Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Dec 3

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 3, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Engineers take big step toward using light instead of wires inside computers
- Adding human glial cells to mice brains found to improve memory and cognition
- Buckyballs enhance carbon capture: Environmentally friendly material targets flue gases, wells
- Contraception may change how happy women are with their husbands
- World's fastest 2-D camera may enable new scientific discoveries
- Neural 3-D compass discovered in mammalian brain
- Oldest engraving rewrites view of human history
- Peptide shows great promise for treating spinal cord injury
- Scientists detect brain network that gives humans superior reasoning skills
- First comprehensive characterization of genetic diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa published
- UN weather agency: 2014 on track for hottest year
- Study shows smoking cigarettes makes quitting drinking harder
- Deforming and compacting chromium-tungsten powders to create stronger metals
- Parasites and the evolution of primate culture
- Low-grade waste heat regenerates ammonia battery

Astronomy & Space news

	Japanese space explorer to blow crater in asteroid A Japanese space explorer took off Wednesday on a six-year journey to blow a crater in a remote asteroid and bring back rock samples in hopes of gathering clues to the origin of Earth.
	Can binary terrestrial planets exist? The possible existence of Earth-like binary planets is being described today at the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences meeting in Tucson, AZ. Two bodies, each of mass similar to Earth, can form a closely orbiting pair under certain conditions present during the formation of planetary systems. This theoretical proposal is completely unlike the Earth-Moon system or Pluto-Charon, where the two bodies are very different in mass, and arises in some "kissing" collisions where two similar mass bodies encounter each other and become a bound system because of the energy lost in the strong tides raised on each other in the encounter. The resulting binary can then persist for billions of years provided it forms well away from the central star, at half an astronomical unit (the distance between the Earth and Sun) or more. This work was presented by undergraduate Keegan Ryan, graduate student Miki Nakajima, and Dr.! David Stevenson of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA. The result does not contradict existing data for planets around other stars but suggests that future data may uncover such systems. This is the first such study to examine the possibility of terrestrial binary planets.
	Launch of new Orion spaceship has NASA flying high With the imminent debut of its Orion spacecraft, NASA is on a high not felt since the space shuttle days.
Errant navigation satellite reaches new orbit The European Space Agency says a navigation satellite that ended up in the wrong orbit has completed a corrective maneuver.
	ESA delivers image from orbit via laser-based datalink On 28 November, teams at ESA's Space Operations Centre, ESOC, in Darmstadt, Germany, watched intently as the Agency's Sentinel-1 and Inmarsat's Alphasat linked up using laser signals stretching almost 36 000 km across space.
	Astronomers set to see entire Universe Within a few decades, astronomers will become "know-it-alls". Literally.
	Astronomers discover new clues to the 40-year-old mystery behind Venus's green glow Most of us have seen the aurora borealis, also called the northern lights, which paint the night sky with a multi-colored glow. These ghostly lights also show up in the southern hemisphere. But the light show on Venus is quite a different if you know where to look. A group of astronomers studying the phenomenon shared their findings at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences in November.
	How to see asteroid Hebe, mother of mucho meteorites In the reeds that line the banks of the celestial river Eridanus, you'll find Hebe on the prowl this month. Discovered in 1847 by German amateur astronomer Karl Ludwig Hencke , the asteroid may hold the key to the origin of the H-chondrites, a large class of metal-rich stony meteorites found in numerous amateur and professional collections around the world. You can now see this interesting minor planet with nothing more than a pair of binoculars or small telescope.
	Famous Hubble star explosion is expanding, new animation reveals Wow! One of the most famous star explosions captured by the Hubble Space Telescope—several times—shows clear evidence of expansion in this new animation. You can see here the Homunculus Nebula getting bigger and bigger between 1995 and 2008, when Hubble took pictures of the Eta Carinae star system. More details from one of the animation authors below.
	Philae's crater grazing, spinning and landing in parts unknown No, scientists haven't found Philae yet. But as they churn through the scientific data on the comet lander, more information is emerging about the crazy landing last month that included three touchdowns and an incredible two hours of drifting before Philae came to rest in a relatively shady spot on the surface.
	Shooting "color" in the blackness of space It's a question that I've heard, in one form or another, for almost as long as I've been talking with the public about space. And, to be fair, it's not a terrible inquiry. After all, the smartphone in my pocket can shoot something like ten high-resolution color images every second. It can automatically stitch them into a panorama, correct their color, and adjust their sharpness. All that for just a few hundred bucks, so why can't our billion-dollar robots do the same?
Geminid meteors promise a fine display The Geminid meteor shower is the last, and one of the best, major meteor showers of the year. The meteors, or "shooting stars", can be seen at any time from late evening onwards during the period 7–17 December and with a broad maximum in activity on the night of the 13/14 December. The Geminid shower usually includes a number of bright meteors, or fireballs, and because they are also relatively slow-moving compared to those from many other meteor showers, they are easily observed. For those who have never seen a meteor, provided the sky is clear the Geminids provide a perfect opportunity.
	Space travel is a bit safer than expected Analysis of data from the MATROSHKA experiment, the first comprehensive measurements of long-term exposure of astronauts to cosmic radiation, has now been completed. This experiment, carried out on board and outside of the International Space Station, showed that the cosmos may be less hostile to space travellers than expected.
	Taking the wraps off NISTAR The NIST Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR), mothballed for more than a decade, is slated to make its space debut very soon about 1.5 million kilometers sunward of Earth. It will fly as part of the long-postponed Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) mission, led by NOAA in partnership with NASA and the U.S. Air Force, scheduled for launch in January, 2015.

Technology news

	Hawking warns AI 'could spell end of human race' British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has warned that development of artificial intelligence could mean the end of humanity.
	Microsoft, NORAD track Santa and Google watches him too Father Christmas, aka Saint Nick, aka Santa Claus: enough children in the world are aware of this gift-giving holiday character to motivate vendors and manufacturers to think up ways to leverage happy anticipation, as the children keeping asking how many more days and as they count down to Christmas. Microsoft is partnering with NORAD while Google, separately, have stepped up to the occasion too, the result being two respective Santa-tracking tools to help youths track the man's schedule as he crosses over from Helsinki to Honolulu. The tracking sites give Microsoft and Google opportunities to strengthen their own brand names, whether it's via such mainstays as Windows Phone or, on Google's side, Google Maps.
	Uncovering fracture models for advanced, high-strength steels Steel is one of the most common structural materials, truly one of the foundations of modern civilization. An alloy of iron and carbon, steel has been made since biblical times. With two thousand years of experience in steelmaking, it would seem all there is to know about steel would already be known. But for Allison Beese, McFarlane Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, the secret world of steel is still unfolding.
	Low-grade waste heat regenerates ammonia battery An efficient method to harvest low-grade waste heat as electricity may be possible using reversible ammonia batteries, according to Penn State engineers.
Cyber Monday sales jump 17 percent to over $2B Online shoppers set a set a single-day spending record on Cyber Monday, despite deals being stretched out this holiday season.
	Security experts doubt North Korea hacked Sony Some cybersecurity experts say it is unlikely North Korea was behind the cyberattack that crippled Sony Pictures' computers and possibly leaked unreleased movies online.
	Single cell organism firm joins top ranks of Japan bourse The high-tech titans of Japanese industry were joined Wednesday in the major league of the Tokyo Stock Exchange by a company exploiting the 500-million-year-old science of a single cell organism.
	Gift Guide: Get better at sports with smart gear Advances in technology present sports enthusiasts with plenty of options to train better and smarter.
	IBM helps you donate computer power to fight Ebola IBM has engineered a way for everyone to join the fight against Ebola—by donating processing time on their personal computers, phones or tablets to researchers.
	Trainee cyber-criminals wanted to help solve skills shortage The world is already short of computer security experts, but by 2017 that shortfall is going to have reached about two million. Criminal hackers cause damage running to billions of pounds every year – just look at the attack on Sony Pictures, leaking unreleased films onto the web and threatening the company's entire system. If we don't do something about this skills gap soon, the costs we bear are going to keep spiralling upwards and we will be increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks.
	A new way to fix those frustrating websites How many times have you been looking for information online, only to find yourself going round and round in circles? Or you've spent too long poking around a website trying to find what you need, only to realise you've been looking in the wrong place all along?
	Cleaning desal plants with mathematics A Curtin University engineering team has used a mathematical formula to help develop a system which could minimise down time and save on maintenance costs for desalination plants.
	Thin, strong bond for vacuum seal An ultra-stable, ultra-thin bonding technology has been adapted by researchers in PML's Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division for use as a super-strong vacuum seal.
	Intel, Luxottica team up for smart eyewear US tech giant Intel said Wednesday it was joining forces with Italy's Luxottica to develop connected eyewear, with the first products due in 2015.
	Americans watch less TV, stream more, report shows Americans are turning away from live TV on the tube and tuning in to streaming services, a Nielsen report says.
Britain launches new 'Google tax' on multinationals The British government on Wednesday slapped a new tax rate on multinational companies that seek to avoid paying their fair share to Treasury coffers.
	Researchers develop clothes that can monitor and transmit biomedical info on wearers Researchers at Université Laval's Faculty of Science and Engineering and Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers have developed smart textiles able to monitor and transmit wearers' biomedical information via wireless or cellular networks. This technological breakthrough, described in a recent article in the scientific journal Sensors, clears a path for a host of new developments for people suffering from chronic diseases, elderly people living alone, and even firemen and police officers.
	Boeing completes test flight with 'green diesel' Boeing announced Wednesday that it completed the first test flight with "green diesel," which offers potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in aviation.
	Microsoft shareholders approve $84 billion CEO pay Microsoft shareholders have approved an $84 billion pay package for new CEO Satya Nadella, despite concerns raised by an investor advisory group.
	Check less to reduce email stress Is your inbox burning you out? Then take heart - research from the University of British Columbia suggests that easing up on email checking can help reduce psychological stress.
Iran hackers penetrate key world networks: researchers Iranian hackers have managed to penetrate and steal information from governments and companies around the world since 2012, posing a grave security threat, researchers say in a new report,
LA city attorney sues to block pot delivery app Los Angeles is suing to shut down a mobile phone application that arranges medical marijuana home deliveries.
	MEMS sensors and platforms to build a hyper-attentive world of objects Ever wonder how your smartphone got so smart? It stores pictures right-side up, knows where the North Star is, and always brings you home. This spatial acumen originates from micrometer-sized devices known as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that sense velocity, acceleration and magnetic field strength. Demand for MEMS has boomed recently, with MEMS sensors finding their way into satellites, cars, gaming consoles, cameras and, of course, mobile phones.
	Smartphone app helps home owners on the way to energy efficiency The building sector accounts for 40 percent of primary energy consumption in Europe. Home owners seeking for energy efficiency are faced with confusing and sometimes contradictory information. Now, Fraunhofer IAO has developed a smartphone app in the EU project ENBUS! that helps home owners calculate the tangible benefits of energy efficiency measures before investing.
Lenders' lawsuit against Target moves forward A federal judge says several banks suing Target Corp. over its data breach have a plausible case for negligence and can proceed with the lawsuit.
	Scientists review worldwide rise of 'network of networks' The interdisciplinary field of network science has attracted enormous attention in the past 10 years, although most results have been obtained by analyzing isolated networks. However many real-world networks interact with and depend on other networks.
Demolition planning as part of construction - reuse and recycling of parts improves the eco-efficiency of buildings With good planning, it is possible to promote the reuse of construction and demolition waste and thereby both conserve the environment and save on material costs. In the future, it will be even more important to assess how buildings can reasonably be repaired or demolished into parts, together with how the remaining service life of the parts can be utilized in new applications. The best method is to implement demolition planning already as a component of construction design.
	Kim Kardashian wedding snap tops Instagram most-liked list A tasteful image of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West exchanging a wedding kiss was the most-liked Instagram of 2014, the photo-oriented social media website said Wednesday.
	Sony denies it will soon name N Korea as hacker Sony Pictures said Wednesday that the investigation into the cyberattack that crippled its computer systems is continuing and denied a report that it is poised to name North Korea as the culprit.
New York police to wear body cameras About three dozen police officers will be fitted with body cameras in New York by this weekend, as part of a three-month pilot program.

Medicine & Health news

	Contraception may change how happy women are with their husbands (Medical Xpress)—Choosing a partner while on the pill may affect a woman's marital satisfaction, according to a new study from Florida State University and Southern Methodist University.
	Adding human glial cells to mice brains found to improve memory and cognition (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at the University of Rochester in New York, has found that injecting glial cells into a mouse brain caused an improvement in both memory and cognition in the mouse. In their paper published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the team explains how they injected the test mice and then tested them afterwards to see what impact it had on their abilities.
	Peptide shows great promise for treating spinal cord injury Case Western Reserve scientists have developed a new chemical compound that shows extraordinary promise in restoring function lost to spinal cord injury. The compound, which the researchers dubbed intracellular sigma peptide (ISP), allowed paralyzed muscles to activate in more than 80 percent of the animals tested. The remarkable study, partly funded by the National Institutes of Health, appears in the December 3 edition of the journal Nature.
	Scientists detect brain network that gives humans superior reasoning skills When it comes to getting out of a tricky situation, we humans have an evolutionary edge over other primates. Take, as a dramatic example, the Apollo 13 voyage in which engineers, against all odds, improvised a chemical filter on a lunar module to prevent carbon dioxide buildup from killing the crew.
	Brain study uncovers new clues on how cues may affect memory A new study from the UT Dallas Center for Vital Longevity shows that the brain activity prior to seeing an item is related to how well it is later remembered.
	Researchers find a relationship between sleep cycle, cancer incidence (Medical Xpress)—People who work around the clock could actually be setting themselves back, according to Virginia Tech biologists.
	Scientists identify principal protein sensor for touch A team led by biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has solved a long-standing mystery in neuroscience by identifying the "mechanoreceptor" protein that mediates the sense of touch in mammals.
	Researchers pinpoint chemo effect on brain cells, potential link to autism UNC School of Medicine researchers have found for the first time a biochemical mechanism that could be a cause of "chemo brain" - the neurological side effects such as memory loss, confusion, difficulty thinking, and trouble concentrating that many cancer patients experience while on chemotherapy to treat tumors in other parts of the body.
People conceived during the Dutch famine have altered regulation of growth genes Individuals conceived in the severe Dutch Famine, also called the Hunger Winter, may have adjusted to this horrendous period of World War II by making adaptations to how active their DNA is. Genes involved in growth and development were differentially regulated, according to researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center, Harvard University, and Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Study shows smoking cigarettes makes quitting drinking harder (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at Yale University has found that quitting drinking may be made harder if people continue to smoke cigarettes during recovery. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their study that relied on both human volunteers and monkeys.
	'Wound response' of cancer stem cells may explain chemo-resistance in bladder cancer A novel mechanism - similar to how normal tissue stem cells respond to wounding - might explain why bladder cancer stem cells actively contribute to chemo-resistance after multiple cycles of chemotherapy drug treatment. Targeting this "wound response" of cancer stem cells can potentially provide a novel approach for therapeutic invention, said researchers from the National Cancer Institute-designated Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine.
	Atomic-level view provides new insight into translation of touch into nerve signals Whether stubbing a toe or stroking a cat, the sensation of touch starts out as a mechanical force that is then transformed into an electrical signal conveying pain or other sensations. Tiny channels in neurons act as translators by helping to formulate that signal to the brain. However, scientists know little about the fine details of how these channels work.
	First comprehensive characterization of genetic diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa published Researchers from the African Genome Variation Project (AGVP) have published the first attempt to comprehensively characterise genetic diversity across Sub-Saharan Africa. The study of the world's most genetically diverse region will provide an invaluable resource for medical researchers and provides insights into population movements over thousands of years of African history. These findings appear in the journal Nature.
	Scientists describe new herpes treatment strategy Scientists have developed a novel treatment approach for persistent viral infections such as herpes.
Diagnosis targets in primary care are misleading and unethical Last month, there was public outcry at the news that GPs in England would be paid £55 for each case of dementia diagnosed.
	Overweight and obesity in pregnancy linked to greater risk of infant death Overweight and obesity in early pregnancy are associated with increased risks of infant mortality, with the greatest risks seen among severely obese mothers, finds a study published in The BMJ this week.
Macho stereotypes put off men as well as women Some men are being driven away from macho occupations like surgery and the Royal Marines because they don't feel that they are 'man enough', according to new research.
Mediterranean diet linked to improved CV function in erectile dysfunction patients The Mediterranean diet is linked to improved cardiovascular performance in patients with erectile dysfunction, according to research presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2014 by Dr Athanasios Angelis from Greece. Patients with erectile dysfunction who had poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet had more vascular and cardiac damage.
	Many chest X-rays in children are unnecessary Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that some children are receiving chest X-rays that may be unnecessary and offer no clinical benefit to the patient, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Vitamin E deficiency linked to greater risk of miscarriage among poor women Pregnant women in Bangladesh with low levels of the most common form of vitamin E are nearly twice as likely to have a miscarriage than those with adequate levels of the vitamin in their blood, according to new research led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
WHO makes cervical cancer protection easier, cheaper The World Health Organization introduced new cervical cancer guidelines Wednesday, making it easier and cheaper to protect women against one of the deadliest, but most preventable, diseases.
	The links between obesity and cancer As the global cancer community convenes this week in Melbourne for the UICC World Cancer Congress, thousands of experts and cancer survivors are arriving into Australia to discuss, present and move this important agenda forward. One group that will be represented and speaking, is the World Cancer Research Fund International.
	Study suggests to stop spread of HIV, African governments should target hot zones While Ebola has attracted much of the world's attention recently, a severe HIV epidemic rages on around the world and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Globally, more than 34 million people are infected with HIV; in sub-Saharan Africa alone, 3 million new infections occur annually.
	Project uses tech to help boost vaccination rates in India UC Berkeley students are creating a new tool that could soon make it far easier for children in developing nations to get life-saving vaccines.
Movements help measure child sleep problems New research from the University of Adelaide has helped to shed light on the complexities of child sleep, and could lead to improved diagnosis of children with sleep-related breathing problems.
	3 Qs: Simple device now in development could speed Ebola diagnosis and improve disease tracking Once a patient infected with the Ebola hemorrhagic virus starts showing symptoms, it can take several hours under the best conditions, and up to several days in remote areas, to get diagnostic results using conventional tests, such as identification of viral RNA. Further complicating the process, Ebola symptoms are very similar to those of other fevers, such as typhoid and malaria. Because time is of the essence in tracking Ebola and preventing its spread, researchers at MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) are working on a new device that uses nanoparticles to capture the virus in patient blood samples and would offer much faster results. Lee Gehrke, the Hermann von Helmholtz Professor in IMES and a professor of microbiology and immunology at Harvard Medical School, described the project to MIT News.
	Cancer uses abdominal stem cells to fuel growth and metastasis (Medical Xpress)—New research from Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shows how ovarian tumors co-opt a specific type of adult stem cell from abdominal tissues to fuel their growth. The research, published online last week in the journal Cancer Research, suggests a new way to target aggressive ovarian cancers by disrupting the metabolic processes that allow them to thrive.
	Link exists between white matter and concussion-related depression, anxiety (Medical Xpress)—White matter brain abnormalities in some patients with depression disorders closely resemble abnormalities found in patients who have experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), more commonly known as concussion, according to new research presented by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers this week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Researchers studying investigational drug for Alzheimer's patients Up to 5.3 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a number that is expected to triple by 2050 due to the aging of the population.
Metabolic disease and obesity may be caused by abnormal behavior of gut bacteria (Medical Xpress)—Taking a single snapshot of all the bacteria that live in a mouse's–or person's–stomach and intestines can capture the health of the organism's digestive system and even their risk of developing immune diseases and cancers. But it might take more than one snapshot to get a full picture, Salk researchers have discovered.
	Depression in pregnant women is associated with low folate levels, but not with vitamin B12 A study of women in Singapore has revealed a possible link between depression in mid-to-late pregnancy and levels of folate, also known as folic acid or vitamin B9.
Three effective tools in the fight against Alzheimer's disease Detection, prevention, and preclinical treatment are three key areas that may make a difference in the battle to reduce the rapid rise of new Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases every year.  These three topics are the focus of an important new supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Chemotherapy can complicate immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy Immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy is becoming more prevalent. However, in breast cancer patients undergoing simultaneous chemotherapy, thrombotic complications can arise that can delay or significantly modify reconstructive plans. Outcomes of cases illustrating potential complications are published in the current issue of Annals of Medicine and Surgery.
	Saffron packs a punch for mental illness The popular spice saffron has shown to be a safer alternative to pharmaceutical antidepressants in some instances by producing less severe side effects than medications, according to Murdoch University scientists.
Brain stimulation counteracts dangerous side effect of seizures Loss of consciousness is a common and dangerous side effect of epileptic seizures. A new Yale-led study, however, shows that activation of electrodes in key brain areas can awaken rats with induced seizures.
	Green vegetables could improve heart's efficiency, blood supply to organs and reduce risk of diabetes and obesity In three independent studies, scientists from the Universities of Southampton and Cambridge have identified how a simple chemical called nitrate, found in leafy green vegetables, can help thin blood ensuring oxygen can be delivered to all corners of the body efficiently. Reducing the thickness of blood may also decrease instances of dangerous clots forming and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Brain research reveals new hope for patients with anorexia nervosa Researchers from the Translational Developmental Neuroscience Lab led by Professor Stefan Ehrlich at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden (Faculty of Medicine) used state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate the consequences of anorexia nervosa on brain structure. Their novel findings obtained by measuring "cortical thickness" for the first time in the eating disorder are now published in the renowned journal Biological Psychiatry. The authors conclude, "The global thinning of cortical gray matter observed in acutely ill adolescent patients can be completely reversed following successful weight rehabilitation therapy".
	Novel approach to treating asthma: Neutralize the trigger Current asthma treatments can alleviate wheezing, coughing and other symptoms felt by millions of Americans every year, but they don't get to the root cause of the condition. Now, for the first time, scientists are reporting a new approach to defeating asthma by targeting the trigger—the allergen—before it can spark an attack. They describe their new compound, which they tested on rats, in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
	Brain activity after smokers quit predicts chances of relapsing, study suggests Quitting smoking sets off a series of changes in the brain that Penn Medicine researchers say may better identify smokers who will start smoking again—a prediction that goes above and beyond today's clinical or behavioral tools for assessing relapse risk.
	People in unhappy places are depressed more than a week a month People in the country's unhappiest communities spend about a quarter of the month so far down in the dumps that it can harm their productivity, according to economists.
Study to investigate the role of proteins in dementia Researchers from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry have received funding from Alzheimer's charity BRACE for a pilot study to investigate the role of proteins in the development of dementia diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Is a brace necessary for spinal fracture healing? Compression fractures in the spine due to osteoporosis, a common condition causing progressive bone loss and increased fracture risk, are especially common in older women. A new study appearing in the December 3rd issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS) found that patients who wore a brace as treatment for a spinal compression fracture had comparable outcomes in terms of pain, function and healing when compared to patients who did not wear a brace.
New study validates usefulness of genomic medicine in children with neurologic disorders Results from more than 100 families with children affected by a broad range of neurologic and developmental disorders who underwent genomic testing to end their quest for a diagnosis, were published today in Science Translational Medicine. This is the first study to show that a genome-based diagnostic approach directly impacts patient care of both infants and older children with neurologic disorders. Forty-five percent of families received a diagnosis by exome or genome sequencing, fifty percent of those diagnosed had a change in clinical impression or management and, in older children, genome-based diagnosis could have cut the wait for a diagnosis by more than six years. The study was led by Drs. Sarah Soden and Stephen Kingsmore of the Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine at Children's Mercy Kansas City.
Higher blood clot risk in longer surgeries The longer the duration of surgery, the higher the risk of a life-threatening blood clot, according to the first large-scale, quantitative national study of the risk across all surgical procedures.
European drug regulator: Novartis flu vaccine OK Europe's drug regulator says there is no proof that a flu vaccine for the elderly was linked to side effects, including deaths in Italy.
	Nearly 1 in 12 Americans struggles with depression, study finds (HealthDay)—Almost 8 percent of Americans aged 12 and older were moderately to severely depressed during 2009 to 2012, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.
	FDA issues new drug label rules to better inform pregnant women (HealthDay)—A new labeling system should give women and their doctors clearer information on the risks and benefits of prescription medicines when taken during pregnancy and breast-feeding, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
	How well you sleep may depend on your genes, study suggests (HealthDay)—How much sleep you get each night may depend to some extent on your genes, a new study suggests.
	Preoperative narcotic use doesn't worsen surgical outcomes (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing primary spinal deformity surgery, postoperative outcomes are improved for those taking narcotics preoperatively and for those not taking narcotics, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
	Seasonal MS relapse onset seen in both hemispheres (HealthDay)—Seasonal relapse onset in multiple sclerosis occurs in both hemispheres and varies with latitude, according to a study published in the December issue of the Annals of Neurology.
	Recommendations for managing pain in inflammatory arthritis (HealthDay)—Recommendations have been developed for the management of pain in adults with optimally treated inflammatory arthritis, according to an article published in the September issue of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Childhood obesity prevention programs impact LDL-C, HDL-C (HealthDay)—Childhood obesity prevention programs are beneficial for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the December issue of Obesity Reviews.
	How red wine prevents cancer Alcohol use is a major risk factor for head and neck cancer. But an article published in the November issue of the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology shows that the chemical resveratrol found in grape skins and in red wine may prevent cancer as well.
	PET scans help identify effective TB drugs, study says Sophisticated lung imaging can show whether or not a treatment drug is able to clear tuberculosis (TB) lung infection in human and macaque studies, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and their international collaborators.
Toxin from tobacco smoke could increase pain in spinal cord injury A neurotoxin called acrolein found in tobacco smoke that is thought to increase pain in people with spinal cord injury has now been shown to accumulate in mice exposed to the equivalent of 12 cigarettes daily over a short time period.
Researchers link chromosome region to duplication of gene on X chromosome appears to cause excessive growth Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found a duplication of a short stretch of the X chromosome in some people with a rare disorder that causes excessive childhood growth. They believe that a single gene within the region likely has a large influence on how much children grow. The research comes from a lab at NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), which seeks to understand growth.
No link found between bladder cancer and use of pioglitazone or rosiglitazone, Avandia Some previous studies have linked the diabetes medication pioglitazone to bladder cancer. However a new study − including more than one million people in six populations worldwide − has found no link between either pioglitazone or rosiglitazone (also known as Avandia) and bladder cancer. The new study is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes), and is by Dr Samira Bell, Professor Helen Colhoun and Mr Danny Levin, University of Dundee, UK, and colleagues from the International Diabetes and Cancer Research Collaboration.
	New study shows computer-based approach to treating anxiety may reduce suicide risk A group of psychology researchers at Florida State University have developed a simple computer-based approach to treating anxiety sensitivity, something that could have major implications for veterans and other groups who are considered at risk for suicide.
	Did Columbus really bring syphilis to Europe? (HealthDay)—A new study is intensifying the debate over whether Christopher Columbus or his crews brought syphilis from the New World to Europe, setting the stage for hundreds of years of illness and death.
Blincyto approved for rare leukemia (HealthDay)—Blincyto (blinatumomab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Philadelphia chromosome-negative precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare cancer of the bone marrow.
	Common knee surgery may lead to arthritis and cartilage loss A popular surgery to repair meniscal tears may increase the risk of osteoarthritis and cartilage loss in some patients, according to research presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The findings show that the decision for surgery requires careful consideration in order to avoid accelerated disease onset, researchers said.
Interventional radiology procedure preserves uterus in patients with placenta accreta Researchers reported today on a procedure that can preserve fertility and potentially save the lives of women with a serious pregnancy complication called placenta accreta. Results of the new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) showed that placement of balloons in the main artery of the mother's pelvis prior to a Caesarean section protects against hemorrhage and is safe for both mother and baby.
Substantial improvement in England and Wales cancer survival over 40 years Remarkable improvements in cancer survival mean that half of all people diagnosed with cancer today (2010-11) in England and Wales are expected to survive from their cancer for at least 10 years, compared to just a quarter of people diagnosed 40 years ago (1971-72), according to a new index of survival for all cancers combined, published in The Lancet.
	Indian women at risk in mental institutions Women and girls with disabilities in India are pushed into mental institutions, where they live in unsanitary conditions and are at constant risk of physical and sexual violence, Human Rights Watch said in a report Wednesday.
S.Korea parliament approves 80% hike in cigarette price South Korea's parliament has approved an 80 percent hike in cigarette prices aimed at cutting consumption in a nation with one of the world's highest male smoking rates.
	Bird flu found at two farms in Canada Authorities in Canada said Tuesday they put two poultry farms in British Columbia under quarantine after they tested positive for bird flu.
For Uganda's women, action on traumatic childbirth injury After suffering the tragedy of giving birth to a stillborn child nine years ago, Anna Grace Amuko was left with a debilitating condition.
Obama urges Congress over $6 billion Ebola war chest President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged US lawmakers to release a $6 billion war chest to help the fight against Ebola, warning that the deadly disease could not be beaten without additional funding.
The relationship between cognitive and functional treatment effects in Alzheimer's patients Today, Eli Lilly announced results from new analyses of two Phase 3 trials evaluating the relationship between cognitive and functional treatment effects in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. Based on post-hoc analyses of the Phase 3 trials, the findings suggested that cognitive deficits were more apparent than functional deficits in mild Alzheimer's disease when measured with the Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and the Alzheimer's disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) subscales. The apparent treatment effect on cognition based on these analyses led to the apparent treatment effect on function. These data were published in the December 2 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Potato and rapeseed – sources of future cardio-vascular health? Potato and rapeseed industry produce vast amounts of protein-rich by-products, which could be utilized in the production of high-quality foodstuffs.
Maths shows that treating AIDS and hepatitis C simultaneously is more effective A Spanish researcher has collaborated on a mathematical analysis, recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, which concludes that joint therapy to counter HIV in patients who also have hepatitis C increases the chance of success in the fight against both infections. Between eight and nine million people worldwide simultaneously suffer from AIDS and hepatitis C.
Miracle toddler survives severe hypothermia in Poland A two-year-old Polish boy who nearly froze to death after spending a night in subzero weather wearing nothing but pyjamas is improving, his doctor said Wednesday.
EU's Ebola czar focused on medical boots on the ground Europe must send more medical boots to West Africa and help rebuild local health systems to help tackle the outbreak of Ebola, the EU's Ebola coordinator said in an interview.
Deconstructing Ebola to find its weakness and defeat it The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has pushed the decades-long search for a treatment to a frenetic pace. Somewhere in the virus' deceptively simple structure is a key to taming it. To find that key, scientists are undertaking multiple strategies, some of which are being fast-tracked for human testing, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
	Tumor microenvironment of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the few cancers in which a continued increase in incidence has been observed over recent years. Globally, there are approximately 750,000 new cases of liver cancer reported each year. Importantly, population-based studies show that HCC ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Also, a large proportion of HCC patients display symptoms of intrahepatic metastases or postsurgical recurrence, with a five-year survival rate of around only 30-40%.
WHO 'wasted precious time' over Ebola: expert The Belgian microbiologist who co-discovered the Ebola virus has accused the World Health Organization of dithering in reacting to the deadly epidemic and accused the international community of "hysteria."
	Researcher works to block the blood-vessel dysfunction that occurs in diabetes One of diabetes' dangerous consequences is dysfunction of the single-cell layer that lines our blood vessels.
	Sexting and pornography or music video viewing among adolescents: Is there a link? Are adolescents who view pornography or music videos more likely to engage in sexting, in which they share sexually explicit content via text, photo, or video using cell phones, email, or social networking sites? A study of the media consumption and sexting behavior of more than 300 teens is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
	Are there safe and effective treatments for hereditary angioedema in children? Hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare genetic disease that causes recurrent swelling under the skin and of the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract and upper airway, usually first appears before 20 years of age. A comprehensive review of the therapies currently available to treat HAE in adults shows that some of these treatments are also safe and effective for use in older children and adolescents. Current and potential future therapies are discussed in a Review article in a special issue of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology.
Egypt reports four new bird flu deaths Egypt reported on Wednesday four new deaths from bird flu, taking to seven the number of people that the H5N1 virus has killed in the country so far in 2014.
World Bank announces $160m for Ebola-hit Sierra Leone World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim announced a $160 million two-year economic recovery plan on Wednesday to help impoverished Sierra Leone battle the worst Ebola outbreak on record.
	11th Sierra Leonean doctor infected with Ebola Another Sierra Leonean doctor has become infected with Ebola, as the U.N. health agency said Wednesday that poor data from the outbreak is complicating efforts to measure progress in containing the disease.
Avian flu outbreak hits British Columbia farms Avian flu has been discovered at two poultry farms in southwestern British Columbia.
	Yale joins with leader in 3-D organ printing to transform transplants Researchers at Yale School of Medicine's Department of Surgery and Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science have joined forces with a leading three-dimensional biology company to develop 3D printed tissues for transplant research.
	Lower use of cancer-related imaging in VA health system (HealthDay)—Cancer-related imaging use is lower in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system than in fee-for-service Medicare, and use is not associated with geographic variation, according to research published in the Dec. 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Where hockey and engineering collide: NJIT Highlanders join a pioneering concussion study Adam Finkle, a forward on the Highlanders club hockey team, will never forget the powerful collision that sent him hurtling to the ice in a hotly contested game against Seton Hall his junior year. What hit him harder still, however, was the slow-paced recovery.
Medicare Advantage enrollment deadline looms Millions of Medicare Advantage customers are fast approaching a deadline for a task they'd rather avoid: Researching and then settling on coverage plans for 2015.
	Creating a better health care experience for lesbian, bisexual women Sitting on an exam table in a flimsy gown can intimidate anyone. If you also happen to be lesbian, gay or bisexual, the experience can be even worse.
WHO: Ebola data too poor to measure progress The World Health Organization says data from the Ebola outbreak are too poor to measure how many patients have been isolated and how many corpses were safely buried, after saying it was making good progress in those areas.
Brain injury researchers find retrieval practice improves memory in youth with TBI Brain injury researchers in New Jersey have identified retrieval practice as a useful strategy for improving memory among children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Common prostate cancer treatment associated with decreased survival in older men A common prostate cancer therapy should not be used in men whose cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, according to a new study led by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.
American coming to US to be evaluated for Ebola An American health-care worker in West Africa who may have been infected with Ebola is being flown to the United States.

Biology news

	Neural 3-D compass discovered in mammalian brain Pilots are trained to guard against vertigo: a sudden loss of the sense of vertical direction that renders them unable to tell "up" from "down" and sometimes even leads to crashes. Coming up out of a subway station can produce similar confusion: For a few moments, you are unsure which way to go, until regaining your sense of direction. In both cases, the disorientation is thought to be caused by a temporary malfunction of a brain circuit that operates as a three-dimensional (3D) compass.
	Study of deadly bat disease finds surprising seasonal pattern of infections The deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome has spread to bat colonies throughout eastern North America over the past seven years, causing bat populations to crash, with several species now at risk of extinction. The devastating impact of this disease is due in part to the seasonal dynamics of infection and transmission, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and published December 3 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Computer model enables design of complex DNA shapes MIT biological engineers have created a new computer model that allows them to design the most complex three-dimensional DNA shapes ever produced, including rings, bowls, and geometric structures such as icosahedrons that resemble viral particles.
Not all induced pluripotent stem cells are made equal Scientists at McMaster University have discovered that human stem cells made from adult donor cells "remember" where they came from and that's what they prefer to become again.
	Geckos are sticky without effort (Phys.org) —Geckos, found in places with warm climates, have fascinated people for hundreds of years. Scientists have been especially intrigued by these lizards, and have studied a variety of features such as the adhesive toe pads on the underside of gecko feet with which geckos attach to surfaces with remarkable strength.
	Scientists uncover four-stranded elements of maize DNA A team led by Florida State University researchers has identified DNA elements in maize that could affect the expression of hundreds or thousands of genes.
	Early stress in starlings found to lead to faster aging (Phys.org) —A combined team of researchers from Newcastle University and the University of Glasgow, both in the U.K. has found that stress in young starlings can lead to shortened telomeres—which prior research has suggested leads to faster aging and development and behavioral problems later on in life. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how they stressed young starlings and then tested them to see what it might have done to them.
	Parasites and the evolution of primate culture Learning from others and innovation have undoubtedly helped advance civilization. But these behaviours can carry costs as well as benefits. And a new study by an international team of evolutionary biologists sheds light on how one particular cost - increased exposure to parasites - may affect cultural evolution in non-human primates.
	Birds conform to local 'traditions' Birds learn new foraging techniques by observing others in their social network, 'copycat' behaviour that can sustain foraging 'traditions' that last years, according to a study of how innovations spread and persist in wild great tits (Parus major).
	Arabian Sea humpback whale population may have been isolated for about 70,000 years A population of humpback whales that resides in the Arabian Sea may have been isolated for ~70,000 years, according to a study published December 3, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Cristina Pomilla, Ana Rita Amaral, Howard Rosenbaum, and Tim Collins of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and their colleagues.
	Animal welfare could be improved by new understanding of their emotions New research from researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) looking at how goats express subtle positive emotions could lead to greater understanding of animal welfare. While there has been a great deal of research into negative emotions and stress in animals it is often hard for those who work with animals to know when they are in more subtle positive states.
	Using poison-frog compounds to control fire ants Since its accidental introduction into the United States from South America in the 1930s, the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, has spread throughout the southern United States, decimating small-animal populations, damaging crops and other plants, and inflicting painful and sometimes lethal venomous stings on humans and livestock. Scientists are constantly looking for effective methods to control this pest.
	Scientists find potential biological control for avocado-ravaging disease University of Florida scientists believe they've found what could be the first biological control strategy against laurel wilt, a disease that threatens the state's $54 million-a-year avocado industry.
	Crosstalk between genetically abnormal epithelial cells and normal support cells drives tumor formation Genetically abnormal epithelial cells can interact with genetically normal support cells to help each other proliferate and to drive tumor formation, shows a study by A*STAR researchers using a fruit fly model. Inhibition of the signals that pass between these cells has the potential to block the growth and development of solid tumors.
	You can hear the coral reefs dying You can hear the sound of former bustling coral reefs dying due to the impact of human activity, according to new research from the Universities of Essex and Exeter.
	Proteomics reveals the E-cadherin interaction network Researchers at the Mechanobiology Institute have comprehensively described the network of proteins involved in cell-cell adhesions, or the cadherin interactome. This work was published in Science Signaling .
	Reliable RNA analysis now easier with NIST 'dashboard' tool A new, innovative "dashboard" from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) won't help you drive your car, but it will help enable reproducible research in biology.
	Mapping human disease: 'Not all pathogens are everywhere' Researchers at North Carolina State University have for the first time mapped human disease-causing pathogens, dividing the world into a number of regions where similar diseases occur.
	Koalas selective about eucalyptus leaves at mealtime Koala population distribution may be influenced by eucalyptus leaf toxin and nutrient content, especially in areas with low-quality food options, according to a study published December 3, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Eleanor Stalenberg from The Australian National University and colleagues.
	Lethal control of wolves backfires on livestock Washington State University researchers have found that it is counter-productive to kill wolves to keep them from preying on livestock. Shooting and trapping lead to more dead sheep and cattle the following year, not fewer.
	Tinkering with the Tao of pandas Good news on the panda front: Turns out they're not quite as delicate - and picky - as thought.
Researchers get a rabbit's-eye view As the two foolish pigs learned before running to their brother's solidly built house of bricks for safety, when the wolf comes calling, the quality of your shelter is everything.
	Gluten-free faba bean for bread and pasta VTT has developed food application technologies for an ancient domestic protein crop - faba beans. The nutritious and protein-rich faba beans are mostly used for feed. VTT introduced food product concepts that enable the use of the beans as a food ingredient. Hybrid processing technologies; mechanical separation combined with bioprocessing resulted in a tasty, nutritious and protein-rich bread made from 70% faba bean flour. VTT's methods can also be used to make 100% faba bean pasta.
	Pacific states say tuna talks making slow progress Pacific island states expressed frustration Wednesday at a lack of progress in talks aimed at protecting the region's valuable tuna resources, accusing powerful faraway fishing nations of stalling on conservation measures.
	'Texas-bred' wheat traits headed to Africa Texas-bred wheat, by way of Amarillo and College Station, will find tiny bits of itself in new breeds of spring wheat in Africa in the near future.
Cancer prevalent in pets but treatable, says veterinarian About 50 percent of dogs and 33 percent of cats age 10 years and older will develop cancer. Although it is very prevalent in these animals, a Kansas State University veterinarian says depending upon the type of cancer, it may be very treatable and doesn't have to be a life-limiting disease.
	Fish farming: High survival rate for post-smolt in closed farming facilties Problems with lice and losses can be heavily reduced by placing farmed fish in closed systems until the fish reach a weight of one kilo.
	California bans coyote hunts that offer prizes California wildlife officials have banned coyote hunting contests that offered cash and prizes up to $500 to the top marksman and sparked a culture clash in the state.
	Citizen science increases environmental awareness, advocacy Citizens who get involved in science become more environmentally aware and willing to participate in advocacy than previously thought, according to a new study by researchers at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. Citizen science projects can lead to broader public support for conservation efforts.

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