Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 23

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2014 at 2:23 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 23
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 23, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Peer review could reject breakthrough manuscripts, study shows
- New programming language automatically coordinates interactions between Web page components
- Researchers shed light on how 'microbial dark matter' might cause disease
- Continental works on infrared for car multi-touch
- Scientists sweep cells apart for use in medical research
- Marital problems remain stable, even as satisfaction declines, study finds
- Indiegogo project NANOPLUG – Offering the world's smallest hearing aid
- Study shows rising ocean acidification likely to cause shrimp to taste bad
- Molecular mechanism behind health benefits of dietary restriction identified
- Smartphone thumb skills alter our brains
- Study discovers a way to control internal clocks
- Genetic study sheds light on how mosquitoes transmit malaria
- Could playing Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker' and other music improve kids' brains?
- Activating hair growth with a little help from the skin
- Fish eye sheds light on color vision

Astronomy & Space news

	Sun sizzles in high-energy X-rays For the first time, a mission designed to set its eyes on black holes and other objects far from our solar system has turned its gaze back closer to home, capturing images of our sun. NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, has taken its first picture of the sun, producing the most sensitive solar portrait ever taken in high-energy X-rays.
	Putin oversees successful rocket launch (Update) President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday oversaw the successful test-launch of Russia's newest heavy-class Angara rocket, a rare piece of good news in a week dominated by the economic crisis.
	Students aim to put cyanobacteria on Mars to generate oxygen Mars is a very harsh and hostile environment for future human explorers and like any other known planet it has no breathable air. That could change someday, and it may be soon enough for our generation to witness it, as the student team from Germany has a bold vision to make a first step to terraform the Red Planet, turning it more Earth-like. The plan is to send cyanobacteria to Mars to generate oxygen out of carbon dioxide which is the main component of Martian atmosphere (nearly 96%). "Cyanobacteria do live in conditions on Earth where no life would be expected. You find them everywhere on our planet!" team leader Robert P. Schröder told astrowatch.net. "It is the first step on Mars to test microorganisms." The project is participating in the Mars One University Competition and if it wins, it will be send as a payload to Mars, onboard the Dutch company's mission to the Red Planet. Now everyone can vote to help make it happen by visiting the CyanoKnights.bio webpage.
	Rosetta instrument will make invaluable discoveries, says ESA scientist Matt Taylor On Dec. 10, ESA announced the latest important discovery regarding comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta spacecraft orbiting the comet has found the water vapor from its target to be significantly different to that found on Earth. The discovery made by Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) fuels the debate on the origin of our planet's oceans. That's not all, ESA's Rosetta project scientist, Matt Taylor, believes that ROSINA will make more key findings for our understanding of the origin of life. "ROSINA is continuing to take measurements and will for the rest of the mission," Taylor told astrowatch.net. "It is making and will make invaluable detections of the composition of the comets atmosphere, as well as monitoring its density."

Medicine & Health news

	Smartphone thumb skills alter our brains When people spend time interacting with their smartphones via touchscreen, it actually changes the way their thumbs and brains work together, according to a report in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on December 23. More touchscreen use in the recent past translates directly into greater brain activity when the thumbs and other fingertips are touched, the study shows.
	Molecular mechanism behind health benefits of dietary restriction identified A new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers identifies a key molecular mechanism behind the health benefits of dietary restriction, or reduced food intake without malnutrition. Also known as calorie restriction, dietary restriction is best known for its ability to slow aging in laboratory animals. The findings here show that restricting two amino acids, methionine and cysteine, results in increased hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production and protection against ischemia reperfusion injury, damage to tissue that occurs following the interruption of blood flow as during organ transplantation and stroke. Increased H2S production upon dietary restriction was also associated with lifespan extension in worms, flies, and yeast.
	Could playing Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker' and other music improve kids' brains? Children who play the violin or study piano could be learning more than just Mozart. A University of Vermont College of Medicine child psychiatry team has found that musical training might also help kids focus their attention, control their emotions and diminish their anxiety. Their research is published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Researchers map paths to cancer drug resistance A team of researchers led by Duke Cancer Institute has identified key events that prompt certain cancer cells to develop resistance to otherwise lethal therapies.
Test predicts response to treatment for complication of leukemia stem cell treatment A new test may reveal which patients will respond to treatment for graft versus host disease (GVHD), an often life-threatening complication of stem cell transplants (SCT) used to treat leukemia and other blood disorders, according to a study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published online today in the journal Lancet Haematology and in print in the January issue.
	Using laparoscopy for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement Researchers conducted a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial at Bern University Hospital in Switzerland to compare a laparoscopic procedure with a mini-laparotomy for insertion of a peritoneal catheter during ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. The deciding factor was the rate of shunt malfunction. Although overall shunt failure rates did not differ substantially between patients in the two surgery groups, the authors identified a significant reduction in the rate of distal (abdominal) shunt failure in patients in whom laparoscopy was used. Detailed findings of the clinical trial are reported and discussed in "Laparoscopically assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: a prospective randomized controlled trial" by Philippe Schucht, MD, Vanessa Banz, MD, PhD, and colleagues, published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
	Thiazide prophylaxis for kidney stones doesn't increase DM risk (HealthDay)—The risk of diabetes mellitus is not increased with thiazide diuretic prophylaxis for kidney stones, according to research published in the December issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Older women restrict driving more than older men (HealthDay)—Older women restrict their driving activity more than older men, regardless of physical health or cognitive status, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	CKD, glomerulonephritis risk higher for those with psoriasis (HealthDay)—Psoriasis is associated with a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and glomerulonephritis (GN), according to a study published online Dec. 15 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Genes show the way to better treatment of hepatitis A One of the most common causes of hepatitis A (formerly known as infectious hepatitis) is a hepatitis C virus infection in the liver. The disease can be treated medically, but not all patients are cured by the treatment currently available. New research shows that the response to medical treatment depends on genetic factors.
	Pet reptiles pose health risk for infants, study says Owning exotic reptiles such as snakes, chameleons, iguanas and geckos could place infants at risk of salmonella infection, according to a British study published on Monday.
Kansas says new virus found after resident's death A new virus thought to be carried by ticks or other insects has been discovered following the death of a southeast Kansas resident during the summer, public health officials said Monday.
Impact of torture, long-term psychological scars At times, waterboarding rendered al-Qaida terror suspect Abu Zubaydah hysterical. But later, a message to CIA headquarters described an interrogator merely lifting his eyebrow and snapping his fingers, and Zubaydah "slowly walked on his own to the water table" to lie down.
	Trial confirms Ebola vaccine candidate safe and equally immunogenic in Africa Two experimental DNA vaccines to prevent Ebola virus and the closely related Marburg virus are safe, and generated a similar immune response in healthy Ugandan adults as reported in healthy US adults earlier this year. The findings, from the first trial of filovirus vaccines in Africa, are published in The Lancet.
	Asians need type 2 diabetes screening at lower body weight: experts (HealthDay)—Obesity is a big contributor to type 2 diabetes, but Asian-Americans may need to pile on fewer excess pounds to develop the disease than other groups do, according to new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
	Goal in stage Ia1 cervical cancer is complete excision (HealthDay)—Clear excision margins are important in the management of stage Ia1 squamous cervical cancer, according to research published in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Researchers developing a biomedical device that can find and destroy cancer cells To examine internal organs, doctors often use a tube with light and a tiny camera attached to it. The device, called an endoscope, helps detect cancer and other illnesses.
	Our naive optimism about medical care "It might do me some good and it won't hurt to give it a go."
Tuberculosis avoids and subverts host immunity An ancient disease, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be one of the major causes of disability and death worldwide. The recent TB cases in Quebec among the Inuit community has underscored the need to find new avenues to eradicate this illness.
Full-time employment with no health benefits was a trend for workers in 2012 (Medical Xpress)—Almost half of the 6.9 million Californians who lacked insurance in 2012 were in a family with a full-time worker, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
	Researchers develop a new distance rehabilitation system for patients with heart pathologies A team of Spanish researchers has participated in the development of a new distance heart rehabilitation system based on physical exercise routines for people affected by heart pathologies.
Trial finds cancer drug can block key signal in cancer growth and drug resistance An experimental cancer drug may block an important driver for the survival, growth and spread of cancer cells.
	Why Santa should bring your kids the right-sized sports gear Smaller footballs, lighter tennis racquets and mini playing fields: it makes sense to have these for children, right?
	"Fitspiration" social media trend is actually detrimental to women's wellbeing Fitspiration – or fitspo for short – is a rising global movement within social media that encourages weight loss, healthy eating and exercise through inspirational fitness images and slogans.
	New mums experience a change in their taste of men New mothers' taste in men changes after giving birth, according to research from the University of Stirling.
	Holiday eating not detrimental to good regular dietary habits Tis the season to attend food-filled festivities that generally tax the old waistline. If you're tired of stressing over calories and weight gain, here's a bit of advice from Peter Pribis, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics in the University of New Mexico College of Education, Department of Individual, Family and Community Education.
Using targeted brain stimulation to change attention patterns for anxious individuals Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a painless treatment strategy that uses weak electrical currents to deliver targeted stimulation to the brain via electrodes placed on the scalp. tDCS has shown promise in treating mood, anxiety, cognition, and some symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
India's birth rate shrinks India's birth rate declined dramatically in the last two decades due in part to rising female literacy, a new study shows, but experts warned against complacency in the country of 1.2 billion.
US going after sellers of pure caffeine powder The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is building a legal case against companies that sell pure powdered caffeine, which can be fatal even in small doses.
	Number of Americans taking statins keeps rising: CDC (HealthDay)—More Americans than ever are taking cholesterol-lowering medications, federal health officials reported Tuesday.
Greater risk of premature deaths in neighborhoods with high concentrations of check-cashing places A new research paper suggests a relation between the density of both cheque-cashing places and alcohol outlets in a given neighbourhood and the risk of premature death in people ages 20-59 years.
	Stress may increase desire for reward but not pleasure, research finds Feeling stressed may prompt you to go to great lengths to satisfy an urge for a drink or sweets, but you're not likely to enjoy the indulgence any more than someone who is not stressed and has the same treat just for pleasure, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
Overweight teens lose weight for the right reasons, study shows Most heavy teens' attempts to lose weight don't work, but a new study shows a big secret of those who do succeed.
	'July effect' does not impact stroke outcomes, according to new study Patients with strokes caused by blood clots -known as acute ischemic strokes- who were admitted in July had similar outcomes compared to patients admitted any other month, according to a new study. The findings challenge concerns about the possibility of lower quality of care and the potential risk of poorer outcomes in teaching hospitals when new medical residents start each July - sometimes called the "July effect."
	US moves to end ban on blood donations by gay men Federal health officials are recommending an end to the nation's lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 31-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists say is no longer justified.
New standards of care from the American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association is recommending a less stringent diastolic blood pressure target for people with diabetes and that all people with diabetes take either moderate or high doses of statins, in keeping with recent changes to guidelines for cardiovascular risk management enacted by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA). These recommendations are reflected in the most recent changes to the Association's annual revised Standards of Medical Care, being published in a special supplement to the January issue of Diabetes Care.
	Researchers confirm whole-genome sequencing can successfully identify cancer-related mutations UT Southwestern Medical Center cancer researchers have demonstrated that whole-genome sequencing can be used to identify patients' risk for hereditary cancer, which can potentially lead to improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care.
Researchers find alternate drug therapy lowers antibodies Findings of a three-year clinical trial led by University of Cincinnati (UC) transplant researchers suggest that a novel pre-operative drug therapy reduces antibodies in kidney patients with greater success than with traditional methods, with the potential to increase the patients' candidacy for kidney transplantation and decrease the likelihood of organ rejection.
Research opens opportunities to develop targeted drug therapy for cardiac arrhythmia In an orchestra, each instrument plays an important role in creating a beautiful piece of music. If just one instrument falls out of rhythm, a world-class symphony could sound more like a middle-school orchestra practice.
	Small changes in eGFR with TDF preexposure prophylaxis (HealthDay)—For HIV-1-uninfected members of serodiscordant couples, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) used as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is associated with a small decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), according to a study published online Dec. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Panel recommends blood pressure screening to stop a 'silent killer' Health authorities in the U.S. are taking fresh aim at a "silent killer" with a recommendation that all American adults be screened for high blood pressure.
Popular diabetes drug may be safe for patients with kidney disease The most popular treatment for type 2 diabetes, metformin, may be safer for patients with mild to moderate kidney disease than guidelines suggest, according to a new, systematic review of the literature published by Yale investigators in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
The heat is on: Causes of hospitalization due to heat waves identified In the largest and most comprehensive study of heat-related illness to date, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers have identified a handful of potentially serious disorders—including fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, urinary tract infections, sepsis, and heat stroke—that put older Americans at significantly increased risk of winding up in the hospital during periods of extreme heat.
	Daily multivitamin improves pregnancy outcomes in South Asia, study suggests A multivitamin given daily to pregnant women in rural Bangladesh reduced pre-term births, increased infant birth weight and resulted in healthier babies overall, according to the large randomized trial conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers.
Comprehensive care for high-risk, chronically ill children reduces serious illnesses High-risk children with chronic illness who received care at a clinic that provided both primary and specialty care and features to promote prompt effective care had an increase in access to care and parent satisfaction and a reduction in serious illnesses and costs, according to a study in the December 24/31 issue of JAMA.
Many patients with gout do not receive recommended treatment Among patients in England with gout, only a minority of those with indications to receive urate-lowering therapy were treated according to guideline recommendations, according to a study in the December 24/31 issue of JAMA.
Trends in indoor tanning among high school students While indoor tanning has decreased among high school students, about 20 percent of females engaged in indoor tanning at least once during 2013 and about 10 percent of girls frequently engaged in the practice by using an indoor tanning device 10 or more times during the year, according to a research letter published online by JAMA Dermatology.
	Effect of longer, deeper cooling for newborns with neurological condition Among full-term newborns with moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (damage to cells in the central nervous system from inadequate oxygen), receiving deeper or longer duration cooling did not reduce risk of neonatal intensive care unit death, compared to usual care, according to a study in the December 24/31 issue of JAMA.
Identifying brain variations to predict patient response to surgery for OCD Identifying brain variations may help physicians predict which patients will respond to a neurosurgical procedure to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that does not respond to medication or cognitive-behavioral therapies, according to a report published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
	To remove the gallbladder or not—that is the question Gallbladder removal is one of the most common operations performed in older adults. Yet, research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston shows many patients who would benefit most from the surgery don't get it.
Consumer group sues Aetna, alleges discrimination A consumer advocacy group has filed a class-action lawsuit against Aetna Inc. saying a new policy violates the privacy of people with HIV and AIDS by requiring them to get their medications from its mail-order pharmacy.
	Ireland to rule on pregnant woman on life support Irish judges considered arguments Tuesday over whether a brain-dead pregnant woman should be kept on life support to give her 17-week-old fetus a chance at life, a case that has reignited debate over Ireland's abortion ban.
Armed virus shows promise as treatment for pancreatic cancer A PCRF-funded project which combines of two different approaches – virotherapy and immunotherapy - is showing "great promise" as a treatment for pancreatic cancer.
FDA clears Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Saxenda The Food and Drug Administration has approved a Novo Nordisk diabetes drug as a treatment for obesity. It's the first injectable drug approved for weight loss.

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