear to carry an intriguing cargo: numerous, isolated hills that may be fragments of water ice from Pluto's surrounding uplands. These hills individually measure one to several miles or kilometers across, according to images and data from NASA's New Horizons mission.
	Russian spacewalk marks end of ESA's exposed space chemistry ESA's Expose facility was retrieved yesterday from outside the International Space Station by cosmonauts Yuri Malenchenko and Sergei Volkov, who were completing a spacewalk to place new experiments on the outpost's hull.
	The long hunt for new objects in our expanding solar system Recognise these planet names: Vulcan, Neptune, Pluto, Nemesis, Tyche and Planet X? They all have one thing in common: their existence was predicted to account for unexplained phenomena in our solar system.
	China shares stunning new moon photos with the world China has released hundreds of images of the moon, taken by its Chang'e 3 lander and its companion rover, Yutu. It's been 50 years since the first lunar photos were taken by astronauts on NASA's Apollo 11 mission. China is the third nation to land on the Moon, with the USA and the USSR preceding them.
	Sentinel-3A fully tanked With the launch of Sentinel-3A confirmed for 16 February, preparations for liftoff are charging full speed ahead. The tricky task of fuelling the satellite has now been ticked off the 'to do list' and the propulsion team is already decontaminating their equipment before returning home.
	NIST performs critical measurements for James Webb Space Telescope The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has accurately measured parts designed for the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, the long-awaited successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The NIST-measured composite titanium and stainless steel parts, which support the skeleton for the telescope's massive mirror, will be used in the final round of NASA's vibration tests on the mirror assembly before the telescope's scheduled launch in October 2018.
	Astrophysicists use new methods to simulate the common-envelope phase of binary stars When we look at the night sky, we see stars as tiny points of light eking out a solitary existence at immense distances from Earth. But appearances are deceptive. More than half the stars we know of have a companion, a second nearby star that can have a major impact on their primary companions. The interplay within these so-called binary star systems is particularly intensive when the two stars involved are going through a phase in which they are surrounded by a common envelope consisting of hydrogen and helium. Compared to the overall time taken by stars to evolve, this phase is extremely short, so astronomers have great difficulty observing and hence understanding it. This is where theoretical models with highly compute-intensive simulations come in. Research into this phenomenon is relevant understanding a number of stellar events such as supernovae.
	James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror fully assembled The 18th and final primary mirror segment is installed on what will be the biggest and most powerful space telescope ever launched. The final mirror installation Wednesday at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland marks an important milestone in the assembly of the agency's James Webb Space Telescope.
	NASA team demonstrates loading of Swedish 'green' propellant A NASA team has successfully demonstrated the handling and loading of a new-fangled, Swedish-developed "green propellant" that smells like glass cleaner, looks like chardonnay, but has proven powerful enough to propel a satellite.
	New made-in-NTU satellite technologies pass space tests The two new satellites launched by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) two months ago have successfully completed their first space missions.

Technology news

	World's biggest wind farm given go-ahead off Britain A wind farm that would be the largest in the world and power more than a million homes has been given the go-ahead in Britain.
	Footsteps could power mobile devices When you're on the go and your smartphone battery is low, in the not-so-distant future, you could charge it simply by plugging it into … your shoe.
	Mozilla to kill Firefox smartphone operating system The Firefox smartphone operating system is being shut down, three years after a launch aimed at challenging the dominant platforms powered by Apple and Google, developers said Thursday.
	Innovative alarm protects your bag Leave your bag unattended without running the risk of it being stolen. This may become a reality, as a unique concept - a small, high-tech alarm developed by Master's students at Lund University - could be on the market soon.
	Sound-tweaking earbuds and app fine-tune music, real-life noise Earbuds that redefine how we hear the world? The Here Active Listening system including earbuds from Doppler Labs, which ran a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, is inviting people to sign up on their waiting list.
	Battery technology could charge up water desalination The technology that charges batteries for electronic devices could provide fresh water from salty seas, says a new study by University of Illinois engineers. Electricity running through a salt water-filled battery draws the salt ions out of the water.
	GoPro shares dive as company logs losing quarter GoPro shares dove on Wednesday after the mini-camera maker reported quarterly earnings that were worse than the market's dismal expectations.
Roberts sold more than $250,000 in Microsoft stock The Supreme Court's recent decision to step into a relatively unimportant case involving Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming system revealed that Chief Justice John Roberts has sold between $250,000 and $500,000 in Microsoft stock in the past year.
	Sharp weighs investment proposals, decision within a month Troubled Japanese electronics maker Sharp plans to decide within a month between investment offers from Taiwanese company Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, or a consortium of Japanese investors.
Cisco buying IoT platform Jasper for $1.4 bn US computer networking titan Cisco announced on Wednesday that it is buying Internet of Things service platform Jasper Technologies in a deal valued at $1.4 billion.
	Jury orders Apple to pay more than $625mn for violating patents A Texas jury said that Apple should pay $625.6 million for violating patents held by a US company devoted to patent litigation.
Nuclear research team develops methodology for tracing illegal nuclear material to source Researchers at the Nuclear Security and Science Policy Institute (NSSPI) in conjunction with the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University, and Professor Charles M. Folden III at the Cyclotron Institute, have developed a new method in nuclear forensics research to determine the reactor origins of weapons-grade plutonium. This methodology gives investigators and other government entities the ability to track the production source of black market nuclear materials, specifically plutonium.
	Automakers to recall 5M vehicles for another air bag problem Another problem has developed with automotive air bags, and this one will bring recalls of up to 5 million vehicles worldwide.
	Amazon teams up with Spotify for wireless speaker Amazon said Thursday that its Echo wireless system will play songs from Spotify as the retail giant delves further into the booming sector of streaming.
	Morocco launches first solar power plant King Mohammed VI on Thursday inaugurated Morocco's first solar power plant, a massive project that the country sees as part of its goal of boosting its clean energy output.
	Smartphones for sensing As a core communication device, the mobile phone is increasingly popular in our daily lives. A wide variety of functional units and friendly operating systems make mobile phones eminently suitable for smart technological applications, and mobile phones have also attracted the interest of scientists.
	Successful biobased pilot installations in Lelystad fully operational for businesses Fermentation of manure and biomass can become more economically viable if it is combined with biorefinery and the residual streams are optimally used. The EnergieRijk PPS programme has therefore linked a co-fermenter to biorefinery installations and an algae pond. Although the successful project has now been concluded, the research facilities at the ACRRES premises in Lelystad are still fully operational and used by Wageningen UR plant and animal scientists in cooperation with various companies.
	An innovative system for prioritizing urban buses and emergency vehicles Reinhard Schopf, head of the Transport and Urban Services department of the South-German city of Böblingen, speaks about the huge efficiency benefits and the unusual story behind Sitraffic Stream, an innovative system for prioritizing urban buses and emergency vehicles.
	CEO Dauman takes over chair at Viacom, replacing Redstone Aging media mogul Sumner Redstone stepped down as executive chairman of Viacom on Thursday and was replaced by CEO Philippe Dauman, a move that immediately disappointed investors.
	LinkedIn shares tumble on weak forecast for 2016 LinkedIn finished last year with better-than-expected financial results, but a weak forecast for 2016 is sending the company's stock plunging more than 25 percent.

Chemistry news

	Film coating transforms contact lenses into computer screens A polymer film coating with the ability to turn contact lenses into computer screens is set to transform the wearable visual aids into the next generation of consumer electronics.
	The future of medicine could be found in this tiny crystal ball A Drexel University materials scientist has discovered a way to grow a crystal ball in a lab. Not the kind that soothsayers use to predict the future, but a microscopic version that could be used to encapsulate medication in a way that would allow it to deliver its curative payload more effectively inside the body.
	Team creates elastic materials that gleam when stretched Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have shown that instantly transforming a dull surface to a mirror-like sheen is hardly a stretch. In fact, that's all it takes.
	Room-temperature lithium metal battery closer to reality Rechargeable lithium metal batteries have been known for four decades to offer energy storage capabilities far superior to today's workhorse lithium-ion technology that powers our smartphones and laptops. But these batteries are not in common use today because, when recharged, they spontaneously grow treelike bumps called dendrites on the surface of the negative electrode.
	Lithium battery catalyst found to harm key soil microorganism The material at the heart of the lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles, laptop computers and smartphones has been shown to impair a key soil bacterium, according to new research published online in the journal Chemistry of Materials.
	Antibiotic's killer strategy revealed Using a special profiling technique, scientists at Princeton have determined the mechanism of action of a potent antibiotic, known as tropodithietic acid (TDA), leading them to uncover its hidden ability as a potential anticancer agent.
	Organic crystals allow creating flexible electronic devices Scientists from the faculty of physics of the Moscow State University have grown organic semiconductor crystals that can reduce the cost of creating light, flexible and transparent light-emitting electronic devices. The researchers, in cooperation with Russian and foreign colleagues, have grown organic semiconductor crystals with extremely high light-emitting efficiency that promise a bright future for wet-processed organic optoelectronics.
	Color-changing probes shed light on protein sensing A novel fluorescent probe library has been developed by a research team including scientists from the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo. The findings are published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.
	Breakthrough for magnesium lightweight materials By changing the microstructure in magnesium alloys, Mohsen Esmaily, researcher in Atmospheric Corrosion at Chalmers University of Technology, has succeeded in improving possibilities for the transport sector to use these materials to decrease the weight of vehicles.
	Video: Helium beer—prank or possible? Brewers usually fill their kegs with carbon dioxide or nitrogen. But every once in a while, some brewers will post a video announcing they have made beer with helium—and have the high voices to prove it. While these videos are eventually exposed as pranks, the scientific possibility of helium beer is real.
	New material lights up when detecting explosives Scientists have created a material which turns fluorescent if there are molecules from explosives in the vicinity. The discovery could improve e.g. airport security - and also it gives us an insight into a rather chaotic micro-world where molecules and atoms constantly are responding to their surroundings.

Biology news

	Functional biological compass linked to light receptor protein (Phys.org)—Many animals including birds and insects have been observed to perceive geomagnetic fields. Past studies have demonstrated that cryptochrome/photolyase family (CPF) light receptor proteins are involved in animal behavioral responses to the presence of geomagnetic fields, but so far, no studies have determined whether these proteins are linked with the direction of the magnetic field vector.
	Loss of wild flowers across Britain matches pollinator decline The first ever Britain-wide assessment of the value of wild flowers as food for pollinators, led by the University of Bristol, shows that decreasing resources mirror the decline of pollinating insects, providing new evidence to support the link between plant and pollinator decline.
	Bears' seasonal hibernation linked to changes in gut microbes Each year, as bears prepare to hibernate, they gorge themselves on food to pack on fat. And yet, despite the rapid weight gain, the animals somehow avoid the health consequences so often associated with obesity in humans. Now, researchers reporting in Cell Reports on February 4 show that the bears' shifting metabolic status is associated with significant changes in their gut microbes.
	Bee virus spread manmade and emanates from Europe The spread of a disease that is decimating global bee populations is manmade, and driven by European honeybee populations, new research has concluded.
	Study finds ratio between speed of evolution, population change Does evolution really trundle along like Darwin's famous Galapagos tortoise? And do the populations undergoing this evolution really grow and decline with the speed of a hare?
	Study finds half of attacks on people by large carnivores in the wild due to risky behavior (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from several countries in Europe and Canada has found that approximately half of all attacks on humans by large carnivores in the wild can be attributed at least in part, to risky behavior by those that have been attacked. In their paper published in Scientific Reports, the team describes the study they carried out, their results and their hope that better education will prevent more such attacks from happening in the future.
	The return of the flatworm Where does the acoel flatworm belong in the tree of life? Biologists have discussed this question for the last 20 years. Now Andreas Hejnol and his colleagues at the Sars Centre believe they have found the answer. The results are published in Nature.
	A newly discovered form of immunity helps explain how bacteria fight off viruses When seeking to protect themselves from viruses, some bacteria use a seemingly risky strategy: They wait until the invading virus has already begun to replicate. Research at The Rockefeller University shows how the microbes use two newly identified enzymes to fight off an infection even after delaying action.
	Molecular switch lets salmonella fight or evade immune system Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered a molecular regulator that allows salmonella bacteria to switch from actively causing disease to lurking in a chronic but asymptomatic state called a biofilm.
	Get a room! Tokyo zoo's bashful pandas try for a baby Two giant pandas at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo have been given some private time in a bid to create a romantic environment in which the bashful creatures can mate.
	Scientists overcome hurdles for champion racehorses Scientists at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) are a step closer to preventing the kind of injuries that affect ageing race horses like champion hurdler Rock on Ruby, the winner of Coral Hurdle at Ascot in 2015.
	Scientists disable infectious bacteria by removing key protein Scientists at the John Innes Centre and the University of East Anglia have made an exciting discovery that could provide a new way to prevent bacterial infections in both humans and plants without triggering multi-drug resistance in bacteria.
	Making use of the head Move over metal fans—there's a new head-banging king in town.
	Researchers sequence first bedbug genome Scientists have assembled the first complete genome of one of humanity's oldest and least-loved companions: the bedbug. The new work, led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History and Weill Cornell Medicine, and published Feb. 2 in Nature Communications, could help combat pesticide resistance in the unwelcome parasite. The data also provides a rich genetic resource for mapping bedbug activity in human hosts and in cities, including subways.
	Scientists boost lifespan of mice by deleting defective cells The ageing population is one of the greatest challenges facing society. More people are surviving to old age than ever before, but we currently lack the means to keep them healthy and independent. If a treatment existed to reduce sickness and death from ageing by 20% then between now and 2050, the US alone would save US$4 trillion on healthcare costs – enough money to give everyone on Earth clean drinking water for the next three decades.
How roots grow In contrast to animals, plants form new organs throughout their entire life, i.e. roots, branches, flowers and fruits. Researchers in Frankfurt wanted to know to what extent plants follow a pre-determined plan in the course of this process. In the renowned journal Current Biology, they describe the growth of secondary roots of thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana). They have observed it cell by cell in a high-tech optical microscope and analysed it with computer simulations. Their conclusion: root shape is determined by a combination of genetic predisposition and the self-organization of cells.
	Australian parrots need more protection Australia has the world's highest diversity of parrots, but a new analysis by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) has found the nation's record in conserving these beautiful birds leaves much to be desired.
	Seagrass doubles its chances in last-ditch reproductive strategy If you're faced with your own mortality you would do nearly anything to improve your chances of survival, right? So too for a species of seagrass called Posidonia australis that grows in Shark Bay.
	Insecticide increases effect of varroa mite Honeybees infected with the Varroa destructor mite have less stamina than those which have been effectively treated against the parasite. Additional exposure to the insecticide Imidacloprid further increases the harmful effect of the varroa mite. This was the conclusion of Wageningen UR scientists Lisa Blanken, Frank van Langevelde and Coby van Dooremalen as published in an article in the British Royal Society's magazine Proceedings B.
The odor of stones Diatoms are unicellular algae that are native in many waters. They are a major component of marine phytoplankton and the food base for a large variety of marine organisms. In addition, they produce about one fifth of the oxygen in the atmosphere and are therefore a key factor for our global climate. However, these algae, which measure only a few micrometers, have yet another amazing ability: they can "smell" stones.
	Satellite measurements of ocean color, temperature help researchers predict sturgeon locations Researchers at the University of Delaware are one step closer to developing an online map that would help Mid-Atlantic fishermen avoid catching Atlantic sturgeon.
	Rhino, tiger and snow leopard DNA found in Chinese medicines More should be done to stop the use of endangered species in traditional Chinese medicines, with snow leopard, tiger and rhinoceros DNA still being found in remedies, according to a leading University of Adelaide pathologist.
	The evolution of Dark-fly On November 11, 1954, Syuiti Mori turned out the lights on a small group of fruit flies. More than sixty years later, the descendents of those flies have adapted to life without light. These flies—a variety now known as "Dark-fly"—outcompete their light-loving cousins when they live together in constant darkness, according to research reported in the February issue of G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. This competitive difference allowed the researchers to re-play the evolution of Dark-fly and identify the genomic regions that contribute to its success in the dark.
Bachelor's paradise: Researcher finds female turtles outnumbering males Rising global temperatures may skew gender imbalance among the marine turtle population, according to new Florida State University research.
	Leading bugs to the death chamber: A kinder face of cholesterol Cells of our immune system kill pathogens by enclosing them in a compartment called the phagosome. The phagosome undergoes programmed maturation, where the pathogen is degraded. Intimately linked to this degradation is active transport of the phagosome inside cells by nanoscale "Motor" proteins such as Dynein and Kinesin, which are force generators for many kinds of biological movements.
In Boston area, the bald eagle population is soaring People spotting bald eagles in the skies over the Boston area aren't hallucinating—there really are more of the majestic birds of prey setting up shop in the urban eastern areas of the state, experts say.
	New tarantula named after Johnny Cash among 14 spider species found in the United States A new species of tarantula named after the famous singer-songwriter Johnny Cash is one of fourteen new spiders discovered in the southwestern United States. While these charismatic spiders have captured the attention of people around the world, and have been made famous by Hollywood, little was actually known about them. The new descriptions nearly double the number of species known from the region. Biologists at Auburn University and Millsaps College have described these hairy, large-bodied spiders in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
Data gaps hinder explanation for Alaska seabird die-off A preliminary investigation into the massive die-off of common murres, one of the Northern Hemisphere's most abundant seabirds, off Alaska's coast is revealing gaps in basic information on North Pacific waters and the wildlife that inhabit them.
	Study to develop new forensic methods for human DNA cases Sam Houston State University (SHSU) was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to develop and test the best possible sample preparation methods for skeletal and decomposing human remains using emerging next generation DNA technology to help identify missing persons or victims of mass disasters.
	'Exploding' sugar beet cells for faster fermentation Sugar beet is an interesting raw material in the biobased economy as the sugars it contains can easily be fermented into valuable molecules. This does require a profitable process, however. The European ERA-NET innovation project ChemBeet is developing a very promising technology in which cells are exploded to create a faster and cheaper fermentation process.
	Key threats to siamese crocodiles and highlights lessons learned from 15 years of conservation work A new paper 'Status, distribution and ecology of the Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis in Cambodia' (October 2015, Cambodian Journal of Natural History) reports that fewer than 400 wild Siamese crocodiles remain in Cambodia, following decades of poaching. However, the paper concludes that there are good prospects of rebuilding their populations by enlisting the help of indigenous communities and by releasing genetically-screened captive-bred stock
	One step closer to commercial edamame production in the US Edamame, touted as a healthy snack for its high protein content, is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. The soybean seeds are consumed at an immature stage, giving a sweet and slightly nutty flavor. Yet, despite the fact that grain soybean is grown on approximately 74 million acres in the U.S., the majority of edamame consumed here is imported from Asia. Part of the problem is that production practices, including weed control options, have not been well researched. A new University of Illinois study sheds light on weed management in edamame, bringing the crop one step closer to domestic cultivation.
	Whale washes ashore on British beach A sperm whale washed up in shallow water off a beach in Britain on Thursday, the 29th such stranding in Europe in the last two weeks.

Medicine & Health news

	New study indicates why children are likelier to develop food allergies An estimated 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies, many of them children. These are non-trivial concerns, as food allergy or intolerance can cause symptoms ranging from a harmless skin rash to a potentially lethal anaphylactic shock. The good news is that many affected children outgrow their allergy, presumably as the immune system learns to tolerate food initially mistaken as "foreign".
Connective tissue disease increases risk for cardiovascular problems A study based on medical records from more than a quarter million adult patients found that African-American patients with connective tissue diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis were twice as likely as white patients to suffer from narrowed or atherosclerotic blood vessels, which increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke or death.
	Scientists uncover neural pathway responsible for opioid withdrawal In addition to the desire to experience a "high," one of the obstacles drug addicts encounter is the difficulty of overcoming a myriad of harsh withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, depression, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. When people learn to associate the loss of drug use with the pain of withdrawal, it can create an urge to use that is as strong as the "high" itself, making it even more difficult to quit.
	New clues to common and elusive KRAS cancer gene One of the most common cancer-causing genes has continuously stymied researchers' efforts to develop treatments against it.
	Stopping tumor cells killing surrounding tissue may provide clue to fighting cancer Cancer cells kill off surrounding cells to make room to grow, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. Although the study was carried out using fruit flies, its findings suggest that drugs to prevent, rather than encourage, cell death might be effective at fighting cancer - contrary to how many of the current chemotherapy drugs work.
	Removing race from human genetic research A group of scientists are urging their colleagues to take a step forward and stop using racial categories when researching and studying human genetics.
	Individuals' medical histories predicted by their noncoding genomes, study finds Identifying mutations in the control switches of genes can be a surprisingly accurate way to predict a person's medical history, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found.
	Mitochondria trigger cell aging, study shows An international team of scientists has for the first time shown that mitochondria, the batteries of the cells, are essential for ageing.
	Study reveals how herpes virus tricks the immune system With over half the U.S. population infected, most people are familiar with the pesky cold sore outbreaks caused by the herpes virus. The virus outsmarts the immune system by interfering with the process that normally allows immune cells to recognize and destroy foreign invaders. How exactly the herpes simplex 1 virus pulls off its nifty scheme has long been elusive to scientists.
	Scientists discover important genetic source of human diversity Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that humans have a surprisingly high number of genes in which one of two copies has been randomly silenced. They suggest that the phenomenon is an important source of genetic diversity among people and also may help explain the genetic variation among cancer cells in a tumor.
	Modelling how the brain makes complex decisions Researchers have constructed the first comprehensive model of how neurons in the brain behave when faced with a complex decision-making process, and how they adapt and learn from mistakes.
	How gut inflammation sparks colon cancer Chronic inflammation in the gut increases the risk of colon cancer by as much as 500 percent, and now Duke University researchers think they know why.
	Natural protein points to new inflammation treatment Increasing the level of a naturally-produced protein, called tristetraprolin (TTP), significantly reduced or protected mice from inflammation, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The results suggest that pharmaceutical compounds or other therapeutic methods that produce elevated levels of TTP in humans may offer an effective treatment for some inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. The report appeared online Feb. 1 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Scientists find brain plasticity assorted into functional networks The brain still has a lot to learn about itself. Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have made a key finding of the striking differences in how the brain's cells can change through experience.
Physical activity reduces risk of serious falls in older men Older men who engage in regular physical activity experience far fewer serious fall injuries than those who do not, say Yale researchers. Their findings suggest that moderate exercise can help prevent potentially devastating falls, the leading cause of injury in people age 70 and older.
Emergency blood transfusions for major trauma need to be more rapid and consistent Only two per cent of patients with life-threatening bleeding after serious injury receive optimal blood transfusion therapy in England and Wales, according to research led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and NHS Blood and Transplant.
Improvised naloxone nasal sprays lack evidence of absorption and effect Naloxone hydrochloride is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. First responders (peers, family, police, etc.) may prefer nasal sprays to injectable naloxone, which has led to widespread use of improvised naloxone kits with atomisers for nasal delivery of the drug. On 18 November 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a nasal naloxone product to replace those improvised kits.
Tool decreases superfluous lab testing, cuts health-care costs Anyone who's spent a night in a hospital knows the drill: In comes a phlebotomist, first thing in the morning, for lab tests. Physicians have long recognized that lab testing isn't necessary for all hospitalized patients on a daily basis. Regardless, such tests are often conducted because of routine.
For pregnant women with flu, the earlier the better for antiviral treatment Pregnant women are at higher risk for serious illness and complications, including death, from influenza. For expectant mothers hospitalized with flu, early treatment with the influenza antiviral drug oseltamivir may shorten their time in the hospital, especially in severe cases, suggests a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and available online. The findings also underscore the importance of flu vaccination for this risk group.
	Have national smoking bans worked in reducing harms in passive smoking? The most robust evidence yet, published today in the Cochrane Library, suggests that national smoking legislation does reduce the harms of passive smoking, and particularly risks from heart disease. The updated Cochrane review containing more up-to-date research found that countries who imposed smoking bans found their populations benefited from reduced exposure to passive smoke, specifically cardiovascular disease.
	Early poverty disrupts link between hunger and eating How much you eat when you're not really hungry may depend on how well off your family was when you were a child, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Don't use body mass index to determine whether people are healthy, study says Over the past few years, body mass index, a ratio of a person's height and weight, has effectively become a proxy for whether a person is considered healthy. Many U.S. companies use their employees' BMIs as a factor in determining workers' health care costs. And people with higher BMIs could soon have to pay higher health insurance premiums, if a rule proposed in April by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is adopted.
	Johnson & Johnson, ViaCyte testing possible diabetes cure Johnson & Johnson, continuing its long quest for a Type 1 diabetes cure, is joining forces with biotech company ViaCyte to speed development of the first stem cell treatment that could fix the life-threatening hormonal disorder.
	Health officials want more Zika samples, data from Brazil Brazil is not sharing enough samples and disease data to let researchers determine whether the Zika virus is, as feared, linked to the increased number of babies born with abnormally small heads in the South American country, U.N. and U.S. health officials say.
	Multistate salmonella outbreak linked to garden of life RAW meal products: CDC (HealthDay)—A salmonella outbreak that has sickened 11 people in nine states appears to be linked to RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Replacement products made by Garden of Life, federal health officials say.
	Diabetes drug may not help obese women have normal-weight babies (HealthDay)—Giving the diabetes drug metformin to obese pregnant women may not help their newborns come into the world at a healthier weight, a new trial finds.
	Legionnaires' disease can transmit person-to-person, case suggests (HealthDay)—Legionnaires' disease—the respiratory illness that plagued New York City in an outbreak last summer—is typically thought to develop when people breathe in contaminated mist or water droplets.
	Should tackling be banned from youth football? (HealthDay)—Tackling should be eliminated from youth football due to the risks that collisions and head injuries pose to young athletes, a researcher argues in the Feb. 4 New England Journal of Medicine.
	Red Cross takes steps to keep zika virus out of blood supply (HealthDay)—The American Red Cross on Wednesday asked potential blood donors who have traveled to areas where Zika infection is active to wait 28 days before giving blood.
	Infection risk up before chronic immune thrombocytopenia (HealthDay)—The incidence of primary chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP) is 2.30/100,000 person-years, and incidence is associated with increased risk of infections within the five years before cITP diagnosis, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	Spondyloarthritis features can identify axial spondyloarthritis (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic back pain, the presence of at least one of three spondyloarthritis (SpA) features can identify possible axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	QOL, other outcomes up with laparoscopic sx in diverticulitis (HealthDay)—For patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis, quality of life (QOL) and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are improved following laparoscopic surgery versus conservative treatment, according to a review published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	ACIP approves 2016 adult immunization schedule (HealthDay)—The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has approved the recommended adult immunization schedule for 2016. The recommendations are published as a clinical guideline in the Feb. 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Research shows association among childhood ADHD, sex and obesity The incidence of childhood and adult obesity has increased significantly over the past three decades. New research shows that there is an association between obesity development during adulthood and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Mayo Clinic researchers led the multi-site study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
High insecticide resistance found in the flea vector for plague in Madagascar Madagascar is one of the countries with the highest incidence of bubonic plague in the world. As insecticides are highly important in controlling the spread of plague, researchers from the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar carried out a bioassay to determine the response of the flea vector to different types of insecticides. They found that only 1 out of 12 insecticides tested produced 100% mortality in all flea samples, suggesting a high level of insecticide resistance across the country.
	Fighting flu with designer drugs: A new compound fends off different influenza strains A study published on February 4th in PLOS Pathogens reports that a new antiviral drug protects mice against a range of influenza virus strains. The compound seems to act superior to Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and independent of the host immune response.
Shorter hospital stay for hip fracture associated with increased odds of survival The longer a hip fracture patient stays in a hospital, the more likely that patient will die within 30 days of leaving, according to a study led by Stephen Kates, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
Study backs approach to single-session therapy for students A study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research recently reinforced what Western is already doing when it comes to counseling therapy.
	Researchers closer to genetic risk test for bowel cancer University of Melbourne researchers are working to unlock more genetic variants that could predict a person's risk of developing bowel cancer.
Addressing trauma in juvenile offenders should be larger focus of rehabilitation, study finds Treating trauma in juvenile offenders can aid the formation of social relationships that help them stay out of trouble, according to a new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University.
	Research examines how loneliness affects the social human brain Loneliness is as close to universal as experiences come. Almost everyone has felt isolated, even rejected.
	Seven things you should know about Zika virus The Zika virus outbreak and related health issues—including an observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations in Brazil—led World Health Organization officials to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Feb. 1.
	Research shows how reading for pleasure can improve your life Research by the University of Liverpool's Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society (CRILS) has found that people who read are more likely to be satisfied with their lives.
Study suggests more effective speech therapy approach for children with Down syndrome A new study indicates that children with Down syndrome who have motor speech deficits have been inadequately diagnosed, which could have a major impact on the interventions used by speech pathologists when treating patients.
Successful method reduces myocardial cell damage and extends life of patients The first sign of a heart attack is chest pain. Treatment in the next six to 10 hours with a method developed by microbiologist Hector Cabrera would reduce damage from three angles: lessening the inflammatory process, vascular activation and cell death in the heart.
	Invasive measurement of blood glucose no longer necessary A group of researchers, led by Prof. Yuji Matsuura of Tohoku University's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, has developed a method of measuring blood glucose using far infrared light, which is both harmless and non-invasive.
	Alzheimer's insights in single cells Building on research reported last year, Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have succeeded in identifying the neurons that secrete the substance responsible for the plaques that build up in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.
	Spanish researchers patent new methods that allow to identify the cells causing metastasis in cancer Researchers have patented a new method that identifies the cells causing metastasis in cancer, with a simple blood analysis.
	Rare bleeding disorder diagnosis improved with super-resolution microscopy Researchers from UCL, the National Physical Laboratory and the Royal Free Hospital have differentiated between patients with a rare bleeding disorder and healthy volunteers using super-resolution microscopy, providing an alternative method for accurately and cost-effectively diagnosing rare platelet diseases.
	Toxic lead can stay in the body for years after exposure The ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan has highlighted just how harmful lead contamination is. What you may not realize, however, is that lead exposure is a problem throughout the U.S.
Using steroids before late preterm delivery reduces neonatal respiratory problems A multicenter clinical trial led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and NewYork-Presbyterian has found that the use of corticosteroids in mothers at risk for late preterm delivery significantly reduced the incidence of severe respiratory complications in their babies.
	Meditation eases pain, anxiety and fatigue during breast cancer biopsy Meditation eases anxiety, fatigue and pain for women undergoing breast cancer biopsies, according to researchers at the Duke Cancer Institute. They also found that music is effective, but to a lesser extent.
	To prevent infection after C-section, chlorhexidine better than iodine Women undergo more cesarean sections each year in the United States than any other major surgery, with the procedure carrying a significant rate of infection at the incision site.
	Potential new approaches to treating eye diseases Potential new approaches to treating eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are described in a new study, "IL-33 amplifies an innate immune response in the degenerating retina," in the February Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Zika fear reignites Brazil's abortion debate The Zika virus scare is reopening debate over abortion in Brazil, where some are asking the painful question: is it right to risk having a baby with microcephaly?
Spain reports first known European case of Zika-infected pregnant woman (Update) Spain said Thursday that a pregnant woman who had returned from Colombia had been diagnosed with the Zika virus, in the first such known European case.
	Tuning macrophages a 'breakthrough' in cancer immunotherapy Similar to stem cells differentiating to make your body's tissues, the immune system's macrophages pick a life path, differentiating into macrophages that recruit resources for wound repair or macrophages that recruit resources for wound sterilization. An article in the journal Cancer Research describes the relevance of macrophages to cancer: Cancers encourage macrophages to pick the path of wound-repair, making what are called "M2" or "repair-type" macrophages. Cancers use these M2 macrophages to promote their own growth. However, researchers can now successfully flip M2 macrophages into their wound-sterilizing cousins, called "M1" or "kill-type" macrophages, which, contrary to promoting the growth of new tissue, may aid the immune system in clearing the body of cancer. The article in this careful scientific journal calls this a "breakthrough".
	Team develops approach for identifying processes that fuel tumor growth in lung cancer patients Scientists at the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have pioneered a new method for conducting in-depth research on malignant tumors in patients, in the process discovering new complexities underlying cancer biology and overturning a nearly century-old perception about cancer metabolism.
	Could IVF raise children's odds for blood cancer? (HealthDay)—Children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) might have a slightly increased risk of developing blood cancer, a new study suggests.
	Targeting the mind/body connection in stress Our ability to cope with stress depends on how efficiently our body and mind regulate their response to it. Poor recovery from extremely stressful encounters can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or even chronic somatic dysfunction (such as pain and fatigue) in some people. Insight into the multi-level sequence of events—from cellular changes to brain function, emotional responses, and observed behavior—will help medical professionals make more informed decisions concerning interventions.
Mature drivers favor checks on over 70s, new study finds The majority of older drivers are in favour of tighter rules on checking the health and suitability of over-70s to drive - even if those checks could take them off the road themselves - according to a new report. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) worked with Dr Carol Hawley at Warwick Medical School, the University of Warwick, to survey more than 2,600 drivers and former drivers on their opinions, habits and motoring history.
Incarceration of a family member during childhood associated with heart attacks in men A parent's incarceration has immediate, devastating effects on a family. Now, Virginia Tech and University of Toronto researchers say there may be a longer term risk: Men who as children experienced a family member's incarceration are approximately twice as likely to have a heart attack in later adulthood in comparison with men who were not exposed to such a childhood trauma.
	New non-invasive form of vagus nerve stimulation works to treat depression Depression can be a devastating and unremitting problem. Researchers of a new study published in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry report successful reduction of depressive symptoms in patients using a novel non-invasive method of vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS.
	Study measures impact of removing Planned Parenthood from Texas women's health program The public defunding of Planned Parenthood in Texas may have led to a decrease in highly effective forms of contraceptive services and an increase in Medicaid-paid childbirths among women who previously used injectable contraception, according to a peer-reviewed study by University of Texas at Austin researchers.
Functional MRI may help identify new, effective painkillers for chronic pain sufferers New research may allow new, more effective and safer pain medications to reach patients who suffer from chronic pain sooner. According to a recent study published in Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), to measure the brain's neural response to pain, may be a viable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of new pain medications during the early stages of human drug development - providing the needed objective evidence to prevent the premature discarding of potentially beneficial therapies.
	Neurobiological changes explain how mindfulness meditation improves health Over the past decade, mindfulness meditation has been shown to improve a broad range of health and disease outcomes, such as slowing HIV progression and improving healthy aging. Yet, little is known about the brain changes that produce these beneficial health effects.
Senior doctors expose 'scandal' of pacemaker battery life The battery life of implantable heart monitors must be improved to reduce the need for replacement and the risks this carries for patients, argue two senior doctors in The BMJ today.
	Taser shock disrupts brain function, has implications for police interrogations More than two million citizens have been Tased by police as Taser stun guns have become one of the preferred less-lethal weapons by police departments across the United States during the past decade. But what does that 50,000-volt shock do to a person's brain?
Patients with macular degeneration show improvement with high-dose statin treatment Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School and the University of Crete have conducted a phase I/II clinical trial investigating the efficacy of statins (cholesterol-lowering medications) for the treatment of patients with the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. Although effective treatments are available for the wet form of AMD, they are currently lacking for the more prevalent dry form. The researchers found evidence that treatment with high-dose atorvastatin (80mg) is associated with regression of lipid deposits and improvement in visual acuity, without progression to advanced disease, in high-risk AMD patients. Their findings were published in EBioMedicine—a new online journal led by editors of the journals Cell and The Lancet—and not only further the connection between lipids, AMD and atherosclerosis, but also present a potential t! herapy for some patients with dry AMD.
Athlete passion linked to acceptance of performance enhancing drugs The more of a certain kind of passion varsity athletes have for their sport, the more favourable their attitudes towards the use of performance enhancing drugs, or PEDs, according to a recent study.
	Harnessing the power of light to fight cancer Immunotherapy is one of the hottest emerging areas of cancer research. After all, using the body's own cells to fight cancer can be more effective and less invasive than flooding the entire system with toxic chemicals.
Some chronic viral infections could contribute to cognitive decline with aging Certain chronic viral infections could contribute to subtle cognitive deterioration in apparently healthy older adults, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University that was recently published in the journal Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders.
Dogs accelerate the advance of new cancer treatments for both pets and people A Science Translational Medicine review suggests integrating dogs with naturally occurring cancers into studies of new drug therapeutics could result in better treatments for our four-legged friends while helping inform therapeutic development for human cancers.
	Researchers link compulsive Facebook checking to lack of sleep If you find yourself toggling over to look at Facebook several dozen times a day, it's not necessarily because the experience of being on social media is so wonderful. It may be a sign that you're not getting enough sleep.
	Mesh-like scaffold is disordered in Alzheimer's-affected cells Brain cell death in Alzheimer's disease is linked to disruption of a skeleton that surrounds the nucleus of the cells, a researcher in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio said.
	Latin America scrambles to squash Zika-spreading mosquito With no hope for a vaccine to prevent Zika in the near future, authorities are focusing on the most effective way to combat the virus: killing the mosquito that carries it.
No Hib booster needed by vaccinated infants in Kenya A 15-year study carried out in Kilifi, Kenya and funded by the Wellcome Trust and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has shown that there is no need to give a Hib booster to toddlers to extend immunity into later childhood. The study provides the evidence public health officials need to be confident that Hib spread and infection in Kenya is under control.
	Simple test allows for rapid diagnosis of preeclampsia Researchers have found that a simple test can rapidly detect one of the world's most deadly pregnancy-related conditions, which could have a major impact on global health.
WHO advises against blood donations from people returning from Zika areas The World Health Organization on Thursday advised countries against accepting blood donations from people who had travelled to regions affected by the Zika virus.
Study demonstrates MYK-461 prevents and reverses disease in HCM mice MyoKardia, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a precision medicine approach for the treatment of heritable cardiovascular diseases, today announced the publication of an article in the leading medical journal Science. The article demonstrates the ability of MYK-461, the company's lead drug candidate, to prevent and reverse development of disease in multiple genetic mouse models of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The published research represents the product of collaboration among scientists from MyoKardia, Harvard Medical School, the University of Colorado and Stanford University. These data add to a growing body of laboratory and clinical research demonstrating the potential of MYK-461 as an important and novel approach to treating HCM.
Bone loss associated with leukemia therapy occurs sooner than previously thought Investigators at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have found that significant bone loss - a side effect of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) - occurs during the first month of treatment, far earlier than previously assumed. Results of the study will be available online February 4, in advance of publication in the journal Bone.
C. diff study provides insight into antibiotic resistance and risks for infection Exposure to specific antibiotics is linked to the development of certain strains of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile, one of the fastest growing bacteria superbugs, according to a new study published by Stuart Johnson, MD, of Loyola University Health System (LUHS), Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) and the Hines VA Medical Hospital.
	Zika spotlights rare birth defect with a variety of causes The Zika virus is putting a spotlight on a potentially devastating birth defect that until now has gotten little public attention.
	Video games offer educational methods for med students (HealthDay)—Video games can play a role in medical education, offering new methods for teaching medical students, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
	High rate of clopidogrel non-adherence after DES placement (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing drug-eluting stent placement, there is a high rate of clopidogrel nonadherence, according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Patient-centered system recommended for medical billing (HealthDay)—Simplification, consolidation, and real time point-of-care information could address the inefficiencies in the medical billing system, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Feb. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Researchers hone in on why female newborns are better protected from brain injury Each year, thousands of newborn babies suffer complications during pregnancy or birth that deprive their brains of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood and result in brain injury. This deprivation results in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which can lead to long-term neurological issues such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy or even death.
Better quality of care may reduce risk of death for patients on opioid painkillers Better quality of care may reduce the risk of death for patients who are prescribed opioid painkillers for chronic pain, say Yale researchers. Their study, published Feb. 4 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, offers evidence that supports recommendations from clinical practice guidelines encouraging physicians to engage patients with mental health services and substance abuse treatment, as well as to avoid co-prescriptions for sedatives.
Graphical display of nutrition information helps keep health-conscious eaters on target Diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease can often be prevented or treated by managing the intake of certain nutrients. However, in a time-constrained situation, such as standing in line at a cafeteria or restaurant, it can be difficult for consumers to quickly calculate and use numerical nutrition information—beyond the amount of calories—provided for menu items.
Children on autism spectrum more likely to wander, disappear A new study by researchers at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York (CCMC) suggests that more than one-quarter million school-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disorders wander away from adult supervision each year.
WHO sounds Zika blood warning as Europe sees first pregnancy case The World Health Organization on Thursday advised countries against accepting blood donations from people who have travelled to regions affected by the Zika virus, as Spain announced Europe's first known case of the disease in a pregnant woman.
Florida, vulnerable to Zika virus, gets ready for fight Florida's warm climate, year-round mosquitoes and revolving door of international travelers make it vulnerable to the Zika virus, but local governments here have a history of fighting off outbreaks before they become widespread.
	Food industry looks to Congress as GMO labeling law nears The food industry is pressuring Congress to act before the state of Vermont requires food labels for genetically modified ingredients.
AstraZeneca doubles profits; warns of lower drug sales British pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca on Thursday said its net profits more than doubled in 2015, adding it expects lower sales this year on US patent expiry of cholesterol treatment Crestor.
Racial disparities in kidney transplant outcomes are narrowing A new study reveals significantly reduced disparities in health outcomes among black and white kidney transplant recipients over the past 2 decades. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
	Researcher's fascination with mosquito genetics may help address Zika crisis Professor Jeffrey Powell began working on the mosquito that transmits the Zika virus when he was an undergraduate student 49 years ago. He has a life-long fascination with Aedes aegypti, which he refers to as "a truly elegant creature."
Better nutrition policies needed for children Most early childhood education services strive to encourage healthy eating among children, but need stronger and more detailed nutrition policies to support change in everyday staff and parent behaviours.
	An inside look at concussions Queen's researchers examining the structural, functional changes to the brain caused by traumatic brain injuries.
WHO: More than 48 Ebola contacts missing in Sierra Leone Dozens of people linked to the most recent cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone are still missing, the World Health Organization warns, saying that among them 18 contacts are at high risk of having the virus.
Syrian aid—lack of evidence for 'interventions that work', say researchers The lack of an evidence base in the donor-funded response to Syrian migrant crisis means funds may be allocated to ineffective interventions, say researchers, who call on funders and policymakers in London for this week's Syrian Donor Conference to insist on evaluation as a condition of aid.
	AGS guidance on diversity proves 'seeing' older patients is about more than seeing age New guidance from the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) aims to transform approaches to healthcare for our increasingly diverse older population. Developed by a committee of experts in ethnogeriatrics (the study of how ethnicity and culture impact the health and well-being of older people), "Achieving High-Quality Multicultural Geriatric Care" outlines present health disparities and the need for sensitivity to culture and health literacy when working with older individuals. As we look toward a not-so-distant future in 2050 when more than 80 million Americans will be 65-years-old or older, the factors outlined by AGS experts represent aspirational hallmarks of health care for a nation where "minorities" will soon account for nearly 40 percent of all older adults.
New edition of landmark neurology textbook For 26 years, the classic neurology textbook Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice has been an essential resource for practicing neurologists and trainees.
Gambling is associated with 'risk-taking behavior' in young teens, study finds Gambling among young teens may be associated with increased use of alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana according to a study that surveyed sixth- to eighth-graders in Italian schools. The research is reported in the February issue of the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Health-care disparities contribute to delayed testicular cancer diagnosis in a transgender woman A family physician reports the case of a transgender woman whose testosterone levels rose unexpectedly while on feminizing hormones, leading eventually to a diagnosis of a rare, virilizing form of testicular cancer. The complex medical and psychosocial factors related to the care of transgender patients that contributed to the delay in diagnosis are examined in the study published in LGBT Health.
Emerging vascular risk factors in women: Any differences from men? The incidence and severity of both traditional and emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as the response to treatment may differ between genders. In this narrative review, several emerging CVD risk factors (i.e. inflammatory and haemostatic markers, endothelial dysfunction, homocysteine, lipid disorders, microalbuminuria/proteinuria, coronary artery calcium score, arterial stiffness, periodontitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, impaired glucose metabolism, metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) are discussed in the context of gender differences.
Predicting periodontitis at state and local levels in the United States The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published an article titled "Predicting Periodontitis at State and Local Levels in the United States" in the OnlineFirst portion of the Journal of Dental Research. In it, authors P.I. Eke, X. Zhang, H. Lu, L. Wei, G. Thornton-Evans, K.J. Greenlund, J.B. Holt and J.B. Croft estimate the prevalence of periodontitis at state and local levels across the United States by using a novel, small area estimation (SAE) method.
Lack of research keeps end-of-life care in status quo Randomized controlled trials often are considered the gold standard of research studies that help guide the medical care of patients across the world. However, in hospices, randomized controlled trials are difficult to conduct since patients are so close to the end of their lives, causing a gap in research that could improve the quality of hospice care overall. Now, a University of Missouri School of Medicine researcher has found that only 10 randomized controlled trials have taken place in U.S. hospices since 1985. The researcher said more randomized trials by hospice researchers could lead to improved care for hospice patients.
	Obama health care law posts respectable sign-up season Still facing political jeopardy, President Barack Obama's health care law beat expectations by earning solid sign-ups this year, according to figures released Thursday by the administration.
Impact of high fructose on health of offspring In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in the oral session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Atlanta, researchers will present findings on the effects of antenatal exposure to a high fructose diet on the offspring's development of metabolic syndrome-like phenotype and cardiovascular disease later in life.

Other Sciences news

	Fixing published research mistakes not easy; fixing the publishing system may be harder A commentary published today in Nature suggests that the process for fixing mistakes in peer-reviewed research articles is flawed. The article, written by scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, points out that journals are slow to respond and even slower to take action when questions regarding the accuracy of a published research paper are raised.
	DNA evidence uncovers major upheaval in Europe near end of last Ice Age DNA evidence lifted from the ancient bones and teeth of people who lived in Europe from the Late Pleistocene to the early Holocene—spanning almost 30,000 years of European prehistory—has offered some surprises, according to researchers who report their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on Feb. 4, 2016. Perhaps most notably, the evidence shows a major shift in the population around 14,500 years ago, during a period of severe climatic instability.
	Ancient wildebeest-like animal shared 'bizarre' feature with dinosaur By poring over the fossilized skulls of ancient wildebeest-like animals (Rusingoryx atopocranion) unearthed on Kenya's Rusinga Island, researchers have discovered that the little-known hoofed mammals had a very unusual, trumpet-like nasal passage similar only to the nasal crests of lambeosaurine hadrosaur dinosaurs. The findings reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on February 4 offer "a spectacular example" of convergent evolution between two very distantly related taxa and across tens of millions of years, the researchers say.
	Do venture capitalists matter? Yes, finds a study Okay, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, here are two words that can help your investment in a startup business succeed: direct flights.
	Glass expert digs into secrets of historic Venetian process A modern-day glassblower believes he has unraveled the mysteries of Renaissance-era Venetian glassmaking, a trade whose secrets were so closely guarded that anyone who divulged them faced the prospect of death.
	Bigger church = less engaged parishioners The larger the church, the less likely its members will attend weekly services, a new Duke University study finds.
	How gender interacts with other social identities to shape bias Actress Patricia Arquette's comments at the 2015 Oscars award night drew criticism for implicitly framing gender equality as an issue for straight white women. She insisted that, "It's time for all the women in America and all the men that love women and all the gay people and all the people of color that we've all fought for to fight for us now."
From genes to latrines—Vikings and their worms provide clues to emphysema In a paper published today in Scientific Reports a group of researchers led by LSTM have found that the key to an inherited deficiency, predisposing people to emphysema and other lung conditions, could lie in their Viking roots.
	'On-ramping' paves the way for women scientists, engineers to return to academia Pursuing scientific or engineering careers in industry, government or private research after getting a Ph.D. used to be considered a one-way ticket out of academia.
Meaningful media may push altruism across bounds of race and age People who watch meaningful entertainment may be more willing to lend a hand to people they consider different, according to researchers.
	SI Superheroes return with another weighty adventure The nefarious Major Uncertainty has kidnapped Monsieur Kilogram, putting the world's measurements of mass in jeopardy. As the world spirals into "Mass Hysteria," the remaining SI Superheroes, champions of the metric system, leap into action to save the day, and hopefully Monsieur Kilogram as well.
	How did that make it through peer review? How did that make it through peer review? I've heard that asked many times over the years. It has been uttered by senior colleagues, grad students, amateurs, and just about everyone else, too. The query is usually raised in response to a breach of fact, omission of citations, misconceived analysis, or odd conclusion from a published paper.
Stanford names New York university leader as next president A neuroscientist who leads a prestigious graduate school and biomedical research institute in New York City was named Thursday as Stanford University's next president, a position he said he would use to champion basic research and the value of a liberal arts education.

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