Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 7

HOT!

 Newsletter for January 7, 2016:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 4:01 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 7
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Over 700 technical papers and presentations featuring ground-breaking applications from research, engineering, and industry are now available online. Get instant access here: http://goo.gl/ohhzRn
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Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 7, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Stretchable, transparent heater made from metallic glass
- Bug eyes: Tiny 3-D glasses confirm insect 3-D vision
- Isolating and controlling qubits for quantum information processing
- Martian concrete made from materials only on the Red planet
- Material could harvest sunlight by day, release heat on demand hours or days later
- Scientists determine the structure of Titan's evaporites
- Genetic traffic signal orchestrates early embryonic development
- Tweak in gene expression may have helped humans walk upright, researchers say
- In Arctic winter, marine creatures migrate by the light of the moon
- Neanderthal genes gave modern humans an immunity boost, allergies
- You can set up your smart home now—if you're tenacious
- A better electrocatalyst for converting carbon dioxide into liquid fuel
- Researchers gauge quantum properties of nanotubes, essential for next-gen electronics
- Study shows thinking from God's perspective can reduce bias against others
- Galaxy quakes could improve hunt for dark matter

Nanotechnology news

	Stretchable, transparent heater made from metallic glass (Phys.org)—Researchers have fabricated a stretchable and transparent electrode that can be used for applications such as heating parts of the body and defrosting the side view mirrors on cars. It is the first stretchable electronics device made from metallic glass, which is a metal that has an amorphous (disordered) structure like that of a glass, instead of the highly ordered crystalline structure that metals normally have.
	Tiny 'flasks' speed up chemical reactions Miniature self-assembling "flasks" created at the Weizmann Institute may prove a useful tool in research and industry. The nanoflasks, which have a span of several nanometers, or millionths of a millimeter, can accelerate chemical reactions for research. In the future, they might facilitate the manufacture of various industrial materials and perhaps even serve as vehicles for drug delivery.
	Researchers gauge quantum properties of nanotubes, essential for next-gen electronics How do you get to know a material that you cannot see?
	New technique could facilitate use of gold nanoparticles in electronic, medical applications Gold nanoparticles have unusual optical, electronic and chemical properties, which scientists are seeking to put to use in a range of new technologies, from nanoelectronics to cancer treatments.

Physics news

	Isolating and controlling qubits for quantum information processing Harnessing quantum systems for information processing will require controlling large numbers of basic building blocks called qubits. The qubits must be isolated, and in most cases cooled such that, among other things, errors in qubit operations do not overwhelm the system, rendering it useless. Led by JQI Fellow Christopher Monroe, physicists have recently demonstrated important steps towards implementing a proposed type of gate, which does not rely on super-cooling their ion qubits. This work, published as an Editor's Suggestion in Physical Review Letters, implements ultrafast sensing and control of an ion's motion, which is required to realize these hot gates. Notably, this experiment demonstrates thermometry over an unprecedented range of temperatures—from zero-point to room temperature.
	Researchers ride new sound wave to health discovery Acoustics experts have created a new class of sound wave - the first in more than half a century - in a breakthrough they hope could lead to a revolution in stem cell therapy.
	A nanoscale look at why a new alloy is amazingly tough Just in time for the icy grip of winter: A team of researchers led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has identified several mechanisms that make a new, cold-loving material one of the toughest metallic alloys ever.
	Using a microscopic ring to produce pulsed light Researchers funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation have made a chip-based device that can generate a laser signal with frequencies spaced in a comb-like fashion. Their work could be used in telecommunications applications and in chemical analysis.
	Single-chip laser delivers powerful result From their use in telecommunication to detecting hazardous chemicals, lasers play a major role in our everyday lives. They keep us connected, keep us safe, and allow us to explore the dark corners of the universe.
	Motorhead fans want new heavy metal to be called 'Lemmium' A petition calling for a new heavy metal element in the periodic table to be named after the late Motorhead frontman Lemmy had drawn more than 30,000 signatures Wednesday.
	The search for new elements on the periodic table started with a blast So the periodic table has expanded again with the addition late last year of four new superheavy elements, bringing the known total up to 118.

Earth news

	Opinion: What science can tell us about the 'world's largest sapphire' The "Star of Adam", recently found in a mine in Sri Lanka, is believed to be the biggest sapphire ever discovered. It weighs in at over 1,404 carats, that's around 280g or just under ten ounces. But what do we know about the formation of this remarkable gemstone – and how could it grow so huge?
	Arctic peoples inherently able to adapt given changes to various non-climatic factors Outdated land management practices, a dearth of local decision-making bodies with real powers, a lack of long-term planning, along with long-standing educational and financial disempowerment and marginalization are among the hurdles the prevent Arctic communities from adapting to climate change, says a McGill-led research team. But Arctic communities inherently have the capacity to adapt to significant climate change. That's partly because they are used to accepting a changeable and uncertain climate.
	Toxins found in fracking fluids and wastewater, study shows In an analysis of more than 1,000 chemicals in fluids used in and created by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), Yale School of Public Health researchers found that many of the substances have been linked to reproductive and developmental health problems, and the majority had undetermined toxicity due to insufficient information.
	Dam projects on world's largest rivers threaten fish species, rural livelihoods Advocates of huge hydroelectric dam projects on the Amazon, Congo, and Mekong rivers often overestimate economic benefits and underestimate far-reaching effects on biodiversity, according to an article in the Jan. 8 issue of Science by scientists representing 30 academic, government, and conservation organizations in eight countries.
	The Anthropocene: Hard evidence for a human-driven Earth The evidence for a new geological epoch which marks the impact of human activity on the Earth is now overwhelming according to a recent paper by an international group of geoscientists. The Anthropocene, which is argued to start in the mid-20th Century, is marked by the spread of materials such as aluminium, concrete, plastic, fly ash and fallout from nuclear testing across the planet, coincident with elevated greenhouse gas emissions and unprecedented trans-global species invasions.
	Research reveals deep ties between diverse tropical rainforests Tropical rainforests play a vital role in the well-being of our planet, soaking up carbon dioxide and helping stabilize the global climate. Understanding the science of rainforests—the "lungs" of the planet—is critical to maintaining the fragile balance of Earth's ecosystems.
	New interactive map compares carbon footprints of Bay Area neighborhoods The Paris climate summit ended last year with landmark national commitments for greenhouse gas reductions, but much of the hard work of reducing emissions will fall on cities to change their residents' behavior.
	NASA CORAL mission to raise reef studies to new level A new three-year NASA field expedition gets underway this year that will use advanced instruments on airplanes and in the water to survey more of the world's coral reefs, and in far greater detail, than ever before. The COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) will measure the condition of these threatened ecosystems and create a unique database of uniform scale and quality.
	The UK is increasingly outsourcing the environmental impacts of its food supply A new study from researchers at the University of Aberdeen, the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, the James Hutton Institute, and the Alpen-Adria University in Vienna, shows that the UK's food self-sufficiency has decreased substantially over recent decades, as more food and animal feed are imported compared to 25 years ago.
	Wild December pushes US weather in 2015 to near records December's wild El Nino pushed 2015 in the United States to near-record levels for heat, moisture and downright extreme conditions, federal weather officials said Thursday.
	A carbon sink that can't be filled Forests can store as much as 45 percent of the world's terrestrial carbon, making them a critical part of the process of regulating climate change.
	Trees employ similar strategies to outcompete their neighbors How more than 1,000 tree species may occur in a small area of forest in Amazonia or Borneo is an unsolved mystery. Their ability to co-exist may depend on how trees get along with their neighbors. A new study based, in part, on data from the Smithsonian's Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) network shows that trees worldwide compete in some of the same ways, making simpler models of forest response to climate change possible.
	TransCanada to sue US for $15 bn over Keystone XL pipeline rejection TransCanada said Wednesday it will sue the US government for US$15 billion for blocking its project for an oil pipeline linking Canada with the Gulf of Mexico.
	India court challenges Delhi to show car ban cuts smog An Indian court on Wednesday challenged the Delhi city government to prove that its restrictions on cars were improving air quality in the world's most polluted capital.
	Malaysia bans bauxite mining for three months amid pollution fears Malaysia Wednesday announced a three-month ban on bauxite mining in its rural state of Pahang from mid-January amid mounting concern over hazardous dust and pollution.
	How can livestock produce food that is better for the people and the planet? An internationally renowned panel of speakers will share their perspectives on what role livestock can and should play in ensuring global food security and answer audience questions at a free event next week [Tuesday 12 January].
Video: Between soil and snow—explaining the subnivium Professors Jonathan Pauli and Benjamin Zuckerberg explain the subnivium—habitat between the ground and winter snow cover that is being affected by climate change.
	Ocean engineering students study impact of rising sea levels It's no secret that rising sea levels and storms are threatening Rhode Island's coastal communities. Now University of Rhode Island students are studying one community that could be hit especially hard: Matunuck.
	Increased legal liabilities limit prescribed fire use for brush control Private landowners and managers tend to shy away from the use of prescribed fire for maintaining rangeland and forest ecosystems in spite of the known benefits due to the potential liability factor, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research study.

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists determine the structure of Titan's evaporites (Phys.org)—Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, hosts many interesting geological features that could be evaporites. While the chemical compositions of these sediments have been studied by scientists, their structure still remains a puzzle. Now, an international team of researchers using available laboratory measurements has created models to explore the structure of evaporites on Titan. A paper detailing their study appeared online on Dec. 22 in the arXiv journal.
	Galaxy quakes could improve hunt for dark matter A trio of brightly pulsating stars at the outskirts of the Milky Way is racing away from the galaxy and may confirm a method for detecting dwarf galaxies dominated by dark matter and explain ripples in the outer disk of the galaxy.
	Fermi Space Telescope sharpens its high-energy vision Major improvements to methods used to process observations from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have yielded an expanded, higher-quality set of data that allows astronomers to produce the most detailed census of the sky yet made at extreme energies. A new sky map reveals hundreds of these sources, including 12 that produce gamma rays with energies exceeding a trillion times the energy of visible light. The survey also discovered four dozen new sources that remain undetected at any other wavelength.
	By the dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mirrors One dozen flight mirrors are now installed on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, out of the eighteen mirror segments that make up the primary mirror. The assembly of the primary mirror is an important milestone for the Webb telescope, but is just one component of this huge and complex observatory.
	Spirit rover touchdown 12 years ago started spectacular Martian science adventure Exactly 12 Years ago this week, NASA's now famous Spirit rover touched down on the Red Planet, starting a spectacular years long campaign of then unimaginable science adventures that ended up revolutionizing our understanding of Mars due to her totally unexpected longevity.

Technology news

	Material could harvest sunlight by day, release heat on demand hours or days later Imagine if your clothing could, on demand, release just enough heat to keep you warm and cozy, allowing you to dial back on your thermostat settings and stay comfortable in a cooler room. Or, picture a car windshield that stores the sun's energy and then releases it as a burst of heat to melt away a layer of ice.
	Chinese drone maker unveils human-carrying drone Chinese drone maker Ehang Inc. on Wednesday unveiled what it calls the world's first drone capable of carrying a human passenger.
	GM unveils Bolt electric car in Vegas General Motors unveiled the production version of its Chevrolet Bolt electric car, on which the US auto giant is pinning its hopes for the emerging segment.
	Double 2 is your show stand-in when you can't be there Call it what you will. An iPad on a stick. A two-wheeled body double that rolls your face on a screen around studios, conference halls and into meeting rooms when you cannot be there. Work from anywhere, conference-in from anywhere. In 2012, we told you about Mountain View, California, Double Robotics and their product, Double.
	Built in sensors make lithium-ion batteries safer Researchers in Penn State's Battery and Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Center are working to make the lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries we use every day safer by inserting sensors to warn users of potential problems inside the battery.
	You can set up your smart home now—if you're tenacious A fully automated home is still years away, but the building blocks are already here: the phone that turns on the coffee maker from the bedroom, the thermostat that controls the lights when you're away, the window shades that lift when you say "good morning."
	Netflix becomes 'global TV network' in 190 countries Streaming pioneer Netflix said Wednesday it had significantly expanded its global footprint to 190 countries, making its Internet TV service available in 130 new markets including India—but not China.
Apple CEO Tim Cook gets $1 million pay raise Apple CEO Tim Cook got a raise of more than $1 million last year, though he didn't make as much as his top lieutenants.
	Apple stock slumps amid iPhone sales worries Apple fans keep buying iPhones, but Wall Street keeps worrying the company won't be able to match last year's blistering sales pace.
	Fitness tech steps up its game at big show It's not last year's fitness tracker anymore.
	Adele, and her foe streaming, lift 2015 music sales The rapid growth of streaming and sensational success of Adele triggered a rebound of overall music consumption last year in the United States and Britain, industry trackers said Wednesday.
	What does it mean to think and could a machine ever do it? The idea of a thinking machine is an amazing one. It would be like humans creating artificial life, only more impressive because we would be creating consciousness. Or would we?
	The trouble with taking biometric technology into schools More usually criticised for their conservative approach to technology, schools are becoming proving grounds for some of the latest biometrics and portable biomedical engineering devices. Or so it would appear, with St Mary's School Ascot, an independent girls school in Berkshire, joining an estimated 3,500 schools to have introduced biometric security systems, in this case a biometric finger-vein scanner which promises to uniquely identify pupils. But in embracing technology such as biometrics, schools may be gambling with their pupils' identity.
	What is a hydrogen bomb? (And why it may not be what North Korea exploded) Reports that North Korea has launched a fourth nuclear weapons test – backed by convincing seismic data – have caused widespread alarm. North Korean officials announced in advance that the test would involve "a totally different type of nuclear bomb" from those trialled in previous years. Following the test, North Korean state television lauded the first detonation of a "hydrogen bomb" as a "national epoch-making event".
	Computer science students mine software developer forums to teach coding practices University of Delaware junior Zachary Senzer and senior Ryan Serva recently presented a research paper, "Automatically Mining Negative Code Examples from Software Developer Question and Answer Forums," at the Fourth International Workshop on Software Mining in Lincoln, Nebraska.
	Steps toward a sustainable golden age for Los Angeles proposed in new UCLA plan Self-driving, zero-emission cars. Window blinds made of tiny solar panels to power smart houses. Water cisterns in every backyard, highly treated wastewater in the pipes and parks every half mile—this is the utopia of 2050 envisioned in the new Five-Year Work Plan for UCLA's Sustainable LA Grand Challenge.
	Andre Turcat—the test pilot who took Concorde supersonic Last year it was reported that a design for a successor to Concorde, which would fly between London and New York in one hour at more than 4.5 times the speed of sound, had been patented by Airbus. This would have been thrilling news to French test pilot André Turcat, the man who first took Concorde supersonic in the 1960s – and who recently passed away at the age of 94.
	Facebook Messenger app grows to more than 800 mn users Facebook announced Thursday that the number of people using its Messenger application monthly has shot past 800 million, with more features on the way to win even more fans.
	The latest in gadgets: How your car will help make new maps (Update) The latest developments surrounding the consumer-electronics show in Las Vegas known as CES (all times local):
Computer scientists improve access to millions of US patents records Thanks to the work of computer science researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the online database of the country's millions of inventors and patents will be much better to navigate for innovators, business and policy makers.
Internet firms warn UK against 'dangerous' changes to law Major U.S. Internet companies are urging the British government to reconsider a plan to make telecommunications firms help spies hack into computers and phones.
	New touchless device makes earlier detection of heart problems possible Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a revolutionary system for monitoring vital signs that could lead to improved detection and prevention of some cardiovascular issues, as well as greater independence for older adults.
	Under Armour and IBM to transform personal health and fitness, powered by IBM Watson Today Under Armour announced a strategic partnership with IBM to create and provide meaningful data-backed health and fitness insights, powered by IBM Watson's cognitive computing technology. Under Armour's new UA Record combined with a Cognitive Coaching System will serve as a personal health consultant, fitness trainer and assistant by providing athletes with timely, evidence-based coaching around your sleep, fitness, activity and nutrition, including outcomes achieved based on others "like you."
	Can voice recognition technology identify a masked jihadi? The latest video of a masked Islamic State jihadist apparently speaking with a British accent led to him being tentatively identified as Muslim convert Siddhartha Dhar from East London. Voice recognition experts were reportedly working with UK intelligence services using voice analysis. But how does this technology work and what is it capable of?

Chemistry news

	Martian concrete made from materials only on the Red planet (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with Northwestern University has created a type of concrete made only from materials found on Mars, which suggests it could be used as a building material for those who make the journey to the Red planet sometime in the distant future. The trio, Lin Wan, Roman Wendner and Gianluca Cusatis, have written a paper describing their efforts and results and have posted it on the preprint server arXiv.
	A better electrocatalyst for converting carbon dioxide into liquid fuel (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working at the University of Science and Technology of China has developed a new and potentially better electrocatalyst for use in converting carbon dioxide into methanoic acid, which could be used as a liquid fuel. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their new process and suggests that it may provide a path to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and thus help to slow global warming.
	Portable NIST kit can recover traces of chemical evidence A chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a portable version of his method for recovering trace chemicals such as environmental pollutants and forensic evidence including secret graves and arson fire debris.

Biology news

	Bug eyes: Tiny 3-D glasses confirm insect 3-D vision Miniature glasses have proved that mantises use 3D vision - providing a new model to improve visual perception in robots.
Genetic traffic signal orchestrates early embryonic development You are the product of metamorphosis. During the third week of your embryonic existence, fateful genetic choices were made that began to transform a tiny ball of identical stem cells into a complex organism of flesh and blood, bone and sinew, brain and heart and gut and lung. But what directed this remarkable developmental choreography?
	Tweak in gene expression may have helped humans walk upright, researchers say Consider the engineering marvel that is your foot. Be it hairy or homely, without its solid support you'd be hard-pressed to walk or jump normally.
	In Arctic winter, marine creatures migrate by the light of the moon A few months ago, researchers reported the surprising discovery that marine creatures living in one Arctic fjord keep busy through the permanently dark and frigid winter months. Now, a report in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on Jan. 7, 2016, extends this activity to the whole of the Arctic. They also find that, in the absence of any sunlight, it's the moon that drives the vertical migrations of tiny marine animals.
	Your symptoms? Evolution's way of telling you to stay home When you have a fever, your nose is stuffed and your headache is spreading to your toes, your body is telling you to stay home in bed. Feeling sick is an evolutionary adaptation according to a hypothesis put forward by Prof. Guy Shakhar of the Weizmann Institute's Immunology Department and Dr. Keren Shakhar of the Psychology Department of the College of Management Academic Studies, in a recent paper published in PLoS Biology.
	Random mutation, protein changes, tied to start of multicellular life All it took was one mutation more than 600 million years ago. With that random act, a new protein function was born that helped our single-celled ancestor transition into an organized multicellular organism.
Plant biodiversity and key threats mapped for South Australia Conservation biologists have published a landmark analysis of plant diversity across South Australia, identifying areas of exceptionally high diversity (biodiversity 'hotspots') and their key threats.
	Post-exercise fog muddies a see-through shrimp's cloak of invisibility For many of us, daily exercise poses little more risk to our overall safety than few minutes of flush or rapid heartbeat. But for the see-through Ancylomenes pedersoni, or Pederson's cleaner shrimp, their physiological response to exercise could be deadly.
	Purple limes and blood oranges could be next for Florida citrus University of Florida horticulture scientist Manjul Dutt is hoping to turn your next margarita on its head by making it a lovely lavender instead of passé pale green.
	A winning strategy for multicellular life Environmental triggers may have tipped the transition from single- to multi-cellular life, according to new research by SFI REU Emma Wolinsky and Omidyar Fellow Eric Libby.
	Gradual changes in the environment delay evolutionary adaptations More gradual environmental change slows down evolution, but does not lead to a higher degree of adaptation of organisms to their environment, conclude Wageningen University scientists in their study published in The American Naturalist.
	Study seeks to better understand foraging competition between Adelie, gentoo penguins For hundreds of years, Adélie penguins have been breeding in the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), which has recently become one of the most rapidly warming areas on Earth.
Optimizing cell cycle analysis with the right algorithms Scientists of the the Helmholtz Zentrum München have found a new approach improving the identification of cell cycle phases using imaging flow cytometry data. They could avoid the use of stains by applying algorithms from machine learning. With the help of an imaging software they extracted hundreds of features from bright field and dark field images. Using this data they could generate algorithms that can sort the cells digitally.
	Love hertz James Cook University researchers have found sex sells when it comes to luring male mosquitoes.
	Three new chigger mite species discovered on rodents in Thailand Three new species of chigger mites have been discovered in Thailand, and are described in an article in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
	New NDV-H5Nx avian influenza vaccine has potential for mass vaccination of poultry A team of researchers at Kansas State University, in collaboration with Garcia-Sastre of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has developed a vaccine that protects poultry from multiple strains of avian influenza found in the U.S., including H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8. The vaccine has the potential to be administered through water or into embryonated eggs, making it easier for poultry producers to vaccinate flocks.
	From Sherborn to ZooBank: Moving to the interconnected digital nomenclature of the future From the outside, it can seem that taxonomy has a commitment issue with scientific names. They shift for reasons that seem obscure and unnecessarily wonkish to people who simply want to use names to refer to a consistent, knowable taxon such as species, genus or family. However, the relationship between nomenclature and taxonomy, as two quite separate but mutually dependent systems, is a sophisticated way of balancing what we know and what is open to further interpretation.

Medicine & Health news

	Study: Ebola survivors' blood didn't help patients in Guinea Giving the blood of Ebola survivors to patients didn't seem to make a difference, doctors found in the biggest study so far on the approach, prompting some scientists to say it's time to abandon the strategy.
	Novel device can predict when a blood sample will obstruct the blood vessel network Scientists at the Wyss Institute have created a better assay for testing blood's clotting tendency, which could prove to be a lifesaver for patients with abnormal blood coagulation and platelet function.
	Inhibiting protein fibers that cause Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases points toward ovarian cancer treatment UCLA scientists have developed a promising novel method to treat gynecologic tumors. The approach focuses on a protein called p53, which is commonly mutated in women who have high-grade serous ovarian cancer, the deadliest form of reproductive cancer. In many women with the disease, the cancer is very advanced by the time it is diagnosed and is therefore difficult to treat.
	Molecular mechanism responsible for a neurodegenerative disease discovered Scientists from Bern have discovered a mechanism which is responsible for the degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum in a neurodegenerative disease called Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. The results of their study open up new avenues for the future treatment of cerebellum associated degenerative disorders.
	What the mouse eye tells the mouse brain Tübingen researchers have shown that image processing in the eye is more extensive than previously thought. They investigated the channels that transmit information from the eye to the brain. In the course of this investigation, they not only identified numerous new cell types: they also found that the retina seems to possess some 40 different channels into the brain, twice as many as previously assumed. The results of their study are published in the latest edition of Nature.
	Stories that force us to think about our deepest values activate a region of the brain once thought to be its autopilot Everyone has at least a few non-negotiable values. These are the things that, no matter what the circumstance, you'd never compromise for any reason - such as "I'd never hurt a child," or "I'm against the death penalty."
	Valuing your time more than money is linked to happiness Valuing your time more than the pursuit of money is linked to greater happiness, according to new research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
	Cellular 'switch' helps brain distinguish safety from danger, new study finds Researchers at Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and the Department of Neuroscience at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have identified a cellular circuit that helps the mouse brain to remember which environments are safe, and which are harmful. Their study also reveals what can happen when that circuitry is disrupted—and may offer new insight into the treatment of conditions such as posttraumatic stress, panic and anxiety disorders.
H1N1 flu virus kills 14 in Costa Rica The H1N1 flu virus killed at least 14 people in Costa Rica over the past month, health authorities said Wednesday, but reassured that they did not see the illness causing a public emergency.
	Shortage of malaria drug points to better tool vs Ebola As doctors struggled to treat growing numbers of patients during the Ebola crisis in West Africa, the shortage of one helpful drug may have led to the discovery of a better one.
	Sugary drinks tax in Mexico linked with 12 percent cut in sales after one year In Mexico, a 10% tax on sugar sweetened drinks has been associated with an overall 12% reduction in sales and a 4% increase in purchases of untaxed beverages one year after implementation, finds a study published by The BMJ this week.
Long-term ozone exposure increases ards risks in critically ill Critically ill patients who are exposed to higher daily levels of ozone are more likely to develop acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS), according to a new study published online ahead of print in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. ARDS is a life-threatening inflammatory lung illness in which patients fail to obtain enough oxygen to the lungs. While previous research has shown a clear association between cigarette smoke and ARDS, the study "Long-Term Ozone Exposure Increases the Risk of Developing the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome" by Lorraine Ware, MD, of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and colleagues is the first to demonstrate a risk related to ozone.
	Eat less and be happy—really Try this on for size: The Happy Meal could be the answer to our nation's obesity epidemic. Not the actual contents of a McDonald's kid's meal, but the concept of it. Researchers from the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management as well as the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have found that offering a small incentive with a meal consistently motivates kids and adults to choose smaller portions.
Veterans and civilian patients at risk of ICU-related PTSD up to a year post discharge One in ten patients is at risk of having new post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to their ICU experience up to a year post-discharge. This was the finding from a multicenter, prospective cohort research study of veterans and civilians. The research was published online ahead of print in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Should patients pay to see the GP? Charging patients for GP consultations could raise much needed funds for the health system, argues David Jones, a foundation year 2 doctor at Worthing Hospital.
Exercise to improve skill and coordination can help reduce lower back pain A new Cochrane Review published today shows that targeting exercises to muscles that support and control the spine offers another strategy to reduce pain and disability caused by lower back pain.
	Cancer screening has never been shown to 'save lives,' argue experts Cancer screening has never been shown to "save lives" as advocates claim, argue experts in The BMJ today.
	US women 3x more likely to say they're bisexual: survey Women are about three times as likely as men to say they are bisexual, and increasing numbers of US women say they have had sexual contact with other females, new data showed Thursday.
	Sodium monitoring key to reducing dietary intakes U.S. consumers eat and drink too much sodium. Over 90 percent of us consume more than the maximum daily sodium intake recommended by the government, according to national food-intake survey findings reported by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Most of our dietary sodium comes from commercially processed and restaurant foods—and reducing sodium in these foods is key to lowering the amount of sodium in the U.S. diet.
	Paper highlights positive stories of GP work The often under-reported positive aspects of a GP's working life have been uncovered by a University of Manchester researcher in a series of in-depth interviews with experienced doctors.
	Teens who help strangers are better off down the road For some, helping family and friends is a natural part of life. Helping strangers is harder. It requires a sacrifice of time and energy for people you likely won't see again.
	Study on light exposure and kids' weight A world-first QUT study revealing light exposure plays a role in the weight of preschool children has been published by international research journal PLOS ONE.
Health avatar could become modern version of doctor's house call It's happy hour, and there's a man, a man with a drinking problem, headed to his favorite bar. He turns into the parking lot, and his phone comes to life. It's an image of a woman, her voice calm and reassuring.
New paper identifies trust as a major factor in the disclosure of concealable stigmas Concealable stigmas affect a large part of the population on a daily basis, whether they are part of a sexual minority, suffer from chronic illnesses, psychological disabilities, or are members of a minority religion. The decision to disclose a concealable stigma to an employer is a complex one. In a new paper: The Disclosure of Concealable Stigmas: Analysis Anchored in Trust, Ben Capell and Simon L. Dolan of ESADE-Ramon Llull University and Shay S. Tzafrir of the University of Haifa examine the role of trust in the decision to disclose.
	Respiratory disease concern for cerebral palsy sufferers Cerebral palsy (CP) is the world's most common childhood disability and despite major advancements in medical science the survival rate of people with CP has not improved in the past forty years.
	Research to identify biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injuries Lewis Rand, an active 10-year-old, suffered a mild traumatic brain injury Oct. 20 during soccer practice when he fell, hitting his head on a metal post.
	Updated app will boost Meniere's research Research into Ménière's Disease is getting a big boost this week, with the release of a newly updated tool to record and analyse symptoms.
	A new technique to test for brain damage in newborn babies Neurological damage known as Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) occurs in babies who experience a lack of oxygen or blood supply before birth, and can often lead to death or cerebral palsy in severe cases. HIE affects approximately three out of every 1,000 full term births.
	Cognitive behaviour therapy offers long-term benefits for people with depression People with depression, that have not responded fully to treatment with antidepressants, benefit from receiving additional cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a new study has found.
	The ability to control dreams may help us unravel the mystery of consciousness We spend around six years of our lives dreaming – that's 2,190 days or 52,560 hours. Although we can be aware of the perceptions and emotions we experience in our dreams, we are not conscious in the same way as when we're awake. This explains why we can't recognise that we're in a dream and often mistake these bizarre narratives for reality.
New dietary guidelines: lean meat OK, cut the added sugars (Update) Some Americans may not have to cut back on eggs and salt as much as they once thought and eating lean meat is still OK. But watch the added sugars, especially the sugary drinks.
Cancer death rate continues steady drop Steady reductions in smoking combined with advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment have resulted in a 23% drop in the cancer death rate since its peak in 1991. The drop translates to more than 1.7 million cancer deaths averted through 2012. The findings are included in Cancer Statistics, 2016, the American Cancer Society's latest annual report on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival. It is published early online in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Enhanced recovery program for colorectal surgery patients can save money for hospitals The cost of implementing an innovative quality improvement program that helps colorectal surgery patients recover faster is more than offset by savings from their reduced lengths of stay at hospitals of any size. The patient-centric program incurs sizable upfront investments in patient educational materials, dedicated time for frontline providers to develop and implement the pathway and develop a framework for measuring their performance. However, such programs can produce significant savings for hospitals of various sizes with varying volumes of colorectal surgery, according to new study results published online as an "article in press" in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). The study will appear in a print edition of JACS later this winter.
	Slow stem cell division may cause small brains Duke University researchers have figured out how a developmental disease called microcephaly produces a much smaller brain than normal: Some cells are simply too slow as they proceed through the neuron production process.
New role of protein kinases in embryo development and cancer A group of protein kinases have been found to play an important role in embryo development and may even be a potential cancer drug target, says research led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the Francis Crick Institute, UK.
Filmmakers just know how to help you read on-screen emotions Movie makers implicitly know how important it is to be able to read someone's expression, and that distance influences how easy this is done. This explains why close-ups of an actor appear on screen for shorter periods than shots in which the person's face is smaller and is surrounded by distracting objects, according to a study by James Cutting and Kacie Armstrong of Cornell University in the US, published in Springer's journal Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics . They argue that the craft of popular movie making relies on psychological principles about how much humans can absorb and comprehend.
Small box holds big promise in cardiac care For a non-descript box it wields a mighty name and even more impressive possibilities for people with heart disease. Called the AngioDefender, the machine - no bigger than a shoebox - holds much promise in the ability to personalize cardiac care, say researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute, the research arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London.
Feinstein Institute clinical study reveals new approach to diagnosing low back pain Scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered a new, personalized approach to diagnosing low back pain. The findings from a clinical study show that serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) vary in individuals with lumbar intervertebral disc disease and that biochemical profiling of circulating cytokines may assist in refining personalized diagnoses of disc diseases. These findings are published in Arthritis Research and Therapy.
	Certain yoga positions may impact eye pressure in glaucoma patients Glaucoma patients may experience increased eye pressure as the result of performing several different head-down positions while practicing yoga, according to a new study published by researchers at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) in the journal PLOS ONE.
	One in four kids sexually harassed by friends online It's not just strangers who target children online. Kids' own friends are sexually harassing them over the Internet, finds new research led by a Michigan State University cybercrime expert.
	Smokers diagnosed with pneumonia found to have higher risk of lung cancer Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, with a five-year survival rate of just 17 percent. Smoking causes approximately 85 percent of all lung cancer cases, only 15 percent of which are diagnosed at an early stage. Most efforts to obtain early diagnosis have been unsuccessful, largely due to the highly aggressive nature of the disease.
	Epigenetic regulation of metastatic breast cancer progression may guide prognosis and future therapy Boston-A gene that plays a role in the development of breast cancer to metastatic disease has been identified which may help to predict disease progression and serve as a target for the development of future breast cancer therapies.
	Gun, fire, motor vehicle safety practices linked to parents' depressive symptoms AU School of Public Affairs assistant professor Taryn Morrissey conducted a study that links parental depression to increased safety risks for their children. Her article on the findings, 'Parents' Depressive Symptoms and Gun, Fire, and Motor Vehicle Safety Practices,' was published online by the Maternal and Child Health Journal on Jan. 5, 2016.
	New iron transporter essential for Leishmania parasite virulence is potential drug target Leishmaniasis is a serious parasitic disease that affects 12 million people worldwide. Like for many neglected tropical diseases that disproportionately affect poor populations, existing drugs have serious side-effects and face increasing parasite resistance. A study published on January 7th in PLOS Pathogens identifies a new drug target, and supports the conclusion that iron-dependent signals generated in the mitochondria are essential for the development of parasite stages that cause disease in humans.
	Current malaria treatment fails in Cambodia due to drug-resistant parasites New findings from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), confirm dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, the first-line treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in Cambodia, has failed in certain provinces due to parasite resistance to artemisinin and piperaquine. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is an artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) for malaria that combines potent, fast-acting artemisinin with a long-acting partner drug, piperaquine. Resistance to artemisinin in parts of Southeast Asia is well-documented, but until now only a few studies have presented clear evidence of piperaquine resistance. Additional study findings suggest that artesunate, a form of artemisinin, plus mefloquine, a different long-acting partner drug, should be the first-line ACT in areas where dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatment has failed, the study authors note.
Researchers discover possible strategy against stroke Scientists at VIB and KU Leuven have identified the oxygen sensor PHD1 as a potential target for the treatment of brain infarction (ischemic stroke). Despite (minor) improvements in stroke treatment, stroke remains the fourth leading cause of death and the most common reason of severe disability. The impact of stroke is overwhelming for the patient, family and society -representing one of the largest unmet medical needs. Research led by prof. Peter Carmeliet and dr. Annelies Quaegebeur (VIB/KU Leuven) indicates that inhibition of PHD1 offers protection against stroke, via an unexpected mechanism, raising hope for future stroke treatment. The study was published in the leading medical journal Cell Metabolism.
	Provider volume affects outcome in IMRT for head, neck cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), provider volume is associated with outcome, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Discharge before noon tied to longer length of stay (HealthDay)—Discharge before noon is associated with longer length of stay among adult medical and surgical patients, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	LARC deemed safe for women with cardiovascular conditions (HealthDay)—For women with cardiovascular conditions, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) appears safe with few complications, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Blood test may help rule out preeclampsia in short term (HealthDay)—A sFlt-1:PlGF ratio of 38 or lower appears to help rule out preeclampsia in women in whom the syndrome is suspected clinically, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Trio of papers reveal lessons learned from Ebola epidemic (HealthDay)—A trio of papers published in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reveal some of what has been learned about the Ebola virus.
	Antibody Tx reduces graft-vs-host post stem cell transplant (HealthDay)—Antibody therapy before stem cell transplant may benefit patients with acute leukemia, according to research published in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Dietary glutamic acid linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer (HealthDay)—Dietary glutamic acid intake is associated with reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Cancer.
	Blocking melanoma's escape: Avatars break theraping resistance in relapsed cancers Melanoma patients who receive treatment with targeted therapies experience an initial response that feels like a cure, but that early excitement is quickly dampened when patients relapse as their cancers find alternative pathways in our cells to grow and spread. With melanoma so good at escaping targeted treatments, there's a dire need to halt these cancers in their tracks to prolong good responses and promote longer, healthier lives.
US Congress finally sends Obamacare repeal to president After dozens of attempts spanning five years, congressional Republicans succeeded Wednesday in sending legislation to US President Barack Obama's desk to repeal his landmark health care law.
ISHLT issues updated candidacy criteria for heart transplantation To determine patient eligibility for heart transplant, the International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) maintains a list of criteria, first issued in 2006, that acts as a guideline for physicians. A major 10-year update has now been issued and published in The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, which is freely available at http://www.jhltonline.org.
	Survey: US progress on health insurance stalled in 2015 Going into President Barack Obama's last year in office, progress has stalled on reducing the number of uninsured Americans under his signature health care law, according to a major survey out Thursday.
	Mental health treatment under the NHS is at extreme risk The NHS of 2015 is in danger of being unethical for mental health counsellors to work in, according to a new paper from The University of Nottingham.
	NHS reorganisation and workload pressures causing GP retention crisis NHS reorganisation, coupled with increased GP workload and reduced time for patient care, are combining to force many doctors to leave general practice early, according to a significant new study published today (Thursday 7 January 2016).
	A heads-up approach to sports safety Concussions in youth sport have received wide-reaching attention over the past decade. Recent legislation introduced in Ontario aims to set province-wide guidelines for treatment of concussions and return-to-play protocols. Closer to home, Queen's University student-athlete Allen Champagne (MSc'17) has launched an education program to teach youth football players how to play the game safely while reducing the risk of concussions.
CHEST issues new antithrombotic guideline update for treatment of VTE disease Each year, there are approximately 10 million cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) worldwide. VTE, the formation of blood clots in the vein, is a dangerous and potentially deadly medical condition and is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In this latest evidence-based guideline, Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: CHEST Guideline, from the American College of Chest Physicians, experts provide 53 updated recommendations for appropriate treatment of patients with VTE.
Higher cancer death rate associated with solid-organ transplant recipients In solid-organ transplant recipients, the cancer death rate was higher than in the general population in a new study from Ontario, Canada, published online by JAMA Oncology.
	New report shows fewer Texans have problems paying medical bills Fewer Texans say they have problems paying their medical bills in 2015 compared with 2013, according to a new report released today by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF).
	Uni experts aim to cut the costs of pressure ulcers Pressure ulcers—resulting from factors such as immobility by elderly patients and residents in hospitals and care homes—can have serious medical consequences, requiring plastic surgery in extreme cases. Also, they pile huge extra costs on the healthcare system. Now research by University of Huddersfield experts has led to a call for nationwide improvements in education so that staff in nursing and care homes can develop the skills and knowledge that are needed to curtail the problem.
Orthopedic surgery simulation: Unique technology developed A unique training simulator for orthopedic open surgery (knee reconstruction with total joint replacement) has been developed by OSSim Technologies Inc. in partnership with three University of Montreal orthopedic surgeons: Dr. Marc Isler and Dr. Vincent Massé from Maisonneuve-Rosement Hospital (CIUSS de l'Est-de-l'île-de-Montréal), and Dr. Véronique Godbout from the University of Montreal Hospital Centre (CHUM).

Other Sciences news

	Discovery shows dinosaurs may have been the original lovebirds Dinosaurs engaged in mating behavior similar to modern birds, leaving the fossil evidence behind in 100 million year old rocks, according to new research by Martin Lockley, professor of geology at the University of Colorado Denver.
	Neanderthal genes gave modern humans an immunity boost, allergies When modern humans met Neanderthals in Europe and the two species began interbreeding many thousands of years ago, the exchange left humans with gene variations that have increased the ability of those who carry them to ward off infection. This inheritance from Neanderthals may have also left some people more prone to allergies.
	Study shows thinking from God's perspective can reduce bias against others From the Christian Crusades to the Paris attacks, countless conflicts and acts of violence have been claimed to be the result of differing religious beliefs. These faith-based opinions are thought to motivate aggressive behavior because of how they encourage group loyalty or spin ideologies that devalue the lives of non-believers.
	Were Panamanian islanders dolphin hunters? Precolombian seafarers left what is now mainland Panama to settle on Pedro González Island in the Perlas archipelago about 6,000 years ago, crossing 50-70 kilometers (31-44 miles) of choppy seas—probably in dugout canoes. Dolphins were an important part of the diet of island residents according to Smithsonian archeologist Richard Cooke and colleagues from the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA and Colombia's Universidad del Norte.
	Scientists discover helicobacter pylori in the contents of Otzi's stomach Scientists are continually unearthing new facts about Homo sapiens from the mummified remains of Ötzi, the Copper Age man, who was discovered in a glacier in 1991. Five years ago, after Ötzi's genome was completely deciphered, it seemed that the wellspring of spectacular discoveries about the past would soon dry up.
	Study shows new CEOs who 'talk the talk' drive up stock prices New chief executives, especially those appointed from outside an organisation, can see the company's stock price soar if they present their strategy to investors in their first 100 days, new research from Oxford has discovered. But the effects are lessened if the CEO was an internal appointment or if the presentation is delayed too long.
	New technology to provide insights into the health of students Cellphones, any parent can attest, play a central role in the lives of college students. Studies show that nearly all college students own a cellphone, and most of those students use text messaging as their main form of communication. Researchers from the University of Notre Dame used the centrality of cellphones in college students' lives to delve deep into students' usage habits and how their social networks affect their everyday lives.
	When poverty becomes disease Talmadge King Jr., MD, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine, tells the story of an ER physician who had lost a document and was searching frantically for it in the garbage bins behind Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. What he found instead in the mountain of rubbish were crumpled prescription slips that patients had tossed in hospital trash cans throughout the week.
	Remains of lost 1800s whaling fleet discovered off Alaska's Arctic coast NOAA archaeologists have discovered the battered hulls of two 1800s whaling ships nearly 144 years after they and 31 others sank off the Arctic coast of Alaska in one of the planet's most unexplored ocean regions.
	Playing 'serious games,' adults learn to solve thorny real-world problems It is never easy for interest groups with conflicting views to resolve public policy disagreements involving complex scientific issues. To successfully formulate complex treaties, such as the recent Paris Climate Change Agreement, countries must find a way to meet the interests of almost 200 national representatives, while simultaneously getting the science right. Lowest common denominator political agreements that don't actually solve the problem are useless.
Improving musical synchronization with mathematical modeling Music functions as a universal connector that pervades most cultures. More specifically, rhythm and synchronization - both within and beyond the realm of music - are forms of communication that stimulate brain activity.

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