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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 20, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers find security flaws in backscatter X-ray scanners
- Neanderthals and humans had 'ample time' to mix
- Study shows snakes use more force than necessary when climbing trees
- Severing nerves may shrink stomach cancers: Botox injections slow growth of tumors
- Study investigates power generation from the meeting of river water and seawater
- Expedition uncovers subglacial life beneath Antarctic ice sheet
- Jurassic Welsh mammals were picky eaters, study finds
- Seals and sea lions likely brought tuberculosis to the Americas, new research shows
- The ABC's of animal speech: Not so random after all
- 'Tickling' your ear could be good for your heart
- Swirling electrons in the whirlpool galaxy
- Up to 30,000 in need of Ebola drugs by now, analysis shows
- How lizards regenerate their tails: Researchers discover genetic 'recipe'
- Early bottlenecks in developing biopharmaceutical products delay commercialization
- Study identifies protein that helps prevent active tuberculosis in infected patients

Astronomy & Space news

	A spectacular landscape of star formation This image, captured by the Wide Field Imager at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile, shows two dramatic star formation regions in the Milky Way. The first, on the left, is dominated by the star cluster NGC 3603, located 20 000 light-years away, in the Carina-Sagittarius spiral arm of the Milky Way. The second, is a collection of glowing gas clouds known as NGC 3576 that lies about half as far from Earth.
	Swirling electrons in the whirlpool galaxy The whirlpool galaxy Messier 51 (M51) is seen from a distance of approximately 30 million light years. This galaxy appears almost face-on and displays a beautiful system of spiral arms.
	Type Ia supernovae stem from the explosion of white dwarfs coupled with twin stars Type Ia supernovae happen when a white dwarf, the "corpse" of a star similar to the Sun, absorbs material from a twin star until it reaches a critical mass—1.4 times that of the Sun—and explodes. Because of their origin, all these explosions share a very similar luminosity. This uniformity made type Ia supernovae ideal objects to measure distances in the universe, but the study of supernova 2014J suggests a scenario that would invalidate them as "standard candles".
	Australian amateur Terry Lovejoy discovers new comet It's confirmed! Australian amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy just discovered his fifth comet, C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy). He found it August 17th using a Celestron C8 fitted with a CCD camera at his roll-off roof observatory in Brisbane, Australia.
	Curiosity brushes 'Bonanza king' target anticipating fourth red planet rock drilling Eagerly eyeing her next drill site on Mars, NASA's Curiosity rover laid the groundwork by brushing the chosen rock target called 'Bonanza King' on Wednesday, Aug. 17, Sol 722, with the Dust Removal Tool (DRT) and collecting high resolution imagery with the Mast Camera (Mastcam) to confirm the success of the operation.

Technology news

	Researchers find security flaws in backscatter X-ray scanners A team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, the University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins University have discovered several security vulnerabilities in full-body backscatter X-ray scanners deployed to U.S. airports between 2009 and 2013.
	Study investigates power generation from the meeting of river water and seawater Where the river meets the sea, there is the potential to harness a significant amount of renewable energy, according to a team of mechanical engineers at MIT.
	Developers explore game experience for the blind Wait, researchers are talking about a video game for the blind? Come again? Not impossible. Game designers, reports the BBC, have been working on bringing the game experience to the blind and those with vision problems; these developers have been working out what kinds of mechanisms can help these players take on the challenges, story-line experiences and goal pursuits of video games enjoyed by sighted players. One such game recently launched was the focus of a report from the BBC. Developers from Dowino studios in Lyon, France, used a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to turn their demo into a functioning prototype.
	New framework would facilitate use of new Android security modules Computer security researchers from North Carolina State University and Technische Universität Darmstadt/CASED in Germany have developed a modification to the core Android operating system that allows developers and users to plug in new security enhancements. The new Android Security Modules (ASM) framework aims to eliminate the bottleneck that prevents developers and users from taking advantage of new security tools.
	B&N, Samsung unveil reading-focused Nook tablet (Update) Barnes & Noble and Samsung unveiled a new reading-focused tablet that will replace the bookseller's own Nook tablets.
	Myo armband and smartglasses set for deskless workplace Thalmic Labs, Canada-based makers of the Myo armband, has announced the integration of Myo with smartglasses, with the partnership help of a number of companies pairing the Myo with their products. The gesture-control Myo armband fits around the forearm and provides control options. Thalmic Labs means serious business for Myo in on-the-job applications deploying wearables. Technicians, engineers and other workers who operate in deskless environments are the workers in focus. The idea is for Myo to be paired with smartglasses for touch-free, voice-free interactions in environments where users cannot or do not want to touch their glasses, or where noise or other factors make voice control less than ideal. Myo's gesture control is to be compatible with a range of smartglasses.
US safety agency offers online recall check The U.S. government is offering a free online service for drivers to find out if their vehicles have been recalled but not repaired.
	Australia says Bitcoin not taxable as currency Crypto-currencies such as Bitcoin should not be considered as money or a foreign currency when it comes to taxation, Australia's tax authority ruled Wednesday.
Apple's freshly sliced shares climb Freshly split Apple shares closed at a high on Tuesday, with investors evidently betting the California company will debut popular new gadgets, perhaps a smart watch and an iPhone 6.
	Here's how you find out who shot down MH17 More than a month has passed since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed with the loss of all 298 lives on board. But despite the disturbances at the crash site near the small town of Grabovo, near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, it is still possible to piece together what happened.
	Where's the real value in Tesla's patent pledge? With the much-anticipated arrival next month of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla's Model S to Australian shores, it's a good time to revisit Tesla's pledge to freely share patents.
	A new wireless energy transfer device can charge any device without using cables Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have designed a new device for wireless energy transfer that will, for example, charge mobile phones or laptops without needing cables.
	Image: Testing electric propulsion On Aug. 19, National Aviation Day, a lot of people are reflecting on how far aviation has come in the last century. Could this be the future – a plane with many electric motors that can hover like a helicopter and fly like a plane, and that could revolutionize air travel?
	Biometrics expert is helping to ensure an honest election in Somaliland Mention the name Somaliland, and most people will have images from the movies "Black Hawk Down" and "Captain Phillips" spring to mind. However, those images are more correctly associated with Somalia, not Somaliland, which is an independent state that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.
	33 years after creating the PC, IBM leaves it behind in favour of the cloud With the sale of first its desktop PC business and now its server business to Chinese partner Lenovo, IBM has come full circle. By exiting the hardware business IBM leaves behind the low-end market it invented and returns to its roots in high performance computers, software, and a focus on the client.
	New generation is happy for employers to monitor them on social media Will employers in the future watch what their staff get up to on social media? Allowing bosses or would-be employers a snoop around social media pages is a growing trend in the US, and now a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Said Business School suggests it may well become the norm.
	Virtual reality guides those whose memory is failing Experts agree that the ability to navigate a neighborhood or built space is one of the first faculties to suffer at the onset of cognitive decline. They also agree that early intervention is crucial for stemming the further ravages of dementia.
	Apple's stock bounces back to hit a new high (Update) Apple's stock touched a new high Wednesday, reflecting investors' renewed faith in CEO Tim Cook's ability to outwit the competition and expand the technological hit factory built by the late Steve Jobs.
	Indonesian capital threatens to ban Uber car app The Indonesian capital is threatening to shut down controversial smartphone car-hailing service Uber due to licensing issues a week after it officially launched in the city, an official said Wednesday.
	German culture minister backs authors against Amazon A German minister on Wednesday threw her weight behind the authors battling US online retail giant Amazon over its alleged strong-arm negotiating tactics with publishers.
	Uber car-hailing pulls into mobile dining/travel apps Uber pulled into dining and travel smartphone applications Wednesday as the Internet age car-hailing service moved to park itself at the heart of mobile lifestyles.
Restaurants experimenting with pay-in-advance tickets With restaurant patrons increasingly jumping on the Internet to make reservations, some high-end eateries here and across the country are adding a new tech wrinkle: having their clientele pay for their meal in advance using an online ticketing system similar to what's used for sporting events and concerts.
Giant tablets aimed at families Costing a little more than an iPad but standing more than twice as tall, a new pair of giant tablets wants families to share cozier group experiences with technology.
Intelligent navigation system to personalise shopping trips A ground-breaking indoor navigation system is being developed to help improve people's experiences of a range of businesses, including supermarkets, hospitals and leisure parks.
	Why conspiracy theorists won't give up on MH17 and MH370 A huge criminal investigation is underway in the Netherlands, following the downing of flight MH17. Ten Dutch prosecutors and 200 policemen are involved in collecting evidence to present at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. The investigation may take time to find the real perpetrators, but that hasn't stopped conspiracy theorists from speculating.
	For top broadband policy, look no further than Canada You might have seen communications minister Malcolm Turnbull raising the issue about Australian press not discussing policy problems and solutions from overseas, in a speech delivered at the Lowy Institute Media Awards last week:
	Twitter tries to block images of Foley killing Twitter and some other social media outlets are trying to block the spread of gruesome images of the beheading of journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants, while a movement to deny his killers publicity is also gaining momentum.
	Imaginative ideas for a 'greenlight district' in Amsterdam Seven students from Wageningen University were asked by Alterra to come up with original ideas to 'green up' Amsterdam city centre in order to improve the living climate and enhance sustainability. For eight weeks the students worked tirelessly on a creative mix of ideas which they presented in an advisory report.
	Maritime test bed to demonstrate advanced analytical capabilities for US Navy Using a newly developed advanced maritime test bed, Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated how continually evolving technologies such as data fusion and predictive analytics can be used to share intelligence quickly and securely – even in limited bandwidth naval settings.
	The internet was delivered to the masses; parallel computing is not far behind During the past few years, Virginia Tech's Wu Feng has built upon a National Science Foundation (NSF) / Microsoft grant from the "Computing in the Cloud" program, and synergistically complemented it with subsequent collaborative grants, including a $6 million award from the Air Force on "big computing" for mini-drones and a $1 million award from NSF and the National Institutes of Health on "big data" for the life sciences.
Chip maker Infineon to buy California firm for $3B (Update) German chip maker Infineon Technologies AG says it has agreed to pay $3 billion in cash for California-based semiconductor firm International Rectifier, which produces power-management components used in everything from cars to satellites.
	For jihadists, social media a platform to recruit, spread fear A chilling video depicting the apparent murder of a US journalist by jihadists is just the latest salvo in an online war being waged by extremists on social media sites.
Charter a flight with the tap of an app Boca Raton, Fla.-based JetSmarter wants to fly away with the consumer market for private jets.

Medicine & Health news

	Severing nerves may shrink stomach cancers: Botox injections slow growth of tumors (Medical Xpress)—Research from Columbia University Medical Center shows that nerves may play a critical role in stomach cancer growth and that blocking nerve signals using surgery or Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) could be an effective treatment for the disease. The study was conducted by the laboratory of Timothy C. Wang, MD, in collaboration with Duan Chen, MD, PhD, in Norway and is published in this month's issue of Science Translational Medicine.
	Seals and sea lions likely brought tuberculosis to the Americas, new research shows Tuberculosis is one of the most persistent and deadliest infectious diseases in the world, killing one to two million people each year.
	'Tickling' your ear could be good for your heart Stimulating nerves in your ear could improve the health of your heart, researchers have discovered.
	Targeted brain training may help you multitask better The area of the brain involved in multitasking and ways to train it have been identified by a research team at the IUGM Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal and the University of Montreal.
	Study helps explain why elderly have trouble sleeping As people grow older, they often have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and tend to awaken too early in the morning. In individuals with Alzheimer's disease, this common and troubling symptom of aging tends to be especially pronounced, often leading to nighttime confusion and wandering.
Researchers find that coronary arteries hold heart-regenerating cells Endothelial cells residing in the coronary arteries can function as cardiac stem cells to produce new heart muscle tissue, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered.
	Early bottlenecks in developing biopharmaceutical products delay commercialization An analysis of patented university inventions licensed to biotechnology firms has revealed early bottlenecks on the path to commercialization. To open these roadblocks, the researchers suggest that better communication of basic research results during the discovery stage could lead to faster commercialization down the road.
	Up to 30,000 in need of Ebola drugs by now, analysis shows Up to 30,000 people would have required Ebola drugs in the west African outbreak by now, according to a scientific attempt to quantify demand for a treatment and vaccine, published Wednesday.
	Study identifies protein that helps prevent active tuberculosis in infected patients UCLA-led study has identified a protein that appears to play a key role in protecting people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis—the bacterium that causes tuberculosis—from developing the active form of the disease. The protein, interleukin-32, was discovered to be one biomarker of adequate host defense against TB.
	Maturing brain flips function of amygdala in regulating stress hormones In contrast to evidence that the amygdala stimulates stress responses in adults, researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University have found that the amygdala has an inhibitory effect on stress hormones during the early development of nonhuman primates.
UK dyslexia charities should give balanced view on expensive lenses to improve reading UK dyslexia charities should give a more balanced account of the evidence for colored overlays and lenses in dyslexia say experts in BMJ today.
	Is China's 50 percent cesarean section delivery rate too high? Efforts must be made to decrease China's increasing caesarean section rate, suggests a new commentary published today (20 August) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).
Rates of heart disease and stroke continue to decline in Europe Deaths from heart disease and stroke are declining overall in Europe, but at differing rates, according to research, published online today (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal.
Novartis licences drugs to non-profit TB group Swiss-based pharmaceuticals giant Novartis said Wednesday that it had signed a licensing deal with an international organisation that fights tuberculosis.
Growing up poor affects adults' sense of control, impulsiveness when faced with economic uncertainty Growing up poor can influence people's sense of control and in turn may lead them to more impulsive decision-making and quickly give up on challenging tasks in uncertain situations, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
Huge discrepancies on heart disease in Europe Russians and Ukrainians aged 55 to 59 die from coronary heart disease at a higher rate than Frenchmen who are 20 years older, a study released Wednesday of Europe's cardiovascular health showed.
Celebrities in 'Ice Bucket Challenge' to fight disease Steven Spielberg, Justin Bieber and Bill Gates are among many celebrities pouring buckets of ice water over their heads and donating to fight Lou Gehrig's disease, in a fundraising effort that has gone viral.
	Seabed solution for cold sores The blue blood of abalone, a seabed delicacy could be used to combat common cold sores and related herpes virus following breakthrough research at the University of Sydney.
	ASU experts follow gut reaction in autism treatment study About half of all children and adults with autism suffer from chronic gastrointestinal problems, causing frequent pain, discomfort and irritability. Research out of Arizona State University suggests these gastrointestinal (GI) complications may be due, in part, to abnormal gut bacteria.
	Breastfeeding linked to lower risk of postnatal depression (Medical Xpress)—A new study of over 10,000 mothers has shown that women who breastfed their babies were at significantly lower risk of postnatal depression than those who did not.
Research proves physical, psychological power of love New Western-led research says pausing to think about your romantic partner generates 'good stress' and adds an energy boost to your day. The study, Energized by love: Thinking about romantic relationships increases positive affect and blood glucose levels, was published recently in the journal, Psychophysiology.
	Student seeks to improve pneumonia vaccines Almost a million Americans fall ill with pneumonia each year. Nearly half of these cases require hospitalization, and 5-7 percent are fatal. Current vaccines provide protection against some strains of the disease, but, according to University of Pennsylvania sophomore Ivan Ye, the severity of the problem speaks to "an increasing need for a universal vaccine."
New genetic test may change how brain cancer is treated, researchers say (Medical Xpress)—Scientists at Virginia Tech's Virginia Bioinformatics Institute working with the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's National Medical Center have found a new way to diagnose brain cancer based on genetic markers found in "junk DNA."
	Facial symmetry and good health may not be related Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder. And yet, there are many faces that a majority would find beautiful, say, George Clooney's or Audrey Hepburn's.
	Antidepressants show potential for postoperative pain (Medical Xpress)—After a systematic review of clinical trials based on administering antidepressants for acute and chronic postsurgical pain, researchers have concluded that more trials are needed to determine whether these drugs should be prescribed for postsurgical pain on a regular basis.
	Mums trust mums on the net, according to study Facebook groups for mothers are overtaking the traditional mums-and-bubs and playgroup environments as a source of trusted advice, and offers a largely untapped marketing tool for businesses wanting to sell their products, an Australian study has found.
	Does parenthood doom you to a life of stress and fatigue? Or are children truly "bundles of joy"? Some studies have suggested that parenthood hurts happiness; others suggest the opposite. However, a paper recently published in the journal Psychological Bulletin paints a more nuanced picture: Sometimes parenthood is good for happiness—but not always. The authors suggest that the right question to ask is not whether parenthood leads to happiness but rather when and how it does or doesn't. Context is key.
	Scientists show type-1 and type-2 diabetes are caused by same underlying mechanism Work by scientists at the Universities of Manchester and Auckland suggest that both major forms of diabetes are the result of the same mechanism.
Fruit and vegetable intake still too low; human nutritionist says to focus on lunch Changes to a supplemental nutrition program are improving the number of fruits eaten daily by children, but kids and adults still aren't reaching the recommended daily intake amounts. A Kansas State University human nutritionist says to reach that amount, you need to focus on lunch.
	Sugar tax on drinks may reduce obesity A suggested tax on sugar sweetened beverages has been given more credence in a research paper by academics from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
	Self-reported health information predicts high-need Medicaid patients Just three types of simple self-reported health measures can predict which Medicaid-eligible adults are more likely to access intensive and costly health services over the next year, a new study in Health Services Research suggests. The findings could provide a new way to save a substantial amount of money while also providing better care for Medicaid's neediest patients.
Smoke-free campaign strategies used to promote physical activity, combat obesity In a state with high rates of tobacco use and obesity—and associated health problems—University of Kentucky researcher Melinda Ickes is exploring whether similar models of promoting community readiness to adopt health policies might be effective in addressing both risk factors.
	No support for increasing the volume norm for breast cancer surgery The number of breast cancer surgery which a hospital performs yearly does not play a significant role in the chance of survival. This is the conclusion of research of Sabine Siesling from the University of Twente (MIRA institute) and the Comprehensive Cancer Centre (IKNL) which is published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. The study was performed together with the Vereniging Samenwerkende Algemene Ziekenhuizen and medical specialists and does not supports the attention given nowadays to the volume norms for treatment of breast cancer.
Patients with dissociative identity disorder find it difficult to recall specific memories The memory of people with a Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) works differently than was previously thought. This has consequences for the distinction that is drawn between DID and PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). Patients with DID experienced difficulty in recalling specific personal events. They are inclined to an overgeneralised style of memory: they think back to events that cover a longer timespan or occur more frequently. This was revealed in experiments performed by NWO researcher Rafaele Huntjens from the University of Groningen. The research results were published in the most recent issue (May 2014) of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
	Bacteria detected in food may cause abortions The results of research conducted in the ICAS Culiacán reveal that at least 10 percent of the fresh cheese, sausages and meats sold in markets and on the street may be contaminated.
Researchers show economic disparities impact infant health Women who are poor experience higher cortisol levels in pregnancy and give birth to infants with elevated levels of the stress hormone, putting them at greater risk for serious disease later in life, according to a new research from the University of Colorado Denver.
Gene therapy protects mice from heart condition A new gene therapy developed by researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine has been shown to protect mice from a life-threatening heart condition caused by muscular dystrophy.
Providing futile care in the ICU prevents other patients from receiving critical care Providing futile treatment in the intensive care unit sets off a chain reaction that causes other ill patients needing medical attention to wait for critical care beds, according to a study by researchers from UCLA and RAND Health.
Novel gene predicts both breast cancer relapse and response to chemotherapy Scientists have made it easier to predict both breast cancer relapses and responses to chemotherapy, through the identification of a unique gene. The newly found marker could help doctors classify each breast cancer patient and customise a treatment regimen that is more effective. The discovery was a collaborative effort by scientists from A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), and the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Study finds African-Americans at higher risk for diabetic vision loss Research by Keck Medicine of USC ophthalmology scientists demonstrates that African Americans bear heavier burden of diabetic macular edema (DME), one of the leading causes of blindness in diabetic patients in the United States.
Teen sleeplessness piles on risk for obesity Teenagers who don't get enough sleep may wake up to worse consequences than nodding off during chemistry class. According to new research, risk of being obese by age 21 was 20 percent higher among 16-year-olds who got less than six hours of sleep a night, compared with their peers who slumbered more than eight hours. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends nine to ten hours of sleep for teenagers.)
Severe infections with hospitalization after prostate biopsy rising in Sweden Transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy is the gold standard for detecting prostate cancer, but international reports have suggested that the number of risks associated with the procedure is increasing. In a new nationwide population-based study, Swedish researchers found that six percent of men filled a prescription for antibiotics for a urinary tract infection within 30 days after having a prostate biopsy, with a twofold increase in hospital admissions over five years, reports The Journal of Urology.
Experts denounce clinical trials of unscientific, 'alternative' medicines Experts writing in the Cell Press journal Trends in Molecular Medicine on August 20th call for an end to clinical trials of "highly implausible treatments" such as homeopathy and reiki. Over the last two decades, such complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments have been embraced in medical academia despite budget constraints and the fact that they rest on dubious science, they say.
	Scientists learn more about rare skin cancer that killed Bob Marley Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that acral melanomas – the rare type of skin cancer that caused reggae musician Bob Marley's death – are genetically distinct from other more common types of skin cancer, according to a study (link is external) published in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research.
	Teen birth rate has dropped dramatically in last two decades (HealthDay)—U.S. teen birth rates fell dramatically during the past two decades, plummeting 57 percent and saving taxpayers billions of dollars, a new government report shows.
	Neonatal vitamin K refusal tied to nonimmunization (HealthDay)—While neonatal vitamin K refusal is rare, parents who refuse vitamin K are less likely to immunize their child, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in Pediatrics.
	Pistachio-supplemented diet beneficial in prediabetes (HealthDay)—Pistachio consumption is associated with improvements in glucose and cardiometabolic parameters, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in Diabetes Care.
	Uranium exposure tied to lupus (HealthDay)—High uranium exposure is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a study published online Aug. 7 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Team develops treatment effective against lethal Marburg virus For the first time, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, in collaboration with Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, have protected nonhuman primates against Marburg virus – Angola hemorrhagic fever. Their treatment was shown to be effective at a point when animals have detectable levels of the virus in their system and begin to show symptoms of the disease. The study appears in the August 20 edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Missing protein restored in patients with muscular dystrophy Advances in the treatment of muscular dystrophy: For the first time, a research team has succeeded in restoring a missing repair protein in skeletal muscle of patients with muscular dystrophy. Researchers from the University and the University Hospital of Basel, Department of Biomedicine and Clinic of Neurology, report their recent findings in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Combined drugs and therapy most effective for severe nonchronic depression The odds that a person who suffers from severe, nonchronic depression will recover are improved by as much as 30 percent if they are treated with a combination of cognitive therapy and antidepressant medicine rather than by antidepressants alone. However, a person with chronic or less severe depression does not receive the same additional benefit from combining the two.
	Common infections tied to some stroke risk in kids A new study suggests that colds and other minor infections may temporarily increase stroke risk in children. The study found that the risk of stroke was increased only within a three-day period between a child's visit to the doctor for signs of infection and having the stroke.
Exercise may protect older women from irregular heartbeat Increasing the amount or intensity of physical activity can cut the chances of older women developing a life-threatening irregular heartbeat, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
NEJM Perspective: 'Studying 'Secret Serums'—Toward Safe, Effective Ebola Treatments' Conducting clinical studies of agents to treat Ebola and allowing compassionate use of those agents are not necessarily mutually exclusive, writes Georgetown University Medical Center's (GUMC) Jesse L. Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., in a perspective piece published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Regular blood transfusions can stave off repeat strokes in children with sickle cell disease Monthly blood transfusions can substantially reduce the risk of recurrent strokes in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who have already suffered a silent stroke, according to the results of an international study by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Vanderbilt University and 27 other medical institutions.
New gene technique identifies previously hidden causes of brain malformation Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) scientists have developed a strategy for finding disease-causing mutations that lurk in only a small fraction of the body's cells. Such mutations can cause significant problems, but cannot be detected with traditional methods of genetic testing, as well as newer, more costly genome sequencing technologies.
Patient, tumor characteristics for high-mitotic rate melanoma A study in Australia examined patient and tumor characteristics for melanomas with higher mitotic rates (a marker of tumor cell growth) in an effort to increase earlier detection of this aggressive cancer in patients.
Researchers pinpoint most common causes of dangerous eye infection post surgery and trauma The most common cause of endophthalmitis, a potentially blinding condition that can occur after eye trauma, eye surgery, and eye injections, are the well-known staphylococci ("staph") and streptococci ("strep") bacterial strains, according to a study published in the August issue of Ophthalmology and based on a review of 25 years of cases at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE).
New analysis questions use of acute hemodialysis treatment A common approach to treating kidney failure by removing waste products from the blood did not improve survival chances for people who suddenly developed the condition, in an analysis led by experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
	Early to mid-life obesity linked to heightened risk of dementia in later life Obesity is linked to a heightened risk of dementia in later life, reveals an observational study published online in Postgraduate Medical Journal.
Vietnam, Myanmar test three patients for Ebola (Update) Vietnam and Myanmar are testing three patients for the deadly Ebola virus after they arrived in the Southeast Asian nations from Africa while suffering from fever, health officials said.
Patient isolated in California hospital for Ebola testing A patient who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus has been put in isolation at a hospital in Sacramento, California, health group Kaiser Permanente announced Tuesday.
UN Ebola czar heads to West Africa The UN's new pointman on Ebola said Tuesday he will travel to West Africa this week to shore up health services in the four countries hit by the worst-ever outbreak of the virus.
Sierra Leone's 365 Ebola deaths traced back to one healer It has laid waste to the tribal chiefdoms of Sierra Leone, leaving hundreds dead, but the Ebola crisis began with just one healer's claims to special powers.
Peanut, almond butter recalled for salmonella risk A unit of Hain Celestial Group Inc. is recalling some peanut and almond butter because of possible salmonella contamination.
	Understanding your kidney tumor in 3D Most patients rely on their doctors to decipher the black, white and gray images on their CT scans. But what if a patient could instead hold a 3D model made from the CT image in his hands? Suddenly, the picture becomes clearer.
New report compares global food traceability regulations and requirements of 21 countries The Global Food Traceability Center (GFTC) just released a new report in the peer-reviewed journal, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, that evaluates and compares the traceability regulations of 21 Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries. One of its main findings is that European Union countries ranked highest when it comes to global food traceability regulations and requirements.
Social networks key to improving health in New Zealand Turning conventional thinking about health and healthcare on its head by championing social networks is vital if New Zealanders want to improve their health outcomes, and ultimately save the nation money, says a leading public health expert.
	Researchers look to success of parkrun to transform sedentary lifestyles A new health project from the University will analyse the popular appeal of the parkrun initiative to understand more about how the citizen-led movement is getting people more active.
Indian yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar dies at 95 Indian yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar, who helped popularize yoga around the world and wrote 14 books on the subject, died Wednesday at age 95.
Improving safety and predictability of complex musculoskeletal surgery As the average lifespan increases, the percentage of aged individuals in populations across developed countries is also growing. This means healthcare systems are presented with a higher incidence of complex musculoskeletal pathologies, such as joint deformation and misalignment or bone and soft-tissue cancer, thus the demand for reconstructive orthopaedic operations is correspondingly rising.
Repeat ED visits for acute heart failure suggest need for better outpatient care Almost one-third of acute heart failure syndrome patients seen in hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Florida and California during 2010 had ED visits during the following year, findings that suggest a lack of appropriate outpatient care. A study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators also finds that patients with frequent ED visits for the syndrome accounted for more than half of all such ED visits and hospitalizations, contributing to significant health care costs.
	Lyme disease risk is year-round in Northwest California, according to new study Bay Area Lyme Foundation, which aims to make Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure, applauds new research published in an upcoming issue of the Elsevier peer review journal Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. The findings show that ticks that carry Lyme disease in Northwest California are active throughout the year, making the threat of Lyme disease year-round. The research was conducted by researchers at California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Vector-borne Disease Section and University of California, Berkeley (UC-B).
	Recovery reversal seen in Oregon study of returning concussed athletes When are athletes who have suffered concussions ready to return to action? A new University of Oregon study has found that high school athletes who head back on the field with medical clearance within 60 days experience a significant regression in their abilities to simultaneously walk and do simple mental tasks.
Survey finds veterans generally satisfied with mental health care A survey of U.S. veterans receiving mental health services from the Veterans Health Administration finds general satisfaction, but also significant room for improvement among all areas studied.
Patient perspectives on breast reconstruction following mastectomy Less than 42 percent of women underwent breast reconstruction following a mastectomy for cancer, and the factors associated with foregoing reconstruction included being black, having a lower education level and being older.
	WHO: West Africa Ebola death toll rises to 1,350 Security forces acting on the president's orders used scrap wood and barbed wire to seal off 50,000 people inside their crowded slum Wednesday in an attempt to contain the Ebola outbreak, which has killed 1,350 people and counting.
New iPhone app would aim to help military veterans readjust to civilian life Dave Smith hit his lowest low in March 2012. The retired Marine and Iraq combat veteran separated from his family and friends, broke up with his girlfriend and spent nights drinking himself into oblivion.

Biology news

	The ABC's of animal speech: Not so random after all The calls of many animals, from whales to wolves, might contain more language-like structure than previously thought, according to study that raises new questions about the evolutionary origins of human language.
	Study shows snakes use more force than necessary when climbing trees (Phys.org) —A pair of researchers, one with Siena College in New York, the other with the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, has found that climbing snakes tend to use much more force to hold onto trees than is needed to keep them from sliding back down. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Greg Byrnes and Bruce Jayne describe how they tested snakes climbing in their lab and what they learned as a result.
	New research reveals clock ticking for fruit flies The army of pesky Queensland fruit flies that annually inflict many millions of dollars-worth of damage on the nation's horticultural industry may be about to see their numbers take a significant dive thanks to research by scientists from the University of Western Sydney and the University of New South Wales.
	Dust-covered flies reveal hidden logic of grooming behavior (Phys.org) —A dust-covered fly might spend more than 20 minutes removing the offending grit and grime from its body. With only its own legs to complete the chore, the fly needs a plan of attack. Thanks to a strategy hardwired into the insect's brain, most flies deal with the problem by performing a sequence of cleaning movements that begins with cleaning the head before progressing to lower-priority body parts.
	Research paves way for development of cyborg moth 'biobots' North Carolina State University researchers have developed methods for electronically manipulating the flight muscles of moths and for monitoring the electrical signals moths use to control those muscles. The work opens the door to the development of remotely-controlled moths, or "biobots," for use in emergency response.
	How lizards regenerate their tails: Researchers discover genetic 'recipe' By understanding the secret of how lizards regenerate their tails, researchers may be able to develop ways to stimulate the regeneration of limbs in humans. Now, a team of researchers from Arizona State University is one step closer to solving that mystery. The scientists have discovered the genetic "recipe" for lizard tail regeneration, which may come down to using genetic ingredients in just the right mixture and amounts.
	Tide turns for shark fin in China A sprawling market floor in Guangzhou was once a prime location for shark fin, one of China's most expensive delicacies. But now it lies deserted, thanks to a ban from official banquet tables and a celebrity-driven ad campaign.
	France fights back Asian hornet invader They slipped into southwest France 10 years ago in a pottery shipment from China and have since invaded more than half the country, which is fighting back with drones, poisoned rods and even chickens.
	Professor suspects that hive collapses are caused by pesticides, which also could hurt human health It's become something of a rite of spring. Every March, newspaper stories sprout about local beekeepers opening their hives to find an ongoing environmental mystery.
	Progress in the fight against harmful fungi A group of researchers at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories has created one of the three world's largest gene libraries for the Candida glabrata yeast, which is harmful to humans. Molecular analysis of the Candida glabrata fungus mutations led to the discovery of 28 new genes that are partly responsible for the yeast's tolerance of common drugs.
Researchers discover new strategy germs use to invade cells The hospital germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa wraps itself into the membrane of human cells: A team led by Dr. Thorsten Eierhoff and Junior Professor Dr. Winfried Römer from the Institute of Biology II, members of the Cluster of Excellence BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies of the University of Freiburg, has identified a novel mechanism of bacterial invasion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses lipids in the cell membrane to make its way into host cells. The protein LecA on the surface of the bacteria binds to sugar on special lipid molecules, so-called Gb3 lipids, which are present in the outer membrane of human cells. When the germ docks onto a cell, the LecA molecules of the bacteria and the Gb3 lipids of the host membrane interlock - like a zipper. In this way, the cell envelope wraps itself around the germ step by step and conveys it into the cell's interior. Römer and Eierhoff found evidence of the new mechanism in synthetic membranes as well as in cultures of human lung cells. They published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Lizards help us find out which came first: the baby or the egg? Have you ever wondered why we give birth to live young rather than lay eggs? Scientists have pondered this for a long time and answers have come from an unlikely source: some of Australia's lizards and snakes!
	Worker bees 'know' when to invest in their reproductive future When a colony of honeybees grows to about 4,000 members, it triggers an important first stage in its reproductive cycle: the building of a special type of comb used for rearing male reproductive, called drones. A team of experts from the Department of Neurobiology and Behaviour at Cornell University, led by Michael Smith, studied what starts the reproductive cycle of honeybee colonies. The results are published in Springer's journal Naturwissenschaften - The Science of Nature.
	Sequencing the genome of salamanders University of Kentucky biologist Randal Voss is sequencing the genome of salamanders. Though we share many of the same genes, the salamander genome is massive compared to our own, about 10 times as large.
	Sufficient food vital for functioning ram sperm An animal biologist says poor nutrition results in genetic damage to sperm cells and lower sperm motility for rams.
	Songbird student pilots delay departure and make frequent stopovers during first migration Juvenile songbirds on spring migration travel from overwintering sites in the tropics to breeding destinations thousands of kilometres away with no prior experience to guide them. Now, a new study out of York University has tracked these "student pilots" on their first long-haul flight and found significant differences between the timing of juvenile migration and that of experienced adults.
	Orb-weaving spiders living in urban areas may be larger A common orb-weaving spider may grow larger and have an increased ability to reproduce when living in urban areas, according to a study published August 20, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elizabeth Lowe from the University of Sydney, Australia and colleagues.
	Genetically tracking farmed fish escaping into the wild European sea product consumption is on the rise. With overfishing being a threat to the natural balance of the ocean, the alternative is to turn to aquaculture, the industrial production of fish and seafood. But this raises issues of sustainability and ecological impact. For example, it requires dealing with cultivated fish escaping into the wild and finding methods for tracing them. Not to mention, preventing them mixing with natural and fragile species. Now, an EU-funded project, called Aquatrace, due to be completed in 2017, aims to set up genetic-based tools to quickly and accurately identify farmed fish.

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