Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 6

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 6, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week - Observation of elusive antiparticle, mystery on Titan and reversing memory loss from Alzheimer's
- A quick look at electron-boson coupling: Researchers use ultrafast spectroscopy on many body effects
- Trio win Nobel medicine prize for brain's 'GPS' (Update)
- New device can slow, reverse heart failure, study finds
- Why is educational achievement heritable?
- First-ever global life cycle assessment of renewable energy future
- Lizards in the Caribbean: How geography influences animal evolution
- Gigapixel camera that takes high-resolution snapshots of entire body could be simple new tool for cancer screening
- New theorem determines the age distribution of populations from fruit flies to humans
- New imaging technique could detect acoustically 'invisible' cracks
- RoomAlive: Microsoft Research team shows gaming future
- 'Broad consensus' that violent media increase child aggression
- Report claims success treating Alzheimer's memory loss
- Fermilab's 500-mile neutrino experiment up and running
- Are leaders born or made? New study shows how leadership develops

Astronomy & Space news

	The evidence for pair-instability supernovae A supernova is a stellar explosion. They can occur when a large star exhausts its ability to fuse hydrogen into higher elements, and its core collapses. The resulting rebound rips apart the outer layers of the star, creating a supernova while the remains of the core collapses into a neutron star. Another type of supernova, known as a thermal runaway or type Ia, occurs when a white dwarf is a close companion with another star. As outer layers of the companion are captured by the white dwarf, it can trigger a runaway nuclear reaction that rips apart the white dwarf. This latter form always has about the same absolute brightness, which is why they are used to measure the distances of far galaxies.
	The most metal-poor stars in the galactic bulge found An international team of astrophysicists has identified the most metal-poor stars in the Milky Way bulge. They present their findings in a paper published on Oct. 2. The scientists describe the discovery and analysis of four bulge giants - the lowest metallicity bulge stars studied with high-resolution spectroscopy to date. Using the Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph (FLAMES) spectra, through the Gaia-ESO Survey they have derived abundances of twelve elements. "Given the uncertainties, we find a chemical similarity between these bulge stars and halo stars of the same metallicity, although the abundance scatter may be larger, with some of the stars showing unusual ratios," the team writes in the paper.
	Scientist unveils seismo-ionospheric effects of the 'Chelyabinsk' meteorite fall The meteorite that hit the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on Feb. 15, 2013, was the cause of a large number of dynamic ionospheric, atmospheric and seismic phenomena. Oleg Berngardt of the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics in Irkutsk, Russia, presents the properties of ionospheric irregularities elongated with the Earth's magnetic field during the first 25 minutes after the impact. The irregularities were observed by the EKB radar of Russian segment of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), an international radar network for studying the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. "It is shown that 40 minutes before meteor fall, the EKB radar started to observe powerful scattering from irregularities elongated with the Earth magnetic field in the F-layer. Scattering was observed for 80 minutes and stopped 40 minutes after the meteorite fall," Berngardt writes in a paper.
	The difficulties of cataloging dark nebulae E. E. Barnard is an astronomer perhaps best known for measuring the proper motion of a faint red dwarf about six light years away, now known as Barnard's star. But Barnard was also a pioneer of astrophotography, and he did a great deal of work studying dark nebulae.
	The difficulty of using the Doppler shift to measure the wobble of a star One of the biggest advances of astronomy in the past decade has been the discovery of planets orbiting other stars, known as exoplanets. But just how many exoplanets have been discovered? According to the Extrasolar Planet Encyclopedia, a semi-official catalog based in Europe, there were as of the end of September last year 990 confirmed exoplanets and 2,321 candidate exoplanets. The discrepancy between these numbers has to do with the limitations of the observational data we currently have.
	Global 3-D Mars image from ISRO's MOM and ESA's Rosetta Here's another breathtakingly glorious view from India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) – her first global 3-D portrait of her new home careening around the Red Planet.
	We need to know about alien biology before we know how they think Should E.T. finally give Earth a ring, it's not only important to understand what the message says but why it is being sent, a speaker at a talk about extraterrestrials urged this week. This requires understanding about alien social behavior, also known as sociology.
	Second total lunar eclipse of year coming up Wed. If you missed April's total eclipse of the moon, now's your chance. But you'll need to get up early.

Technology news

New web privacy system could revolutionize the safety of surfing Researchers from UCL, Stanford Engineering, Google, Chalmers and Mozilla Research have built a new system that protects Internet users' privacy whilst increasing the flexibility for web developers to build web applications that combine data from different web sites, dramatically improving the safety of surfing the web.
	Mozilla is making plans for 64-bit Firefox browser Late last year, a questioner sent his query to Mozilla support: "Is there still not an official 64-bit version of FIrefox available for Windows?" The answer: "Mozilla doesn't have a release version of Firefox 64-bit for Windows operating systems." The latest news is good news for those hoping for a different answer.
	First commercial quantities of cellulosic ethanol from woody biomass marketed Scientists and engineers—including several at Michigan Technological University—have been talking for years about biofuel, particularly cellulosic ethanol, which is fuel made from trees and other woody plants. The stumbling blocks have been huge and progress, slow. But the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Renewable Fuels Standard mandates that cellulosic ethanol be blended into gasoline for use in vehicles, so the need is immediate.
	Through the combining glass Trying on clothes when a shop is closed could become a reality thanks to new research that uses semi-transparent mirrors in interactive systems and which will be unveiled at an international conference tomorrow.
	First-ever global life cycle assessment of renewable energy future A future where electricity comes mostly from low-carbon sources is not only feasible in terms of material demand, but will significantly reduce air pollution, a study published in the today's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says.
	Gigapixel camera that takes high-resolution snapshots of entire body could be simple new tool for cancer screening Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer type in the United States, and it's also the deadliest form of skin cancer, causing more than 75 percent of skin-cancer deaths. If caught early enough though, it is almost always curable. Now a camera, capable of taking snapshots of the entire human body and rendering high-resolution images of a patient's skin may help doctors spot cancer early and save lives.
	RoomAlive: Microsoft Research team shows gaming future Once upon a time family entertainment meant checkers, darts and playing charades. Then came game consoles and headsets. Now a Microsoft Research effort shows RoomAlive, a proof-of-concept prototype that makes rooms immersive experiences. RoomAlive would mark a turning point for more people who generally enjoy gaming. In their paper "RoomAlive: Magical Experiences Enabled by Scalable, Adaptive Projector-Camera Units," the research team noted how "the game world is still distinctly separate from our real world. We may feel more present in the game world, but the game is not present in our world." The authors are Brett Jones, Rajinder Sodhi, Michael Murdock, Ravish Mehra, Hrvoje Benko, Andrew Wilson, Eyal Ofek, Blair MacIntyre, Nikunj Raghuvanshi, and Lior Shapira.
Cyber crime costing US billions, FBI chief says China is waging an aggressive cyber-war against the United States which costs American business billions of dollars every year, Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey said Sunday.
	Hewlett-Packard splits off PC, printer businesses Hewlett-Packard is splitting itself into two companies, one focused on its personal computer and printing business and another on technology services such as data storage, servers and software, betting that it can drive faster sales growth with more-focused operations.
	Robotic solutions inspired by plants EU researchers are demonstrating revolutionary robotic techniques inspired by plants, featuring a 3D-printed 'trunk', 'leaves' that sense the environment and 'roots' that grow and change direction.
	Facebook closes WhatsApp purchase now worth $21.8B Facebook has completed its acquisition of the mobile messaging service WhatsApp for almost $22 billion, up from the original $19 billion when the cash-and-stock deal was struck early this year thanks in part to the rising price of Facebook shares.
	Hewlett-Packard's rise, fall and future A plaque that reads "Birthplace of 'Silicon Valley'" marks the garage in Palo Alto, California, where Hewlett-Packard Co. got its start in the late 1930s.
	Bezos to integrate WaPost app in new Kindle Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos plans to tie the newspaper to his Amazon empire with a built-in Kindle tablet news app to reach a wider audience, a report said Monday.
Brazil elections most talked about in Facebook history Brazil's elections Sunday inspired 346 million comments, conversations and other exchanges on Facebook, going on record as the most talked about in the social network's history.
	Bidding hot for Apple iPhone 6 prototype Bidding for a rare prototype of Apple's new-generation iPhone 6 neared a whopping $100,000 on eBay Monday, after the device appeared to have accidentally landed in a buyer's hands.
	Can Hewlett-Packard survive the tablet trend? Personal computer sales have been in a slump for years, as customers flock to increasingly powerful smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Now Hewlett-Packard, the Silicon Valley stalwart that was once the world's biggest seller of personal computers, is splitting off its PC and printing businesses. It's the latest shakeup in a tech industry that's being reshaped by the mobile revolution.
	The digital divide is narrowing but more needs to be done The ease of buying shoes or managing our banking over a mobile phone connected to the internet has changed our expectations regarding accessible services. But not everyone is connected to the internet in Australia so how do we make sure any growth is equalled by ability to use and navigate services online?
Turner Broadcasting cutting 1,475 jobs Turner Broadcasting, the parent of the CNN, TBS and TNT networks, is eliminating about 1,475 jobs, or about 10 percent of its total employees.

Medicine & Health news

	Trio win Nobel medicine prize for brain's 'GPS' (Update) British-American researcher John O'Keefe on Monday won the Nobel Medicine Prize with a Norwegian couple, May-Britt and Edvard Moser, for discovering an "inner GPS" that helps the brain navigate.
	A new way to extract bone-making cells from fat tissue Within our fat lives a variety of cells with the potential to become bone, cartilage, or more fat if properly prompted. This makes adipose tissue, in theory, a readily available reservoir for regenerative therapies such as bone healing if doctors can get enough of those cells and compel them to produce bone.
	Bio-researchers cause weight reduction in mice by injecting them with a therapeutic gene A team of researchers working in South Korea, has developed a technique for delivering a therapeutic gene to fat cells, causing the fat cells to function less efficiently, thereby reducing weight in test mice. In their paper published in Nature Materials, the team describes how they developed their technique, their results and problems they have yet to overcome.
	Tumors might grow faster at night: Hormone that keeps us alert also suppresses the spread of cancer They emerge at night, while we sleep unaware, growing and spreading out as quickly as they can. And they are deadly. In a surprise finding that was recently published in Nature Communications, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers showed that nighttime is the right time for cancer to grow and spread in the body. Their findings suggest that administering certain treatments in time with the body's day-night cycle could boost their efficiency.
Why is educational achievement heritable? New research, led by King's College London finds that the high heritability of exam grades reflects many genetically influenced traits such as personality, behaviour problems, and self-efficacy and not just intelligence.
	New device can slow, reverse heart failure, study finds A new, implantable device to control heart failure is showing promising results in the first trial to determine safety and effectiveness in patients, according to lead researcher Dr. William Abraham of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
	'Broad consensus' that violent media increase child aggression Majorities of media researchers, parents and pediatricians agree that exposure to violent media can increase aggression in children, according to a new national study.
	Team demonstrates direct fluid flow influences neuron growth A University of Texas at Arlington team exploring how neuron growth can be controlled in the lab and, possibly, in the human body has published a new paper in Nature's Scientific Reports on how fluid flow could play a significant role.
New vaccines targeting adults and teens are best chance to eliminate tuberculosis by 2050 Targets to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2050 are more likely to be met if new vaccines are developed for adults and adolescents instead of for infants, according to new research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Report claims success treating Alzheimer's memory loss (HealthDay)— A researcher is reporting success in a small study of reversing memory problems associated with early stage Alzheimer's disease by using a complex program of lifestyle changes, supplements and hormones.
Sexting leads to increased sexual behavior among teens Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston say that sexting may be the new "normal" part of adolescent sexual development and is not strictly limited to at-risk teens. The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, are from the first study on the relationship between teenage sexting, or sending sexually explicit images to another electronically, and future sexual activity.
A vicious cycle in osteoarthritis: Sleep disturbance-pain-depression-disability New research confirms that sleep disturbances are linked to pain and depression, but not disability, among patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Study results published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), found that poor sleep increases depression and disability, but does not worsen pain over time.
	Kids' oral language skills can predict future writing difficulties Children's future writing difficulties can be identified before they even learn how to begin writing, according to a new study by Professor Phaedra Royle and Postdoctoral fellow Alexandra Marquis of the University of Montreal's School of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
	Trying to share our 'epic' moments may leave us feeling left out We might love to reminisce and tell others about our extraordinary experiences—that time we climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, got to taste a rare wine, or ran into a celebrity on the street—but new research suggests that sharing these extraordinary experiences may come at a social cost. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Wealthy parents increased spending on children during recession While a recession is typically a time when everyone from families to corporations tighten their belts, high-income parents actually increased spending on their children during the Great Recession, according to findings presented at the 2014 American Sociological Association conference.
Asthma vaccine discovery With asthma now affecting up to one in four New Zealand children, the researchers say this is a promising step in the challenge to understand and control asthma.
	Preschoolers with low empathy at risk for continued problems (Medical Xpress)—A toddler who doesn't feel guilty after misbehaving or who is less affectionate or less responsive to affection from others might not raise a red flag to parents, but these behaviors may result in later behavior problems in 1st grade.
Reversing the effects of binge drinking on mental health Alcohol binge drinking is bad at any age. But binge drinking if you're young and have a mental health issue is a recipe for disaster.
Treating addiction with technology Warren Bickel, a professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, saw a different kind of opportunity when the dot com bubble began inflating in the late 1990s. He wasn't interested in building websites or creating social networks – he wanted to harness the power of the Internet to generate a novel treatment for addicts.
	Mother's behavior has strong effect on cocaine-exposed children It is not only prenatal drug exposure, but also conditions related to drug use that can influence negative behavior in children, according to a new study from the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions.
Fewer blood vessels in adipose tissue could explain higher risk of diabetes Type 2 diabetes normally occurs in late middle age, but the reason is still unclear. An international team of researchers led from Karolinska Institutet have, in experiments on mice, shown that adipose tissue develops fewer blood vessels in middle age – which could explain why the risk of developing the disease increases at this stage in life. The researchers are confident that the discovery, which is published in the journal PNAS, opens the door for a whole new treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes, in which drugs that modulate vessel formation can be used to prevent the disease from occurring.
Therapists' emotional skills under research spotlight How are you feeling? is a query normally reserved for the client in a therapy session. But Massey University psychology researchers are asking therapists that question to find out how socially and emotionally astute they are.
	Scientists bringing cells on the fast track During cancer metastasis, immune response cells are moving in a controlled manner through the body. Researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel discovered novel mechanisms of cell migration by observing cells moving on lines of connective tissue. Their results, published in the journal Developmental Cell, could lead to new approaches in combatting cancer metastasis and inflammation.
	The spatial and temporal dynamics of specific glutamate receptors in the brain Dr. Uwe Schulte, Dr. Jochen Schwenk, Prof. Dr. Bernd Fakler, and their team have elucidated the enormous spatial and temporal dynamics in protein composition of the AMPA-type glutamate receptors, the most important excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. These receptors are located in the synapses, the contact points between two nerve cells, where they are responsible for the rapid signal transduction and information processing. The results illustrate that the receptors are far more diverse than previously anticipated and pave the way for research into their functions in the various regions of the brain. The biologists published their findings in the journal Neuron.
	Zapping the brain with tiny magnetic pulses improves memory The practice of physically stimulating the brain in order to alleviate symptoms of illness and injury has been around since the early 20th century. For example, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is still used to alleviate symptoms of depression.
	Babies' gut bacteria are mostly fixed by time spent in the womb From eyes to the gap between the toes, we are covered in bacterial colonies. Between 500 and 1000 unique species live in our gut alone. We provide an ideal environment for bacteria: warmth, moisture, nutrients and protection.
	Harness children's competitive streak to drive healthy eating habits Introducing a competitive edge at school meal times could increase the number of children eating fruit and vegetables by up to a third, according to a new briefing published today (Monday 6 October) by our Institute for Policy Research (IPR).
	Women with gestational diabetes don't have to avoid carbs "They think they can't eat toast. That's what killed me," says Teri Hernandez, PhD, RN. "Pregnant women don't feel well in the morning. If they can't have toast, what can they eat?"
	Institute recommends brief counselling and as-needed nalmefene to help people with alcohol dependence The drug nalmefene, which can help people dependent on alcohol cut down on the amount they drink, has been recommended in final draft guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
	Can respiratory tract infections, allergies and inflammation be prevented by targeted nutrition? With targeted nutrition and additional micronutrients the resistance against respiratory tract infections, allergies and inflammation can be increased. That is vitally important for children under the age of 5 years and people aged 65 and over, who suffer from these complaints the most. The resistance in tissues covered with a mucous membrane in the area of the mouth, throat, and nose has scarcely been investigated. Such research could, however, yield important results says Professor Joost van Neerven. On Thursday 2 October he will accept the position of Professor Mucosal Immunity (endowed chair) at Wageningen University.
Current treatment leaves stroke patients at risk New research has shown current practices for treating stroke victims may be leaving patients overburdened by their treatment plans putting them at risk of adverse side effects.
	Study confirms that doctors prescribe more painkillers to women Regardless of the pain type, age and social class, women are more likely to be prescribed analgaesia than men. This is confirmed by a study conducted by several members of the Research Group on Public Health at the University of Alicante and funded by the Women's Institute, which recently received the XXIV Award of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology for the best original article published in the journal Gaceta Sanitaria in 2013.
	A glimpse into the 3D brain: How memories form People who wish to know how memory works are forced to take a glimpse into the brain. They can now do so without bloodshed: RUB researchers have developed a new method for creating 3D models of memory-relevant brain structures. They published their results in the trade journal Frontiers in Neuroanatomy.
	Survey of toddlers' teeth shows ticking time bomb The first ever survey of oral health in three-year-olds in England has been conducted by Public Health England, which released its report this week. It made shocking reading – some 12 per cent of toddlers across the country were reported to have experienced dental decay.
	Mapping blood flow with bubbles and ultrasound Microbubbles are being used with ultrasound to create microscopic maps of blood vessels, in a new technique being developed by King's College London and Imperial College London. This new approach, which generates much more detailed images than conventional ultrasound, may one day help doctors to spot early signs of blood vessel growth or damage, or establish whether a patient is responding to treatment.
Nobel medicine laureate gets news coming off plane Norwegian neuroscientist Edvard Moser learned that he had won the Nobel Medicine Prize only when he stepped off a plane in Munich Monday.
Link between breast implants and cancer under investigation An international research group including Viennese pathologist Lukas Kenner has reviewed cases of possible association between breast implants and a form of lymphoma that may develop tumors at a later stage. The researchers conclude that breast implants can cause a new subtype of the rare yet malignant lymphoma known as ALCL. The research results have been published in the journal Mutation Research.
	Study of identical twins reveals type 2 diabetes clues By studying identical twins, researchers from Lund University in Sweden have identified mechanisms that could be behind the development of type 2 diabetes. This may explain cases where one identical twin develops type 2 diabetes while the other remains healthy.
	Marriage a plus for Nobel aspirants Norwegian scientists May-Britt and Edvard Moser, co-winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine Monday, join a century-old tradition of couples whose marriages may have propelled them towards the coveted prize.
	'JAKing' up blood cancers, one cell at a time A solitary cell containing a unique abnormality can result in certain types of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
	Controlling Ebola in communities is critical factor in containing outbreaks Reducing community transmission and changing behaviour in communities is key to containing Ebola outbreaks, according to new research into the first known outbreak of the virus in 1976 by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health.
	Physician payments found not to favor procedures (HealthDay)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule does not systematically provide higher valuation of physician work per unit time for procedure/test codes than for evaluation and management (E/M) codes, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Surgery.
Cancer medicine: New, improved, expensive and exploited? Two studies published in the October 2014 issue of Health Affairs by a University of Chicago health economist examine spending on oral anti-cancer drugs as well as a federal program designed to help the poor, which researchers say instead helps hospitals boost profits.
	If you want an antibiotic see your doctor later in the day Clinicians make many patient care decisions each day, and the cumulative demand of these decisions may make inappropriate choices more likely later in the day. In primary care, doctors often prescribe unnecessary antibiotics for acute respiratory infections (ARI). Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston found that doctors appeared to "wear down" during their morning and afternoon clinic sessions, and antibiotic prescribing rates increased. These findings are published in JAMA Internal Medicine on October 6, 2014.
Effective treatments available for HIV patients not eligible for efavirenz regimens A new national clinical trial found HIV drug regimens that do not include efavirenz are effective as first-line antiretroviral therapy. The finding is important for patients who are not eligible for treatment with efavirenz, including women considering becoming pregnant and patients with a history of severe psychiatric disorders.
Hospitals use performance on publicly reported quality measures in annual goals A majority of hospitals reported incorporating performance on publicly reported quality measures into their quality improvement efforts, however many hospital leaders expressed concern about the clinical meaningfulness of quality measures, the ability to draw inferences about quality from them and the potential for "gaming" the system to improve them, write Peter K. Lindenauer, M.D., M.Sc., of the Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass., and colleagues.
Randomized trial examines community-acquired pneumonia treatments In a randomized clinical trial of antibiotic treatments for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), researchers did not find that monotherapy with β-lactam alone was worse than a combination therapy with a macrolide in patients hospitalized with moderately severe pneumonia, write author Nicolas Garin, M.D., Hôpital Riviera-Chablais, Switzerland, and colleagues.
Less than half of Canadians exercise to relieve stress A research study out of McMaster University has found that only 40 per cent of Canadians exercise to cope with stress.
There's no such thing as a vaginal orgasm, review finds G-spot, vaginal, or clitoral orgasms are all incorrect terms, experts say. In a recent Clinical Anatomy review, they argue that like 'male orgasm', 'female orgasm' is the correct term.
	Children understand familiar voices better than those of strangers Familiar voices can improve spoken language processing among school-age children, according to a study by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. However, the advantage of hearing a familiar voice only helps children to process and understand words they already know well, not new words that aren't in their vocabularies.
	How rabies "hijacks" neurons to attack the brain Rabies causes acute inflammation of the brain, producing psychosis and violent aggression. The virus, which paralyzes the body's internal organs, is always deadly for those unable to obtain vaccines in time. Some 55,000 people die from rabies every year.
	Sesame Street teaches physicians a lesson More than two million people are incarcerated in the United States, the highest incarceration rate in the world. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that last year the popular children's television series Sesame Street introduced a character that has an incarcerated father.
Prenatal BPA exposure associated with diminished lung function in children Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA, a common chemical used in some plastics) appears to be inconsistently associated with diminished lung function and the development of persistent wheeze in children, write Adam J. Spanier, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, and colleagues.
Sex differences in distance running participation disappears, study says Even among contemporary U.S. distance runners, men are still much more likely than women to have a competitive orientation, according to researchers at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. The findings were published in the online journal, Evolutionary Psychology.
	Neurons react to the transmission activity of exosomes on three fundamental levels As cell biologists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany have discovered, nerve cells can enlist the aid of mini-vesicles of neighboring glial cells to defend themselves against stress and other potentially detrimental factors. These vesicles, called exosomes, appear to stimulate the neurons on various levels: They influence electrical stimulus conduction, biochemical signal transfer and gene regulation. Exosomes are thus multifunctional signal emitters that can have a significant effect in the brain.
	New concern worldwide as nurse in Spain gets Ebola Raising fresh concern around the world, a nurse in Spain on Monday became the first person known to catch Ebola outside the outbreak zone in West Africa. In the U.S., the Obama administration considered ordering more careful screening of airline passengers arriving from the region.
	London cabbies streets ahead with 'inner GPS': Nobel winner John O'Keefe, the US-British neuroscientist who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine on Monday, told AFP the brain's "inner GPS" system he discovered was starkly evident in London taxi drivers.
	Womb transplant mother hopes to inspire others The Swedish parents of the first baby ever born to a woman who had a womb transplant say they hope they can be an inspiration to others struggling with infertility.
	Cancer diagnosis can take toll on mental health, study finds (HealthDay)—One out of three people diagnosed with cancer also wind up struggling with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression, a new study from Germany reports.
Study finds that care lags for people who have a stroke in hospital At the first sign of a stroke, time is of the essence. For every minute of delay in treatment, people typically lose almost two million brain cells. Yet a new study presented at the Canadian Stroke Congress reveals that those delays – in getting the right tests and the right drugs – can be longer when people experience a stroke in a hospital.
Innovative stroke patient management system cuts hospital bed usage by more than 25 percent An innovative patient management system at the acute stroke unit of Kelowna (BC) General Hospital has reduced the number of stroke patient bed days by more than 25 per cent, according to a study of the system presented at the annual Canadian Stroke Congress in Vancouver.
US doctor cleared of Ebola virus US health officials said that a doctor who returned to a hospital after being treated for the Ebola virus last month did not in fact have a new case of the infectious disease.
	Treatments for HIV-visceral leishmaniasis co-infected patients The international research & development (R&D) consortium, AfriCoLeish, formed by six research organizations from East Africa and Europe, has launched a Phase III clinical study to address the extreme difficulty in treating visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in patients who also are HIV-positive. The study will assess the efficacy and the safety of two treatments: a combination treatment of AmBisome and miltefosine, and AmBisome alone. This is the first randomized clinical trial in Africa to confirm the World Health Organization's recommendation for HIV-VL treatment. Two sites, Gondar and Abdurafi, in northwest Ethiopia, one of the highest burden areas in the world, have begun recruiting patients.
Asia grapples with food safety as incomes rise Every morning, food samples are laid out on a long table at a pristine laboratory run by a German firm in Singapore—but they're not meant for chefs or gourmets.
	Federal officials cast doubt on Ebola travel ban Top government health officials say they are opposed to placing a ban on travelers from Ebola-infected countries, warning that shutting down borders could impede efforts by aid workers to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Fear grows in US following first diagnosed Ebola case Assurances from US health officials that there is almost no chance of a US Ebola outbreak are doing little to allay Americans' fears, days after the first domestic case was diagnosed.
Uganda confirms Marburg fever recently killed man A Ugandan health worker recently died of Marburg, a highly infectious disease that manifests as a viral hemorrhagic fever, Uganda's Ministry of Health confirmed Monday as health workers moved to quarantine a total of 80 people who had been in contact with the victim.
	Paediatricians say mandatory detention is child abuse More than 80% of Australian paediatricians believe mandatory detention of asylum seeker children constitutes child abuse, according to survey results published today in the Medical Journal of Australia.
	More Ebola screening possible for United States Federal health officials said Monday the U.S. is weighing whether to institute extra screening at U.S. airports where travelers from Ebola-stricken African nations may be arriving, ahead of a White House meeting on the Ebola outbreak.
Oxycodone may be more dangerous than other addictive pain medication While all prescription opioids can be abused, oxycodone may be more potent in its ability to promote changes in the brain relevant to addiction.
Most liver cancer patients do not receive proper care Many US patients with liver cancer—even those with early stage disease that can often be cured—do not receive treatment for their disease, according to an analysis of studies published between 1989 and 2013.
Stigma can hinder access to health care for the poor In a study of 574 low-income adults, many felt stigmatized when receiving medical care. This stigma was most often the result of interactions with clinicians that felt demeaning, rather than an internalized sense of shame related to receiving public insurance or charity care.
School connectedness can help bullied gay and bisexual youth In a study of 951 lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, those experiencing both cyber and school bullying were most likely to engage in aggressive and suicidal behaviors. However, bullied youth who felt connected to an adult at school were not more likely to report such behaviors.
	Does emotional stability affect the success of online poker players? While poker is a game of chance, there is skill and decision-making involved, and the quality of those decisions depends on both knowledge of the game and the ability to control one's emotions. The results of a new study that evaluates emotionality, experience level, and success among online poker players are presented in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
	Is internet-based diabetes self-management education beneficial? Self-management of diabetes, including medication, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies, is essential for optimal glycemic control and minimizing complications of the disease. Education to teach and improve self-management skills is critical for success and, when delivered via the Internet, can lead to better glycemic control and enhanced diabetes knowledge compared to usual care, according to a Review article in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT).
Do no harm: Pediatrician calls for safely cutting back on tests, treatments When parents take a sick or injured child to the doctor or emergency room, they often expect tests to be done and treatments given. So if the physician sends them on their way with the reassurance that their child will get better in a few days, they might ask: "Shouldn't you do a CT scan?" or "Can you prescribe an antibiotic?"
Former fashion photographer celebrates beauty in human diversity Award-winning fashion photographer Rick Guidotti crisscrossed the globe taking photos for renowned clients such as Yves Saint Laurent, Revlon and GQ. Now, he uses his eye for beauty to capture images of children and adults with genetic, physical, cognitive and behavioral differences.
ACS COT releases sixth edition of resources for optimal care of the injured patient The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) today announced the release of its 2014 edition of the Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient. Now in its sixth edition, the COT's Resources document provides the guidelines used by the ACS Verification/Consultation Program to evaluate trauma centers. It outlines the essential and desirable requirements for trauma centers pursuing consultation or seeking to gain or maintain verification by the ACS COT.
Texas Ebola patient gets experimental drug A Liberian man diagnosed with Ebola in Texas has received an experimental drug, the first time the medicine has been used to fight the deadly virus in humans, officials said Monday.

Biology news

	Research paves way for new generation of fungicides Plants that come under attack from pathogens have an automatic immune response. Fungi get around this plant immunity by injecting proteins into the host plant cells. These 'effector proteins' enable the fungi to escape the plant's immune system and allow the fungal cells to enter the plant unrecognised.
Online games and remote experiments could reduce scientific fraud, cherry-picking One way to combat the rising level of errors and fraud in life sciences research is through massive online laboratories, which use videogames to engage large numbers of non-professional investigators and prevent scientists from manually testing their own hypotheses, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University say.
	Enlisting evolutionary biology against modern threats To many, the term evolutionary biology encompasses the realm of fossils, dinosaurs and changes over eons.
	New theorem determines the age distribution of populations from fruit flies to humans The initial motivation was to estimate the age structure of a fruit fly population, the result a fundamental theorem that can help determine the age distribution of essentially any group.
A novel roadmap through bacterial genomes leads the way to new drug discovery For millennia, bacteria and other microbes have engaged in intense battles of chemical warfare, attempting to edge each other out of comfortable ecological niches. Doctors fight pathogens with an arsenal of weapons—antibiotics—co-opted from these microbial wars, but their efforts are frustrated by the development of drug resistance that outpaces drug discovery. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University have now innovated and demonstrated the value of an algorithm to analyze microbial genomic data and speed discovery of new therapeutic drugs.
Lizards in the Caribbean: How geography influences animal evolution A new and potentially more revealing way of studying how animal evolution is affected by the geography of climate has been designed by researchers at The University of Nottingham and Harvard University.
	New technique allows scientists to find rare stem cells within bone marrow Deep within the bone marrow resides a type of cells known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These immature cells can differentiate into cells that produce bone, cartilage, fat, or muscle—a trait that scientists have tried to exploit for tissue repair.
	Natural gene selection can produce orange corn rich in provitamin A for Africa, US Purdue researchers have identified a set of genes that can be used to naturally boost the provitamin A content of corn kernels, a finding that could help combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries and macular degeneration in the elderly.
	Gene discovery prevents weight gain with a high-sugar diet Imagine being able to take a pill that lets you eat all of the ice cream, cookies, and cakes that you wanted – without gaining any weight.
	UN biodiversity meet warns of unmet targets (Update) A UN conference on preserving the earth's dwindling resources opened Monday with grim warnings that the depletion of natural habitats and species was outpacing efforts to protect them.
	Fish colon offers insight into evolution Skates have primitive colons. This may not sound like a big deal, but it is. The discovery could change scientific understanding of evolution, of how animals emerged from water to live on land.
	New ageing method boosts octopus research Scientists are using weight to determine the age of wild octopuses, enabling an understanding of the impact of fishing and revealing WA's octopus population is in very good health.
	Researchers find rare bee feared headed for extinction Rusty patched bumble bees were once a common sight, flitting from flower to flower to sip nectar and transfer pollen. But that species of bee had not been seen in the eastern United States for five years, and researchers feared that one of nature's most efficient pollinators was headed for extinction.
	Are Montana's invasive fish in for a shock? A new paper from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Montana State University, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Geological Survey looks at the feasibility of electrofishing to selectively remove invasive trout species from Montana streams as an alternative to using fish toxicants known as piscicides that effect all gill-breathing organisms.
	With wildlife populations cut in half, governments need to redouble efforts A status report on biodiversity protection efforts shows that serious action is required to reduce pressures on natural systems and prevent continued decline of wildlife. The report was released on Monday at the opening meeting of the Convention of Biological Diversity in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
	Combating national rose rosette disease crisis focus of Texas study A tiny mite carried through the wind is threatening to take down the $400 million rose industry, and researchers from California to Pennsylvania are starting a five-year study to stop it.
	The effects of growing rice in low water and high salt conditions Two papers in the Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science investigate the effects of low water input, and high salt levels, on rice growth.
	Australian marsupial the woylie at risk again A small Australian marsupial called the woylie or brush-tailed bettong is once again critically endangered as a result of predators, principally cats, according to a Murdoch Professor.
	Detecting and preventing disease in trout Each year, the rainbow trout industry suffers significant economic losses due to bacterial cold-water disease, caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium psychrophilum. The disease also affects salmon and other cold-water fish species. It first occurs when fish are small, often leading to rapid death. Larger fish can become chronically infected and consequently have lesions and impaired growth and yield.
	An innovative way to increase the flowers, seed and fruits production A scientist from UPM has developed a method to enhance crop yield by the contact of roots, aerial parts or even the substratum of the plant fungus, 'Colletotrichum tofieldiae'.
	Invading crabs could threaten life in the Antarctic Life on the Antarctic sea floor is under threat from crabs that could invade the area thanks to favorable conditions as a result of global warming, researchers warn.
Animal rights group calls Nobel medicine award 'sad' A Norwegian animal rights group said Monday it was sad that the Nobel Medicine Prize went to research involving "very invasive" experiments with rats' brains.
Plan to protect weasel-like fisher cites pot risk Citing the threat from rat poisons spread around illegal marijuana plantations, federal biologists are proposing Endangered Species Act protection for West Coast populations of the fisher, a larger cousin of the weasel.

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