Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 1

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 1, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- The origins of handedness in life
- Hide and seek: Sterile neutrinos remain elusive
- Genetic secrets of the monarch butterfly revealed
- New frontier in error-correcting codes
- Researchers find first instance of fish larvae making sounds
- Cheap hybrid outperforms rare metal as fuel-cell catalyst
- Solving the mystery of the 'man in the moon': Volcanic plume, not an asteroid, likely created the moon's largest basin
- Geneticists solve 40-year-old dilemma to explain why duplicate genes remain in the genome
- Gut bacteria are protected by host during illness
- Evolving plumbing system beneath Greenland slows ice sheet as summer progresses
- New research explains wintertime ozone pollution in Utah oil and gas fields
- What happens in our brain when we unlock a door?
- Cyanide ice in Titan's atmosphere
- Researchers develop novel gene / cell therapy approach for lung disease
- Decreased ability to identify odors may predict five-year mortality

Astronomy & Space news

	Solving the mystery of the 'man in the moon': Volcanic plume, not an asteroid, likely created the moon's largest basin New data obtained by NASA's GRAIL mission reveals that the Procellarum region on the near side of the moon—a giant basin often referred to as the "man in the moon"—likely arose not from a massive asteroid strike, but from a large plume of magma deep within the moon's interior.
	Wild ducks take flight in open cluster The Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile has taken this beautiful image, dappled with blue stars, of one of the most star-rich open clusters currently known—Messier 11, also known as NGC 6705 or the Wild Duck Cluster.
	Cyanide ice in Titan's atmosphere Gigantic polar clouds of hydrogen cyanide roughly four times the area of the UK are part of the impressive atmospheric diversity of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, a new study led by Leiden Observatory, the Netherlands Institute for Space Research and the University of Bristol has found. The research is published today in Nature.
	The wake-up call that sent hearts racing "But as the minutes ticked by, the relaxed attitude of many of us began to dissolve into apprehension. Our levels of adrenaline and worry began to rise."
	Student to live in simulated space habitat A Purdue University industrial engineering doctoral student is among six "crew members" spending the next eight months in a domed habitat on a volcanic landscape mimicking life on a Martian outpost.
	Image: The Pillars of Creation The Pillars of Creation (seen above) is an image of a portion of the Eagle nebula (M16) taken by Hubble Space Telescope in 1995. It soon became one of the most iconic space images of all time. The Eagle nebula is a stellar nursery, with several regions of gas and dust where stars are actively forming, including the pillars.
	Is there a statistical bias to the orientation of spiral galaxies? The image above shows a pair of colliding spiral galaxies known as Arp 274. What's interesting is not that they happen to be colliding, but that the two galaxies are spiraling in opposite directions. The one on the left spirals in a clockwise direction, while the one on the right spins in a counterclockwise direction. Sometimes we'll refer to the left galaxy as left-handed, while the right one is right-handed. The reason is that if you hold hands up with your thumbs pointing at yourself, you'll see the fingers on your left hand curve clockwise, and the fingers on your right hand curve counterclockwise.
	The origins of local planetary orbits A plutino is an asteroid-sized body that orbits the Sun in a 2:3 resonance with Neptune. They are named after Pluto, which also orbits the Sun twice for every three orbits of Neptune. It is thought that Pluto and the other plutinos were clustered into this resonance during the migration of the outer planets during the early solar system.
	Does the galactic spiral lead the rotation of a galaxy? Yesterday's post on spiral galaxies raised some questions about the rotation of galaxies. Do galaxies rotate with the spiral trailing the motion, or does the spiral lead the rotation of a galaxy?
	Image: MOM snaps spectacular portrait of the red planet MOM is truly something special.
	Robot arm will install new earth-facing cameras on the space station Canada's robotic Canadarm2 will install the next two Urthecast cameras on the International Space Station, removing the need for astronauts to go outside to do the work themselves, the company announced today.
Video: Alleged meteor caught on Russian dash cam (again) Thanks to the ubiquity of dashboard-mounted video cameras in Russia yet another bright object has been spotted lighting up the sky over Siberia, this time a "meteor-like object" seen on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 27.
Europe shortlists four sites for 2019 Mars mission The European Space Agency (ESA) said on Wednesday it had identified four potential sites for landing a rover on Mars in 2019 in its boldest exploration yet of the Red Planet.
Europe sat-nav launch glitch linked to frozen pipe A frozen fuel pipe in the upper stage of a Soyuz launcher likely caused the failure last month to place two European navigation satellites in orbit, a source close to the inquiry said Wednesday.
An unprecedented view of two hundred galaxies of the local universe Galaxies are the result of an evolutionary process started thousands of millions of years ago, and their history is coded in their distinct components. The CALIFA project is intended to decode the galaxies' history in a sort of galactic archaeology, through the 3D observations of a sample of six hundred galaxies. With this second data release corresponding to two hundred galaxies, the project reaches its halfway point with important results behind.

Technology news

New frontier in error-correcting codes Error-correcting codes are one of the glories of the information age: They're what guarantee the flawless transmission of digital information over the airwaves or through copper wire, even in the presence of the corrupting influences that engineers call "noise."
	New privacy battle looms after moves by Apple, Google A new battle is brewing over privacy for mobile devices, after moves by Google and Apple to toughen the encryption of their mobile devices sparked complaints from law enforcement.
	Robot researcher combines nature to nurture 'superhuman' navigation Computer modelling of the human eye, the brain of a rat and a robot could revolutionise advances in neuroscience and new technology, says a QUT leading robotics researcher.
	Optical zoom in mobile phones getting boost from DynaOptics DynaOptics wants to make a difference in bringing optical zoom to mobile phones without having to make do with a thicker phone or put up with a protruding zoom lens.
Desktop device to make key gun part goes on sale in US The creator of the world's first 3D plastic handgun unveiled Wednesday his latest invention: a pre-programmed milling machine that enables anyone to easily make the core component of a semi-automatic rifle.
Visa software tackles fraud at the gas pump Unattended gasoline pumps are a favorite place for crooks to test stolen or counterfeit credit cards before going on a shopping spree. Now Visa is trying to cut off the fuel supply.
	Samsung rejects claims of Galaxy Note defect Samsung on Wednesday rejected claims that its new oversized smartphone had a defect, after some customers posted pictures of a gap between the frame and display panel.
	Hobbit fans step into "Shadow of Mordor" video game Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment on Tuesday released a "Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor" video game that plays out between "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."
California bans paparazzi drones California on Tuesday approved a law which will prevent paparazzi from using drones to take photos of celebrities, among a series of measures aimed at tightening protection of privacy.
	App teaches kindergartners basic computer coding This computer programming app is so easy to use that even a kindergartener can do it.
Japan unveils 'anti-loneliness' hugging chair There are times in everyone's life when only a hug will do. Now one Japanese company has come up with a chair that's always ready to give a comforting cuddle.
	World's first bullet train, made in Japan, turns 50 It was, retired Japanese railway engineer Fumihiro Araki recalls, "like flying in the sky."
	More efficient transformer materials Almost every electronic device contains a transformer. An important material used in their construction is electrical steel. Researchers have found a way to improve the performance of electrical steel and manufacture it more efficiently, using an optimized laser process.
	Analyzing gold and steel – rapidly and precisely Optical emission spectrometers are widely used in the steel industry but the instruments currently employed are relatively large and bulky. A novel sensor makes it possible to significantly reduce their size and, moreover, enables a more precise analysis in half the time previously required.
	Engineering new vehicle powertrains Car engines – whether driven by gasoline, diesel, or electricity – waste an abundance of energy. Researchers are working on ways to stem this wastefulness. Ultramodern test facilities are helping them to optimize the entire development process of the engine. In the laboratory, they have already raised the degree of efficiency by up to ten percent.
	Miniature camera may reduce accidents Measuring only a few cubic millimeters, a new type of camera module might soon be integrated into future driver assistance systems to help car drivers facing critical situations. The little gadget can be built into the vehicle without taking up space. The way it works is particularly reliable, thanks to its special encapsulation.
	Minimally invasive surgery with hydraulic assistance Endoscopic surgery requires great manual dexterity on the part of the operating surgeon. Future endoscopic instruments equipped with a hydraulic control system will provide added support during minimally invasive procedures. Their outstanding sensitivity simplifies the biopsy procedure.
	Sensor network tracks down illegal bomb-making Terrorists can manufacture bombs with relative ease, few aids and easily accessible materials such as synthetic fertilizer. Not always do security forces succeed in preventing the attacks and tracking down illegal workshops in time. But bomb manufacturing leaves its traces: Remains of the synthetic fertilizer stick to stairs and doorknobs, waste from the manufacturing process gets into the sewerage and is deposited in air ducts. Until now, no technology for systematically discovering illegal bomb production in an early stage has been commercially available. Researchers have now developed a sensor network as part of the EU project "Emphasis" which can detect such activity early on and locate it precisely. Last week, they showed how a simple kitchen used to manufacture explosives can be tracked down at the test site of the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) near Grindsjön in southern Sweden.
San Francisco expands free public Wi-Fi access San Francisco launched free Wi-Fi access at more than 30 public parks, plazas and recreation areas on Wednesday, thanks to a grant from Google.
Twitter-funded lab to seek social media insights A new Twitter-funded research project unveiled Wednesday, with access to every tweet ever sent, will look for patterns and insights from the billions of messages sent on social media.
Wi-Fi worries prompt Boeing cockpit display change New electronic display units are to be fitted in the cockpits of Boeing 737 and 777 airliners to address fears that Wi-Fi signals might cause them to go blank in flight.
Slingbox lets you watch live TV at home or elsewhere Man's second-best friend, television, gets out of the house more than ever. On a smartphone app or laptop, people watch sports on WatchESPN, movies and original programming on HBO Go or Netflix, and weekly network TV series.
New technology allows people to take a 'virtual field trip' to an aquarium tank A Boise, Idaho, company is taking armchair adventuring and learning to a new level by letting anyone on the Internet take command of a remotely operated underwater vehicle.
Classic videogame Tetris to be made into a movie The classic videogame Tetris, in which players slot a cascade of tumbling blocks together, is being turned into a science-fiction movie, the project's developers said Tuesday.
Using intelligence to unlock the market for electric vehicles Our fuel-based economy must be radically overhauled if Europe is to achieve its ambitious emission reduction targets. One important piece of this jigsaw could be the increased commercialisation of electric cars, which use carbon-free energy sources and emit no CO2 or other pollutants. As an added bonus, electric vehicles also create less noise and vibration.
	DARPA technology identifies counterfeit microelectronics Advanced software and equipment to aid in the fight against counterfeit microelectronics in U.S. weapons and cybersecurity systems has been transitioned to military partners under DARPA's Integrity and Reliability of Integrated Circuits (IRIS) program. Researchers with SRI International, an IRIS performer, announced today they have provided Advanced Scanning Optical Microscope (ASOM) technology to the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Crane, Indiana, where it will join an arsenal of laboratory equipment used to ensure the integrity of microelectronics.
	Industry's thinnest battery connector corresponding to 6 ampere high current capacity Panasonic Corporation announced today that it has developed a battery connector to FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) board corresponding to high current capacity and boasting the industry's thinnest thickness. It is useful in the connection of the battery to the electric circuit in smartphones, tablets, and other wearable devices using embedded batteries.
	Could a merger follow the PayPal-eBay split? PayPal's split from long-time partner eBay Inc. makes Carl Icahn mighty happy. But he doesn't think PayPal should stay single for long.
The New York Times to cut 100 newsroom jobs The New York Times Co. says it is cutting about 100 newsroom jobs through buyouts and layoffs in an effort to trim costs and focus more on its digital efforts.
	Russia to develop cyberspace 'security' without 'total control' President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia must increase its cybersecurity but pledged not to impose total control over the Internet, amid fears Moscow is mulling whether to limit access to the worldwide Web.
Facebook apologizes to drag queens for name policy Facebook is apologizing to drag queens and the transgender community for deleting accounts that used drag names like Lil Miss Hot Mess rather than legal names such as Bob Smith.
US appeals court OKs evidence from no-warrant GPS A U.S. appeals court has reversed a decision that threw out evidence gathered after a GPS device was put on a suspect's van without a warrant.

Medicine & Health news

	Pill coated with tiny needles can deliver drugs directly into the lining of the digestive tract Given a choice, most patients would prefer to take a drug orally instead of getting an injection. Unfortunately, many drugs, especially those made from large proteins, cannot be given as a pill because they get broken down in the stomach before they can be absorbed.
	Study shows human ear impacted by low frequency noises (Medical Xpress)—A new study by a team of researchers in Germany has resulted in findings that suggest the human ear is more impacted by low frequency sounds than has been previously thought. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science the team describes acoustic experiments they conducted with volunteers and what they found in doing so.
	Memory loss associated with Alzheimer's reversed for first time Patient one had two years of progressive memory loss. She was considering quitting her job, which involved analyzing data and writing reports, she got disoriented driving, and mixed up the names of her pets. Patient two kept forgetting once familiar faces at work, forgot his gym locker combination, and had to have his assistants constantly remind him of his work schedule. Patient three's memory was so bad she used an iPad to record everything, then forgot her password. Her children noticed she commonly lost her train of thought in mid-sentence, and often asked them if they had carried out the tasks that she mistakenly thought she had asked them to do.
	Lift weights, improve your memory Here's another reason why it's a good idea to hit the gym: it can improve memory. A new Georgia Institute of Technology study shows that an intense workout of as little as 20 minutes can enhance episodic memory, also known as long-term memory for previous events, by about 10 percent in healthy young adults.
	What happens in our brain when we unlock a door? People who are unable to button up their jacket or who find it difficult to insert a key in lock suffer from a condition known as apraxia. This means that their motor skills have been impaired – as a result of a stroke, for instance. Scientists in Munich have now examined the parts of the brain that are responsible for planning and executing complex actions. They discovered that there is a specific network in the brain for using tools. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Gut bacteria are protected by host during illness To protect their gut microbes during illness, sick mice produce specialized sugars in the gut that feed their microbiota and maintain a healthy microbial balance. This protective mechanism also appears to help resist or tolerate additional harmful pathogens, and its disruption may play a role in human diseases such as Crohn's disease, report scientists from the University of Chicago in Nature on Oct 1.
Researchers develop novel gene / cell therapy approach for lung disease Researchers developed a new type of cell transplantation to treat mice mimicking a rare lung disease that one day could be used to treat this and other human lung diseases caused by dysfunctional immune cells.
	Blood test predicts tissue injury in kidney transplant recipients Researchers at UC San Francisco and Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, may have found a predictor for a disorder affecting kidney transplant recipients that can accelerate organ failure, a discovery that eventually could allow for customized therapies and improved patient selection for transplant.
Drug treats inherited form of intellectual disability in mice Studying mice with a genetic change similar to what is found in Kabuki syndrome, a inherited disease of humans, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have used an anticancer drug to "open up" DNA and improve mental function.
	Study finds potential new target to treat asthma attacks brought on by colds Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism that could explain why the common cold can bring on life-threatening asthma attacks.
	Decreased ability to identify odors may predict five-year mortality For older adults, being unable to identify scents is a strong predictor of death within five years, according to a study published October 1, 2014, in the journal PLOS ONE. Thirty-nine percent of study subjects who failed a simple smelling test died during that period, compared to 19 percent of those with moderate smell loss and just 10 percent of those with a healthy sense of smell.
Healthy lifestyle could prevent nearly half of all diabetic pregnancies Nearly half of all cases of diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes, could be prevented if young women eat well, exercise regularly and stop smoking before and during pregnancy, finds a study published in the BMJ today.
Immunotherapy could stop resistance to radiotherapy Treating cancers with immunotherapy and radiotherapy at the same time could stop them from becoming resistant to treatment, according to a study published in Cancer Research today.
Boys will be boys? Yes, neuroscience now shows If you've ever tried to warn teenagers of the consequences of risky behavior - only to have them sigh and roll their eyes - don't blame them. Blame their brain anatomy.
Targeted treatment could halt womb cancer growth A drug which targets a key gene fault could halt an aggressive womb cancer and shrink tumours, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Damaging legacy: Mothers who smoke affect the fertility of their sons Mothers who smoke while they are pregnant or breast feeding may be damaging the future fertility of their sons, according to new findings from research in mice published online today (Wednesday) in Human Reproduction, one of the world's leading reproductive medicine journals.
	Genetic study casts further doubt that vitamin D prevents the development of type 2 diabetes A large genetic study, published today in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, has concluded there is no evidence of a causal link between a person's vitamin D levels [1], and whether they develop type 2 diabetes.
Estimates show preterm birth complications and pneumonia are leading causes of death in children under five years Complications from preterm (premature) births and pneumonia are now the leading causes of death in children under five years, together responsible for nearly 2 million deaths in 2013, according to the latest estimates, published today in The Lancet.
	Long-acting insulin is safer, more effective for patients with type 1 diabetes Long-acting insulin is safer and more effective than intermediate-acting insulin for patients with Type 1 diabetes, according to new research published in the BMJ.
Predicting the future course of psychotic illness University of Adelaide psychiatry researchers have developed a model that could help to predict a patient's likelihood of a good outcome from treatment – from their very first psychotic episode.
	Technology could reduce the amount of time to determine whether a cancer drug is working An official at a life sciences startup based on a Purdue University innovation says his company may help oncologists see faster than ever which drug therapies will benefit cancer patients and to what extent.
	Researchers explore new possibilities for the treatment of epilepsy Ongoing research at Iowa State University is investigating the connection between initial seizures and the onset of epilepsy later in life.
Ethical behavior can be contagious, study says A new study from Penn State Smeal College of Business faculty members Steven Huddart and Hong Qu examines the power of social influence on managers' ethical behavior. The Department of Accounting researchers find that managers tend to become more honest after observing honest peers and more dishonest after observing dishonest peers.
	Study establishes zebrafish as a model for flu study In the ongoing struggle to prevent and manage seasonal flu outbreaks, animal models of influenza infection are essential to gaining better understanding of innate immune response and screening for new drugs. A research team led by University of Maine scientists has shown that two strains of human influenza A virus (IAV) can infect live zebrafish embryos, and that treatment with an anti-influenza compound reduces mortality.
	Treatment of substance abuse can lessen risk of future violence in mentally ill, study finds If a person is dually diagnosed with a severe mental illness and a substance abuse problem, are improvements in their mental health or in their substance abuse most likely to reduce the risk of future violence?
	New study detects early metabolic signals that our bodies are not coping with diet or lifestyle New research from the University of Aberdeen's Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health has identified gene markers which could provide early signals that our bodies are not coping with diet or lifestyle choices.
Exposure to dim light at night may make breast cancers resistant to chemotherapy For rats bearing human breast tumors, exposure to dim light at night made the tumors resistant to the standard breast cancer chemotherapy doxorubicin, but giving the rats a melatonin supplement during the dim-light exposure at night prevented resistance development and promoted tumor regression, according to data presented at the 13th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Sept. 28–Oct. 1.
	Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent some forms of depression Patients with increased inflammation, including those receiving cytokines for medical treatment, have a greatly increased risk of depression. For example, a 6-month treatment course of interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection causes depression in approximately 30% of patients.
	Sport can help multiple sclerosis patients A study developed at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Spain) has preliminarily concluded that people with multiple sclerosis may reduce perceived fatigue and increase mobility through a series of combined strength training and fitness exercises. The student of the Master's Degree in Sports Performance and Health Ramón Jesús Gómez recently presented the conclusions of the study.
	Gene interacts with stress and leads to heart disease in some people A new genetic finding from Duke Medicine suggests that some people who are prone to hostility, anxiety and depression might also be hard-wired to gain weight when exposed to chronic stress, leading to diabetes and heart disease.
	Eighty percent of bowel cancers halted with existing medicines (Medical Xpress)—An international team of scientists has shown that more than 80 per cent of bowel cancers could be treated with existing drugs.
	Researchers study novel drug-delivery system University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy researchers are studying an improved method for delivering drugs that treat pain and inflammation.
Keeping your eyes on the prize can help with exercise, study finds New research suggests the adage that encourages people to keep their "eyes on the prize" may be on target when it comes to exercise. When walking, staying focused on a specific target ahead can make the distance to it appear shorter and help people walk there faster, psychology researchers have found. Their study, which compares this technique to walking while looking around the environment naturally, offers a new strategy to improve the quality of exercise.
	Fat chats: The good, the bad and the ugly comments Cyberbullying and hurtful 'fat jokes' are disturbingly prevalent in the social media environment, especially on Twitter, says Wen-ying Sylvia Chou of the National Institutes of Health in the US. Chou is lead author of a study in Springer's journal Translational Behavioral Medicine which analyzed well over a million social media posts and comments about weight matters. However, the researchers were also happy to find that the news was not all bad: many instances of support and advice were also observed, especially on blogs and forums.
	Study offers insight into challenges facing college athletes A new study from North Carolina State University sheds light on how some collegiate student-athletes deal with uncertainties ranging from excelling in both school and sports to their career prospects outside of athletics, and urges university athletic programs to adopt new efforts to support student-athletes.
	Many women receive unnecessary Pap tests As many as half to two-thirds of women who have undergone hysterectomies or are older than 65 years in the United States report receiving  Pap tests for cervical cancer. This prevalence is surprising in light of the 2003 U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce guidelines recommending that women discontinue Pap testing if they have received a total hysterectomy without a history of cervical cancer and if they are over age 65 years with ongoing and recent normal Pap test results.
Virtual rehabilitation can reduce heart disease risk, study finds A study on web-based cardiac rehabilitation led by Simon Fraser University and St. Paul's Hospital researcher Scott Lear has found that a virtual program can reduce heart disease risk in patients.
	Combatting periodontal pathogens A total 12 million Germans suffer from periodontitis. If the inflammation remains untreated, this could lead to tooth loss. However, it is also suspected of triggering many other diseases, like cardiopulmonary diseases. Researchers are studying the interactions, and developing compounds to combat the causative agents.
	Research provides new understanding of emotional impact of stroke The physical challenges associated with recovery from a stroke are well documented however the impact of a stroke on emotion is less well understood.
	Medical discovery first step on path to new painkillers A major medical discovery by scientists at The University of Nottingham could lead to the development of an entirely new type of painkiller.
Strict blood sugar control after heart surgery may not be necessary Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery may not have to follow a strict blood sugar management strategy after surgery, according to a study in the October 2014 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
	ZEB1, Oscar for leading role in fat storage A team from Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, has managed to decode the process of adipogenesis by identifying the precise proteins that play the leading roles in fat absorption. Their findings have been published in the open-access scientific journal eLife.
Public feels more negative toward drug addicts than mentally ill People are significantly more likely to have negative attitudes toward those suffering from drug addiction than those with mental illness, and don't support insurance, housing, and employment policies that benefit those dependent on drugs, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.
	Stem cell discovery could lead to better treatments for blindness Scientists at the University of Southampton have discovered that a region on the front surface of the eye harbours special stem cells that could treat blinding eye conditions.
Intervention helps decrease 'mean girl' behaviors, researchers find Relational aggression, or "mean girl" bullying, is a popular subject in news and entertainment media. This nonphysical form of aggression generally used among adolescent girls includes gossiping, rumor spreading, exclusion and rejection. As media coverage has illustrated, relational aggression can lead to tragic and sometimes fatal outcomes. Despite these alarming concerns, little has been done to prevent and eliminate these negative behaviors. Now, University of Missouri researchers have developed and tested an intervention that effectively decreases relational aggression among teen girls.
Scientists aim to give botox a safer facelift New insights into botulinum neurotoxins and their interactions with cells are moving scientists ever closer to safer forms of Botox and a better understanding of the dangerous disease known as botulism. By comparing all known structures of botulinum neurotoxins, researchers writing in the Cell Press journal Trends in Biochemical Sciences on October 1st suggest new ways to improve the safety and efficacy of Botox injections.
	Ebola genome browser now online to aid researchers' response to crisis The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute late Tuesday (September 30) released a new Ebola genome browser to assist global efforts to develop a vaccine and antiserum to help stop the spread of the Ebola virus.
Researchers find promise in new treatments for glioblastma multiforme Glioblastma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most lethal primary brain tumors, with median survival for these patients only slightly over one year. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), in collaboration with researchers from the City of Hope, are looking toward novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of GBM in the form of targeted therapies against a unique receptor, the interleukin-13 receptor α chain variant 2 (IL13Rα2).
EU lacks appetite for British 'traffic light' food labels The EU ordered Britain Wednesday to answer complaints about its "traffic light" anti-obesity food label system, which Mediterranean countries say is unfair towards products such as cheese and ham.
First US child dies from enterovirus D68 A child in the northeastern US state of Rhode Island has become the first to die from an ongoing outbreak of a respiratory virus, enterovirus D68, health officials said Wednesday.
	Periarticular injection superior to epidural analgesia in TKA (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, periarticular injection is superior to epidural analgesia for pain control, according to a study published in the Sept. 3 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
	Experimental cervical cancer vaccine looks promising in trial (HealthDay)—An experimental vaccine meant to protect against nine types of human papillomavirus (HPV) could prevent 90 percent of all cervical cancers, a new study suggests.
	Worry, jealousy, moodiness linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's in women Women who are anxious, jealous, or moody and distressed in middle age may be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, according to a nearly 40-year-long study published in the October 1, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Hypertension risk rises closer to major roadways A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association reports a significant association between living near a major roadway and the risk of high blood pressure.
	Teen pregnancies, abortions plunge with free birth control Teens who received free contraception and were educated about the pros and cons of various birth control methods were dramatically less likely to get pregnant, give birth or get an abortion compared with other sexually active teens, according to a new study.
Delayed introduction to gluten appears not to prevent celiac disease in at-risk infants How can parents with the autoimmune disorder celiac disease prevent or delay the condition's development in their children? The results of an international study led by investigators associated with the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) challenge some of the current thinking on possible measures to take. The report in the Oct. 2 New England Journal of Medicine finds that loss of tolerance to gluten – a protein composite found in wheat, rye and barley – is a dynamic process and that neither breastfeeding or delaying the introduction of gluten-containing foods provides significant protection against the disorder.
	Increased toxicity for many newly approved anticancer drugs (HealthDay)—Newly approved anticancer drugs that do not have a specific molecular target on cancer cells are associated with increased toxicity and the accompanying costs of management, according to research published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Appropriate use criteria established for pediatric ECHO (HealthDay)—Appropriate use criteria have been developed for the initial use of transthoracic echocardiography in outpatient pediatric cardiology. The guidelines were published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Obesity tied to higher cancer risk for CRC survivors (HealthDay)—Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who are overweight or obese when diagnosed appear to face a slightly higher risk for developing a second weight-related cancer, according to research published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The finding didn't speak to the risk of CRC recurrence, only the potential for developing other cancers associated with obesity.
New molecule fights oxidative stress, may lead to therapies for cancer and Alzheimer's Your body has an invisible enemy. One that it creates all on it's own called oxidative stress, long thought of as an underlying cause of some of humanity's most insidious diseases – cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Study pinpoints microRNA tied to colon cancer tumor growth Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified microRNAs that may cause colon polyps from turning cancerous. The finding could help physicians provide more specialized, and earlier, treatment before colon cancer develops.
Is Australia prepared for Ebola? Australia needs to be proactive about potential disease outbreaks like Ebola and establish a national centre for disease control.
	Ebola case stokes concerns for Liberians in Texas The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. has been confirmed in a man who recently traveled from Liberia to Dallas, sending chills through the area's West African community whose leaders urged caution to prevent spreading the virus.
Obama's BRAIN initiative gets more than $300 million President Barack Obama's initiative to study the brain and improve treatment of conditions like Alzheimer's and autism was given a boost Tuesday with the announcement of more than $300 million in funds.
Africa's uneven health care becomes easy prey for Ebola Threatened by the possible spread of an Ebola epidemic which respects no borders, Africa is divided between a handful of countries equipped to withstand an outbreak and many more which would be devastated, experts say.
Exercise to prevent falls and fractures Boosting your activity levels and doing strength and balance exercises significantly reduces your risk of breaking a bone as a result of falling if you are over 60, according to experts from an international research group based at The University of Manchester.
Learn how to recognize, intervene in domestic violence cases As recently as 40 years ago, domestic violence often was not considered a crime, even by law enforcement and the judicial system. Victims had little or no resources to help them escape the violence aimed at them and their children by a spouse or domestic partner.
Scientists wield plant viruses against deadly human disease Case Western Reserve University researchers hope to take a healthy salad up a level by growing a vaccine for an aggressive form of breast cancer in leafy greens.
Apples are simple, healthful, yet full of variety With autumn's arrival and National Apple Month right around the corner, this is a great time to brush up on our apple facts.
Cause of donor death should not automatically exclude lungs from transplant consideration Patients receiving lungs from donors whose cause of death was asphyxiation or drowning have similar outcomes and long-term survival as patients receiving lungs from traditional donors, according to a study in the October2014 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
	Working group tackles public health and health inequality Public health and health inequality are embedded in complex systems, and public health officials stand to gain from a complex systems approach, according to co-organizers of a working group begin held this week at SFI.
Effect of topical antibiotics on antibiotic resistance, patient outcomes in ICUs A comparison of prophylactic antibiotic regimens applied to an area in the mouth and throat and digestive tract were associated with low levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and no differences in patient survival and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, according to a study published in JAMA. The study is being posted early online to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine annual congress.
To improve oral health of adults with developmental disabilities, support caregivers Despite a policy focus on expanding access to care for adults with developmental disabilities, this vulnerable population continues to have significant dental disease. In this month's issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association, researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine report on the first large-scale survey to investigate factors influencing at-home oral care provided by caregivers to adults with developmental disabilities. The study findings suggest that, in addition to addressing access to care, policy initiatives must improve support for caregivers.
Researchers developing a digital maternity package Every Finnish expectant mother can choose to receive a free of charge maternity package containing baby clothes and other useful items. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is currently developing a digital maternity package with the purpose of gathering reliable health information provided by various smart devices, electronic services, and guides into a single user interface. In the future, pregnant women and the parents of children can monitor their own health and that of their children more easily and comprehensively than today, using their smartphones, for example. The concept under development is probably unique in the world.
	More involvement needed in models of care Clinicians and health administrators need to take a more active role in implementing and evaluating models of care (MoCs) for musculosketal health, according to a recent study.
	Laying siege to beta-amyloid, the key protein in Alzheimer's disease This is the first time that a method allows scientists to monitor aggregation while simultaneously detect a structural pattern responsible for the toxicity of beta-amyloid aggregation.The researchers state that these studies are a step towards finding a therapeutic target for a disease which, to date, has no treatment.
Child mortality falls worldwide, but not fast enough, study finds Despite advances, millions of children worldwide still die before their fifth birthday, with complications from preterm birth and pneumonia together killing nearly 2 million young children in 2013, according to a study led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Questions mount over failure to spot US Ebola patient (Update) Questions mounted Wednesday over why US doctors failed to immediately identify a patient who sought care for symptoms of Ebola, exposing others for four full days before he was isolated.
DR Congo Ebola outbreak has killed 42 since August: govt The Democratic Republic of Congo raised its death toll from the dealy Ebola virus to 42 on Wednesday as it struggled to contain the second outbreak of the deadly disease in Africa this year.
Daily use of certain supplements can decrease health-care expenditures Use of specific dietary supplements can have a positive effect on health care costs through avoided hospitalizations related to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), according to a new article published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements(1). The article, "From Science to Finance—A Tool for Deriving Economic Implications from the Results of Dietary Supplement Clinical Studies," published by Christopher Shanahan and Robert de Lorimier, Ph.D., explores a potential cost-benefit analysis tool that, when applied to a high-risk population (U.S. adults over 55 with CHD) who take dietary supplements, specifically omega-3 fatty acid or B vitamin dietary supplements, can result in the reduction of the individuals' odds of experiencing a costly medical event.
FDG-PET/CT shows promise for breast cancer patients younger than 40 Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering found that PET/CT imaging of patients younger than 40 who were initially diagnosed with stage I–III breast cancer resulted in change of diagnosis. As reported in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, while guidelines recommend FDG-PET/CT imaging only for women with stage III breast cancer, it can also help physicians more accurately diagnose young breast cancer patients initially diagnosed with earlier stages of the disease.
	A new target for controlling inflammation? Long non-coding RNAs fine-tune the immune system Regulation of the human immune system's response to infection involves an elaborate network of complex signaling pathways that turn on and off multiple genes. The emerging importance of long noncoding RNAs and their ability to promote, fine-tune, and restrain the body's inflammatory response by regulating gene expression is described in a Review article in Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (JICR).
Texas probes potential second case of Ebola Texas health authorities Wednesday were investigating a potential second US case of Ebola, in a person who was in close contact with a man diagnosed with the virus.
Journal supplement examines innovative strategies for healthy aging The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) proudly announces the publication of a Health Education & Behavior (HE&B) supplement devoted to the latest research and practice to promote healthy aging. The October 2014 supplement, "Fostering Engagement and Independence: Opportunities and Challenges for an Aging Society," contains a dozen peer-reviewed articles on innovative behavioral and psycho-social approaches to improve the health of the nation's fastest growing cohort - older adults.
AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: Tinnitus The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has released the first ever mutli-disciplinary, evidence-based clinical practice guideline to improve the diagnosis and management of tinnitus, the perception of sound—often ringing—without an external sound source. The guideline was published today in the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
UN worker dies of suspected Ebola in Liberia The United Nations mission in Liberia announced on Wednesday the first suspected victim among its employees of the deadly Ebola epidemic ravaging the impoverished west African nation.
US Ebola patient had contact with kids: governor A man who was diagnosed with Ebola in virus in Texas came in contact with young children, and experts are monitoring them for any signs of disease, governor Rick Perry said Wednesday.
Merck completes sale of consumer unit to Bayer Drugmaker Merck said Wednesday that it completed the sale of its consumer care business, which makes products including Claritin allergy medication and Coppertone sun-care line, to German health care company Bayer for $14.2 billion.
UN says Syria vaccine deaths was an NGO 'mistake' The recent deaths of Syrian children after receiving measles vaccinations was the result of a "mistake" by a non-governmental partner who mixed in a muscle relaxant meant for anesthesia, a spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general said Wednesday.
Hospitals with aggressive treatment styles had lower failure-to-rescue rates Hospitals with aggressive treatment styles, also known as high hospital care intensity (HCI), had lower rates of patients dying from a major complication (failure to rescue) but longer hospitalizations, writes Kyle H. Sheetz, M.D., M.S., of the Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Ann Arbor, Mich., and colleagues.
B and T cell-targeting drug ameliorates chronic graft-versus-host disease in mice Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can differentiate into all types of blood cells, including red blood cells and immune cells. While HSC transplantation can be life saving for patients with aggressive forms of blood cancer that are unresponsive to other available treatments, there are many risks associated with the procedure. For example, graft verse host disease (GVHD) results when immune cells generated from donor HSCs attack host tissue. Chronic GVHD occurs over time and is characterized by fibrosis, which impairs organ function.
Clinical trial evaluates heterologous prime/boost regimens in preventative HIV vaccination Almost 40 million people worldwide live with HIV/AIDS, with an estimated 2.5 million new cases per year. Therefore, there has been a large global effort to develop an effective vaccine against the virus. HIV-1 vaccine development has been challenging but recent clinical trials have been promising.
	Fibromyalgia and the role of brain connectivity in pain inhibition The cause of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome is not known. However, the results of a new study that compares brain activity in individuals with and without fibromyalgia indicate that decreased connectivity between pain-related and sensorimotor brain areas could contribute to deficient pain regulation in fibromyalgia, according to an article published in Brain Connectivity.
	Montmorency tart cherry juice lowered blood uric acid levels and a marker for inflammation Tart cherries have long been researched for their association with pain relief – ranging from gout and arthritis joint pain to exercise-related muscle pain. A new study published in the Journal of Functional Foods is the first to report consumption of Montmorency tart cherries caused changes in uric acid metabolism, which can have an impact on joint pain. The study also detected increases in specific anthocyanin compounds in the bloodstream after consuming tart cherries.
Liberia's Sirleaf sees signs of Ebola 'stabilisation' Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said Wednesday the Ebola outbreak that has devastated her country was showing signs of stabilising as the official death toll rose again.

Biology news

	Researchers find first instance of fish larvae making sounds (Phys.org) —A trio of researchers with the University of Miami has recorded sounds made by fish larvae in both the open ocean and in their lab. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Erica Staaterman, Claire Paris and Andrew Kough describe how they captured the larvae sounds and offer ideas on why they are made.
	Genetic secrets of the monarch butterfly revealed The monarch butterfly is one of the most iconic insects in the world, best known for its distinct orange and black wings and a spectacular annual mass migration across North America. However, little has been known about the genes that underlie these famous traits, even as the insect's storied migration appears to be in peril.
	Geneticists solve 40-year-old dilemma to explain why duplicate genes remain in the genome Geneticists at Trinity College Dublin have made a major breakthrough with important implications for understanding the evolution of genomes in a variety of organisms.
	Microbes in Central Park soil: If they can make it there, they can make it anywhere Soil microbes that thrive in the deserts, rainforests, prairies and forests of the world can also be found living beneath New York City's Central Park, according to a surprising new study led by Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder.
	Semen secrets: How a previous sexual partner can influence another male's offspring Scientists have discovered a new form of non-genetic inheritance, showing for the first time that offspring can resemble a mother's previous sexual partner – in flies at least.
	What happens when good genes get lost? Scientifically speaking, there is no bad DNA, though we like to blame it for unruly hair, klutziness or poor gardening skills. There is, however, junk DNA.
	Researchers find animals killed by anthrax leave behind enticing grasses for herbivores, allowing disease to spread A large team of researchers with members from around the globe has found that when anthrax kills an animal, the carcass left behind can cause more abundant spore-filled grass growth, enticing herbivores which help spread the disease after they eat it. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, the researchers describe their multi-step study and what they learned as a result.
	Research confirms controversial Darwin theory of 'jump dispersal' More than one hundred and fifty years ago, Charles Darwin hypothesized that species could cross oceans and other vast distances on vegetation rafts, icebergs, or in the case of plant seeds, in the plumage of birds.
	Nature collides with James Bond: Newly discovered ant species hides in plain sight Researchers plan and plot every considerable aspect of their work, but sometimes it's something unexpected and seemingly insignificant that leads to the real discovery. That was the case for Scott Powell, assistant professor of biology at the George Washington University.
	Proving 'group selection': Spider colonies need the correct mix of personalities to survive Along rivers in Tennessee and Georgia, scientists have been studying brownish-orange spiders, called Anelosimus studiosus, that make cobwebby nests "anywhere from the size of a golf ball to the size of a Volkswagen Beetle," researcher Jonathan Pruitt says. The individual spiders are only the size of a pencil eraser, but they form organized groups that can catch prey ranging from fruit flies to small vertebrates. "We have found carcasses of rats and birds inside their colonies," Pruitt says. Unlike most spiders, which are solitary, these social spiders work together in groups.
	Online resource to support the work of biodiversity conservation organisations A free online resource, launched today (1 October), will help conservation organisations share expertise and tools, aiding them in addressing some of the planet's most challenging conservation issues.
	Five ways to stop the world's wildlife vanishing Full marks to colleagues at the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London for the Living Planet Report 2014 and its headline message which one hopes ought to shock the world out of its complacency: a 52% decline of wildlife populations in the past 40 years.
	The remarkable simplicity of complexity From the fractal patterns of snowflakes to cellular lifeforms, our universe is full of complex phenomena – but how does this complexity arise?
	Researchers developing new strategies for controlling the western corn rootworm beetle There's a side of science that many people don't know about. Namely, the fact that scientists often have to spend an enormous amount of time becoming experts in things outside their field of study in order to do research they think is important. This is where a corn-eating beetle and a guy named Clay Chu come in.
	Study on meat in pet foods shows not all brands follow regulations Researchers in Chapman University's Food Science Program have just published a study on pet food mislabeling. The study focused on commercial pet foods marketed for dogs and cats to identify meat species present as well as any instances of mislabeling. Of the 52 products tested, 31 were labeled correctly, 20 were potentially mislabeled, and one contained a non-specific meat ingredient that could not be verified.
	New approach can predict impact of climate change on species that can't get out of the way When scientists talk about the consequences of climate change, it can mean more than how we human beings will be impacted by higher temperatures, rising seas and serious storms. Plants and trees are also feeling the change, but they can't move out of the way. Researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and University of Vermont have developed a new tool to overcome a major challenge of predicting how organisms may respond to climate change.
	New study provides key to identifying spiders in international cargo Spiders found in international cargo brought into North America are sometimes submitted to arachnologists for identification. Often, these spiders are presumed to be of medical importance because of their size or similarity to spiders that are known to be venomous.
	Protected areas offer glimmers of hope for wildlife National parks and other protected areas offer hope for threatened species at a time of plunging wildlife numbers, conservationist group WWF said Tuesday, but their success has not been universal.
	Investigating the health threats to endangered eastern gorillas A Murdoch University PhD student is working in a mountainous region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to investigate the health of endangered eastern gorillas, the humans and other primates living near them.
Alaska refuge proposes killing invasive caribou Federal wildlife officials are considering deadly measures to keep an Alaska big game animal introduced more than 50 years ago to a remote island in the Aleutians from expanding its range.

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