Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, Jan 23

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Jan 24, 2015 at 2:33 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, Jan 23
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 23, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- First-of-its-kind tube laser created for on-chip optical communications
- The latest fashion: Graphene edges can be tailor-made
- Physicists find a new way to slow the speed of light
- 'Predicted' zeolites may fuel efficient processes
- Telomere extension turns back aging clock in cultured human cells, study finds
- New technique helps probe performance of organic solar cell materials
- Researcher explores how the universe creates reason, morality
- Calculating the future of solar-fuel refineries
- Silver nanowires demonstrate unexpected self-healing mechanism
- NASA spacecraft almost to Pluto: Smile for the camera!
- Why all-nighters don't work: Sleep and memory go hand-in-hand
- Lucid dreams and metacognition: Awareness of thinking—awareness of dreaming
- Team discovers evolutionary mechanism that allows bacteria to resist antibiotics
- New space telescope concept could image objects at far higher resolution than Hubble
- Scotty project eyes uniqueness, sharing issues in 3D printing

Astronomy & Space news

	Three extremely luminous gamma-ray sources discovered in Milky Way's satellite galaxy Once again, the High Energy Stereoscopic System, H.E.S.S., has demonstrated its excellent capabilities. In the Large Magellanic Cloud, it discovered most luminous very high-energy gamma-ray sources: three objects of different type, namely the most powerful pulsar wind nebula, the most powerful supernova remnant, and a shell of 270 light years in diameter blown by multiple stars, and supernovae – a so-called superbubble. This is the first time that stellar-type gamma-ray sources are detected in an external galaxy, at these gamma-ray energies. The superbubble represents a new source class in very high-energy gamma rays.
	Hilltop panorama marks Mars rover's 11th anniversary A panorama from one of the highest elevations that NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has reached in its 11 years on Mars includes the U.S. flag at the summit.
	Gullies on Vesta suggest past water-mobilized flows (Phys.org)—Protoplanet Vesta, visited by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from 2011 to 2013, was once thought to be completely dry, incapable of retaining water because of the low temperatures and pressures at its surface. However, a new study shows evidence that Vesta may have had short-lived flows of water-mobilized material on its surface, based on data from Dawn.
	SOHO and Hinode offer new insight into solar eruptions The sun is home to the largest explosions in the solar system. For example, it regularly produces huge eruptions known as coronal mass ejections – when billions of tons of solar material erupt off the sun, spewing into space and racing toward the very edges of the solar system. Scientists know that these ejections, called CMEs, are caused by magnetic energy building up on the sun, which suddenly releases. But the details of what causes the build up and triggers the release are not precisely understood.
	Researcher explores how the universe creates reason, morality Recent developments in science are beginning to suggest that the universe naturally produces complexity. The emergence of life in general and perhaps even rational life, with its associated technological culture, may be extremely common, argues Clemson researcher Kelly Smith in a recently published paper in the journal Space Policy.
	NASA spacecraft almost to Pluto: Smile for the camera! It's showtime for Pluto. NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has traveled 3 billion miles and is nearing the end of its nine-year journey to Pluto. Sunday, it begins photographing the mysterious, unexplored, icy world once deemed a planet.
	New space telescope concept could image objects at far higher resolution than Hubble University of Colorado Boulder researchers will update NASA officials next week on a revolutionary space telescope concept selected by the agency for study last June that could provide images up to 1,000 times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope.
	Getting to know Rosetta's comet Rosetta is revealing its host comet as having a remarkable array of surface features and with many processes contributing to its activity, painting a complex picture of its evolution.
	Why is Andromeda coming toward us? I don't want to alarm you, but there's a massive galaxy heading our way and will collide with us in a few billion years. But aren't most galaxies speeding away? Why is Andromeda on a collision course with the Milky Way?
Singer Sarah Brightman in training for space tourist role British singer Sarah Brightman has started a gruelling 72-hour survival course in a snowy Russian forest to train for her upcoming role as a space tourist, Russia's cosmonaut training centre said Friday.
	Chandra celebrates the International Year of Light The year of 2015 has been declared the International Year of Light (IYL) by the United Nations. Organizations, institutions, and individuals involved in the science and applications of light will be joining together for this yearlong celebration to help spread the word about the wonders of light.

Medicine & Health news

	Telomere extension turns back aging clock in cultured human cells, study finds A new procedure can quickly and efficiently increase the length of human telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that are linked to aging and disease, according to scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	New 'systems genetics' study identifies possible target for epilepsy treatment A single gene that coordinates a network of about 400 genes involved in epilepsy could be a target for new treatments, according to research.
	Researchers observe protein degradation in intact brain cells Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Huntington's or Parkinson's are caused by defect and aggregated proteins accumulating in brain nerve cells that are thereby paralyzed or even killed. In healthy cells this process is prevented by an enzyme complex known as the proteasome, which removes and recycles obsolete and defective proteins. Recently, researchers in the team of Wolfgang Baumeister at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich were the first to observe and structurally characterize proteasomes at work inside healthy brain cells. "When we saw the proteasomes on our screen, we were immediately aware of the major importance of the results", remembers Shoh Asano, first author of the study. The study has now been published in the journal Science.
	Diet affects brain iron levels differently in men and women, pilot study shows High brain iron levels have been associated with neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Even healthy adults have higher iron concentrations in their brains as they age. But just how environmental factors, including diet, influence iron levels in the brain has not been well understood.
	Study shows chronic infection in certain birds shortens telomeres and lifespan (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working in Sweden has found that one bird species suffers from a shortened life span when infected by the malaria virus. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes how they examined data from various studies of the great reed warbler, which occurred over a 25 year period, and what they found in doing so.
	Why all-nighters don't work: Sleep and memory go hand-in-hand Want to ace that test tomorrow? Here's a tip: Put down the coffee and hit the sack.
	Lucid dreams and metacognition: Awareness of thinking—awareness of dreaming To control one's dreams and to live out there what is impossible in real life - a truly tempting idea. Some persons - so-called lucid dreamers -can do this. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin and the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich have discovered that the brain area which enables self-reflection is larger in lucid dreamers. Thus, lucid dreamers are possibly also more self-reflecting when being awake.
Revolutionary device found to lower blood pressure A revolutionary device has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure among patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, compared to those treated with usual drug measures - according to research from Queen Mary University of London and published in The Lancet.
What to do in a flu epidemic? Stay at home and watch TV Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) include actions individuals can take to reduce disease spread, such as hand washing and minimizing contacts with sick people. These can play a key role in reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as influenza, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases.
New review looks at the effect of thyroid disorders on reproductive health Thyroid disease can have significant effects on a woman's reproductive health and screening for women presenting with fertility problems and recurrent early pregnancy loss should be considered, suggests a new review published today (23 January) in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG).
	Scientists map brains of the blind to solve mysteries of human brain specialization Studying the brain activity of blind people, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are challenging the standard view of how the human brain specializes to perform different kinds of tasks, and shedding new light on how our brains can adapt to the rapid cultural and technological changes of the 21st Century.
Celiac disease rate among young children has almost tripled in past 20 years The evidence to date suggests that up to 1% of all children in the UK have blood markers for coeliac disease, an autoimmune reaction to dietary gluten from wheat, barley, and rye.
Disneyland measles outbreak puts California on alert California is battling a surge of measles cases clustered around the famous Disneyland theme park, despite the virus being all but eliminated in the United States, authorities said Thursday.
	ASU researchers study impact of yoga on PTSD According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 26,000 stillbirths in the United States each year. Stillbirth is defined as a fetal death that occurs any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy until date of birth.
	Study finds many patients unaware of what the anesthesiologist actually does When patients undergo surgery, there is a doctor in the operating room – the anesthesiologist – whose job is a mystery to many of them, according to new research by a Rutgers physician. That is unfortunate, the researcher says, because if patients had a better sense of what this doctor does, it would improve the chances that their surgery will be both successful and more comfortable.
	New worldwide estimates for herpes simplex virus type 2 published New global estimates for herpes simplex virus type 2 show that over 400-million people worldwide were infected with the virus in 2012. The estimates underline the extent to which herpes simplex virus type 2 – the virus which causes genital herpes – is widespread throughout the world causing a significant burden of disease. The research, led by University of Bristol academics and the World Health Organisation [WHO], is published in the journal PLOS ONE.
	The molecular biology behind ALS UA researchers have identified a molecular defect in motor neurons that may help explain the mechanisms underlying ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
	Experts recommend intermediate physical activity goals, especially for older adults The recommendation that adults should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week may be too ambitious for many middle-aged and older adults. That's one key recommendation from physical activity and health experts in the United States and Australia who published a paper this week in the British Medical Journal.
	Power naps for insomniacs Daytime naps may hold the key to treating insomnia, Flinders University researchers believe.
	Subpopulation of innate immune cells may be primed against threats like cancer The adaptive immune system has the ability to 'remember' a given pathogen or cancer cell by producing memory T cells that can mount a rapid counterattack against future threats. The innate immune system, on the other hand, is seen as more of a blunt instrument, only capable of launching a broad defensive response against potential invaders. A research team led by Shin-Ichiro Fujii and colleagues from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences has now identified a population of innate immune cells that display the attributes of memory cells and which may help keep tumor growth at bay.
	Explainer: What is sexual fluidity? Sexual preferences are not set in stone and can change over time, often depending on the immediate situation the individual is in. This has been described as sexual fluidity. For example, if someone identifies as heterosexual but then finds themselves in an environment with only people of the same gender, they might feel increased sexual or romantic attraction to those same-gender partners. Like any other social trait, sexual preferences, attitudes, behaviours and identity can be flexible to some degree.
	The brain's electrical alphabet The brain's alphabet is a mix of rate and precise timing of electrical pulses: the observation was made by researchers at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) of Rovereto, and has been published in the international journal Current Biology. The study shows that the nervous system features a "multichannel" language that makes up the neural code, or the alphabet that processes information in the brain.
	The language of T lymphocytes deciphered, the Rosetta Stone of the immune system How can our immune system defend us against aggressors so diverse such as viruses, parasites, fungi and tumours? The secret lies in the large number of clones of T and B lymphocytes, each of which expresses a particular specific receptor. Until a few years ago, deciphering the complexity of this vast repertoire was considered impossible. A "Rosetta stone," or a key for decoding, was missing in order to "translate" and understand this "language" in all its complexity. Today, thanks to the development of new methods for DNA sequencing (Next Generation Sequencing, NGS), it is possible to obtain millions of sequences that represent the "identity card" of T lymphocytes. But how is it possible to use this data to trace back to the specificity of the single clones, and how can we understand their function?
	Dragnet for epilepsy genes An international team of scientists together with the University of Bonn Hospital have taken a new path in the research into causes of epilepsy: The researchers determined the networks of the active genes and, like a dragnet, looked for the "main perpetrators" using a computer model. In doing so, they discovered the molecule sestrin-3 as a central switch. In animal models, the scientists were able to demonstrate that inhibition of sestrin-3 leads to a reduction in seizures. The results are now being presented in the renowned journal Nature Communications.
Lucky charms: When are superstitions used most? It might be a lucky pair of socks, or a piece of jewelry; whatever the item, many people turn to a superstition or lucky charm to help achieve a goal. For instance, you used a specific avatar to win a game and now you see that avatar as lucky. Superstitions are most likely to occur under high levels of uncertainty. Eric Hamerman at Tulane University and Carey Morewedge at Boston University have determined that people are more likely to turn to superstitions to achieve a performance goal versus a learning goal. Their research is published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
	Gene may open door for improved keloid, scar treatment Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit have identified a gene that may offer a better understanding of how keloid scars develop and potentially open the door to improved treatment for the often painful, itchy and tender scars.
Parents' belief that a child will attend college plays big role in early academic success Numerous studies have shown that socioeconomic factors play a major role in students' success in kindergarten. Children whose parents are more educated and have better jobs and higher incomes tend to have stronger math and reading skills than their peers.
	As Ebola deaths rise, researcher sees parallels with devastating medieval plague If you think that Ebola is bad – and it is – the current outbreak in West Africa is small compared with another deadly epidemic that engulfed much of the globe centuries ago. It is realistic to estimate that during the Middle Ages, plague – also known as the Black Death – wiped out 40 to 60 percent of the population in large areas of Europe, Africa and Asia, according to Nükhet Varlik, an assistant professor of history at Rutgers University-Newark.
National study finds strong association between menopausal symptoms and bone health The first large prospective cohort study to examine the relationship between menopausal symptoms and bone health in postmenopausal women has found that those who experience moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats during menopause tend to have lower bone mineral density and higher rates of hip fracture than peers with no menopausal symptoms.
	Very low yield for imaging of both legs in suspected DVT (HealthDay)—For patients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT), systematic imaging of both legs has a very low yield, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	Four factors impact QoL from perspective of dementia sufferers (HealthDay)—Four factors have been identified that affect quality of life from the perspective of people with dementia. The findings were published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Increased physical activity seen after TKR in developing world (HealthDay)—For patients in the developing world, total knee replacement (TKR) increases participation in physical activities in several life domains, according to a study published in the January issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Researchers identify efficient methylating enzyme for cancer development A recent study may help begin to explain how cancer develops though the abnormal turning on and off of genes. Researchers have discovered that the increase of methyl tags in cancer cells is due to highly efficient DNA methyl transferase 1 (DNMT1) enzymes found in these cells. The findings appear in the Journal of Proteomics and Bioinformatics.
	Mothers don't speak so clearly to their babies People have a distinctive way of talking to babies and small children: We speak more slowly, using a sing-song voice, and tend to use cutesy words like "tummy". While we might be inclined to think that we talk this way because it is easier for children to understand, new research published in Psychological Science suggests that, surprisingly, mothers may actually speak less clearly to their infants than they do to adults.
	Self-management program cuts depressive symptoms in diabetes (HealthDay)—For patients with diabetes, a self-management-oriented group program (Diabetes Motivation Strengthening [DIAMOS]) is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in Diabetes Care.
	Prophylactic antimicrobials overused in urologic surgery (HealthDay)—Utilization patterns indicate that antimicrobial prophylaxis is overused for urological surgeries in the community practice setting, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Optimal gestational weight gain in obese moms may vary (HealthDay)—For some obese women, gestational weight gain (GWG) below that recommended in the current guidelines may be advised to reduce the risk of certain adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to research published online Jan. 18 in Obesity Reviews.
	May be room for improvement in U/S transducer hygiene (HealthDay)—For endoluminal procedures relying on barrier protection to avoid contamination, permeability of materials may not always be considered, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
	More variation in costs than outcomes of PCI in VA system (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system, the variation in one-year risk-adjusted mortality is smaller than variation in risk-standardized costs, according to a study published in the Jan. 27 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Five percent of seniors discharged from ER admitted within days (HealthDay)—Nearly 5 percent of older Medicare beneficiaries seen in the emergency department have a hospital inpatient admission within seven days after discharge, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Acute heart failure patients bounce back to ERs for complex reasons A tool designed to assess what interferes with acute heart failure patients' ability to care for themselves after hospital discharge holds promise for improving patient outcomes and reducing readmissions to the hospital. The patient survey, designed by researchers at Vanderbilt University, was published online Tuesday in Annals of Emergency Medicine, along with patient responses that shed light on the non-medical issues that limit patients' ability to care for themselves.
Small study shows beetroot juice improves exercise function of COPD patients A Wake Forest University study to investigate the effects of acute beetroot juice ingestion on the exercise capacity of COPD patients shows some promise, but a larger clinical trial is needed to verify results.
Should hospitals keep cardiac catheterization labs open on weekends? For patients experiencing non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS), a rapid invasive strategy (within 24 hours) using coronary angiography and other interventions is beneficial for high-risk as well as low-risk patients. However, this treatment may be constrained on weekends by the need to mobilize on-call catheterization teams. A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology evaluated costs associated with an early versus delayed invasive intervention strategy for patients presenting on weekdays and weekends. Investigators determined that early invasive strategy for Canadian NTSE-ACS patients significantly reduced costs, even on weekends, because of resulting shorter length of hospital stays (LOS).
FDA approves second vaccine against meningitis strain Federal health regulators have approved a second vaccine to prevent a strain of bacteria that can cause deadly cases of meningitis.
Sierra Leone lifts Ebola quarantine measures Sierra Leone lifted quarantine measures imposed at the height of the Ebola epidemic Friday, as the World Health Organization warned the crisis was still "extremely alarming" despite a drop in new cases.
Veterinary researcher studies potential therapy for hydrogen sulfide poisoning Ongoing research at Iowa State University is investigating the long-term neurological damage caused by hydrogen sulfide poisoning, a threat to both humans and animals that can originate from sources as varied as swamps to industrial processes to manure pits.
Providing better data on the Ebola virus Researchers are exploring new and innovative methods to solve the complex mystery that is the Ebola virus.
Incidence of colorectal cancer increasing in young adults The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among young adults ages 20-39 years has increased during the past 20-30 years, despite declining rates of CRC for the U.S. population overall. This surprising new finding, an analysis of how CRC incidence varies based on race and gender, and differences in tumor location, for young adults compared to the general population are presented in Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO).
	Have faith in the flu shot Flu season is now peaking. The rate of effectiveness for this year's vaccine has been disappointing, with at least half the states reporting widespread incidence of influenza. Dr. Paul Skolnik, an infectious diseases physician who chairs the Department of Medicine at UConn Health, explains what's happening and what can be done.
MD Anderson and Bayer collaborate to create symptom assessment questionnaires in clinical trials When cancer patients take part in a clinical trial to develop new therapies, they and their physicians want to know how they will feel and function during treatment. A new collaboration between Bayer and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will go straight to the patients to learn how certain investigational new drugs affect them. The project will involve the use of questionnaires to assess how a drug may impact a patient's disease-related symptoms.
Ebola drugs: A factfile There is no licensed vaccine or treatment for Ebola, which has killed more than 8,600 people in West Africa out of more than 21,700 infected since the start of 2014.
	Fewer kindergarteners skip vaccinations under California law Fewer California parents opted out of vaccinations for their children entering kindergarten last year following the adoption of a law that makes it harder to go without the shots, state figures show.

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