Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Oct 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 21, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- POLARBEAR detects curls in the universe's oldest light
- Measuring on ice: Researchers create 'smart' ice skating blade
- Physicists solve longstanding puzzle of how moths find distant mates
- Big black holes can block new stars
- What happens when ultracold atomic spins are trapped in an optical lattice structure
- Scientists model molecular movement within narrow channels of mesoporous nanoparticles
- Super stable garnet ceramics may be ideal for high-energy lithium batteries
- Ancient Europeans intolerant to lactose for 5,000 years after they adopted agriculture
- Backpack physics: Smaller hikers carry heavier loads
- Triplet threat from the sun
- 'Shrinking goats' another indicator that climate change affects animal size
- Extremely high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging
- Kung fu stegosaur
- Studies suggest participants in group conflicts misunderstand opponent's motives
- NASA Webb's heart survives deep freeze test

Astronomy & Space news

	Big black holes can block new stars Massive black holes spewing out radio-frequency-emitting particles at near-light speed can block formation of new stars in aging galaxies, a study has found.
	POLARBEAR detects curls in the universe's oldest light (Phys.org) —Cosmologists have made the most sensitive and precise measurements yet of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background.
	POLARBEAR seeks cosmic answers in microwave polarization An international team of physicists has measured a subtle characteristic in the polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation that will allow them to map the large-scale structure of the universe, determine the masses of neutrinos and perhaps uncover some of the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
	Cosmic rays threaten future deep-space astronaut missions Crewed missions to Mars remain an essential goal for NASA, but scientists are only now beginning to understand and characterize the radiation hazards that could make such ventures risky, concludes a new paper by University of New Hampshire scientists.
	NASA Webb's heart survives deep freeze test After 116 days of being subjected to extremely frigid temperatures like that in space, the heart of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) and its sensitive instruments, emerged unscathed from the thermal vacuum chamber at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
	Extreme ultraviolet image of a significant solar flare The sun emitted a significant solar flare on Oct. 19, 2014, peaking at 1:01 a.m. EDT. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which is always observing the sun, captured this image of the event in extreme ultraviolet wavelength of 131 Angstroms – a wavelength that can see the intense heat of a flare and that is typically colorized in teal.
	New radio telescope ready to probe Whirring back and forth on a turning turret, the white, 40-foot dish evokes the aura of movies such as "Golden Eye" or "Contact," but the University of Arizona team of scientists and engineers that commissioned it earlier this month isn't planning to listen for signals from extraterrestrials or hijack satellites.
	Image: Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko It was 45 years ago when astronomer Klim Churyumov and Svetlana Gerasimenko, one of his researchers, unwittingly began a new chapter in the history of space exploration.
	How to safely enjoy the October 23 partial solar eclipse 2014 – a year rich in eclipses. The Moon dutifully slid into Earth's shadow in April and October gifting us with two total lunars. Now it's the Sun's turn. This Thursday October 23 skywatchers across much of the North America and Mexico will witness a partial solar eclipse. From the eastern U.S. the eclipse will reach maximum around the time of sunset, making for dramatic picture-taking opportunities. Further west, the entire eclipse will occur with the sun up in the afternoon sky. Either way, you can't go wrong.
	MAVEN studies passing comet and its effects NASA's newest orbiter at Mars, MAVEN, took precautions to avoid harm from a dust-spewing comet that flew near Mars today and is studying the flyby's effects on the Red Planet's atmosphere.
N. America treated to partial solar eclipse Thurs. North Americans, get set for the fourth and final eclipse of the year.
	How to grip an asteroid For someone like Edward Fouad, a junior at Caltech who has always been interested in robotics and mechanical engineering, it was an ideal project: help develop robotic technology that could one day fly on a NASA mission to visit and sample an asteroid.

Technology news

	Measuring on ice: Researchers create 'smart' ice skating blade An ice skating blade that informs figure skaters of the stresses they are imposing on their joints has been developed by a group of researchers in the US.
	Samsung seeks boost from redesigned Note The latest version of Samsung's popular big-screen Galaxy Note has gone on sale at a crucial time for the South Korean company as it suffers a rapid decline in profit from its global smartphone business.
	Review: Apple Pay in action If there ever comes a day I can ditch my wallet and use my phone to pay for everything, I'll look back to my first purchase through Apple Pay: a Big Mac and medium fries for $5.44. That wallet-free day won't be coming for a while, if ever, but Apple's new payments system brings us much closer.
	Skin icons can tap into promise of smartwatch You have heard it before: smartwatches are cool wearables but critics remind us of the fact that their small size makes many actions cumbersome and they question how many people will really have them on their shopping lists. A project at Carnegie Mellon could serve as an interesting lesson that with some imagination and skilled teamwork, the smartwatch-user interaction may not be as limited as one would think. Researchers there want to come up with approaches that expand the interactive envelope around smartwatches, allowing human input to surmount the physical confines of the device.
	World record in data transmission with smart circuits Fewer cords, smaller antennas and quicker video transmission. This may be the result of a new type of microwave circuit that was designed at Chalmers University of Technology. The research team behind the circuits currently holds an attention-grabbing record. Tomorrow the results will be presented at a conference in San Diego.
	Researchers take big-data approach to estimate range of electric vehicles Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed new software that estimates how much farther electric vehicles can drive before needing to recharge. The new technique requires drivers to plug in their destination and automatically pulls in data on a host of variables to predict energy use for the vehicle.
	Super stable garnet ceramics may be ideal for high-energy lithium batteries Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered exceptional properties in a garnet material that could enable development of higher-energy battery designs.
	Google's streaming music service adds mood to mix Google's music-subscription service will try to anticipate its listeners' mood swings as it amplifies its competition with Pandora, Spotify and other popular services that play tunes over the Internet.
	Hendersons introduce hoverboard and a future beyond wheels Greg and Jill Henderson are behind a hoverboard that uses a magnetic field to generate lift, and they have turned to crowdfunding to put the finishing touches on their California-based Hendo Hoverboard. They said that "perfecting it will take a little more time and resources," and their target date is October 2015. Their plan is to procure parts from a number of overseas suppliers, with the final assembly in Los Gatos, California.
Microsoft's Nadella gets $84M pay package Microsoft has given its new CEO Satya Nadella a pay package worth $84.3 million, most of it in the form of long-term stock awards.
	Women's pay remark trails Microsoft chief to the cloud Even as Microsoft ramped up Internet "cloud" offerings for businesses, its chief continued to be dogged by a comment that women should not ask for pay raises.
Amazon, Simon & Schuster sign book retail deal Amazon has reached a deal with American book publisher Simon & Schuster, the companies said, though the e-commerce giant remains at loggerheads with France's Hachette over e-book pricing.
	Chewing too much hassle? Japan's got just the thing Are you worried that you're just not chewing enough to keep your mind and body in tip-top condition? Then never fear: Japan has invented something to help you count your bites.
Samsung phones cleared for US government use Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday some of its Galaxy mobile devices were approved by the National Security Agency for use with classified U.S. government networks and data, a boost to the company's efforts to expand in the security-conscious business market.
	Japan court orders Facebook to reveal revenge porn IP addresses A Tokyo court has ordered Facebook to disclose the IP addresses used by fake accounts that were posting revenge porn, a lawyer said Tuesday, in the first such case in Japan.
	First driverless vehicles for public launched in Singapore For the first time, two SMART-NUS enhanced driverless buggies to ferry passengers, free-of-charge, around Chinese and Japanese Gardens, as part of the Smart and Connected Jurong Lake District (JLD) Pilots and Trials initiative.
Researchers developing algorithms to detect fake reviews Anyone who has conducted business online—from booking a hotel to buying a book to finding a new dentist or selling their wares—has come across reviews of said products and services. Chances are they've also encountered some that just don't seem legitimate. Researchers at the University of Kansas are developing algorithms and computational models to detect fake online reviews to improve commerce for consumers and businesses and to improve credibility of social media.
New study examines web-based biosurveillance systems in identifying disease outbreaks Little quantitative evidence exists to show that electronic event-based biosurveillance systems that gather near real-time information to identify infectious disease outbreaks have led to specific health policy actions, decisions or outcomes, according a new study published today in the peer-review journal, PLoS One.
	Retrofitting old buildings to make them earthquake safe Non-ductile reinforced concrete buildings are among the most common structures in the United States. They are also among the most deadly.
	Cyber-espionage is more difficult to pin to a state than spying in the physical world Who's in your network, checking out your data? The latest invasive digital creature is Sandworm, a piece of malware discovered to be using a previously unknown Windows vulnerability to infiltrate government networks, spying on systems at NATO, the European Union, the Ukrainian government and others.
	What's next for the smartphone in a rapidly changing market? It should be no surprise to anyone that many smartphones may have been designed to last about 24 months – the length of a typical contract with a network service provider. After all, it is a fast-moving, high-turnover market and planned obsolescence is how it is kept moving.
	Sweeping air devices for greener planes The large amount of jet fuel required to fly an airplane from point A to point B can have negative impacts on the environment and—as higher fuel costs contribute to rising ticket prices—a traveler's wallet. With funding from NASA and the Boeing Company, engineers from the Division of Engineering and Applied Science at Caltech and their collaborators from the University of Arizona have developed a device that lets planes fly with much smaller tails, reducing the planes' overall size and weight, thus increasing fuel efficiency.
	Verizon reports higher 3Q net income, revenue Verizon Communications Inc. on Tuesday reported higher net income and revenue in its third quarter, helped by strong wireless subscriber growth and demand for its high-speed FiOS Internet services.
	Staples investigating possible data breach Staples is looking into a potential credit card data breach and has been in touch with law enforcement officials about the issue.
Solar energy prices see double-digit declines in 2013, trend expected to continue Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) system prices dropped by 12 - 19 percent nationwide in 2013, according to the third edition of a jointly written report on PV pricing trends from the Energy Department's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). In addition, 2014 prices are expected to drop another 3 - 12 percent, depending on system location and market segment. Industry analysts expect this trend to continue over the next couple of years, keeping the nation on track to meet the DOE SunShot Initiative's 2020 targets.
	More hackers targeting mobile phones to get bank info, survey says Hackers are increasingly targeting mobile phones to get into bank accounts of victims and steal money, security researchers said Tuesday.
	Apple sees iCloud attacks; China hack reported Apple said Tuesday its iCloud server has been the target of "intermittent" attacks, hours after a security blog said Chinese authorities had been trying to hack into the system.
UMD researchers formulate cyber protection for supply chains The supply chain is ground zero for several recent cyber breaches. Hackers, for example, prey on vendors that have remote access to a larger company's global IT systems, software and networks.
	Yahoo profit surges on Alibaba divestment, mobile Yahoo said Tuesday its quarterly profit surged with its sale of shares in Chinese Internet powerhouse Alibaba, and also saw improving results from its mobile Internet initiatives.
	Outbreak in Africa reveals a need for the contributions of engineers to global health As Ebola continues to pose national and international risks, a role is envisioned for engineers, who are being called on to design devices and processes to help protect against the virus.
	Robots recognize humans in disaster environments Through a computational algorithm, a team of researchers from the University of Guadalajara (UDG) in Mexico, developed a neural network that allows a small robot to detect different patterns, such as images, fingerprints, handwriting, faces, bodies, voice frequencies and DNA sequences.
	Freescale introduces world's smallest integrated tire pressure monitoring system Freescale Semiconductor today introduced the FXTH87 tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) family, which is the smallest integrated package TPMS solution available at an extremely light weight of 0.3 grams. The FXTH87 family is 50 percent smaller than competing products, helping designers reduce overall bill of materials costs. Freescale's newest TPMS system-in-package solution provides low power consumption combined with the highest level of functional integration in one package, featuring a dual-axis accelerometer architecture, pressure and temperature sensor, integrated MCU, RF transmitter and low frequency receiver.
Making smartphone browsing 20% faster while reducing power consumption by 40% Nokia Networks today announced that it has conducted the first live network trial of a software feature that improves smartphone performance on 3G networks. Nokia High Speed Cell FACH cuts smartphone-generated network signaling by up to 80%, boosts response time by up to 65% and achieves up to 20% faster browsing. Up to 40% power savings, contributing to longer smartphone battery life for subscribers, were also shown. The tests were run on the commercial 3G/HSPA network of a major European operator using test devices fitted with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors that support High Speed Cell FACH.
	Turner channels removed from Dish amid pact spat Channels such as Cartoon Network and CNN are no longer part of Dish's programming lineup as a deadline has passed for the satellite TV provider and Turner Broadcasting to renew their distribution agreement.
HP supercomputer at NREL garners top honor A supercomputer created by Hewlett-Packard (HP) and the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that uses warm water to cool its servers, and then re-uses that water to heat its building, has been honored as one of the top technological innovations of the year by R&D Magazine.

Medicine & Health news

Paralysed man walks again after breakthrough treatment (Update) A paralysed man can walk again after receiving revolutionary treatment which one of the British scientists responsible hailed as a breakthrough "more impressive than a man walking on the Moon"—although others urged caution.
	Once CD8 T cells take on one virus, they'll fight others too Scientists think of CD8 T cells as long-lived cells that become tuned to fight just one pathogen, but a new study finds that once CD8 T cells fight one pathogen, they also join the body's "innate" immune system, ready to answer the calls of the cytokine signals that are set off by a wide variety of infections.
	See-through sensors open new window into the brain (Medical Xpress)—Developing invisible implantable medical sensor arrays, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers has overcome a major technological hurdle in researchers' efforts to understand the brain.
	Scientific evidence does not support the brain game claims, scholars say The Stanford Center for Longevity joined today with the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in issuing a statement skeptical about the effectiveness of so-called "brain game" products. Signing the document were 69 scholars, including six from Stanford and cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists from around the world.
	High blood-sugar levels may harden heart valves (Medical Xpress)—Rice University bioengineers have found new evidence of a possible link between diabetes and the hardening of heart valves.
	Immune proteins moonlight to regulate brain-cell connections When it comes to the brain, "more is better" seems like an obvious assumption. But in the case of synapses, which are the connections between brain cells, too many or too few can both disrupt brain function.
	Middle-aged adults were more susceptible to the flu last year because of a new viral mutation A team of scientists, led by researchers at The Wistar Institute, has identified a possible explanation for why middle-aged adults were hit especially hard by the H1N1 influenza virus during the 2013-2014 influenza season. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offer evidence that a new mutation in H1N1 viruses potentially led to more disease in these individuals. Their study suggests that the surveillance community may need to change how they choose viral strains that go into seasonal influenza vaccines, the researchers say.
	Studies suggest participants in group conflicts misunderstand opponent's motives (Medical Xpress)—A trio of researchers, Adam Waytz, Liane Young and Jeremy Ginge, has conducted several studies to better understand why it is that opposing groups find it so difficult to compromise to end a conflict. As they explain in their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences their studies show that not only do members of opposing groups misunderstand their opponents' motives, but their perception can be altered by offering a simple reward.
	Exposure to traffic pollution during pregnancy can damage future child's lungs Women who are exposed to traffic pollution while pregnant are increasing the chances of damaging the lungs of their unborn children, concludes a study published online in the journal Thorax.
	ACG: Yoga may benefit kids with inflammatory bowel disease (HealthDay)—A formal yoga program may be beneficial for pediatric patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, held from Oct. 17 to 22 in Philadelphia.
	ACG: Recent increase in incidence of young-onset CRC (HealthDay)—The incidence of young-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing, and the disease is more aggressive pathologically. These findings are being presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, held from Oct. 17 to 22 in Philadelphia.
	Enterovirus infection linked to incidence of T1DM in children (HealthDay)—The risk of type 1 diabetes is increased for children diagnosed with enterovirus infection, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in Diabetologia.
	Controlling Ebola in West Africa most effective way to decrease international risk Controlling the Ebola virus outbreak at the source in West Africa is the most effective way to decrease international risk of transmission, according to a research paper published today in The Lancet.
Researchers identify key factor in transition from moderate to problem drinking A team of UC San Francisco researchers has found that a tiny segment of genetic material known as a microRNA plays a central role in the transition from moderate drinking to binge drinking and other alcohol use disorders.
Study shows no relationship between moderate adolescent cannabis use and exam results, IQ A large UK study has found that occasional adolescent cannabis use does not lead to poorer educational and intellectual performance, but that heavy cannabis use is associated with slightly poorer exam results at age 16. The results come from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, also known as "Children of the 90's") a long-term study that follows the health of children born in the Bristol area (UK) in 1991 and 1992. The work is being presented at the annual congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) in Berlin.
Researchers confirm the biochemical cause of seasonal depression New research confirms why some people suffer from the winter blues while others get through the winter without any problems. A longitudinal study from a group of researchers from the University of Copenhagen has found that that people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) show significant seasonal differences in the way they regulate the neurotransmitter serotonin in comparison to the majority of the population. This work is being presented at the ECNP congress in Berlin.
Even depressed people believe that life gets better Adults typically believe that life gets better—today is better than yesterday was and tomorrow will be even better than today. A new study shows that even depressed individuals believe in a brighter future, but this optimistic belief may not lead to better outcomes. The findings are published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Two Michigan high school students develop screening tools to detect lung and heart disease Two Michigan high school students, sisters Ilina and Medha Krishen, have developed screening tools using electronic stethoscopes to detect lung and heart disease. The sisters will present their findings at CHEST 2014 in Austin, Texas next week.
Alternate approach to traditional CPR saves lives A new study shows that survival and neurological outcomes for patients in cardiac arrest can be improved by adding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The study abstract was released today in an online supplement of the journal CHEST and will be presented at CHEST 2014, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Austin, Texas held October 25-30.
Three people infected with Ebola predicted to fly from West Africa every month if no exit screening takes place Three Ebola-infected travelers are predicted to depart on an international flight every month from any of the three countries in West Africa currently experiencing widespread Ebola virus outbreaks (Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone), if no exit screening were to take place, according to new modeling research published in The Lancet.
	US releases revised Ebola gear guidelines Federal health officials on Monday issued new guidelines to promote head-to-toe protection for health workers treating Ebola patients.
New map of a rat brain makes it easy for scientists and doctors to explore the brain and connectome What's the route between smell and memory? Where's the connection between habits and Parkinson's disease? How does habit detour into addiction?
Work to improve children's health should start before mother becomes pregnant Researchers from the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, believe the key to making future generations healthier could lie before the mother becomes pregnant.
Largest study of Hispanics/Latinos finds depression and anxiety rates vary widely among groups Rates of depression and anxiety vary widely among different segments of the U.S. Hispanic and Latino population, with the highest prevalence of depressive symptoms in Puerto Ricans, according to a new report from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). The researchers' findings also suggest that depression and anxiety may be undertreated among Hispanics and Latinos, particularly if they are uninsured. The study was published online in Annals of Epidemiology.
Scientists discover protein that can accelerate cancer patients' recovery after radiation and chemotherapy (Medical Xpress)—Scientists from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have shown for the first time how a unique protein found in human bone marrow can drive stem cells to repair our blood system after an injury.
	New exercise program helps dialysis patients take control of their health Several times a week, Stephanie Thompson breaks out her running shoes and goes to the gym. It's done out of enjoyment, but Thompson, a post-doctoral trainee in the University of Alberta's Division of Nephrology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, knows the exercise also brings with it long-term rewards. It is wisdom she's now trying to share in her professional area of helping patients with kidney disease.
Three ways to prevent sudden heart death in fit, young athletes Fifteen year-old Marshall Hastings is living proof of the value of having life-saving cardiac defibrillators and trained personnel at sporting events.
Watching for signs of language delay in your child One of the wonderful and thrilling parts of being a parent comes in witnessing a child's firsts: their first smile, their first laugh, their first step, their first word. These firsts can be delightful, exciting and memorable.
A child's poor decision-making skills can predict later behavior problems, research shows Children who show poor decision-making skills at age 10 or 11 may be more likely to experience interpersonal and behavioral difficulties that have the potential to lead to high-risk health behavior in their teen years, according to a new study from Oregon State University psychology professor.
	Hungry or not, kids will eat treats (Medical Xpress)—Even though they are not hungry, children as young as three will find high-energy treats too tempting to refuse, new QUT research has found.
	A rich vocabulary can protect against cognitive impairment Some people suffer incipient dementia as they get older. To make up for this loss, the brain's cognitive reserve is put to the test. Researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela have studied what factors can help to improve this ability and they conclude that having a higher level of vocabulary is one such factor.
	Improving clinical pain management practices Oncologists treat cancer, neurologists specialise in brain disorders, immunologists diagnose infectious diseases, and a host of other specialists tackle ailments from broken bones to ruptured arteries. But who manages the pain associated with those conditions? Too often, the answer is "nobody".
Flu vaccine may hold key to preventing heart disease A new study in Vaccine explains how flu vaccines prevent heart attacks
	New test to help brain injury victims recover A dynamic new assessment for helping victims of trauma to the brain, including those suffering from progressive conditions such as dementia, has been developed by a clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Leicester.
Study seeks to treat children with ADHD by retraining their brains In the U.S. alone, more than $100 billion a year is spent treating the more than six million children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An international team, led by researchers from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, recently received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health to examine whether training of specific brain wave frequencies is an effective treatment for relieving ADHD symptoms and reducing the need for ongoing medication in these children.
Train your brain to prefer healthy foods "I can resist anything except temptation." Anyone who has ever been on a diet can relate to that quip from Oscar Wilde. No matter what the fad diet du jour says, the only way to lose weight is to reduce the net number of calories consumed. It's a simple equation, but a hard way to live.
	Stop and frisk linked with trauma and stress, sociology study finds Young men stopped and questioned in New York City by police are reporting higher levels of trauma and stress associated with those experiences, particularly when they report that the encounters were intrusive, according to a study led by Amanda Geller, an NYU sociologist.
	New treatment for inherited cholesterol At the London Olympics in 2012, South African swimmer Cameron van den Burgh dedicated his world record-breaking win in the 100m breast stroke to one of his biggest rivals and closest friends, Alexander Dale Oen.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is on rise with season's shorter days October marks the beginning of the SAD season.
Researchers in early stages of developing compound to fight drug-resistant bacteria Ball State University faculty and students together with researchers at the University of New Mexico are in the preliminary stages of developing a new class of drugs designed to fight bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
	B-vitamins can help beat depression according to study Supplementing current anti-depressant medication with B vitamins improves response to treatment, according to a study by researchers at The University of Western Australia.
	Novel bi-directional cannula that prevents severe complications following cardiac surgery A novel bi-directional cannula that prevents severe complications following cardiac surgery has been developed by School of Clinical Sciences' Mr Randall Moshinsky.
	Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs may have an impact on depression Ordinary over the counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs purchased from pharmacies may also be effective in the treatment of people suffering of depression.
	Sleep duration affects risk for ulcerative colitis If you are not getting the recommended seven-to-eight hours of sleep each night, you may be at increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis, according to a new study1 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
	Scientists take step towards drug to treat norovirus stomach bug An experimental drug currently being trialled for influenza and Ebola viruses could have a new target: norovirus, often known as the winter vomiting virus. A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge has shown that the drug, favipiravir, is effective at reducing – and in some cases eliminating – norovirus infection in mice.
	New analysis methodology may revolutionize breast cancer therapy Stroma cells are derived from connective tissue and may critically influence tumour growth. This knowledge is not new. However, bioanalyst Christopher Gerner and an interdisciplinary team from the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna have developed a novel methodology for investigation. Using modern mass spectrometry, tumour-promoting activities from breast fibroblasts were directly determined from needle biopsy samples. Recently this experimental break-through is published in the renowned Journal of Proteome Research.
Blood biomarker may detect lung cancer A new study shows that patients with stage I to stage III non-small cell lung cancer have different metabolite profiles in their blood than those of patients who are at risk but do not have lung cancer. The study abstract was released today in an online supplement of the journal CHEST and will be presented at CHEST 2014, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Austin, Texas, on October 29.
	Rare earth nanocrystals and infrared light can reveal small cancerous tumors and cardiovascular lesions A new medical imaging method being developed at Rutgers University could help physicians detect cancer and other diseases earlier than before, speeding treatment and reducing the need for invasive, time-consuming biopsies.
Researchers identify new signaling pathway thought to play role in rheumatoid arthritis A new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) identifies a new signaling pathway that contributes to the development and progression of inflammatory bone erosion, which occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects millions of adults worldwide. Bone erosion in joints is a major cause of disability in RA patients.
	Peanut in house dust linked to peanut allergy in children with skin gene mutation A new study led by researchers at King's College London in collaboration with the University of Manchester and the University of Dundee has found a strong link between exposure to peanut protein in household dust during infancy and the development of peanut allergy in children genetically predisposed to a skin barrier defect.
	Misreporting diet information could impact nutrition recommendations for Hispanics You are what you eat, unless you're not quite sure what you ate.
	Impressions shaped by facial appearance foster biased decisions Research in recent years has shown that people associate specific facial traits with an individual's personality. For instance, people consistently rate faces that appear more feminine or that naturally appear happy as looking more trustworthy. In addition to trustworthiness, people also consistently associate competence, dominance, and friendliness with specific facial traits. According to an article published by Cell Press on October 21st in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, people rely on these subtle and arbitrary facial traits to make important decisions, from voting for a political candidate to convicting a suspect for a crime. Referring to this systemic bias as "face-ism," the authors present its real-world consequences and discuss potential ways of overcoming it.
Resetting the circadian clock: Shift workers might want to skip high-iron foods Workers punching in for the graveyard shift may be better off not eating high-iron foods at night so they don't disrupt the circadian clock in their livers.
	Animal therapy reduces anxiety, loneliness symptoms in college students Animal-assisted therapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and loneliness among college students, according to researchers at Georgia State University, Idaho State University and Savannah College of Art and Design. Their findings are published in the latest issue of the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health.
Preservation technique for marginal livers prevents biliary stricture New research shows that a preservation technique known as sequential subnormothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (SNEVLP) prevents ischemic type biliary stricture following liver transplantation using grafts from donations after cardiac death (DCD). Findings published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, indicate that the preservation of DCD grafts using SNEVLP versus cold storage reduces bile duct and endothelial cell injury post transplantation.
Research highlights extent and effects of school violence Six percent of U.S. children and youth missed a day of school over the course of a year because they were the victim of violence or abuse at school. This was a major finding of a study on school safety by University of New Hampshire researchers published this month in the Journal of School Violence.
	French scientists devise fast-track test for Ebola A new device similar to a simple pregnancy home-test could allow doctors to diagnose a patient with suspected Ebola in under 15 minutes, its French developers said Tuesday.
	WHO: Ebola vaccine trials in W. Africa in January Tens of thousands of doses of experimental Ebola vaccines could be available for "real-world" testing in West Africa as soon as January as long as they are deemed safe, a top World Health Organization official said Tuesday.
	Loss of Y chromosome associated with higher mortality and cancer in men Age-related loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) from blood cells, a frequent occurrence among elderly men, is associated with elevated risk of various cancers and earlier death, according to research presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2014 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Study suggests a novel approach for treating non-cardiac chest pain Chest pain doesn't necessarily come from the heart. An estimated 200,000 Americans each year experience non-cardiac chest pain, which in addition to pain can involve painful swallowing, discomfort and anxiety. Non-cardiac chest pain can be frightening for patients and result in visits to the emergency room because the painful symptoms, while often originating in the esophagus, can mimic a heart attack. Current treatment—which includes pain modulators such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)—has a partial 40 to 50 percent response rate in alleviating symptoms.
	Ebola anxiety: A bigger threat now than the virus itself (HealthDay)—Headlines remain riveted on the three Ebola cases in Dallas. But, mental health specialists say overblown fear is a much bigger health threat to Americans.
	Black women fare worse with fertility treatments, study says (HealthDay)—Black women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) are only about half as likely as white women to become pregnant using the popular assisted reproduction technique, new research indicates, and the racial disparity persists even when donor eggs are used.
	Tall, heavy one-year-olds may be at risk for obesity later, study finds (HealthDay)—Infants who quickly add weight and length may be showing a genetic propensity for obesity as toddlers, a new study suggests.
	High-intensity statins cut diabetic atherosclerosis (HealthDay)—High-intensity statin therapy can alter the progressive nature of diabetic atherosclerosis, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Diabetes Care.
	Unplanned hospitalizations with GI cancer patients common (HealthDay)—Unplanned hospitalizations among elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer are common, according to research published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	ASHG: MI without substantial CAD is minimally heritable (HealthDay)—The presence of myocardial infarction (MI) without substantial coronary artery disease (CAD) is not familial, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, held from Oct. 18 to 22 in San Diego.
Diet for your DNA: Novel nutrition plan sparks debate around data protection Personalised diet plans will not be widely accepted by the public until regulations are in place to protect information about our DNA, new research has shown.
	Flexibility in disease outbreak management could save lives and money Research by a team of epidemiologists from the UK and the USA has proposed a new approach for responding to and managing disease outbreaks. They say lives and money could be saved if decisions are adapted to relevant information about the dynamics of the current crisis and not based on retrospective analyses of prior crises, trials and interventions.
Most published medical research is false; Here's how to improve In 2005, in a landmark paper viewed well over a million times, John Ioannidis explained in PLOS Medicine why most published research findings are false. To coincide with PLOS Medicine's 10th anniversary he responds to the challenge of this situation by suggesting how the research enterprise could be improved.
Large variation in cesarean rates across US hospitals Cesarean delivery is the most common inpatient surgery in the United States. US cesarean rates increased from 20.7% in 1996 to 32.9% in 2009 but have since stabilized, with 1.3 million American women having had a cesarean delivery in 2011. Rates of cesarean delivery vary across hospitals, and understanding reasons for the variation could help shed light on practices related to cesarean delivery.
Hospital acquisitions leading to increased patient costs The trend of hospitals consolidating medical groups and physician practices in an effort to improve the coordination of patient care is backfiring and increasing the cost of patient care, according to a new study led by the University of California, Berkeley.
Study examines effect of hospital switch to for-profit status Hospital conversion from nonprofit to for-profit status in the 2000s was associated with better subsequent financial health but had no relationship to the quality of care delivered, mortality rates, or the proportion of poor or minority patients receiving care, according to a study in the October 22/29 issue of JAMA.
	Immersed in violence: How 3-D gaming affects video game players Playing violent video games in 3-D makes everything seem more real – and that may have troubling consequences for players, a new study reveals.
Competition keeps health-care costs low, researchers find Medical practices in less competitive health-care markets charge more for services, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Smoking interferes with neurocognitive recovery during abstinence from alcohol Numerous studies have shown that individuals with an alcohol use disorder perform worse than those without one on multiple neurocognitive domains of function following detoxification from alcohol, although the level of impairment can vary widely among individuals. A new study of the degree of neurocognitive recovery in treatment-seeking alcohol dependent individuals (ALC) – with varied degrees of smoking status – during the first eight months of sustained abstinence from alcohol has found that smoking status influenced the rate and level of recovery.
Bar attendance supports heavy drinking by young adults in the US-Mexico border region Due to a legal drinking age of 18 years, cheaper alcohol, and marketing tactics of local bars that specifically target youth, Mexico is an attractive and geographically nearby destination where younger U.S. residents legally drink heavily. However, levels of drinking on the U.S. side are high even among youth who did not recently travel to Mexico. A new study examined whether two factors typical of risky drinking in Mexico – bar attendance and permissive alcohol-related social-cognitions – might also explain higher drinking on the U.S. side, finding that patterns of bar attendance were strongly linked to higher drinking among U.S. border youth, but liberal social cognitions were not.
Understanding drinking behaviors among women with unwanted pregnancies Most women reduce or stop drinking alcohol upon discovery of pregnancy. However, little information exists about changes in alcohol use, and factors contributing to these changes, among women with unwanted pregnancies. A new study examines changes in alcohol use from before pregnancy recognition to during pregnancy among women with unwanted pregnancies – meaning women who tried, but were unable, to terminate their pregnancies. Findings indicate that most women with unwanted pregnancies quit or reduce alcohol consumption once they discover their pregnancies, and that some may be substituting alcohol for drugs once they discover their pregnancies.
Making health services prices available linked to lower total claims payments Searching a health service pricing website before using the service was associated with lower payments for clinical services such as advanced imaging and laboratory tests, according to a study in the October 22/29 issue of JAMA.
Study finds high percentage of recalled dietary supplements still have banned ingredients About two-thirds of FDA recalled dietary supplements analyzed still contained banned drugs at least 6 months after being recalled, according to a study in the October 22/29 issue of JAMA.
Clot dissolver tPA's tardy twin could aid in stroke recovery Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a protein released by neurons while the brain is recovering from a stroke.
Study shows how troubled marriage, depression history promote obesity The double-whammy of marital hostility and a history of depression can increase the risk for obesity in adults by altering how the body processes high-fat foods, according to new research.
	Better academic support in high school crucial for low performers with ADHD New research reveals that high school students with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are using an unexpectedly high rate of services for their age group, yet many low achievers with ADHD are not getting the academic supports they need. Scientists from UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) and several other universities published the findings in School Mental Health after examining data for a large national sample of high school students with ADHD.
	New treatment resolves a hazardous airway complication in child with heart disease A case study published recently in the journal Pediatrics describes an innovative, minimally invasive procedure that treated plastic bronchitis, a potentially life-threatening disease, in a six-year-old boy with a heart condition. Using new lymphatic imaging tools and catheterization techniques, physician-researchers eliminated bronchial casts, which are an accumulation of lymphatic material that clogged the child's airway.
Osteoporosis screening guidelines miss many younger post-menopausal women To reduce the risk of bone fractures and the complications arising from them, the United States Preventive Services Task force (USPSTF) recommends that all women age 65 and older be tested and treated for low bone mineral density.
11 million will lose health insurance if ACA subsidies are eliminated, study finds Eliminating subsidies that help low- and moderate-income people purchase coverage through government-run health insurance marketplaces would sharply boost costs for consumers and cause more than 11 million Americans to lose their health insurance, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Expert highlights research innovation and is optimistic about the future of IBS treatment Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may at last be able to hope for a brighter future as innovative new treatments emerge and researchers clarify the role of current therapies. Dr Alexander C. Ford from the Leeds Gastroenterology Institute in Leeds, UK, tells journalists attending the 22nd United European Gastroenterology Week (UEG Week 2014) in Vienna, Austria, that significant progress was being made in drug development for IBS, thanks to the intense research efforts of scientists around the world. "Researchers have dedicated many years to the task of unravelling the pathophysiology of IBS, and it's thanks to these efforts that novel molecular therapies are now in development," he says.
	Colorado proposes edible pot ban, then retreats Colorado health authorities suggested banning many edible forms of marijuana, including brownies, cookies and most candies. Then the officials quickly backtracked after the suggestion went public.
	Academic calls for recognition of mental health issues for expectant and new mothers following new report A new report has found that substandard mental health care for pregnant women and new mothers is creating long-term costs of more than £8 billion every year.
Size matters when it comes to children's food choices The secret to getting children to eat vegetables could lie in the portion size, a Deakin University study has revealed.
	Pharmacists could save the NHS GBP 1 billion by treating common ailments New research from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) shows that common ailments such as coughs and sore throats cost the NHS an extra £1.1 billion a year when patients are treated at A&E or GP surgeries rather than at community pharmacies.
Planning for the move from children's to adult palliative care The differences between children's and adult palliative care services are too wide for young people with life-limiting conditions to negotiate, according to research by Bangor University. Commenting on the findings, the researchers call for adult palliative care services to extend their scope to better meet the needs of young people with life-limiting conditions and their families.
	Neutralising antibodies for safer organ transplants Serious complications can arise following kidney transplants. If dialysis is required within the first seven days, then the transplanted organ is said to have a Delayed Graft Function (DGF), and essentially been rejected by the body's immune system. The risk of DGF increases the longer the blood supply has been cut off from the kidney.
Men most at risk of osteoporosis least aware of its threat The level of awareness among Australian men who at are most at risk of osteoporosis is 'deeply concerning' according to a leading expert in bone health.
	CVS tacks tobacco payment to prescription network First, CVS Health pulled tobacco from its store shelves. Now, it plans to make some customers think twice about filling prescriptions at other stores that sell smokes.
Binge drinking in young men linked with increased risk of hypertension Binge drinking in early adulthood is associated with an increased likelihood of high blood pressure in males, while low to moderate alcohol use in early adulthood is associated with a decreased likelihood of hypertension in females. The findings come from a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2014 November 11–16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.
	Animal study reveals potential brain-health benefits of a walnut-enriched diet A new animal study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease indicates that a diet including walnuts may have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk, delaying the onset, slowing the progression of, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Large-scale study shows dramatic decline in mortality rates for ARDS The largest study to date of mortality trends in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) shows that the rate of mortality dropped significantly over a 16-year period. Advances in critical care medicine are seen as a direct cause of the decline. The study abstract was released today in an online supplement of the of the journal CHEST and will be presented at CHEST 2014, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Austin, Texas held October 25-30.
Study shows CPAP use for sleep apnea does not negatively impact sexual quality of life Patients who use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often believe that it makes them less sexually attractive, according to researchers at Rosalind Franklin University. A new study abstract released today in an online supplement of the journal CHEST, to be presented at CHEST 2014, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Austin, Texas, shows that they do not need to worry.
	Ebola: Why virus kills some, other people survive People who shared an apartment with the country's first Ebola patient are emerging from quarantine healthy. And while Thomas Eric Duncan died and two U.S. nurses were infected caring for him, there are successes, too: A nurse infected in Spain has recovered, as have four American aid workers infected in West Africa. Even there, not everyone dies.
US orders new screening for Ebola Everyone coming to the United States from the three West African countries at the center of the Ebola outbreak will now be screened for the deadly disease at one of five airports, the Homeland Security Department said Tuesday.
Uganda says no fresh cases of Ebola-like Marburg virus Ugandan health officials said Tuesday that all suspected cases of the Ebola-like Marburg virus had tested negative and those held in isolation released.
Ebola cases rise sharply in western Sierra Leone After emerging months ago in eastern Sierra Leone, Ebola is now hitting the western edges of the country where the capital is located with dozens of people falling sick each day, the government said Tuesday. So many people are dying that removing bodies is reportedly a problem.
	Law requiring release of health information upheld (HealthDay)—A state law that requires plaintiffs to release relevant protected health information before proceeding with allegations of medical liability has been upheld by a federal appeals court, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Bogus recycling bins help identify drinking patterns among low-income seniors Substance abuse is the fastest growing health concern for older adults, a segment of the population that is likewise rapidly increasing. Heavy drinking among older persons is associated with an increased risk of health problems like diabetes, cognitive impairment, sleep issues, and depression. A new study has examined drinking patterns among low-income older adults using both self-report and outside-of-the-box methods, finding that drinking levels are high enough to be of concern and tend to spike around the times older adults receive their social security checks.
Studies must be carried out to determine whether exercise slows the onset of type 1 diabetes in children and adults Rates of type 1 diabetes—the autoimmune form of the condition that often begins in childhood and eventually results in lifelong dependency on insulin—are increasing in almost all nations worldwide. However, while it appears possible from research in other forms of diabetes that physical exercise could slow the progression of this disease, there have been no studies to date that explore this in patients with type 1 diabetes. In a paper published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) researchers argue that such trials must be carried out to potentially benefit the millions of people affected by type 1 diabetes worldwide.

Biology news

	Shaking up cell biology: Researchers focus in on decades-old mitochondrial mystery Elvis did it, Michael Jackson did it, and so do the mitochondria in our cells. They shake. While Elvis and Michael shook for decades before loud and appreciative audiences, mitochondrial oscillations have quietly bewildered scientists for more than 40 years.
	Ephemeral soap bubbles give clue to how cells develop with regular shapes in tissues Biological development is a chaotic affair.
	Bite to the death: Sugarbag bees launch all-conquering raids They may be tiny and stingless but there's nothing sweet and innocent about a species of native Sugarbag bee when it goes to war over a coveted honey-filled hive.
	'Shrinking goats' another indicator that climate change affects animal size Alpine goats appear to be shrinking in size as they react to changes in climate, according to new research from Durham University.
	Scientists show that evolution of complex bioluminescent traits may be predictable A longstanding question among scientists is whether evolution is predictable. A team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara may have found a preliminary answer. The genetic underpinnings of complex traits in cephalopods may in fact be predictable because they evolved in the same way in two distinct species of squid.
	Testing shows billfish demonstrate bone remodeling without osteocytes (Phys.org) —A large team of biologists with members from Israel, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. has found that billfish are able to remodel their large protruding jawbones in the absence of osteocytes. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their research and results and the implications of what they found.
	Team advances genome editing technique Customized genome editing – the ability to edit desired DNA sequences to add, delete, activate or suppress specific genes – has major potential for application in medicine, biotechnology, food and agriculture.
	Amid zebra mussel infestation, experts call for boat inspection program An infestation of zebra mussels at Offutt Base Lake in Bellevue is causing experts to call for a statewide boat inspection program.
	Plants can actually take care of their offspring – here's how Plants may not travel around as animals do, but they have evolved many strategies that allow them to cope and make the most of the environment they live in. Examples can be found everywhere. For instance, succulence is the special characteristic that cacti have to store water and then use it as a reserve in their dry habitats. And there are plants that produce seeds that are dispersed by wind, allowing them to travel farther than they could possibly have gone otherwise.
	Reading a biological clock in the dark Our species' waking and sleeping cycles – shaped in millions of years of evolution – have been turned upside down within a single century with the advent of electric lighting and airplanes. As a result, millions of people regularly disrupt their biological clocks – for example, shift workers and frequent flyers – and these have been known to be at high risk for such common metabolic diseases as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. A new study published in Cell, led by Weizmann Institute scientists, reveals for the first time that our biological clocks work in tandem with the populations of bacteria residing in our intestines, and that these microorganisms vary their activities over the course of the day. The findings show that mice and humans with disrupted daily wake-sleep patterns exhibit changes in the composition and function of their gut bacteria, thereby increasing their risk for obesity and glucose intolerance.
	BOFFFFs (big, old, fat, fertile, female fish) sustain fisheries Recreational fishermen prize large trophy fish. Commercial fishing gear targets big fish. After all, larger fish feed the egos of humans as well as their bellies.
	A different kind of green movement: Seedling growth in space Plants—literally rooted in Earth—lack locomotion. And although plants may appear static, even the tiniest seedlings are sophisticated organisms that sense and respond to their environment. Seedlings may not travel, but they do move.
	A legal trade in horn would improve rhino protection and help sustainable development The extinction in the wild of the southern white rhino population could be prevented by letting local communities take responsibility of the animals and giving them permission to harvest horns in a controlled manner through a legal trade. Rhino horn is made of the same material as human hair and fingernails and grows back in 2–3 years.
Beyond LOL cats, social networks could become trove of biodiversity data Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey. Grumpy Cat. "Peanut," the Ugliest Dog in the World. These might be a sampling of the most familiar animals to millions of users of social networking sites like Facebook.
	Biologists use unique tools to investigate squirrel sounds and gestures Everyone has watched squirrels playfully climbing trees, gracefully leaping from branch to branch, and scurrying across parks. Thaddeus McRae, Ph.D '12, adjunct assistant research professor of biology in the University of Miami College of Arts Sciences, has taken these observations to a scientific level.
	Fishy vegetable production methods explained through aquaponics If growing vegetables in a box with no soil and out of direct sunlight sounds a little fishy, well, it is.
	Biologist reels in data to predict snook production FIU researcher Ross Boucek wants to give more predictability to anglers hoping to catch a bounty of snook.

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