Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, Dec 19

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2014 at 2:28 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, Dec 19
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 19, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Thermoelectric power plants could offer economically competitive renewable energy
- Atom-thick CCD could capture images: Scientists develop two-dimensional, light-sensitive material
- 3-D-printable materials deform to change surface area, enabling curvature rather than rigid folding
- Research pair devise a way to make nylon precursor that is less harmful to the ozone layer
- German medics report on drug success for Ebola patient
- Putting the brakes on cancer
- Researchers use new technique to quantify the electrostatic contribution to the transition state of enzymatic reactions
- Quantum world without queues could lead to better solar cells
- Scientists reveal breakthrough in optical fibre communications
- Babies in your 30s? Don't worry, your great-grandma did it too
- Yellowstone's thermal springs—their colors unveiled
- Researchers open possible avenue to better electrolyte for lithium ion batteries
- New technique reveals immune cell motion through variety of tissues
- Early exposure to antidepressants affects adult anxiety and serotonin transmission
- Study finds tropical fish moving into temperate waters

Astronomy & Space news

	Signs of Europa plumes remain elusive in search of Cassini data (Phys.org)—A fresh look at data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft during its 2001 flyby of Jupiter shows that Europa's tenuous atmosphere is even thinner than previously thought and also suggests that the thin, hot gas around the moon does not show evidence of plume activity occurring at the time of the flyby. The new research provides a snapshot of Europa's state of activity at that time, and suggests that if there is plume activity, it is likely intermittent.
	Compact galaxy groups reveal details of their close encounters (Phys.org)—Galaxies – spirals laced with nests of recent star formation, quiescent ellipticals composed mainly of old red stars, and numerous faint dwarfs – are the basic visible building blocks of the Universe. Galaxies are rarely found in isolation, but rather in sparse groups – sort of galactic urban sprawl. But there are occasional dense concentrations, often found in the center of giant clusters, but also, intriguingly, as more isolated compact groups (and yes, called Compact Galaxy Groups or CGs). The galaxies in these Compact Groups show dramatic differences in the way they evolve and change with time compared with galaxies in more isolated surroundings. Why is this? Collisions between galaxies in these dense groups are common, leading to rapid star formation, but there seems to be more to the puzzle.
	Scientists find meteoritic evidence of Mars water reservoir (Phys.org)—NASA and an international team of planetary scientists have found evidence in meteorites on Earth that indicates Mars has a distinct and global reservoir of water or ice near its surface.
	Spinning up a dust devil on Mars Spinning up a dust devil in the thin air of Mars requires a stronger updraft than is needed to create a similar vortex on Earth, according to research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
Video: Flying over Becquerel This latest release from the camera on ESA's Mars Express is a simulated flight over the Becquerel crater, showing large-scale deposits of sedimentary material.
	Astronomer confirms a new "Super-Earth" planet A University of British Columbia astronomer is a key player in the discovery of a new exoplanet, out beyond our solar system.
	After Rosetta, Japanese mission aims for an asteroid in search of origins of Earth's water The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission to land on comet 67P was one of the most audacious in space history. The idea of landing on a small chunk of icy rock 300m kilometres away from Earth and hurtling towards the sun at speeds approaching 135,000km/hour is incredible – made more so by the fact they actually achieved it.
	Why is Venus so horrible? Venus sucks. Seriously, it's the worst. The global temperature is as hot as an oven, the atmospheric pressure is 90 times Earth, and it rains sulfuric acid. Every part of the surface of Venus would kill you dead in moments.
	SDO captures images of two mid-level flares The sun emitted a mid-level flare on Dec. 18, 2014, at 4:58 p.m. EST. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
	Image: Christmas wrapping the Sentinel-3A antenna The moment a team of technicians, gowned like hospital surgeons, wraps the Sentinel-3A radar altimeter in multilayer insulation to protect it from the temperature extremes found in Earth orbit.

Medicine & Health news

	German medics report on drug success for Ebola patient German doctors on Friday gave details of how an experimental drug together with advanced intensive care helped save a Ugandan physician who had been airlifted from Sierra Leone with Ebola.
	Mix of bacteria in gut may depend more on diet than genes Genes are important, but diet may be even more important in determining the relative abundance of the hundreds of health-shaping bacterial species comprising an individual's gut microbiota, according to UC San Francisco scientists whose latest mouse experiments to probe this nature-versus-nurture balance were published online December 18, 2014 in Cell Host and Microbe.
	Altruistic behavior may be governed more by relationships than instincts, psychologist finds Ever since the concept of altruism was proposed in the 19th century, psychologists have debated whether or not people are born into the world preprogrammed to be nice to others. Now, a pair of Stanford psychologists has conducted experiments that indicate altruism has environmental triggers, and is not something we are simply born with.
	Serotonin neuron subtypes: New insights could inform SIDS understanding, depression treatment Breathing. Body temperature. Mood. Appetite. Blood pressure. Sexual desire. Name a physiological function, and it seems the neurotransmitter serotonin has a hand in regulating it.
	Researchers unlock mystery of skin's sensory abilities Humans' ability to detect the direction of movement of stimuli in their sensory world is critical to survival. Much of this stimuli detection comes from sight and sound, but little is known about how the direction of movement of stimuli on the skin—humans' largest sensory organ—is detected and processed.
	Putting the brakes on cancer A study led by the University of Dundee, in collaboration with researchers at our University, has uncovered an important role played by a tumour suppressor gene, helping scientists to better understand how it combats the effects of mutations which drive cancer development.
	Babies in your 30s? Don't worry, your great-grandma did it too The shift towards late motherhood – commonly defined as motherhood after 35 – is often presented as a story of progress and technological liberation from the biological clock.
Early exposure to antidepressants affects adult anxiety and serotonin transmission About 15 percent of women in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders and depression during their pregnancies, and many are prescribed antidepressants. However little is known about how early exposure to these medications might affect their offspring as they mature into adults.
	Lost memories might be able to be restored, new study indicates New UCLA research indicates that lost memories can be restored. The findings offer some hope for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Latest evidence on using hormone replacement therapy for treating menopausal symptoms Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, in particular for younger women at the onset of the menopause, suggests a new review published today in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG).
Tooth loss linked to slowing mind and body The memory and walking speeds of adults who have lost all of their teeth decline more rapidly than in those who still have some of their own teeth, finds new UCL research.
Xtoro approved for swimmer's ear (HealthDay)—Xtoro (finafloxacin otic suspension) eardrops have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat swimmer's ear, clinically known as acute otitis externa.
	Invasive procedures down with noninvasive prenatal testing (HealthDay)—The number of invasive diagnostic procedures, including amniocentesis, is down significantly after the introduction of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
	Lack of evidence for effect of PT on venous leg ulcer healing (HealthDay)—Further research is needed to examine the effect of physical therapy or exercise on healing and quality of life in patients venous leg ulcers (VLUs), according to research published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Medical marijuana helpful for cancer-linked symptoms (HealthDay)—Cannabis and cannabinoid pharmaceuticals can be helpful for nausea and vomiting, pain, and weight loss associated with cancer, according to research published online Dec. 10 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
	Lap chole within 48 hours optimal in acute cholecystitis (HealthDay)—The first 48 hours appears to be the optimal time for performing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis, according to research published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Surgery.
OCD patients' brains light up to reveal how compulsive habits develop Misfiring of the brain's control system might underpin compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), according to researchers at the University of Cambridge, writing in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Most commonly prescribed glaucoma drug reduces risk of vision loss by more than 50 percent over two years Prostaglandin analogue eye drops, the most commonly prescribed treatment for glaucoma, can greatly reduce risk of vision loss in people with open angle glaucoma (OAG), one of the leading causes of blindness, according to the first placebo-controlled trial to assess their vision-preserving effect published in The Lancet.
New suit for Ebola workers promises more comfort, safety For health care workers on the front lines of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, risking their lives in stifling protective suits, relief could soon be on the way.
	Scientists discover gene critical for proper brain development Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMCB) have identified a genetic pathway that accounts for the extraordinary size of the human brain. The team led by Dr Bruno Reversade[1]KATNB1, as an essential component in a genetic pathway responsible for central nervous system development in humans and other animals. from A*STAR in Singapore, together with collaborators from Harvard Medical School, have identified a gene,
'Financial toxicity' can lower cancer patients' quality of life Doctors who treat cancer are vigilant when it comes to the physical side effects of the therapies they prescribe, but financial stress from accumulating medical bills can also weigh on patients' health—even those who have finished their treatments and are cancer-free.
	Helping parents understand infant sleep patterns Most parents are not surprised by the irregularity of a newborn infant's sleep patterns, but by six months or so many parents wonder if something is wrong with their baby or their sleeping arrangements if the baby is not sleeping through the night. Healthcare providers, specifically nurse practitioners, can help parents understand what "normal" sleep patterns are for their child, according to researchers.
Combination drug therapy doubles positive effect of treatment for women with advanced breast cancer In a groundbreaking study that offers new hope for women with advanced breast cancer, researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have published final clinical trial results that showed the amount of time women with advanced breast cancer were on treatment without their cancer worsening was effectively doubled when they took the experimental drug palbociclib.
	Study suggests exercise benefit for localised prostate cancer Moderate physical activity appears to reduce death rates among men diagnosed with prostate cancer that hasn't spread, according to a 15-year study by Swedish researchers
	Peanut component linked to cancer spread Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that a component of peanuts could encourage the spread and survival of cancer cells in the body.
Parents' BMI decreases with child involved in school-based, community obesity intervention Parents of children involved in an elementary school-based community intervention to prevent obesity appear to share in health benefits of the intervention.  A new analysis of Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart Play Hard shows an association between being exposed to the intervention as a parent and a modest decrease in body mass index (BMI) compared to parents in two similar control communities.  The study led by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was published online ahead of print December 18 in the American Journal of Public Health.
Levels of cancer-causing chemicals in smokeless tobacco products influence carcinogen exposure Higher levels of cancer-causing chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines in smokeless tobacco products led to greater exposure to these carcinogens even after taking into account how much or how long the product was used, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
On the environmental trail of food pathogens Tracking one of the deadliest food contamination organisms through produce farms and natural environments alike, Cornell microbiologists are showing how to use big datasets to predict where the next outbreak could start.
	Brave new world for food and health coming, nutrition scientists predict The year 2020 is a mere five years away but will be a turning point defining a new era of nutrition for both consumers and scientists, say nutritionists who met this year at the University of California, Davis.
	Researchers have developed a computational framework for standardizing neuroscience data worldwide Thanks to standardized image file formats—like JPEG, PNG or TIFF—which store information every time you take a digital photo, you can easily share selfies and other pictures with anybody connected to a computer, mobile phone or the Internet. Nobody needs to download any special software to see your picture.
	The hunt for botanicals Herbal medicine can be a double-edged sword and should be more rigorously investigated for both its beneficial and harmful effects, say researchers writing in a special supplement of Science.
Bacteria in caramel apples kills at least four in US A listeria outbreak believed to originate from commercially packaged caramel apples has killed at least four people in the United States and sickened 28 people since November, officials said Friday.
	Evidence-based recs issued for systemic care in psoriasis (HealthDay)—For appropriately selected patients with psoriasis, combining biologics with other systemic treatments, including phototherapy, oral medications, or other biologic, may result in greater efficacy with minimized toxicity, according to research published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Dermatology.
Family criticizing your weight? You might add more pounds Women whose loved ones are critical of their weight tend to put on even more pounds, says a new study on the way people's comments affect our health.
	One common genetic variant and bacteria help dictate inflammation, antitumor activity A common polymorphism - a variation in a person's DNA sequence that is found with regularity in the general population - can lead to a chain of events that dictates how a tumor will progress in certain types of cancer, including a form of breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer, according to new research from The Wistar Institute that was published online by the journal Cancer Cell.
	Televised medical talk shows: Health education or entertainment? For millions of people around the world, televised medical talk shows have become a daily viewing ritual. Programs such as The Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors have attracted massive followings as charismatic hosts discuss new medical research and therapies while offering viewers their own recommendations for better health. For show producers it's a winning ratings formula, but for viewers eager for a healthier life, the results aren't so clear cut.
Technophobia may keep seniors from using apps to manage diabetes Despite showing interest in web or mobile apps to help manage their Type 2 diabetes, only a small number of older adults actually use them, says a new study from the University of Waterloo. Approximately 2.2 million Canadians are living with Type 2 diabetes, 2 million of whom are age 50 or older.
	Reducing emergency surgery cuts health care costs New research indicates that reducing emergency surgery for three common procedures by 10 percent could cut $1 billion in health care costs over 10 years.
AstraZeneca cancer drug, companion test approved U.S. regulators on Friday granted accelerated approval to the first in a new class of targeted drugs for ovarian cancer, Lynparza from British drugmaker AstraZeneca PLC.
FDA approves AbbVie combo hepatitis C treatment Patients with chronic hepatitis C have a new option for treating the liver-damaging virus, with the approval of a combination treatment developed by AbbVie.
Flu season, early again, hitting hard in South and Midwest Health officials say the flu is now hitting hard in parts of the country, especially the South and Midwest.
Infertility, surrogacy in India Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. A World Health Organization report estimates that 60-to-80 million couples worldwide currently suffer from infertility.
Mozambique decriminalises abortion to stem maternal deaths Mozambique has passed a law permitting women to terminate unwanted pregnancies under specified conditions, a move hailed by activists in a country where clandestine abortions account for a large number of maternal deaths.
	Discovery of genes that predispose a severe form of COPD A study by Ramcés Falfán-Valencia, researcher at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER), found that the mestizo Mexican population has a number of variations in certain genes that predispose them to develop the most severe form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
	Parkinson's disease reverted at a experimental stage Mexican scientists demonstrated experimentally, with adult rats, that mobility can be restored in patients with Parkinson's disease, the major degenerative disease of the motor system worldwide. The experiments have not yet been transferred to humans, but are a scientific, measurable and repeatable basis to fight against this disease.
	New approach to particle therapy dosimetry Researchers at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), in collaboration with EMRP partners, are working towards a universal approach to particle beam therapy dosimetry.
New research demonstrates benefits of national and international device registries An unprecedented collaboration among researchers from Kaiser Permanente, Weill Cornell Medical College, and worldwide registries demonstrates the importance of tracking medical devices' effectiveness and safety—specifically of hip and knee implants—after they are in use.
Steroid-based treatment may answer needs of pediatric EoE patients A new formulation of oral budesonide suspension, a steroid-based treatment, is safe and effective in treating pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune system disease caused by a buildup of white blood cells in the lining of the esophagus. This build up, which is a reaction to food, allergens or acid reflux, can inflame or injure esophageal tissue.
	Viewpoint: Strong mentorship 'Paramount' in surgical training (HealthDay)—The role of mentorship is explored through the career of Alfred Blalock, M.D., in a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Surgery.
	Brazil to study legalization of medical marijuana The Brazilian government says it will study the possibility of legalizing the use of a marijuana derivative to treat people suffering from severe seizures.

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