Science X Newsletter Monday, Sep 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 21, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Delicately opening a band gap in graphene enables high-performance transistors
- Best of Last Week – Dark matter hiding in stars, a new tree of life and smarter bike pedaling
- Engineers invent transparent coating that cools solar cells to boost efficiency
- Researchers create fatigue-free, stretchable conductor
- Printing lightweight, flexible, and functional materials
- Audiovisual integration in musicians
- Atomic fractals in metallic glasses
- Study: US puts twice as much trash in landfills than thought
- 'Tree of life' for 2.3 million species released
- 'Delayed remembering': Kids can remember tomorrow what they forgot today
- How a frog's molecules 'leaped,' and 'crawled,' to evolve violet vision
- Israeli archaeologists may have found fabled Maccabees tomb
- Low dose beta-blockers as effective as high dose after a heart attack
- Study: It's not cheating unless a species gets hurt
- Digestible batteries needed to power electronic pills

Astronomy & Space news

	Image: Hubble observes galaxies' evolution in slow motion It is known today that merging galaxies play a large role in the evolution of galaxies and the formation of elliptical galaxies in particular. However there are only a few merging systems close enough to be observed in depth. The pair of interacting galaxies seen here—known as NGC 3921 — is one of these systems.
	The fact and fiction of Martian dust storms For years, science fiction writers from Edgar Rice Burroughs to C. S. Lewis have imagined what it would be like for humans to walk on Mars. As mankind comes closer to taking its first steps on the Red Planet, authors' depictions of the experience have become more realistic.
	Astronomers identify a new mid-size black hole Nearly all black holes come in one of two sizes: stellar mass black holes that weigh up to a few dozen times the mass of our sun or supermassive black holes ranging from a million to several billion times the sun's mass. Astronomers believe that medium-sized black holes between these two extremes exist, but evidence has been hard to come by, with roughly a half-dozen candidates described so far.
	DESI, an ambitious probe of dark energy, achieves its next major milestone DESI, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, is an exceptional apparatus designed to improve our understanding of the role of dark energy in the expansion history of the universe; it will do this by measuring the redshifts of more than 30 million galaxies and quasars, with unprecedented precision. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced its approval of Critical Decision 2 (CD-2), authorizing the project's scientific scope, schedule, and funding profile.
	Pairs of supermassive black holes in galaxies may be rarer than previously thought There may be fewer pairs of supermassive black holes orbiting each other at the cores of giant galaxies than previously thought, according to a new study by astronomers who analyzed data from the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope.
	China launches new type of carrier rocket: state media China on Sunday launched a new, smaller type of rocket from its "Long March" family which will be primarily used for carrying satellites aloft, state media reported, as the country races ahead with an ambitious space programme.
	ExoMars 2016 targets March launch window A problem recently discovered in two sensors in the propulsion system of the entry, descent and landing demonstrator module has prompted the recommendation to move the launch of the ExoMars 2016 mission, initially foreseen in January, to March, still within the launch window of early 2016.
	Hawai'i's sacred mountain and the contentious Thirty Meter Telescope Plans to build a new telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawai'i have led to months of protests and arrests, including several earlier this month. The ongoing protest pitches astronomers against Hawaiians wanting to protect their sacred site.
	Image: Clear skies over the United States On Sept. 17, 2015, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly captured images and video from the International Space Station during an early morning flyover of the United States. Sharing with his social media followers, Kelly wrote, "Clear skies over much of the USA today. #GoodMorning from @Space_Station! #YearInSpace."
	The moon Look up in the night sky. On a clear night, if you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of the moon shining in all it's glory. As Earth's only satellite, the moon has orbited our planet for over three and a half billion years. Tere has never been a time when human beings haven't been able to look up at the sky and see the moon looking back at them.

Technology news

	Printing lightweight, flexible, and functional materials 3D printing is revolutionizing the production of lightweight structures, soft robots and flexible electronics, but the technology struggles with complex, multimaterial integration.
	Apple explores rules of the road for self-driving cars The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Friday said that it met with Apple to discuss rules of the road regarding testing self-driving cars.
	Ad-blocking on iPhones chips at website money model A top iPhone ad-blocking application was pulled from the App Store on Friday by its creator, amid a surge in interest in new programs to thwart marketing messages.
	Human-powered speedbike in Nevada challenge breaks record The AeroVelo Eta, presented by VisualUnity, is a speedbike making news this week. Eta's makers have been working toward a dream of seeing their Eta break the speed record. Fans saw it last year at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada. The team placed third.
	Fuel savings can pay for green energy shift Making the global switch from climate-altering fossil fuels to renewables by 2050 would require an extra $1 trillion (880 billion euros) per year, but the bill will be covered by lower energy costs, a Greenpeace report said Monday.
	Quadrocopter news: Flying machines build a bridge out of rope The news from ETH Zurich is upbeat over work in methods and techniques for robotic aerial construction—in other words, what if we could build structures with flying machines? The title of the project is fittingly called the Aerial Construction Project. ETH Zurich is never afraid of accepting a task where disciplines cross one another, in this instance, architecture and dynamic systems and control.
	'SafePay': First anti-fraud system to use existing credit card readers From large-scale data breaches such as the 2013 Target case to local schemes that use skimming devices to steal data at the gas pump, credit card fraud is becoming commonplace. The key challenge is that existing magnetic card readers use plain text to store confidential information, which makes them vulnerable to an untrusted card reader or skimming device. Analyst firm Alite Group estimates that this vulnerability is adding up to $8 billion in incurred losses per year in the U.S.
Study says Fukushima disaster was preventable The worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown never should have happened, according to a new study.
	AI system solves SAT geometry questions as well as average human test taker The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) announced today it has created an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can solve SAT geometry questions as well as the average American 11th-grade student, a breakthrough in AI research.
	4-D technology allows self-folding of complex objects Using components made from smart shape-memory materials with slightly different responses to heat, researchers have demonstrated a four-dimensional printing technology that allowed creation of complex self-folding structures.
	Apple revving work on electric car Apple aims to have an electric car on the road some time in the year 2019, according to a report on Monday in the Wall Street Journal.
	Doppler radar tech device for baseball measures pitching speed Scoutee is a sports analytics solution with two parts - hardware and software. The hardware device, which is like a large soap bar in size, connects to a custom app on your smartphone. The user communicates with the device through the app via Bluetooth.
	'Seismic alert!': Apps warn Mexicans of quakes A powerful earthquake strikes off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Within seconds, radio transmissions, megaphones and smartphone apps blare warnings to the capital's 20 million people before the ground shakes.
CEO search delay underscores woes at Twitter In the fast-moving world of Silicon Valley, Twitter's search for a new chief executive is moving at a snail's pace, raising concerns about deeper woes at the social media platform.
	Tech for tuskers: protecting Africa's elephants with Google As elephant poaching in Africa by organised crime gangs using high-tech equipment rises, those working to stop their extinction in the wild have turned to technology too.
	APNewsBreak: South Korea-backed app puts children at risk Security researchers say they found critical weaknesses in a South Korean government-mandated child surveillance app—vulnerabilities that left the private lives of the country's youngest citizens open to hackers.
	Apple withdraws some China apps after malware found Apple Inc. has removed some applications from its App Store after developers in China were tricked into using software tools that added malicious code in an unusual security breach.
	France rejects Google appeal over 'right to be forgotten' France's data protection watchdog rejected Monday an appeal by Google against a decision ordering the Internet giant to comply with users' requests to have information about them removed from all search results.
	AI algorithm trained to predict what ISIL forces will do in different situations An elder tribesman in eastern Afghanistan was amazed by the precision of American drone strikes. He had seen attacks hit exactly where insurgents were sleeping. A room exploded and they were no longer there.
	Ecology on the wing Drones have been flying over the Ugalla Forest in Western Tanzania. Far from being part of a military operation, these drones are being used to map chimpanzee habitat as part of an international research collaboration.
	Into the mix: Harnessing the energy when freshwater meets the sea Harnessing the energy created from salinity gradients—for example, when freshwater meets the sea—could provide a renewable source of power able to mitigate climate change impacts, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve processes within the desalination industry, according to new research from Griffith University (Queensland, Australia).
	Google launches online IT degrees in India Search engine giant Google and online education company Udacity on Monday launched IT courses in India, branching outside the US to tap the country's millions of software developers scrambling for jobs.
Greening the electric grid with gas turbines Much of the nation's energy policy is premised on the assumption that clean renewable sources like wind and solar will require huge quantities of storage before they can make a significant dent in the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. A new Harvard study pokes holes in that conventional wisdom. The analysis published today in the journal Energy & Environmental Science finds that the supply of wind and solar power could be increased tenfold without additional storage.
	Kickstarter makes social good part of business model Crowd-funding platform Kickstarter on Monday officially made social good part of its business model by changing its US corporate status.
	Mind your manners, robot: How social cues influence human-robot interaction Robots are increasingly being considered for use in highly tense civilian encounters to minimize person-to-person contact and danger to peacekeeping personnel. Trust, along with physical qualities and cultural considerations, is an essential factor in the effectiveness of these robotic peacekeepers. New research to be presented at the HFES 2015 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles in October examines the importance of social cues when evaluating the role of trust in human-robot interaction.
	Apple App Store suffers 'worst' malware attack Hackers infiltrated the vaunted Apple ecosystem by injecting malicious software into popular Chinese mobile apps, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of users and raising security concerns as the US tech giant prepares its newest iPhone launch.
	Review: Apple Watch improves with new software Apple Watch's new software brings useful enhancements, though it's not the same as getting a new watch.
Choosing interactive tools for virtual museums mixes art and science Museum curators planning to develop virtual exhibits online should choose communication and navigation technologies that match the experience they want to offer their visitors, according to a team of researchers.
Lawyer: US needs to present better data in encryption debate The federal government needs to be clearer about the importance of accessing encrypted smartphone evidence in order to prosecute criminals, a Justice Department lawyer acknowledged Monday.
	Dropbox says no immediate IPO plan Cloud storage firm Dropbox, one of the best-known Silicon Valley startups, has no imminent plans for a public share offering, founder and chief executive Drew Houston said Monday.
	4chan sold to founder of hit Japanese message board The popular anonymous online forum 4chan on Monday announced that it has been bought by the founder of hit Japanese-language message board 2channel.
Digital song downloads slipped further in first half of year Digital downloads of songs continued to fall out of favor with Americans in the first half of the year, while free and paid music-streaming revenue kept growing, even without much of a bump from the launch of Apple Music.
	Media group launches global fact-check network Fact-checking has a new global network after the media studies Poynter Institute announced plans Monday for a new body to support efforts to root out false claims from the media.
	Techies aim to solve ancient Indian festival's safety woes At an ancient Hindu riverside festival, the millions hoping to cleanse themselves of sin are also unwittingly helping to create high-tech solutions in crowd control, disease outbreak and public security.
	Hungary activists race to help migrants by smartphone As migrants are shunted by countries between borders on trains and buses, a team of Hungarian activists are racing to send them accurate information, straight to their pockets on mobile phones.
	Kim Dotcom extradition hearing begins in New Zealand Kim Dotcom and three colleagues face an extradition hearing that began Monday in an Auckland courtroom. Dotcom is the colorful German-born entrepreneur who started the Internet site Megaupload, which was shut down by federal authorities in 2012. Here's what's at stake:
	Study analyzes the 'virality' of Twitter in electoral processes Since the Catalan elections of 2010, when Twitter reached a critical mass of Spanish users, this social network has played an important role in emitting messages during all of the electoral campaigns held in Spain. In this case, the research carried out at UC3M by Professor Mª Luz Congosto, of the Telematic Engineering Department analyzes three aspects of the political conversation that develops on this social network: the structure of the tweets, their content and their spread.

Medicine & Health news

	Audiovisual integration in musicians (Medical Xpress)—The study of brain plasticity and how brain structures are integrated into functioning network structures keeps leading researchers to musicians. Musicians, particularly those who have learned to read music, have acquired expertise in a skill set that integrates multiple sensory inputs. Research has established that the study of music trains multiple brain structures to form new networks and also changes the physiology of the brain.
Female mice exposed to environmental chemicals may show decreased physical activity in their offspring Endocrine disruptors are contaminants that interfere with endocrine or hormone systems and can cause tumors, birth defects and developmental disorders in mammals. Often, these contaminants are used in a variety of consumer products, such as water bottles, dental composites and resins used to line metal food and beverage containers. Now, a University of Missouri study suggests that female mice exposed to these environmental chemicals may cause decreases in their daughter's metabolism and the amount of exercise and voluntary physical activity they engage in later in life. These disruptors when introduced in developmental stages, are essentially creating "couch potatoes" among female mice and could predict future metabolic complications, researchers say.
	A full bladder makes better liars study suggests (Medical Xpress)—A study conducted by a team of researchers at California State University has led to evidence that suggests people with a full bladder make better liars. In their paper published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition the team describes their study, what they found and offer a theory on why improved lying may be tied to delaying urination.
	Old drug offers new hope to treat Alzheimer's disease Scientists from the Gladstone Institutes have discovered that salsalate, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, effectively reversed tau-related dysfunction in an animal model of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Salsalate prevented the accumulation of tau in the brain and protected against cognitive impairments resembling impairments seen in Alzheimer's disease and FTD.
	Combination drug therapy shrinks pancreatic tumors in mice A combination of two drugs, one already approved by the Food and Drug Administration, appears to be effective at shrinking pancreatic cancers in laboratory mice, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Low dose beta-blockers as effective as high dose after a heart attack In a surprising new finding, heart attack patients treated with a substantially lower dosage of beta-blockers than used in earlier clinical trials showing their effectiveness survived at the same rate, or even better, than patients on the higher doses used in those trials.
	'Delayed remembering': Kids can remember tomorrow what they forgot today For adults, memories tend to fade with time. But a new study has shown that there are circumstances under which the opposite is true for small children: they can remember a piece of information better days later than they can on the day they first learned it.
	Stem cell-derived 'organoids' help predict neural toxicity A new system developed by scientists at the Morgridge Institute for Research and the University of Wisconsin-Madison may provide a faster, cheaper and more biologically relevant way to screen drugs and chemicals that could harm the developing brain.
	Scientists sequence genome of worm that can regrow body parts, seeking stem cell insights Tourists spending a recuperative holiday on the Italian coast may be envious of the regenerative abilities of locally found flatworm Macrostomum lignano. Named for its discovery near the Italian beach town of Lignano Sabbiadoro, this tiny worm can regenerate almost its whole body following an injury, and researchers have long been trying to understand how it's able to pull off this trick.
	Scientists identify DNA alterations as among earliest to occur in lung cancer development Working with tissue, blood and DNA from six people with precancerous and cancerous lung lesions, a team of Johns Hopkins scientists has identified what it believes are among the very earliest "premalignant" genetic changes that mark the potential onset of the most common and deadliest form of disease.
	Which little piggy is it? Do you know where each of your toes are? This may seem a bizarre question, but a surprising study Monday suggests you may not.
BMC reduces emergency wait time, improves care for pediatric sickle cell disease patients Boston Medical Center (BMC) has significantly reduced the amount of time that pediatric patients experiencing pain from sickle cell disease (SCD) wait before receiving pain medication when they come to the emergency department. The hospital's quality improvement initiative cut the wait time by more than 50 percent, from an average of 56 minutes to 23 minutes, from triage to administration of the first dose of pain medication. The results, published in Pediatrics, demonstrate a significant improvement in SCD care for pediatric patients in BMC's emergency department and could serve as a model for other hospitals across the country.
Ultrasound fade could be early detector of preterm-birth risk Ultrasonic attenuation—an ultrasound's gradual loss of energy as the sound waves circulate through tissue—could be an early indicator of whether a pregnant woman is at risk for delivering prematurely, according to a new study at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing.
	DNA sequencing to improve treatment of urinary infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs) could be treated more quickly and efficiently using a DNA sequencing device the size of a USB stick - according to research from the University of East Anglia.
	Targeting hypertension by helping pharmacists deliver enhanced patient care Patients with high blood pressure are benefiting from the expanded role played by pharmacists in Alberta, according to a new study from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
Patients with metastatic cancer may need stronger anti-coagulation therapy following bone lesion surgery Jefferson researchers identified a high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), or blood clots, following surgery for long-bone reconstruction in patients with metastatic cancer. They published the results in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
	10 critical mistakes in last year's Ebola outbreak An Associated Press investigation has found that the World Health Organization and other responders faced avoidable obstacles in their efforts to stop the spiraling Ebola outbreak last summer in Kenema, a pivotal seeding point for the virus and a microcosm of the messy response across West Africa. Their work was hampered by poor management, lack of basic protective gear and bureaucratic infighting, according to internal WHO emails, documents and AP interviews. Here are 10 critical mistakes:
	AP Investigation: Bungling by UN agency hurt Ebola response The chlorine was expired. The protective gear was missing. And the red tape was so thick that responders fighting last year's Ebola outbreak had trouble getting approval for boots and buckets.
	TBI triggers liver to produce protein tied to inflammation; hypertension drug blocks it A new animal study shows that traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects the body as well as the brain and that treatment with hypertension drugs blocks the production of proteins related to inflammation.
	Teenagers who become pregnant at higher risk of further teen pregnancies Nearly a quarter of teenagers in England and Wales who have had an abortion have been pregnant before, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
	The impact of social media on young people's sleep The impact of social media on young people's lives is underlined today as a new study by researchers from the University-based Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research Data (WISERD) reports that more than one in five teenagers say they "almost always" wake up during the night to look at or post messages.
	Algorithm predicts artery rupture WA scientists have developed a cheap test to predict if a patient will suffer a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm—a deadly condition where the blood pressure inside a weakened artery causes it to suddenly burst.
	Is it cyberbullying? Parents' views differ on how schools should respond The digital age has given teens new platforms for cruelty: A social media prank intended to embarrass a classmate. Spreading online rumors about peers. Posting unflattering pictures of others.
	Monoclonal antibody to treat C. difficile shows promise in clinical trial An important new therapeutic for C. difficile infection based on discoveries at UMass Medical School will be submitted for regulatory approval based on the results of clinical studies conducted by the international pharmaceutical company Merck. Merck announced that two pivotal Phase 3 clinical studies for a monoclonal antibody licensed from UMass Medical School's MassBiologics met their primary efficacy endpoint: the reduction in C. difficile recurrence through week 12 compared to placebo, when used in conjunction with standard of care antibiotics for the treatment of C. difficile.
	Coordinating traffic down the neuronal highway An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS), has identified a protein that regulates the growth of neurons by transporting key metabolic enzymes to the tips of neural cells. Their findings, published on 14 September 2015, in Developmental Cell, a leading journal in the field of developmental biology, open up new avenues for design of drugs for ataxia, a motor coordination disorder.
Cancer-stricken children want the truth Children with cancer want honest but hopeful information. But giving appropriate information is difficult and improvements are needed for the sake of the child, the siblings and the parents. In a dissertation from Uppsala University, Li Jalmsell stresses the need for a family perspective and involvement at the end of the child's life.
	Old drug performs new tricks Patients with the most dangerous type of high blood pressure will be able to receive far more effective treatment after Cambridge-led research reveals the powers of a "wonder drug" that has lain under the noses of doctors for 50 years.
	Scientists sequence streptococcus bacteria strain causing severe infections Scientists from Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)'s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), together with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and the MOH-supported Singapore Infectious Diseases Initiative (SIDI) have successfully sequenced the genome of a strain of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) responsible for the increase in severe infections observed in Singapore this year.
Mobile technology to promote adolescent sexual health A project that explores how mobile technology can help to promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health has led to collaboration between academics from UTS and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).
	Treating cancer by exploiting how its DNA is repaired In every cell in your body, DNA is constantly getting damaged.
	Over fifty per cent do not go for new bowel cancer test More than half of people invited to take a new bowel cancer screening test didn't take up the opportunity – even though it could stop them developing or dying from the disease, according to a Cancer Research UK report published today in the Journal of Medical Screening.
Loss of dairy farm immigrant workers would double retail milk prices A recent dairy labor study found that a reduction of immigrant workers would lead to a doubling of retail milk price, costing the U.S. economy more than $32 billion.
Finafloxacin for the treatment of urinary tract infections Results from a double-blind phase 2 clinical study show that finafloxacin was a more effective and safe option than ciprofloxacin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections and acute pyelonephritis. This research is being presented at ASM's 55th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC).
Monitoring the microbiome in leukemia patients could reduce infections during chemotherapy Researchers report that a patient's microbial diversity, even before they start cancer treatment, can be linked to risk of infection during induction chemotherapy. This research is presented at ASM's Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC).
Improved safety and efficacy among women who switched from a multi-pill antiretroviral drug regimen Results from the first phase 3 HIV study to enroll only women show improved safety and efficacy of the drug Stribild over multi-pill antiretroviral drug regimens. The research was presented at ASM's 55th Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC).
Beneficial co-contribution of rotavirus vaccines and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines Researchers show that the introduction of both pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and rotavirus vaccines (RVs) led to the rapid and dramatic reduction in hospital burden of both winter diarrhea and respiratory infections within
A cost-effective alternative to the current standard of therapy for treating staphylococcal bloodstream infections Research comparing clinical outcomes between patients receiving nafcillin and cefazolin for treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia shows that overall treatment failure rate among patients receiving cefazolin was no worse than nafcillin, and significantly fewer adverse effects were documented for those receiving cefazolin. These findings are presented at ASM's 55th Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC).
	Silicone vaginal rings to deliver antiviral drugs, protect women against HIV Researchers at University Jean Monnet of Saint-Etienne, France have succeeded in developing a vaginal silicone ring that delivers molecules that act on both HIV and herpes virus. This research is presented at the 55th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC).
	One in three people born in 2015 will develop dementia, new analysis shows Alzheimer's Research UK has renewed its call for urgent action on dementia as new analysis estimates that one in three people born this year will develop the condition during their lifetime.
	The Swiss diet under the microscope Quality of nutrition and diet is influenced by the consumer's financial resources, reveals a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Some immigrants have a healthier diet than people born in Switzerland.
Three innovations offer hope for enhanced drug safety in the future Adverse drug reactions are harmful to patients and a major burden for healthcare providers, governments and the pharmaceutical industry. But promising new breakthroughs in drug development and health monitoring may enhance drug safety in the future, according to an editorial to be published in the next edition of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
	Is the changing definition of autism narrowing what we think of as 'normal'? I first learned about autism in 1997 in my high school psychology course. It was relegated to a small paragraph in a chapter on childhood disorders. The film Rainman had come out a decade earlier, publicizing the condition to a degree. But autism still wasn't well-known – or well-understood, at the time.
	Sex does not increase heart attack risk Sex is rarely the cause of a heart attack, and most heart disease patients are safe to resume sexual activity after a heart attack, according to a research letter published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	A high fat diet leads to overeating because of faulty brain signaling Defective signaling in the brain can cause overeating of high fat foods in mice, leading to obesity, according to one of the first research articles published in the new open access journal Heliyon. The body controls food intake by balancing a need for food to survive with a desire for food for pleasure. By shifting the balance between these systems, defective brain signaling can cause pleasure to take over, resulting in overeating and obesity.
Alzheimer's drug could prevent bone fractures The most common drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease increases bone mass in mice, according to one of the first research articles published in the new open access journal Heliyon. The authors of the study, from Saitama Medical University in Japan, say this means the drug could also be used to treat bone loss diseases like osteoporosis and periodontitis, following further clinical research.
Cattle disease spread by vets, not cows, suggests new study A cattle disease that affected more than 5,000 cows, over 500 of which were killed, was probably spread by vets farmers and cattle traders in Germany, according to one of the first research articles published in the new open access journal Heliyon. The authors of the study, from Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Germany, say farmers and people who visit farms should take biosecurity measures like wearing disposable clothes where there is a risk of infection.
Even mild depression puts a burden on Alzheimer's family caregivers Caregiving for an Alzheimer's patient is especially burdensome for spousal and family caregivers who at the time of their near and dear one's Alzheimer's diagnosis suffer from depressive symptoms, according to a recent University of Eastern Finland study.
Ontario shift to family health teams leads to improved diabetes care for patients Paying doctors differently and adding other professionals to the health team has improved diabetes care for patients in Ontario, according to a new study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital.
Public health must be top priority if cannabis is legalized in Canada If Canada's new government decides to legalize cannabis, public health must be the top priority to prevent commercialization and promotion by "Big Cannabis" and subsequent possible harms, argues an analysis published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Childhood kidney stones associated with atherosclerosis, study shows A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics is the first to examine and identify a link between kidney stones in children and thickened or hardened arteries—precursors to a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the connection between kidney stones and cardiovascular risk factors in children may help physicians and parents implement prevention measures to reduce future risk of stroke, heart attack or other forms of vascular disease for affected children.
Study finds targeting exercise is not the best way to reduce prolonged sitting Targeting sitting time, rather than physical activity, is the most effective way to reduce prolonged sitting, according to the first comprehensive review of strategies designed to reduce sitting time. The research, led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, is published in the journal Health Psychology Review.
Study finds violence among young black men associated with sense of powerlessness New research from North Carolina State University and Palo Alto University finds that young black men and teens who are most likely to be victims or perpetrators of violence are also those who feel that they have the least power to effect social change - highlighting the importance of ensuring that young black men do not feel alienated by society and social programs.
Unemployment takes its toll on young people's mental health Young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are committed to working but vulnerable to experiencing mental health problems, according to a new study by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, Duke University and the University of California.
	Malaria: Multi-drug resistance more alarming than ever The efforts of the international community for the past ten years in the fight against malaria have reduced the number of disease-related deaths. The emerging resistance to standard therapies threatening South-East Asia, and new research carried out by the team led by Françoise Benoit-Vical, Inserm Research Director in the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) Coordination Chemistry Laboratory in collaboration with the Pasteur Institute and Inserm, are not reassuring factors. The in vitro examination of a strain of parasites solely exposed to artemisinin (the base compound for standard therapy) demonstrates the development of a widespread resistance to most other anti-malarial drugs. This new resistance cannot be detected by tests currently used and represents an additional threat to antimalarial treatments in the field.
	Risk of stroke at time of carotid occlusion Preventing carotid artery occlusion (blockage) may not be a valid indication for stenting because the risk of progression to occlusion appears to be below the risk of carotid stenting or endarterectomy (surgical removal of plaque from an artery), according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology.
Pioneer ACO program sees modest reduction in low-value services The Medicare Pioneer ACO (accountable care organization) program in its first year was associated with modest reductions in low-value services that provide minimal clinical benefit to patients, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Study examines gun control policies and effect on youth gun carrying A more restrictive gun law environment was associated with a reduced likelihood of youth carrying guns, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Research using eye-tracking glasses reveals the learning process of novice medical students Using eye-tracking glasses, Queen's University professor Adam Szulewski (Emergency Medicine) has developed a new method to determine how novice medical students learn compared to more experienced medical professionals.
	Obamacare saps enthusiasm for government health-care spending The Affordable Care Act has eroded support for federal health care spending not just from Republicans, but also from Democrats and independents, a Johns Hopkins University study has found.
	Millennials, Gen Y need to eat less, work out more to stave off obesity If you are struggling with weight gain, you might be surprised to know that your parents had it easier - they could eat more and exercise less, and still avoid obesity, according to a recent study out of York University's Faculty of Health.
	Study looks at whether daily limb compressions reduce dementia A new study is looking at whether short, daily bouts of reduced blood flow to an arm or leg can reduce the ravages of dementia.
Researchers use neuroimaging to measure early cognitive improvement after mild TBI Researchers published results of a novel study of the functional activation patterns of working memory after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study, the first to enroll subjects during their initial evaluation in the emergency room, provides new information on the acute effects of TBI on cognition. The fMRI studies, conducted at
	Iowa company gets first USDA license for bird flu vaccine (Update) The first license to develop a bird flu vaccine has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a crucial step toward preventing another devastating outbreak like the one that led to the destruction of 48 million chickens and turkeys this spring.
	State obesity rates hold steady; 30 pct or more in 22 states New government data shows that in most states, the rate of adult obesity is not moving.
	FDA experts to review safety of Essure birth control implant Federal medical experts will take a closer look at a host of problems reported with the birth control implant called Essure, including chronic pain, bleeding, headaches and allergic reactions.
Researchers identify new pathway to regenerate insulin-producing cells Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have discovered a new pathway that triggers regeneration of beta cells in the pancreas, a key development that may aid in the development of diabetes treatments. The research was published online in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
	Pregnancy complications may signal later risk of heart disease death Women who experience complications during pregnancy may be at greater risk of dying from heart disease later in life than women with uncomplicated pregnancies, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Study: Brentuximab vedotin effective, safe in elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients A study, published online in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), reports that bretuximab vedotin is an effective and safe first course of treatment for older Hodgkin lymphoma patients unfit for chemotherapy.
Scientists find way to combat brain cancer Scientists at the University of Toledo Health Science Campus (UT) and Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) have discovered an innovative way that may stop the spread of the most lethal and aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In laboratory studies, scientists demonstrated that activating a specific family of proteins halted cancer cell migration into healthy tissue.
	Identifying the 'dimmer switch' of diabetes Patrick MacDonald has dedicated much of his life to diabetes research. It's a job he knows is far too large and complex for any one person, but with his latest publication, he knows his work is playing a part.
	Exercise may help keep an aging mind agile (HealthDay)—Regular exercise may help seniors' minds stay as agile as their bodies, a new study finds.
	Though rare, some disabilities seen long after newborn heart surgery (HealthDay)—Some newborns who undergo complex heart surgery may be more likely to have neurological or motor disabilities—such as cerebral palsy—as they grow older, a new study suggests.
	Apples are American kids' favorite fruit (HealthDay)—Apples are the favorite fruit of U.S. kids and young people, accounting for almost 20 percent of all fruit consumed, a new study finds.
	Medicaid, non-home discharge tied to longer hospital stays (HealthDay)—Prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) is more likely among patients who are Medicaid enrollees with complex hospital stays who were not discharged home, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Proper diagnosis is key in managing chronic migraine (HealthDay)—Effective management of chronic migraine starts with proper diagnosis of this subtype of migraine, according to guidelines published in the September issue of Pain Practice.
	AHA: patient engagement linked to drop in blood pressure (HealthDay)—A higher level of achievements earned on a gamification system is associated with a reduction in blood pressure, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension 2015 Scientific Sessions, held from Sept. 16 to 19 in Washington, D.C.
The ups and downs of incorporating a new treatment to try to prevent chemotherapy-associated neuropa In this age of the 24-hour news cycle, instant access to all information everywhere, PubMed, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and hundreds of other ways to glean and share knowledge beyond the traditional stack of printed journals delivered to their door, physicians continue to struggle to arm themselves with the most effective therapies.
	Making surgery safer—new book outlines non-technical skills for surgeons A new book which aims to reinforce the importance of decision making, situation awareness and communication in the operating theatre has the power to potentially save lives according to its authors.
Physician advocates for more socially conscious doctors The focus in producing new medical graduates should be as much on creating socially conscious doctors, as it is on increasing the numbers of medical professionals.
A breakthrough in hemodialysis technology Universitätsmedizin Berlin have developed a biophysical treatment method that allows up to 50 percent more toxins to be removed from the blood of dialysis patients. Use of this technology may result in patients with kidney disease seeing a considerable reduction in the length of dialysis sessions. An initial patent application for this technology was filed in 2011. Now, an international medical technology manufacturer has paid a seven-figure sum to secure ownership of the relevant know-how.
Five ways individualized medicine is impacting health care How is individualized medicine working? Let us count the ways.
EORTC Phase II trabectedin study opens for meningioma patients EORTC and PharmaMar announced today the opening of a Phase II trial (EORTC 1320 trial) with YONDELIS (trabectedin) in patients with recurrent high grade meningioma to assess its efficacy and safety compared to standard of care.
Recent ESC guidelines to identify HCM patients at high risk for sudden death unreliable Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic form of heart disease with thick heart walls, is the most common cause of sudden death in patients under 50. While only a minority of patients with HCM are at risk, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) can effectively prevent sudden death in those patients. Recently, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published new guidelines advancing an equation as the best way to determine which HCM patients should receive an ICD. However, a study conducted by U.S. and Canadian investigators challenges the ESC Guidelines. Their research found that the ESC sudden death risk score method did not perform effectively in reliably identifying the high-risk patients who need ICDs for the prevention of sudden death.
Bordetella parapertussis outbreak in southeastern Minnesota in 2014 Study reports that an outbreak of Bordetella parapertussis occurred in 2014 in Southeastern Minnesota, in the months of October through December. This research is presented at ASM's 55th Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC/ICC).
Many babies in clinical trials experience unnecessary pain A recent review found that most newborns that are included in control groups during clinical trials concerning minor painful procedures are denied analgesia, despite international guidelines stating that babies should be prevented from experiencing any avoidable pain.
Many diabetics don't know they have serious liver disease Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the Western world. NAFLD is a frequent finding in patients with type 2 diabetes, but the exact prevalence of NAFLD, as well as whether patients with diabetes should be screened for it, remain uncertain.
Childhood epilepsy not linked with later psychiatric disorders For decades, experts have been studying potential links between childhood epilepsy and various behavioral and psychiatric conditions and some have hypothesized that that they are part of a larger spectrum of brain disorders with shared mechanisms.
How different types of nurses impact the health of patients with diabetes More than 28,000 nurses in the UK can prescribe the same medicines as doctors provided that it is in their level of experience and competence. A new study looks at whether there is added value of having nurse prescribers, compared with nurses without prescribing capability, care for people with diabetes in primary care practices.
Chronic diseases may increase risk of dementia In a new study of older adults, having multiple chronic conditions was linked with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
Shortage of nurses not as dire as predicted, but challenges remain to meet nation's needs News for the nation's nursing workforce isn't as dire as had been predicted a decade ago, but the nation is still expected to be short of nurses in coming years, according to new research by Montana State University nursing economist Peter Buerhaus and other researchers.

Biology news

	'Tree of life' for 2.3 million species released A first draft of the "tree of life" for the roughly 2.3 million named species of animals, plants, fungi and microbes—from platypuses to puffballs—has been released.
	Can your sense of smell predict when you'll die? By measuring how worms move toward an appealing, food-like scent, researchers at the Salk Institute were able to predict whether the worms would be long-lived. The finding, publishing September 22, 2015 in the journal eLife, shows how nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) process information about the environment and how circuits in the brain change as an animal ages.
	Student tackles labeling RNA without genetic modification Overcoming limitations of super-resolution microscopy to optimize imaging of RNA in living cells is a key motivation for physics graduate student Takuma Inoue, who works in the lab of MIT assistant professor of physics Ibrahim Cissé.
	Symbiosis bacteria produce a variety of toxins that appear to save mussels from being eaten Imagine you have a tenant living in your house. They're keeping your fridge topped up. But in addition to this, they're producing all kinds of toxic substances. More harm than good? Not necessarily; it all depends what you're using the toxins for, as an international research team at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology has discovered. The researchers examined deep-sea mussels and the bacteria living in symbiosis with them. While the microbes produce an entire arsenal of toxins, these do not appear to harm the mussels - on the contrary, they protect their partners from natural enemies.
	Study: It's not cheating unless a species gets hurt A review of dozens of key ecological studies has found very little evidence to support one of the field's commonly held beliefs: Cheating is widespread among 'mutualists,' species that cooperate with one another for mutual benefit.
	Protein-based sensor could detect viral infection or kill cancer cells MIT biological engineers have developed a modular system of proteins that can detect a particular DNA sequence in a cell and then trigger a specific response, such as cell death.
	Species extinction can doom parasites important for ecosystem health The effects of an animal population's extinction may echo beyond the original species, new University of Georgia research finds. Loss of a population could ultimately result in the extinction of parasites—which are critical for a healthy ecosystem.
	How a frog's molecules 'leaped,' and 'crawled,' to evolve violet vision The African clawed frog is tongue-less, has long, curvy toes and eyes that are perched on top of its head, but that's not all that's odd about it. This species of frog also took a strange evolutionary path to change from ultraviolet to violet vision: Some of its visual pigment molecules kept trying to leap ahead, but other molecules shut them down and kept the process moving at a crawl.
Team re-engineers virus to deliver therapies to cells Stanford researchers have ripped the guts out of a virus and totally redesigned its core to repurpose its infectious capabilities into a safe vehicle for delivering vaccines and therapies directly where they are needed.
	Building a biofuel-boosting Swiss Army knife Researchers at Michigan State University have built a molecular Swiss Army knife that streamlines the molecular machinery of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, making biofuels and other green chemical production from these organisms more viable.
	US zoo pandas get $4.5 million gift An American benefactor has donated $4.5 million for the giant panda conservation program at the US National Zoo, where twin cubs were born last month.
	Research examines response to light and temperature shifts Harvard scientists are taking a hard look at northeastern forests for evidence of a potential springtime scramble, one that could be triggered if age-old growth cues are disrupted by climate change.
	Biologist floats idea of whale-hunting compromise Is it time to cut a deal with Japan on whaling?
	Researchers create heartier catnip breed for specialized commercial farmers A bigger more hearty catnip plant – whose enriched oil not only promises to drive cats crazy with pleasure but also may be a safer, more effective mosquito repellent – has been developed for specialized commercial farmers by Rutgers University.
	Size matters when crocs are on the move Crocodiles turning up in populated areas like Darwin Harbour or on east coast beaches can cause problems, but a long-term University of Queensland study is shedding light on which crocodiles travel and why.
	Students develop probiotic to protect bees from neonicotinoids A group of UBC students is betting probiotics could be the key to protecting bees from death caused by harmful pesticides.
	How moths integrate sensory and control information It's difficult enough to see things in the dark, but what if you also had to hover in midair while tracking a flower moving in the wind? That's the challenge the hummingbird-sized hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) must overcome while feeding on the nectar of its favorite flowers.
	Innovative seeding machine to speed up kenaf planting Kenaf seeds as well as other seedlings such as corn can now be planted in an economical, easier and organized way and faster with the use of pneumatic seeding machine.
	Citizen scientists needed to map 3D scans to solve puzzle of bird bill evolution Citizen scientists from across the globe are needed to help a team of University of Sheffield researchers map 3D scans of the bills of every living species of bird in the world.
	Exotic invaders dominating native species Until relatively recently, New Zealand ecosystems were dominated by native plants, but a study by Associate Professor Kevin Burns has shown that the balance has now tipped in favour of exotic species.
	Scientists reveal how stem cells defend against viruses Scientists from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, have uncovered the mechanisms which embryonic stem cells employ to inhibit virus expression. The ground-breaking discovery could potentially advance stem cell therapeutics and diagnostics.
	Blue crabs more tolerant of low oxygen than previously thought Results of a new study led by researchers at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science show that adult blue crabs are much more tolerant of low-oxygen, "hypoxic" conditions than previously thought.
Agency investigates deaths of 25 walrus on Alaska coast The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday it is investigating the deaths of 25 Pacific walrus found on an isolated northwest Alaska beach.
Deforestation can have devastating impacts on frog populations Increasingly, forests in Borneo, the world's third largest island, are being converted to plantations, which poses considerable threats to amphibians. If this continues unabated, almost three-quarters of the current forest is expected to disappear by 2100.
Feds plan announcement on protections for imperiled bird U.S. officials plan to make a major announcement Tuesday on efforts to protect an imperiled bird that could have implications for the energy and ranching industries.

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