Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 1

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 1, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- First observation made of quantum-tunneling diffusion of hydrogen atoms on ice
- Soft robotic hand can pick up and identify a wide array of objects
- Study explores ancient ecosystem response to a 'big five' mass extinction
- Asteroid impact, volcanism were one-two punch for dinosaurs
- Pluto's big moon Charon reveals a colorful and violent history
- Is beauty really in the 'eye of the beholder'? Yes, and here's why
- Keeping the body ticking: Scientists discover mechanism that regulates circadian clock
- Researchers tap fruit flies for insights on the symmetry of movement
- Are the blueprints for limbs encoded in the snake genome?
- Extending a battery's lifetime with heat
- Research connects specific variations in RNA splicing with breast cancer causation
- Brain chemical aids tic control in Tourette Syndrome
- Sensory feedback shapes individuality to provide equal space for behavioral excellence
- Observed latitudinal variations in erosion as a function of glacier dynamics
- Mission impossible? Study reveals challenges of watching computers fly the plane

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA selects investigations for future key planetary mission NASA has selected five science investigations for refinement during the next year as a first step in choosing one or two missions for flight opportunities as early as 2020. Three of those chosen have ties to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The submitted proposals would study Venus, near-Earth objects and a variety of asteroids.
	Dawn team shares new maps and insights about Ceres Mysteries and insights about Ceres are being discussed this week at the European Planetary Science Conference in Nantes, France. NASA's Dawn spacecraft is providing scientists with tantalizing views and other data about the intriguing dwarf planet that they continue to analyze.
	A fresh perspective on an extraordinary cluster of galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity.
	Search for Mars life stymied by contamination threat A multi-billion-dollar robot dispatched to Mars to search for life must steer clear of promising "hot spots" for fear of spreading microbes from Earth, NASA project scientists said Thursday.
	Pluto's big moon Charon reveals a colorful and violent history NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has returned the best color and the highest resolution images yet of Pluto's largest moon, Charon – and these pictures show a surprisingly complex and violent history.
	Europe's Ariane 5 launches two satellites into space Europe's Ariane 5 rocket launcher successfully sent two telecoms satellites, one for Australia and one for Argentina, into space.
	Asteroids found to be the moon's main 'water supply' Water reserves found on the moon are the result of asteroids acting as "delivery vehicles" and not of falling comets as was previously thought. Using computer simulation, scientists from MIPT and the RAS Geosphere Dynamics Institute have discovered that a large asteroid can deliver more water to the lunar surface than the cumulative fall of comets over a billion-year period. Their research is discussed in an article recently published in the journal Planetary and Space Science.
	Contamination, planetary protection and the search for life on Mars It has been more than 400 years since Galileo put humankind in its right place in the solar system. By looking at how Jupiter's moons revolve about the gas giant, he came to the conclusion that Earth was not at the centre but one of many planets revolving around the sun. Similarly, recent evidence that water is likely to flow on Mars means facing the possibility that Earth is not the only planet in the solar system to harbour life.
	What it would take for life on Mars In light of NASA's recent evidence that liquid water flows on present-day Mars, the release of sci-fi film The Martian could not have come at a better time.
	First gamma-ray Images from new H.E.S.S. camera The first of four new gamma-ray cameras has recorded its first light at the gamma-ray observatory H.E.S.S. (High Energy Stereoscopic System) in Namibia. In July, a team of ten colleagues from DESY Zeuthen had upgraded the camera and installed 200 electronic boards and a new ventilation system. After the integration into the network and data acquisition system, first cosmic gamma-ray images could now be acquired.
	The golden anniversary of black-hole singularity When a star collapses forming a black hole, a space-time singularity is created wherein the laws of Physics no longer work. In 1965 Sir Roger Penrose presented a theorem where he associated that singularity with so-called ''trapped surfaces'' that shrink over time. That hypothesis -one of the results of the general theory of relativity- is now celebrating its anniversary.
	Russian launches cargo spaceship to the ISS Russia successfully launched an unmanned cargo spaceship bound for the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday night, redeeming itself after a string of failures that cast a shadow on its space programme.
Lead scientist of Pluto expedition has book deal You've seen the images from Pluto. Now, the lead scientist of the historic NASA expedition is ready to tell the whole story.

Technology news

	Soft robotic hand can pick up and identify a wide array of objects Robots have many strong suits, but delicacy traditionally hasn't been one of them. Rigid limbs and digits make it difficult for them to grasp, hold, and manipulate a range of everyday objects without dropping or crushing them.
	LG unveils smartphone with dual display, improved camera South Korean smartphone maker LG Electronics Inc. unveiled a new smartphone Thursday with an additional screen and a camera that can capture a wider scene when taking a selfie, hoping to arrest a slide in its market share.
	Crippling Linux botnet strikes gaming, education sites The IT world was given the word this week that a botnet is preying on Linux computers and the attacks are powerful. Most of the targets are in Asia and security experts tracking these attacks say the botnet appears to be of Asian origin.
	Giving machine-learning systems "partial credit" during training improves image classification Machine learning, which is the basis for most commercial artificial-intelligence systems, is intrinsically probabilistic. An object-recognition algorithm asked to classify a particular image, for instance, might conclude that it has a 60 percent chance of depicting a dog, but a 30 percent chance of depicting a cat.
	New flat transistor defies theoretical limit A team of researchers with members from the University of California and Rice University has found a way to get a flat transistor to defy theoretical limitations on Field Effect Transistors (FETs). In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their work and why they believe it could lead to consumer devices that have both smaller electronics and longer battery life. Katsuhiro Tomioka with Erasmus MC University Medical Center in the Netherlands offers a News & Views article discussing the work done by the team in the same journal edition.
	Mission impossible? Study reveals challenges of watching computers fly the plane When a commercial jet crashed on landing in San Francisco, it was ultimately determined that the plane had slowed to an unsafe speed during approach—and no one in the cockpit noticed in time to prevent the accident.
	Tweets from mobile devices are more likely to be egocentric Mobile devices have changed the way we interact with the world. It's now normal behavior to take selfies or live Tweet an event, but can a mobile device really be an extension of ones self? A recent study published in the Journal of Communication by researchers at Goldsmiths, Bowdoin College and the University of Maine found that tweets from mobile devices are more likely to employ egocentric language as opposed to non-mobile device Tweets.
	Auto CO2 emissions 40% higher than claimed: report Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars registered in Europe in 2014 were 40 percent higher on average than their manufacturers claimed, said a report prompting calls Wednesday for an investigation.
China's Huawei rides Google coattails into new markets With a partnership to make one of Google's flagship Nexus smartphones, Chinese tech giant Huawei is gaining new prominence which could help its efforts to win broader global consumer appeal.
Microsoft and Google call truce in patent wars Technology titans Microsoft and Google on Wednesday announced that they have agreed to end all patent infringement litigation against each other.
	Microplotter system prints DNA, proteins, live cells on a range of fragile materials A University of Wisconsin-Madison spinoff that was spawned during an effort to make DNA-based computers has just introduced a low-cost instrument that can print dots and lines just 5 to 10 millionths of a meter across.
Low-cost wafers for solar cells Silicon wafers are the heart of solar cells. However, manufacturing them is not cheap. Over 50 percent of the pure silicon used is machined into dust. A new manufacturing technique developed by Fraunhofer researchers puts an end to these material losses, with raw material savings of 50 percent along with an 80 percent reduction in energy costs.
Positioning systems improve airport logistics An airport apron bustles with traffic. The tow tractors, tankers and buses moving busily around an aircraft run the risk of colliding. An enhanced positioning system will increase safety and the efficiency of logistical operations in the future – available airport capacities will be utilized better.
Lighting the way to your car On the new BMW 7 Series, a lighting system featuring a striped pattern of ground illumination makes it easier to enter the vehicle in the dark. Fraunhofer researchers have developed special microoptic lenses for this application to channel light from the vehicle underbody directly onto the ground, illuminating the path to the car.
	It's not just Facebook that goes down—the cloud isn't as robust as we think The computing cloud we have created supports much of our day-to-day office and leisure activity, from office email to online shopping and sharing holiday photos. Even health, social care and government functions are moving towards digital delivery over the internet.
	Diesel exhaust gases without any nitric oxides – is that possible? The scandal surrounding VW has thrust nitric oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel vehicles into the limelight. Owing to the different engine technologies, these have always been higher than in gasoline-powered cars. On the other hand, diesel consumes less fuel. If a way can be found to "denitrify" diesel emissions efficiently, we would have an economical, clean engine. Empa researchers are thus working hard on optimizing the catalytic converter technology for diesel.
	Electric vehicle charging habits revealed This week, Idaho National Laboratory is reporting analysis results from the largest collection of light-duty plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and charging infrastructure demonstrations in the world. The findings will be used to support and refine activities of the U.S. Department of Energy's EV Everywhere Grand Challenge.
	German wind power output tops 2014 total Germany's wind power generation by September surpassed last year's total, thanks to favourable weather conditions and an expansion of wind farms, industry bodies said Thursday.
	GM plans $5.5B in cost cuts to help finance new mobility General Motors plans to cut $5.5 billion in manufacturing, purchasing and administrative costs during the next three years, helping to finance a big push into autonomous cars and car- and ride-sharing services.
	Google: What people search for most on presidential hopefuls Potential voters who take their curiosity about presidential candidates to Google are interested in Hillary Rodham Clinton's age, Jeb Bush's height, Chris Christie's weight, Donald Trump's net worth, Carly Fiorina's marital status and Bobby Jindal's birthplace.
Apples names ex-Boeing CFO to board, diversifying its ranks Apple has filled a void on its board of directors with James Bell, the former chief financial officer for aircraft maker Boeing Co.
	US teens add social media to toolbox for flirting: study Back in the day, they'd flutter their eyelashes or share a nervous, giggly chat.
Anti-piracy battle unfolds in real time on Periscope, live-streaming apps Floyd Mayweather Jr. vanquished his last opponent on Sept. 12, but as fans used live-streaming apps such as Periscope to broadcast the fight, they were also throwing punches at anti-piracy rules in real time.
Supercomputer-maker advances weather forecasts When you pull up the weather forecast on your smartphone or check online to see if a storm is coming tomorrow, you likely have a Seattle company to thank for the predictions.
Developing technology to help seniors live independently Al Baker and his business co-creator Muhammad Abdurrahman entered into business with noble intentions.
Review: Chip-based credit cards part of bigger change in payment system You may have gotten some new credit cards in the mail lately that look a bit different from your old ones.
Amazon to ban sale of rival video streaming devices Amazon will stop allowing its third-party sellers to sell Google and Apple video-streaming devices as it focuses on its own Prime Instant Video streaming service.
	GM warns the Valley: Prepare to compete over driverless cars Move that tiny self-driving pod out of the way. That might as well have been the message Thursday from General Motors to Google, Apple and anyone else with designs on dominating the market for autonomous cars.
	Hidden GPS devices to track suspects raise legal concerns For months, police trying to solve a Long Island robbery spree had little more to go on than grainy surveillance footage of a man in a hoodie and black ski mask holding up one gas station or convenience store after another.
	Clinton private account targeted in Russia-linked email scam Russia-linked hackers tried at least five times to trick Hillary Rodham Clinton into infecting her computer systems while she was secretary of state, newly released emails show. It was unclear whether she was fooled into clicking on any attachments to expose her account.
Bayer's Covestro scales back IPO in wake of VW scandal Covestro, the polymers business of German pharmaceuticals giant Bayer, on Thursday delayed and scaled down its planned stock market flotation, originally slated for this week, due to the volatility triggered by the massive Volkswagen pollution-cheating scam.
	Thai government websites crash in 'symbolic act' by censorship critics: officials Several Thai government websites temporarily crashed due to a "symbolic act" by people against plans to introduce a single Internet gateway, officials said Thursday, a measure critics say will make it easier for the ruling junta to censor the web.
	Technology provides real-time, actionable insights to construction project site managers Project managers at construction, mining and agricultural sites could benefit from technology developed by Purdue University civil engineers that could provide a real-time overview and help control cost and time overruns.
	Toshiba's 2-megapixel CMOS image sensor for vehicles mitigates LED flicker Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has developed a new 2-megapixel (MP) CMOS image sensor for automotive cameras, "CSA02M00PB", equipped with the industry's first LED flicker mitigation function. Sample shipments start in March, 2016.
Google invites amateurs to send clips for 'India in a Day' Calling all amateur filmmakers across India: Here's your chance to capture a slice of your life that could end up on the big screen.
A smart rollator prototype that supports independent living among the elderly VTT has made the traditional rollator smart by retrofitting it with sensors and digital software that analyse user's physical condition and daily activities. This allows the device to collect useful information on user's daily rhythm, walking distances, duration and speed of walking, in addition to hand grip strength. Such information can then be used to monitor user's wellbeing and physical condition.
	The way to more efficient, quieter wind turbines A European research project aims to reduce the cost of wind energy generation by introducing technical improvements to turbines, which will have to be much quieter in the future than is the case today
	AIC and Tecnalia present the electric vehicle motor incorporated into the four wheels AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center and Tecnalia present the latest technological innovation they have developed in the field of the electric vehicle: the in-wheel motor. This technology is the outcome of the European EUNICE project (www.eunice-project.eu/), which they have been developing together over the last four years.
	New infrared camera detects gas leaks in industry This company's invention, supported by the Business Incubator at the UC3M Science Park, is based on technology patented by researchers from the UC3M Infrared Laboratory (initialled LIR in Spanish), and can detect gas leaks that are normally invisible to the human eye thanks to a camera that recognizes the infrared signature of these compounds (infrared is electromagnetic and thermal radiation with longer wavelengths than visible light).
Tweets promoting new 'Call of Duty' game draw criticism A series of promotional tweets for the latest "Call of Duty" video game came under some criticism because they described a terrorist attack with no immediate disclaimers stating that they were fictional.
News Corp sells education unit to management team News Corp. said Thursday it was selling its money-losing education unit Amplify to a management team supported by private investors.

Medicine & Health news

	Major study finds five new genetic variants linked to brain cancer The biggest ever study of DNA from people with glioma - the most common form of brain cancer - has discovered five new genetic variants associated with the disease.
	Tension helps heart cells develop normally in the lab The heart is never quite at rest, and it turns out that even in a lab heart cells need a little of that tension. Without something to pull against, heart cells grown from stem cells in a lab dish fail to develop normally.
	An accessible approach to making a mini-brain If you need a working miniature brain—say for drug testing, to test neural tissue transplants, or to experiment with how stem cells work—a new paper describes how to build one with what the Brown University authors say is relative ease and low expense. The little balls of brain aren't performing any cogitation, but they produce electrical signals and form their own neural connections—synapses—making them readily producible testbeds for neuroscience research, the authors said.
	Research connects specific variations in RNA splicing with breast cancer causation Researchers have identified cellular changes that may play a role in converting normal breast cells into tumors. Targeting these changes could potentially lead to therapies for some forms of breast cancer.
	Researchers tap fruit flies for insights on the symmetry of movement How do our brains allow us to smile and breathe? University of Oregon scientists have identified an important network of neurons in the nerve cords of live fruit fly larvae that are similar in most organisms, including humans.
Brain chemical aids tic control in Tourette Syndrome A chemical in the brain could potentially be harnessed to help young people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) to overcome the physical and vocal tics associated with the neurological disorder, say researchers.
	Is beauty really in the 'eye of the beholder'? Yes, and here's why Many of us have had the experience of disagreeing with friends or family about which celebrity is more attractive. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 1 show in a study of twins that those differences of opinion are mostly the result of personal experiences that are unique to each individual. In other words, even identical twins don't agree.
	A natural history of neurons: Diverse mutations reveal lineage of brain cells Walt Whitman's famous line, "I am large, I contain multitudes," has gained a new level of biological relevance.
	Neuroscientific evidence that motivation promotes recovery after spinal cord injury It is known by clinical experiences that motivation enhances patients' recovery from spinal cord injury or stroke. Depressive symptoms of the patients suffering from such brain injury could be a factor to delay functional recovery. However, there has been no neuroscientific evidence how motivation affects the patients' recovery of motor function in rehabilitation.
	Enzyme malfunction may be why binge drinking can lead to alcoholism A malfunctioning enzyme may be a reason that binge drinking increases the odds of alcoholism, according to a study by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Scientists discover how to trap cancer cells before they spread At the original tumour site, cancer cells cause connective-tissue cells called fibroblasts to stiffen the surrounding tissue. This enables cancer cells to grip to it- allowing them to tunnel through to the blood stream and spread around the body.
New study sheds light on characteristics of the 'predatory' scholarly publishing market New light is shed on the volume and market characteristics of so-called 'predatory' scholarly journal publishing in a study conducted by researchers from Hanken School of Economics and published in the open access journal BMC Medicine. The study shows the number of articles published in journals defined as such that have increased nearly eight fold since 2010; however, it concludes that the problem of 'predatory journals' is limited to a few countries where researchers are known to be placed under pressure to publish in international journals.
Islamist insurgency strongly influences where polio occurs Islamist insurgency has had a strong effect on where polio cases occur since 2011, potentially as a reaction to the use of counterinsurgency strategies, according to new research led by UCL.
Team aims to revolutionize understanding of how gene variants affect organ transplant outcomes Nearly 30,000 organ transplants are performed in the United States every year. They routinely extend lives, but the success of these procedures continues to be limited by problems that arise when the recipient's immune system rejects their new organ and other complications. Now, a large international team of transplant surgeons and scientists, co-led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has come together to investigate the genetic factors behind transplant successes and failures. The project, involving more than three dozen research institutions around the world, is called the International Genetics & Translational Research in Transplantation Network (iGeneTRAiN). Their efforts are detailed in a pair of papers published today in Genome Medicine and in the journal Transplantation.
	Opioid misuse continues to dominate for treatment use, spread of disease and drug-related deaths The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) produces an annual report of the latest data available on drug demand and drug supply in all 28 EU Member States plus Norway and Turkey, available at http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/edr2015. The scientific journal Addiction has today published the EMCDDA's summary of the most important findings from that report.
	Screening for mental health issues in a pediatric ED In a study to be published on Oct. 1 by the journal Pediatric Emergency Care, investigators at Children's Hospital Los Angeles piloted a brief mental health screening tool to be used with patients accessing the emergency department for medical complaints who might be at risk for mental health problems. Of the 992 patients studied, nearly half (47.5%) responded "yes" to questions about substance abuse, traumatic exposure or behavioral symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
	Yale School of Medicine uses ResearchKit App to assess heart conditions Imagine being able to contribute to research about heart problems affecting children and adults with an iPhone app. That idea is now a reality with today's launch of the Yale Cardiomyopathy Index, an iPhone-based clinical study to better understand quality of life for people ages two to 80 who have or may develop a cardiomyopathy—an abnormality in the heart muscle.
Investigational KW-0761 efficiently depletes immune system-suppressing Treg cells Main Finding(s): In a phase Ia clinical trial, immune cells called Tregs, which can inhibit anticancer immune responses, were efficiently eliminated from the blood of patients with lung or esophageal cancer by treatment with the investigational therapeutic antibody KW-0761.
International OB-GYN group urges greater efforts to prevent toxic chemical exposure Dramatic increases in exposure to toxic chemicals in the last four decades are threatening human reproduction and health, according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the first global reproductive health organization to take a stand on human exposure to toxic chemicals.
	Personalised breast cancer treatment has saved millions: experts In just three decades, the once monolithic approach to diagnosing and treating breast cancer has become more personalised and less intrusive—a transformation that likely saved millions of lives, experts say.
	Forget the antioxidant pills; just stick with veggies Based on commercials for nutritional supplements, or even a trip down the supermarket aisle, you might get the impression that your food just isn't nutritious enough. Why just stick to eating fruits and veggies when you can get an extra boost from supplements that put good things like antioxidants into a handy pill?
	Computer program using skin images could improve early detection of melanoma A computer program easily run on a tablet or a smartphone that compares a spot on a patient's skin to images of both benign and malignant lesions may be a useful, noninvasive tool for physicians when deciding when to do a biopsy for skin cancer, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh that was published online this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	It's official – you're unhappiest at midlife Young people and the very old are our happiest citizens, with those in mid-life having lower life satisfaction, according to research presented Wednesday at Australia's largest social policy conference.
	Children suffer terribly from domestic violence, says researcher Assault-related injuries lead to more child deaths and intensive care unit admissions in Queensland than do childhood injuries from accidents, a child safety researcher says.
	Adopted preschoolers show more empathy when parents are affectionate Young children whose parents regularly provide warmth and positive reinforcement show more empathy for others and care about following rules, according to a new University of Michigan study examining adoptive families.
Drug used to treat HIV linked to lower bone mass in newborns Infants exposed in the womb to a drug used to treat HIV and reduce the transmission of HIV from mother to child, may have lower bone mineral content than those exposed to other anti-HIV drugs, according to a National Institutes of Health study.
	What types of video games improve brain function? From "brain games" designed to enhance mental fitness, to games used to improve real-world problems, to games created purely to entertain, today's video games can have a variety of potential impacts on the brain. A new article argues that it is the specific content, dynamics, and mechanics of individual games that determine their effects on the brain and that action video games might have particularly positive benefits. This article is published today in the new issue of Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
England, Wales ban smoking in cars with children inside Smokers who light up in vehicles with children inside will face fines in England and Wales as anti-smoking measures are expanded to protect young people from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
	Finding a noninvasive way to measure pressure in the brain Current methods to check for increased pressure in a patient's brain are invasive. One widely used technique is to drill a hole in the skull to insert a catheter or sensor into the brain tissue. Because of the risk of brain injury and infection, doctors typically only measure intracranial pressure—or ICP—when a patient is very sick, even though knowledge of this pressure could be useful in the diagnosis or treatment of a wider variety of conditions, such as malaria and unexplained headaches.
	New method to predict increased risk of non-familial breast cancer By detecting cancer at an early stage, or even predicting who has an increased risk of being affected, the possibilities to treat the disease can be radically improved. In an international study led from Uppsala University the researchers have discovered that apparently healthy breast cells contain genetic aberrations that can be associated with an increased risk for non-familial breast cancer. The results have been published in the journal Genome Research.
	Tissue chips predict neurotoxicity A lot of time, money, and effort are devoted to developing new drugs. Yet only one of every 10 drug candidates entering human clinical trials successfully goes on to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many would-be drugs fall by the wayside because they prove toxic to the brain, liver, kidneys, or other organs—toxicity that, unfortunately, isn't always detected in preclinical studies using mice, rats, or other animal models. That explains why scientists are working so hard to devise technologies that can do a better job of predicting early on which chemical compounds will be safe in humans.
	Study suggests that washing dishes decreases stress Washing those dreadful dishes after a long day seems like the furthest thing from relaxation. Or is it?
International agreement on how to evaluate MRI scans "likely to change how we detect prostate cancer" International radiological bodies have agreed on a standard for how doctors evaluate MRI to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. This promises to reduce the number of over diagnosis of insignificant cancers by to up to 89%. The new procedure also allows radiologists to identify up to 13% more life-threatening tumors than current procedures. The standards of how to acquire the MR-images and how to report them are published today in the peer-reviewed journal, European Urology, the journal of the European Association of Urology.
Fatal road crashes substantial compared with leading causes of death America's capital is notorious for gridlock—traffic, that is. But it's also one of the safest places in the U.S. when it comes to road deaths, say University of Michigan researchers.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress plays significant role in type 2 diabetes A new research report published in the October 2015 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, suggests that the endoplasmic reticulum plays a more important role in type 2 diabetes and its complications than previously believed. Specifically, when this cell compartment undergoes disruptions (stress) patients experienced poor glycemic control, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and inflammatory and oxidative stress. Targeting ER stress might be an effective treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes.
	Cell marker enables prognosis about the course of infections When a pathogen invades the body, specific cells in the human immune system are ready to take immediate action in order to destroy it. The molecular characteristics of these killer cells were unknown until recently. Now, for the first time, a team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has managed to create a molecular profile of the protective cells. By studying these immune cells from patients' blood, the researchers were able to predict the course of infections.
Babies with drug withdrawal syndrome more likely to be readmitted Infants diagnosed with drug withdrawal symptoms at birth, also known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), are nearly two and a half times as likely to be readmitted to the hospital in the first month after being discharged compared with full-term infants born without complications, according to new Vanderbilt research released today in the journal Hospital Pediatrics.
US brain research gets boost with $100 million gift Research into brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and traumatic injury got a boost Thursday with a $100 million foundation gift.
Rising cancer rates in low and middle income countries threaten economic stability The rising cost of treating and caring for a growing number of cancer patients threatens economic development in low and middle income countries (LMICs), making prevention a key element of health care plans, according to a new commentary.
Study shows new 'driver' to assess cancer patient survival and drug sensitivity Cancer specialists have long looked at genetic mutations and DNA copy changes to help predict patient survival and drug sensitivity. A study led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has opened up yet another avenue for understanding the biological reasons why some people live longer or respond better to treatment - RNA editing events.
Rescuing intestinal stem cells from attack in type 1 diabetes Up to 80 percent of people with long-standing type 1 diabetes develop gastrointestinal symptoms—abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and fecal incontinence—that severely diminish quality of life. Research at Boston Children's Hospital now reveals the cause of this complication, known as diabetic enteropathy, and a possible prevention and treatment strategy.
	Preventing cancer: Study finds dramatic benefits of weight-loss surgery A study evaluating the effects of bariatric surgery on obese women most at risk for cancer has found that the weight-loss surgery slashed participants' weight by a third and eliminated precancerous uterine growths in those that had them. Other effects included improving patients' physical quality of life, improving their insulin levels and ability to use glucose - which may reduce their risk for diabetes - and even altering the composition of their gut bacteria.
Preclinical drug developed to prevent gastrointestinal side effects of type 1 diabetes Up to 80% of individuals living with long-term type 1 diabetes experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal distension, irritable bowel syndrome, and fecal incontinence. A study publishing October 1 in Cell Stem Cell reveals why these symptoms arise and tests an investigational drug in mice that could prevent them from developing.
	Glutamate, an essential food for the brain Glutamate is an amino acid with very different functions: in the pancreas, it modulates the activity of the pancreatic ß-cells responsible for insulin production, whereas in the brain it is the main excitatory neurotransmitter. In recent years, it has been suspected to play an additional role in the functioning of the brain. By discovering how the brain uses glutamate to produce energy, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) confirm this hypothesis and highlight unexpected links with the rest of the body. To read in Cell Reports.
	Later bedtimes may lead to an increase in body mass index over time A new study suggests that going to bed late during the workweek from adolescence to adulthood is associated with an increase in body mass index over time.
Women getting BRCA testing not receiving counseling by trained genetics professionals Most women who underwent BRCA genetic testing did not receive genetic counseling by trained genetics professionals and the lack of clinician recommendation was the most commonly reported reason in a study of commercially insured women, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
	More children, teens enticed to smoke with flavored tobacco: CDC (HealthDay News) —Bubblegum, cotton candy, chocolate: Just a few of the tempting flavors often added to tobacco being consumed by American children and teens.
	Injury toll in U.S. in 2013: $671 billion (HealthDay)—Injuries from accidents and violence cost the United States $671 billion in 2013, with men accounting for far more of those costs than women, federal health officials reported Wednesday.
	Younger Native Americans face high suicide rate: report (HealthDay)—A new federal report on suicide finds that young adult Native Americans continue to be at a much higher risk of killing themselves than other racial or ethnic groups in the United States.
	Cranial nerve stimulation shows promise as sleep apnea tx (HealthDay)—An implanted cranial nerve stimulation device might improve sleep patterns and quality of life for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to findings presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, held from Sept. 27 to 30 in Dallas.
	Nomogram predicts death, recurrence with thyroid cancer (HealthDay)—A new nomogram has excellent discriminatory ability and accuracy in predicting 10-year disease-specific death and recurrence for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Head & Neck.
	Booster massage dose may be helpful in chronic neck pain (HealthDay)—For patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain, a booster dose of additional massages may be effective for reducing pain and dysfunction, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
	Angioedema induced by new classes of drugs (HealthDay)—Two newer classes of drugs, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) and neprilysin inhibitors, can induce angioedema, according to research published in the October issue of Allergy.
	Nocturnal hypoglycemia linked to reduced awakening response (HealthDay)—Nocturnal hypoglycemia is associated with reduced awakening response, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Diabetes Care.
	New classification criteria developed for gout (HealthDay)—New classification criteria have been developed with high specificity and sensitivity for gout, according to an article published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Brain networking: Researchers use brain scans to determine the mechanism behind cognitive control of thoughts The human brain does not come with an operating manual. However, a group of scientists from UC Santa Barbara and the University of Pennsylvania have developed a way to convert structural brain imaging techniques into "wiring diagrams" of connections between brain regions.
	Coincidence or conspiracy? Studies investigate conspiracist thinking In pop culture, conspiracy believers—like FBI agent Fox Mulder on The X Files or professor Robert Langdon in The Da Vinci Code—tend to reject the notion of coincidence or chance; even the most random-seeming events are thought to result from some sort of intention or design. And researchers have suggested that such a bias against randomness may explain real-world conspiracy beliefs. But new research from psychological scientists at the University of Fribourg and the University of Paris-Saint-Denis shows no evidence for a link between conspiracist thinking and perceptions of order, design, or intent.
Deworming shows growth similar to placebo in pre-school children in Peru The three intestinal worms: roundworm (Ascaris), whipworm (Trichuris) and hookworm, cause infections and diseases that are among the most common neglected tropical diseases in the developing world. They spread through contaminated food, water and the environment; disrupt nutritional intake and utilization by the body; and cause blood loss and loss of appetite. The World Health Organization supports large-scale deworming programs aimed at pregnant women, school-age children and pre-school children. Children between 1 and 2 years of age have been included in recommendations since 2002. Recent global estimates show that fewer than 25% of pre-school children receive deworming treatment.
New study removes cancer doubt for multiple sclerosis drug Researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) are calling on the medical community to reconsider developing a known drug to treat people with relapsing Multiple sclerosis (MS) after new evidence shows it does not increase the risk of cancer as previously thought.
	'Drugged driving' on the rise in US (HealthDay)—More Americans are under the influence of drugs while they drive, even as drunk driving rates decline, new research shows.
	Inverse link confirmed for exercise, erectile dysfunction (HealthDay)—Physical activity is inversely associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a confirmatory study published in the September issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
	'Depression switch' identified during deep brain stimulation (HealthDay)—A "depression switch" has been mapped during intraoperative deep brain stimulation of the subcallosal cingulate, according to research published online Sept. 26 in JAMA Neurology.
	Integrative model is advised for cancer control in primary care (HealthDay)—An integrative model incorporating cancer care into primary care is recommended for addressing the increasing burden of cancer control, according to a commission piece published online Sept. 29 in The Lancet Oncology.
	Probiotics reduce rate of infection after liver transplant (HealthDay)—Liver transplant recipients have a lower rate of infection with receipt of prebiotics and probiotics before surgery, according to a meta-analysis published in the September issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Genes of colon cancer recurrence differs among blacks, whites and Asians, study finds The genetic makeup of colon cancer tumors and survival rates for patients with the disease differ by race, according to a study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, published in the October 2015 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Gene therapy doubles survival in recurrent glioblastoma An experimental gene therapy essentially doubled the overall survival of patients with recurrent glioblastoma compared to the current standard of care, a researcher said Oct. 1 at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer that kills two-thirds of patients within five years. A patient's outlook with recurrence of the disease is considered to be weeks or months.
	Tissue-engineered colon from human cells develop different types of neurons A study by scientists at Children's Hospital Los Angeles has shown that tissue-engineered colon derived from human cells is able to develop the many specialized nerves required for function, mimicking the neuronal population found in native colon. These specialized neurons, localized in the gut, form the enteric nervous system, which regulates digestive tract motility, secretion, absorption and gastrointestinal blood flow. In addition, in a condition called Hirschsprung's disease or aganglionosis, where those neurons are not present, the team was able to replace them.
	Oregon marijuana shops begin sales to recreational users Oregon marijuana shops began selling marijuana Thursday for the first time to recreational users, marking a big day for the budding pot industry.
Every nine minutes, someone in the world dies of rabies A human death from rabies is a tragic but rare thing in the United States and most developed nations. It's just as tragic but sadly common in parts of the world where some 3 billion people are at risk of being bitten by a rabid dog. More than 59,000 people die of rabies each year because they cannot get the care they need. That's about 1 person dying of rabies every 9 minutes.
	Researchers profile four types of non-vaccinators While scientists are continuously improving vaccinations to stop the spread of disease, many people continue to opt out. In a new review of the literature, researchers identified four types of people who decide not to vaccinate due to issues of complacency, convenience, confidence, and calculation, and offer strategies to address these issues. This study is published today in the new issue of Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
	What is the cost of lung cancer in Germany? With more than 50,000 newly diagnosed cases each year, lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Germany. As yet, however, very few statistics are available on the care situation of lung cancer sufferers and the associated costs. Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München have now analyzed comprehensive health insurance data in order to discover the cost of the disease and which treatment has the best prognosis. Their findings have been published in the medical journal Lung Cancer.
	Post-SPRINT trial headaches On 11 September, some 9,300 participants in the SPRINT trial were sent a letter from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Heavier patients require less blood transfusions in hip, knee replacement surgery Blood transfusion rates in hip and knee replacement surgery were dramatically lower in overweight or obese patients than patients of normal weight, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
	Team develops guide on hospital transfers for nursing home residents and their families Hospitalization of nursing home residents are common and often result in complications and excessive costs. Nearly 1 in 4 people admitted to a skilled nursing facility from acute care are rehospitalized within 30 days at a cost of $14.3 billion annually. It is estimated that as many as two-thirds of those hospitalizations are avoidable. It's been suggested that the role of family members of nursing home residents heavily influences decisions related to transferring residents to the hospital. In order to make optimal decisions concerning hospitalizations, nursing home residents and their families need to have clear information about their treatment options and health conditions.
	GPs to be offered training to deal with children affected by domestic violence A study led by the University of Bristol, in collaboration with University of Central Lancashire, found many GPs and practice nurses are uncertain how to manage consultations involving children exposed to domestic violence. The research has led to the development of a new training programme for clinicians dealing with some of the complex issues around abuse.
	Cost of doctor visits putting off rural Australians In some parts of Australia, two to three times more people are avoiding seeing their doctor because they can't afford it, according to figures released today.
	Understudy gene offers hope for spinal muscular atrophy I began writing about genetics decades ago, and the best thing about getting older is witnessing the development of targeted treatments for single-gene diseases that I never thought would happen. But it is happening, for cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, various inborn errors of metabolism, blindness, and many other conditions. The steps may be incremental for some conditions, but researchers are deploying a staggeringly diverse armamentarium of techniques and technologies to fight genetic disease, from recombinant DNA-based drugs, to enzyme replacement and substrate reduction treatments, to gene therapy, antisense compounds, microRNAs, gene silencing, RNAi, exon skipping, and small molecule approaches.
	New app will help people with autism influence tech developments A new mobile app will launch today hoping to tap into the creative juices of people with autism to find new tech solutions to some of the everyday challenges they face.
	How much radioactivity is in infant formula? Based on measurements of radioactivity in samples of infant formula manufactured and sold around the world, researchers estimate that infants 1 year of age or younger who consume these formulas would ingest a significantly higher radioactivity dose than reported levels, but lower than internationally recommended limits. The researchers report the radioactivity levels for each brand of formula in an article published in Environmental Engineering Science.
	Long duration dual antiplatelet treatment increases bleeding (HealthDay)—Routine use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond six months after second generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation yields mixed clinical results, according to a review published in the October issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
Unexplained chronic cough treatment subject of updated evidence-based guideline Persistent, unexplained cough is a significant health issue that occurs in up to 5-10 percent of patients seeking medical assistance for chronic cough. Patients experience significant quality of life impairment with chronic cough lasting for many months or years, despite attempts at treatment. In this latest evidence-based guideline from the American College of Chest Physicians, experts provide six recommendations for appropriate treatment of patients with unexplained chronic cough, including the use of speech pathology based cough suppression as a treatment option.
Lung cancer screening programs do not increase rates of unnecessary surgeries Lung cancer screening programs that utilize standardized reporting and include cardiothoracic surgeons as part of a multidisciplinary team can successfully be adopted into clinical practice without an increase in surgical intervention for non-cancerous disease, according to an article in the October 2015 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Tallness linked to increased risk of premature death for patients on dialysis Although tall people in the general population tend to live longer than shorter people, the opposite appears to be true for patients receiving dialysis. The findings, which are published in a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), could provide valuable information for kidney specialists.
Bristol-Myers' gets early approval of combo cancer treatment The first combination of breakthrough drugs that boost the immune system to fight cancer has been approved, giving maker Bristol-Myers Squibb an early lead over competitors testing their own combos in a pharmaceutical gold rush of sorts.
	Access to palliative care in US hospitals still not universal Despite rapid expansion in hospital palliative care programs in the U.S., access to these programs nationwide varies across geographic regions and depends on factors such as hospital size and tax status, according to a new study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine.

Biology news

	New DNA stain lights up living cells EPFL scientists have developed a new DNA stain that can be used to image living cells.
	Researchers flip riboswitch to kill bacteria (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working for pharmaceutical company Merck has found an instance of a molecule that is able to flip a switch in a bacterium that prevents it from synthesizing a needed nutrient, and thus kills it. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes the exhaustive study they undertook to find the molecule and the possibility of it one day being used to treat bacterial infections. Thomas Hermann, of the University of California offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Keeping the body ticking: Scientists discover mechanism that regulates circadian clock Tick tock. Tick tock. A team of scientists from Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore (Duke-NUS) and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor have discovered a molecular switch that regulates the body's circadian clock and allows it to keep time. This switch could be a potential drug target to treat circadian rhythm disorders caused by jet lag, shift work or metabolic disorders.
	Are the blueprints for limbs encoded in the snake genome? Hundreds of millions of years ago, a common ancestor of mammals, birds, and reptiles evolved a phallus. We don't know much about phallus evolution (external genitalia generally don't mineralize, so the fossil record is of little help), but we can compare the expression of phallus genes from organism to organism. From such work, we've learned that many of the genes deployed in the developing phallus are also used to build limbs during embryonic development.
	Sensory feedback shapes individuality to provide equal space for behavioral excellence We can quickly tell from the way someone walks whether that person is young or old, male or female, healthy or sick, because patterns of movement vary from one person to the next. In fact, we can often recognize a friend from a distance, even if he's walking with his back to us, because of his characteristic strides.
3D printing could help save avocado and landscape trees University of California, Riverside scientists are using 3D printing technology to study a beetle that is causing severe damage to avocado and landscape trees in Southern California.
	Not every partnership is about sex Many species form long-term partnerships in life. When we see such pair bonds, our first assumption tends to be that the two individuals are a male and female, and the partnership is based on mating.
	Creating a fast-track for accurately classifying plants It can take botanists decades to accurately classify plants after they've collected and stored away samples from the wild. But now Oxford University researchers have developed a technique to streamline the process—and it's already unearthing new species around the world.
	Nectar thieves are damaging rare orchids in North Dakota Robbers and thieves are flying in the fields of southeastern North Dakota, but these larcenists aren't your typical criminals, prowling around in masks and disguises. They are hawk moths and bumble bees, and according to charges made by researchers in a paper recently published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America, they've been stealing nectar from the federally-listed threatened western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara).
	Accurate timing of migration prolongs life expectancy in pike Animal migration is a spectacular phenomenon that has fascinated humans for long. It is widely assumed that appropriate timing of migratory events is crucial for survival, but the causes and consequences of individual variation in timing are poorly understood. New research based on migrating pike in the Baltic Sea and published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Animal Ecology reveals how behaviours such as punctuality, flexibility and fine-tuning influence life expectancy in fish.
	Silicon 'plant stones' for strong rice: Fertilizing and recycling Si in Vietnamese fields Recent research showed that silicon (Si) is an important nutrient enhancing the endurability of rice plants, however, what controls on Si availability in soils still remain poorly studied. Researchers of the LEGATO project tested the effects of Si fertilization on Si uptake and growth of rice and on decomposability of the produced straw in Northern Vietnam. The study was published in the journal Plant and Soil.
	New science redefines remote—even pandas global This just in from the pandas nestled in a remote corner of China: Their influence spans the globe.
The ecology of microbial invasions University of Groningen scientists have described how microbial invasions follow the same general pattern as invasions by plant or animal species. This is a clear example of how the microbiological world follows general rules of ecology. The discovery demonstrates the value of using microbial systems to investigate ecological and evolutionary questions, and has strong implications for our understanding and even treatment of infectious diseases. The findings are published in a review article in the October issue of the journal Trends in Microbiology.
A snapshot of stem cell expression Researchers on the Wellcome Genome Campus reveal new genes involved in stem cell pluripotency, new subpopulations of cells and new methods to find meaning in the data. Published in Cell Stem Cell, the findings have implications for the study of early development.
	Known from flower stalls as 'Big Pink' orchid proved to be an undescribed wild species As easy as it might seem, seeking new species among cultivated plants could be actually quite tricky. While looking into the undescribed orchid, known at the market as 'Big Pink', Bobby Sulistyo and his team were likely to find yet another man-made hybrid. In reality, they are now describing as 'new' a wild orchid species that has been sitting at the flower stalls since 2013. The story behind their discovery is published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.
	Many young fish moving north with adults as climate changes Numerous studies in the Northeast U.S. have shown that adult marine fish distributions are changing, but few studies have looked at the early life stages of those adult fish to see what is happening to them over time. A new study by NOAA Fisheries researchers has some answers, finding that distributions of young stages and the timing of the life cycle of many fish species are also changing.
	The solution to a 50-year-old riddle: Why certain cells repel one another When cells from the connective tissue collide, they repel one another - this phenomenon was discovered more than 50 years ago. It is only now, however, that researchers at the University of Basel have discovered the molecular basis for this process, as they report in the journal Developmental Cell. Their findings could have important implications for cancer research.
	Local habitat conditions can safeguard cutthroat trout against harvest, climate change Local habitat variability in northwest streams can help shield coastal cutthroat trout from the effects of forest harvest and climate change, a new U.S. Forest Service-led study has found.
	Hibernating bats mount a partial immune response against white nose fungus White-nose syndrome (WNS), an invasive skin infection caused by the Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) fungus has killed millions of bats since it was first seen in North America in 2007. A analysis of gene expression in hibernating bats infected with the destructive fungus published on October 1st in PLOS Pathogens reveals how the resting animals' immune system fights the infection.
	US adds two macaws to endangered species list Poaching and habitat loss have landed the military macaw and the great green macaw, two birds typically found in Central and South America, on the US endangered species list, officials said Thursday.
	Hong Kong expecting first ever panda birth: keepers It's a happy moment that's been a long time coming, but after years of trying, Hong Kong panda Ying Ying is finally expecting a cub, keepers said Thursday, a first ever for the southern Chinese city.
	Grasses, mammals, and their co-evolution After millions of years of amphibians, dinosaurs, and early mammals ruling the forests and swamps of the hot, humid Mesozoic and early Cenozoic, a new habitat emerged. Small patches of grasslands sprang up and spread as the climate cooled and dried. These new, grassy expanses brought advantages and challenges.
	How frog tongues are like commercial dry adhesives Scientists from the Functional Morphology and Biomechanics research group at Kiel University have shown, for the first time, what happens when a frog's tongue makes contact with a surface. They discovered similarities to conventional adhesive tape. Like sticky tape, the tongues form lots of little threads (fibrils) when being removed from a surface, which break one at a time before the contact disconnects.

---

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