Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Sep 30

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 30, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists manipulate molecules inside living cells with temperature gradients
- Axons growing out of dendrites? Neuroscientists hate when that happens
- Deceptive-looking vortex line in superfluid led to twice-mistaken identity
- Blades of grass inspire advance in organic solar cells
- Apple software update protects Macs from 'Bash' bug
- Sandblasting winds shift Mars' landscape
- In stickleback fish, dads influence offspring behavior and gene expression
- Unexpected new mechanism reveals how molecules become trapped in ice
- Breakthrough study discovers six changing faces of 'global killer' bacteria
- Layering rough surfaces with nanometer-thin optical interference coatings opens new array of possible applications
- Mathematical model tackles 'Game of Thrones' predictions
- How dinosaur arms turned into bird wings
- At dusk and dawn: Scientists pinpoint biological clock's synchronicity
- Study shows how chimpanzees share skills
- A new dimension for integrated circuits: 3-D nanomagnetic logic

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA rocket has six minutes to study solar heating (Phys.org) —On Sept. 30, 2014, a sounding rocket will fly up into the sky – past Earth's atmosphere that obscures certain wavelengths of light from the sun—for a 15-minute journey to study what heats up the sun's atmosphere. This is the fourth flight for the Very high Angular Resolution Ultraviolet Telescope, or VAULT, will launch from the White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico.
	Sandblasting winds shift Mars' landscape High winds are a near-daily force on the surface of Mars, carving out a landscape of shifting dunes and posing a challenge to exploration, scientists said Tuesday.
	Swift mission observes mega flares from a mini star On April 23, NASA's Swift satellite detected the strongest, hottest, and longest-lasting sequence of stellar flares ever seen from a nearby red dwarf star. The initial blast from this record-setting series of explosions was as much as 10,000 times more powerful than the largest solar flare ever recorded.
Space debris expert warns of increasing CubeSat collision risk The increasing number of small 'CubeSat' satellites being launched combined with a relaxed attitude to debris mitigation could lead to hazards for all space users unless preventative measures are taken, warns a leading space debris expert from the University of Southampton.
Astronomers find 'cousin' planets around twin stars European astronomers have found two new Jupiter-sized extra-solar planets, each orbiting one star of a binary-star system.
	PanSTARRS K1, the comet that keeps going Thank you K1 PanSTARRS for hanging in there! Some comets crumble and fade away. Others linger a few months and move on. But after looping across the night sky for more than a year, this one is nowhere near quitting. Matter of fact, the best is yet to come.
US-India to collaborate on Mars exploration The United States and India, fresh from sending their own respective spacecraft into Mars' orbit earlier this month, on Tuesday agreed to cooperate on future exploration of the Red Planet.
	Orion spacecraft transfers to Launch Abort System Facility NASA and Lockheed Martin have finished fueling the Orion spacecraft with ammonia, hydrazine and high pressure helium at Kennedy Space Center's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. Orion has now been moved to the Launch Abort System Facility for integration with the launch abort system (LAS).

Technology news

	Apple software update protects Macs from 'Bash' bug Apple on Monday issued a software update to protect Macintosh computers from being bitten by a recently discovered "Bash" bug seen as a threat to Internet-linked devices.
	Mercedes-Benz 2025 truck shows autonomous system vision Coming down the road will be the future truck of 2025 and it will be able to move autonomously. The Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 was recently showcased at this year's International Commercial Vehicle show (IAA), where visitors got to see what is in store on future highways in terms of trucks, buses and vans. This is an important commercial vehicle show event, of interest to manufacturers, body builders, suppliers, hauler companies and drivers, in essence the players in the transport sector. The advantages of such trucks will be greater transport efficiency, safer traffic activity affecting all road users, and fuel consumption and CO2 emissions further reduced. This will no doubt please transport decision makers who want to see sure signs of transport vehicles meeting environmental goals. The Mercedes-Benz publicity literature makes note of the truck's Highway Pilot system. Comparable to an autopilot in a plane, the radar sensor! s and dual-camera system of the Highway Pilot make autonomous driving possible, without relying on any kind of guiding infrastructure.
	Fuel cell-powered mobile lights tested, proven, ready for commercial use Mobile lighting systems powered by hydrogen fuel cells are cleaner, quieter and now have a proven track record in applications such as nighttime construction, sports and entertainment events and airport operations, making them ready for commercialization and broader use.
	Kickstarter project SAM kit helps teach hardware system coding SAM Labs, a London based startup has created a Kickstarter project that looks to take do-it-yourself project making and teaching how to program digital hardware, to a new and simpler level. Their SAM kits allow for physically connecting individual hardware components together and then using an intuitive software interface to create software that makes the newly created hardware device work as desired.
	Microsoft skips Windows 9 to emphasize advances The next version of Microsoft's flagship operating system will be called Windows 10, as the company skips version 9 to emphasize advances it is making toward a world centered on mobile devices and Internet services.
Canada demands Google, Netflix data, sets deadline Canada's broadcast regulator on Monday gave American companies Google and Netflix a three-day deadline to turn over subscriber data or have their testimony expunged from a major public hearing, media reported.
	China clears way for Apple iPhone 6 sales China has cleared the way for Apple to sell its latest iPhones in the key market by granting it a licence, the industry regulator said on Tuesday, after the US giant agreed to improve the security of users' personal details.
Body cameras join cops on the beat in US For a growing number of police officers in the United States, miniature video cameras are becoming as much a part of the uniform as a pistol, handcuffs and badge.
	GoPro gets a little cheaper —and fancier —with new Hero4 camera GoPro hoisted its high-end offering further into the age of high-definition video with the introduction of the Hero4, its latest line of participant-sports-oriented video cameras. The company also lowered the price of its cheapest camera to $129 from $200, and freshened up parts of its entire lineup.
	New Interpol complex in Singapore to boost fight against cyber crime A new Interpol centre to be opened in Singapore next year will strengthen global efforts to fight increasingly tech-savvy international criminals, officials said on Tuesday.
	Harvesting energy from walking A device that fits into a shoe harvests the energy made by walking and successfully uses it in watch batteries.
	NREL software tool a boon for wind industry Wind energy is blowing away skeptics—it's so close to achieving cost parity with fossil fuels that just a little extra efficiency is all that is likely needed to push it into the mainstream and past the Energy Department's goal of 20% wind energy by 2030.
	Researcher uses high-performance computing to design new materials Shengfeng Cheng, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech, is seeing the unseen.
	EU says Apple gets illegal tax benefits in Ireland (Update) Apple risks having to repay Ireland tax rebates worth billions of dollars after the European Union's competition watchdog said Tuesday the company appears to be benefiting from illegal tax deals there.
	5G mobile networks will support an internet that's so good you can feel it With the roll-out of 4G mobile internet not even yet complete, it might seem early to consider starting work on the design of the next, fifth generation (5G) mobile networks. The truth is that telecoms systems are so complex in design and so slow to deploy that it could be 10 years between conception and end users being able to enjoy the benefits.
Microsoft to tap $2-trillion Indian cloud market Microsoft announced plans Tuesday to offer its commercial cloud services from Indian data centres as it seeks to tap what it calls a $2-trillion market in the country where Internet use is growing rapidly.
	EBay to split off lucrative PayPal business (Update 2) EBay is splitting off its fastest growing segment, payment service PayPal, the e-commerce company said Tuesday.
	Battery system will be able to light 2,500 homes One of the largest, most environmentally-friendly, battery-based energy storage systems in the nation will be installed at the University of California, San Diego the campus announced today (Sept. 29).
	A new kind of data-driven predictive methodology "Scottish independence: polls show it's too close to call."
	Scientists invent award winning 2-in-1 motor for electric cars Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have invented a 2-in-1 electric motor which increases the range of electric vehicles.
AOL to feed more video, news to Microsoft's MSN AOL will provide Microsoft's MSN with more video and additional news stories from popular sites such as The Huffington Post and TechCrunch in an expansion of a deal aimed at selling more digital advertising.
	Hackers charged in software theft from US army, others Four members of an international hacking ring were charged with cracking the networks of the US Army and developers of blockbuster war video games to steal software, prosecutors said Tuesday.
	What's PayPal's first solo move? PayPal's impending split from long-time partner eBay Inc. will ratchet up its appeal to online retail competitors such as Amazon.com and give it the freedom to aggressively take on new mobile pay challenger Apple Pay. For eBay, the challenge will be how to drive revenue without its fastest-growing division.
Reddit raises $50 mn - with users cut in on the action Social news sharing site Reddit on Tuesday announced it had raised $50 million from investors who agreed that, this time, members of its community would get a piece of the action.
	Engineers complete first comprehensive mesh-free numerical simulation of skeletal muscle tissue Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have completed the first comprehensive numerical simulation of skeletal muscle tissue using a method that uses the pixels in an image as data points for the computer simulation—a method known as mesh-free simulation.
	How Apple Watch can avoid some of Google Glass's pitfalls The unveiling of Apple Watch earlier this month was the moment the nascent wearable computing industry has been waiting for.
Movement builds to ensure privacy for Internet users Before Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency and Prism made headlines, a group of technologists was dedicated to making the Internet more anonymous.
	Chinese scientists unveil liquid phase 3-D printing method using low melting metal alloy ink Three-dimensional metal printing technology is an expanding field that has enormous potential applications in areas ranging from supporting structures, functional electronics to medical devices. Conventional 3D metal printing is generally restricted to metals with a high melting point, and the process is rather time consuming.
	Boosting the energy efficiency of working buildings with passive and active technologies There is nothing like the real world to reveal a project's true worth. This is why a project called BRICKER will test its mettle out by retrofitting public buildings situated in three different countries in three different climatic zones. The goal: to significantly boost the energy efficiency of these working buildings by combining passive and active technologies in a system that could be rolled out across Europe.
Remote healthcare for an aging population An aging population and an increased incidence of debilitating illnesses such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease means there is pressure on technology to offer assistance with healthcare - monitoring and treatment. Research published in the International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing points to remote monitoring as offering a way to improve patient care and even accelerate medical research.
	Toshiba Clean Room Farm Yokosuka begins vegetable production Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has begun production of vegetables at the Toshiba Clean Room Farm Yokosuka, a plant factory in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture. Shipment of the first crop is scheduled for the end of October.
	Hong Kong democracy protesters flock to new messaging app A social messaging app that allows users to contact each other even if a mobile phone network is overloaded or switched off has become a hit among tens of thousands of Hong Kong protesters.
News Corp. to buy Move Inc. for about $950 million News Corp. will pay about $950 million to buy the online real estate business Move Inc. in a deal that aims to speed up the media company's digital expansion.
	First self-contained step dimming LED tube Samsung Electronics today introduced the industry's first AC Direct step-dimming LED linear replacement for T8 and T12 fluorescent tubes at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Convention 2014. Designed for use in commercial environments, the new LED Tube (L-Tube) offers an alternative to traditional fluorescent lamps to maximize energy efficiency and lower facility maintenance costs. It will be on display in booth #2112 at Chicago's McCormick Place West from September 27-30.
	Netflix branches into films with 'Crouching Tiger' sequel Netflix is branching out into the world of movies with a sequel to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" that will premiere simultaneously on the online streaming service and in selected theaters next year.

Medicine & Health news

	Axons growing out of dendrites? Neuroscientists hate when that happens (Medical Xpress)—The well-behaved neuron receives signals through its many dendrites to generate spikes on a single axon. The electrical energy of these signals is generally believed to be integrated at the cell body and converted into pulses at the axon initial segment (this is the region where the axon sprouts, the AIS). There have always been exceptions to this neat and tidy picture of a neuron. Certain interneurons, dopaminergic cells, or neuroendicrine cells for example, have been shown to grow their axon out from a lucky dendrite instead of the soma. The existence of these anomalies is an inconvenient truth for all neuron modelers and typically they choose to ignore them. A paper recently published in Neuron now suggests that minimizing this fundamental neural character has been a mistake. Rather than mere quirk or curiousity the axon carrying dendrite, or AcD as the authors call it, is found on most neurons—at least amo! ng pyramidal cells in the CA1 area of the mouse hippocampus.
	Vitamin D in diet might ease effects of age on memory, study suggests If you don't want to dumb down with age, vitamin D may be the meal ticket. A boosted daily dosage of the vitamin over several months helped middle-aged rats navigate a difficult water maze better than their lower-dosed cohorts, according to a study published online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
New discovery approach accelerates identification of potential cancer treatments Researchers at the University of Michigan have described a new approach to discovering potential cancer treatments that requires a fraction of the time needed for more traditional methods.
	Team uncovers important process for immune system development Research by UC Irvine immunologists reveals new information about how our immune system functions, shedding light on a vital process that determines how the body's ability to fight infection develops.
	Improving babies' language skills before they're even old enough to speak In the first months of life, when babies begin to distinguish sounds that make up language from all the other sounds in the world, they can be trained to more effectively recognize which sounds "might" be language, accelerating the development of the brain maps which are critical to language acquisition and processing, according to new Rutgers research.
Genomic data could help doctors know whether to prescribe statins Genomic data could predict whether statins will benefit a patient or not, according to an article in the open access journal Genome Biology. The research suggests that genomic data alone can explain around 15% of patients' responses to a cholesterol-lowering statin, and further studies could increase the accuracy of these predictions.
Endoscopists recommend frequent colonoscopies, leading to its overuse A retrospective study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), has found an overuse of colonoscopies for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance. The study demonstrated that endoscopists commonly recommended shorter follow-up intervals than established guidelines support, and these recommendations were strongly correlated with subsequent colonoscopy overuse.
Gut bacteria promote obesity in mice A species of gut bacteria called Clostridium ramosum, coupled with a high-fat diet, may cause animals to gain weight. The work is published this week in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Alcohol makes smiles more 'contagious,' but only for men Consuming an alcoholic beverage may make men more responsive to the smiles of others in their social group, according to new research in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings suggest that, for men, alcohol increases sensitivity to rewarding social behaviors like smiling, and may shed light on risk factors that contribute to problem drinking among men.
	Obese in adolescence, colon cancer in later life? (HealthDay)—Obesity and inflammation in late adolescence are associated with increased risk for colon and rectal cancer in adulthood, a new study of Swedish males suggests.
	40 states, district of columbia reporting respiratory virus that targets kids (HealthDay)—Forty states and the District of Columbia now have a total of 277 confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68, the severe respiratory illness that typically targets children, U.S. health officials are reporting.
	Ultrasound can accurately diagnose carpal tunnel (HealthDay)—Ultrasound can accurately confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, according to a study published in the Sept. 3 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
	Charge data influence patient surgical treatment decisions (HealthDay)—When presented with procedural charge data, people tend to choose the less expensive technique, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in the Annals of Surgery.
	AAP: Good nutrition, exercise optimize pediatric bone health (HealthDay)—Pediatricians play an important role in fostering optimal bone health in children and adolescents, according to research published online Sept. 29 in Pediatrics.
	ACC withdraws one 'Choosing Wisely' recommendation (HealthDay)—Researchers have withdrawn one of the previous Choosing Wisely recommendations from April 2012, according to a report from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
	Insulin increases resting-state functional connectivity in T2DM (HealthDay)—For older adults with type 2 diabetes, a single dose of intranasal insulin increases resting-state brain functional connectivity, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Diabetes.
Smart catheters help doctors navigate the heart Joshua M. Cooper inserted a catheter through a vein in Janice McKemey's groin, up through her abdomen and all the way inside her heart.
High-dose vitamin D for ICU patients who are vitamin D deficient does not improve outcomes Administration of high-dose vitamin D3 compared with placebo did not reduce hospital length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, hospital mortality, or the risk of death at 6 months among patients with vitamin D deficiency who were critically ill, according to a study published in JAMA. The study is being posted early online to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine annual congress.
	Photoelectric dye-coupled thin film as a novel type of retinal prosthesis Eye doctor Dr. Toshihiko Matsuo and polymer science engineer Dr. Tetsuya Uchida have been developing a new type of retinal prosthesis that is based on a photoelectric dye. The photoelectric dye is an organic molecule that absorbs light and converts light energy into electric potentials. The dye molecules are coupled to the surface of a film made of polyethylene. The polyethylene film (or polymer) is a biologically safe and stable material which is used, for example, as a component of artificial joints. The photoelectric dye-coupled polyethylene film, called Okayama University-type retinal prosthesis or OUReP, can be implanted beneath the retina as a substitute for photoreceptor cells.
	Specialist teamwork better for older hip-fracture patients Patients who undergo hip fracture surgery in hospitals that have an orthogeriatric service have an improved chance of surviving beyond 30 days after surgery, new research shows
	Tips, myths surrounding breastfeeding Breastfeeding is the method of infant feeding recommended by the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Cohabiting couples differ on contraceptive use by class Most cohabiting couples intend to delay childbirth until they're married, steadily employed and financially stable. Despite these preferences, surprise pregnancies are common, particularly among working-class men and women who struggle to plan for and access reliable contraceptives.
	Computer models help cerebral palsy patients step out University of Queensland researchers are using computer modelling to predict the most effective way to help cerebral palsy patients walk and move more easily.
	Study clues to aging bone loss In Canada, bone fractures due to osteoporosis affect one in three women and one in five men over their lifetimes, costing the health care system more than $2.3 billion a year.
Aspirin may lower the risk for aggressive prostate cancer Use of aspirin and/or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with a reduced risk for aggressive prostate cancer in men who had elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) and a negative biopsy prior to study commencement, according to data presented at the 13th Annual American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Sept. 28-Oct. 1.
Study identifies low-dose aspirin's mechanisms of action in reducing cancer mortality Low-dose aspirin may lower the risk for cancer metastasis and mortality by inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2 pathways, according to data presented at the 13th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Sept. 28–Oct. 1.
	New technique could improve the outcome of breast cancer surgery A new technique will help surgeons to detect where the margins of cancerous breast tumours are during surgery, reducing the need for secondary operations in breast cancer patients.
	Scientists discover gene controlling muscle fate Scientists at the University of New Mexico have moved a step closer to improving medical science through research involving muscle manipulation of fruit flies. They discovered in the flight muscles of Drosophila a new regulator of a process called alternative splicing. Their findings give additional hope that could help treat diseases such as myotonic dystrophy, a multisystem disorder affecting skeletal and smooth muscle as well as the eye, heart, endocrine system and central nervous system.
	Breakthrough could prevent hip implant replacement Hip implants rely on the normal functioning of bone cells to achieve fixation of the implant with the bone. However, small metal particles released from hip implants, due to friction between the moving surfaces, have been shown to be toxic to the surrounding bone cells.
Asthma symptoms kicking up? Check your exposure to air pollution People who suffer from asthma may think there's not a lot they can do to control their asthma besides properly taking medications and avoiding allergic triggers.
	Viagra ads target women for first time The maker of the world's top-selling erectile dysfunction drug on Tuesday will begin airing the first Viagra TV commercial in America that targets the less-obvious sufferers of the sexual condition: women.
Boys and girls who have had a traumatic brain injury differ in rates of harmful behavior Teenagers who said they had a traumatic brain injury in their lifetime, especially girls, also reported significantly higher rates of harmful behavior, according to new research.
	Helmet therapy is ineffective on babies with moderate to severe plagiocephaly Throughout the world, many thousands of babies wear a helmet 23 hours a day for six months. At the beginning of May, Renske van Wijk, of the University of Twente's IGS Research Institute, published an article in which she demonstrated that helmet therapy is ineffective on babies with moderate to severe plagiocephaly (skull flattening). The research was broadly discussed in the media and Van Wijk received responses from all over the world. Almost six months later, on the eve of the day on which she will defend her thesis, Van Wijk looks back on the debate provoked by her research.
	Smoking out the facts in the E-cigarette debate Electronic cigarettes seem to have become as ubiquitous as the vapor they produce. Their popularity has been skyrocketing over the past two years, even in the midst of a fierce debate about their potential risks and benefits.
Genetic test would help 'cut bowel cancer spread' Screening families of patients with bowel cancer for a genetic condition would cut their risk of developing bowel, womb, and ovarian cancers, new research has found.
Benzodiazepine sedatives linked to higher rates of mortality compared to propofol Sedation is frequently required for mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients to reduce anxiety, provide comfort, and assist in providing optimal respiratory support. It is estimated that each year, there are nearly 1 million U.S. patients treated with a continuous, intravenous sedative in an ICU setting.
	Erectile dysfunction drugs could affect vision of genetically susceptible users Sildenafil, the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, could cause unusual visual responses in people who carry a common mutation for eye disease and may have long-term detrimental effects on their vision, UNSW Australia researchers warn.
New learning mechanism for individual nerve cells The traditional view is that learning is based on the strengthening or weakening of the contacts between the nerve cells in the brain. However, this has been challenged by new research findings from Lund University in Sweden. These indicate that there is also a third mechanism – a kind of clock function that gives individual nerve cells the ability to time their reactions.
	Selectively rewiring the brain's circuitry to treat depression On Star Trek, it is easy to take for granted the incredible ability of futuristic doctors to wave small devices over the heads of both humans and aliens, diagnose their problems through evaluating changes in brain activity or chemistry, and then treat behavior problems by selectively stimulating relevant brain circuits.
Low-birth-weight children are particularly vulnerable to environmental influences Low birth weight children are more vulnerable to environmental influences than infants born with normal weight. When brought up with a great deal of sensitivity, they will be able to catch up in school, but on average they will not become better students than normal birth weight children. This result, provided by an international psychologist team, has confirmed the so-called diathesis-stress model of development for low birth weight populations. The researchers report their findings in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Clinical trial finds virtual ward does not reduce hospital readmissions A virtual ward, a new model of care that provides support to high-risk and complex patients in the community for a few weeks after discharge from hospital, did not prevent hospital readmissions as hoped in a clinical trial in Toronto.
Synthetic sperm protein raises the chance for successful in vitro fertilization Having trouble getting pregnant—even with IVF? Here's some hope: A new research report published in October 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, explains how scientists developed a synthetic version of a sperm-originated protein known as PAWP, which induced embryo development in human and mouse eggs similar to the natural triggering of embryo development by the sperm cell during fertilization.
Adolescent exposure to THC may cause immune systems to go up in smoke When it comes to using marijuana, new research, involving mice and published in the October 2014 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, suggests that just because you can do it, doesn't mean that you should. That's because a team of Italian scientists have found that using marijuana in adolescence may do serious long-term damage to the immune system. This damage may result in autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood.
Scientists identify which genes are active in muscles of men and women If you want your doctor to know what goes wrong with your muscles because of age, disease or injury, it's a good idea to know what "normal" actually is. That's where a new research report published in the October 2014 issue of the FASEB Journal comes in. In the report, a team of scientists produce a complete transcriptome—a key set of molecules that can help scientists "see" which genes are active in an organ at a particular time. What's more, they found never-before-detected gene activity and that men have approximately 400 more active genes in their skeletal muscle than women have.
New blood test determines whether you have or are likely to get cancer A new research report published in the October 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal may make the early detection of cancer as easy as a simple blood test. This test, called the "lymphocyte genome sensitivity" (LGS) test, could not only detect some cancers earlier than ever before, but it may eliminate the need for some types of biopsies, as well as identify those more likely to develop cancer in the future.
	Americans undergo colonoscopies too often, study finds Colonoscopies are a very valuable procedure by which to screen for the presence of colorectal cancer. However, it seems that healthy Americans who do undergo this sometimes uncomfortable examination often have repeat screenings long before they actually should. Gina Kruse of Massachusetts General Hospital in the US and colleagues advise that endoscopists stick to the national guidelines more closely. Their findings appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
	Researchers discover potential biomarker to detect 'bubble boy' disorder Many people recognize "the bubble boy" as an unusual character from a "Seinfeld" episode or a John Travolta movie.
	Contaminated water linked to pregnancy complications, study finds Prenatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in drinking water may increase the risk of stillbirth and placental abruption, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher.
	Expect 6,000 more Australian deaths if pollution rises to 'safe' threshold The National Environment Protection Measures (NEPM) has set maximum daily limits, or 'standards', for six key outdoor pollutants, which QUT's Associate Professor Adrian Barnett says many authorities wrongly assume to be 'safe' thresholds for health.
	Antioxidant found in grapes uncorks new targets for acne treatment Got grapes? UCLA researchers have demonstrated how resveratrol, an antioxidant derived from grapes and found in wine, works to inhibit growth of the bacteria that causes acne.
How to predict who will suffer the most from stress More than 23 per cent of Canadians report being stressed or very stressed on most days. While chronic stress increases the risk of poor mental and physical health, not everyone is affected the same way. Some cope well, but for others—especially those most likely to sweat the small stuff—chronic stress can be harmful.
Disease decoded: Gene mutation may lead to development of new cancer drugs The discovery of a gene mutation that causes a rare premature aging disease could lead to the development of drugs that block the rapid, unstoppable cell division that makes cancer so deadly.
Diuretics in proton pump inhibitor-associated hypomagnesemia Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is associated with hospitalization for hypomagnesemia, particularly among patients also receiving diuretics, according to research published this week in PLOS Medicine. The study, conducted by David Juurlink of the University of Toronto and colleagues, suggests that physicians reconsider long-term PPI therapy for patients with a diagnosis of hypomagnesemia or concurrent use of diuretics.
Depression increasing across the country A study by San Diego State University psychology professor Jean M. Twenge shows Americans are more depressed now than they have been in decades.
Comprehensive Study of allergic deaths in US finds medications are main culprit Medications are the leading cause of allergy-related sudden deaths in the U.S., according to an analysis of death certificates from 1999 to 2010, conducted by researchers at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The study, published online today in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, also found that the risk of fatal drug-induced allergic reactions was particularly high among older people and African-Americans and that such deaths increased significantly in the U.S. in recent years.
	New diagnostic approach for autism in Tanzania Autism is no stranger to the children of Tanzania. What is rare in the East African nation is access to clinical services, including reliable diagnosis and evidence-based treatments. There is no autism diagnostic measure, for example, validated for use in Swahili, a major language of the region. In a small new study, however, researchers at Brown University and the University of Georgia (UGA) describe a culturally compatible diagnostic approach that they implemented at two sites in the country and found to be effective for making diagnoses.
	Study shows that tongue size and fat may predict sleep apnea risk in obese adults A new study of obese adults is the first to show that those who have obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly larger tongue with a higher percentage of fat than obese controls. This may provide a mechanistic explanation for the relationship between obesity and sleep apnea.
Low social support linked to poor health in young heart attack survivors Having few friends, family and a general lack of social support is associated with poor health and quality of life and depression in young men and women a year after having a heart attack, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Study finds acupuncture does not improve chronic knee pain Among patients older than 50 years with moderate to severe chronic knee pain, neither laser nor needle acupuncture provided greater benefit on pain or function compared to sham laser acupuncture, according to a study in the October 1 issue of JAMA.
	Minimum alcohol pricing would be up to 50 times more effective than below cost selling ban Introducing minimum unit pricing in England would be up to 50 times more effective than the government's recent policy of a ban on below cost selling as a way of tackling problems caused by cheap alcohol, finds a study published in the BMJ today.
Researchers show EEG's potential to reveal depolarizations following TBI The potential for doctors to measure damaging "brain tsunamis" in injured patients without opening the skull has moved a step closer to reality, thanks to pioneering research at the University of Cincinnati (UC) Neuroscience Institute.
Rare respiratory virus, paralysis spreads among US kids An unusual respiratory virus has sickened more than 400 children across the United States, and the emergence of sudden paralysis in some Colorado youths is sparking concern among doctors.
First case of Ebola diagnosed in US The United States has diagnosed its first case of the deadly Ebola virus in a man who became infected in Liberia and traveled to Texas, US health officials said Tuesday.
	Spinal cord stimulation feasible for diabetic neuropathy (HealthDay)—For patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN), spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a successful treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in Diabetes Care.
	Fish oil supplements don't prevent recurrence of A-fib (HealthDay)—High doses of fish oil supplements won't prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), Canadian researchers report. The study, funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec, was published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Spacing between sibling births tied to autism risk in study (HealthDay)—Children conceived either less than one year or more than five years after the birth of a sibling could be at increased risk for autism, a new study suggests.
	Study says hepatitis C will be a rare disease by about 2036 Hepatitis C, a major infectious disease in the United States with 180 million cases worldwide, will likely become a rare disease by about 2036, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysis.
Third of countries struggling to meet the needs of aging population People around the world are living longer, but social policies to support their wellbeing in later life are lagging behind in many countries. This is according a new report by HelpAge International, developed in partnership with the University of Southampton.
	Dallas hospital confirms first Ebola case in US A patient at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for Ebola, the first case of the disease to be diagnosed in the United States, federal health officials announced Tuesday.
Ebola-hit Liberia staring into the abyss With its collapsed health service, sick and poorly equipped security forces and broken economy, Ebola-hit Liberia finds itself on the brink of complete societal breakdown, experts warn.
Dallas hospital monitoring patient for Ebola A patient in a Dallas hospital is showing signs of the Ebola virus and is being kept in strict isolation with test results pending, hospital officials said Monday.
Gov't to reveal drug company payments to doctors The Obama administration is planning to release data Tuesday on drug and medical device company payments to tens of thousands of individual doctors.
	AMA launches three programs for physician wellness (HealthDay)—Physicians' personal health is a global concern and three initiatives are being developed to encourage positive change, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
	Pharmacists less happy at work versus other occupations (HealthDay)—Compared to other types of employees, pharmacists are not as happy, according to results from the TINYpulse employee engagement surveys.
	Nurse turnover assessments inconsistent (HealthDay)—More than 17 percent of new nurses leave their first job within one year of starting, according to research published online Aug. 25 in Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice.
Correction of cardiovascular symptoms of MPS I in animal model REGENXBIO Inc. today announced that gene transfer mediated by REGENXBIO's NAV AAV8 vectors resulted in sustained serum α-L-iduronidase (IDUA) expression, as well as correction of systemic features of MPS I, or Hurler syndrome, a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by the body's inability to produce the IDUA enzyme. Data from a study performed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania ("Penn") show animals treated with a single intravenous injection of NAV AAV8 vectors expressing the IDUA gene not only demonstrated meaningful improvements in the biochemical features of MPS I in most tissues, but the majority also exhibited complete resolution of aortic valve lesions. This effect is significant since it has not been previously observed in MPS I patients treated with current therapies or animal models.
	Direct targeting and induction of immunological attacks on cancer cells Direct targeting and induction of immunological attacks on cancer cells are two widely used approaches for the treatment of cancer. But Professor Hiromi Kumon and colleagues at Okayama University have developed a third and potentially more effective approach based on Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells (REIC)—a tumor suppressor gene discovered at Okayama University. "In 2005 researchers at the Okayama University Medical School forced its expression using adenoviral vector (Ad-REIC) and discovered it caused selective death (apoptosis) of prostate cancer cells without damaging normal cells," explains Kumon. "Our approach is a combination of targeting and immunology for the treatment of cancer. Some people have referred to this as a 'magic bullet'. We are working with international partners to develop an Ad-REIC/DKK3 vaccine to treat various intractable solid tumors."
	A new linked elbow prosthesis for patients with small bone structure Dr. Keiichiro Nishida, Associate Professor of Department of Human Morphology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has developed a new linked elbow prosthesis (PROSNAP) in cooperation with Kyocera Medical (Osaka, Japan) which possesses a unique assembly system, initially to be used for the relatively small bony structure of Japanese patients.
	Anti-aging properties of drinking hydrogen-rich water on periodontal tissues Oxidative stress is involved in age-related inflammatory reactions. Molecular hydrogen is considered to be a novel antioxidant that can reduce oxidative stress. Therefore, drinking hydrogen-rich water may suppress age-related oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in the periodontal tissues.
	US Ebola labs, parts for clinic arrive in Liberia U.S. mobile Ebola labs should be up and running in Liberia this week, and American troops have broken ground for a field hospital, as the international community races to increase the ability to care for the spiraling number of people infected with the dreaded disease.
	New imaging technique provides hope for deadly childhood cancer Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development (CDD), in collaboration with the Rising Tide Foundation (link is external), a Swiss-based non-profit organisation which funds innovative cancer trials, today (TUESDAY) announce a new trial at The Royal Marsden (link is external)and University College London (link is external)that could revolutionise how children with one of the deadliest forms of cancer are diagnosed. The news falls in Children's Cancer Awareness Month, which runs throughout September.
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids linked to smaller risk of coronary heart disease A recent study completed at the University of Eastern Finland shows that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids include fish, vegetable oils, and nuts. The findings were published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology, an esteemed journal of the American Heart Association.
	Women, work and the menopause Menopausal women fear age-based discrimination in the workplace and face a glaring lack of menopause-specific support, according to new research.
Johnson & Johnson buying Alios for $1.75B Johnson & Johnson is buying the biopharmaceutical company Alios BioPharma Inc. for about $1.75 billion.
China to open first high security bio laboratory China's first high-security biosafety laboratory will be ready for use by December, in a move hailed as a "crucial" moment in the fight against pathogens such as the Ebola virus, officials said Tuesday.
	Families wait in agony for word on Ebola patients First the ring tone echoed outside the barbed-wire-topped walls of the Ebola clinic. Then came the wails of grief, as news spread that 31-year-old Rose Johnson was dead just days after she was brought here unconscious by relatives.
	Promoting the positive effects of nutrition on health The EU BIOCLAIMS project is identifying new ways of confirming the beneficial effects of nutrition, which could help food firms make positive health claims.
	World's first wearable blue LED light therapy device to treat skin disease psoriasis vulgaris Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, today announces the launch of Philips BlueControl, a clinically tested wearable medical device that uses blue LED light to control mild to moderate cases of psoriasis vulgaris. Philips BlueControl will be introduced to international healthcare professionals at the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology (EADV) Congress (8th - 12th October) in Amsterdam. It will be prescribed by physicians and available through distributors in The Netherlands, Germany and The UK from October 2014.
Texas hospital isolates patient for Ebola tests A patient with symptoms of Ebola has been placed in strict isolation at a Texas hospital, and test results are expected later Tuesday, a spokesman told AFP.
Longitudinal report shows challenging reality of ageing with an intellectual disability A new report launched today by the Intellectual Disability Supplement to TILDA (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing) conducted by academics from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, has highlighted the serious, complex and unique health and social challenges facing Ireland's intellectual disability population.
	New hypothyroidism treatment guidelines from American Thyroid Association Levothyroxine (L-T4), long the standard of care for treating hypothyroidism, is effective in most patients, but some individuals do not regain optimal health on L-T4 monotherapy. New knowledge about thyroid physiology may help to explain these differences. An expert task force of the American Thyroid Association on thyroid hormone replacement reviewed the latest studies on L-T4 therapy and on alternative treatments to determine whether a change to the current standard of care is appropriate, and they present their recommendations in the article "Guidelines for the Treatment of Hypothyroidism," published in Thyroid, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers and the official journal of the American Thyroid Association (ATA). The Guidelines are available free on the Thyroid website.
US military making progress reducing stigma tied to seeking help for mental illness The U.S. Department of Defense has made progress in reducing the stigma associated with seeking help for mental illnesses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but more improvement is still needed, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
NIH taps lab to develop sophisticated electrode array system to monitor brain act The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) a grant today to develop an electrode array system that will enable researchers to better understand how the brain works through unprecedented resolution and scale.
US aims for traumatic brain injury clinical trial success An unprecedented, public-private partnership funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) is being launched to drive the development of better-run clinical trials and may lead to the first successful treatments for traumatic brain injury, a condition affecting not only athletes and soldiers, but also millions among the general public, ranging from youngsters to elders.
Medicaid and Uninsured patients obtain new patient appointments most easily at FQHCs Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) granted new patient appointments to Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients at higher rates than other primary care practices (non-FQHCs), in addition to charging less for visits, according to results of a new 10-state University of Pennsylvania study published this month in Medical Care.
Rehospitalization in younger patients Older adults often are readmitted after hospitalization for heart failure, pneumonia, and acute myocardial infarction, a significant issue that has caused Medicare to target hospitals with high 30-day readmission rates for financial penalties. Older adults are also often admitted for reasons other than the original hospitalization. This vulnerability to readmission has been referred to as "post-hospital syndrome." However, whether younger patients also experience a similar pattern of readmission has not been well studied.
Ebola outbreak nears end in Nigeria The Ebola outbreak in Nigeria is almost over, US health officials said Tuesday, in a rare sign of authorities turning the tide on the highly contagious disease that has killed more than 3,000 in West Africa.
Use of a 'virtual ward' model of care does not reduce hospital readmissions, risk of death In a trial involving patients at high risk of hospital readmission or death, use of a virtual ward model of care (using some elements of hospital care in the community) after hospital discharge did not significantly reduce the rate of readmission or death up to a year following discharge, according to a study in the October 1 issue of JAMA.
Medical professional liability claims and esophageal cancer screening An analysis of liability claims related to esophageal cancer screening finds that the risks of claims arising from acts of commission (complications from screening procedure) as well as acts of omission (failure to screen) are similarly low, according to a study in the October 1 issue of JAMA.
Study compares long-term outcomes for types of aortic valve replacements Among patients ages 50 to 69 years who underwent aortic valve replacement with bioprosthetic (made primarily with tissue) compared with mechanical prosthetic valves, there was no significant difference in 15-year survival or stroke, although patients in the bioprosthetic valve group had a greater likelihood of reoperation but a lower likelihood of major bleeding, according to a study in the October 1 issue of JAMA.
	Groups call for medicare coverage of lung cancer screening (HealthDay)—Medicare should cover low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening for people at high risk for the disease, a coalition of more than 60 patient and medical groups says.
Developing countries should enroll medical and nursing students from rural areas Nearly one third of medical and nursing students in developing countries may have no intention of working in their own countries after graduation, while less than one fifth of them intend to work in rural areas where they are needed most, according to a new study.

Biology news

	Bats may be mistaking wind turbines for trees Certain bats may be approaching wind turbines after mistaking them for trees, according to a study to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Engineers devise technology for rapidly testing drug-delivery vehicles in zebrafish MIT engineers have devised a way to rapidly test hundreds of different drug-delivery vehicles in living animals, making it easier to discover promising new ways to deliver a class of drugs called biologics, which includes antibodies, peptides, RNA, and DNA, to human patients.
	First evidence that reptiles can learn through imitation New research has for the first time provided evidence that reptiles could be capable of social learning through imitation.
	Breakthrough study discovers six changing faces of 'global killer' bacteria Every ten seconds a human being dies from Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, also known as pneumococcus, making it a leading global killer.
At dusk and dawn: Scientists pinpoint biological clock's synchronicity Scientists have uncovered how pacemaker neurons are synchronized at dusk and dawn in order to maintain the proper functioning of their biological clocks. Their findings, which appear in the journal PLOS Biology, enhance our understanding of how sleep-wake cycles are regulated and offer promise for addressing related afflictions.
	In stickleback fish, dads influence offspring behavior and gene expression Researchers report that some stickleback fish fathers can have long-term effects on the behavior of their offspring: The most attentive fish dads cause their offspring to behave in a way that makes them less susceptible to predators. These behavioral changes are accompanied by changes in gene expression, the researchers report.
	Study shows how chimpanzees share skills Evidence of new behaviour being adopted and transmitted socially from one individual to another within a wild chimpanzee community is publishing on September 30 in the open access journal PLOS Biology. This is the first instance of social learning recorded in the wild.
New genetic 'operating system' facilitated evolution of 'bilateral' animals The evolution of worms, insects, vertebrates and other "bilateral" animals—those with distinct left and right sides—from less complex creatures like jellyfish and sea anemones with "radial" symmetry may have been facilitated by the emergence of a completely new "operating system" for controlling genetic instructions in the cell.
	Wildlife numbers halved over past four decades: WWF Wildlife numbers have plunged by more than half in just 40 years as Earth's human population has nearly doubled, a survey of over 3,000 vertebrate species revealed on Tuesday.
	Soil bacteria contribute to the taste and smell of white truffles Truffles, along with caviar, are among the most expensive foods in the world. Because they grow underground, people use trained dogs or pigs to find them. But the distinctive smell of truffles is not only of interest to gourmets. A group of German and French scientists under the direction of the Goethe University Frankfurt have discovered that the smell of white truffles is largely produced by soil bacteria which are trapped inside truffle fruiting bodies.
	Blame coffee farm rust fungus for rising coffee prices Wonder why that cup o' joe is so expensive? The culprit, says ecologist Ivette Perfecto of the University of Michigan, is a fungus sweeping through coffee plantations in Mexico and Central America, limiting coffee production and pushing prices higher.
Biological sciences professor publishes pupfish research Craig Stockwell, professor of biological sciences, has co-written a research article that evaluates the history of the Devil's Hole pupfish, which rapidly evolved following its isolation. The article published Sept. 17 in the Proceedings of The Royal Society B.
	Aspen recovering as wildlife populations shift in Yellowstone National Park Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is undergoing dramatic shifts with consequences that are beginning to return the landscape to conditions not seen in nearly a century, according to a series of new studies.
	Winemaking taint smoked out Winemaking methods influence the degree of smoke taint in wines made from smoke-exposed grapes, new research suggests.
	Eradication efforts unite to preserve fairy-wren population Indigenous rangers and the Department of Agriculture and Food have been working with pastoralists to eradicate ornamental rubber vine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis) growing along the river banks at Mount House station in the north-west Kimberley.
Gene doubling shapes the world: Instant speciation, biodiversity, and the root of our existence What do seedless watermelon, salmon, and strawberries all have in common? Unlike most eukaryotic multicellular organisms that have two sets of chromosomes and are diploid, these organisms are all polyploid, meaning they have three or more sets of chromosomes—seedless watermelon and salmon have 3 and 4 sets of chromosomes, respectively, and strawberries have 10! While this might seem surprising, in fact most plant species are polyploid. Polyploidy, or genome doubling, was first discovered over a century ago, but only recently, with the development of molecular tools, has it been revealed just how ubiquitous it is. Polyploidy is being increasingly recognized as an important evolutionary force that can facilitate positive adaptations, lead to instant speciation, and increase biodiversity.
Scientists discover how to beat monk parakeets at their own game In a study published this week in the online journal PeerJ, University of Connecticut researchers announce they have found a way to prevent Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monarchus), an invasive species of parrot, from building huge nests that create power outages and public hazards on utility poles by blocking their access to the electric lines that are the gateway to their nest sites.
	Shape up quickly—applies to fish, too Fish can live in almost any aquatic environment on Earth, but when the climate changes and temperatures go up many species are pushed to the limit. The amount of time needed to adjust to new conditions could prove critical for how different species cope in the future, reveals a new study from researchers at the University of Gothenburg, published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
	Risk-taking behavior depends on metabolic rate and temperature in great tits Animals often differ in their behavioural response to risky situations such as exposure to predators. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology now found in a long-term study on different populations of great tits that risk-taking behaviour correlates with both metabolic rate and ambient temperature. High metabolic rates and low temperatures were associated with high risk-taking behaviour, as in these scenarios birds were more likely to approach potential predators.
	Pollution linked to lethal sea turtle tumors Pollution in urban and farm runoff in Hawaii is causing tumors in endangered sea turtles, a new study finds.
World's first microbe 'zoo' opens in Amsterdam The world's first "interactive microbe zoo" opened in Amsterdam on Tuesday, shining new light on the tiny creatures that make up two-thirds of all living matter and are vital for our planet's future.
	Innovation to turn 'junk DNA' into genetic markers A series of the Next-Generation Sequencer (NGS) applications are being developed to utilize 'junk DNA' as distinctive genetic analysis systems for crop species.
	Fulminating parasites that affect the production of tilapia Veracruz is the main producing state of mojarra-tilapia in the country, activity performed around 639 fish farms in 120 municipalities. For internal consumption, the state demands 15 thousand tons per year. The supply is three thousand, ie, only 20 percent, and the rest is purchased from Chiapas, Tamaulipas and Michoacan and even imported from China and Thailand, according to the Tilapia Production Committee, in Veracruz.
	Little blue penguin back at sea after hospital stint Wildbase Recovery Community Trust ambassador and Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie joined Massey University veterinary staff to release a little blue penguin back into the sea at Himatangi Beach this morning.
	Biologists identify pot gardens as salmon threat Federal biologists say the marijuana industry in the Emerald Triangle of Northern California and southern Oregon is a key threat to salmon in danger of extinction.
Biodiversity in the Mediterranean is threatened by alien species Millions of tourists visit the Mediterranean each year, but its deep-blue waters host the largest invasion currently underway on Earth. Almost 1,000 alien species, including fish, crustaceans, and algae are now established from other seas through human activities. In the open-access journal Frontiers in Marine Science, a multinational team of researchers analyzed data from a new information system developed by the European Commission to show how the introduction of alien species has changed the native biodiversity within the Mediterranean.
Elk nose into Grand Canyon water stations Thirsty hikers have to wait. The elk are first in line.
35,000 walrus come ashore in northwest Alaska Pacific walrus looking for places to rest in the absence of sea ice are coming to shore in record numbers on Alaska's northwest coast.

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