Science X Newsletter Monday, Nov 10

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 10, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Robot that moves like an inchworm could go places other robots can't
- Best of Last Week: Questioning Higgs finding, possible alternative to antibiotics and reversing diabetes in mice
- Some neurons can multitask, raising questions about the importance of specialization
- Heat transfer sets the noise floor for ultrasensitive electronics
- Europe set to make space history with comet landing
- A billion holes can make a battery
- Good vibrations give electrons excitations that rock an insulator to go metallic
- Thousands of never-before-seen human genome variations uncovered
- Lighter, cheaper radio wave device could transform telecommunications
- Playing action video games can boost learning, new study reports
- ALMA finds best evidence yet for galactic merger in distant protocluster
- The cat's meow: Genome reveals clues to domestication
- Changes in a single gene's action can control addiction and depression-related behaviors
- Catalyst-where-you-want-it method expands the possibilities for new drug development
- Astronomers discover two dust belts surrounded by a large dust halo around young star HD 95086

Astronomy & Space news

	Europe set to make space history with comet landing One of the biggest gambles in space history comes to a climax on Wednesday when Europe attempts to make the first-ever landing on a comet.
	ALMA finds best evidence yet for galactic merger in distant protocluster Nestled among a triplet of young galaxies more than 12.5 billion light-years away is a cosmic powerhouse: a galaxy that is producing stars nearly 1,000 times faster than our own Milky Way. This energetic starburst galaxy, known as AzTEC-3, together with its gang of calmer galaxies may represent the best evidence yet that large galaxies grow from the merger of smaller ones in the early Universe, a process known as hierarchical merging.
	NASA tests revolutionary shape changing aircraft flap for the first time (Phys.org) —NASA's green aviation project is one step closer to developing technology that could make future airliners quieter and more fuel-efficient with the successful flight test of a wing surface that can change shape in flight.
	MUSE reveals true story behind galactic crash A team of researchers led by Michele Fumagalli from the Extragalactic Astronomy Group and the Institute for Computational Cosmology at Durham University, were among the first to use ESO's Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on the VLT. Observing ESO 137-001—a spiral galaxy 200 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Triangulum Australe (The Southern Triangle)—they were able to get the best view so far of exactly what is happening to the galaxy as it hurtles into the Norma Cluster.
	Three-man multinational space crew returns to Earth A three-man multinational crew of astronauts returned to Earth Monday aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, after spending 165 days working together at the International Space Station, NASA said.
	Astronomers dissect the aftermath of a supernova In research published today in the Astrophysical Journal, an Australian led team of astronomers has used radio telescopes in Australia and Chile to see inside the remains of a supernova.
	Hubble view of bubbly nebula This image from Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 showcases NGC 1501, a complex planetary nebula located in the large but faint constellation of Camelopardalis (The Giraffe).
	TESS mission cleared for next development phase NASA has officially confirmed the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, clearing it to move forward into the development phase. This marks a significant step for the TESS mission, which would search the entire sky for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.
	Astronomers discover two dust belts surrounded by a large dust halo around young star HD 95086 Scientists at the University of Arizona have discovered what might be the closest thing to "baby photos" of our solar system. A young star called HD 95086 is found to have two dust belts, analogous to the asteroid and Kuiper belts in the Solar System, surrounded by a large dust halo that only young planetary systems have.
	Virgin Galactic could resume test flights in six months Virgin Galactic could resume test flights with a new spaceship within six months, the company said Friday, a week after the fatal crash of SpaceShipTwo in the Californian desert.
	Preparing for alien life At a recent event sponsored by NASA and the Library of Congress, a group of scientists and scholars explored how we might prepare for the inevitable discovery of life beyond Earth.
	More revealed about Siebold's escape from SpaceShipTwo Yes, there was a thumbs up. Through an interview with the father of the SpaceShipTwo pilot, the Daily Mail has reported more details of the near fatal plunge of Peter Siebold from the explosive event that destroyed Scaled Composites' space vehicle. The ill-fated test flight resulted in the death of the co-pilot, Mike Alsbury. Siebold was visited by his father, Dr Klaus Siebold of Seattle, Washington, after Siebold was released from the hospital.
	Galileo satellite set for new orbit ESA's fifth Galileo navigation satellite, one of two left in the wrong orbit this summer, will make a series of manoeuvres this month as a prelude to its health being confirmed.
	US plans to answer the lure of Europa To planetary scientists Jupiter's icy moon Europa is a Siren, calling out to them across the solar system. With its youthful surface, abundance of water and the tantalising evidence of a moon-wide ocean – it is one of the best chances for us to find life within our solar system. Last week the Europa Clipper mission won some critical support of US congress representatives, who attended a meeting organised by the Planetary Society called 'The lure of Europa'.
	A timeline of deep-space comet encounters 12th November 2014. That is the date in which Rosetta, led by the European Space Agency, will release its lander Philae to touchdown on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in outer space.
	SpaceX chief Elon Musk eyes Internet satellites High-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has reportedly added global Internet access from satellites to his vision of a future alongside sporty electric cars and private space exploration.
Team telescope effort reveals asteroid's size for the first time When the double asteroid Patroclus-Menoetius passed directly in front of a star on the night of Oct. 20, a team of volunteer astronomers across the U.S. was waiting.
	Satellite images shed light, or lack thereof, on the impact of the Syrian conflict An interesting new paper recently published in the International Journal of Remote Sensing which hypothesises that night-time light can be a useful source for monitoring humanitarian crises, such as that unfolding in Syria.
	NASA image: Yellowstone viewed from the International Space Station NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account this morning. Wiseman later tweeted: "We cranked up our #Soyuz this morning and test fired all the thrusters. Everything worked flawlessly - ready for a Sunday departure." - @astro_reid

Technology news

	Robot that moves like an inchworm could go places other robots can't The peculiar way that an inchworm inches along a surface may not be fast compared to using legs, wings, or wheels, but it does have advantages when it comes to maneuvering in small spaces. This is one of the reasons why researchers have designed and built a soft, worm-like robot that moves with a typical inchworm gait, pulling its body up and extending it forward to navigate its environment. The robots could one day be used in rescue and reconnaissance missions in places that are inaccessible to humans or larger robots.
	Ara challenger suits up for modular smartphone action The week closed with two days of nudges and signs that something new is on the boil in modular phones, and that the concept could see some very interesting action in 2015. Android Authority said "things are about to heat up, and fast." Project Ara may not be the only modular phone star act waiting in the wings.
	From earphones to jet engines, 3D printing takes off Many manufacturers are at an early stage of discovering the benefits of 3D printing, but one of the clearest strengths is customization.
	Stanford Libraries unearths the earliest US website Some of the earliest pages from the World Wide Web have been restored and are once again browsable, providing a glimpse of how the web once operated. Stanford Libraries has made these pages available with Stanford Wayback, a customized version of an open source platform that enables long-term access to archived web assets.
	Federal government struggles against cyberattacks A $10 billion-a-year effort to protect sensitive government data, from military secrets to Social Security identification numbers, is struggling to keep pace with an increasing number of cyberattacks and is unwittingly being undermined by federal employees and contractors.
	Japan's NEC rolls out counterfeit spotting technology Japan's NEC on Monday unveiled a technology that sniffs out even the most convincing counterfeits by reading microscopic patterns on everything from a luxury purse to a metal bolt.
	Researchers demonstrate new technique for generating electricity Research scientists at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have demonstrated a new technique for generating electrical energy. The new method can be used in harvesting energy from mechanical vibrations of the environment and converting it into electricity. Energy harvesters are needed, for example, in wireless self-powered sensors and medical implants, where they could ultimately replace batteries. In the future, energy harvesters can open up new opportunities in many application areas such as wearable electronics.
	Physicists create model to predict traffic patterns Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have designed a simple, yet highly accurate traffic prediction model for roadway transportation networks. They have recently published their work in the journal Nature Communications.
	New materials yield record efficiency polymer solar cells Researchers from North Carolina State University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have found that temperature-controlled aggregation in a family of new semi-conducting polymers is the key to creating highly efficient organic solar cells that can be mass produced more cheaply. Their findings also open the door to experimentation with different chemical mixtures that comprise the active layers of the cells.
	Prism Skylabs has privacy feature for store cameras A video-based software service from Prism Skylabs can help the business owner use cameras for business intelligence.
	Hackers target CEOs in 'Darkhotel' scheme Hackers have developed a scheme to steal sensitive information from top executives by penetrating the Wi-Fi networks of luxury hotels, security researchers said Monday.
	Wireless devices used by casual pilots vulnerable to hacking, computer scientists find A new class of apps and wireless devices used by private pilots during flights for everything from GPS information to data about nearby aircraft is vulnerable to a wide range of security attacks, which in some scenarios could lead to catastrophic outcomes, according to computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego and Johns Hopkins University. They presented their findings Nov. 5 at the 21st ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security in Scottsdale, Ariz.
AT&T says it will buy Mexico's Iusacell for $1.8B AT&T is buying Mexican wireless company Iusacell for $1.8 billion and plans to grow in Mexico.
'Dark Web' drug site challenge law enforcement No sooner had authorities announced the shuttering of an alleged illegal online drug bazaar than another popped up claiming to take its place.
Estonia aiming to be a global e-commerce superpower The small Baltic country of Estonia hopes digital innovation will turn it into a global superpower in e-commerce by offering foreigners e-residency IDs, and opening the door to doing business online throughout the European Union.
New 'Assassin's Creed' dives into French Revolution A new installment of blockbuster video game "Assassin's Creed" makes its worldwide debut Tuesday, allowing players to wield deadly skills on the streets of Paris during the French Revolution.
Funding for Uber could push value past $30 bn: report The popular car-sharing startup Uber could see its value top $30 billion after a new round of funding, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
Class action may be brewing against retailers rejecting Apple Pay Rite Aid and CVS may face a class action lawsuit for boycotting Apple Pay and other mobile payments systems.
Microsoft teases beginning of its post-Nokia smartphone era Microsoft is set to reveal what may be its first smartphone offering since announcing it was ditching the Nokia brand in favor of Lumia for its flagship Windows Phones.
	Researcher developing wearable device to track diet Sensors and software used to track physical activity are increasingly popular, as smart phones and their apps become more powerful and sophisticated, but, when it comes to food, they all rely on the user to report meals.
Researchers develop next-generation magnesium batteries A Tainan-based National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) research team has developed next-generation magnesium batteries that could replace lithium batteries.
The complexities of oil prices With holiday shopping right around the corner, U.S. consumers could have a little extra money in their pockets, thanks to lower gas prices. Saudi Arabia, the planet's top producer and exporter of crude oil, lowered its prices for sales to the U.S., while raising prices in other markets.
	An autopilot for steering flying windmills The idea of using kites to collect the energy produced by high altitude winds has been gaining ground amidst the scientific community. EPFL researchers have developed an autopilot device to control and optimize the movement of these peculiar windmills for obtaining an optimal power production.
	Is social media responsible for your safety during a disaster? Given the popularity of Facebook and Twitter, it's not surprising so many people use social media in crises such as floods, fires and earthquakes.
	Energy efficiency of HVAC equipment suffers due to poor installation The push for more efficient air conditioners and heat pumps aims to trim the 30 percent share of residential electrical energy use devoted to cooling and heating. But the benefits of improved energy efficiency ratings can go for naught if the equipment is not installed properly, as verified in a recent study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
	Software uses smartphone sensors to manipulate music Computer scientists and musicologists at the University of Oslo have developed totally new software that allows you to put your own personal touch to your music.
	Obama presses for tough 'open Internet' rules (Update) US President Barack Obama voiced support Monday for a new regulatory system for Internet providers aimed at avoiding a two-speed system leaving some services in an online "slow lane."
	Big-data mining project gives birds-eye view of the G20 A QUT researcher is mapping the G20 Leaders' Summit as it plays out on Twitter and Instagram to find out how the event is affecting those inside the "barricades".
Researcher sees laptop-cooling technology as way to less-thirsty power plants Every minute in the United States, power plants that generate electricity use nearly triple the amount of water that surges over Niagara Falls during that same time, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
	Notorious hacktivist shares methods, motives Cocaine dealers, bank robbers and carjackers converge at Manchester Federal Prison in rural Kentucky—and then there is Jeremy Hammond, a tousle-haired and talented hacker whose nimble fingers have clicked and tapped their way into the nation's computing systems. Among those whose data he helped expose: the husband of the federal judge who sentenced him.
Postal Service says it is victim of hacking attack (Update) The U.S. Postal Service said Monday it had been hacked, potentially compromising sensitive information about its employees such as names and addresses, Social Security numbers, emergency contacts and other information.
	Blizzard unveils shooter 'Overwatch' at BlizzCon After tackling online strategy and role-playing games, the company behind "World of Warcraft" is taking aim at the shooter genre.
	'Warcraft' film teased at BlizzCon expo Orcs won't just be sword fodder in the upcoming film adaptation of the Blizzard video game franchise "Warcraft." The snarling green-skinned creatures will be respected just as much as the human characters from the fantasy saga.
	Why Australia's entire power sector should support the Renewable Energy Target There's been much talk about how uncertainty over the future of the (RET) is affecting the renewable energy industry.
	Helping electrical power operators assess the security of the pan-European electricity transmission network ITESLA, a project funded under the EU's FP7 programme, is establishing ways to make our electrical systems more secure. This vital work is now getting a significant boost in the form of 9.7 million processor hours of access to the facilities of the Partnership for Advanced Computing (PRACE). Successful projects are chosen for their potential to achieve ground-breaking scientific results through the use of supercomputers.
	Seeking ideas for transforming planes into "aircraft carriers in the sky" Military air operations typically rely on large, manned, robust aircraft, but such missions put these expensive assets—and their pilots—at risk. While small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can reduce or eliminate such risks, they lack the speed, range and endurance of larger aircraft. These complementary traits suggest potential benefits in a blended approach—one in which larger aircraft would carry, launch and recover multiple small UAS. Such an approach could greatly extend the range of UAS operations, enhance overall safety, and cost-effectively enable groundbreaking capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and other missions.
Angolan, French bids target Portugal Telecom A battle has started for control of Portugal Telecom, with an Angolan takeover bid countering a French company's offer.
Cable stocks fall after Obama backs Net Neutrality Cable company stocks fell sharply Monday after President Obama called for the Federal Communications Commission to reclassify Internet access as a utility.
Smartphone case maker OtterBox names new CEO Smartphone case maker OtterBox is replacing its CEO following the global expansion of the Fort Collins, Colorado-based company.
	Google to boost Ebola donations Google launched a campaign Monday to raise money to fight Ebola, tossing $10 million into the pot and saying it will match donations to the fund two to one.

Medicine & Health news

	Some neurons can multitask, raising questions about the importance of specialization Think about all the things you are doing at this moment. As your eyes scan across the lines of this article, maybe your brain is processing the smell of coffee brewing down the hall and the sound of leaf blowers outside your window. Maybe you are tapping your foot and spinning a pen between your fingers. At any given moment, your brain is simultaneously processing a multitude of information from your senses while supporting a dizzying array of behaviors.
	Thousands of never-before-seen human genome variations uncovered Thousands of never-before-seen genetic variants in the human genome have been uncovered using a new genome sequencing technology. These discoveries close many human genome mapping gaps that have long resisted sequencing.
	Playing action video games can boost learning, new study reports A new study shows for the first time that playing action video games improves not just the skills taught in the game, but learning capabilities more generally.
	Sad music hits positive notes of emotional rewards (Medical Xpress)—Sadness is discouraged; it's a mood to flee. We tell children not to look so sad. We tell adults to wipe that sad look off their face and smile. We worry that prolonged sadness needs medical attention. So why do people deliberately spend their money to hear sad songs—and flock to big-ticket concerts, applauding the loudest for the saddest tunes imaginable? If sadness is such a negative, why do we send our money and time wallowing in sad tunes?
New mechanism for febrile seizures in young children discovered Febrile seizures are among the most dreaded complications of infectious diseases in small children. An international research team composed of experts from the Universities of Tübingen, Leuven and Luxembourg has now made a breakthrough by demonstrating the existence of a previously unknown cause for this most frequent form of epileptic attacks in small children. As a study just published in the medical journal Nature Genetics shows, mutations in the STX1B gene are responsible for the children's pathological reactions to fever. The gene mutations lead to an impaired regulation in the release of certain nerve cell messenger substances. The consequence of this is an increase of involuntary electrical discharges in the brain, accompanied by epileptic febrile seizures. In the long run, the newly discovered gene alterations can also be the source of serious epilepsy and mental disability. The scientists now hope to develop new forms of! therapy on the basis of their discoveries.
	Molecular breakthrough could halt the spread of prostate cancer Scientists believe a new treatment, shown to be effective in mice, could halt the growth of tumours in patients with prostate cancer.
	Why beat deaf individuals are unable to keep a beat or tap along with music Bobbing your head, tapping your heel, or clapping along with the music is a natural response for most people, but what about those who can't keep a beat?
	Researchers identify first steps in formation of pancreatic cancer Researchers at Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville say they have identified first steps in the origin of pancreatic cancer and that their findings suggest preventive strategies to explore.
	Statins reverse learning disabilities caused by genetic disorder UCLA neuroscientists discovered that statins, a popular class of cholesterol drugs, reverse the learning deficits caused by a mutation linked to a common genetic cause of learning disabilities. Published in the Nov. 10 advance online edition of Nature Neuroscience, the findings were studied in mice genetically engineered to develop the disease, called Noonan syndrome.
	Study suggests a unified model for how DNA is read, offering insight into how genes evolve There are roughly 20,000 genes and thousands of other regulatory "elements" stored within the three billion letters of the human genome. Genes encode information that is used to create proteins, while other genomic elements help regulate the activation of genes, among other tasks. Somehow all of this coded information within our DNA needs to be read by complex molecular machinery and transcribed into messages that can be used by our cells.
	'Darting' mice may hold clues to ADHD, autism and bipolar disorder A darting mouse may hold an important clue in the development of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism and bipolar disorder, according to a study by a Vanderbilt University-led research team recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Study shows marijuana's long-term effects on the brain The effects of chronic marijuana use on the brain may depend on age of first use and duration of use, according to researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas.
How cartilage cells sense forceful injury We live with the same cartilage—the tissue that connects our joints—for a lifetime. And since we can't readily make new cartilage cells, we had better figure out how to keep what we have healthy.
Team finds novel approach to treating age-related macular degeneration While oxygen is essential to our planet's life force and the way we function and stay healthy, high concentrations referred to as oxidative stress may very well be the cause of more than 70 widely-spread diseases such as cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and eye diseases including macular degeneration.
Anti-typhoid gene found, may improve vaccines Scientists said Monday they had found a variant of a gene that confers a near five-fold protection against typhoid fever, which kills millions of people each year.
	Sweet music or sour notes? The test will tell Most people rarely sing publically outside of a duty-bound rendition of "Happy Birthday." And since that particular song is usually offered as a group performance, even the reluctant join in the spirit of the occasion, hoping their individual shortcomings will be cloaked by the chorus.
Changes in a single gene's action can control addiction and depression-related behaviors Regulation of a single, specific gene in a brain region related to drug addiction and depression is sufficient to reduce drug and stress responses, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published October 27 online in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
	The brain's 'inner GPS' gets dismantled Imagine being able to recognize your car as your own but never being able to remember where you parked it. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have induced this all-too-common human experience - or a close version of it - permanently in rats and from what is observed perhaps derive clues about why strokes and Alzheimer's disease can destroy a person's sense of direction.
	Mortality rates lower for patients cared for by nurses with bachelor's degrees Patients in an eastern academic medical center who received most of their nursing care from nurses with bachelor of science degrees had better care, fewer readmissions and shorter stays, according to a University of Michigan study.
Combination therapy offers quicker, less toxic eradication of hep C in liver transplant patients All patients with hepatitis C who receive a liver transplant will eventually infect their new livers. These transplanted organs then require anti-viral treatment before they become severely damaged. But traditional post-transplant hepatitis C therapy can take up to a year, is potentially toxic and can lead to organ rejection.
The slow decline of fast food in America The hospitals of the Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City, Missouri no longer serve fast food in their cafeterias, after ending a contract with McDonald's in 2012—two years ahead of schedule.
Dengue's spread flies under the radar amid Ebola scare One of the most familiar sounds in Malaysia's capital is the approaching drone of a fumigation fogger spewing thick white plumes of insecticide, part of so-far futile efforts to arrest a spiralling dengue fever outbreak.
Florida woman survives 45 minutes with no pulse A Florida mother is home and tending to her new infant less than a month after surviving without a pulse for 45 minutes following complications from a routine cesarean section.
Diagnosing prostate cancer quickly and safely Distinguishing between benign and malignant prostate tissue is difficult. A new device facilitates the diagnosis for doctors: Through a visual analysis, they can reliably determine if they are dealing with carcinoma within a minute-and-a-half. Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting the prototype at the COMPAMED trade fair in Düsseldorf from November 12th to 14th.
Physicians play a critical role in ensuring bladder cancer patients When bladder cancer patients are well-informed by their physicians, they acknowledge that tobacco use was likely the cause of their disease. The finding comes from a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Patients with such knowledge may be more motivated to quit smoking, which could help prolong their lives.
Study finds laundry detergent pods, serious poisoning risk for children Laundry detergent pods began appearing on U.S. store shelves in early 2010, and people have used them in growing numbers ever since. The small packets can be tossed into a washing machine without ever having to measure out a liquid or powder. The convenience, though, has come with risks for young children.
Project reduces 'alarm fatigue' in hospitals by 80 percent The sound of monitor alarms in hospitals can save patients' lives, but the frequency with which the monitors go off can also lead to "alarm fatigue," in which caregivers become densensitized to the ubiquitous beeping.
In developing countries, child-mortality rates fell most among poorest families The child-mortality gap has narrowed between the poorest and wealthiest households in a majority of more than 50 developing countries, a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found.
	A new look at how and when schizophrenia starts The traditional view was that schizophrenia, the most devastating of mental illnesses, struck young people on the cusp of adulthood, often without much warning.
A balloon for obesity: an option between medication and surgery? For many struggling with obesity, taking one of the newly approved prescription medications for weight loss (marketed as Qsymia, Belviq and Contrave) feels like climbing a mountain with a walking cane - it's a little help, but not enough. And bariatric surgery - a permanent replumbing of the intestinal tract that is expensive and carries the risks of major surgery - feels like a bit too much help.
	Support for new parents is just a click away New parents and their partners have a new online resource to help them feel less isolated and alone.
Cigars expose smokers to harmful, cancer-causing agents The levels of several toxic substances are elevated in cigar smokers, and for at least one potent cancer-causing agent, comparable to the levels found in cigarette smokers, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. This research suggests that smoking cigars may be just as harmful as smoking cigarettes.
	When it comes to suicide, how may be just as important as why On April 15, 2014 a man jumped to his death from the O'Callaghan-Tillman Memorial Bridge - a massive, new concrete arch that soars over the Hoover Dam. He was the eighth known person to do so since the bypass bridge opened in October 2010.
Collaboration yields new methods to treat tumors with antennas A conversation with a University of Wisconsin-Madison neurosurgeon prompted two engineering researchers to challenge a commonly held idea about tumor ablation, and as a result, they're now working to commercialize a new technology that could yield less invasive radiation therapies for cancer patients.
Discovery could lead to better head and neck cancer therapies UCLA scientists have discovered that a protein usually linked to rare neurological disorders is also associated with head and neck cancer in people who are infected with the human papilloma virus. And when that protein is combined with another cancer-suppressing protein, it helps improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments, according to a new study by UCLA researchers.
	Ebola: understanding when to quarantine To quarantine or not to quarantine? That is the question that surrounded nurse Kaci Hickox after she returned to the United States from Sierra Leone where she treated Ebola patients. While some (notably New Jersey Governor Chris Christie) insisted that she be quarantined for 21 days, others, including an editorial from the New England Journal of Medicine, argued that position isn't supported by the underlying science. The controversy has raised ethical considerations about when quarantine is justified and how best to carry it out.
Understanding the impact of parents' mental illness Research from the University of Adelaide has found that the children of parents suffering from an emotionally unstable form of personality disorder are at risk of developing behavioural and emotional issues - but the children can also be protected from experiencing similar difficulties to their parents.
GP guidelines needed for chronic pain treatment Some patients with chronic pain could be better served by being prescribed vitamin D supplements by their GP, according to research at the University of Adelaide.
Researchers launch search for new Ebola treatments using artificial intelligence The University of Toronto, Chematria and IBM are combining forces in a quest to find new treatments for the Ebola virus.
Study shows more "quit" stimulus needed on cigarette packs New research from the University of Otago, published recently in the prestigious BMJ-owned journal Tobacco Control, suggests tobacco plain packaging would be enhanced by clearer and more visually striking Quitline information.
	How brown fat fuels up to combat type 2 diabetes and obesity A newly identified signaling pathway that stimulates glucose uptake in brown fat cells might be useful for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a study in The Journal of Cell Biology.
Why placebos for chemotherapy side effects are hard to swallow It's unthinkable to give a placebo to someone to treat their cancer, but could we use one to treat chemotherapy's well-known side effects? Unfortunately, we may never be able to answer this question because the biggest obstacle to finding out whether it would work is emotional rather than scientific.
	New biomarker for iron regulator-related diseases and cancer Dr. Hung-Jen Wu, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University, connects industrial processes of membrane separation and molecular sieve technology to identify a new biomarker for iron regulator-related diseases and cancer. The biomarker is named hepcidin.
	Nurses play vital role in care of terminally ill patients A University of Queensland study has found nurses play a crucial role in decisions surrounding treatment of terminally ill patients.
	UK Tobacco controls a success in cutting smoking among adolescents A new study, published today, reveals a significant drop in the number of young people taking up smoking over the last 20 years, as the UK has introduced a range of tobacco controls.
	Bridging the gap in precision medicine For entertainment giants such as Netflix and HBO, there's an oft-cited concept known as "the last mile."
	DNA sequencing helps identify genetic defects in glaucoma Scientists from the University of Liverpool have sequenced the mitochondrial genome in glaucoma patients to help further understanding into the genetic basis for the disease.
Anti-bullying training helps children stand up to cyberbullies A recent YouGov poll found that two-thirds of teachers had seen pupils trolling and bullying each other on the internet, demonstrating an urgent need to teach children to stay safe online.
New effective, safe and cheap treatment strategy for rheumatoid arthritis A new drug combination for rheumatoid arthritis treats the disease just as well as other intensive treatment strategies but with less medication and fewer side effects at a significantly lower cost. Doctoral researcher Diederik De Cock (KU Leuven) describes the strategy in a new study published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Preventing needless dental emergencies The number of patients hospitalized for dental infections that could have been prevented with regular care or in-office root canals rose nearly 42 percent from 2000 to 2008, according to a first-of-its-kind study. In contrast, hospitalizations for all causes increased 5.3 percent during that same nine-year period.
	Highly organised protein structure implicated in schizophrenia Schizophrenia is associated with enormous personal, familial and societal cost. Exactly how genetic and environmental risk factors act together to lead to the development of schizophrenia is as yet unknown. As a result, current treatments target symptoms rather than underlying causes and do not achieve complete remission.
	Therapeutic target could lead to the development of new treatments for specific blood cancers Scientists at the University of York have identified a therapeutic target which could lead to the development of new treatments for specific blood cancers.
	Common disinfectants impair mouse fertility Mice possess a notable talent: they are excellent at making more mice. Their ability to reproduce at a breakneck pace is one reason they are often used as experimental research subjects. Thus, when Dr. Terry Hrubec realized that the mice in her veterinary research lab at Virginia Tech were showing sudden and dramatic declines in reproductive success, she knew she had a problem.
	Spirituality plays huge part in patients' recovery from illness The term 'spirituality' is now widely used to describe the qualities that give people hope, meaning and purpose. In the case of patients, it can aid their recovery. The University of Huddersfield has become a key centre for research into spirituality and how it can be integrated into health care teaching and practice.
	Skin cancer costs soar compared to other malignancies: CDC (HealthDay)—The cost of skin cancer treatment in the United States more than doubled between 2002 and 2011, and rose five times faster than treatments for other cancers, a new study found.
	Sexual function, mental health linked in rheumatic disease (HealthDay)—The presence of anxiety and depression in people with rheumatic diseases may be an independent predictor of sexual dysfunction, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
	Resident trainees up operative times for hysterectomy (HealthDay)—Resident participation in laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures for benign disease is associated with longer surgical time and small increases in the rates of postoperative reoperation and readmission, according to a study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Major blood vessel constrictor contributes to vision loss in premies A gene known to play a major role in constricting blood vessels also appears to be a major player in the aberrant blood vessel growth that can destroy the vision of premature babies.
Classification of gene mutations in a children's cancer may point to improved treatments Oncology researchers studying gene mutations in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma are refining their diagnostic tools to predict which patients are more likely to respond to drugs called ALK inhibitors that target such mutations. Removing some of the guesswork in diagnosis and treatment, the researchers say, may lead to more successful outcomes for children with this often-deadly cancer.
World birth-weight curves better to assess risk in newborns of immigrants Immigrant women give birth to about one-third of the babies born in Ontario. Yet clinicians still measure those babies before and after birth using the same scales that measure babies whose mothers were born in Canada, often of Western European ancestry.
Scientists solve mystery of 'Frankenstein' DNA Australian researchers have uncovered how the massive DNA molecules that appear in some tumours are formed like Frankenstein's monster, stitched together from other parts of the genome. This solves a decades-old mystery and explains how these tumours ensure their own survival.
Researchers find new target for kidney cancer therapy Cincinnati Cancer Center (CCC) researchers have discovered that a membrane channel, Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3, or TRPM3, promotes growth of kidney cancer tumors, and targeting this channel therapeutically could lead to more treatments for a disease that currently has few treatment options.
	New state level data demonstrate geographical variation in 10-year cardiovascular risk Public health researchers seeking to determine an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), or stroke have previously relied on national US data, such as that provided by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Now, new data compiled and evaluated by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide information at the state level for the first time, paving the way for targeted intervention programs. Their results appear in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Low levels of the DHEA prohormone predict coronary heart disease Men with low levels of DHEA in the blood run an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease events. The Sahlgrenska Academy study has been published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Moderate drinking is healthy only for some people The study included 618 Swedes with coronary heart disease and a control group of 3,000 healthy subjects. The subjects were assigned to various categories based on the amount of alcohol they consumed (ethanol intake). Meanwhile, they were tested in order to identify a particular genotype (CETP TaqIB) that previous studies had found to play a role in the health benefits of alcohol consumption.
Study identifies pre-symptomatic markers for hemorrhagic viruses like Ebola A new study has found it is possible to distinguish between different hemorrhagic fevers, including Marburg (Ebola cousin) and Lassa before the person becomes symptomatic.
	Obesity plays major role in triggering autoimmune diseases Autoimmune diseases like Crohn's Disease and multiple sclerosis, in which the immune system attacks its own body rather than predatory invaders, affect 5-20% of the global community. A study published recently in Autoimmunity Reviews by Prof. Yehuda Shoenfeld, the Laura Schwarz-Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Head of Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases at Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, points to the major role obesity plays in triggering and prolonging these autoimmune diseases.
Volunteer advocacy program benefits the incapacitated with no family or friends A Regenstrief Institute and Eskenazi Health study reports on an innovative program that trains and supervises volunteers who act as advocates for adults and seniors who are unable to make their own decisions due to conditions like Alzheimer's disease or coma, but have no family or friends to help them. The study found that the program could serve as a national model to replace or complement the frequently overwhelmed guardianship services provided by state agencies from coast to coast.
Scientists uncover a role for carbon monoxide in battling bacterial infections The innate immune system serves as the body's specialized armed forces division, comprised of a host of defense mechanisms used to battle bacterial infections. Among the system's warriors are white blood cells including the specialized macrophages, which maintain constant surveillance for foreign intruders or pathogens, functioning as the body's first line of defense, poised to attack at barrier sites including the skin, lungs and intestines.
Opioid OD cause for over 100,000 ED visits in '10 Researchers from Rhode Island and The Miriam hospitals and the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that prescription opioids, including methadone, were involved in 67.8 percent of (or over 135,971 visits to) nationwide emergency department (ED) visits in 2010, with the highest proportion of opioid overdoses occurring in the South.
Mothers' education significant to children's academic success A mother knows best—and the amount of education she attains can predict her children's success in reading and math. In fact, that success is greater if she had her child later in life, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Anxiety can damage brain: Accelerate conversion to Alzheimer's for those with mild cognitive impairment People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of converting to Alzheimer's disease within a few years, but a new study warns the risk increases significantly if they suffer from anxiety.
	'Antibiogram' use in nursing facilities could help improve antibiotic use, effectiveness Use of "antibiograms" in skilled nursing facilities could improve antibiotic effectiveness and help address problems with antibiotic resistance that are becoming a national crisis, researchers conclude in a new study.
Victor Ambros receives 2015 Breakthrough Prize for co-discovery of microRNAs Victor R. Ambros, PhD, professor of molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, has been awarded a 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his co-discovery of a new world of genetic regulation by microRNAs, a class of tiny RNA molecules that inhibit translation or destabilize complementary mRNA targets. Honored with his long-time collaborator Gary Ruvkun, PhD, professor of genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ambros, the Silverman Chair in Natural Sciences and co-director of the RNA Therapeutics Institute, was one of six biomedical researchers honored, each of whom received a $3 million prize. In total, the Breakthrough Prizes awarded more than $36 million this year.
	Is your relationship moving toward marriage? If it isn't, you probably can't admit it Dating couples who have moved toward marriage over the course of their relationship remember accurately what was going on at each stage of their deepening commitment. But couples whose commitment to each other has stagnated or regressed are far less accurate in their memories of their relationships, says a new University of Illinois study.
Overall risk of birth defects appears low for women taking antiretrovirals during early pregnancy Among pregnant women infected with HIV, the use of antiretroviral (ARV) medications early in pregnancy to treat their HIV or to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV does not appear to increase the risk of birth defects in their infants, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). It is one of the largest studies to date to look at the safety of ARV use during pregnancy.
Half of premature colorectal cancer deaths due to socioeconomic inequality November 10, 2014 -Half of all premature deaths from colorectal cancer (described as deaths in people ages 25 to 64) in the United States are linked to ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic inequalities, and therefore could be prevented according to a new study by American Cancer Society researchers. The report, which appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found more preventable deaths occur in southern states than in northern and western states, but that in virtually all states those with the least education had significantly higher colorectal cancer death rates.
Explosive compound reduced blood pressure in the female offspring of hypertensive rats The explosive organic compound pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) might one day allow pregnant women to protect their daughters from developing high blood pressure before they're born, according to an animal study published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
Smoking cessation in hospitals could cut smoking rates significantly Ensuring smoking cessation is offered routinely while smokers are in hospital could help cut smoking rates significantly and save the NHS money, concludes a study published online in the journal Thorax.
ACE-inhibitors associated with lower risk for ALS above certain dose over time The antihypertensive medications angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) were associated with a 57 percent reduced risk in the chance of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease) in patients who were prescribed ACEIs greater than 449.5 cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) compared with patients who did not use ACEIs, according to a study published online by JAMA Neurology.
	Aspirin may exacerbate chronic urticaria in children (HealthDay)—In some children with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), exacerbations may be caused by hypersensitivity to aspirin, according to research published online Oct. 29 in Allergy.
	Education level, BMI linked to postpartum GDM follow-up (HealthDay)—Among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), lower education level and higher body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis are associated with reduced likelihood of postpartum follow-up, according to research published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
	Visceral fat key marker for cardiometabolic risk (HealthDay)—Visceral fat is associated with cardiometabolic risk, including metabolic syndrome, regardless of body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online Nov. 5 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
	Preventable hospitalizations ID'd in pediatric medical complexity (HealthDay)—A review published online Nov. 10 in Pediatrics identifies the characteristics of preventable hospitalizations for children with medical complexity (CMC), and offers strategies for the prevention of these hospitalizations.
	Few studies assess value of cervical degenerative disc Sx (HealthDay)—Few studies examine the cost-effectiveness of surgery for patients with cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD), according to a review published in a supplement to the Oct. 15 issue of Spine, focusing on value-based spine care.
Beta-blockers have no mortality benefit in post-heart attack patients, say researchers Beta-blockers have been a cornerstone in the treatment of heart attack survivors for more than a quarter of a century. However, many of the data predate contemporary medical therapy such as reperfusion, statins, and antiplatelet agents, and recent data have called the role of beta-blockers into question. Two new studies published in The American Journal of Medicine evaluated the traditional management of these patients after their discharge from the hospital and in the light of changing medical treatment, as well as the impact of the discharge heart rate and conventional treatment with beta-blockers.
Hospital workers wash hands less frequently toward end of shift, study finds Hospital workers who deal directly with patients wash their hands less frequently as their workday progresses, probably because the demands of the job deplete the mental reserves they need to follow rules, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT could be cost effective Dartmouth researchers say lung cancer screening in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) meets a commonly accepted standard for cost effectiveness as reported in the Nov. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. This relatively new screening test uses annual low-dose CT scans to spot lung tumors early in individuals facing the highest risks of lung cancer due to age and smoking history.
Dip in emergency hospital admissions via GPs while figures soar for A&E The number of emergency admissions to hospital via A&E departments increased markedly in England from 2001/02 to 2010/11, while the number via GPs decreased, according to analysis published today in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Researchers at Imperial College London, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), estimated that the annual number of emergency hospital admissions via A&E departments rose by 72% (2.1 million to 3.6 million) between 2001/2 and 2010/11. In the same period there was a 17% decrease in emergency hospital admissions via GPs (1.12 million to 0.93 million). These diverging trends could reflect changing roles for A&E departments and GP practices in providing urgent and emergency care in the NHS.
Canada to digitally track mental health of troops The Canadian military will soon start digitally tracking the mental health of its personnel with new software, the defense ministry said Friday, following a string of suicides this year.
Ebola fight starting to pay off but too early to claim success The deadliest Ebola outbreak ever is finally slowing in Liberia, the worst-hit country, but still wreaking havoc in two neighbouring west African states amid warnings of thousands of unreported deaths.
	Ebola volunteers wrestle with quarantine mandates Dr. Robert Fuller didn't hesitate to go to Indonesia to treat survivors of the 2004 tsunami, to Haiti to help after the 2010 earthquake or to the Philippines after a devastating typhoon last year. But he's given up on going to West Africa to care for Ebola patients.
Rural Sierra Leone waits for help as Ebola does its worst Eleven months into the worst Ebola outbreak in history, the response to the epidemic in one of the worst-hit rural corners of Sierra Leone is being patched together with branches and bits of cloth.
Africa sets up $28 million Ebola crisis fund The African Union, African Development Bank and regional business leaders have set up a crisis fund to help areas hit by the Ebola outbreak, the AU said in a statement.
Hair transplants: Pakistan's new weapon of mass seduction Mohammad Shahid's eyes lit up when he saw his once bald cousin come home one day with a head full of hair and a strutting gait to match.
Remote Sierra Leone region pleads for help in Ebola fight The last region of Sierra Leone to be affected by Ebola, Koinadugu, in the north-east of the country, has seen 50 people die from the virus in recent weeks, according to the Red Cross.
Families in Ebola-hit S.Leone face long wait for freedom Wary neighbours, police watches and food left outside the house—the lot of the families quarantined due to Ebola in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is a mix of ostracism and excruciating boredom.
Equal care, survival rates for country cancer patients Country South Australians with colorectal cancer that has spread to other areas of the body are receiving equal surgical care and have the same survival rates as those living in the city, according to new research from the University of Adelaide.
Research gives truckers their voice in the AIDS epidemic Truckers in India have a high risk of contracting AIDS. University of Cincinnati Professor Shaunak Sastry examined how the truckers discuss this risk in a paper that will be presented at the 100th annual convention for the National Communication Association from Nov. 20-23.
	App to promote better hand sanitation could save lives Hospitals and infections are a deadly combination. A small group on campus has created a computer-based application to reduce the spread of infection in clinical settings and potentially save lives. The technology uses wireless Bluetooth and cellphones to encourage proper hand hygiene.
	The impact of Ebola on health care systems and the economy in West Africa For three years, public health physician Theo J.C. Lippeveld worked to restore and improve the health care system in Liberia following civil war, and progress was being made – vaccinations were on the rise, fertility rates were dropping and so were stunting rates among children.
Difficulty may be encountered identifying emotions conveyed by posture Recognizing the emotions other people feel is crucial for establishing proper interpersonal relations. To do so, we look at (amongst other things) facial expressions and body posture. Unfortunately, in some neurological disorders this ability is heavily impaired.
Differences in obesity in children from different socioeconomic backgrounds The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children in the region Västra Götaland in Sweden are stable, but there are signs that socioeconomic differences are increasing. These are the conclusions of a thesis presented at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, which has examined approximately 3,000 children aged 7-9 years in western Sweden.
ACP releases High Value Care advice for communicating about end-of-life care goals Physician-patient communication about goals of care is a low risk, high value intervention for patients with a life threatening illness, the American College of Physicians (ACP) advises in a paper published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Nurse navigators may aid colon cancer screening follow-up Group Health patients with a positive screening test for colon cancer (a stool test or sigmoidoscopy) tended to be more likely to get the recommended follow-up test, a diagnostic colonoscopy, if nurse navigators contacted them than if they got usual care. This is according to "Results of Nurse Navigator Follow-up After Positive Colorectal Cancer Screening Test: A Randomized Trial" in the November-December Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, led by Beverly B. Green, MD, MPH, a Group Health physician and a Group Health Research Institute associate investigator.
	CDC spends 2.7 million on Ebola hospital kits (HealthDay)—About $2.7 million in personal protective gear has been ordered for health care workers at U.S. hospitals treating Ebola patients, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
New patent to establish if a person will suffer from burns with laser hair removal treatments Researchers at the U. of Granada have developed an innovative technique which facilitates the preventive identification of potential damage in the skin of a patient before he or she is submitted to a dermatological treatment by pulsed light, such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). These systems are frequently used in dermatological treatments such as photoepilation, skin rejuvenation, the elimination of acne or vascular injuries.
Successful implant of next-generation heart device marks Canadian first A surgical team at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre led by internationally-acclaimed cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Vivek Rao, has successfully implanted a novel mechanical device, the HeartMate IIITM, into a patient with advanced heart failure.
	New approach helps women talk to their families about cancer risk To understand their risk for hereditary forms of cancer, such as breast and colon cancer, women need to know their family history. The design and effectiveness of a 20-minute skills-based intervention that can help women better communicate with relatives and gather and share information about cancer family history is described in a study in Journal of Women's Health.
	Can HIV be transmitted via manicure instruments? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists numerous potential alternative sources of HIV transmission in addition to the known classical modes for acquiring the AIDS virus. Although manicure instruments is not on this list of alternative sources, a case of HIV transmission that may be linked to sharing of manicure instruments is presented in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.
In Ebola-hit Sierra Leone, places of worship the only places to gather With Ebola rampaging through Sierra Leone, most ordinary outings are off limits—for fear of contracting the virus that has killed more than 1,000 of their compatriots, people cannot go to school or the movies, a football game or a concert.
US opens new Ebola treatment unit in Liberia The United States Monday opened the first of 17 Ebola treatment units it is building in Liberia.
Secondhand smoke exposure of hospitalized nonsmoker cardiac patients While nonsmoking patients hospitalized with coronary heart disease (CHD) reported secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure in the days before their hospital admission, only 17.3 percent of patients recalled a physician or nurse asking them about their SHS exposure despite evidence that SHS increases nonsmokers' risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a report published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Home health nurses integrated depression care management but limited benefit Medicare home health care nurses effectively integrated a depression care management program into routine practice but the benefit appeared limited to patients with moderate to severe depression, according to a report published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Interstitial lung disease is a significant risk factor for lung inflammation Interstitial lung disease is a significant risk factor for lung inflammation following stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer.
	McDonald's recalls Happy Meal toy for choking risk McDonald's is recalling a Hello Kitty-themed whistle given to children in Happy Meals, citing a chance they could choke on some of its parts.
CHEST and ATS welcome preliminary decision on lung cancer screening A number of medical societies, including ATS and CHEST, recommend lung cancer screening in high-risk patients. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, recommends annual screening for lung cancer starting at age 55 and ending after age 80 in individuals with a 30 pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or have quit in the past 15 years, which they calculate would result in approximately 50% of lung cancer cases being detected at an early stage and a 14% reduction in lung cancer mortality.
Smoking associated with elevated risk of developing a second smoking-related cancer Results of a federally-funded pooled analysis of five prospective cohort studies indicate that cigarette smoking prior to the first diagnosis of lung (stage I), bladder, kidney or head and neck cancer increases risk of developing a second smoking-associated cancer. This is the largest study to date exploring risk of second cancers among current smokers.
ACA health insurance plans differ in cost, coverage and hospital access across Texas An analysis of more than 100 health insurance plans across Texas offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) shows that plans can differ significantly in premium cost and the number of hospitals included in insurance networks. That's just one of the findings of a report released today by the Episcopal Health Foundation and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Biology news

	'Big data' takes root in the world of plant research Botanists at Trinity College Dublin have launched a database with information that documents significant 'life events' for nearly 600 plant species across the globe. They clubbed together with like-minded individuals working across five different continents to compile the huge database of plant life histories, for which data have been gathered over a near 50-year span.
	3-D deep-imaging advance likely to drive new biological insights In a significant technical advance, a team of neuroscientists at The Rockefeller University has devised a fast, inexpensive imaging method for probing the molecular intricacies of large biological samples in three dimensions, an achievement that could have far reaching implications in a wide array of basic biological investigations.
	Production of human motor neurons from stem cells gaining speed The motor neurons that innervate muscle fibres are essential for motor activity. Their degeneration in many diseases causes paralysis and often death among patients. Researchers at the Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases (I-Stem - Inserm/AFM/UEVE), in collaboration with CNRS and Paris Descartes University, have recently developed a new approach to better control the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, and thus produce different populations of motor neurons from these cells in only 14 days. This discovery, published in Nature Biotechnology, will make it possible to expand the production process for these neurons, leading to more rapid progress in understanding diseases of the motor system, such as infantile spinal amyotrophy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
	First genome of an Antarctic notothenioid fish sequenced Northeastern professor H. William Detrich is part of an international research team that has sequenced the first genome of an Antarctic notothenioid fish. The breakthrough, he said, will shed light on the animal's unique evolutionary adaptation to freezing waters and will help reveal how the fish will respond to rising water temperatures projected over the next two centuries due to climate change.
	Termite of the sea's wood destruction strategy revealed Shipworms, known as 'termites of the sea,' have vexed mariners and seagoing vessels for centuries. A recent study involving scientists from the Ocean Genome Legacy Center of New England Biolabs at Northeastern University, the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, and other institutions has focused on the shipworm Bankia setacea to learn more about the enzymes it utilizes to break down wood for nutrition, information that may prove useful for the generation of biofuels.
	The cat's meow: Genome reveals clues to domestication Cats and humans have shared the same households for at least 9,000 years, but we still know very little about how our feline friends became domesticated. An analysis of the cat genome by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveals some surprising clues.
	Study examines role of microbes, their effect on infectious disease dynamics in Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog The adult human body is made up of about 37 trillion cells. Microbes, mainly bacteria, outnumber body cells by 10 to 1. Increasingly, scientists recognize that this huge community of microbes, called the microbiome, affects the health, development and evolution of all multicellular organisms, including humans.
	Dead fish in Rio Olympic bay baffle scientists Thousands of dead fish have begun mysteriously washing up in the polluted Rio bay that will host sailing events at the 2016 Olympics—and experts are at a loss to explain why.
USDA approves GMO potato designed by Simplot The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved commercial planting of a potato that is genetically modified to resist bruising and to produce less of a chemical that has caused cancer in animals.
	Insights on hummingbird travel, life span revealed Hummingbirds are giving up some of their secrets.
	Migratory birds, fish and mammals get new UN protection Polar bears, whales, sharks and gazelles were among 31 new species granted new protection status by the UN conservation body, following six days of "intense" talks by leading conservationists.
New natural supplement relieves canine arthritis Arthritis pain in dogs can be relieved, with no side effects, by a new product based on medicinal plants and dietary supplements that was developed at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. "While acupuncture and electrical stimulation are two approaches that have been shown to have positive effects on dogs, until now a few studies have investigated a plant-based approach to therapy," explained Professor Éric Troncy, senior author of the study. His findings were published in Research in Veterinary Science.
	Hungry pythons mean male possums live fast and die young The study, led by researchers from the University of Western Sydney's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, along with researchers from the Australian National University, the University of Tasmania and James Cook University in Queensland, looked at the behaviour of common brushtail possums from a population in North Queensland that was exposed to high rates of predation by carpet pythons.
Borers branch out from ash trees Bad news in the bug department: The emerald ash borer, a tiny, glitter-green insect from China expected to kill virtually all ash trees in the eastern U.S. - unless they are treated with expensive chemicals - may have a new target.
	Tracing the evolution of forest trees There are at least 60,000 identified tree species in the world, "but we know next to nothing about how they got here," Elizabeth Stacy says. "Trees form the backbone of our forests, and are ecologically and economically important, yet we don't know much about how speciation happens in trees."
	Crustaceans win battle against being feminised Male crustaceans can 'lock down' their maleness to avoid being completely feminised by seawater contaminated by feminising pollutants, according to scientists.
	Woodland bat species sweats it out in the tropics A bat species thought to be restricted to temperate forests has been found living thousands of miles from its known range in the sweltering heat of the southern Indian rainforest.
	A new species of nocturnal gecko from northern Madagascar Hidden away in the tropical darkness of nocturnal Madagascar, scientists have discovered a new species of gecko which has been described in the open access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
Fishing countries to discuss bluefin quotas Against the backdrop of an apparent Atlantic bluefin tuna recovery, fishing nations gather in Genoa, Italy, next week to set new limits, closely watched by environmental groups and scientists.
	Grain-fed cattle linked to tougher beef Finishing beef cattle on grain leads to higher body temperatures before and after slaughter, which can diminish meat quality, research says.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com