Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Sep 2

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 2, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists create renewable fossil fuel alternative using bacteria
- Cool calculations for cold atoms: New theory of universal three-body encounters
- Single laser stops molecular tumbling motion instantly
- Research shows seven-year-olds can think strategically
- Discovery hints at why stress is more devastating for some
- New synthesis method may shape future of nanostructures, clean energy
- New method for non-invasive prostate cancer screening
- Research in rodents suggests potential for 'in body' muscle regeneration
- Giant garbage patches help redefine ocean boundaries
- Early cerebellum injury hinders neural development, possible root of autism
- Biochemists find new treatment options for staph infections, inflammatory diseases
- Extinctions during human era worse than thought
- Scientists make diseased cells synthesize their own drug
- Brain circuit differences reflect divisions in social status
- Lab unveil new nano-sized synthetic scaffolding technique

Astronomy & Space news

	Japan space agency unveils asteroid hunting probe Japanese space scientists have unveiled the asteroid hunting space probe they hope to launch later this year on a mission to mine a celestial body.
	Titan's subsurface reservoirs modify methane rainfall (Phys.org) —The international Cassini mission has revealed hundreds of lakes and seas spread across the icy surface of Saturn's moon Titan, mostly in its polar regions. These lakes are filled not with water but with hydrocarbons, a form of organic compound that is also found naturally on Earth and includes methane. While most of the liquid in the lakes is thought to be replenished by rainfall from clouds in the moon's atmosphere, the cycling of liquid throughout Titan's crust and atmosphere is still not well understood.
	Raven soars through first light and second run Raven, a Multi-Object Adaptive Optics (MOAO) science demonstrator, successfully saw first light at the Subaru Telescope on the nights of May 13 and 14, 2014 and completed its second run during the nights of August 9 and 10, 2014. Developed by the Adaptive Optics Lab of the University of Victoria (UVic) in partnership with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC Herzberg), and Tohoku University, Raven is the first MOAO science and technical demonstrator to be installed and tested on an 8 m class telescope. It marks a technological advance in the number of science targets available for adaptive optics; it uses measurements from multiple guide stars to provide corrections for atmospheric turbulence in any locations of the field of view of the telescope.
	We are all made of stars Astronomers spend most of their time contemplating the universe, quite comfortable in the knowledge that we are just a speck among billions of planets, stars and galaxies. But last week, the Australian astronomical community came together to turn their collective gaze from looking outwards to looking inwards.
ESA video: The ATV-5 Georges Lemaitre loading process This time-lapse video shows the ATV-5 Georges Lemaitre loading process and its integration on the Ariane 5 launcher before its transfer and launch to the International Space Station from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on 29 July 2014.
Observing the onset of a magnetic substorm Magnetic substorms, the disruptions in geomagnetic activity that cause brightening of aurora, may sometimes be driven by a different process than generally thought, a new study in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics shows.

Technology news

Apple's shadow looms large at Berlin electronics show Berlin's gigantic IFA consumer electronics fair opens this week, with the shadow of Apple looming large even if the iconic US brand traditionally snubs the event.
	Netflix unveils new way to share recommendations Netflix is giving its Internet video subscribers a more discreet way to recommend movies and TV shows to their Facebook friends after realizing most people don't want to share their viewing habits with large audiences.
	Robots unlikely to take big bites out of employment, expert says Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics mean that machines will soon be able to do many of the tasks of today's workers. And not just blue collar jobs in areas such as manufacturing, but even in such white collar occupations as lawyers, doctors and – gulp – journalists.
	FBI says it's addressing nude celebrity photos The FBI says it is addressing allegations that nude photos of several female celebrities have been stolen and posted online.
	Top South America hackers rattle Peru's Cabinet The Peruvian hackers have broken into military, police, and other sensitive government networks in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela and Peru, defacing websites and extracting sensitive data to strut their programming prowess and make political points.
	Court halts ridesharing service Uber in Germany (Update) A court has barred ridesharing service Uber from operating in Germany, the latest shot in the popular app's fight with taxi drivers worldwide.
Three ways your personal photos are vulnerable to hackers Recent reports of celebrities having nude or risqué photos of themselves leaked online highlights the serious risk of hackers getting access to our personal pictures.
Researchers develop new program to evaluate prominent individuals' personalities Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a new program that automates classification of personality traits of prominent individuals—both friend and foe—according to a paper soon to be published in the American Intelligence Journal.
	Apple says celebs hacked in 'targeted attack' (Update) Apple said Tuesday a "targeted attack" led to the release of nude photos of celebrities including Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence but insisted there was no breach of its cloud storage system.
	Home Depot probes possible credit card data breach (Update) Home Depot may be the latest retailer to suffer a credit card data breach.
Celebrity hack puts focus on Internet 'cloud' (Update) If actress Jennifer Lawrence and model Kate Upton knew little about the Internet "cloud," they would not be alone, but the recent theft of their intimate photos has served as a wake-up call.
Google's corporate products division changes name Google is hoping a new brand will help sell more of its services to other companies.
US court hears debate in NSA phone records case A federal appeals court has expressed concern about the government's bulk collection of millions of Americans' telephone records.
	Celebrities' nude shots removed from some websites As federal investigators worked Tuesday to determine who stole and posted nude photos of several female celebrities online, the images continued to be removed from various sites.
	Future solar panels Conventional photovoltaic technology uses large, heavy, opaque, dark silicon panels, but this could soon change. The IK4-Ikerlan research centre is working with the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country within the X10D European project on new materials to produce solar panels in order to come up with alternatives to the current panels. What is needed to improve the functioning of cells with a large surface are materials that cost less to produce and offer greater energy efficiency.
California quake points to research advancements in retrofitting older buildings The 6.0 earthquake that rocked Napa, California, on Aug. 24 is placing the spotlight on efforts by property owners and municipalities to retrofit older buildings and improve their ability to withstand earthquakes.
	Turkey hosts Internet forum, despite online crackdown Turkey has begun hosting a major UN-backed forum on Internet governance, despite sharp criticism that it is one of world's leading offenders on limiting Internet rights.

Medicine & Health news

	Discovery hints at why stress is more devastating for some Some people take stress in stride; others are done in by it. New research at Rockefeller University has identified the molecular mechanisms of this so-called stress gap in mice with very similar genetic backgrounds—a finding that could lead researchers to better understand the development of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression.
	Research shows seven-year-olds can think strategically (Medical Xpress)—A study by Melissa Koenig of the University of Minnesota and colleagues shows that by the time they reach the age of seven, children can think strategically, in an adult manner. The researchers found that when playing games, children older than 6.5 use strategies comparable to those used by adults. The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Surprising new role for calcium in sensing pain When you accidentally touch a hot oven, you rapidly pull your hand away. Although scientists know the basic neural circuits involved in sensing and responding to such painful stimuli, they are still sorting out the molecular players.
	Japanese researchers develop 30-minute Ebola test Japanese researchers said Tuesday they had developed a new method to detect the presence of the Ebola virus in 30 minutes, with technology that could allow doctors to quickly diagnose infection.
	Low-carb beats low-fat for weight loss, heart health, study shows (HealthDay)—For people who want to lose weight and boost their heart health, cutting down on carbohydrates may work better than trimming dietary fat, a new study suggests.
	War between bacteria and phages benefits humans In the battle between our immune systems and cholera bacteria, humans may have an unknown ally in bacteria-killing viruses known as phages. In a new study, researchers from Tufts University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Partners In Health, Haiti's National Public Health Laboratory, and elsewhere, report that phages can force cholera bacteria to give up their virulence in order to survive. Importantly, the study—published in eLife—found that cholera's mutational escape from phage predation occurs during human infection.
	Team finds possible neurobiological basis for tradeoff between honesty, self-interest What's the price of your integrity? Tell the truth; everyone has a tipping point. We all want to be honest, but at some point, we'll lie if the benefit is great enough. Now, scientists have confirmed the area of the brain in which we make that decision.
	Rediscovering our mundane moments brings us unexpected pleasure We like to document the exciting and momentous occasions in our lives, but new research suggests there is value in capturing our more mundane, everyday experiences, which can bring us unexpected joy in the future.
	An hour of moderate exercise a day may decrease heart failure risk In a new study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Heart Failure, researchers say more than an hour of moderate or half an hour of vigorous exercise per day may lower your risk of heart failure by 46 percent.
	Early cerebellum injury hinders neural development, possible root of autism A brain region largely known for coordinating motor control has a largely overlooked role in childhood development that could reveal information crucial to understanding the onset of autism, according to Princeton University researchers.
	Sabotage as therapy: Aiming lupus antibodies at vulnerable cancer cells Yale Cancer Center researchers may have discovered a new way of harnessing lupus antibodies to sabotage cancer cells made vulnerable by deficient DNA repair.
	Enzyme controlling metastasis of breast cancer identified Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified an enzyme that controls the spread of breast cancer. The findings, reported in the current issue of PNAS, offer hope for the leading cause of breast cancer mortality worldwide. An estimated 40,000 women in America will die of breast cancer in 2014, according to the American Cancer Society.
	'Prepped' by tumor cells, lymphatic cells encourage breast cancer cells to spread Breast cancer cells can lay the groundwork for their own spread throughout the body by coaxing cells within lymphatic vessels to send out tumor-welcoming signals, according to a new report by Johns Hopkins scientists.
Mechanical heart valves increase pregnancy risk The fact that mechanical heart valves increase risks during and after pregnancy, has been confirmed by data from the ROPAC registry presented for the first time today in an ESC Congress Hot Line session by Professor Jolien W. Roos-Hesselink, co-chair with Professor Roger Hall of the registry's executive committee. The registry found that 1.4% of pregnant women with a mechanical heart valve died and 20% lost their baby during pregnancy.
Health structures explain nearly 20 percent of non-adherence to heart failure guidelines Health structures explain nearly 20% of the non-adherence to heart failure guidelines, according to the results of a joint ESC-OECD study presented today at ESC Congress by Professor Aldo Maggioni. Clinical variables explained more than 80% of non-adherence.
Simple awareness campaign in general practice identifies new cases of AF A simple awareness campaign in general practice identifies new cases of atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research presented at ESC Congress today by Professor Jean-Marc Davy from France.
	Research compares consequences of teen alcohol and marijuana use Growing public support for marijuana legalization in the U.S. has led to public debate about whether marijuana is "safer" than other substances, such as alcohol. In January, President Obama also publicly stated he is not convinced that marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol. Despite the recent shift in views toward marijuana, the harms of use as compared to alcohol use are not well understood.
	Cannabis withdrawal symptoms common among adolescents treated for substance use disorder Although cannabis – commonly known as marijuana – is broadly believed to be nonaddictive, a study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators found that 40 percent of cannabis-using adolescents receiving outpatient treatment for substance use disorder reported experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, which are considered a hallmark of drug dependence. Study participants reporting withdrawal were more likely to meet criteria for severe substance use and for mood disorders, although the presence or absence of withdrawal did not appear to change long-term treatment outcomes. The report will be published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine and has been released online.
	Drug gives 'new hope' against heart failure, expert says (HealthDay)—In a head-to-head comparison, an experimental drug was more effective than standard treatment at preventing deaths and hospitalizations in heart failure patients.
	Healthy Mind app identifies best times for user notifications A new Android app that has the ability to identify when users are most likely to notice and respond to its notifications has been launched by the University of Southampton to help relieve stress.
	Polypill increases adherence to post MI treatment A new polypill increases adherence to treatment following a myocardial infarction (MI), according to results from the FOCUS Study presented for the first time at ESC Congress 2014 today by principal investigator Dr Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart in New York, US. The novel treatment regime has the potential to prevent more patients having a second heart attack.
	Coffee increases prediabetes risk in susceptible young adults Coffee increases the risk of prediabetes in young adults with hypertension who are slow caffeine metabolisers, according to results from the HARVEST study presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Lucio Mos from Italy. People who drank more than three cups of coffee per day doubled their risk of prediabetes.
	Childhood adoption experiences and the effect of those experiences later in adulthood Adoptions have been running at record levels in the UK, with recent figures showing an annual rate of almost 4,000 – up by 15 per cent – while Government reforms have attempted to boost the process. Now a University of Huddersfield lecturer and researcher is investigating the long-term impact that adoption makes on individuals and she is co-organising a public event that will explore and discuss the issues.
	Being bilingual does not make you smarter, new study reports The widely held belief that being bilingual makes you smarter is being challenged by psychologists in a newly published paper.
Steroids raise cancer risk in TB-associated HIV  The addition of steroids to tuberculosis (TB) therapy can offer anti-inflammatory benefit to patients with tuberculous pericarditis, a rare cardiac manifestation of TB.
High-dose rosuvastatin shrinks coronary plaque in heart attack patients  One year of treatment with the highest dose of the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin can shrink plaque inside the arteries of patients who have had a certain type of heart attack known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), according to a new study presented today at ESC Congress 2014.
	Tobacco display bans protect youth and quitters Ending the display and promotion of cigarettes and tobacco in retail shops helps prevent young people taking up smoking and keeps quitters on track, according to new University of Otago research.
	Researchers uncover hidden infection route of major bacterial pathogen Researchers at the University of Liverpool's Institute of Infection and Global Health have discovered the pattern of infection of the bacterium responsible for causing severe lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis.
	Mutating Ebola viruses not as scary as evolving ones My social media accounts today are cluttered with stories about "mutating" Ebola viruses. The usually excellent ScienceAlert, for example, rather breathlessly informs us "The Ebola virus is mutating faster in humans than in animal hosts."
	Sickle cell is still a killer but this 50-cent test could change that Every year, 300,000 children are born with sickle-cell disease, primarily in Africa and India. It is a genetic disorder that causes some blood cells to become abnormally shaped. The result is that those who suffer from it have a shorter lifespan.
Risk of diabetes in children and adolescents exposed to antipsychotics A study published in the September 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that children and adolescents diagnosed with a psychiatric diagnosis had an increased risk of developing diabetes if they were exposed to antipsychotics.
	Childhood trauma could lead to adult obesity Being subjected to abuse during childhood entails a markedly increased risk of developing obesity as an adult. This is the conclusion of a meta-analysis carried out on previous studies, which included a total of 112,000 participants. The analysis was conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and has been published in the journal Obesity Reviews.
Mechanical ventilation a key indicator for Pre-Term Children's maths problems This latest study, led by Dr Julia Jaekel and Professor Dieter Wolke, found that preterm children's specific mathematic abilities decrease exponentially with lower gestational age.
	Study conducted on rats suggests that hyperproteic diets can be beneficial for bones Research conducted at the University of Granada reveals that soy protein supplements are better than those with whey, since they improve calcium content in bones by as much as seven per cent. This research has been published in the journal Food & Function
Research finds NYC teens and young adults who use prescription opioids nonmedically at high risk for overdose The prevalence of opioid-involved overdoses has become an increasing concern to health officials both in NYC and nationally. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the number of unintentional opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2011 was nearly triple the number of such deaths in 2000. Much of the increase has been attributed to a dramatic rise in nonmedical prescription opioid (PO) use among teens and young adults, and, more recently, in heroin use among youth who transitioned from POs to heroin.
	Researchers use new technique to shed light on inherited diseases In 1957, Conrad Waddington published a landmark essay collection that explained a concept he called "the epigenetic landscape."
In ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation, 'less may be more' In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) - an abnormal heart rhythm – treating only the pulmonary veins with a procedure called ablation resulted in reasonable outcomes without the need to treat other areas of the heart, according to a new study presented as a Hot Line today at ESC Congress 2014.
Over-the-counter pain reliever may restore immune function in old age New research involving mice suggests that the key to more youthful immune function might already be in your medicine cabinet. In a report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology scientists show that macrophages from the lungs of old mice had different responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis than macrophages from young mice, but these changes were reversed by ibuprofen.
Spinach extract decreases cravings, aids weight loss A spinach extract containing green leaf membranes called thylakoids decreases hedonic hunger with up to 95% - and increases weight loss with 43%. This has been shown in a recently published long-term human study at Lund University in Sweden.
	Scientists devise a bar code for the bacteria that causes tuberculosis Doctors and researchers will be able to easily identify different types of tuberculosis (TB) thanks to a new genetic barcode devised by scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Travel restrictions could worsen Ebola crisis: experts Travel restrictions could worsen West Africa's Ebola epidemic, limiting medical and food supplies and keeping out much-needed doctors, virologists said Tuesday as the disease continued its deadly spread.
Melatonin does not reduce delirium in elderly patients having acute hip surgery Melatonin supplements do not appear to lessen delirium in elderly people undergoing surgery for hip fractures, indicates a new trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Taxes and subsidies could encourage healthier diet and lower healthcare costs In a Viewpoint published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a team of Boston researchers call for the implementation of taxes and subsidies to improve dietary quality in the United States. The researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital write that policies taxing nearly all packaged foods and subsidizing healthier foods could both help people make meaningful dietary changes and substantially reduce health care costs.
	Any diet works, if you stick to it, study finds Branded or trademarked diets have similar levels of effectiveness; the key is sticking to it, a research study has found.
Breast cancer patients with bilateral mastectomy don't have better survival rates Breast cancer patients treated with lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy survived as long as patients who had bilateral mastectomy, according to a large study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California.
	Protein in plasma may one day change transfusions In injured mice, the naturally occurring protein fibronectin is instrumental in stopping bleeding but interestingly also at preventing life-threatening blood clots – according to new research published today in Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Community music programs enhance brain function in at-risk children A new Northwestern University study provides the first direct evidence that a community music program for at-risk youth has a biological effect on children's developing nervous systems.
Daily breakfast is associated with a lower type 2 diabetes risk profile in children Regular consumption of a healthy breakfast may help children lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study, conducted by Angela Donin of St. George's University of London and colleagues, found an association between children who reported skipping breakfast most days and higher levels of known diabetes risk factors.
Molecular probes permit doctors to detect diabetic retinopathy before vision fails A new study published in the September issue of The FASEB Journal identifies a novel strategy to diagnose the leading cause of blindness in adults, diabetic retinopathy, before irreversible structural damage has occurred. This advance involves quantifying the early molecular changes caused by diabetes on the endothelium of retinal vessels. Using new probes developed by scientists, they were able to distinguish the early molecular development of diabetic retinopathy.
	Salamander skin peptide promotes quick and effective wound healing in mice Move over antibiotic ointment, there might be a new salve to dominate medicine cabinets of the future, and it comes from an unlikely place—the lowly salamander. Salamanders may not be the cuddliest of animals, but they can regenerate lost limbs and achieve amazing recovery of seriously damaged body parts. Now, a new report published in the September 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, identifies a small protein (called a "peptide") from the skin of salamanders that may be the key to unlocking the secret of this amazing wound healing trick in humans.
How genes link a mother's diet to the risk of obesity in her offspring Many research studies have made it clear that a mother's eating habits prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy and during lactation have a profound impact on her offspring and their propensity for developing weight problems, including obesity. However, until now, the mechanisms behind this phenomenon were unclear. According to new research published in the September 2014 issue of The FASEB JournalF, scientists using an animal model found an epigenetic link between a mother's diet and an offspring's risk of future obesity. This link hinges on the blocked expression of a gene called Pomc, which manages a discrete area of the brain that controls feeding behavior. Excess methylation on the DNA sequence blocks the ability to express this gene, leading to a late satiety response, increased food intake and eventually to obesity.
	Drug that improves blood flow may help find cause of exercise intolerance in cystic fibrosis A little white pill may help scientists learn why patients with cystic fibrosis have less exercise capacity than their peers, even if their lungs are relatively healthy.
More than one-third of booked operations are re-booked More than one third of all planned orthopaedic surgery procedures are re-booked, postponed or cancelled completely. The most common reasons are cancellation at the patient's own request or emergency cases having to be prioritised. These are the findings of a study carried out by the Sahlgrenska Academy in association with Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
What you eat and not just the number of calories, is a significant factor in diabetes risk If you think losing weight is enough to prevent Type 2 diabetes, don't get your hopes up. A new research report in September 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, suggests that you don't have to be overweight to develop Type 2 diabetes. This study compared genetically identical twins-one heavier and one leaner-and found that after eating a fast-food meal, the circulating metabolites, including those related to Type 2 diabetes, were found in both individuals at the same levels. These findings suggest that the onset of this type of diabetes is largely influenced by genetic factors and/or the composition of gut microbiota.
	In pro baseball pitchers, weak core linked to more missed days New research suggests that professional baseball pitchers with poor core stability are more likely to miss 30 or more days in a single season because of injury than are pitchers who have good control of muscles in their lower back and pelvis.
Seatbelt laws encourage obese drivers to buckle up Obesity is associated with many health risks, including heart disease and diabetes, but University of Illinois researchers have found a possible way to mitigate one often-overlooked risk: not buckling up in the car.
	Study links sex hormone levels in the blood to risk of sudden cardiac arrest Measuring the levels of sex hormones in patients' blood may identify patients likely to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, a heart rhythm disorder that is fatal in 95 percent of patients.
Experiences make you happier than possessions—before and after To get the most enjoyment out of our dollar, science tells us to focus our discretionary spending on experiences such as travel over material goods. A new Cornell University study shows that the enjoyment we derive from experiential purchases may begin even before we buy.
Residency training predicts physicians' ability to practice conservatively Doctors trained in locations with less intensive (and expensive) practice patterns appear to consistently be better at making clinical decisions that spare patients unnecessary and excessive medical care, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Diabetes mellitus and mild cognitive impairment: Higher risk in middle age? In a large population-based study of randomly selected participants in Germany, researchers found that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred twice more often in individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2. Interestingly, this strong association was only observed in middle-aged participants (50-65 years), whereas in older participants (66-80 years) the association vanished. This study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Researchers examine effectiveness of blocking nerve to help with weight loss Among patients with morbid obesity, blocking the vagus nerve, which plays a role with appetite and metabolism, did not meet pre-specified efficacy objectives compared to a control group, although the intervention did result in greater weight loss, according to a study in the September 3 issue of JAMA.
	How well does bariatric surgery work? The number of bariatric surgeries done each year in the United States has ballooned. Now, in an August 27 state-of-the-art review in The BMJ and a September 3 editorial in JAMA, David Arterburn, MD, MPH, weighs the evidence on the benefits and risks of the various types of this surgery.
	Obesity fueling rise in diabetes rates, study finds (HealthDay)—The U.S. obesity epidemic is a driving force behind the rising rates of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
	ADHD medications won't stunt kids' growth, study finds (HealthDay)—Stimulant medications—such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta—used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, won't stunt their growth, a new study suggests.
	More evidence breast-feeding lowers child's risk of infections, allergies (HealthDay)—Two new studies further confirm the health benefits of breast-feeding.
	New guidelines for treating form of advanced breast cancer (HealthDay)—A leading group of oncologists has released updated guidelines for the treatment of the major form of advanced breast cancer.
	Gluten-free diet benefits asymptomatic EmA+ adults (HealthDay)—Asymptomatic individuals with endomysial antibodies (EmA) benefit from a gluten-free diet (GFD), according to a study published in the September issue of Gastroenterology.
	Complication rates low with mastectomy, breast reconstruction: study (HealthDay)—Complications are rare among breast cancer patients who undergo mastectomy and reconstruction, a new study indicates.
ROCKET AF trial suggests that digoxin increases risk of death in AF patients Digoxin may increase the risk of death in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) by approximately 20%, according to results from the ROCKET AF trial presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Manesh Patel, director of interventional cardiology and catheterisation labs at Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina, US. The findings suggest that caution may be needed when using digoxin in complex AF patients but further studies are needed to confirm the observations.
	Surrogate offers clues into man with 16 babies When the young Thai woman saw an online ad seeking surrogate mothers, it seemed like a life-altering deal: $10,000 to help a foreign couple that wanted a child but couldn't conceive.
Nurses go on strike in Ebola-hit Liberia Nurses at Liberia's largest hospital went on strike on Monday, demanding better pay and equipment to protect them against a deadly Ebola epidemic which has killed hundreds in the west African nation.
Louisiana following judge's order on abortion law The Louisiana health department will follow a federal judge's order and refrain from immediately penalizing doctors who are trying to comply with a new abortion law that requires them to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital, a spokeswoman said Monday.
Marijuana's hazy contribution to highway deaths Public officials and safety advocates worry there will be more drivers high on pot and a big increase in traffic deaths as states liberalize marijuana laws.
Dengue fever strikes models in Japan A worsening outbreak of dengue fever in Japan has claimed its first celebrities—two young models sent on assignment to the Tokyo park believed to be its source.
Ebola kills 31 people in DR Congo: WHO An outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 31 people and the epidemic remains contained in a remote northwestern region, UN the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
Drug-eluting stenting better than medical therapy in stable CAD Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided drug-eluting stenting reduces death, myocardial infarction or urgent revascularisation, as compared to medical therapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), according to the results of the FAME 2 trial presented for the first time today at ESC Congress by principal investigator Dr Bernard De Bruyne (Belgium).
TASTE trial finds no benefit of thrombus aspiration for AMI at one year Thrombus aspiration for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) does not reduce mortality or other clinical endpoints long term, according to the awaited one-year follow-up results from the Thrombus Aspiration in ST- Elevation myocardial infarction in Scandinavia (TASTE) trial. The findings were presented at ESC Congress today by Dr Bo Lagerqvist from Sweden.
Serelaxin reduces in-hospital worsening heart failure Serelaxin reduces the occurrence of in-hospital worsening heart failure by almost half in patients admitted for acute heart failure, according to the RELAX-AHF trial. The results were presented for the first time today at ESC Congress by co-principal investigator Professor John R. Teerlink.
Pre-treatment with rivaroxaban may expedite cardioversion  Oral anticoagulant therapy with rivaroxaban is a safe alternative to Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation who are undergoing elective cardioversion to restore a normal heart rhythm, according to results presented today at ESC Congress 2014.
	Monitoring work-related illnesses in Connecticut As we mark the annual Labor Day holiday, Connecticut workers continue to suffer occupational illness rates higher than the national average. A recent study by UConn Health found that 7,129 unique cases of occupational illnesses in the state were reported to either the Workers' Compensation Commission or the Department of Public Health in 2012.
Medication improves short-term recovery after ablation for atrial fibrillation  Patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation to treat a heart rhythm problem known as atrial fibrillation (AF) have better early outcomes if they take the drug amiodarone immediately after their procedure, according to results of a new study presented today at ESC Congress 2014.
Short-term peri-operative statin treatment does not reduce complications after cardiac surgery   High-dose statin treatment around the time of cardiac surgery does not reduce the rate of in-hospital complications after cardiac surgery, according to the results of a new study presented today as a Hot Line at ESC Congress 2014.
	Clues to stopping teenage male aggression UNSW researchers are recruiting for a study that could reveal the drivers of aggression in boys, opening up new treatments to stem violent offenders in future generations.
New guidelines to help families impacted by stillbirth The quality of care being provided to families affected by stillbirth is set to improve across Australia following new research by the University of Adelaide's Joanna Briggs Institute.
Hopes dashed for an agent to prevent reperfusion injury The administration of an experimental agent known as TRO40303 to patients who have had a heart attack, with the hope of preventing tissue damage when impaired blood flow is corrected (reperfusion), was disappointingly ineffective according to results of a European study of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presented today as a Hot Line the ESC Congress 2014 with simultaneous publication in the European Heart Journal.
Family conflicts, other non-physical worries before cancer surgery raise patients' complication risk How well patients recover from cancer surgery may be influenced by more than their medical conditions and the operations themselves. Family conflicts and other non-medical problems may raise their risk of surgical complications, a Mayo Clinic study has found. Addressing such quality-of-life issues before an operation may reduce patients' stress, speed their recoveries and save health care dollars, the research suggests. The study specifically looked at colon cancer patients, and found that patients with a poor quality of life were nearly three times likelier to face serious postoperative complications.
One-year data from SYMPLICITY HTN-3 confirm findings from six month analysis Longer-term follow-up data from the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial confirmed both the safety and absence of clinical benefit of renal denervation, according to the 12 month results presented for the first time at ESC Congress today by Professor George L. Bakris, director of the ASH Comprehensive Hypertension Center, The University of Chicago Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
World 'losing battle' to contain Ebola: MSF (Update) International medical agency Medecins sans Frontieres said Tuesday the world was "losing the battle" to contain Ebola as the United Nations warned of severe food shortages in the hardest-hit countries.
Many nurses unprepared to meet dying patients Most nurses in their work care for patients who are dying. A study of more than 200 students has shown that many nurses in training feel unprepared and anxious when faced with the prospect of meeting patients during end-of-life care.
Food supplements plus cash to poor families reduces rates of child malnutrition in Niger In Niger, interventions that combined the distribution of supplementary food with a cash transfer to poor families prevented acute malnutrition in young children more effectively than strategies that relied on either cash transfer or supplementary food distribution alone, according to a study by international researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
	A handsome face could mean lower semen quality Contrary to what one might expect, facial masculinity was negatively associated with semen quality in a recent Journal of Evolutionary Biology study.
Could poor stomach absorption of drugs reduce autism medications' effectiveness? Recent research has revealed that many children and adults with autism experience gastrointestinal symptoms and that such symptoms can impact the absorption and availability of medications.
New paper on activity restriction in pregnancy In a new guideline, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has recommended against the routine use of bed rest in pregnancy.
Can data motivate hospital leaders to improve care transitions? What happens when you are hospitalized, but your outpatient doctor does not know? Or when you arrive at the office for follow-up care, but your doctor does not have the right information about your hospital stay? Missing or incomplete communication from hospitals to outpatient primary care physicians (PCPs) can contribute to poor experiences and lead to hospital readmissions.
Humiliation tops list of mistreatment toward med students Each year thousands of students enroll in medical schools across the country. But just how many feel they've been disrespected, publicly humiliated, ridiculed or even harassed by their superiors at some point during their medical education?
Protein may provide the key to arresting development of diabetes The STK25 protein contributes to cell growth. Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy have discovered that the protein also affects metabolism, demonstrating that elevated levels accelerate the progress of diabetes in mice.
Media coverage of a celebrity suicide can cause a large-scale copycat effect Researchers who analyzed media coverage of the suicide of a national actress in South Korea and its impact on subsequent suicides found that the number of suicide-related articles surged around 80 times in the week after a suicide compared with the week prior.
	Time to take notice and tackle heart failure Experts have sounded a call to action for policy makers at local, national, and international levels to promote heart failure prevention, improve heart failure awareness among healthcare professionals, ensure equity of care for all patients with heart failure, support and empower patients and their caregivers, and promote heart failure research.
Are human breast milk microbiome 'neutral'? Human breast milk is considered the most ideal source of nutrition for infants and it should have played a critical role in the evolution and civilizations of human beings. Unlike our intuitive perception, human milk contains a large number of bacterial species, including some opportunistic pathogens of humans. This phenomenon comes as no surprise to scientists and physicians.
Throwing a loop to silence gene expression All human cells contain essentially the same DNA sequence – their genetic information. How is it possible that shapes and functions of cells in the different parts of the body are so different? While every cell's DNA contains the same construction master plan, an additional regulatory layer exists that determines which of the many possible DNA programs are active. This mechanism involves modifications of genome-bound histone proteins or the DNA itself with small chemical groups (e.g. methylation). It acts on top of the genetic information and is thus called 'epi'-genetic from the corresponding Greek word that means 'above' or 'attached to'.
	Singaporean birth cohort study finds benefits for babies exposed to two languages A team of investigators and clinician-scientists in Singapore and internationally have found that there are advantages associated with exposure to two languages in infancy. As part of a long-term birth cohort study of Singaporean mothers and their offspring called GUSTO – seminally a tripartite project between A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and the National University Hospital (NUH) – (see Annex A), six-month old bilingual infants recognised familiar images faster than those brought up in monolingual homes. They also paid more attention to novel images compared to monolingual infants. The findings reveal a generalised cognitive advantage that emerges early in bilingual infants, and is not specific to a particular language. The findings were published online on 30 July 2014 in the highly-regarded scientific journal, Child Development.
Mirabegron for overactive bladder: Added benefit not proven Mirabegron (trade name: Betmiga) has been approved since December 2012 for the treatment of adults with overactive bladder. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy specified by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).
UN implores all countries to help on Ebola The international group Doctor Without Borders warned Tuesday that the world is 'losing the battle' against Ebola, while U.N. officials implored all countries to quickly step up their response by contributing health experts and other help.
Study finds change in type of procedure most commonly used for bariatric surgery In an analysis of the type of bariatric surgery procedures used in Michigan in recent years, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) surpassed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in 2012 as the most common procedure performed for patients seeking this type of surgery, and SG became the predominant bariatric surgery procedure for patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study in the September 3 issue of JAMA.
Discharged patients return to the ER because 'better safe than sorry' Patients who return to the emergency department within a few days of discharge do so principally because they are anxious about their symptoms and have lost trust in other parts of the health care system, according to the results of a study published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Return Visits to the Emergency Department: The Patient Perspective").
Another US health worker infected with Ebola A third American health worker has tested positive for the Ebola virus while working with patients in West Africa, the Christian missionary group SIM said Tuesday.
	Obama addresses West Africans on facts about Ebola President Barack Obama urged West Africans on Tuesday to wear gloves and masks when caring for Ebola patients or burying anyone who died of the disease. He also discouraged the traditional burial practice of directly touching the body of someone who died of Ebola, which is one way the disease has been spreading in the region.
Study indicates that the hippocampus mediates cognitive decline in Huntington's disease Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in involuntary spastic movement and loss control of voluntary motor function. Patients also exhibit a decline in cognitive ability. The defects in learning and memory associated with Huntington's disease have been ascribed to pathology in the frontal lobe of the brain.
Maternal low protein diet promotes diabetic phenotypes in offspring Millions of people throughout the world are affected by diabetes. In particular, the rise in the incidence of type 2 diabetes is associated with global increases in obesity and changes in diet. There is also a genetic component to the development of type 2 diabetes, and recent evidence suggests that the fetal environment can influence the onset of this disease.

Biology news

	Mum's hormones could make female magpie chicks more adventurous Female magpies have been shown to be more adventurous than their male siblings, according to new research.
	Researchers find Asian camel crickets now common in US homes With their long, spiky legs and their propensity for eating anything, including each other, camel crickets are the stuff of nightmares. And now research from North Carolina State University finds that non-native camel cricket species have spread into homes across the eastern United States.
	Research helps identify memory molecules A newly discovered method of identifying the creation of proteins in the body could lead to new insights into how learning and memories are impaired in Alzheimer's disease.
	Brain circuit differences reflect divisions in social status Life at opposite ends of primate social hierarchies is linked to specific brain networks, a new Oxford University study has shown.
Research in rodents suggests potential for 'in body' muscle regeneration What if repairing large segments of damaged muscle tissue was as simple as mobilizing the body's stem cells to the site of the injury? New research in mice and rats, conducted at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine, suggests that "in body" regeneration of muscle tissue might be possible by harnessing the body's natural healing powers.
	Extinctions during human era worse than thought It's hard to comprehend how bad the current rate of species extinction around the world has become without knowing what it was before people came along. The newest estimate is that the pre-human rate was 10 times lower than scientists had thought, which means that the current level is 10 times worse.
	Sharks off the menu and on the tourist trail in Palau In many places swimmers might prefer to avoid sharks, but wetsuit-clad tourists in Palau clamour to dive among the predators thanks to a pioneering conservation initiative that has made them one of the country's main visitor attractions.
	Computer simulations visualize ion flux Ion channels are involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes throughout the human body. A young team of researchers led by pharmacologist Anna Stary-Weinzinger from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna investigated how ion flux through a voltage gated sodium ion channel works in detail. Since this process is incredibly fast (up to 100 million ions per seconds), computer simulations were performed to visualize sodium flux "in slow motion". The time consuming calculations were performed using the high performance computer cluster (VSC), which is currently the fastest computer in Austria. Recently, the results were published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Migratory fish scale to new heights WA scientists are the first to observe and document juvenile trout minnow (Galaxias truttaceus Valenciennes 1846) successfully negotiating a vertical weir wall by modifying their swimming technique to 'climb' and 'jump' over the obstacle during their upstream migration to freshwater habitats.
	Robotics to combat slimy pest One hundred years after they arrived in a sack of grain, white Italian snails are the target of beleaguered South Australian farmers who have joined forces with University of Sydney robotics experts to eradicate the gastropods.
	Migrating birds sprint in spring, but take things easy in autumn Passerine birds, also known as perching birds, that migrate by night tend to fly faster in spring than they do in autumn to reach their destinations. This seasonal difference in flight speed is especially noticeable among birds that only make short migratory flights, says researcher Cecilia Nilsson of Lund University in Sweden, in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Scientists find key to te first cell differentiation in mammals The CNIC scientists, working with investigators at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the Sloan-Kettering Institute and the University of Kumamoto, have identified a regulatory element implicated in the function of a gene that plays a crucial role in the first cell differentiation event, which gives rise to the embryonic and extraembryonic cell lineages. The discovery is published in Developmental Cell.
	An uphill climb for mountain species? A recently published paper provides a history of scientific research on mountain ecosystems, looks at the issues threatening wildlife in these systems, and sets an agenda for biodiversity conservation throughout the world's mountain regions.
Greenhouse whitefly: Will the unwanted greenhouse whitefly make it in the wild? Greenhouses have improved the possibilities of invasion of greenhouse whitefly into the wild in the boreal region, new study finds. Genetic analysis sheds new light on the survival of whiteflies in Finland and helps to plan efficient pest management.
	Blowfly maggots provide physical evidence for forensic cases Estimation of the post mortem interval (PMI) is one of the most crucial matters in autopsies and entomological specimens have been widely used to determine PMI after 72 hours of death. This is done using the oldest blowfly larvae found and from the succession pattern of insects that colonize the dead remains. Thus, the use of blowflies in forensic cases are crucial.
Neutron diffraction sheds light on photosynthesis Scientists from ILL and CEA-Grenoble have improved our understanding of the way plants evolved to take advantage of sunlight. Using cold neutron diffraction, they analysed the structure of thylakoid lipids found in plant leaves where photosynthesis takes place. These light-sensitive membranes cover an enormous surface area, with several hectares being present in every square metre of leaf.
	Frequent fire and drying climate threaten WA plants Murdoch University fire ecology experts have warned that in Western Australia's drying climate, many of the plant species which contribute to the stunning wildflower displays north of Perth may need 50 per cent longer between fires to maintain stable populations.
Best way to train farm dogs has lessons for all dog training Dogs provided with the best living conditions and kinder training methods are giving the best results in the workplace, according to a new study of farm dogs from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science.
	Sorghum and biodiversity It is difficult to distinguish the human impact on the effects of natural factors on the evolution of crop plants. A Franco-Kenyan research team has managed to do just that for sorghum, one of the main cereals in Africa. The scientists demonstrated how three societies living on the slopes of Mount Kenya have shaped the geographic distribution and structure of the genetic diversity of local varieties. Because of their practices for selecting and exchanging crop seeds for harvesting, the farmers in each ethnic group maintain varieties which are unique to them. These prove to be genetically and phenotypically differentiated, despite their close geographical proximity. This study sheds light on the debate on the ownership and redistribution of benefits from genetic resources.
	Arctic expedition pioneers technique for polar bear research A team of French scientists working in partnership with conservation organization WWF has for the first time isolated polar bear DNA from a track left in the snow.
	Aging gracefully: Diving seabirds shed light on declines with age Scientists who studied long-lived diving birds, which represent valuable models to examine aging in the wild, found that blood oxygen stores, resting metabolism and thyroid hormone levels all declined with age, although diving performance did not. Apparently, physiological changes do occur with age in long-lived species, but they may have no detectable effect on behavioral performance.

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