Science X Newsletter Friday, Sep 12

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 12, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- How did evolution optimize circadian clocks?
- Fluid mechanics suggests alternative to quantum orthodoxy
- Smartphone app used by experimenters to learn more about aspects of morality
- Deep-sea diver hand offers freedom and feedback
- Slipped discs provide a window into human evolutionary past
- Taking the 'sting' out of reproduction
- Brain inflammation dramatically disrupts memory retrieval networks, study finds
- Moving silicon atoms in graphene with atomic precision
- First electric car race to zoom off on Saturday
- Robot Boris learning to load a dishwasher (w/ Video)
- Corn spots: Study finds important genes in defense response
- Worldwide study demonstrates accuracy of genetic analyses
- Gaia discovers its first supernova
- Gray matter matters when measuring our tolerance of risk
- Fossil record reveals microbial life following mass extinctions

Astronomy & Space news

	Three eyes on the sky track laws of Nature 10 billion years ago Astronomers have focused the three most powerful optical telescopes in the world on a single point in the sky to test one of Nature's fundamental laws.
	Gaia discovers its first supernova (Phys.org) —While scanning the sky to measure the positions and movements of stars in our Galaxy, Gaia has discovered its first stellar explosion in another galaxy far, far away.
	Ariane rocket launches Asia-Pacific telecoms satellites An Ariane 5 rocket took off from the European space centre at Kourou in French Guiana late Thursday, before placing two Asia-Pacific telecoms satellites into orbit, the launch firm Arianespace said.
	Modified theory of dark matter Dark matter is an aspect of the universe we still don't fully understand. We have lots of evidence pointing to its existence (as I outlined in a series of posts a while back), and the best evidence we have points toward a specific type of matter known as cold dark matter (CDM). One big downside is that we have yet to find any direct detection of dark matter particles. In fact, many of the likely candidates for dark matter have been all but eliminated. Another is that cold dark matter doesn't agree with our observations of dwarf galaxies. Now a new paper presents a solution to the second problem that might even help with the first.
	The entropy of black holes Yesterday I talked about black hole thermodynamics, specifically how you can write the laws of thermodynamics as laws about black holes. Central to the idea of thermodynamics is the property of entropy, which can be related to the amount of physical information a system has.
Astronomers unveil secrets of giant elliptical galaxies New findings of how giant elliptical galaxies move have been discovered by an international team of astronomers using the newly installed Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) facility.
	SpaceX's next cargo launch set for Sept 20 SpaceX's next unmanned cargo trip to restock supplies at the International Space Station is scheduled for September 20, the US space agency said Friday.
	Exploring the cosmic X-ray background You are likely familiar with the cosmic microwave background. This background is a thermal remnant of the big bang. Because of the expansion of the universe, this remnant energy has a temperature of about 2.7 K, which means it exists primarily in the microwave wavelengths. We see this cosmic background as a diffuse, low-energy glow of microwave radiation.
	Two solar particle blasts could start smacking into Earth Friday Bim, bam, smash! The Sun hurled two clouds of particles in our general direction, putting space weather watchers on alert. There's now a high chance of auroras on Sept. 12 (Friday), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with more activity possible during the weekend.
	Not just cool – it's a gas In space, a new way of producing gas is being tested for steering satellites. On Earth, it is now fighting fires without harming the environment – and business insiders say it could be revolutionary.

Technology news

	Deep-sea diver hand offers freedom and feedback Bodyskins and goggles are hardly the solution for divers who need to reach extreme depths. The Atmospheric Dive Suit (ADS) gives them the protection they need. Recently, The Economist detailed a technology advance that, for ADS-clad divers, will provide improved hand functions enabling better task performance than with prehensors. This is a remotely operated robotic hand, noted Popular Science, which, while resembling the human hand on the outside, is a complex arrangement of actuators and robotic mechanisms adapted to the pressures of the deep. The hand creators are Massachusetts-based Vishwa Robotics, which describes the Vishwa Extensor as an anthropomorphic robotic hand for deep-sea applications. The Extensor has two fingers and a thumb. How human-like are the Extensor's capabilities? The hand does more than open and shut. "The thumb can touch each of the fingertips, for example. Like the human hand, the Vishwa hand has four ! 'degrees of freedom' in each finger—it can move in the three dimensions of space, and curl up—and five in the thumb, which can also rotate from a flat to a grasping position," said The Economist.
	Making drones more customizable A first-ever standard "operating system" for drones, developed by a startup with MIT roots, could soon help manufacturers easily design and customize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for multiple applications.
	Smaller artificial magnetic conductors allow for more compact antenna hardware Much smaller artificial magnetic conductors (AMCs) that can allow for more compact antenna hardware have been created by a team of researchers in the Netherlands and Spain. They have also developed a system to evaluate AMC miniaturisation approaches.
	First electric car race to zoom off on Saturday Formula E will be a laboratory for new technology, according to motor sport great Alain Prost, while Bruno Senna said drivers will face a "lottery" when electric car racing kicks off in Beijing Saturday.
	Robot Boris learning to load a dishwasher (w/ Video) Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. have set themselves an ambitious goal: programming a robot in such a way as to allow it to collect dishes, cutlery, etc. from a dinner table, and put it in a dishwasher. While not quite there, the team recently held a demonstration at the British Science Festival meant to show how far along they've progressed.
	Wearable 4MM jetpack tested on speed, agility for runners (w/ Video) "Everybody has always wanted to fly. When people hear the word 'jetpack,' that's what they really think about," said Jason Kerestes at Arizona State University. He is one of the busy explorers at ASU trying to bridge gaps between man and machine. Kerestes has done something different with the jetpack concept. He and team have reduced the amount of force; their device does not enable a person to fly, "but we have instantaneous thrust and we can pretty much trigger it to allow for faster movement and agile motion." His jetpack, simply put, does not help you to fly but to run faster, and for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), his project's progress means a lot. Kerestes has built his prototype, which is now undergoing tests and refinements.
	Football: Rio slum unveils unique floodlights in 'world first' It may only be a modest patch of land, but a Rio slum is laying claim to having the first football pitch in the world with floodlights generated by player movement.
US judge fines HP $59 mn for bribing Russian officials (Update) A judge on Thursday ordered US computer giant Hewlett-Packard to pay $58.8 million for bribing Moscow government officials to win a big-money contract with Russia's prosecutor general's office.
	Hewlett-Packard buys cloud-computing firm Eucalyptus Hewlett-Packard on Thursday announced a deal to buy business cloud-computing specialty firm Eucalyptus.
Index ranks Japan Asia's most efficient innovator (Update) A new index ranks Japan as the most efficient among Asian countries in turning the building blocks of creativity into tangible innovations that benefit their economies and people while Myanmar, Pakistan and Cambodia are least efficient.
Apple Watch unveiling shows CEO Tim Cook's time has come When Tim Cook took to the stage to announce the "next chapter in Apple's story," he could have been talking about himself.
T-Mobile sues Chinese telecom giant Huawei T-Mobile USA claims Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies stole its software, specifications and other secrets for a cellphone-testing robot nicknamed "Tappy" - and it's not happy.
What's at stake with Windows 9? When Microsoft presents its first public glimpse of Windows 9 - it's expected to happen late this month or early next - a lot more than just an operating system is at stake.
	Apple Watch: Battery life, iPhone dependence, other troubling issues The Apple Watch, which is to go on sale early next year with more than 20 different looks and a minimum price of $349, has its share of innovations: A screen made out of sapphire glass on some versions to increase its scratch-resistance. A "digital touch" feature that allows people to give their contacts physical taps on the wrist via the Internet. And an invention Apple compared to the iPod's click wheel - a watch crown that can be pressed or rotated to scroll, access Siri and return to the main screen.
	Engineers develop first intelligent, heated clothing Were you a little chilly last winter? So were Alex Huang and Jason Yakimovich. And they did something about it.
	Autonomy expert led team in developing "self-flying planes" Friends and colleagues were aware, at some level, that Nick Roy, a researcher in MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), had been using his sabbatical to take on some sort of robotics-related role at Google.
	The biomethane market needs clear frame conditions for further growth Biomethane as a substitute for the fossil energy carrier natural gas offers a variety of options and applications for a sustainable energy supply. Nevertheless, a consequent market penetration is still pending because of a lack of standardized and transnational frame conditions. Scientists of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) and other Members of the IEA Task 37 (Energy from Biogas) and the Task 40 (Sustainable Bioenergy Trade) just summarized how the biomethane market developed in the IEA (International Energy Agency) member states and which factors are necessary for further growing.
	The keys may be on your fingertips, but that doesn't mean biometric locks can't be picked How can we ensure that someone is who they say they are? How can be sure that the person in our system, both digitally speaking or physically in front of us, is who whom they claim to be?
	Mapping the connections between diverse sets of data What is a map? Most often, it's a visual tool used to demonstrate the relationship between multiple places in geographic space. They're useful because you can look at one and very quickly pick up on the general outlines of a place—California is close to Arizona and Oregon, but those latter two aren't very close to one another. That's easy to understand visually, but much harder to understand if you just had a list of which states bordered one another.
Teaching computers the nuances of human conversation Computer scientists have successfully developed programs to recognize spoken language, as in automated phone systems that respond to voice prompts and voice-activated assistants like Apple's Siri.
	Got a software design problem? Call a philosopher! A Canadian software company has used the expertise of a University of Nottingham philosopher to help design event calendar software.
Ford recalls hybrid SUVs to fix stalling problem Ford is recalling about 74,000 older-model gas-electric hybrid SUVs in the U.S. and Canada to fix a stalling problem.
Chinese tech giant Huawei on Europe recruitment drive Controversial Chinese technology giant Huawei—which has been condemned as a security risk in the US and Australia—is to recruit hundreds of research and development staff in Europe, the president of its French subsidiary said.
	Buyers bite big at larger Apple iPhones Apple's website was swamped Friday in what appeared to be a record-setting buying binge fueled by smartphone buyers' desire for large-screen iPhones.
'Grand Theft Auto V' to hit PS4 and Xbox One Rockstar Games on Friday announced that the latest installment of its crime-themed blockbuster video game "Grand Theft Auto" will hit PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles in November.
Prosecutors target credit card thieves overseas Criminals from around the world buy and sell stolen credit card information with ease in today's digital age. But if they commit their crime entirely outside the United States, they may be hard to prosecute.
	Nevada governor enacts Tesla tax break package Calling it one of the most important pieces of legislation in Nevada history, Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed into law an unprecedented package of incentives to bring Tesla Motors' $5 billion battery factory to the state.
	Research project on accident-avoiding vehicle concluded PRORETA 3 is completed after three and a half years of research work: The comprehensive driver assistance and automated maneuver concept supports the driver in keeping the vehicle in a safe driving corridor- with the main aim of preventing accidents. Research results and research vehicle were presented to the public on Thursday (September 11).
	Cutting congestion on the data network highway Perhaps no other consumer-driven technology has made such incredible advances in such a relatively short space of time as the mobile phone. Today's smartphones are used to stream videos, access social media and perform all manner of other functions. What is more, global mobile data traffic is expected to dramatically increase over the next decade, placing increasing pressure on existing network infrastructure.
	Erdogan passes law tightening Turkey's grip on Internet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has approved a bill giving telecoms authorities more power to monitor online users and block websites, the latest move tightening state control over the Internet.
Cutting the cloud computing carbon cost Cloud computing involves displacing data storage and processing from the user's computer on to remote servers. It can provide users with more storage space and computing power that they can then access from anywhere in the world rather than having to connect to a single desktop or other computer with its finite resources. However, some observers have raised concerns about the increased energy demands of sustaining distributed servers and having them up and running continuously, where an individual user's laptop might be shut down when it is not in use or the resources utilization of the server is less than the lower threshold , for instance.
Amanda Todd suspect linked to dozens of cases A prosecutor says a Dutch man suspected of possessing child pornography and blackmailing and harassing victims over the Internet with naked images of themselves may have victimized up to 40 people in the Netherlands and several dozen in other countries, including the United States and Britain.
Turning tweets to tenners: London Fashion gets digital (Update) London Fashion Week opened on Friday with a new push for online sales, as designers seek to turn the democratisation of the catwalk through live streaming and Twitter into cold, hard cash.

Medicine & Health news

Complex patterns in T lymphocyte responses reflect environmental and genetic influences Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have uncovered unexpectedly complex patterns in the T lymphocyte responses that individual people mount, reflecting environmental influences as well as a genetic component. The study lays the groundwork for further explorations into the relative contributions of genes and their environment on immunological processes, the scientists said, which could illuminate autoimmune disease and its genetic underpinnings.
	Zebrafish model of a learning and memory disorder shows better way to target treatment Using a zebrafish model of a human genetic disease called neurofibromatosis (NF1), a team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has found that the learning and memory components of the disorder are distinct features that will likely need different treatment approaches. They published their results this month in Cell Reports.
	Gray matter matters when measuring our tolerance of risk There is a link between our brain structure and our tolerance of risk, new research suggests.
	Brain inflammation dramatically disrupts memory retrieval networks, study finds Brain inflammation can rapidly disrupt our ability to retrieve complex memories of similar but distinct experiences, according to UC Irvine neuroscientists Jennifer Czerniawski and John Guzowski.
	Worldwide study demonstrates accuracy of genetic analyses Physicians envision a future in which genomic data from patients is heavily used to manage care—but experts have questioned the accuracy and reliability of these analyses. Now, a study by 150 researchers in 12 countries finds real strength and agreement across RNA genomic sequencing techniques and laboratories—as well as ways to improve what little variability exists to set a new high standard.
Japan's centenarian population swells The number of people aged 100 or older in rapidly greying Japan has hit a record high for the 44th straight year, the government said Friday.
Combining gut hormone with insulin proves more effective at controlling type 2 diabetes than other common treatments Combined treatment with a drug that mimics the action of a gut hormone and basal insulin is more effective at improving blood sugar control than other anti-diabetic treatments, with similar rates of hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood sugar levels) and greater weight loss, a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet shows.
	Research continues improving the odds for kids with cancer The American Cancer Society reports one in every 285 children younger than 20 will be diagnosed with cancer. That makes childhood cancer relatively rare. Still, nearly 16,000 new cases were anticipated for 2014 resulting in 1,900 to 2,000 deaths. And for most parents, it's a worst-case scenario. Through research, the outlook for children with cancer is far better today than it's ever been, yet much more remains to be done.
Approach to deadly sepsis infections continues to vary Treatment practices for patients hospitalised with the potentially fatal infection known as "sepsis" will continue to vary because of individual differences between hospitals and countries, according to University of Adelaide researchers.
Japan carries out first iPS stem cell implant surgery (Update) Japanese researchers Friday conducted the world's first surgery to implant "iPS" stem cells in a human body in a major boost to regenerative medicine, two institutions involved said.
	Cartilage actively contributes to arthritis Melbourne researchers have discovered that cartilage plays an active role in the destruction and remodelling of joints seen in rheumatoid arthritis, rather than being an 'innocent bystander' as previously thought.
	Study debunks caffeine-tinnitus myth (Medical Xpress)—An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But what fun is that? A study led by Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry resident researcher Dr. Jordan Glicksman shows higher caffeine intake from coffee was associated with a reduced risk of hearing loss, or tinnitus, a condition characterized by ringing, swishing or other noises that appear to be originating in the ear or head.
	Why parents shouldn't play favorites: Perception of favoritism linked to drug use in certain families (Medical Xpress)—Before you revive the debate about which sibling in your family is the favorite, you'll want to know what the latest research shows.
	Discovery could turn the tables on influenza virus (Medical Xpress)—University of Otago virologist Dr Matloob Husain has identified a potential new weapon in the battle against the flu.
	Study links vitamin D to quality of life Canadians wait for it every year: the annual flight of the snowbirds in winter. Could there be an underlying health reason these birds take flight to sunnier climates? A researcher at the University of Alberta thinks so.
	Ozone nano-bubble water is a potential treatment for severe gum infections A powerful new antiseptic agent, called ozone nano-bubble water, holds promise for the treatment of periodontitis, or severe gum infections, according to research published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.
Military makes progress with sexual assault training, but more can be done (Medical Xpress)—The U.S. military has made progress by conducting sexual assault training, but a new University of Michigan study raises questions about the effectiveness of those efforts.
	Drugs for depression linked with failure of dental implants A team from McGill University has discovered that people who take the most common antidepressants (such as Celexa, Paxil, Lexapro, Prozac, and Zoloft, the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs) are twice as likely to have dental implants fail as those who are not taking SSRIs.
Impact on gut microbiota of a fermented milk product containing probiotics Scientists from INRA and Danone Nutricia Research have shown the effect of a fermented milk product containing probiotics on the gut microbiota, using a novel high resolution bioinformatics tool. The product affected certain gut bacteria without changing the global composition of the microbial community. These findings, published in Scientific Reports on 11 September 2014, open new perspectives to understand the effects of probiotics on our health.
	Top 5 back-to-school tips for your oral health It's that time of year again: back-to-school and back to the books. While you're busy buying your texts at the Dal Bookstore and getting organized for (and, sometimes, stressed out about) your classes, your oral health can sometimes often be overlooked. From our experts in the Faculty of Dentistry, are the five things you should consider this fall to keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthy.
	Elderly who have had serious falls may show symptoms of post-traumatic stress Older adults who experience a serious fall may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the days following the event. A study published in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry found symptoms associated with PTSD in 27 out of 100 people over 65 who had been admitted to a hospital after a fall.
A meta-analysis of three types of peer norms and their relation with adolescent sexual behavior Researchers at Utrecht University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute collaborated on a meta-analysis of research on adolescent sexual behavior.
	Protein appears to protect against bone loss in arthritis A small protein named GILZ appears to protect against the bone loss that often accompanies arthritis and its treatment, researchers report.
Dendritic cells affect onset and progress of psoriasis Different types of dendritic cells in human skin have assorted functions in the early and more advanced stages of psoriasis report researchers in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. The scientists suggest that new strategies to regulate the composition of dendritic cells in psoriatic skin lesions might represent an approach for the future treatment of the disease.
Scientists show that nicotine withdrawal reduces response to rewards across species Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide and is associated with approximately 440,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population continues to smoke cigarettes. While more than half of U.S. smokers try to quit every year, less than 10 percent are able to remain smoke-free, and relapse commonly occurs within 48 hours of smoking cessation. Learning about withdrawal and difficulty of quitting can lead to more effective treatments to help smokers quit.
Whooping cough vaccine recommended for pregnant women amid spike in cases Expectant moms should be vaccinated for pertussis, or whooping cough, during their third trimester, according to obstetricians at Loyola University Health System. Those in close contact with the infant also should be up to date with their whooping cough vaccine.
Report outlines 'must-have' sexual health services for men (Medical Xpress)—Compared with women, American men have worse access to reproductive and sexual health care, research shows, a disparity fueled in part by the lack of standard clinical guidelines on the types and timing of exams, tests and treatments that should be offered to all men of reproductive age.
	Liposome research adds up to better cancer treatment options In the race to find more effective ways to treat cancer, Boise State biophysicist Daniel Fologea is working outside the rules of general mathematics that say one plus one equals two. In his world, one plus one adds up to a whole lot more.
	Interbody fusion rapidly adopted for spondylolisthesis (HealthDay)—Interbody fusion (IF) has been rapidly adopted for the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS), according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.
	Medications plus parent training may help kids with aggression, ADHD (HealthDay)—Combining two medications with parent training appears to improve anger, irritability and violent tendencies in children whose attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is coupled with severe aggression, a new study suggests.
	Non-ablative laser treatments improve mature burn scars (HealthDay)—Non-ablative fractional laser treatment may provide long-term improvement of mature burn scars, according to research published online Aug. 22 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
	Factors ID'd for CRC risk stratification with positive FIT (HealthDay)—Fecal hemoglobin concentration, sex, and age can be used to classify the risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia among individuals with positive results from fecal immunochemical tests (FITs), according to a study published in the September issue of Gastroenterology.
	Physician describes impact of malpractice suit (HealthDay)—A family doctor who was involved in a malpractice suit describes the impact on her practice of medicine in an article published online in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Sleep disorders widely undiagnosed in individuals with multiple sclerosis In what may be the largest study of sleep problems among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers at UC Davis have found that widely undiagnosed sleep disorders may be at the root of the most common and disabling symptom of the disease: fatigue.
	Experts call for massive global response to tackle Ebola The current Ebola outbreak now requires a "rapid response at a massive global scale", according to experts at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Feds say Bayer colon supplement makes bogus claims The United States government accused Bayer of making scientifically unproven statements about the health benefits of a popular probiotic on Friday, claiming the German pharmaceutical giant was in contempt of court.
Estimate: 3 in 10 NFL retirees face cognitive woes (Update) Nearly three in 10 former NFL players will develop at least moderate neurocognitive problems and qualify for payments under the proposed $765 million concussion settlement, according to data prepared for ex-players' lawyers and made public Friday.
	Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants vary in assay effects (HealthDay)—Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants exhibit variable effects on coagulation assays, according to a study published in the Sept. 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Review: ASA to prevent primary CVD should be individualized (HealthDay)—Prescribing aspirin for primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention should be judged on an individual basis by health care providers, according to an article published online Sept. 1 in Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine.
	Demographics impact family physicians' care of children (HealthDay)—Demographic and geographic factors influence whether family physicians provide care for children, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
	Researchers support lung cancer CT screen in older patients (HealthDay)—Individuals aged 65 to 74 years with a history of smoking should not be excluded from screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer, according to researchers who published their study findings online Sept. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Glycemic control linked to lumbar surgery complications (HealthDay)—For patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing degenerative lumbar spine surgery, suboptimal glycemic control contributes to increased risk of complications and poor outcomes, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
Hookah smoking a hot trend for young adults but clouded by health concerns Clouds of sickly sweet blackberry smoke are billowing out of Isaac Doss' mouth. He takes a long draw from the bubbling hookah and passes the pipe to Kara Brick.
	High-dose opioid prescribing continues to climb High-dose opioid prescribing increased by 23 per cent in Canada between 2006 and 2011, despite clinical guidelines recommending that most patients should avoid high-doses of these drugs, according to new research.
	Using Ebola survivors' blood as remedy may carry risks Two American doctors sickened by Ebola have been given blood transfusions from survivors, a technique the World Health Organization advocates but that experts say carries some risks.
Ebola toll hits 2,400 as Cuba pledges medics The worst-ever Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,400 people, the UN said Friday, as Cuba pledged the largest foreign medical team deployed so far in the west African health crisis.
New report finds a healthy well-being among Chinese children A new study of children's well-being in Shanghai finds that first-graders are socially and emotionally healthy, with most performing average or above average academically. The study, by the New York University-East China Normal University Institute for Social Development at NYU Shanghai, is the first to develop a descriptive understanding of children's well-being in contemporary China and examines the two major contexts—family and school—that shape children's health.
	New approaches to cell study contributes to cancer research At Ryerson, some of our top researchers are committed to finding out how cells function, and to building our knowledge of the basic science of cellular function while investigating diseases and the potential for new therapies and diagnostics. They are supported by funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and by a growing network of partnerships with clinical laboratories in Toronto.
Obama to discuss Ebola response with top medical experts (Update) President Barack Obama will meet leading US medical experts next week as he considers how to follow through on his pledge to step up aid to Africa over the Ebola epidemic.
US judge orders HIV-positive man to stop infecting others A US judge has ordered a man with HIV to stop infecting others after he passed on the AIDS virus to eight sexual partners in four years, officials said Friday.

Biology news

	Taking the 'sting' out of reproduction (Phys.org) —Female parasitic wasps have more reproductive success when working together with other females, which can also explain sex biased reproduction, according to new research.
	Slipped discs provide a window into human evolutionary past Thoughts of the family tree may not be uppermost in the mind of a person suffering from a slipped disc, but those spinal discs provide a window into our evolutionary past. They are remnants of the first vertebrate skeleton, whose origins now appear to be older than had been assumed. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have found that, unexpectedly, this skeleton most likely evolved from a muscle. The study, carried out in collaboration with researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Janelia Farm, USA, is published today in Science.
	Corn spots: Study finds important genes in defense response When corn plants come under attack from a pathogen, they sometimes respond by killing their own cells near the site of the attack, committing "cell suicide" to thwart further damage from the attacker. This cell sacrifice can cause very small, often microscopic, spots or lesions on the plant.
	Man-made evolution is happening, and it's time to control it Planting pesticide-free cotton as a refuge for the pert pink bollworm caterpillar has slowed bollworms in neighboring cotton fields from developing resistance to pesticides because they breed with the pesticide-free population.
	Hadza foragers say hungry honeyguides lead them to more honey Hadza hunter-gatherers of northern Tanzania have developed a deep and mutually beneficial relationship with the Greater Honeyguide bird, which, as its name indicates, leads people to sources of wild honey. Yale anthropologist Brian Wood has studied in great detail the intricate, and often surprising, interactions between people and birds in a new study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.
	Researcher uses genes to map evolution of species Genes, whether from apes or the trees they live in, are the storytellers of the origins of a species, according to a Texas A&M University ecosystem science and management assistant professor in College Station.
	Taking a shortcut to improving wheat In 2011 the world's farms produced a total of 681 million tonnes of wheat, but with an ever growing demand from a growing population, there is a real need for increasing yields yet further.
	Harnessing the power of viruses to improve wastewater treatment Just as certain viruses infect humans, there also are viruses that infect only bacteria. Unlike human viruses, however, which are non-discriminatory and will infect any number of different people, these viruses, known as bacteriophages, are "host-specific,'' meaning each will attack only one particular bacteria.
	Plant life considered in ecosystem synergies Local flora species involved in UWA's Ridgefield Multiple Ecosystem Services Experiment are helping researchers to better understand agricultural processes including efficient nutrient cycles and maintaining biodiversity.
Monarchs and milkweed: Probing the plant, pollinator partnership As dwindling populations of monarch butterflies prepared for their annual migration, two undergraduate students in the William & Mary Plant Ecology Lab spent their summer trying to more deeply understand the plants upon which they rely.
Study solves the bluetongue disease 'overwintering' mystery The bluetongue virus, which causes a serious disease that costs the cattle and sheep industries in the United States an estimated $125 million annually, manages to survive the winter by reproducing in the insect that transmits it, report veterinary scientists at the University of California, Davis.
	A better understanding of piglet immune response to intestinal parasites Parasitologists from the University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna are closer to understanding the disease process behind porcine neonatal coccidiosis. The disease affects piglets during the first days of their life and can cause heavy diarrhoea in the animals. The parasite Cystoisospora suis damages the intestinal mucosa to such a degree that it threatens the growth and survival of the pigs. The researchers have now analysed the immune response to the infection. The results were published in the journal Parasite Immunology.
	Potato ravaging pest controlled with fungi Approximately six thousand hectares of Veracruz, in the west coast of Mexico, are dedicated to the production of potato (Solanum tuberosum). During the past 30 years, the fields of the Cofre de Perote area were affected by the presence of the golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) reducing performance of the crop by more than 40 percent.

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