Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Oct 14

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 14, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Quantum test strengthens support for EPR steering
- Researchers uncover tomato's genetic history
- Study shows increase of CO2 in the atmosphere is lower than predicted because of plants
- Samsung achieves Wi-Fi data travel feats for 60GHZ band
- Researchers find oil platforms among the most productive fish habitats in the world
- Researchers say academia can learn from Hollywood
- A simple way to retrieve small genomes from a mix of various organisms
- Beyond LEDs: Brighter, new energy-saving flat panel lights based on carbon nanotubes
- Swiss scientists explain evolution of extreme parasites
- Archaeologists discover bronze remains of Iron Age chariot
- Funding for better understanding of neural stem cells
- Scientists create new protein-based material with some nerve
- Rare genetic disease protects against bipolar disorder
- Rising sea levels of 1.8 meters in worst-case scenario
- Inside the Milky Way: One step closer to figuring out the mysteries of our galaxy's core

Astronomy & Space news

Smartphone network could track incoming cosmic rays Your smartphone could become part of the world's largest telescope. A team led by UC Irvine physicist Daniel Whiteson and UC Davis physicist Michael Mulhearn has designed an app to turn the global network of smartphones into a planet-sized cosmic ray detector, according to a paper posted today to the physics website arXiv.
Study of electrons in space could help weather forecasting Researchers have discovered a formerly undetected impact of space weather on the polar atmosphere, which may explain some previously unexplained variations in winter weather patterns. Their results, published today (Tuesday 14 October), in the journal Nature Communications could have important implications for seasonal weather forecasting.
	Inside the Milky Way: One step closer to figuring out the mysteries of our galaxy's core Is matter falling into the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way or being ejected from it? No one knows for sure, but a UC Santa Barbara astrophysicist is searching for an answer.
	Mars One: MIT study team looks before mankind leaps Mars One is a not-for-profit foundation which has a mission to establish a human settlement on Mars. Starting in 2024, Mars One intends to set up a permanent human settlement on Mars. Crews of four will depart every two years, with the first unmanned mission coming up in 2018. The team behind Mars One considers this "The Next Giant Leap for Mankind."
	Earth's magnetic field could flip within a human lifetime Imagine the world waking up one morning to discover that all compasses pointed south instead of north.
	Assessment of the technical feasibility of the proposed Mars One mission In 2012, the "Mars One" project, led by a Dutch nonprofit, announced plans to establish the first human colony on the Red Planet by 2025. The mission would initially send four astronauts on a one-way trip to Mars, where they would spend the rest of their lives building the first permanent human settlement.
	Key meteor showers experience a broad peak in October On October 31st 2005, trick-or-treaters across the central U.S. eastern seaboard were treated to a brilliant fireball, a celestial spectacle that frequently graces October skies.
	Earth and Mars captured together in one photo from lunar orbit (w/ Video) Wow, this doesn't happen very often: Earth and Mars together in one photo. To make the image even more unique, it was taken from lunar orbit by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. This two-for-one photo was was acquired in a single shot on May 24, 2014, by the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) on LRO as the spacecraft was turned to face the Earth, instead of its usual view of looking down at the Moon.
	Bigelow Inflatable Module to be added to space station in 2015 Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are going to be getting an addition in the near future, and in the form of an inflatable room no less. The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is the first privately-built space habitat that will added to the ISS, and it will be transported into orbit aboard a Space X Falcon 9 rocket sometime next year.
	Discovery of the Benešov meteorites 20 years after the bolide event Astronomy & Astrophysics is publishing the spectacular discovery of meteorite fragments 20 years after the corresponding bolide was seen in the skies of the Czech Republic. This discovery was made possible by reanalyzing the trajectory, which moved the impact line by 330 meters. Interestingly, the meteorites found on the ground are of different types, pointing to a parent asteroid of heterogeneous composition.
	US military's robot space plane due to land this week The US military's mysterious robot space plane is expected to land this week after a 22-month orbit, officials said Tuesday, but the craft's mission remains shrouded in secrecy.

Technology news

	Samsung achieves Wi-Fi data travel feats for 60GHZ band Samsung Electronics has announced advances in Wi-Fi technology. Samsung said it found a way to make Wi-Fi data travel faster than it does currently. Specifically, Samsung said the new technology enables data transmission speeds of up to 4.6Gbps, or 575MB per second, a fivefold increase from 866Mbps, or 108MB per second, which the company said was the maximum speed possible with existing consumer electronics devices. Eventually, consumers will see the results of these efforts within various connected devices.
	App to remotely wipe phones leaves police in tech arms race with thieves Police play a proverbial cat-and-mouse game with those they pursue, but also with the technology of the day they use. This game of one-upmanship, of measure and countermeasure, sees one or the other side temporarily with the upper hand.
	Internet caretaker ICANN to escape US control The head of the private agency entrusted with running the Internet has said that the group is on course to break free of US oversight late next year.
Money grows on trees with great walnuts of China Grinning with pride, a Chinese farmer held out two precious walnuts—globes so precisely symmetrical that consumers in search of hand massages value them more highly than gold.
"The Evil Within" video game crafted to be scary fun Horror genre video game master Shinji Mikami is throwing open a door to wickedly crafted terror with the Tuesday release of "The Evil Within."
	They like to watch, yes, but that's just the beginning Kai Huotari was a visiting scholar at Berkeley's School of Information in the spring of 2011, when the Fox TV series Glee—a weekly musical drama about the fictional McKinley High School glee club—took an unexpectedly interesting turn. While the club's lovable misfits struggled, as usual, to navigate the shoals of sex, social life and show tunes, the Twitter hashtag "#Glee" now floated persistently in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Recent gains in gas mileage have fueled major societal benefits Fuel economy in the U.S. has increased 26 percent in the last seven years, saving billions of gallons of gas and billions of pounds of vehicle emissions, say University of Michigan researchers.
	Nanodevices for clinical diagnostic with potential for the international market In order to obtain accurate and immediate diagnosis, a group of researchers in the area of Nano-Optics at the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), in the north of Mexico, developed a sensor based on the properties of light to perform, among other things, blood analysis, giving health specialists accurate information.
	Additive manufacturing technology can print using plastic, paste or concrete Using different modules, the "3D Modular" can print using several materials like plastic, paste or concrete.
	Can it be real? Augmented reality melds work, play (AP)—Mark Skwarek is surrounded by infiltrating militants in New York's Central Park. He shoots one, then hearing a noise from behind, spins to take down another. All of a sudden, everything flashes red. He realizes he's been hit. The words "Game Over" appear before his eyes.
	Do we want an augmented reality or a transformed reality? It seems we are headed towards a world where augmented reality (AR) systems will be as common as smartphones are today – it's already about to revolutionise medicine, entertainment, the lives of disabled people and of course advertising and shopping.
	Viral messaging research leads to Twitter-based emergency warning system San Diego County is partnering with San Diego State University to develop a new social media–based platform for disseminating emergency warnings to San Diego citizens. The project, spearheaded by Ming-Hsiang Tsou, an SDSU geography professor, aims to allow San Diego County's Office of Emergency Services to spread disaster messages and distress calls quickly and to targeted geographic locations, even if traditional channels such as phone systems and radio stations are overwhelmed.
Tool evaluates more battery electrolyte possibilities in less time For a battery to work, it needs an electrolyte to act as a bridge and carry ions from the anode to cathode and back again. However, batteries come in all shapes and sizes, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to battery electrolytes. For example, electric vehicles and "smart" phones are both powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries, but because the demand on the battery is so different, they require different electrolytes.
	Optimizing how wind turbines work with machine learning Machine learning helps make complex systems more efficient. Regardless of whether the systems in question are steel mills or gas turbines, they can learn from collected data, detect regular patterns, and optimize their own operations. Researchers at Siemens are demonstrating that continuous learning also allows wind turbines to increase their electricity output.
	Sandia invents sensor to learn about prosthesis fit; system to make fit better As an amputee walks on a prosthetic leg during the day, the natural fluid in the leg shifts and the muscles shrink slightly.
	New optimization methods make low notes sound better in small rooms Joy or rage? Both feelings are not far apart when dealing with the sound of deep notes in our homes. Those of us who do not own a large concert hall but have a normal living room instead, can quickly be driven to despair when the new bass speakers which sounded so good in the shop just now are set up at home: they are sometimes too loud, sometimes too quiet, sometimes they drone unpleasantly – nowhere in the room seems to be perfect.
	Twitter to be used for payments in France (AP)—Did someone spot you money for lunch two weeks ago? In France, Twitter users can now publicly repay debts, donate to charity or chip in for a gift with a new payment service backed by the country's second-largest banking service.
Can we teach robots right from wrong? From performing surgery and flying planes to babysitting kids and driving cars, today's robots can do it all. With chatbots such as Eugene Goostman recently being hailed as "passing" the Turing test, it appears robots are becoming increasingly adept at posing as humans. While machines are becoming ever more integrated into human lives, the need to imbue them with a sense of morality becomes increasingly urgent. But can we really teach robots how to be good?
Researchers explore power of thorium for improved nuclear design The UK is playing a key role in an international project to develop a radical new type of nuclear power station that is safer, more cost-effective, compact, quicker and less disruptive to build than any previously constructed.
Russia used Windows flaw to spy for years: researchers Hackers based in Russia used a flaw in Microsoft Windows to spy on NATO, European governments and other organizations as far back as 2009, security researchers said Tuesday.
	Taiwan reveals new plans to send nuclear waste abroad Taiwan on Tuesday unveiled plans to process c abroad for the first time as its power plants reach capacity—but environment groups slammed the proposal as "too risky".
Study exposes bias in transportation system design America's streets are designed and evaluated with a an inherent bias toward the needs of motor vehicles, ignoring those of bicyclists, pedestrians, and public transit users, according to a new study co-authored by Wesley Marshall of the University of Colorado Denver.
	Microsoft's Skype launches video messaging app Microsoft-owned Skype on Tuesday unveiled a new app enabling users to send short video messages to stay "connected between calls."
	New electric vehicle technology packs more punch in smaller package Using 3-D printing and novel semiconductors, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a power inverter that could make electric vehicles lighter, more powerful and more efficient.
Facebook, Apple to cover women's egg-freezing: report Facebook and Apple are covering the costs for female employees to freeze their eggs to delay childbearing which could hamper their careers, NBC News reported Tuesday.
Virtual currency founder pleads not guilty in New York A man accused of founding an online underworld bank that allegedly laundered $6 billion for criminals, including child pornographers and drug traffickers, pleaded not guilty in New York on Tuesday.
	Houston: We have a problem...but no worries, our virtual therapist is on it Hiking in the mountains or lying on the beach are good ways to relieve stress on Earth, but on spaceflights there's no way to get back to nature. Astronauts feeling stressed on long-duration flights, however, may soon find computerized solace in the form of a virtual reality-based relaxation system being developed by Dartmouth researchers and their colleagues.
	Perfect torque distribution for safe driving A limiting factor for the driving range of electric vehicles is the amount of energy supplied by the batteries. To recoup as much braking energy as possible, engineers at the Gear Research Centre (FZG) at the TU München have developed a light-weight torque vectoring transmission for electric vehicles.
	Nielsen says ABC didn't really win in ratings (AP)—The Nielsen company said Tuesday its report last week that ABC's evening newscast had broken a 263-week winning streak by NBC was incorrect.
J&J hikes 2014 forecast for a third time Johnson & Johnson lifted its 2014 earnings forecast a third time after pharmaceutical sales helped the world's biggest maker of health care products trump analyst expectations for its recently concluded quarter.
Clemson leads research on new materials that could make it safer to store nuclear waste Minerals that endure in nature for millions of years are inspiring a Clemson University-led research team to explore whether new materials could be developed to encase nuclear waste for safe storage.
HARCO Project: Intelligence in manufacturing equipment For many years we have been witnessing an unstoppable process towards the incorporating of "intelligence" into manufacturing processes. In the 1950s the incorporation of Numerical Controls, and the subsequently computerised ones or CNCs at the MIT, signified a fundamental step forwards in the process to automate machine tools. 60 years later, the aim to increase the final quality of the parts manufactured and the productivity of plants goes on demanding an ongoing effort to improve manufacturing technology. Particularly critical are the effects of the vibrations produced during the machining process on the spot when the tool is in contact with the surface of the part. The precision and final quality of the surface largely depend on these vibrations.
	New wireless communications systems to serve remote and rural areas Advanced communications technology could bring broadband wireless service to remote and rural areas in the Hawaiian Islands, under a new research grant funded by the National Science Foundation.
	'Rock of Ages' casts YouTube star Chester See (AP)—The next big Broadway star is coming from the Internet. "Rock of Ages" producer Matt Weaver said Tuesday that the show has asked YouTube sensation Chester See to play rock idol Stacee Jaxx. The new media star will start onstage at the venerable Helen Hayes Theatre on Oct. 27 and will play through Jan. 4.
Study shows relationship among broadband performance, pricing, and demand worldwide Almost exactly three years ago, the United Nations called on governments and industry to ensure that the world's population would have access to broadband Internet by 2015.
Wider product lineup lifts Intel profit, revenues Computer chip giant Intel reported a jump in quarterly profits Tuesday, as its newly diversified product lineup lifted revenues to record highs.

Medicine & Health news

	One signal means different things to stem cells versus their progeny Two listeners might hear the same message, but understand it differently and take different actions in response. Something similar happens within the hair follicle: Stem cells and their progeny react quite differently to an important group of signaling proteins.
Light-activated drug could reduce side effects of diabetes medication Scientists have created a drug for type 2 diabetes that is switched on by blue light, which they hope will improve treatment of the disease.
	Scientists link ALS progression to increased protein instability A new study by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and other institutions suggests a cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Parkinson's disease may start in the gut Parkinson's disease is strongly linked to the degeneration of the brain's movement center. In the last decade, the question of where the disease begins has led researchers to a different part of the human anatomy. In 2003, the German neuropathologist Heiko Braak presented a theory suggesting that the disease begins in the gut and spreads to the brain. The idea has since, despite vocal critics, gained a lot of ground. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden now present the first direct evidence that the disease can actually migrate from the gut to the brain.
	Key step in allergic reactions revealed By studying the mode of action of the interleukin-33 protein, an alarmin for white blood cells, a team at the Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS - CNRS/Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier) has been able to evidence truncated forms of the protein that act as potent activators of the cells responsible for triggering allergic reactions. This breakthrough in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying allergy could have important applications in the treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases such as eczema and allergic rhinitis. Co-directed by CNRS researcher Corinne Cayrol and INSERM senior researcher Jean-Philippe Girard, this work is published in PNAS on 13 October 2014.
Rare genetic disease protects against bipolar disorder A team of scientists led by researchers at the UMass Medical School and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) have identified what is likely a key genetic pathway underlying bipolar disorder, a breakthrough that could lead to better drugs for treating bipolar affective disorder, as well as depression and other related mood disorders.
	Funding for better understanding of neural stem cells A team of scientists led by a researcher from Plymouth University has received funding of more than £400,000 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to investigate how neural stem cells differ from each other. The study's findings could hold the key to the future use of neural stem cells in treatments to eradicate neurological conditions such as dementia and brain tumours.
	New information about how neurons act could lead to brain disorder advancements Neurons are electrically charged cells, located in the nervous system, that interpret and transmit information using electrical and chemical signals. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have determined that individual neurons can react differently to electrical signals at the molecular level and in different ways—even among neurons of the same type. This variability may be important in discovering underlying problems associated with brain disorders and neural diseases such as epilepsy.
	Photopharmacology: Optical control of insulin secretion Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have chemically modified an anti-diabetic agent so as to make its action dependent on light. The resulting prototype compound, termed JB253, induces release of insulin only when pancreas cells are exposed to blue light.
Nearly 1 in 3 UK lung cancer patients dies within 3 months of diagnosis The findings suggest that family doctors may not be picking up the signs of lung cancer and investigating them as appropriately as they might, or promptly enough, say the researchers.
High carb diet, acidic sports drinks and eating disorders take toll on athletes' teeth But diet is not the only culprit, says the Statement. There is little in the way of education or encouragement to help athletes appreciate the importance of good dental health on their training and performance, it says.
Stenting safe and effective for long-term stroke prevention Using stents to keep neck arteries open is just as effective as invasive neck surgery for long-term prevention of fatal and disabling strokes, reports an international trial led by UCL (University College London) funded by the Medical Research Council and Stroke Association.
Cautious optimism as childhood obesity rates in Ireland plateau Childhood overweight and obesity rates have plateaued in primary school aged children in the Republic of Ireland, reveals research published today in the open access journal BMC Public Health. The study found that although obesity rates remain high, there is evidence that they have stabilised and may be beginning to fall.
Study sheds light on factors that may contribute to pancreatic cancer New research that provides a better understanding of pancreatic cancer may help identify individuals at increased risk. The findings are published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
Slow enteral feeding protocol can reduce instances of death in extreme preterm infants A standardized slow enteral feeding (SSEF) protocol significantly reduces the incidence of necrotizing enterocoltis (NEC), or death of intestinal tissue, and death in infants with extremely low birth weight, according to a new study.
	Sonic Hedgehog protein causes DNA damage and the development child brain tumors Scientists at the IRCM and the University of Montreal discovered a mechanism that promotes the progression of medulloblastoma, the most common brain tumour found in children. The team, led by Frédéric Charron, PhD, found that a protein known as Sonic Hedgehog induces DNA damage, which causes the cancer to develop. This important breakthrough will be published in the October 13 issue of the prestigious scientific journal Developmental Cell. The editors also selected the article to be featured on the journal's cover.
Memories of pain during childbirth tied to intensity rather than length of labor Childbirth is physically intense and, for many women, it is the most painful experience they will have. And yet, new research shows that the amount of time a woman spends in labor doesn't seem to impact how she remembers her labor pain afterwards. The research, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, reveals that the peak and end levels of pain women experienced, and whether they received an epidural, impacted their recall of labor pain afterward.
	Are antimicrobial condoms the new frontier against STIs? Not quite... Australian biotech company Starpharma has announced the imminent launch of a condom coated with an antimicrobial chemical known as VivaGel. While it might be marketed as a great leap forward for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it's unlikely to offer any more protection than your average condom.
Timing is key for traumatic brain injury treatment Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered two potential treatments for traumatic brain injury that are most effective when given at different stages after the injury has occurred.
	Study helps outdoor workers reduce their skin cancer risk Skin cancer is one of the biggest fears for one in two outdoor workers and when the boss and staff work together the sun safe message gets through, a QUT study has found.
	Damage to brain 'hubs' causes extensive impairment Injuries to six brain areas are much more devastating to patients' abilities to think and adapt to everyday challenges than damage to other parts of the brain, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have learned.
	Research team treats pulmonary hypertension through the leaves of plants Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Florida have identified a drug that can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension, a disease for which few therapy options exist. The novelty is the way the medicine is delivered; it is grown in the leaves of plants from Penn's high-tech greenhouse, according to the study published online in the September issue of the journal Hypertension.
New approaches needed for people with serious mental illnesses in criminal justice system Responding to the large number of people with serious mental illnesses in the criminal justice system will require more than mental health services, according to a new report.
Would you eat that doughnut if you knew you had to walk two miles to burn it off? A new study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will examine whether adding the amount of walking it takes to burn off the calories in food items will lead consumers to make healthier choices.
	Drug may prevent development of invasive bladder cancer, researchers say A drug already approved for use in humans may prevent invasive bladder cancer, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Australians not prepared for dying with dignity The vast majority of Australians do not have a plan allowing them to die with dignity, new research has found.
	Relationship between arsenic, heart disease and diabetes discovered Researchers have analyzed children of a rural region in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico,who since gestation were exposed to arsenic through maternal consumption.
Fermented milk made by lactococcus lactis H61 improves skin of healthy young women There has been much interest in the potential for using probiotic bacteria for treating skin diseases and other disorders. Japanese researchers have now found that milk that has been fermented using a probiotic dairy starter can also benefit the skin of young healthy women, reports the Journal of Dairy Science.
	How the human equality condition can hold some people back When you have more than one child, the importance of fairness seems to trump all other considerations, including self-interest. Give a child £1 and she will be happy. But if she finds out that her sibling got £1.50, she will be angry. Take the money away from both and she will be satisfied. Both have lost, but the other sibling has lost more and so all is right with the world.
	Older women more likely to have multiple health conditions In the context of an aging population, the number of cases of people with multimorbidity, or multiple health conditions, is increasing, creating significant healthcare challenges.
Common anesthetic procedure dramatically improves well being of veterans with PTSD A single application of a common anesthetic procedure could be the answer to alleviating anxiety, depression and psychological pain in those suffering from chronic, extreme post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Exercise can improve memory in 60-year-olds A new study, in which researchers from Karolinska Institutet participated, shows that physical activity can improve memory performance in older people through increasing volume and blood flow in an area of the brain called hippocampus. It is the first time these connections are being studied in people over 60 years of age. The results are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
	Autophagy helps fast track stem cell activation Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered a link between a protective mechanism used by cells and the activation of muscle stem cells. Cells use autophagy to recycle cellular "building blocks" and generate energy during times of nutrient deprivation. The scientists report in The EMBO Journal that when this protective mechanism is operational it also seems to assist in the activation of stem cells.
Immune cells in the liver drive fatty liver disease and liver cancer Immune cells that migrate to the liver and interact there with liver tissue cells get activated by metabolic stress (e.g. through lipids of a high fat diet) and drive the development of fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver cancer. Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München made this discovery and thus identified the previously unknown mechanism underlying these serious and widespread diseases. The results of their research have been published as the cover story of the renowned medical journal Cancer Cell.
	The Ilizarov method heals fractures just as well as pins and screws The Ilizarov method is routinely used in eastern Europe in the treatment of bone fractures. Studies of Swedish patients have shown that the unorthodox steel frame has many advantages over traditional open surgery, opening the way for it to be introduced as an alternative treatment in routine Swedish healthcare.
Personalised treatment for stress-related diabetes Researchers at Lund University in Sweden are testing a treatment for type 2 diabetes which targets the disease mechanism itself - and not just the symptoms. For the first time, knowledge about the individual patient's genetic risk profile is being used. The treatment completely restores the capacity to secrete insulin, which is impaired by the risk gene.
More physical activity improved school performance Just two hours of extra physical activity each week can improve school performance. This has been shown by a study of approximately 2,000 twelve-year-olds carried out by scientists at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
FDA weighs removing bolded warning from Chantix (AP)—The Food and Drug Administration will ask a panel of experts later this week whether a bold-letter warning on the anti-smoking drug Chantix should be removed based on company-supported evidence that the drug does not cause suicidal behavior.
Oral drug reduces formation of precancerous polyps in the colon, researchers find An oral biologic medication has successfully treated chronic, precancerous inflammation in the intestine, according to results of an animal study authored by an MD/PhD student in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Spinal cord injury victims may benefit from stem cell transplantation studies Two studies recently published in Cell Transplantation reveal that cell transplantation may be an effective treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI), a major cause of disability and paralysis with no current restorative therapies.
University of Calgary research leads to brain cancer clinical trial Researchers at the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute (SACRI) have made a discovery that could prolong the life of people living with glioblastoma – the most aggressive type of brain cancer. Samuel Weiss, PhD, Professor and Director of the HBI, and Research Assistant Professor Artee Luchman, PhD, and colleagues, published their work today in Clinical Cancer Research, which is leading researchers to start a human phase I/II clinical trial as early as Spring 2015.
	Treating cancer: Biologists find gene that could stop tumors in their tracks The dirt in your backyard may hold the key to isolating cancerous tumors and to potential new treatments for a host of cancers.
How metastases develop in the liver In order to invade healthy tissue, tumor cells must leave the actual tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. For this purpose, they use certain enzymes, proteases that break down the tissue surrounding the tumor, thus opening the way for tumor cells to reach blood or lymphatic vessels. To keep the proteases in check, the body produces inhibitors such as the protein TIMP-1, which thwart the proteases in their work.
Uncertain reward more motivating than sure thing, study finds Recently, uncertainty has been getting a bad rap. Hundreds of articles have been printed over the last few years about how uncertainty brings negative effects to the markets and creates a drag on the economy at large. But a new study appearing in the February 2015 edition of the Journal of Consumer Research finds that uncertainty can be motivating.
	For one family, zebrafish help provide genetic answers Research in zebrafish has helped identify the cause of an unknown genetic disorder affecting a boy and two of his uncles, scientists report in an article published October 14 in the journal Genetics.
Mediterranean diet, olive oil and nuts can help reverse metabolic syndrome For people with metabolic syndrome, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts may help reverse the condition, indicate findings from a clinical trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Side effects of cancer prevention surgery can be helped with education program More women are having ovary-removing surgery as a cancer prevention measure, but many are often unaware of sexual or psychological side effects of the procedure. A new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute shows a half-day educational program can help successfully deal with these issues by educating women on how to address them.
Scientists find molecular 'breadcrumb trail' that helps melanoma spread Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that melanoma cells are drawn to follow the 'trail' of a naturally-occurring molecule in the body, which directs this serious type of skin cancer to spread, according to research publishing Tuesday in the open access journal PLOS Biology.
Frontline diagnosis and treatment of infant infections Trained frontline health workers can identify most young infants with possible bacterial infections in low and middle income countries (LMICs) but also may diagnose infections in many uninfected young infants, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The authors, led by Anne CC Lee at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, also found that availability and affordability of first-line injectable antibiotics is low in many health facilities in Africa and South Asia, where, according to the authors, "the majority of global neonatal and child deaths and infections occur."
Thailand bans import of water pipes, e-cigarettes (AP)—Thailand's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a ban on the import of hookah-style water pipes and electronic cigarettes, copying a similar move by neighboring Cambodia earlier this year.
PTPRZ-MET fusion protein: A new target for personalized brain cancer treatment Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new fusion protein found in approximately 15 percent of secondary glioblastomas or brain tumors. The finding offers new insights into the cause of this cancer and provides a therapeutic target for personalized oncologic care. The findings were published this month in the online edition of Genome Research.
CWRU dental survey finds dental anxiety leads cause for moderate sedation Dental anxiety can be so extreme for some patients that a simple cotton swab on the gums makes them flinch. And others, fearful of pain, simply avoid seeing the dentist, according to a new study by Case Western Reserve University dental researchers on when and how to use sedatives during dental procedures.
A neurotic personality increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease Women who worry, cope poorly with stress and/or experience mood swings in middle age run a higher risk of developing Alzheimer disease later in life. This is the conclusion of a study carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, that followed 800 women for nearly 40 years.
	Out-of-step cells spur muscle fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients Like a marching band falling out of step, muscle cells fail to perform in unison in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A new study in The Journal of Cell Biology reveals how this breakdown leads to the proliferation of stiff fibrotic tissue within muscles.
	Rats of New York and the diseases they carry In the first study to look at would-be diseases carried by New York City rats, scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health identified bacterial pathogens, including E. coli, Salmonella, and C. difficile, that cause mild to life-threatening gastroenteritis in people; Seoul hantavirus, which causes Ebola-like hemorrhagic fever and kidney failure in humans; and the closest relative to human hepatitis C. Results appear in the journal mBio.
	Women with high blood pressure get different treatment to men Women who are treated for high blood pressure are not given the same medication as men, nor do they hit the treatment targets as often, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg.
New treatment target identified for aggressive breast cancer One of the first-known oncogenes has a protein partner that helps breast cancer proliferate and when it's blocked, so is the cancer, scientists report.
Parents' perception of teens' experiences are related to mental health Adolescents whose parents better understand their daily experiences have better psychological adjustment, suggests a study in the October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
Defective gene renders diarrhoea vaccine ineffective Every year rotavirus causes half a million diarrhoea-related deaths amongst children in developing countries. Existing vaccines provide poor protection. The reason could be a widespread genetic resistance amongst children, according to virologists at Linköping University.
	Post-op pain management improves in past decade, survey shows (HealthDay)—The percentage of American patients who experience serious post-operative pain appears to have fallen significantly over the past decade, a new survey reveals.
	Review: weak power in most CRC neoplasia risk prediction models (HealthDay)—Most colorectal neoplasia risk prediction models have weak discriminatory power, according to a review published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	ASA: silence, jazz can reduce heart rate after surgery (HealthDay)—Silence and listening to jazz music can reduce heart rate after surgery, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, held from Oct. 11 to 15 in New Orleans.
New treatment designed to save more eyes from cancer (w/ Video) Doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have developed a new technique for treating the eye cancer retinoblastoma to improve the odds for preventing eye loss, blindness or death in children with advanced forms of the disease.
	Orphanage care linked to thinner brain tissue in regions related to ADHD Under the rule of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, thousands of Romanian children were placed in overcrowded orphanages with bleak conditions and minimal human contact. Even after the 1989 revolution, the legacy of institutionalization continued. Only recently has research and public concern over early childhood environments caused changes in policies.
Institutional rearing may increase risk attention-deficit disorder Over the past decades, we have seen numerous tragic examples where the failure of institutions to meet the needs of infants for social contact and stimulation has led to the failure of these infants to thrive.
Early detection window when pancreatic cancer is in the family Pancreatic cancer likely takes between 10 and 20 years to develop, providing the potential for a very "broad window" of intervention if detected early, which may be possible for people who inherit a predisposition, say Australian clinical researchers.
Testing parents' patience, while treating kids' problem behavior Humans have a focus on the short term. We are more interested in a potential benefit if we can get it now. The ability to delay gratification has been studied in children with the "marshmallow test": a child can have one treat now, or two if he or she can wait a few minutes without gobbling the first treat.
Researchers identify potential drug that could help treat cystic fibrosis From an early age, the lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are colonised and infected by bacteria, a common example being S. aureus. These bacterial infections cause the lungs to become inflamed, infected, and can eventually lead to permanent lung damage. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute previously showed that an enzyme called Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase C (SMaseC) produced by the S. aureus bacterium may harm the health of CF patients. Now, they have discovered an inhibitor for this pathogenic bacterial enzyme.
How toxic proteins stress nerve cells: Biomarkers and target proteins identified in vulnerable neurons Parkinson's Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. In Germany alone, almost half a million people are affected. The focus of the disease is the progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in a certain region of the midbrain, the substantia nigra. Misfolded proteins are the cause. Until recently, it was unclear why damage is confined to specific nerve cells. A team or researchers led by Frankfurt neurophysiologists has now defined how this selective disease process begins using a genetic mouse model of Parkinson;s disease.
Current models for predicting outcomes after mild traumatic brain injury perform poorly For the 5-15% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who will have lingering physical, behavioral, or cognitive problems 3 to 6 months after their injury, identification of this at-risk population is essential for early intervention. Existing models used to predict poor outcomes after mTBI are unsatisfactory, according to a new study, and new, more relevant predictive factors are different than those used in cases of moderate or severe TBI, as described in the study published in Journal of Neurotrauma, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Scientists are surprised to find an involuntary link in the brain between the pelvic floor and other muscles Wherever you are right now: squeeze your glutes. Feel that? You just also contracted your pelvic floor too, whether you wanted to or not.
	US college students eat their vegetables. Really?! U.S. college students do better than their counterparts in the United Kingdom when it comes to physical activity, a healthy diet and less smoking, according to new research published in the latest issue of the journal Education and Health.
Chipotle backs Colorado's GMO food labeling effort (AP)—Burrito giant Chipotle is backing a Colorado ballot measure that would require labeling of genetically modified foods.
Quality measures for skilled nursing facilities may not result in better outcomes Among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who received care at a skilled nursing facility following hospital discharge, better performance on various measures of quality of care was not consistently associated with a lower risk of hospital readmission or death at 30 days, according to a study in the October 15 issue of JAMA.
Study indicates need for more obstetric quality of care measures at hospitals In an analysis of data on more than 100,000 deliveries and term newborns from New York City hospitals, rates for certain quality indicators and complications for mothers and newborns varied substantially between hospitals and were not correlated with performance measures designed to assess hospital-level obstetric quality of care, according to a study in the October 15 issue of JAMA.
Energy drinks may pose danger to public health Increased consumption of energy drinks may pose danger to public health, especially among young people, warns a team of researchers from the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe in the open-access journal Frontiers in Public Health.
	Want whiter teeth? Fruit mixture is not the answer Can you ditch the strips and dump the dentist for whiter teeth? From "The Dr. Oz Show" to YouTube videos, experts say you can reclaim those pearly whites simply by mixing fruit, such as strawberries, with some baking soda, and applying the all-natural concoction to your teeth.
Stem cell discovery challenges dogma on how fetus develops A Mount Sinai-led research team has discovered a new kind of stem cell that can become either a liver cell or a cell that lines liver blood vessels, according to a study published today in the journal Stem Cell Reports. The existence of such a cell type contradicts current theory on how organs arise from cell layers in the embryo, and may hold clues to origins of, and future treatment for, liver cancer.
	Teenage baseball pitchers at risk for permanent shoulder injury Young baseball pitchers who throw more than 100 pitches per week are at risk for a newly identified overuse injury that can impede normal shoulder development and lead to additional problems, including rotator cuff tears, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
	US charity helps NKorea fight drug-resistant TB (AP)—Despite worsening U.S.-North Korean relations, an American charity is ramping up efforts against an epidemic of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the isolated country, where it says it is making inroads in fighting the deadly disease.
Dom. Republic health minister axed after 11 child deaths The Dominican Republic's health minister has been fired after 11 children died in three days in a pediatric hospital, officials said, citing "deficiencies" in the medical team.
	Should we be worried about ebola becoming airborne? Suggestions the Ebola virus could "mutate" into a form that is transmissible by the respiratory route are speculative, and the likelihood of it happening are low. Nonetheless, the idea appears to have captured public attention to the extent that the World Health Organization recently made public statements about there being no threat the virus was airborne.
	Treatment for disabled children in Malawi set to improve A new programme to educate care workers and parents in Malawi who are looking after disabled children is to be developed by the University of Liverpool.
	Experts say body position in breast cancer radiation treatment matters (w/ Video) A new treatment board which allows patients to lie on their stomach in the prone position during radiation treatment is proving more effective for breast cancer patients at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
	Genetic testing seeks co-ordinated approach in re-contacting patients A new study will be examining the implications of when and how NHS healthcare professionals re-contact patients with new genetic information that may impact their health or that of their family. The three year Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded research will also explore issues of consent and how genetic information is stored.
WHO: 10,000 new Ebola cases per week could be seen (AP)—A World Health Organization official says there could be up to 10,000 new cases of Ebola per week within two months.
	Prototype for proactive COPD patient management Today at the Dreamforce 2014 conference in San Francisco, Royal Philips and Nijmegen, the Netherlands-based Radboud university medical center announced the debut of a prototype to support patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The launch marks the start of joint explorations between Philips and Radboudumc to apply mobile, digital and cloud technologies to improve patient outcomes, care coordination and patient empowerment across the health continuum.
Helping stroke patients transition from hospital to home Stroke patients and their family caregivers often find the transition from hospital to home difficult. However, a new $2 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute will help Michigan State University researchers look at ways to improve that experience using a nontraditional approach.
	Health officials reviewing ebola procedures at dallas hospital (HealthDay)—Federal and local health officials said Monday that they were re-examining infection-control efforts at the Dallas hospital where a nurse contracted Ebola while caring for America's first diagnosed victim of the deadly disease.
Researchers study how women in recovery manage personal networks with family and friend users Substance abuse counselors and social workers often recommend recovering addicts establish new networks of non-using friends and supporters.
Policies on marketing gifts to medical students Interactions between health care professionals and the prescription drug and medical device industries are common in the United States, especially in academic medical centers, and may include gifts to medical students such as textbooks and interactions of marketing representatives with students. Such practices have been criticized as potentially conveying biased information and reducing the students' skepticism about potentially misleading claims.
How plasma transfusions, antibodies fight Ebola A U.S. nurse being treated for Ebola has received a plasma transfusion from a doctor who beat his own infection with the deadly virus after getting a similar treatment. The reason: Antibodies in the blood of a survivor may help a patient fight off the germ.
Common gene variants linked to delayed healing of bone fractures Slow-healing or non-healing bone fractures in otherwise healthy people may be caused by gene variants that are common in the population, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Brazil police dismantle illegal abortion ring (AP)—Brazilian police in Rio de Janeiro arrested 55 people Tuesday in an operation to dismantle a ring of illegal abortion clinics following the recent deaths of two women who sought to end their pregnancies.
Can dentists bar competition over teeth-whitening? (AP)—The Supreme Court is weighing what to do about a state regulatory board made up mostly of dentists that is trying to prevent lower-cost competitors who aren't dentists from offering teeth-whitening services.
	Experimental tx shouldn't replace critical care for ebola (HealthDay)—Use of medications and vaccinations that have yet to be formally approved should not be a replacement for standard critical care, according to an ideas and opinions piece published in the Oct. 14 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
New test to cause spike in illness cases in kids (AP)—Health officials say a national wave of severe respiratory illnesses caused by an unusual virus is about to start looking a whole lot bigger, but that's because a new test will be speeding through a backlog of cases.
Seniors run for the suburbs in their golden years By 2040, there will be more than three times the number of Americans aged 80+ than there were in 2000. Condo towers crowding city skylines seem to reflect builders' hopes that the grey set will head to urban centres for increased services and better transit options. But new research from Concordia University suggests that the opposite is more likely to occur.
Corruption of the health care delivery system The foundation of evidence-based research has eroded and the trend must be reversed so patients and clinicians can make wise shared decisions about their health, say Dartmouth researchers in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Increase seen in use of emergency departments by children, regardless of insurance type In contrast to previous research that documented decreases or no change in children's rates of emergency department (ED) use in the 1990s and the early 2000s, an analysis of ED visits by children, adolescents, and young adults in California by insurance status from 2005-2010 found that rates increased across all insurance groups and the uninsured, according to a study in the October 15 issue of JAMA.
Fish oil supplements have little effect on irregular heartbeat High doses of fish oil supplements, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, do not reduce atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat in which the heart can beat as fast as 150 beats a minute. The results of the AFFORD trial led by the Montreal Heart Institute were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on October 7th.

Biology news

	Researchers uncover tomato's genetic history Two years after the sequencing of the genome of one variety of tomato, scientists have sequenced the genomes of 360 tomato varieties. By analyzing the relationships among these genomes, Sanwen Huang of the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and his colleagues have reconstructed the genetic history of the tomato, from its origins as a pea-sized wild plant growing in South America's Andes region to the many varieties found worldwide today. The research appears in Nature.
Fly genome could help us improve health and our environment The house fly might be a worldwide pest, but its genome will provide information that could improve our lives. From insights into pathogen immunity, to pest control and decomposing waste, the 691 Mb genome has been sequenced and analyzed by a global consortium of scientists, and is published in the open access journal Genome Biology.
New clues behind the resilience of a leading sexually transmitted pathogen, Chlamydia In the advanced online edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution, authors Domman, et al. have explored factors behind the resilience of the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S., chlamydia, with an estimated 1 million infected.
	Rare beaked whale washes up in Australia A rare beaked whale washed up in Australia Tuesday, exciting researchers who know little about an animal that spends much of its time diving at depth far from shore.
Researchers record sight neurons in jumping spider brain (w/ Video) For the first time, a team of interdisciplinary researchers have made recordings of neurons associated with visual perception inside the poppy seed-sized brain of a jumping spider (Phidippus audax).
Precise control over genes results from game-changing research (w/ Video) The application of a new, precise way to turn genes on and off within cells, described online October 9, 2014 in two articles in the journal Cell, is likely to lead to a better understanding of diseases and possibly to new therapies, according to UC San Francisco scientists.
	'Inner GPS' of bird brains may be better than that of humans The 2014 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine was awarded to three neuroscientists for their pioneering work on the brain's "inner GPS system". Over the course of four decades, they revealed that a small part in the brain called the hippocampus stores a map of animals' surroundings and helps them navigate.
	A simple way to retrieve small genomes from a mix of various organisms Scientists from the IZW led by Alex Greenwood publish in PLOS ONE a simple way to retrieve small genomes from a mix of various organisms.
	Swiss scientists explain evolution of extreme parasites Extreme adaptations of species often cause such significant changes that their evolutionary history is difficult to reconstruct. Zoologists at the University of Basel in Switzerland have now discovered a new parasite species that represents the missing link between fungi and an extreme group of parasites. Researches are now able to understand for the first time the evolution of these parasites, causing disease in humans and animals. The study has been published in the latest issue of the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
New discovery will enhance yield and quality of cereal and bioenergy crops A team of scientists led by Thomas Brutnell, Ph.D., director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have developed a new way of identifying genes that are important for photosynthesis in maize, and in rice. Their research helps to prioritize candidate genes that can be used for crop improvement and revealed new pathways and information about how plants fix carbon. The findings, published in "Comparative analyses of C4 and C3 photosynthesis in developing leaves of maize and rice," on October 12, 2014 in Nature Biotechnology, also made public a mathematical model enabling access to datasets comparing C4 photosynthesis traits in plants like maize to C3 photosynthesis in plants like rice.
	Discovery of cellular snooze button advances cancer and biofuel research The discovery of a cellular snooze button has allowed a team of Michigan State University scientists to potentially improve biofuel production and offer insight on the early stages of cancer.
New 'tree of life' traces evolution of a mysterious cotinga birds They are some of the brightest, loudest, oddest-looking, least-understood birds on the planet. Some have bulbous crests, long fleshy wattles, or Elvis-worthy pompadours in addition to electric blue, deep purple, or screaming orange feathers. But thanks to a comprehensive new evolutionary "tree of life" generated for the tropical cotinga family of South America, the door is now open to new discoveries about the more than 60 species in this amazingly diverse group of birds.
Using test tube experiments to study how bacterial species evolve antibiotic resistance Given a critical change in the environment, how exactly, do species adapt? Professor Tom Vogwill and colleagues wanted to get at the heart of this evolutionary question by measuring the growth rates and DNA mutations of 8 different species of Pseudomonas bacteria. They controlled a single but vital variable during growth, the dose of the antibacterial drug rifampicin.
	Plumpest pumpkin: 2,058-pound gourd sets record (AP)—A pumpkin weighing 2,058 pounds has taken first prize and set a tournament record at an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California.
Researchers assess risks to wildlife and ecosystems posed by pharmaceuticals A University of York researcher has edited a special edition of a Royal Society publication examining the potential risks and impacts of pharmaceuticals in the environment on wildlife and ecosystems.
	Start signal for transcription of stressed genes identified What happens when a cell is stressed? In their latest study, Christian Seiser and his team at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna addressed this question. They identified which genes of the cell are activated under stress, showed that more than half of these genes share the same hallmark and described the molecular mechanism through which it starts the transcription of stress-activated genes. Their results could help to develop therapeutics to treat stress-related disease and have been published in the renowned journal Genome Research.
	Researchers track fall migratory patterns of insects To study the nocturnal flight patterns of migrating insects during the fall, researchers at the University of Delaware have been spending their nights on the Newark Farm launching a balloon equipped with a tow net to try to catalogue insect species.
	Cross River gorillas to benefit from new protected area in Cameroon The Prime Minister of Cameroon has signed a decree to officially create the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in the south-west of the country – great news for Africa's most threatened great ape, the Cross River gorilla.
	Fossilised bird egg offers clues to Brazil's prehistoric past Brazilian scientists have discovered a near-intact fossilised bird egg – the country's first – in Sao Paulo State.
'Grapes of Wrath': Stomping out grape disease one vineyard at a time Cracking the genetic code of a common disease affecting grape production could improve vineyard management and help protect the multibillion-dollar industry that includes raisins, juice, jam/jelly, fresh grapes, grape-seed extract and oil, vinegar and wine.
	New research shows that salinity plays a major role in salt marsh grass's response to insect grazing Twenty years ago, biologists Kathy Boyer and Joy Zedler, then researchers at San Diego State University, speculated that too many insects feeding on cordgrass in the marshes of San Diego Bay could endanger the grass, and in turn endanger the bay wildlife that relies on it.
Turtle tumors linked to excessive nitrogen from land-based pollution Hawai'i's sea turtles are afflicted with chronic and often lethal tumors caused by consuming non-native algae "superweeds" along coastlines where nutrient pollution is unchecked. The disease that causes these tumors is considered the leading cause of death in endangered green sea turtles. The new research was just published in the scientific journal PeerJ.
	Building a bridge from basic botany to applied agriculture One of the planet's leading questions is how to produce enough food to feed the world in an increasingly variable climate. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that food production must rise 70% over the next 40 years to feed a growing global population, and plants are one major component of the necessary rise in food production. Plants—grains, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and more—feed humans directly and indirectly by supporting livestock. Current research must tap into our knowledge of how plants work to develop more efficient and higher yielding agricultural systems that produce more food using fewer resources and with reduced environmental impacts.
Are there enough fish to go around? Scientists from the University of York have released a report highlighting the gap between declining wild fish supplies and healthy eating advice recommending more seafood.

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