Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 23

Phys.org Newsletter for February 23, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Could classical theory be just as weird as quantum theory? 
- Nature journal to begin offering double-blind peer review 
- Simulating superconducting materials with ultracold atoms (w/ Video) 
- Best of Last Week – Observing Higgs analogue in superconductors, mysterious Mars cloud and cancer risk found in soda 
- Driverless shuttle will be on the move in UK 
- La Nina-like conditions associated with 2,500-year-long shutdown of coral reef growth 
- Retracing the roots of fungal symbioses 
- Reconstructing topsy-turvy paleoclimate of western US 21,000 years ago 
- Brain makes decisions with same method used to break WW2 Enigma code (w/ Video) 
- Scientists bring oxygen back to dead fjord 
- Customized DNA rings aid early cancer detection in mice, study finds 
- Losing 1 electron switches magnetism on in dichromium 
- Japanese LED traffic lights just too cool when snow falls 
- Learn about Venus, the hothouse planet near Earth 
- Colours in the Small Magellanic Cloud 

Nanotechnology news

	Uncovering the personality of wonder ultrathin materials Imperfections make people interesting; the same goes for crystals.
	Building tailor-made DNA nanotubes step by step Researchers at McGill University have developed a new, low-cost method to build DNA nanotubes block by block - a breakthrough that could help pave the way for scaffolds made from DNA strands to be used in applications such as optical and electronic devices or smart drug-delivery systems.

Physics news

	Could classical theory be just as weird as quantum theory? Quantum mechanics is often described as "weird" and "strange" because it abandons many of the intuitive traits of classical physics. For example, the ideas that the world is objective, is deterministic, and exists independent of measurement are basic features of classical theory, but do not always hold up in quantum theory. But what if it turns out that these intuitive ideas are not true features of classical physics, either? Would classical theory be just as weird as quantum theory?
	Simulating superconducting materials with ultracold atoms (w/ Video) Using ultracold atoms as a stand-in for electrons, a Rice University-based team of physicists has simulated superconducting materials and made headway on a problem that's vexed physicists for nearly three decades.
	Quantum many-body systems on the way back to equilibrium Considering that one cubic centimetre of matter already contains about 1019 to 1023 particles, it is hard to imagine that physicists nowadays can prepare ensembles comprising only some hundred, or even just a handful of atoms.
	Japan clocks keep time for 16 billion years Japanese researchers have built a pair of clocks which they say are so accurate they will lose a second only every 16 billion years—longer than the Earth has been around.
	Losing 1 electron switches magnetism on in dichromium The scientists used the unique Nanocluster Trap experimental station at the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and published their results in the Journal Angewandte Chemie.

Earth news

	European grain yield stagnation related to climate change, says researcher The European Union led the world in wheat production and exports in 2014-15. Yet Europe is also the region where productivity has slowed the most. Yields of major crops have not increased as much as would be expected over the past 20 years, based on past productivity increases and innovations in agriculture.
La Nina-like conditions associated with 2,500-year-long shutdown of coral reef growth A new study has found that La Niña-like conditions in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Panamá were closely associated with an abrupt shutdown in coral reef growth that lasted 2,500 years. The study suggests that future changes in climate similar to those in the study could cause coral reefs to collapse in the future.
	Study outlines threat of ocean acidification to coastal communities in US Coastal communities in 15 states that depend on the $1 billion shelled mollusk industry (primarily oysters and clams) are at long-term economic risk from the increasing threat of ocean acidification, a new report concludes.
	Scientists bring oxygen back to dead fjord More and more of the world's waters are seriously lacking oxygen. Could we use pumps to bring oxygen and thus higher life back into these waters? A Danish/Swedish research team says yes. They installed pumps in a Swedish fjord that showed a strong oxygen deficit and now they report that all the right oxygen-loving organisms have come back to the fjord.
	Reconstructing topsy-turvy paleoclimate of western US 21,000 years ago Climate scientists now put the odds that the American Southwest is headed into a 30-year "mega drought" at 50/50. Meanwhile, the forecast for the Pacific Northwest is continued warming with slightly drier summers and even wetter winters.
Via laser into the past of the oceans Next to global warming, ocean acidification is currently considered as the second major carbon dioxide problem. With the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere larger quantities of the gas are getting into the seawater, too. There it forms carbonic acid, which lowers the pH value of the oceans. The long-term effects of this process on marine ecosystems are still unknown. Research is facing a fundamental problem: Measurements of pH values in the oceans have started only a few decades ago, in some areas only a few years ago. What were the pH values organisms coped with 100, 200 or 1000 years ago?
	Scientists discover bacteria in marine sponges harvest phosphorus for the reef community Did you ever wonder why the water is so clear around coral reefs? Scientists have known for years that sponges can filter water and gather nutrients from the ocean, making it appear crystal clear. For the first time scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) have identified that bacteria on sponges are harvesting phosphorus from the water for the reef ecosystem to use for nourishment. The findings were published in the February 23 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Filthy India air cutting 660 million lives short by three years India's filthy air is cutting 660 million lives short by about three years, while nearly all of the country's 1.2 billion citizens are breathing in harmful pollution levels, according to research published Saturday.
Arctic oil drillers face tighter US rules to stop spills Royal Dutch Shell Plc and any oil drilling company that prospects in the Arctic Ocean must boost safety practices to prevent spills in the frigid and often hostile waters or mitigate the impact, U.S. regulators proposed Friday.
	Huge spring tides draw crowds to French Atlantic coast France kicked off nearly a month of exceptionally large spring tides Saturday, as tourists flocked to coastal areas to witness spectacularly high water levels ahead of the so-called "tide of the century" March 21.
	Fresh nuclear leak detected at Fukushima plant Sensors at the Fukushima nuclear plant have detected a fresh leak of highly radioactive water to the sea, the plant's operator announced Sunday, highlighting difficulties in decommissioning the crippled plant.
	Winter air campaign tracking how pollution handles the cold When we think about pollution, we imagine the dark clouds puffing from smokestacks or tailpipes. But those clouds quickly rise upward, follow the winds, and react with other gases and particles in the air. These processes determine how much pollution actually reaches people and the environment. And, like everything else, they are affected by the seasons.
Recycling of nutrients is the key to saving the Earth Leakages of nutrients necessary for food production – especially nitrogen and phosphorus – cause severe eutrophication to the Earth's aquatic ecosystems and promote climate change. However, this threat also hides an opportunity. An enhancement of the nutrient economy creates new business models and enables developing recycling technology into an export.
	Plants found to alter soil types Exciting research has revealed some plants have the ability to alter soil types, suggesting opportunities may exist to re-engineer WA's hostile soils to better suit agricultural purposes.
	UN climate experts meet in Kenya despite chief's absence Climate scientists went ahead with a scheduled meeting in Kenya despite the absence of the chief of the UN's top climate science body who faces sexual harassment allegations.
	Long-term nitrogen fertilizer use disrupts plant-microbe mutualisms When exposed to nitrogen fertilizer over a period of years, nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia evolve to become less beneficial to legumes - the plants they normally serve, researchers report in a new study.
	NASA satellite sees a warm winter in the Western US While people in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S have been dealing with Arctic Air, the bulge in the Jet Stream over the eastern Pacific Ocean has been keeping the western third of the U.S. in warmer than normal temperatures over the last two months. Infrared data from NASA provided a look at those surface temperature extremes from west to east.
Climate science literacy unrelated to public acceptance of human-caused global warming Deep public divisions over climate change are unrelated to differences in how well ordinary citizens understand scientific evidence on global warming. Indeed, members of the public who score the highest on a climate-science literacy test are the most politically polarized on whether human activity is causing global temperatures to rise.
World must achieve international water goals to preempt looming conflicts born of desperation: UN A new UN report warns that without large new water-related investments many societies worldwide will soon confront rising desperation and conflicts over life's most essential resource.

Astronomy & Space news

	Spacewalking 'cable guys' wrap up work outside station (Update) A pair of American astronauts Saturday wrapped up the first of three spacewalks to route cables outside the International Space Station so commercial spaceships carrying crew can dock there in the coming years.
	Quadruplets in a stellar womb More than half of all stars are in multiple systems: binary stars, or even triplets or quadruplets, that orbit one another. No one is quite sure how or why they form, but the effects can be significant, for example influencing the character of their planets. Our Sun is uncommon in having no companion star, perhaps suggesting that its configuration of planets is equally uncommon.
	How can space travel faster than the speed of light? Cosmologists are intellectual time travelers. Looking back over billions of years, these scientists are able to trace the evolution of our Universe in astonishing detail. 13.8 billion years ago, the Big Bang occurred. Fractions of a second later, the fledgling Universe expanded exponentially during an incredibly brief period of time called inflation. Over the ensuing eons, our cosmos has grown to such an enormous size that we can no longer see the other side of it.
	Learn about Venus, the hothouse planet near Earth Venus was once considered a twin to Earth, as it's roughly the same size and is relatively close to our planet. But once astronomers looked at it seriously in the past half-century or so, a lot of contrasts emerged. The biggest one—Venus is actually a hothouse planet with a runaway greenhouse effect, making it inhospitable to life as we know it. Here are some more interesting facts about Venus.
	Colours in the Small Magellanic Cloud Astronomical images often look like works of art. This picture of one of our nearest neighbouring galaxies, the Small Magellanic Cloud, is certainly no exception!
	Spacewalking astronauts route cable in 1st of 3 jobs (AP)—Spacewalking astronauts routed more than 300 feet (90 meters) of cable outside the International Space Station on Saturday, tricky and tiring advance work for the arrival of new American-made crew capsules.
	IXV spaceplane's successful test makes European aerospace company proud On Feb. 11, ESA's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV), atmospheric reentry demonstrator, successfully completed its first test flight, ending with a splashdown into the Pacific Ocean and one aerospace company is bursting with pride over the flawless test. "The success of this mission is a source of great pride for us. Thanks to the data collected during the flight, we are paving the way for the development of new-generation reentry vehicles in Europe," Sandrine Bielecki, Thales Alenia Space spokesperson told astrowatch.net.
	Resolving to stay fit in space and on Earth In February, our attention turns to romantic matters of the heart. As American Heart Month, this month is also a time to focus on heart health and a perfect excuse to start working out to improve your physical fitness. Astronauts on the International Space Station are working to keep their hearts healthy too, and at the same time they are generating data to advance knowledge of health and fitness in space and on Earth.

Technology news

	Driverless shuttle will be on the move in UK (Phys.org) —"Autonomous public transport" is on the minds of planners who envision self-driving vehicles that would cross over short distances, suited for airport transport, industrial sites, theme parks and resort centers, hospital sites, aid for the elderly, and consumers wanting to shuttle around shopping areas, all where low speeds are required.
	Lenovo stops Superfish preloads and issues advisory Lenovo has seen calmer weeks. News sites in droves rang chimes and sirens over an adware program on some Lenovo models escalating to concerns about the potential risk of a Man in the Middle threat. Lenovo has been attempting to meet the storm head-on and has stopped preloads of the program called Superfish. In a statement, Lenovo said, "In our effort to enhance our user experience, we pre-installed a piece of third-party software, Superfish (based in Palo Alto, CA), on some of our consumer notebooks. We thought the product would enhance the shopping experience, as intended by Superfish. It did not meet our expectations or those of our customers. In reality, we had customer complaints about the software."
	Fever alarm armband: A wearable, printable, temperature sensor University of Tokyo researchers have developed a "fever alarm armband," a flexible, self-powered wearable device that sounds an alarm in case of high body temperature. This armband will be presented at the 2015 IEEE International Solid State Circuits Conference, San Francisco, on 22-26 February, 2015. The flexible organic components developed for this device are well-suited to wearable devices that continuously monitor vital signs including temperature and heart rate for applications in healthcare settings.
	Water in Oregon pipeline is tapped for electricity Lucid Energy has developed a renewable energy system that makes use of water moving through pipelines. The company's LucidPipe Power System converts pressure in water pipelines into electricity. They have a patented, lift-based turbine technology and last month they made news in a project involving Lucid Energy, the Portland Water Bureau and Portland General Electric. A 200kW LucidPipe Power System installed in a Portland Water Bureau water pipeline in Portland, Oregon, came online and began generating renewable energy for Portland General Electric. In short, one of the city of Portland's major water pipelines has started producing renewable energy.
	Superfish points fingers over ad software security flaws A little-known Silicon Valley startup was caught in a firestorm of criticism this week for making software that exposed Lenovo laptop users to hackers bent on stealing personal information. But Superfish Inc. has also won praise for producing visual search technology that many see as the next big thing in online shopping.
	Tesla, Google, Apple: is Silicon Valley the future of the US car? Is the future of the US car industry in Silicon Valley?
	Reducing power leakage when transmitters are idle could greatly extend battery life At this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the big theme was the "Internet of things"—the idea that everything in the human environment, from kitchen appliances to industrial equipment, could be equipped with sensors and processors that can exchange data, helping with maintenance and the coordination of tasks.
	Engineering a robot that assists in direct nursing care Scientists from RIKEN and Sumitomo Riko Company Limited have developed a new experimental nursing care robot, ROBEAR, which is capable of performing tasks such as lifting a patient from a bed into a wheelchair or providing assistance to a patient who is able to stand up but requires help to do so. ROBEAR will provide impetus for research on the creation of robots that can supplement Japan's need for new approaches to care-giving.
	Removing the communication barrier between humans and computers The lifelong human imperative to communicate is so strong that people talk not only to other people but also to their pets, their plants and their computers. Unlike pets and plants, computers might one day reciprocate. DARPA's new Communicating with Computers (CwC) program aims to develop technology to turn computers into good communicators.
	Japanese LED traffic lights just too cool when snow falls Energy-saving LED traffic lights seemed like a cool way to cut back on electricity costs, but Japanese police said Monday they might just be too cool—because they don't melt snow.
US State Dept blocks thousands of hack attacks every day The State Department faces thousands of cyber attacks every day, a top US official said Friday, refusing to confirm that hackers who breached their system in November were reportedly still lurking in the network.
Review: Three ways to control your lights at home or away Home automation seems to be one of those tech industry snowballs that's starting to roll downhill. The 2015 Consumer Electronics Show was packed with new ways to control your home environment.
WhyHigh brings social media, consumer referrals together Zywave Inc. found success helping insurance brokers make their services stand out. Now the Milwaukee company's former president is setting out to do the same for other industries.
	Video games flow with the pints at London's e-sport pub It's Saturday night at a busy pub in north London, and the crowd is packed around the bar cheering and shouting at a large screen. It's not showing sport, but a video game.
Korean tech start-ups offer life beyond Samsung As an engineering major at Seoul's Yonsei University, Yoon Ja-Young was perfectly poised to follow the secure, lucrative and socially prized career path long-favoured by South Korea's elite graduates.
	Apple to invest 1.7bn euros in Ireland, Denmark data centres US tech giant Apple said Monday it would invest 1.7 billion euros ($1.9 billion) in two data centres located in Ireland and Denmark, to boost online services in the European market.
Investors biased against foreign-sounding names A fund manager by the name of Mustafa gets 10% less investments than a fund manager by the name of John. Investors tend to buy less stocks from funds managed by people with foreign-sounding names, even though their performance is the same. That is the conclusion of a study by Tilburg University Professor Oliver Spalt and two colleagues from Mannheim and Miami. "Discrimination matters in financial markets", states Spalt.
Your privacy online: Health information at serious risk of abuse There is a significant risk to your privacy whenever you visit a health-related web page. An analysis of over 80,000 such web pages shows that nine out of ten visits result in personal health information being leaked to third parties, including online advertisers and data brokers.
	Google teams up with 3 wireless carriers to combat Apple Pay (AP)—Aiming to undercut Apple's latest hit service, Google is teaming up with three major U.S. wireless carriers to prod more people into using its mobile wallet.
	NSA chief seeks compromise on encrypted phone snooping The National Security Agency chief pressed on Monday for a compromise which allows intelligence services to snoop on encrypted devices to combat terrorism, within a "legal framework" to protect user rights.
	Better monitoring for energy efficiency in buildings The past five years have seen energy efficiency in buildings moving from a welcomed addition to a sector priority. Unfortunately, well-defined targets do not always translate in effective measures: gaps between projected and actual performance can be huge, resulting in poor return on investment. The PERFORMER project is aiming to solve this problem with a holistic energy monitoring methodology.
J&J settles more defective hip device lawsuits Johnson & Johnson has reached an agreement to settle some 1,400 claims over defective hip replacement devices, a spokeswoman for the health care giant said Monday.
Target slices free-shipping minimum in half to $25 (AP)—Target has sliced its minimum online purchase to qualify for free shipping in half to $25 as the Internet becomes a bigger and bigger sales hub for retailers.

Chemistry news

	Research could make blue jeans green Who doesn't like blue jeans? They're practically wrinkle-proof. The indigo dye that provides their distinctive color holds up to detergents, but ages into that soft, worn look. No wonder the average American wears jeans four days a week. No wonder it's a $66 billion a year industry, with three billion pairs of jeans manufactured each year.
	New catalyst to create chemical building blocks from biomass University of Tokyo researchers have developed a novel selective catalyst that allows the creation of several basic chemicals from biomass instead of petroleum. This discovery may lead to the use of plant biomass as a basic feedstock for the chemical industry.

Biology news

	We're all mammals – so why do we look so different? It is easy to distinguish a mouse from a cow. But for members of the same class of mammal, where do such differences begin? In 2011, scientists discovered there were differences in cow and mice blastocysts, the tiny hollow spheres of cells which precede the development of the embryo.
	Sea creatures will get bigger and bigger (if we don't eat them first) When life on Earth began around 3.6 billion years ago, all organisms were small. Indeed, it took some 2.5 billion years to evolve any organism that grows larger than a single cell.
	Retracing the roots of fungal symbioses With apologies to the poet John Donne, and based on recent work from the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), a DOE Office of Science user facility, it can be said that no plant is an island, entire of itself. Unseen by the human eye, plants interact with many species of fungi and other microbes in the surrounding environment, and these exchanges can impact the plant's health and tolerance to stressors such as drought or disease, as well as the global carbon cycle.
	Motor proteins prefer slow, steady movement takes at least two motor proteins to tango, according to Rice University scientists who discovered the workhorses that move cargo in cells are highly sensitive to the proximity of their peers.
	Carnivorous plant packs big wonders into tiny genome Great, wonderful, wacky things can come in small genomic packages.
	Research shows that sea urchins, sand dollars thrived with time A new study about echinoids—marine animals like sea urchins and sand dollars—gives scientists a reason to rethink a classical pattern of evolution. Fossil-based studies have traditionally indicated that groups of organisms diversify fastest early in their evolutionary history, followed by a steady decline through time. But the new work on Echinoidea, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, contradicts that expectation, showing that rates of evolution were actually lowest at the group's onset and increased over time through episodic bursts associated with changes in the animals' feeding strategies.
Small predator diversity is an important part of a healthy ecosystem Biodiversity, including small predators such as dragonflies and other aquatic bugs that attack and consume parasites, may improve the health of amphibians, according to a team of researchers. Amphibians have experienced marked declines in the wild around the world in recent decades, the team added.
	British 'chocolate greenhouse' saving the world's cocoa Chocolate lovers take heart: a steamy greenhouse near London is helping to ensure that cocoa crops globally remain disease-free and bountiful to cope with the growing appetite for sweet treats.
Adhesives and insulating foams from softwood bark tannins In collaboration with its partners, VTT developed tannin extraction from softwood bark as part of an ERA-NET project. At least 130 kg of crude tannin powder can be produced from one tonne of dry wood bark, still leaving 87% of the original bark mass available for incineration. In Finland, tannin could replace, in particular, fossil-based phenols in adhesives used in the wood products industry.
	Mechanical hoof tests effect of livestock on native snail populations Even low frequency trampling by livestock can reduce the density and biodiversity of forest snails, according to experimental evidence collected using a mechanical cow hoof.
	Yellow sugarcane aphid detected in continental Europe Aphids are a kind of insect that typically lives on the aerial parts of plants, feeding on the sap that flows through the phloem with a specialized buccal apparatus. That is why they are considered pests in agricultural crops.
	Bacteria connect to each other and exchange nutrients It is well-known that bacteria can support each others' growth and exchange nutrients. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, and their colleagues at the universities of Jena, Kaiserslautern, and Heidelberg, however, have now discovered a new way of how bacteria can achieve this nutritional exchange. They found that some bacteria can form nanotubular structures between single cells that enable a direct exchange of nutrients.
	Flawed method puts tiger rise in doubt, calls for new approach Flaws in a method commonly used in censuses of tigers and other rare wildlife put the accuracy of such surveys in doubt, a new study suggests.
	Hidden in plain sight: Amazonian bird chick mimics toxic caterpillar to avoid being eaten In a study published in the January 2015 issue of The American Naturalist, Gustavo A. Londoño, Duván Garcia, and Manuel Sánchez Martínez report a novel nesting strategy observed in a tropical lowland bird that inhabits an area with very high losses to nest predators.
Antibiotics give rise to new communities of harmful bacteria Most people have taken an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection. Now researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of San Diego, La Jolla, reveal that the way we often think about antibiotics - as straightforward killing machines - needs to be revised.

Medicine & Health news

US authorities discover deadly 'Bourbon' virus US health authorities on Friday announced the discovery of a new virus believed to be responsible for the death of a previously healthy man in Kansas last year.
	Small DNA changes separate chimp and human brains Modern humans share about 95 percent of their genetic code with chimpanzees. Yet human brains, and what we do with them, are vastly different.
	Deconstructing mental illness through ultradian rhythms Might living a structured life with regularly established meal times and early bedtimes lead to a better life and perhaps even prevent the onset of mental illness? That's what's suggested in a study led by Kai-Florian Storch, PhD, of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University, which has been published in the online journal eLife.
	Newborn neurons in the adult brain may help us adapt to the environment The discovery that the human brain continues to produce new neurons in adulthood challenged a major dogma in the field of neuroscience, but the role of these neurons in behavior and cognition is still not clear. In a review article published by Cell Press February 21st in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Maya Opendak and Elizabeth Gould of Princeton University synthesize the vast literature on this topic, reviewing environmental factors that influence the birth of new neurons in the adult hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays an important role in memory and learning.
	Breastfeeding, other factors help shape immune system early in life Henry Ford Hospital researchers say that breastfeeding and other factors influence a baby's immune system development and susceptibility to allergies and asthma by what's in their gut.
	Experimenting preteens may have different brain processes Preteens who experiment or explore new things may have brain processes that work differently than those of preteens who do not, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015.
	Baby formula poses higher arsenic risk to newborns than breast milk, study shows In the first U.S. study of urinary arsenic in babies, Dartmouth College researchers found that formula-fed infants had higher arsenic levels than breast-fed infants, and that breast milk itself contained very low arsenic concentrations.
Stopping plaque formation in arteries using amphiphilic nanoparticles Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among Americans. Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is one form of heart disease, but can also occur in other arteries within the body. Standard therapy for this is either insertion of a stent or taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, which manages the disease, but does not block the actual mechanisms that cause plaque buildup.
	Study finds mammalian and avian brains share corticosensory microcircuit The canonical cortical microcircuit of mammalian brains governs information flow among the brain's layers and gives rise to complex behaviors. Researchers at Columbia University have proposed that this microcircuit also exists in avian brains, despite the fact that avian brain physiology is not characterized by the same layered architecture as mammalian brains. They have published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in a paper titled "Coding principles of the canonical cortical microcircuit in the avian brain."
	3D-printed guides can help restore function in damaged nerves Scientists at the University of Sheffield have succeeded in using a 3D printed guide to help nerves damaged in traumatic incidents repair themselves.
	Discovery of the genetic fingerprint of aggressive colon tumors About 40-50% of all colorectal patients relapse in the form of metastasis. In the last three years, several molecular classifications have been proposed to identify colorectal cancer patients at risk of relapse. Today in Nature Genetics, scientists headed by ICREA researcher Eduard Batlle at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) explain why these classifications work and reveal, in fact, that they can be simplified and improved by looking exclusively at the genes that are expressed in the tissue around the tumour, known as the stroma or tumour microenvironment.
Customized DNA rings aid early cancer detection in mice, study finds Imagine: You pop a pill into your mouth and swallow it. It dissolves, releasing tiny particles that are absorbed and cause only cancerous cells to secrete a specific protein into your bloodstream. Two days from now, a finger-prick blood sample will expose whether you've got cancer and even give a rough idea of its extent.
	Brain makes decisions with same method used to break WW2 Enigma code (w/ Video) When making simple decisions, neurons in the brain apply the same statistical trick used by Alan Turing to help break Germany's Enigma code during World War II, according to a new study in animals by researchers at Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and Department of Neuroscience. Results of the study were published Feb. 5 in Neuron.
How brain waves guide memory formation Our brains generate a constant hum of activity: As neurons fire, they produce brain waves that oscillate at different frequencies. Long thought to be merely a byproduct of neuron activity, recent studies suggest that these waves may play a critical role in communication between different parts of the brain.
Study shows how the brain can trigger a deep sleep Scientists have discovered that switching on one area of the brain chemically can trigger a deep sleep.
Epigenome orchestrates embryonic development The early stages of embryonic development shape our cells and tissues for life. It is during this time that our newly formed cells are transformed into heart, skin, nerve or other cell types. Scientists are finding that this process is largely controlled not by the genome, but by the epigenome, chemical markers on DNA that tell cells when to turn genes on and off.
Small molecule might help reduce cancer in at-risk population, study finds Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that by changing the selectivity of an enzyme, a small molecule could potentially be used to decrease the likelihood of alcohol-related cancers in an at-risk population.
'DNA spellchecker' means that our genes aren't all equally likely to mutate A study that examined 17 million mutations in the genomes of 650 cancer patients concludes that large differences in mutation rates across the human genome are caused by the DNA repair machinery.
Neuroscientists literally change the way we think Does your mind wander when performing monotonous, repetitive tasks? Of course! But daydreaming involves more than just beating back boredom. In fact, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a wandering mind can impart a distinct cognitive advantage.
Eating placentas? US moms swear by health benefits Health trends come and go, but one post-birth fad is gaining a foothold in the United States among some new mothers who extol the benefits of eating their own placentas.
	Measles can rob a child's sight, doctors warn (HealthDay)—In the midst of the current resurgence of measles across the United States, many people may still believe it's a harmless, transient disease.
	Tropical virus symptoms can mimic rheumatoid arthritis, study says (HealthDay)—The mosquito-borne chikungunya virus causes joint pain and swelling similar to rheumatoid arthritis, which can make diagnosis difficult, a new study says.
	Ebola transmitted via cough possible, not likely (HealthDay)—Based on prior evidence, health workers dealing with Ebola primarily have worried about disease transmission from a patient's blood, vomit, and feces, all of which contain high levels of virus as symptoms progress, but health care workers also might need to worry about a patient's cough, authors speculate online Feb. 19 in mBio.
	Patterns of childhood growth may trigger type 2 diabetes (HealthDay)—Certain trajectories of body mass index (BMI) during childhood may increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) later in life, according to research published online Feb. 14 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
	Patients say cost matters greatly in choosing doctor (HealthDay)—The number one determining factor for selecting a doctor is whether the physician is in-network, according to a report published by Vitals.
	Revascularization cuts mortality, MACE in coronary CTO (HealthDay)—For patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) and well-developed collateral circulation, revascularization is associated with reduced risk of cardiac mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
	Tobacco giants resist harsh public admissions about smoking Never underestimate the staying power of big tobacco.
FDA knew of design flaw in scope linked to UCLA superbug A commonly used medical scope linked to a deadly bacterial outbreak at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center may be so flawed it cannot be properly cleaned, federal officials conceded Thursday. But they stopped short of recalling the device or outlining any new sterilization procedures.
In university basement, bats and owls offer clues into brain function What can we learn about attention by studying bats and owls? In one corner of the basement of Ames Hall at the Johns Hopkins University, Cynthia Moss opened the door of a room where about a dozen Egyptian fruit bats dozed inside a milk crate attached to the wall.
Anti-vaccine mothers discuss their thinking amid backlash (AP)—One is a businesswoman and an MBA graduate. Another is a corporate vice president. The third is a registered nurse.
Help is just a call away for mothers with postnatal depression New research reveals that telephone-based peer support may help reduce postnatal depression, also known as postpartum depression, in new mothers. Findings published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing also found that social support from peers may be effective for maternal depression up to two years after delivery. At the start of the study all mothers were moderately depressed, but this dropped after telephone peer support to 8.1% (3/37) depressed at midpoint, rising to 11.8% (4/34) at the end of the study, suggesting some relapse.
Medical practice increases the risk of suicide Patients who have tried to commit suicide with medication, are prescribed more medication after the attempt, not less.
	Why some pain helps us feel pleasure The idea that we can achieve happiness by maximising pleasure and minimising pain is both intuitive and popular. The truth is, however, very different. Pleasure alone cannot not make us happy.
	Garden hose a breeding ground for Legionnaires' disease It is synonymous with an Aussie summer but the humble backyard hose could be a bacterial breeding ground, providing the ideal conditions for the organisms that cause Legionnaires' disease to flourish, UNSW research has revealed.
Half of childcare centres fail cot mattress safety test Public health researchers at the University of Adelaide are hoping to raise awareness among childcare centres of the potentially deadly consequences of using cot mattresses that are too soft.
	Some pathogens use immune systems against us Every moment of every day, our immune systems are battling to keep us healthy against an onslaught from invading organisms. But some of these invaders have evolved to use our very defences against us, writes Dr Stephen Graham, a Sir Henry Dale Fellow.
	Too many food choices exacerbate the battle against obesity, researchers find Some scientists say that when mothers eat poorly during pregnancy, they pass along traits to their children that make them more likely to have poor diets and have related health problems.
Researchers show environment can neutralize lethal proteins Botching a few folds might transform an origami cow into a deer or sheep. When cellular proteins do the same, they can trigger fatal neurodegenerative diseases that turn the brains of these mammals into dysfunctional sponges.
Study builds understanding of hepatitis C virus replication Hepatitis C virus infection is a common cause of liver disease and of liver cancer in the United States. Through a new study that explores one aspect of how the virus hijacks host cell machinery to replicate itself, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have gained insight into the workings of a potential drug target for hepatitis C.
	New assistive equipment to maximize human sensorimotor function A prototype for wearable equipment to support human motion has been developed at Hiroshima University, Japan. This wearable equipment, called the Sensorimotor Enhancing Suit (SEnS), enhances sensorimotor functions by reducing the muscle load of the upper limbs. SEnS is inexpensive because it is made of flexible fabrics using regular cloth and does not include any electronic devices. SEnS assists human sensorimotor functions and improves the quality of life of not only elderly individuals but also healthy people who work under extreme conditions.
	The next generation of antibiotics might be right under our feet The discovery of a new antibiotic called teixobactin was announced by international team of researchers, in January this year. It is the most significant new antibiotic to be discovered in more than 30 years, and it may help combat the growing number of drug-resistant bacteria.
Psychology professor examines the taste system What we view as the sense of taste is actually a combination of smell, taste and texture, with smell playing a major role. A single taste bud can have dozens of receptor cells that send signals of sour, sweet, salty and bitter through nerve channels to the brain. The tongue is covered with them, and the back of the mouth is sensitive to bitter tastes – perhaps as a last-ditch chance to expel something toxic. Taste also plays a role in digestion, preparing the stomach for a meal.
	Worldwide treatment of hepatitis C could be within sight at the right cost Lowering the cost of hepatitis C drugs is possible and key to achieving global access to treatment, according to new research by the University of Liverpool and Imperial College London.
Waiting to start a family could be more problematic than thought, according to study More than a quarter of women and a fifth of men experience fertility difficulties by their late thirties – figures which are considerably higher than traditionally reported, newly published information from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study shows.
	Researchers attach dollar figure to the stress cost of a new baby Research from the University of Melbourne has put a dollar figure of $85,000 on the time pressure and stress experienced by mothers in the first year of a baby's life.
Delving deep into ancestry to help doctors prescribe better hypertension treatments Scientists are investigating whether treatment for high blood pressure can be improved by taking a person's ethnic heritage into account.
Cancer survivors make healthier choices than general population Cancer survivors make healthier diet and lifestyle choices than the general population, according to a new study.
	Neutron analysis of human teeth could assist in the fight against dental erosion A new study carried out at the Institut Laue-Langevin in collaboration with researchers at the Lyons-University based Hospices Civils de Lyon has determined the most accurate microstructure ever obtained of human enamel. The research, published in the journal Materials Research Express, aims to provide greater insight into the chemistry behind the properties of tooth enamel and how it changes during the demineralisation caused by our bad eating habits. The team have been able to identify for the first time the location of critical hydrogen atoms within the enamel, work which will be extremely useful for their future analysis of Biodentine, a new material that could be used as a cement to encourage dental re-growth.
	Avoiding winter health hazards Have you had enough of winter? UConn Today sought out experts at UConn Health for a roundup of common threats to our health and well-being this time of year. Their information won't make spring come any faster, but it may keep you safe.
Health mission urges more Saudi measures to combat MERS An international health mission said Monday more measures are needed to combat the spread of MERS in Saudi Arabia, the country worst hit by the coronavirus.
A standard operation procedure to effectively detect dietetically absorbed plant miRNAs In a new study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Chen-Yu Zhang, Xi Chen and Ke Zen's group at Nanjing University systematically characterized the kinetics of plant microRNAs (miRNAs) in human plasma after healthy volunteers drank watermelon juice or ate fruits.
Researchers pin down genetic pathways linked to CF disease severity Mutation of one gene is all it takes to get cystic fibrosis (CF), but disease severity depends on many other genes and proteins. For the first time, researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have identified genetic pathways - or clusters of genes - that play major roles in why one person with CF might never experience the worse kinds of symptoms while another person will battle severe airway infection for a lifetime.
Wisdom teeth stem cells can transform into cells that could treat corneal scarring Stem cells from the dental pulp of wisdom teeth can be coaxed to turn into cells of the eye's cornea and could one day be used to repair corneal scarring due to infection or injury, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, published online today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, indicate they also could become a new source of corneal transplant tissue made from the patient's own cells.
Study sheds light on a 'guardian' protein of brain function Mitochondria not only are the cell's main power producers, they are also the chief cooks and bottle washers.
Toddler dies as measles outbreak hits German capital A toddler has died of measles in the German capital, health authorities said Monday, amid the country's worst outbreak in years and an intense debate about steps to boost vaccinations.
	Magnetic nanoparticles could stop blood clot-caused strokes By loading magnetic nanoparticles with drugs and dressing them in biochemical camouflage, Houston Methodist researchers say they can destroy blood clots 100 to 1,000 times faster than a commonly used clot-busting technique.
	Troops in middle east may be at risk for lung problems (HealthDay)—U.S. soldiers serving in the Middle East and Afghanistan may be at risk for lung damage from exposure to dust there, a new study suggests.
	Controlled exposure to peanuts at early age shows promise as allergy treatment (HealthDay)—Exposing young children with peanut allergies to small amounts of the legumes shows promise as a treatment, researchers report.
	Skin patch shows promise in easing peanut allergy A wearable patch that safely and gradually exposes the body to small amounts of peanut allergen appears effective in easing the allergy, an early new study shows.
	A little fat, sugar OK for kids if diet is healthy: study (HealthDay)—Cutting junk food from kids' diets is important, but if a little sugar and fat helps them eat their veggies, that's a good trade-off, a leading group of pediatricians says.
	Could a dishwasher raise your child's allergy, asthma risk? (HealthDay)—Hand washing dishes instead of using a machine to wash dishes may reduce children's risk of developing allergic conditions, such as asthma or eczema, according to a new study.
Immunization rates improve with centralized reminder system Childhood immunization rates would improve with a centralized notification system that reminded families when immunizations were due, according to a new study, published online by JAMA Pediatrics, developed by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Sauna use associated with reduced risk of cardiac, all-cause mortality A sauna may do more than just make you sweat. A new study suggests men who engaged in frequent sauna use had reduced risks of fatal cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Want to get drivers' attention? Use road signs showing more action When a car travelling relatively fast needs to come to an immediate stop, milliseconds matter. Sometimes only a few feet is the difference between life and death.
Sobering effect of the love hormone (w/ Video) Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the 'love' or 'cuddle' hormone, has a legendary status in popular culture due to its vital role in social and sexual behaviour and long-term bonding.
Study nearly triples the locations in the human genome that harbor microRNAs According to the public databases, there are currently approximately 1,900 locations in the human genome that produce microRNAs (miRNAs), the small and powerful non-coding molecules that regulate numerous cellular processes by reducing the abundance of their targets. New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this week adds another roughly 3,400 such locations to that list. Many of the miRNA molecules that are produced from these newly discovered locations are tissue-specific and also human-specific. The finding has big implications for research into how miRNAs drive disease.
	Molecular link between obesity and type 2 diabetes reveals potential therapy Obesity causes inflammation, which can in turn lead to type 2 diabetes. What isn't well established is how inflammation causes diabetes—or what we can do to stop it. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that the inflammatory molecule LTB4 promotes insulin resistance, a first step in developing type 2 diabetes. What's more, the team found that genetically removing the cell receptor that responds to LTB4, or blocking it with a drug, improves insulin sensitivity in obese mice. The study is published Feb. 23 by Nature Medicine.
Interventions lower diabetes risk in women who had gestational diabetes Women with a history of gestational diabetes face a heightened risk of developing Type 2 diabetes for years after giving birth, but intensive lifestyle intervention or a medication regimen can have a protective effect in this population, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Vitamin D deficiency linked more closely to diabetes than obesity People who have low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have diabetes, regardless of how much they weigh, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
3-D printed, mechanically robust carrier used to deliver immunosuppressive drug, and cells After using a 3-D printer to create a micro but mechanically robust drug and cell carrier for local and sustained delivery of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA), researchers in Korea have shown in tests with animal models that the carrier, a combination of microspheres and hydrogel, maintained robust integrity and delivered a local, sustained load of CsA in an amount that overcame the need for additional drugs to treat immune rejection.
New studies quantify morcellation's link to uterine cancer The dangers of a power tool used in gynecological surgery have been debated for more than a year, with experts offering varying estimates of the chance that an undetected uterine cancer would be spread - and likely worsened - by the tissue-slicing device.
	Two studies shed light on stuttering treatment and a neurological deficit potentially linked to the disorder Stuttering—a speech disorder in which sounds, syllables or words are repeated or prolonged—affects more than 70 million people worldwide. That's 1 percent of the global population. Four times as many men as women are afflicted with the disorder and, while the condition is not life-threatening, it is debilitating as it interferes with effective communication and erodes self-esteem and confidence.
Wesleyan says 12 treated after taking drug 'Molly' on campus (AP)—Ten Wesleyan University students and two visitors received medical attention after taking a party drug known as Molly over the weekend on campus, including some who attended a rave music show, school officials said Monday.
	Scientists find a key protein that allows Plavix to conquer platelets Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have found that the blood platelet protein Rasa3 is critical to the success of the common anti-platelet drug Plavix, which breaks up blood clots during heart attacks and other arterial diseases.
	Small loop in human prion protein prevents chronic wasting disease Chronic wasting disease (CWD)—an infectious disease caused by prions—affects North American elk and deer, but has not been observed in humans. Using a mouse model that expresses an altered form of the normal human prion protein, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have determined why the human proteins aren't corrupted when exposed to the elk prions. Their study, published Feb. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, identifies a small loop in the human prion protein that confers resistance to chronic wasting disease.
Agriculture expansion in Tanzania may greatly increase human plague risk The push to boost food production in East Africa that is accelerating the conversion of natural lands into croplands may be significantly increasing the risk of plague according to a new study published online today in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (AJTMH).
Resistance to aspirin tied to more severe strokes People who exhibit a resistance to aspirin may be more likely to have more severe strokes than people who still respond to the drug, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015.
Advocacy, race affect flu vaccination rates, study finds A doctor's recommendation and a patient's race may influence flu vaccination rates, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
UK 'fit note' linked to fewer people taking long-term sick leave There is some evidence that the UK 'fit note,' which replaced the 'sick note' in 2010 in the UK, is linked to fewer people taking long term sick leave of 12 or more weeks, reveals research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
	VA's 'choice' program for health care off to slow start Far fewer veterans than expected are taking advantage of a new law aimed at making it easier for them to get private health care and avoid the long waits that have plagued Department of Veterans Affairs facilities nationwide.
Liberia: Eight hospital staff under observation in Ebola scare Eight health workers at a hospital in Liberia's capital have been sent home for observation after coming into contact with a patient who later tested positive for Ebola, the country's assistant health minister said Saturday.
In a twist, fight for medical pot goes to Florida Statehouse (AP)—Republicans lawmakers in Florida who once opposed medical pot are now embracing it, motivated by the strong show of support from voters and worried that another constitutional amendment during next year's presidential race could drive opponents to the polls.
Certain factors influence whether cancer patients involve family members in treatment decisions Family members often play an important role in providing care for patients with cancer, but which patients are more or less likely to involve family members in decisions regarding their care is not well known. A new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, provides some insights and may help physicians understand patients' preferences regarding their care.
Criminologist's study shows lack of mental health care for prisoners New research by a UT Dallas criminologist has found that a substantial number of prison inmates have not received treatment for mental health conditions.
Black identity and America's lingering racism What it means to be black in America today lies at the complex intersection of race, class and space, says Tufts sociologist Orly Clerge, who is working on a book about the diversity of black identity in the United States. It compares the black immigrant experience to that of the African American middle class.
New tool rates quality of health apps With more than one million 'health & fitness' mobile applications on the market - and very little research to indicate their effectiveness - how do you know which you can trust?
	Researchers report that the acute use of cannabinoids depresses motor neuron activity Why does the habitual marijuana user have difficulties speaking, breathing or swallowing food? Is it true that people who use marijuana may suffer acute lack of motor coordination? Does the use of cannabis cause muscular weakness? The answers to these and other similar questions are explored by the researchers of the NeuroDegeneration and NeuroRepair Group of the University of Cadiz, directed by professor Bernardo Moreno, and who recently published a study related to this topic in the prestigious journal Neuropharmacology.
	Research says hospital consolidation isn't a cure-all for health care In his new book, America's Bitter Pill, Steven Brill dives deep into the history of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how it was passed. He concludes that, although providing more Americans with health insurance is worthy of praise, the ACA does far too little to address the costs of health care.
	Research finds females, males use sexual assault hotlines differently When victims of sexual assault dial a telephone hotline for help, what they ask and how long they stay on the line might very well be related to whether they are male or female, according to new University of Georgia research.
WHO calls for 'smart' syringes to stem deadly diseases The World Health Organization has called on healthcare providers around the globe to switch to syringes that can only be used once in order to better battle deadly diseases spread by needle sharing.
Liberians rejoice as Ebola curfew is lifted It is the early hours of the morning and bars in the Liberian capital are packed as revellers drink, sing and rejoice their first night of freedom with the Ebola curfew lifted.
India investigates suspected polio in two toddlers Indian health workers are investigating two new suspected cases of polio in the impoverished east, a year after the country celebrated eradication of the crippling virus, an official said Monday.
Group of experts issues recommendations for NIH on diversity of sex in research A diverse group of experts from academia, industry and advocacy is offering recommendations to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the federal research institution works to increase the inclusion of female animal models and achieve a balance in the use of male and female cells and animals in preclinical studies. The recommendations, available online now, will be published in the May issue of FASEB Journal.
Researchers find how a drug for osteoporosis is effective to treat a rare disease Researchers at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have found that the Bazedoxifene acetate, used to treat osteoporosis, is useful to treat a rare disease, the hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, which causes bleedings and deteriorates the patient quality of life. The European Medicines Agency has granted an orphan designation to CSIC, which authorises to carry out clinical trials in order to commercialize it. An orphan drug treats low prevalence diseases (affecting 5 in 10.000 people) but has no investment from the pharmaceutical industry because it is not profitable.
New study finds same patient mortality rates for experienced and new surgeons There is no statistical difference between the patient mortality rates of new and experienced surgeons a study using a newly developed statistical methodology and conducted by a research team comprised of medical doctors and statisticians has found.
Why don't more women rise to leadership positions in academic medicine? Even as more women are pursuing careers in academic medicine, and now comprise 20% of full-time faculty in medical schools, they are not rising to senior leadership positions in similar numbers as men. The National Faculty Study evaluated the gender climate in academic medicine and identified several factors related to the current work environment that are contributing to this disparity, and these are described in an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
HIV transmission at each step of the care continuum in the United States Individuals infected but undiagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those individuals diagnosed with HIV but not yet in medical care accounted for more than 90 percent of the estimated 45,000 HIV transmissions in 2009, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Houston surgeons separate 10-month-old conjoined twin girls (AP)—Doctors were optimistic 10-month-old conjoined twin girls will survive the surgery that has separated them.
Canada must ensure all orphan drugs are priced fairly to allow patient access In developing an orphan drug policy, Canada must ensure that all orphan drugs for rare diseases—both old and future drugs—should be priced fairly so that Canadians may access life-saving therapy, argue authors of an analysis published in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
One in 4 patients who visited emergency department for chest pain did not receive follow-up care Patients with multiple health issues and who are at higher risk of adverse events are less likely to receive follow-up care from a physician after visiting an emergency department for chest pain, reports a study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal ( CMAJ).
Pace of new US measles cases slows a bit, officials report The number of U.S. measles cases this year has risen to 154, with new cases scattered across five states, although the pace seems to have slowed.
Lawmaker asks if swallowed camera be used for female exam An Idaho lawmaker received a brief lesson on female anatomy after asking if a woman can swallow a small camera for doctors to conduct a remote gynecological exam.
Working in an interventional laboratory may lead to health problems Frequent use of lead aprons to protect medical professionals in the interventional lab and radiology departments from radiation exposure is associated with increased musculoskeletal pain, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Diet high in red meat may make kidney disease worse An estimated 26 million people in the United States have chronic kidney disease, which can lead to complete kidney failure. Once the kidneys fail, patients either need to undergo dialysis treatments three times a week or have a kidney transplant to remain alive. In 2013, more than 47,000 Americans died from kidney disease.
Professional associations call for policies to reduce firearm injuries, deaths in US Leaders from the American College of Physicians (ACP), seven other national health professional organizations, and the American Bar Association call for policies to help mitigate the rate of firearm injuries and deaths in the United States. Key principles and consensus-based recommendations are outlined in the paper, Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action from 8 Health Professional Organizations and the American Bar Association, published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Great gaps persist in state safety nets, interactive policy tool shows The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health has launched an updated and enhanced edition of its 50-State Policy Tracker, a unique online tool for comparing safety net policies that are critical to the economic security of working families. The tool reveals striking variation among states, showing that state of residence has a major impact on whether low-income working parents succeed in making ends meet.

Other Sciences news

	Nature journal to begin offering double-blind peer review Well known and respected journal, Nature, will begin next month offering researchers who submit their work for peer review, the option of having it done via the double-blind method—whereby both submitters and reviewers names are kept anonymous. In an Announcement piece, the journal explains why it has chosen to take this step and what it hopes to achieve by doing so.
	Best of Last Week – Observing Higgs analogue in superconductors, mysterious Mars cloud and cancer risk found in soda It was a good week for physics as a combined team of researchers from Germany and Israel were the first to observe a Higgs boson analogue in superconductors—the theory was first put forth a half century ago and the group was able to carry out their experiments in an ordinary lab. Another team of researchers confirmed the existence of super-terminal raindrops—a lot of rain drops falling during storms, it turns out, come down faster than terminal-velocity suggests they should.
	Vikings were pioneers of craft and international trade, not just pillaging The connections between technology, urban trading, and international economics which have come to define modern living are nothing new. Back in the first millennium AD, the Vikings were expert at exploring these very issues.
School surveillance on the rise Invasive school surveillance practices are the norm in the UK and USA, and according to a University of Adelaide criminologist, such practices are becoming increasingly popular in Australian schools.
	Proposed 1920s orphanage study just one example in history of scientific racism In the late 1920s, scientists hatched an outrageous plan to settle a question at the heart of American racial thought: were differences between racial groups driven by environment or by heredity? In other words, was the racist social order of the time – white over black—an inevitable and genetically driven outcome? Or did the environment in which all Americans lived create the deep disparities and discord between races that defined the social, economic and political reality of the United States?
	Transport trends depend on walkability to neighbourhood destinations Data collated over seven years from the RESIDential Environments (RESIDE) study supports evidence that neighbourhood walkability (how easy it is to walk around your neighbourhood) is an important determinant of walking for transportation in Australia.
What factors motivate people to text while driving? Nearly a third of adult drivers text while driving, despite the increased risk of accidents, stricter laws against it, and many awareness-raising efforts. What motivates this behavior and why it is so difficult to discourage is explored in the timely article "Hand on the Wheel, Mind on the Mobile: An Analysis of Social Factors Contributing to Texting while Driving," published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.