Science X Newsletter Sunday, Sep 7

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 7, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Platelet-like particles augment natural blood clotting for treating trauma
- Monkey study: Ebola vaccine works, needs booster
- Rethinking basic science of graphene synthesis shows route to industrial-scale production
- Scientists identify how immune cells use two critical receptors to clear dead cells from the body
- Ultra-thin, high-speed detector captures unprecedented range of light waves
- Targeting the protein-making machinery to stop harmful bacteria
- New study identifies molecule that induces cancer-killing protein
- Why age reduces our stem cells' ability to repair muscle
- Ultraviolet light-induced mutation drives many skin cancers, study finds
- Continuing Bragg legacy of structure determination
- It's the pits: Ancient peach stones offer clues to fruit's origins
- Researchers discover a key to making new muscles
- 61 percent fall in female genital warts due to free HPV vaccine
- Researchers find ovarian cancer oncogene in 'junk DNA'
- Like weeds of the sea, 'brown tide' algae exploit nutrient-rich coastlines

Astronomy & Space news

	Robots do battle over Mars exploration Robots built to traverse the rugged terrain of Mars battled it out in Poland on Friday in a competition to find the best way to explore the Red Planet.
	Faraway moon mimics Earth tectonics Jupiter's icy moon Europa may have active tectonic plates similar to those that shape the Earth, which had long been thought unique in this respect, scientists said Sunday.
Noel Hinners, former NASA scientist, dies at 78 Noel Hinners, a former chief scientist for NASA who helped plan the scientific exploration of the moon for the Apollo program and later oversaw projects such as the Mars Surveyor Program, has died.

Technology news

Alibaba seeks to raise up to $24.3B in IPO record China's Alibaba Group is seeking to raise up to $24.3 billion in its upcoming IPO—an amount that would be the most raised by a company in a stock market debut.
	Apple seeks old magic with new products With its highly awaited product launch next week, Apple is aiming for a new "big thing" as the iconic gadget-maker finds itself under pressure over a celebrity photo theft scandal.
	Intel launches Core M family, targets 2-in-1 devices Intel on Friday introduced its first three Core M processors. The commercial availability of Core M is big news for several reasons. Performance and battery life are its key strengths. What's more, this is the processor targeted for razor-thin, fanless designs—especially for powering up the newer two-in-one machines from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba—all of which will introduce the Core M processor, with some systems becoming available starting next month."The energy-efficient fifth-generation Core chips will enable fanless laptops that can be converted into tablets, and a handful of them are on the way," said CNET's Stephen Shankland on Friday. PCWorld explained that this positioning as regarding convertible two-in-ones that flip the screen back 180 degrees like the Lenovo Yoga; and at detachable two-in-ones, where the tablet portion undocks. The Core M is promoted as the most energy-efficient Core processor in the company's history, "at a power-sipping 4.5 watts," said Intel. The Core M processor package at 4.5 watts has 60 percent lower thermal power than the previous generation.
	MIT ATLAS robot demo shows advanced moves (w/ Video) The bipedal robot ATLAS from MIT is moving on. Reacting to the recent video of "MIT Atlas truckin' with a truss," TechCrunch said, "We've seen the cute little guy walk, toddle, and climb over obstacles but now he can reach down, grab a heavy metal girder, and drag it around like a beast. Our little robo-monster is growing up!"
	Dyson vacuum's vision system knows where it's yet to clean Dyson after numerous years of work has released its first robot vacuum cleaner. The Dyson 360 Eye took 16 years but Dyson's engineers think the time has come, entering a market where, as Dyson sees it, the entry will outshine others. The company pointed out the problem with existing robots is that they have poor suction and don't navigate properly. They would not be alone in seeing the need for robot cleaners to come closer to the performance of conventional models. Dan Costa, editor in chief of PCMag, said "We've been testing robot vacuum cleaners at PCMag for years," and, overall, have found them to be pretty good but he also commented that they just aren't quite as good as traditional vacuums. Dyson is attempting to change that impression of vacuum robots with its product's features.
	Game creators seek mature storytelling in games For many of the game designers showing off their latest creations at the recent Penny Arcade video game expo in Seattle, the push to feature more mature storytelling has been one of their most significant challenges.
	Motorola emphasizes design in circular smartwatch Motorola rolled out a circular smartwatch Friday, counting on a more traditional design to win over consumers who have so far shunned other computerized wrist devices.
Bush-era memos: president can wiretap Americans at all times The US Justice Department has released two memos detailing the Bush administration's legal justification for monitoring the phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant.
	Apple recruits renowned designer Marc Newson Apple has recruited renowned Australian designer Marc Newson, whose creations have been featured by museums such as New York's famous MoMA.
	Fake links to nude celebrities crash New Zealand Internet New Zealanders keen to view hacked photos of naked celebrities are being blamed for a nationwide Internet meltdown involving the country's main provider.
	Apple: watching for new directions Apple's mystery unveiling on Tuesday is expected to be a watershed moment for the California giant—and the entire tech industry. Here are key things to watch for:
Bold new video game 'Destiny' manifests on Tuesday The video game studio that won players' devotion with blockbuster hit "Halo" is out to eclipse its enviable success with the Tuesday launch of massive new science-fiction action title "Destiny."
GM to offer car that will almost drive itself General Motors says that in two years it will offer cars that talk to each other and can almost drive themselves at freeway speeds.
NV lawmaker: Colleagues to scrutinize Tesla deal Nevada Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick says it's too early to say whether a huge package of tax breaks and incentives needed to land Tesla Motors Inc.'s lithium battery factory will have smooth sailing at a special legislative session next week.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists identify how immune cells use two critical receptors to clear dead cells from the body In most of the tissues of the body, specialized immune cells are entrusted with the task of engulfing the billions of dead cells that are generated every day. When these garbage disposals don't do their job, dead cells and their waste products rapidly pile up, destroying healthy tissue and leading to autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
	Platelet-like particles augment natural blood clotting for treating trauma A new class of synthetic platelet-like particles could augment natural blood clotting for the emergency treatment of traumatic injuries – and potentially offer doctors a new option for curbing surgical bleeding and addressing certain blood clotting disorders without the need for transfusions of natural platelets.
	Monkey study: Ebola vaccine works, needs booster New monkey studies show that one shot of an experimental Ebola vaccine can trigger fast protection, but the effect waned unless the animals got a booster shot made a different way.
	Researchers find ovarian cancer oncogene in 'junk DNA' Over the years researchers have made tremendous strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer by searching genomes for links between genetic alterations and disease.
	61 percent fall in female genital warts due to free HPV vaccine GPs in Australia are managing 61 per cent less cases of genital warts among young women since the introduction of the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program, a new study from the University of Sydney reveals.
New study identifies molecule that induces cancer-killing protein A new study by University of Kentucky researchers has identified a novel molecule named Arylquin 1 as a potent inducer of Par-4 secretion from normal cells. Par-4 is a protein that acts as a tumor suppressor, killing cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.
	Researchers discover a key to making new muscles Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have developed a novel technique to promote tissue repair in damaged muscles. The technique also creates a sustainable pool of muscle stem cells needed to support multiple rounds of muscle repair. The study, published September 7 in Nature Medicine, provides promise for a new therapeutic approach to treating the millions of people suffering from muscle diseases, including those with muscular dystrophies and muscle wasting associated with cancer and aging.
Why age reduces our stem cells' ability to repair muscle As we age, stem cells throughout our bodies gradually lose their capacity to repair damage, even from normal wear and tear. Researchers from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and University of Ottawa have discovered the reason why this decline occurs in our skeletal muscle. Their findings were published online today in the influential journal Nature Medicine.
	Ultraviolet light-induced mutation drives many skin cancers, study finds A genetic mutation caused by ultraviolet light is likely the driving force behind millions of human skin cancers, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Viral infection in nose can trigger middle ear infection Middle ear infections, which affect more than 85 percent of children under the age of 3, can be triggered by a viral infection in the nose rather than solely by a bacterial infection, according to researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
New study reveals strong link between higher levels of pollution and lung health of European citizen New data has identified a clear link between higher levels of exposure to air pollution and deteriorating lung health in adult European citizens. This study confirms previous findings that children growing up in areas with higher levels of pollution will have lower levels of lung function and a higher risk of developing symptoms such as cough and bronchitis symptoms. Additionally, the new study identified that people suffering from obesity are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of air pollution, possibly due to an increased risk of lung inflammation.
Breast cancer specialist reports advance in treatment of triple-negative breast cancer William M. Sikov, a medical oncologist in the Breast Health Center and associate director for clinical research in the Program in Women's Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, served as study chair and lead author for a recently-published major national study that could lead to improvements in outcomes for women with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that disproportionately affects younger women.
NIH finds old ricin, other forgotten germs in labs The National Institutes of Health said it has uncovered a nearly century-old container of ricin and a handful of other forgotten samples of dangerous pathogens as it combs its laboratories for improperly stored hazardous materials.
Antibiotic stewardship programs reduce costs, improve outcomes Antibiotic stewardship programs, which promote the appropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals and other healthcare centers, not only lead to reduction in antibiotic use with reduced adverse events, but also lead to significant savings. In the case of one New York hospital, more than $600,000 was saved annually, according to research presented today at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), an infectious diseases meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
Mandatory policy boosts flu vaccination rates among health care workers Hospitals can greatly improve their flu vaccination rate among health care workers by using a mandatory employee vaccination policy, according to a Henry Ford Health System study.
New single-dose influenza drug appears safe and effective An analysis of phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials shows that a single injected dose of the neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) peramivir is safe and effective at alleviating influenza symptoms, including fever and viral shedding, when administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Researchers report their findings today at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), an infectious diseases meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
Electronic nose can detect sub-groups of asthma in children An electronic nose can be used to successfully detect different sub-groups of asthmatic children, according to a new study.
Flour identified as the main cause of occupational asthma in France Flour has been identified as the main cause of occupational asthma in France, closely followed by cleaning products.
New antifungal as effective as existing drugs with fewer adverse events A newly developed antifungal, isavuconazole, is as effective as an existing drug, voriconazole, against invasive mold disease in cancer patients with less adverse effects, according to phase 3 clinical data presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, an infectious disease meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Inexpensive lab test identifies resistant infections in hours Researchers from Oregon State Public Health Lab have modified the protocol for a relatively new test for a dangerous form of antibiotic resistance, increasing its specificity to 100 percent. Their research, confirming the reliability of a test that can provide results in hours and is simple and inexpensive enough to be conducted in practically any clinical laboratory was presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, an infectious disease meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Each day in the hospital raises risk of multidrug-resistant infection If a patient contracts an infection while in the hospital, each day of hospitalization increases by 1% the likelihood that the infection will be multidrug-resistant, according to research presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) an infectious disease meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Ecuador to target unhealthy diets with 'junk food tax' Ecuador plans to impose a "junk food tax" on fast food restaurants, and will use the revenues to address the negative health effects on its citizens of diets laden with salt and fat.
Nepal doctors remove metal rods from 'possessed' shaman Nepalese surgeons removed four metal rods measuring up to 15 centimetres (six inches) from a shaman, or traditional healer, who had swallowed them during a trance, doctors said Saturday.
Patients call for health professionals to discuss care needs in life-threatening illnesses Patients with COPD would like healthcare professionals to discuss palliative care needs in more detail, according to a new study.
Timing of food intake could impact the effectiveness of TB treatment The timing of food intake in the early phase of TB treatment could have a negative impact on the effectiveness of TB treatment.
DR Congo Ebola death toll climbs to 32 The Democratic Republic of Congo upped its death toll from Ebola on Saturday to 32 but insisted the outbreak, separate from an epidemic raging in west Africa, could be contained in its remote forest hotspot.
Sierra Leone orders three-day shutdown to stall Ebola Sierra Leone said Saturday it will confine people to their homes in a nationwide three-day shutdown later this month aimed at containing the Ebola epidemic threatening west Africa.

Biology news

	It's the pits: Ancient peach stones offer clues to fruit's origins Anyone who enjoys biting into a sweet, fleshy peach can now give thanks to the people who first began domesticating this fruit: Chinese farmers who lived 7,500 years ago.
Targeting the protein-making machinery to stop harmful bacteria One challenge in killing off harmful bacteria is that many of them develop a resistance to antibiotics. Researchers at the University of Rochester are targeting the formation of the protein-making machinery in those cells as a possible alternate way to stop the bacteria. And Professor of Biology Gloria Culver has, for the first time, isolated the middle-steps in the process that creates that machinery—called the ribosomes.
Thousands of nuclear loci via target enrichment and genome skimming The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies in phylogenetic studies is in a state of continual development and improvement. Though the botanically-inclined have historically focused on markers from the chloroplast genome, the importance of incorporating nuclear data is becoming increasingly evident. Nuclear genes provide not only the potential to resolve relationships between closely related taxa, but also the means to disentangle hybridization and better understand incongruences caused by incomplete lineage sorting and introgression.
	Kangaroos abound but fears abound for smaller cousins, warns WWF Australia's big kangaroos are thriving, but wildlife campaigners hold fears for their smaller cousins, including the little-known bettong and the rock wallaby, WWF Australia has warned.
Pesticide drift is persistent problem for farmers Organic and specialty crop growers are trying to make a living off the rising consumer interest in locally grown and organic foods.
	Hooked sea turtles heading back to the Gulf Ten young sea turtles are headed back into the Gulf of Mexico. All were nursed back to health after swallowing anglers' hooks.
	Lavender farmers rebel against EU chemical rules The sweet smell of lavender is tinged with bitterness this year in the south of France, as farmers who harvest the flower protest European regulations linking the plant to chemical toxins.
	Japan starts Pacific 'research' whaling A fleet of four Japanese ships left the northern main island of Hokkaido on Sunday to start the seasonal "research" whaling hunt in Pacific coastal waters, local media said.
China kills nearly 5,000 dogs to control rabies Chinese authorities killed almost 5,000 dogs in one city after blaming five human deaths on rabies, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.

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