Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Aug 27

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 27, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Big snowstorms will still occur in Northern Hemisphere following global warming, study finds
- Scientists looking across human, fly and worm genomes find shared biology
- Experiments explain why some liquids are 'fragile' and others are 'strong'
- Neuroscientists reverse memories' emotional associations
- Detecting neutrinos, physicists look into the heart of the Sun
- When an exciton acts like a hole
- Flexing the brain: Scientists discover why learning tasks can be difficult
- Breaking benzene
- Walking fish reveal how our ancestors evolved onto land
- Researchers suggest rate of evolution change can explain discrepancy between molecular clocks and fossil evidence
- Orion rocks: Pebble-size particles may jump-start planet formation
- Group identity emphasized more by those who just make the cut
- Pacific plate shrinking as it cools: Calculations challenge assumptions about rigid lithosphere
- NASA deep-space rocket, SLS, to launch in 2018
- Study finds how parents respond to their infant's babbling can speed the child's language development

Astronomy & Space news

	What lit up the universe? New research from UCL shows we will soon uncover the origin of the ultraviolet light that bathes the cosmos, helping scientists understand how galaxies were built.
	Evidence for supernovas near Earth Once every 50 years, more or less, a massive star explodes somewhere in the Milky Way. The resulting blast is terrifyingly powerful, pumping out more energy in a split second than the sun emits in a million years. At its peak, a supernova can outshine the entire Milky Way.
	Astronomers find evidence of water clouds in brown dwarf atmosphere (Phys.org) —A team of researchers, led by space scientist Jacqueline Faherty, has found evidence of water clouds in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf situated just 7.3 light years away. In their paper to be published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the team describes how they found evidence of the water clouds and where the research is headed next.
	Orion rocks: Pebble-size particles may jump-start planet formation Rocky planets like Earth start out as microscopic bits of dust tinier than a grain of sand, or so theories predict.
	Scientist uncovers red planet's climate history in unique meteorite Was Mars—now a cold, dry place—once a warm, wet planet that sustained life? And if so, how long has it been cold and dry?
	Witnessing the early growth of a giant Astronomers have uncovered for the first time the earliest stages of a massive galaxy forming in the young Universe. The discovery was made possible through combining observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, ESA's Herschel Space Observatory, and the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. The growing galaxy core is blazing with the light of millions of newborn stars that are forming at a ferocious rate.
	NASA deep-space rocket, SLS, to launch in 2018 The US space agency's powerful deep-space rocket, known as the Space Launch System (SLS), aims to blast off for the first time in 2018, NASA said Wednesday.
	NASA completes successful battery of tests on composite cryotank NASA has completed a complex series of tests on one of the largest composite cryogenic fuel tanks ever manufactured, bringing the aerospace industry much closer to designing, building, and flying lightweight, composite tanks on rockets.
	Light of life A fluorescent microscopic view of cells from a type of bone cancer, being studied for a future trip to deep space – aiming to sharpen our understanding of the hazardous radiation prevailing out there.
	Local model better describes lunar gravity Two satellites orbiting the Moon as a part of NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission have been mapping its inner structure by measuring subtle shifts in the pull of gravity on the satellites from points on the ground below. The stronger the shift, the greater is the mass of structures below the surface.
	Solar Dynamics Observatory captures images of a late summer flare On Aug. 24, 2014, the sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 8:16 a.m. EDT.

Technology news

	China team takes on tech challenge of supercavitation Shanghai passenger to captain: Excuse me sir, how long until we reach San Francisco? I don't know if I have enough time to watch a movie. Captain: You might just make it. A little under two hours.
	Students' designs for cellular-networking protocols help define the limits of protocol performance In the 21st century, design contests have emerged as a way to make rapid progress on tough computational problems. The million-dollar Netflix Prize, which sought to improve Netflix's movie recommendation algorithm, is probably the most high-profile example. But similar, if lower-stakes, contests have addressed problems in computer vision, medical-data analysis, and weather prediction.
	Maker of $33 smartphone hails 'new era' for India The maker of a new $33 smartphone billed as India's cheapest said Wednesday it aims to sell half a million in the next three months in what it called a "new era" for the market.
	Time Warner Cable says outages largely resolved (Update) Time Warner Cable said Wednesday that service was largely restored after a problem during routine maintenance caused a nationwide outage of its Internet service for hours.
	Intel says world's smallest 3G modem has been launched Analysts say why not. Intel is going after its own comfortable stake in the mobile market, where connectivity for wearables and "Internet of Things" household items will be in high demand. Intel on Tuesday announced "the world's smallest standalone 3G modem" which, noted the BBC, is not much bigger than a UK or US penny. The BBC said it has an area of about 300 sq mm.
	Snapchat valued at $10 bln US media on Tuesday reported that Snapchat was valued at $10 billion based on funding pumped into the startup by a powerhouse Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
Hungary strives to be central Europe's start-up capital by 2020 From a sleek, modern office in the middle of Budapest's old town, Ustream provides live video streaming to clients such as Samsung and Sony.
China Telecom profit rises as mobile data grows China Telecom Ltd., one of the country's three main state-owned carriers, said Wednesday its profit rose 11.8 percent in the first half of the year as its Internet and mobile data businesses grew.
Hackerspaces used to turn ideas turn into reality At HeatSync Labs, the tables are littered with computer chips, pens, pads and tools while the room is abuzz with the chatter of would-be inventors hoping to change the world—or just make cool things. They are part of a growing global movement of so-called hackerspaces.
	3D printed nose wins design award A Victoria University of Wellington design student is the New Zealand finalist for the James Dyson Award 2014 for his Master's project—a 3D printed prosthetic nose.
	Dismantling ships and the trajectory of steel Tell me how you dismantle a ship, and I'll tell how a region can prosper from its steel! This could be the motto of this master's cycle at ENAC during which the projects of two civil engineering students gathered extensive data on the largest dismantling port in the world: Alang in India.
	Intelligent system that predicts when alarms might be triggered could greatly improve the management of industrial plant A*STAR researchers have developed an anticipatory alarm system based on dynamic models of industrial processes using concepts similar to extreme weather forecasting.
	Technology on the catwalk Summer days bring thoughts of beach picnics, outdoor barbecues and pool parties. Yet it only takes the buzz of one tiny mosquito to dampen the fun.
	Smartphones on aircraft – what access do we really want? Australia is playing catch up by allowing plane passengers to keep their mobile phone switched on – albeit in flight mode only – during take off and landing.
	Google's Eric Schmidt tells Stanford gathering that the key to cybersecurity is better encryption Congressional staffers from both sides of the aisle came to Stanford last week for a cybersecurity boot camp. They heard from Google's Eric Schmidt that security problems are serious, but can be reduced with better encryption of communications.
	MU researchers develop more accurate Twitter analysis tools "Trending" topics on the social media platform Twitter show the quantity of tweets associated with a specific event. However, trends only show the highest volume keywords and hashtags, and may not give qualitative information about the tweets themselves. Now, using data associated with the Super Bowl and World Series, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed and validated a software program that analyzes event-based tweets and measures the context of tweets rather than just the quantity. The program will help Twitter analysts gain better insight into human behavior associated with trends and events.
	Alibaba's revenue growth surges in latest quarter (Update) Alibaba's quarterly revenue growth is surging again, a development that should help the Chinese e-commerce company sell its shares in what could become the technology industry's most lucrative IPO.
	Web-weaving spiders force Suzuki recall Spiders whose webs clog up fuel tank vents have forced Suzuki to recall some 19,000 2010-2013 Kizashi sedans in the United States.
US judge rejects Apple bid to ban Samsung smartphones A judge on Wednesday rejected a bid by Apple to ban US sales of rival Samsung smartphones targeted in a recent $2 billion patent trial in Silicon Valley.
	Engineering the Kelpies Recently, Falkirk in Scotland saw the opening of the Kelpies, two thirty metre high horse head sculptures either side of a lock in a new canal extension.
	Godzilla stomps back in ultra HD, wires intact At a humble Tokyo laboratory, Godzilla, including the 1954 black-and-white original, is stomping back with a digital makeover that delivers four times the image quality of high definition.
	Identifying long-distance threats: New 3D technology could improve CCTV images A new government-funded study aims to develop 3D imaging technology to make it easier to identify suspicious objects from a long way off.

Medicine & Health news

	Neuroscientists reverse memories' emotional associations Most memories have some kind of emotion associated with them: Recalling the week you just spent at the beach probably makes you feel happy, while reflecting on being bullied provokes more negative feelings.
	New technology may identify tiny strains in body tissues before injuries occur Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed algorithms to identify weak spots in tendons, muscles and bones prone to tearing or breaking. The technology, which needs to be refined before it is used in patients, one day may help pinpoint minor strains and tiny injuries in the body's tissues long before bigger problems occur.
	Scientist finds clearer obesity, diabetes connection (Medical Xpress)—New findings about the biological links between obesity and insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes may also shed light on the connection between obesity and cancer, says a scientist at The University of Texas at Dallas.
	Gamblers are greedy bird-brains, research finds Gamblers show the same tendencies as pigeons when they make risky decisions, new research has shown.
	Fear, safety and the role of sleep in human PTSD The effectiveness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment may hinge significantly upon sleep quality, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System in a paper published today in the Journal of Neuroscience.
	Flexing the brain: Scientists discover why learning tasks can be difficult Learning a new skill is easier when it is related to an ability we already have. For example, a trained pianist can learn a new melody easier than learning how to hit a tennis serve.
	Study finds how parents respond to their infant's babbling can speed the child's language development Pay attention, mom and dad, especially when your infant looks at you and babbles.
	Stop and listen: Study shows how movement affects hearing When we want to listen carefully to someone, the first thing we do is stop talking. The second thing we do is stop moving altogether. This strategy helps us hear better by preventing unwanted sounds generated by our own movements.
	Malaria symptoms fade on repeat infections due to loss of immune cells Children who repeatedly become infected with malaria often experience no clinical symptoms with these subsequent infections, and a team led by UC San Francisco researchers has discovered that this might be due at least in part to a depletion of specific types of immune cells.
New drug promises relief for inflammatory pain Pain from inflammation sidelines thousands of Americans each year. Many face a tough choice: deal with the pain, take a potentially addictive opioid or use a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that may increase risk for cardiovascular disease or gastrointestinal bleeding.
	Sleep apnea treatment is effective for older people Continuous positive airway pressure is effective at treating sleep apnoea in older people, a new study has found.
	Social inequalities in salt consumption remain People from low socio-economic positions in Britain still eat more salt than those from higher socio-economic positions, irrespective of where they live.
	Everest expedition provides first evidence of effects of altitude on blood pressure An expedition to Mount Everest by Italian researchers has shown for the first time that blood pressure monitored over a 24-hour period rises progressively as people climb to higher altitudes. The researchers also found that while a drug used for lowering blood pressure, called telmisartan, was effective in counteracting the effects of altitude up to 3400 metres, it was not effective at 5400 metres above sea level – the height of the Everest base camp.
	Japan sees first local dengue case in over 60 years Japanese health authorities have reported the first locally transmitted case of dengue fever in the country in more than 60 years.
	Venezuela battles obesity amid dearth of good food Venezuela's socialist government is sounding the alarm about growing waistlines in a country where record food shortages are making it harder to put healthy meals on the table, prompting many people to fill up on empty calories.
India asks Pepsi to cut down sugar in sodas India has asked US soft drinks giant PepsiCo to reduce the sugar content of its sodas as the country battles growing levels of obesity and diabetes.
	Steer clear of dietary supplements for concussions: FDA (HealthDay)— As the fall sports season starts and young players face the risk of concussions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that dietary supplements that claim to prevent, treat or cure concussions are untested, unproven and possibly dangerous.
	Vitamin D deficiency worsens outcomes with B-cell lymphoma (HealthDay)—Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) contributes to worse outcomes in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with rituximab, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Hospitals should follow CDC recommendations for Ebola care (HealthDay)—Hospital and health care providers should follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations for care of patients with Ebola, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Aug. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	New implanted sensor could reduce heart failure admissions Unexpected trips to the hospital are inconvenient and worrisome for anyone, but for congestive heart failure sufferers, they can be all too frequent. In a rural state like West Virginia, distance can be a factor. Cardiologists at WVU Healthcare's Ruby Memorial Hospital are now only the fourth group of doctors in the nation to implant a new tiny, wireless monitoring sensor to help doctors and patients manage heart failure while eliminating the need for frequent surprise hospital visits.
	Targeted therapy one step closer in neuroblastoma research Australian researchers have uncovered new targets for therapy in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.
	Seniors face barriers to critical dental care Research has shown that poor oral health can have a negative impact on seniors' overall health and well-being, but for many, there are significant barriers to visiting a dentist, finds a new report in the American Journal of Health Behavior.
	Exercising restraint to stall tumor growth Many proteins undergo an assembly line-style process of glycosylation as they travel from a cellular structure called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus and on through its various compartments, after which they are released. Disruptions in this process can contribute to a variety of diseases. Now researchers from A*STAR have identified a regulatory mechanism that prevents the production of glycosylated proteins that potentially promote cancerous growth1.
	The genes behind the guardians of the airways Dysfunctions in cilia, tiny hair-like structures that protrude from the surface of cells, are responsible for a number of human diseases. However the genes involved in making cilia have remained largely elusive. In the first comprehensive analysis of its kind, researchers from the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Singapore have identified hundreds of genes involved in the proper formation of a particular type of cilia that help to remove mucus and dirt from the lungs1.
	Crystal structure reveals how minor variations make receptor proteins activate or inhibit natural killer cells Natural killer (NK) cells are white blood cells that can detect and destroy abnormal cells, including cancer cells or cells infected by viruses. A*STAR researchers have now resolved a longstanding puzzle concerning the receptor proteins that NK cells use to distinguish between normal and abnormal cells. Their work suggests ways in which NK cells could be modified to improve their response to a range of diseases.
	With thanks: Gratitude can win you new friends, study shows (Medical Xpress)—Parents have long told their children to mind their Ps and Qs, and remember to say thank you. Now the evidence is in on why it matters.
	Small rewards might lead to big results in alcohol abstinence Recovery from alcoholism is notoriously difficult. The satisfaction of a quick drink often trumps the idea of a later reward, such as better health, stronger relationships, and more stability.
	Gang life brings deep health risks for girls Being involved in a gang poses considerable health-related risks for adolescent African American girls, including more casual sex partners and substance abuse combined with less testing for HIV and less knowledge about preventing sexually transmitted diseases, according to a new study.
Drink up for exercise, but not too much With students heading back to school, fall sports are in full swing. In addition to training, eating right, and getting enough sleep, a significant key to health and performance is staying hydrated. However, the recent tragic death of a teenage athlete is an important reminder that you can get too much of a good thing.
Medtronic spends $350M on another European deal U.S. medical device maker Medtronic is building stronger ties to Europe, a couple months after announcing a $42.9 billion acquisition that involves moving its main executive offices across the Atlantic, where it can get a better tax deal.
Men who are uneducated about their prostate cancer have difficulty making good treatment choices They say knowledge is power, and a new UCLA study has shown this is definitely the case when it comes to men making the best decisions about how to treat their prostate cancer.
	For older adults, exercise is good medicine for health, mobility and mood Because folks over age 65 will make up 40 percent of the U.S. population in 30 years, according to the Census Bureau, quality of life looms as an important public health issue as baby boomers head into retirement. Figuring out how seniors can best maintain it was a major goal of the recently completed Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study, conducted at eight sites across the United States, including Tufts, the University of Florida and Northwestern and Stanford universities.
	Fighting prostate cancer with a tomato-rich diet Men who eat over 10 portions a week of tomatoes have an 18 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer, new research suggests.
Promising new cancer therapy uses molecular 'Trash Man' to exploit a common cancer defense While many scientists are trying to prevent the onset of a cancer defense mechanism known as autophagy, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center are leveraging it in a new therapy that causes the process to culminate in cell death rather than survival. The novel treatment strategy targets the p62 protein, which is often referred to as the "Trash Man" due to its role in disposing unwanted cellular proteins during autophagy. Results from preclinical experiments suggest this experimental treatment approach could be particularly effective against multiple myeloma and potentially other forms of blood cancers.
	A prescription for better stroke care Stroke patients are 70 per cent more likely to continue taking their stroke prevention medications one year later if they have a prescription in hand when discharged – according to researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
	Researchers discover why Listeria bacterium is so hard to fight The harmful and potentially deadly bacterium Listeria is extremely good at adapting to changes. Now research from University of Southern Denmark uncovers exactly how cunning Listeria is and why it is so hard to fight. The discovery can help develop more efficient ways to combat the bacteria.
Soda tax for adolescents and exercise for children best strategies for reducing obesity Childhood obesity in the United States remains high. A tax on sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas, energy drinks, sweet teas, and sports drinks would reduce obesity in adolescents more than other policies, such as exercise or an advertising ban, and would also generate significant revenue for additional obesity prevention activities, say researchers writing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study also demonstrated that physical activity would benefit children ages 6-12 most.
	New study throws into question long-held belief about depression New evidence puts into doubt the long-standing belief that a deficiency in serotonin—a chemical messenger in the brain—plays a central role in depression. In the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, scientists report that mice lacking the ability to make serotonin in their brains (and thus should have been "depressed" by conventional wisdom) did not show depression-like symptoms.
Drug represents first potential treatment for common anemia An experimental drug designed to help regulate the blood's iron supply shows promise as a viable first treatment for anemia of inflammation, according to results from the first human study of the treatment published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology
Team isolates environmental influences in genome-wide association studies Dartmouth cancer researchers developed and tested an advanced statistical model to evaluate the genetic and environmental interactions that contribute to disease as published yesterday in Human Genetics.
NIH issues finalized policy on genomic data sharing The National Institutes of Health has issued a final NIH Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) policy to promote data sharing as a way to speed the translation of data into knowledge, products and procedures that improve health while protecting the privacy of research participants. The final policy was posted in the Federal Register Aug. 26, 2014 and published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts Aug. 27, 2014.
	'Junk' blood tests may offer life-saving information Some 30 percent of all positive hospital blood culture samples are discarded every day because they're "contaminated"—they reflect the presence of skin germs instead of specific disease-causing bacteria.
Educated consumers more likely to use potentially unreliable online healthcare information The last time you experienced worrisome medical symptoms, did you look for advice online before consulting a health-care professional? If so, you're not alone. Consumers are increasingly turning to forums, video-sharing sites, and peer support groups to gather anecdotal information and advice, which may distract them from more reliable and trustworthy sources. New research to be presented at the HFES 2014 Annual Meeting in Chicago studies the characteristics of consumers who use the Internet to collect health-care information.
Lifetime of fitness: A fountain of youth for bone and joint health? Being physically active may significantly improve musculoskeletal and overall health, and minimize or delay the effects of aging, according to a review of the latest research on senior athletes (ages 65 and up) appearing in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).
Big data approach identifies Europe's most dangerous human and domestic animal pathogens The pathogens posing the greatest risk to Europe based upon a proxy for impact have been identified by University of Liverpool researchers using a 'big data' approach to scientific research.
	New smartphone app can detect newborn jaundice in minutes Newborn jaundice: It's one of the last things a parent wants to deal with, but it's unfortunately a common condition in babies less than a week old.
	Marijuana compound may offer treatment for Alzheimer's disease Extremely low levels of the compound in marijuana known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, may slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a recent study from neuroscientists at the University of South Florida shows.
Xenon exposure shown to erase traumatic memories McLean Hospital researchers are reporting that xenon gas, used in humans for anesthesia and diagnostic imaging, has the potential to be a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other memory-related disorders.
	Brain networks 'hyper-connected' in young adults who had depression Depression may be better predicted and understood now that University of Illinois at Chicago researchers have discovered that young adults who previously experienced the mental illness have hyper-connected emotional and cognitive networks in the brain.
	Junk food makes rats lose appetite for balanced diet A diet of junk food not only makes rats fat, but also reduces their appetite for novel foods, a preference that normally drives them to seek a balanced diet, reports a study published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Dosage of HIV drug may be ineffective for half of African-Americans Many African-Americans may not be getting effective doses of the HIV drug maraviroc, a new study from Johns Hopkins suggests. The initial dosing studies, completed before the drug was licensed in 2007, included mostly European-Americans, who generally lack a protein that is key to removing maraviroc from the body. The current study shows that people with maximum levels of the protein—including nearly half of African-Americans—end up with less maraviroc in their bodies compared to those who lack the protein even when given the same dose. A simple genetic test for the gene that makes the CYP3A5 protein could be used to determine what doses would achieve effective levels in individuals, the researchers say.
	Scientists link alcohol-dependence gene to neurotransmitter Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have solved the mystery of why a specific signaling pathway can be associated with alcohol dependence.
Expression of privilege in vaccine refusal Not all students returning to school this month will be up to date on their vaccinations. A new study conducted by Jennifer Reich, a researcher at the University of Colorado Denver, shows that the reasons why children may not be fully vaccinated depends on the class privilege of their mothers.
	Researchers publish first study of brain activation in MS using fNIRS Using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), Kessler Foundation researchers have shown differential brain activation patterns between people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls. This is the first MS study in which brain activation was studied using fNIRS while participants performed a cognitive task.
	US official warns Ebola outbreak will get worse A third top doctor has died from Ebola in Sierra Leone, a government official said Wednesday, as a leading American health official warned that the outbreak sweeping West Africa would get worse before it gets better.
Youth are quietly losing their hearing Children and teens constantly plugged into personal listening devices, such as phones, computers or music players, could be harming their ears without realizing it, says a Purdue University audiologist.
Better health care as important as controlling risk factors for heart health Keeping a healthy heart may have as much to do with the quality of health care you have available as it does you avoiding risk factors such as smoking, bad diet and little exercise.
Researchers investigating new treatment for multiple sclerosis A new treatment under investigation for multiple sclerosis (MS) is safe and tolerable in phase I clinical trials, according to a study published August 27, 2014, in Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, a new online-only, freely accessible, specialty medical journal. The publication is part of the Neurology family of journals, published by the American Academy of Neurology.
	Protein in 'good cholesterol' may be a key to treating pulmonary hypertension Oxidized lipids are known to play a key role in inflaming blood vessels and hardening arteries, which causes diseases like atherosclerosis. A new study at UCLA demonstrates that they may also contribute to pulmonary hypertension, a serious lung disease that narrows the small blood vessels in the lungs.
	The high cost of hot flashes: Millions in lost wages preventable The steep decline in the use of hormone therapy has spawned a prevalent but preventable side effect: millions of women suffering in silence with hot flashes, according to a study by a Yale School of Medicine researcher and colleagues.
No cookie-cutter divorces, so what info should online co-parenting classes offer? Required online classes for divorcing couples who have children are good at teaching parents how to deal with children's needs and responses to their family's new situation. But co-parenting couples would benefit from content that helps adults cope with their own emotions and from unique tracks for families with special circumstances such as intimate partner violence or alcoholism, said a University of Illinois researcher in human and community development.
	MERS virus doesn't seem to spread easily, study finds (HealthDay)—People infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus are unlikely to pass it to others in their household, a new study suggests.
	Risk of diabetes up in hodgkin's lymphoma survivors (HealthDay)—Para-aortic radiation correlates with increased diabetes mellitus (DM) risk for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) survivors, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Pay-for-performance not found to impact access to CABG (HealthDay)—For patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), treatment at pay-for-performance (P4P) hospitals is not associated with a change in the rate of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	Oral contraceptive equal to antibiotics for acne care (HealthDay)—At six months, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are comparable to systemic antibiotics for acne management, according to a review published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Polyp removal doesn't always signal raised colon cancer risk, study says (HealthDay)—Doctors may be performing too many repeat colonoscopies on people who've had pre-cancerous polyps removed during an earlier colon cancer screening, a new Norwegian study suggests.
Tumor blood vessel protein provides potential therapeutic target Tumor blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells and provide access to other organs. While tumor vasculature shares many features with normal vessels, their unique characteristics are potential therapeutic targets.
BA stops flights to Liberia, Sierra Leone until 2015 over Ebola British Airways extended to 2015 its suspension of flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone due to concerns about the spread of the deadly Ebola virus it announced on Tuesday.
Cricket: Mahmood calls for end to mental health 'taboo' Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood hopes to make mental health less of a "taboo" subject in South Asia.
Canada pulling Ebola lab team from Sierra Leone Canada is evacuating a three-member mobile laboratory team from Sierra Leone after people in their hotel were diagnosed with Ebola. The World Health Organization earlier announced it is pulling a team out of the country.
WHO medic with Ebola taken to Germany for treatment (Update) A World Health Organization doctor who has contracted Ebola arrived in a German hospital Wednesday, the first patient with the virus to be treated in the country, officials said.
	West Africans get creative with Ebola awareness A young man on camera names the person who's challenged him to dump the contents of a bucket over his head. But in a twist on the ice bucket challenge, this man is soon drenched in frothy, soapy water—part of a campaign to raise awareness about Ebola prevention in West Africa.
	VA hospital delays didn't cause deaths, investigators say (HealthDay)—Investigators with the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department say there's no evidence that any deaths at a Phoenix VA hospital—the center of a nationwide scandal—were caused by delays in care.
	Disabled people's health issues fall on deaf ears At least forty per cent of UK people with learning disabilities are suffering from hearing loss, but new research shows they are unlikely to be diagnosed.
	Planning a better future for people with autism In the world of special education, transition is the move from school to adult life. For most of us that move can be awkward, but for people with disabilities—particularly autism—it is especially complex.
	Cancer researchers use supercomputer to gain insight into new treatment technology Cancer radiation treatment is a tricky process. Medical researchers and physicians must walk the delicate line of delivering just enough radiation to kill tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
	Performing CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs - is a leading cause of death. Each year, over 420,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby.
Taking aim at added sugars to improve Americans' health Now that health advocates' campaigns against trans-fats have largely succeeded in sidelining the use of the additive, they're taking aim at sugar for its potential contributions to Americans' health conditions. But scientists and policymakers are still wrangling over the best way to assuage the nation's insatiable sweet tooth, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society.
Air France suspends Sierra Leone flights over Ebola Air France said it was suspending its flights to Sierra Leone from Thursday because of an Ebola outbreak that has killed at least 1,400 people in West Africa.
Scientists study impact of cultural diversity in brain injury research Kessler Foundation scientists examined the implications for cultural diversity and cultural competence in brain injury research and rehabilitation. The article by Anthony Lequerica, PhD, and Denise Krch, PhD: Issues of cultural diversity in acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation (doi:10.3233/NRE-141079) was published by Neurorehabilitation. Drs. Lequerica and Krch are research scientists in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Research at Kessler Foundation and co-investigators for the Northern New Jersey TBI Model System.
UN releases $1.5mn to help DR Congo fight Ebola The United Nations on Wednesday allocated $1.5 million (1.1 million euros) to help the Democratic Republic of Congo fight Ebola, just days after the country confirmed its first cases this year.
Tracking spending among the commercially insured Recent growth in health care spending for commercially insured individuals is due primarily to increases in prices for medical services, rather than increased use, according to a new study led by researchers at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, published in the August issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.
Bundled approach to reduce surgical site infections in colorectal surgery A multidisciplinary program (called a "bundle") that spanned the phases of perioperative care helped reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing colorectal surgery (CRS) at an academic medical center.
Photodynamic therapy vs. cryotherapy for actinic keratoses Photodynamic therapy (PDT, which uses topical agents and light to kill tissue) appears to better clear actinic keratoses (AKs, a common skin lesion caused by sun damage) at three months after treatment than cryotherapy (which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze lesions).
APOE, diagnostic accuracy of CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) levels of β-amyloid 42(Aβ42) are associated with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and (Aβ) accumulation in the brain independent of apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene makeup.
Ebola zone countries isolated as airlines stop flights The three nations at the centre of the west African Ebola outbreak were left increasingly isolated on Wednesday as more airlines suspended flights to the crisis zone.

Biology news

	Scientists looking across human, fly and worm genomes find shared biology Researchers analyzing human, fly, and worm genomes have found that these species have a number of key genomic processes in common, reflecting their shared ancestry. The findings, appearing Aug. 28, 2014, in the journal Nature, offer insights into embryonic development, gene regulation and other biological processes vital to understanding human biology and disease.
	Sheepdogs use just two simple rules to round up large herds of sheep Sheepdogs use just two simple rules to round up large herds of sheep, scientists have discovered. The findings could lead to the development of robots that can gather and herd livestock, crowd control techniques, or new methods to clean up the environment.
	Japan lab unable to replicate 'stem cell' findings (Update) Researchers in Japan said Wednesday they have been unable to replicate experiments that were hailed earlier this year as a "game-changer" in the quest to grow transplant tissue, amid claims evidence was faked.
	Biotech firm's GM mosquitoes to fight dengue in Brazil It's a dry winter day in southeast Brazil, but a steamy tropical summer reigns inside the labs at Oxitec, where workers are making an unusual product: genetically modified mosquitoes to fight dengue fever.
	Huge insect diversity revealed by genetic technologies (Phys.org) —The diversity of plants, mammals and birds in Australia is well-known, but scientists have very little idea of how many hundreds of thousands of species of Australian insects exist.
	Spider personality study shows evidence of 'social niche specialization' (Phys.org) —A team of researchers with the University of Pittsburgh (and one from the Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm, Germany) has found evidence of "social niche specialization" in a species of social spiders. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the team describes how they experimented with 84 artificially created colonies of the spiders and what they learned about their behavior as a result.
	Researchers suggest rate of evolution change can explain discrepancy between molecular clocks and fossil evidence (Phys.org) —A pair of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Australia, believe they may have found a way to solve the discrepancy problem that exists between molecular biologists and paleontologists who disagree on the likely first appearance of placental mammals. They describe their new dating approach, which they call a "morphological clock" in their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
	The roots of human altruism Scientists have long been searching for the factor that determines why humans often behave so selflessly. It was known that humans share this tendency with species of small Latin American primates of the family Callitrichidae (tamarins and marmosets), leading some to suggest that cooperative care for the young, which is ubiquitous in this family, was responsible for spontaneous helping behavior. But it was not so clear what other primate species do in this regard, because most studies were not comparable.
	Walking fish reveal how our ancestors evolved onto land About 400 million years ago a group of fish began exploring land and evolved into tetrapods – today's amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. But just how these ancient fish used their fishy bodies and fins in a terrestrial environment and what evolutionary processes were at play remain scientific mysteries.
Water 'thermostat' could help engineer drought-resistant crops Duke University researchers have identified a gene that could help scientists engineer drought-resistant crops. The gene, called OSCA1, encodes a protein in the cell membrane of plants that senses changes in water availability and adjusts the plant's water conservation machinery accordingly.
	Study redefines ecological model: Competition among species can cause geographical isolation In a study that could alter traditional notions in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology, three City College of New York researchers present results indicating that competition between two species can lead to the geographic isolation of one of them. The finding by biologists Eliecer E. Gutiérrez, Robert A. Boria and Robert P. Anderson is the cover story in the August issue of the Swedish-published journal "Ecography" under the title, "Can biotic interactions cause allopatry? Niche models, competition, and distributions of South American mouse opossums."
	Museum specimens, modern cities show how an insect pest will respond to climate change Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that century-old museum specimens hold clues to how global climate change will affect a common insect pest that can weaken and kill trees – and the news is not good.
	Researchers film protein quake for the first time One of nature's mysteries is how plants survive impact by the huge amounts of energy contained in the sun's rays, while using this energy for photosynthesis. The hypothesis is that the light-absorbing proteins in the plant's blades quickly dissipate the energy throughout the entire protein molecule through so-called protein quakes. Researchers at DTU Physics have now managed to successfully 'film' this process.
	The devastating spread of the mountain pine beetle When the mountain pine beetle began blazing a path across forests in British Columbia and Alberta, nobody could have imagined the extent of the damage to come. But as the insect devastated pine forests and disrupted communities, forest industries, recreational use, watersheds, and plant and wildlife habitats, the problem became disturbingly clear. Now, as the beetle creeps into the boreal forests of the Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan, with a real concern it may reach as far east as the Maritime provinces, researchers at the University of Alberta have responded to calls from government, industry, non-profit organizations and the general public to help conserve and protect an invaluable national resource at the heart of Canadian identity.
	Piglet weaning age no bar to litter frequency University of Adelaide research has shown that piglets can be weaned later with no negative effects on sow birthing frequency.
	More wolf spiders feasting on American toads due to invasive grass, study shows An invasive grass species frequently found in forests has created a thriving habitat for wolf spiders, who then feed on American toads, a new University of Georgia study has found.
	Wolves susceptible to yawn contagion Wolves may be susceptible to yawn contagion, according to a study published August 27, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Teresa Romero from The University of Tokyo, Japan, and colleagues.
A touching story: The ancient conversation between plants, fungi and bacteria The mechanical force that a single fungal cell or bacterial colony exerts on a plant cell may seem vanishingly small, but it plays a heavy role in setting up some of the most fundamental symbiotic relationships in biology. In fact, it may not be too much of a stretch to say that plants may have never moved onto land without the ability to respond to the touch of beneficial fungi, according to a new study led by Jean-Michel Ané, a professor of agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
	Priority Protected Areas key to dieback framework A new framework to help combat Phytophthora, or dieback in Western Australia's south-west was recently revealed at a conference at Murdoch University.
Research sheds light on epilepsy treatments – Why don't the fits stop? New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) canine epilepsy clinic has shed light on why some dogs do not respond to anti-epilepsy treatments.
Salmon are recolonising newly reconnected zones in the rivers of the Adour basin Researchers from INRA, Laval University in Quebec, CIRAD and the Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour have studied the impact of constructing passes that allow salmon to cross hydroelectric dams and recolonise newly reconnected zones in the Adour basin. Using population genetics tools, they have shown that the sources of this recolonisation are very probably the sectors downstream of these passes and that little genetic diversity is lost during recolonisation of the newly available zones. These results suggest a strong potential for the evolution of these newly formed populations.
	NOAA's Marine Debris Program reports on the national issue of derelict fishing traps Thousands of fishing traps are lost or abandoned each year in U.S. waters and become what are known as derelict traps, which continue to catch fish, crabs, and other species such as turtles. These traps result in losses to habitat, fisheries, and the watermen who depend on the resources—losses that are largely preventable, according to a newly published NOAA study.
	Zambia lifts ban on safari hunting Zambia has lifted a 20-month ban on safari hunting because it has lost too much revenue, but lions and leopards will remain protected, the government said Wednesday.

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