Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 16

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 16, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers find sea otter dental enamel 2.5 times as strong as humans
- Archeologists unearth 3,300 year old complex in Israel
- WASP has printer, will travel, to make houses
- Lockheed Martin pursues compact fusion reactor concept
- Dispelling a misconception about Mg-ion batteries
- Amphibian communities collapse in wake of viral outbreak
- Loss of big predators could leave herbivores in a thorny situation
- Researchers reach 'paradigm shift' in understanding potassium channels
- Engineers find a way to win in laser performance by losing
- Mysterious Midcontinent Rift is a geological hybrid
- Misfolded proteins clump together in a surprising place
- Jet lag can cause obesity by disrupting the daily rhythms of gut microbes
- Light bending material facilitates the search for new particles
- Cell architecture: Finding common ground
- Cosmic jets of young stars formed by magnetic fields

Astronomy & Space news

	Slow-growing galaxies offer window to early universe What makes one rose bush blossom with flowers, while another remains barren? Astronomers ask a similar question of galaxies, wondering how some flourish with star formation and others barely bloom.
	MESSENGER provides first optical images of ice near Mercury's north pole NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft has provided the first optical images of ice and other frozen volatile materials within permanently shadowed craters near Mercury's north pole. The images not only reveal the morphology of the frozen volatiles, but they also provide insight into when the ices were trapped and how they've evolved, according to an article published today in the journal, Geology.
	Researchers embark on longest space simulation on U.S. soil Six astronaut-like crew members have embarked on the longest dedicated space travel simulation ever conducted on U.S. soil.
	Scientists build first map of hidden universe A team led by astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy has created the first three-dimensional map of the 'adolescent' Universe, just 3 billion years after the Big Bang. This map, built from data collected from the W. M. Keck Observatory, is millions of light-years across and provides a tantalizing glimpse of large structures in the 'cosmic web' – the backbone of cosmic structure.
	Probing the past: Most reliable remote distance measurement yet Using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope astronomers have made what may be the most reliable distance measurement yet of an object that existed in the Universe's formative years. The galaxy is one of the faintest, smallest and most distant galaxies ever seen and measuring its distance with this accuracy was possible due only to the incredibly detailed mapping of how giant galaxy clusters warp the space-time around them.
Wobbling of a Saturn moon hints at what lies beneath Using instruments aboard the Cassini spacecraft to measure the wobbles of Mimas, the closest of Saturn's regular moons, a Cornell University astronomer publishing in Science, Oct. 17, has inferred that this small moon's icy surface cloaks either a rugby ball-shaped rocky core or a sloshing sub-surface ocean.
	Tiny "nanoflares" might heat the Sun's corona Why is the Sun's million-degree corona, or outermost atmosphere, so much hotter than the Sun's surface? This question has baffled astronomers for decades. Today, a team led by Paola Testa of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) is presenting new clues to the mystery of coronal heating using observations from the recently launched Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). The team finds that miniature solar flares called "nanoflares" - and the speedy electrons they produce - might partly be the source of that heat, at least in some of the hottest parts of the Sun's corona.
	First evidence of a hydrogen-deficient supernova progenitor A group of researchers led by Melina Bersten of Kavli IPMU recently presented a model that provides the first characterization of the progenitor for a hydrogen-deficient supernova. Their model predicts that a bright hot star, which is the binary companion to an exploding object, remains after the explosion. To verify their theory, the group secured observation time with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to search for such a remaining star. Their findings, which are reported in the October 2014 issue of The Astronomical Journal, have important implications for the evolution of massive stars.
	Formation and large scale confinement of jets emitted by young stars finally elucidated An international team of scientists has succeeded in explaining the formation and propagation over astronomical distances of jets of matter emitted by young stars—one of the most fascinating mysteries of modern astronomy. Using a patented experimental device and large-scale numerical simulations, the team obtained data consistent with astrophysical observations. The results of this research—just published in the prestigious journal Science—open up new opportunities for studying the role of magnetic fields in astrophysics and thermonuclear fusion. Bruno Albertazzi, a doctoral student in the energy and materials sciences program at INRS (in co-supervision with Ecole Polytechnique en France), is the primary author.
	Once in million years: Comet buzzing Mars on Sun (AP)—The heavens are hosting an event this weekend that occurs once in a million years or so.
	Galileo duo handed over in excellent shape A pair of fully functioning Galileo navigation satellites was recently delivered to its operators, as preparations get underway for the next round of launches.
	Molten metals in spin cycle on ESA's centrifuge The experimenters stared through bulletproof glass at the whirling 8 m-diameter centrifuge. Never mind the shaking or stirring of drink cocktails – what happens when you spin a cocktail of molten metal?
	Image: Observatory aims green laser at the International Space Station During the evening of 8 October 2014, ESA's observatory on the island of Tenerife, Spain, lit up the International Space Station with a green laser, normally used for testing next-generation optical communication technologies.

Technology news

	WASP has printer, will travel, to make houses At Maker Faire Rome, an Italian 3D printer company is demonstrating a tall, portable machine that will bring 3D-printed dwellings to impoverished countries. WASP has been exploring low-cost solutions to solve housing needs.
	Follow the leader: Insects benefit from good leadership too Scientists have shown for the first time that when insect larvae follow a leader to forage for food, both leaders and followers benefit, growing much faster than if they are in a group of only leaders or only followers. The work gives new insight into why such social relationships evolve in insects, and why they are maintained.
	Turning humble seaweed into biofuel The sea has long been a source of Norway's riches, whether from cod, farmed salmon or oil. Now one researcher from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) researcher hopes to add seaweed to this list as he refines a way to produce "biocrude" from common kelp.
	Thinner iPads, sharper iMacs in Apple's lineup (Update) (AP)—Apple unveiled a thinner iPad Thursday with a faster processor and a better camera as it tries to drive excitement for tablets amid slowing demand. The company also released an update to its Mac operating system and introduced a high-resolution iMac model that might appeal to heavy watchers of television over the Internet.
	Dispelling a misconception about Mg-ion batteries Lithium (Li)-ion batteries serve us well, powering our laptops, tablets, cell phones and a host of other gadgets and devices. However, for future automotive applications, we will need rechargeable batteries with significant increases in energy density, reductions in cost and improvements in safety. Hence the big push in the battery industry to develop an alternative to the Li-ion technology.
	Netflix hammered by weak subscriber growth Netflix shares plunged Wednesday after its quarterly report showing disappointing subscriber growth for the streaming video group which has been expanding globally.
	Cost of cyber atacks jumps for US firms Cybercrime costs are escalating for US companies and attacks are becoming more complicated to resolve, a study showed Wednesday.
	Hailo taxi app folds in US, looks to Europe and Asia Hailo, the taxi app launched with the help of London cab drivers, is pulling out of North America, citing tough competition from rivals such as Uber and Lyft.
	Facebook creates 'Safety Check' tool for disasters (AP)—Facebook Inc. is launching a tool that lets users notify friends and family that they are safe during or after natural disasters.
	3D models can bring quicker, greener, cheaper construction The latest advance used to help design new buildings and conserve our historic ones is a range of 3D modelling technologies.
	Even the latest malware detection systems can be bypassed Unwanted intruders are finding it more and more difficult to hack computer systems and networks thanks to today's advanced detection technologies. With the help of emulation-based technologies, many attacks can be detected at an early stage. However, even these technologies are not watertight, as UT researchers Ali Abbasi and Jos Wetzels of CTIT will demonstrate during the Black Hat conference, October 16 in Amsterdam.
New project to detect possible damages in aircraft parts early in process UT Arlington engineering professors have received a $451,781 Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant to examine the material surface at the micro- and nano-scale level that will provide clues for predicting fatigue in aircraft parts.
	Amazon hires 80K seasonal holiday workers (AP)—Amazon is hiring 80,000 seasonal workers for its distribution centers as it looks to improve its shipping efficiency during the crucial holiday season.
	Study recommends ongoing assessment of impact of offshore wind farms on marine species Offshore wind power is a valuable source of renewable energy that can help reduce carbon emissions. Technological advances are allowing higher capacity turbines to be installed in deeper water, but there is still much unknown about the effects on the environment. In a recent paper, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science researcher Helen Bailey and colleagues review the potential impacts of offshore wind developments on marine species and make recommendations for future monitoring and assessment as interest in offshore wind energy grows around the world.
The social web of things Research to be published in the International Journal of Web-Based Communities suggests that the familiar interfaces of online social networking sites might be adapted to allow us to interact more efficiently with our networked devices such as cars, domestic appliances and gadgets. The concept would also extend to the idea of those devices connecting with each other as necessary to improve efficiency of heating and lighting, make our home entertainment systems smarter and much more.
CBS debuts stand-alone streaming service (AP)—CBS is jumping on the cord-cutting bandwagon, launching a stand-alone digital streaming service for $5.99 a month that will offer subscribers access to its current and older shows.
FBI director warns against cellphone encryption (AP)—The FBI director is warning against smartphone encryption. James Comey is talking about tech companies like Apple and Google that say their new operating systems will be encrypted, or protected by coding. Comey says encrypting smartphone data has serious consequences for law enforcement and national security agencies.
	Review: Macs, mobile unite with Yosemite system (AP)—If you've upgraded your iPhone or iPad to iOS 8, the new software update for Mac computers will seem familiar.
	AbbVie sours on $55B Shire deal after tax changes AbbVie's board is telling shareholders to vote against its own $55 billion takeover bid for the Irish drugmaker Shire after the U.S. made reincorporating overseas a less lucrative tax maneuver.
India's TCS Q2 rises 13% on US, European deals India's biggest outsourcing firm Tata Consultancy Services Thursday reported a 13.6 percent rise in quarterly net profit from a year ago on strong demand from clients in North America and Europe.
	UnitedHealth tops 3Q expectations, raises forecast UnitedHealth Group's third-quarter earnings inched up 2 percent but that was enough to help the nation's largest health insurer trump Wall Street expectations and raise its 2014 forecast for the first time this year.
Nortal and VTT start cooperation in the fast-growing big data market Software development solutions provider Nortal and VTT will begin developing advanced practical solutions for analysis of large amounts of data, known as big data, targeted at industrial companies. The global big data market is expected to undergo annual growth of up to 27 per cent.
UK mining co in bankruptcy on market slump, Ebola (AP)—Debt-plagued London Mining PLC has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of a slump in iron ore prices and as the Ebola outbreak complicated the sale of a mine in Sierra Leone.
Russian man: not guilty to new hacking charges (AP)—The lawyer for a Russian man accused of hacking into U.S. businesses told a judge that he is not guilty of new charges filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Google profit dips to $2.8 bn Google said Thursday its profit in the past quarter dipped slightly from a year earlier, even as revenues for the technology giant showed a sharp increase.

Medicine & Health news

	Study reveals optimal particle size for anticancer nanomedicines Nanomedicines consisting of nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to specific tissues and cells offer new solutions for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Understanding the interdependency of physiochemical properties of nanomedicines, in correlation to their biological responses and functions, is crucial for their further development of as cancer-fighters.
Imaging studies reveal how high-affinity antibodies are selectively generated by immunization Circulating antibodies play a crucial role in host defense against microbial infections, and antibody-based vaccines remain the best hope for preventing infections by deadly viruses such as HIV and Ebola. To combat viruses, antibodies need not only to recognize specific features of the microbe, or so-called antigen, but also to bind to the antigen tightly enough, a condition called having a high affinity. High-affinity antibodies typically form after intimate collaborations between T and B lymphocytes, two types of white blood cells, in a specialized lymphoid tissue domain called germinal center. As reported recently in Nature, by imaging the germinal center in living animals, researchers have now discovered a new feed-forward mechanism that controls how T and B cells interact in the germinal center and drives high-affinity antibody formation.
	Engineers develop tiny, sound-powered chip to serve as medical device Medical researchers would like to plant tiny electronic devices deep inside our bodies to monitor biological processes and deliver pinpoint therapies to treat illness or relieve pain.
	Bio-X scientists develop decoy drug to aid ailing brain A team of Stanford Bio-X scientists has restored the ability of adult mice to form new connections in the brain. If the finding works in people, it has the potential to help adults recover from stroke and forms of blindness or to prevent the loss of connections in Alzheimer's disease.
	How gut bacteria ensures a healthy brain – and could play a role in treating depression One of medicine's greatest innovations in the 20th century was the development of antibiotics. It transformed our ability to combat disease. But medicine in the 21st century is rethinking its relationship with bacteria and concluding that, far from being uniformly bad for us, many of these organisms are actually essential for our health.
	Research reveals playing video games before meals contributes to lower calorie intake The next time your son asks you if he can play a quick video game before lunch, don't feel guilty about saying yes. A new Ryerson University study suggests playing video games before meals helps teenage boys stay healthy and happy.
	Study reinterprets decades of data about glutathione In the tiny Wall Streets of our cells, proteins engage in a brisk electron trade. Some sell, becoming oxidized, and some buy, becoming reduced.
Jet lag can cause obesity by disrupting the daily rhythms of gut microbes Organisms ranging from bacteria to humans have circadian clocks to help them synchronize their biological activities to the time of day. A study published by Cell Press October 16th in Cell now reveals that gut microbes in mice and humans have circadian rhythms that are controlled by the biological clock of the host in which they reside. Disruption of the circadian clock in the host alters the rhythms and composition of the microbial community, leading to obesity and metabolic problems.
	Misfolded proteins clump together in a surprising place Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made a surprising finding about the aggregates of misfolded cellular proteins that have been linked to aging-related disorders such as Parkinson's disease. The researchers report their results in the October 16, 2014 online issue of the journal Cell.
Researchers reach 'paradigm shift' in understanding potassium channels A new discovery relating to one of the most common processes in human cells is being described as a 'paradigm shift' in understanding.
	Myelin vital for learning new practical skills New evidence of myelin's essential role in learning and retaining new practical skills, such as playing a musical instrument, has been uncovered by UCL research. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates the brain's wiring and is a major constituent of 'white matter'. It is produced by the brain and spinal cord into early adulthood as it is needed for many developmental processes, and although earlier studies of human white matter hinted at its involvement in skill learning, this is the first time it has been confirmed experimentally.
	New front in war on Alzheimer's and other protein-linked brain diseases A surprise discovery that overturns decades of thinking about how the body fixes proteins that come unraveled greatly expands opportunities for therapies to prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which have been linked to the accumulation of improperly folded proteins in the brain.
New study upends current theories of how mitochondria began Parasitic bacteria were the first cousins of the mitochondria that power cells in animals and plants – and first acted as energy parasites in those cells before becoming beneficial, according to a new University of Virginia study that used next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to decode the genomes of 18 bacteria that are close relatives of mitochondria.
Health and Safety Executive advice on pneumonia jabs for welders 'flawed,' say experts Over the past 20 years, a growing body of evidence has linked exposure to metal fumes with a heightened risk of developing, and dying from, bacterial lobar pneumonia.
UK tops global league table for gullet cancer—adenocarcinoma—in men The study, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialist cancer agency of the World Health Organization, is the first to try and quantify the worldwide extent of each of the two main types of oesophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC for short; and adenocarcinoma.
Have you heard of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy? Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is concerning and many—even those with seizure disorders—may not be aware of this condition. New research published in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), reports that 76% of caregivers are more likely to have heard of SUDEP compared with 65% of patients with epilepsy.
Gradual weight loss no better than rapid weight loss for long-term weight control Contrary to current dietary recommendations, slow and steady weight loss does not reduce the amount or rate of weight regain compared with losing weight quickly, new research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has found.
Data sharing in pharmaceutical industry shows progress To enhance the transparency of clinical trials for new drugs, a number of pharmaceutical firms have begun sharing data with investigators outside their own companies. Brian L. Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, chairs the independent advisory committee which allows access to the data through a pioneering system that launched in 2013. In a paper published Oct. 15, 2014, in the New England Journal of Medicine, Strom and the three other committee members outlined the experience with the system during its first year.
	Researchers develop novel device that stays in the bladder and slowly releases drugs The millions of people worldwide who suffer from the painful bladder disease known as interstitial cystitis (IC) may soon have a better, long-term treatment option, thanks to a controlled-release, implantable device invented by MIT professor Michael Cima and other researchers.
National study reveals how and why teenagers sext The majority of sexting by young Australians takes place in the context of a romantic relationship, according to a national study of more than 1400 teenagers.
Increase in PSA after prostate cancer surgery may not lead to metastasis in some men's lifetimes Some prostate cancer patients whose prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels increase after a radical prostatectomy may die of causes unrelated to prostate cancer before they are diagnosed with a prostate cancer metastasis, and therefore treating them for recurrence may not be beneficial, according to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Types of flu shots explained Flu season is approaching and with that comes the annual reminder to get a flu shot. But it's more complicated than a simple recommendation. How do we know which of the available influenza vaccines to get, and when? UConn Today asked Laura Haynes, a professor of immunology at UConn Health who studies the efficacy of the flu vaccine in older patients at the UConn Center on Aging, what we need to know about protecting ourselves – and others – this flu season.
Study casts doubt on plans to scale up preterm birth treatment in low resource settings A study by a National Institutes of Health research network calls into question plans to increase access to steroid treatment for pregnant women in low resource settings at high risk for preterm birth. The study concluded that the treatment—a standard, life-saving practice in high income countries such as the United States—could potentially cause harm in low resource settings where many births take place outside the advance care hospitals that are standard in high income countries.
	Enzyme may be key to stopping fatal sepsis outcomes University of British Columbia led research has discovered that controlling levels of the human enzyme PCSK9 could be the difference between life and death for patients with severe sepsis.
	Female social status factors into sexual aggression Lower status in a peer group can increase the risk of a woman facing sexual aggression in nightclubs, research suggests.
Researchers discover a new signaling pathway to combat excess body weight The number of overweight persons is greatly increasing worldwide - and as a result is the risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke, diabetes or Alzheimer's disease. For this reason, many people dream of an efficient method for losing weight. An international team of researchers led by Professor Alexander Pfeifer from the University Hospital Bonn, have now come one step closer to this goal. The scientists discovered a new way to stimulate brown fat and thus burn energy from food: The body's own adenosine activates brown fat and "browns" white fat. The results are now being published in the renowned journal Nature.
Reminiscing can help, not hinder, some mind-bending tasks To solve a mental puzzle, the brain's executive control network for externally focused, goal-oriented thinking must activate, while the network for internally directed thinking like daydreaming must be turned down to avoid interference – or so we thought.
Project yields new directions for allergy research A new practical tool developed by a Simon Fraser University scientist could provide clues to the mysterious causes of allergic responses, and how to prevent or treat them.
Researcher adds to evidence linking autism to air pollutants A researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has added to a growing body of evidence that links autism to air pollutants such as those generated by cars and trucks.
	Simple steps can lead to safe sleep for infants The number of infants who die each year from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has decreased in recent decades as awareness of safe sleeping habits has increased. Yet each year, babies still die from sudden, unexplained causes.
New perspectives for development of an RSV vaccine Respiratory Syncytial Virus causes severe respiratory tract infections and worldwide claims the lives of 160,000 children each year. Scientists at VIB and Ghent University have succeeded in developing a promising vaccination strategy to counteract this common virus infection.
	Brain scans show who's likely to trust strangers – something conmen can only dream about How do you decide if you can trust someone? Is it based on their handshake, the way they look you in the eye, or perhaps their body language?
	Cryptic clues drive new theory of bowel cancer development Melbourne researchers have challenged conventional thinking on how the bowel lining develops and, in the process, suggested a new mechanism for how bowel cancer starts.
	Social ties, self-esteem vital to low-income black, latino boys A study by University of Virginia researchers finds that attributes such as "a positive sense of self" and "a sense of connection to others" are associated with decreased criminal activity for low-income black and Latino urban male teens, who were then also more likely to engage in positive social behaviors such as joining school activities. In addition, those with positive ethnic identities had lower levels of depression.
	Research team learns more about why airway closes up during asthma attacks The molecular regulation of smooth-muscle contraction is an important determinant of airway responses during an acute asthmatic attack. In acute asthma, various triggers, including viral illnesses and aeroallergens, can cause acute narrowing of the airways leading to a life-threatening respiratory crisis and sometimes death.
Immune cell subset in mouse model of disease promotes healing and reduce inflammation A scientific team led by UC San Francisco researchers found that regulatory T cells (Tregs), a specialized subset of immune cells, suppress inflammation and muscle injury in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Study highlights need for improvements in lung cancer diagnosis One in three lung cancer patients die within 90 days of diagnosis, research has found , highlighting the need to diagnose patients earlier and develop more effective treatments.
Older adults satisfied with aging more likely to seek health screenings Adults over 50 who feel comfortable about aging are more proactive in getting preventive health care services, a new University of Michigan study found.
	Babies' interest in human faces linked to callous and unemotional traits Scientists at King's College London, the University of Manchester, and the University of Liverpool have found that an infant's preference for a person's face, rather than an object, is associated with lower levels of callous and unemotional behaviours in toddlerhood.
	Positive subliminal messages on aging improve physical functioning in elderly Older individuals who are subliminally exposed to positive stereotypes about aging showed improved physical functioning that can last for several weeks, a new study led by the Yale School of Public Health has found.
	Siblings of children with autism can show signs at 18 months About 20% of younger siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will develop the condition by age 3. A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers has found that 57% of these younger siblings who later develop the condition already showed symptoms at age 18 months.
	Children know family budgets dictate how healthy their food is From celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Money Saving Meals to blogging mum Jack Monroe's 100 Delicious Budget Recipes to the NHS Eat4Cheap campaign, eating well on a budget is now a national pastime.
	Some rice-based foods for people with celiac disease contain relevant amounts of arsenic Rice is one of the few cereal grains consumed by people with celiac disease, as it does not contain gluten. However, it can have high concentrations of a toxic substance - arsenic - as revealed by the analyses of flour, cakes, bread, pasta and other foods made with rice, conducted by researchers from the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Spain. The European Union is working to establish the maximum quantities of arsenic in these products.
	Ebola highlights disparity of disease burden in developed vs. developing countries A study recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology shows that for Ebola, measles, syphilis and many other conditions with skin manifestations the mortality rates are hundreds of times higher in developing countries than they are in developed countries. The case of Ebola, the paper writes, "Highlights the importance of monitoring disease burden in the developing world even when the burden is low."
'Sporadic' MERS cases in Saudi: health ministry Saudi Arabia is seeing "sporadic" cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which has killed 324 people in the country, the health ministry said Thursday.
New test can help doctors choose best treatment for ovarian cancer Researchers have devised a new test to help doctors diagnose ovarian tumours and choose the most appropriate treatment.
New study finds that the probability of unprotected intercourse in hookups doubles between freshman An article released by Social Forces titled, "Casual Contraception in Casual Sex: Life-Cycle Change in Undergraduates' Sexual Behavior in Hookups" by Jonathan Marc Bearak (New York University) explores the changes in undergraduate uncommitted sexual behavior during years 1–4 of college. The article provides reasoning for the decline in the use of condoms, and explains how changes in the odds of coitus and condom use depend on fam¬ily background, school gender imbalance, and whether the partners attend the same college.
Team discovers stem cells in the esophagus Despite previous indications to the contrary, the esophagus does have its own pool of stem cells, said researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in an animal study published online today in Cell Reports. The findings could lead to new insights into the development and treatment of esophageal cancer and the precancerous condition known as Barrett's esophagus.
Scientists identify trigger for crucial immune system cell Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified the long-sought activating molecules for a rare but crucial subset of immune system cells that help rally other white blood cells to fight infection.
MicroRNA molecules serve as on/off switches for inflammation University of Utah scientists have identified two microRNA molecules that control chronic inflammation, a discovery that one day may help researchers prevent certain fatal or debilitating conditions before they start.
	ER visits linked to synthetic pot more than double, report finds (HealthDay)—The number of visits to U.S. emergency rooms linked to synthetic pot—also known as "K2" or "Spice"—have more than doubled in recent years, U.S. officials reported Thursday.
	Obesity and depression often twin ills, study finds (HealthDay)—Depression and obesity tend to go hand in hand, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.
	Nearly 1 in 20 cancer patients die within month of surgery (HealthDay)—In a study of more than 1.1 million cancer patients who had surgery, Harvard researchers found that almost 5 percent died within one month of their operation. These findings are scheduled to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2014 Quality Care Symposium, held from Oct. 17 to 18 in Boston.
Mild traumatic brain injury can have lasting effects for families Families of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) may expect them to return to normal quickly—after all, it's "just a concussion." But mild TBI can have a lasting impact on families as well as patients, according to a review in the November issue of American Journal of Nursing.
Youth suicide: More early detection and better coordination are needed Although progress has been made in recent years, the matter of youth suicide in Quebec still needs to be more effectively addressed. In fact, a new study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry shows that more lives could be saved through early detection and increased public awareness and information sharing among professionals.
Executive scandal hurts job prospects even for entry-level employees There's more bad news for job seekers with a scandal-hit company like Lehman Brothers or Countrywide Mortgage on their résumés. As if it weren't already hard enough to get a new job in this market, people who worked for one of those companies have tarnished reputations to overcome: New research finds that moral suspicion from higher-ups' wrongdoing spills down to people lower in an organization, even if they did not work directly under the moral transgressor.
Novel RNAi-based therapy for anemia stimulates liver to produce EPO To treat the debilitating anemia associated with reduced erythropoietin (EPO) production by the kidneys in chronic renal disease, patients are often given recombinant human EPO to increase hemoglobin levels. But that treatment has risks. A new approach that uses a small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug to stimulate natural EPO production by the liver has shown promising results in nonhuman primates, as reported in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers. The article is available free on the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics website until November 16, 2014.
Human cancer prognosis is related to newly identified immune cell A newly discovered population of immune cells in tumors is associated with less severe cancer outcomes in humans, and may have therapeutic potential, according to a new UC San Francisco study of 3,600 human tumors of 12 types, as well as mouse experiments.
Male and female brains aren't equal when it comes to fat Researchers have found that male and female brains respond in remarkably different ways to high-fat meals. Those differences in the brain lead to greater inflammation and increased health risks in males that indulge on fatty foods in comparison to females, a new study in mice shows. The findings reported in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports on October 16th may help to explain observed differences in obesity outcomes between women and men – premenopausal women carrying extra weight fare better than men do – and suggest that dietary advice should be made more sex-specific.
Human genetic research uncovers how omega-6 fatty acids lower bad cholesterol Supplementing the diet with omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids has beneficial effects on heart health by lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol and raising "good" HDL cholesterol, but the underlying mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Now research based on the genetic information from over 100,000 individuals of European ancestry has uncovered a gene that affects blood cholesterol levels through the generation of a compound from omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, called lipoxins. The study, publishing online October 16 in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism, also provides additional evidence that aspirin assists in preventing heart attacks by promoting lipoxin production. These insights could change the way doctors care for patients at increased risk for heart disease.
Esbriet, ofev approved to treat deadly lung disease (HealthDay)—Two new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat progressive lung scarring from an uncertain cause, medically called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
	'Lost pleasure' from smoking not a cost in economic analyses (HealthDay)—"Lost pleasure" represented by consumer surplus should not be considered in economic impact analyses of tobacco regulation, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Exercise cuts later CV risk in hodgkin's lymphoma survivors (HealthDay)—Exercise may lower the risk of treatment-related cardiovascular events in adult survivors of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to research published online Oct. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Immune therapy induces remission for many with ALL (HealthDay)—An experimental immune-system therapy can often lead to complete remission in advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who have run out of other options, according to research published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Resveratrol boosts spinal bone density in men with metabolic syndrome Resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine and grapes, increased spinal bone density in men with metabolic syndrome and could hold promise as a treatment for osteoporosis, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Diabetic men with low testosterone run higher risk of developing atherosclerosis Men who have low testosterone and Type 2 diabetes face a greater risk of developing atherosclerosis – a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries – than men who have diabetes and normal testosterone levels, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Staph 'gangs' share nutrients during infection, study finds Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can share resources to cause chronic infections, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered. Like the individual members of a gang who might be relatively harmless alone, they turn deadly when they get together with their "friends."
Simple test may predict surgical wound healing complications As many as 35 percent of patients who undergo surgery to remove soft tissue sarcomas experience wound-healing complications, due to radiation they receive before surgery.
	Scientists find 'hidden brain signatures' of consciousness in vegetative state patients Scientists in Cambridge have found hidden signatures in the brains of people in a vegetative state, which point to networks that could support consciousness even when a patient appears to be unconscious and unresponsive. The study could help doctors identify patients who are aware despite being unable to communicate.
	Modeling tumor dormancy Cancer constantly wages war on the human body. Battles are won, lost or sometimes end in a stalemate. In pancreatic cancer, this stalemate—known as tumor dormancy—can last up to 25 years before becoming aggressively malignant, a phenomena that is poorly understood.
Can health-care stock funds stay on top? (AP)—When swings in the stock market cause anxiety to spike, like it is now, many investors aim to get healthy.
Sugared soda consumption, cell aging associated in new study Sugar-sweetened soda consumption might promote disease independently from its role in obesity, according to UC San Francisco researchers who found in a new study that drinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging.
I have to walk how many miles to burn off this soda? Adolescents who saw printed signs explaining the number of miles they would need to walk to burn off the calories in a sugary drink were more likely to leave the store with a lower calorie beverage, a healthier beverage or a smaller size beverage, according to new Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health research.
Prediabtes a wakeup call to get eating, lifestyle choices on track I exercise, stay slim and think I am reasonably careful about my diet. Subtract the dark-chocolate habit and minus the Cheetos cravings, I make fairly good choices. So I was shocked to learn that my fasting blood sugars were bordering on high and my numbers were leaning toward becoming prediabetic. How could this be?
Virus-transmitting 'yellow fever' mosquitoes discovered in L.A. County A new aggressive daytime-biting mosquito capable of transmitting debilitating and possibly deadly viruses has been found in the Los Angeles region, officials announced Wednesday.
Cellular self-destruct program has deep roots throughout evolution In what seems like a counter-intuitive move against survival, within animals, some cells are fated to die from the triggering of an elaborate cell death program, known as apoptosis. Now, Sakamaki et. al., have honed in on understanding the evolution of caspase-8, a key cell death initiator molecule that was first identified in humans.
Ebola escalation could trigger major food crisis (AP)—The global famine warning system is predicting a major food crisis if the Ebola outbreak continues to grow exponentially over the coming months, and the United Nations still hasn't reached over 750,000 people in need of food in West Africa as prices spiral and farms are abandoned.
Swiss drug maker Roche posts flat 3Q sales (AP)—Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG has reported "stable" or flat sales for the first nine months of 2013 but says the results show strong demand for its cancer drugs and emerging new products.
Preventing obesity across the lifespan Obesity prevention efforts increasingly are targeting young children, but few researchers are bringing interventions to childcare settings.
Same-sex marriage gives LGBTQ youth hope for future The fact that same-sex marriage is legal in Virginia and many other states will positively affect how LGBTQ youth perceive their futures and opportunities, according to a Virginia Commonwealth University expert.
	Research uncovers secrets of Oscar Wilde's Reading gaol sentence Detailed examination of the archives of the recently closed Reading Prison has revealed new insights into Oscar Wilde's incarceration there in the 1890s.
Study shows inpatient palliative care reduces hospital costs and readmissions Palliative care provided in the hospital offers known clinical benefits, and a new study shows that inpatient palliative care can also significantly lower the cost of hospitalization and the rate of readmissions. Further, the study shows the hospital can get the expertise it needs through a collaborative relationship with a community hospice. The results of a comparative study are published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Palliative Medicine website until November 15, 2014.
	Change in doc, public attitudes needed to cut overtreatment (HealthDay)—Reform of malpractice laws as well as inclusion of patients in medical decision making may help reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to an article published online Oct. 14 in The BMJ.
Pre-eclampsia may be caused by the fetus, not the placenta Pre-eclampsia, the potentially deadly condition that affects pregnant women, may be caused by problems meeting the oxygen demands of the growing fetus, according to an editorial in the November issue of Anaesthesia, the journal of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI).
EU to launch 'immediate' review of exit screening in Ebola-hit African states EU health ministers agreed on Thursday to launch an immediate review of the screening of passengers departing Ebola-hit countries in West Africa, health commissioner Tonio Borg said.
Texans share lessons learned as second enrollment period of ACA health insurance nears While most Texans used healthcare.gov earlier this year to get information or to enroll in a health insurance plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), larger percentages of Texans found talking to the call center or a navigator was the most helpful. Those are just some of the lessons learned in a report released today by the Episcopal Health Foundation and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
First-ever patient care guidelines in prevention of acute exacerbations of COPD The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) announced today the release of Prevention of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: American College of Chest Physicians and Canadian Thoracic Society Guideline in the journal CHEST. The guideline, a first of its kind, provides evidence-based recommendations aimed at prevention of COPD exacerbations, which can cause frequent hospital readmissions, death during or after a hospital stay, and can potentially greatly reduce the quality of life for patients along with carrying a heavy financial burden.
Should first responders use acupuncture and integrative medicine in natural disasters and battle zones? Delivering traditional emergency medical care at ground zero of natural disasters and military conflicts is challenging. First responders trained in simple integrative medicine approaches such as acupuncture, hypnosis, or biofeedback can provide adjunctive treatment to help relieve patients' pain and stress. How to teach and utilize modified techniques and their potential benefit are described in a Review article in Medical Acupuncture.
Blood test helps predict relapse in patients with autoimmune disease affecting the kidneys In patients with an autoimmune disease that often involves the kidneys, monitoring the blood for autoantibodies may help doctors predict the chance of relapse. The findings are from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Such measures may help protect patients' kidney health.

Biology news

	Researchers find sea otter dental enamel 2.5 times as strong as humans A team of researchers with members from the U.S., Germany and Kuwait has found that sea otter dental enamel is approximately two and a half times as strong as human dental enamel. In their study published in the journal Biology Letters, the team describes how their analysis of sea otter teeth revealed a high number of layers of protein-rich gel that give their teeth much greater strength and how that finding might impact the study of some of our ancient human ancestors.
	Male songbirds don't have to be studs to find a mate Biologists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may have good news for male songbirds: You might not have to be a stud to attract a mate.
Plant communities produce greater yield than monocultures Diverse plant communities are more successful and enable higher crop yields than pure monocultures, a European research team headed by ecologists from the University of Zurich has discovered. The scientists are convinced that the cultivation of crop mixtures in agriculture and forestry will play a key role in food safety in the future.
	Scientists identify "naïve-like" human stem cell Scientists from our university and Berlin have identified a type of human stem cell that appears to be "naïve-like" – able to develop into any type of cell. The discovery of this cell type could potentially have a large impact on our understanding of how humans develop and on the field of regenerative medicine.
	Primitive microbes stole bacterial genes on a surprising scale A University of Otago researcher is part of an international team that has discovered that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) played a surprisingly large role in the evolution of primitive microbes known as archaea.
	Study shows lemurs use communal latrines as information exchange centers Emily loves Justin - Stop global warming - Two more weeks till I graduate!: The exchange of information in public toilets is widespread. It also occurs in the world of white-footed sportive lemurs. Only instead of writing on the walls, they use scent-marks in order to communicate with their own kind.. In a study published online in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Iris Dröscher and Peter Kappeler from the German Primate Center (DPZ) have found that the urine left on latrine trees serves as a method to maintain contact with family members. It also serves as a means to inform an intruder that there is a male that will defend his partner. Latrines thus serve as information exchange centers and promote social bonding in territorial nocturnal animals that do not live in closely-knit groups.
	That pregnant feeling makes a fly start nesting Across the animal kingdom, it's not uncommon for pregnancy to change an expectant mom's behavior. Even female flies have their own rudimentary way of "nesting," which appears to be brought on by the stretch of their egg-filled abdomens rather than the act of mating, according to a Duke study published online October 16 in Cell Reports.
Are male brains wired to ignore food for sex? Choosing between two good things can be tough. When animals must decide between feeding and mating, it can get even trickier. In a discovery that might ring true even for some humans, researchers have shown that male brains – at least in nematodes – will suppress the ability to locate food in order to instead focus on finding a mate.
	Amphibian communities collapse in wake of viral outbreak Two closely related viruses that have been introduced to northern Spain in recent years have already led to the collapse of three different species of amphibian—the common midwife toad, the common toad, and the alpine newt—in the protected area of Picos de Europa (literally "Peaks of Europe") National Park. In all, six amphibian species have suffered from severe disease and mass mortality as a result of the outbreak, and researchers who report their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 16 say that the viruses appear to be on the move.
Cell architecture: Finding common ground When it comes to cellular architecture, function follows form. Plant cells contain a dynamic cytoskeleton which is responsible for directing cell growth, development, movement, and division. So over time, changes in the cytoskeleton form the shape and behavior of cells and, ultimately, the structure and function of the organism as a whole. New work led by Carnegie's David Ehrhardt hones in on how one particular organizational protein influences cytoskeletal and cellular structure in plants, findings that may also have implications for cytoskeletal organization in animals. It is published in Current Biology.
	Loss of big predators could leave herbivores in a thorny situation Global declines in carnivore populations could embolden plant eaters to increasingly dine on succulent vegetation, driving losses in plant and tree biodiversity, according to UBC research published today in Science.
	How a molecular Superman protects the genome from damage How many times have we seen Superman swoop down from the heavens and rescue a would-be victim from a rapidly oncoming train?
	Beetles and a cup of joe: Insects boost fair trade coffee sales When java giants like Starbucks seek out the finest fair trade coffee beans in Guatemala, insects can make all the difference.
	Butterflies rely on connections amid changing climate Butterflies in Canadian mountain meadows rebounded after a severe population crash. Why? It's all about connections, found a study by the University of California, Davis, in collaboration with Western University in Ontario, Canada, and other North American institutions.
Shaping the way to see the world The proliferation of cells, in particular the orientation in which they divide, is key in regulating the shapes of tissues. However, the cellular mechanisms that govern cell proliferation and cell division orientation are not fully understood. Research conducted by Dr. Toshiaki Mochizuki, Dr. Shohei Suzuki and Prof. Ichiro Masai of the Developmental Neurobiology Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, aimed to decipher these mechanisms by studying cell proliferation in the lenses of zebrafish. Their recent findings are being published in the October, 15th 2014 of Biology Open, appearing on the cover of the journal.
Amphibians being wiped out by emerging viruses Scientists tracing the real-time impact of viruses in the wild have found that entire amphibian communities are being killed off by closely related viruses introduced to mountainous areas of northern Spain.
	To wilt or not to wilt: MicroRNAs determine tomato susceptibility to Fusarium fungus Plant breeders have long identified and cultivated disease-resistant varieties. A study published on October 16th in PLOS Pathogens reveals the molecular basis for resistance and susceptibility to a common fungus that causes wilt in susceptible tomato plants.
	Australia aims to end extinction of native wildlife by 2020 Australia's Environment Minister Greg Hunt has pledged to end the extinction of native mammal species by 2020, with a focus on culprits such as feral cats.

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