Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Dec 10

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Dragonflies on the hunt display complex choreography
- Physicists explain puzzling particle collisions
- New form of ice could help explore exciting avenues for energy production and storage
- Proteins stepping on 'landmines': How they survive the immense heat they create
- Researchers document aviary eggshell with iridescence for the first time
- Researchers learn more about the possible role of gamma ray bursts on life extinction in the universe
- Contact lens merges plastics and active electronics via 3-D printing
- Mystery of where Earth's water came from deepens
- Bridging sensory gap between artificial and real skin
- Defects are perfect in laser-induced graphene
- Link between weak magnetic fields from power lines, phones and ill-health called into question
- Molecular tag team revealed to control cell division
- Carbon soot particles, dust blamed for discoloring India's Taj Mahal
- Rare gene mutations raise risk of early heart attack
- No laughing matter: Nitrous oxide rose at end of last ice age

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers learn more about the possible role of gamma ray bursts on life extinction in the universe (Phys.org)—A pair of astrophysicists studying gamma ray bursts has found that such events might play a much larger role in the existence of life on Earth and other planets than has been thought. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, Tsvi Piran with the Hebrew University in Israel and Raul Jimenez from the University of Barcelona in Spain, suggest that gamma ray bursts might be responsible for past extinctions on Earth, and for limiting the possibility of life on planets near the center of galaxies.
	Mystery of where Earth's water came from deepens The mystery of where Earth's water came from got murkier Wednesday when some astronomers essentially eliminated one of the chief suspects: comets.
	OPALS project uses laser beams for Earth-space communications (Phys.org) —You may know opals as fiery gemstones, but something special called OPALS is floating above us in space. On the International Space Station, the Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) is demonstrating how laser communications can speed up the flow of information between Earth and space, compared to radio signals.
	Why did NASA scientists name a geologic feature on Mars "Aztec"? Last week, NASA mission controllers for the Mars rover Curiosity spied a piece of rock outcropping with tiny holes, veins and fractures in the rocks. It's common practice for the science team to assign names to these targets to make communication easier among team members. This particular outcropping's name? Aztec.
	Astrophysicist looks beyond test flight to asteroids and Mars On Friday, NASA successfully launched its next-generation spaceship farther than any astronaut has flown since the Apollo program of the 1960s. Though the Orion was unmanned during the test flight, which took it 15 times higher than the Space Station orbits, it is designed to eventually carry a human crew on missions to the moon, to near-Earth asteroids, and even to Mars.
	NASA image: Sedimentary signs of a Martian lakebed This evenly layered rock photographed by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover shows a pattern typical of a lake-floor sedimentary deposit not far from where flowing water entered a lake.
	ATV views Space Station as never before ESA's fifth and last Automated Transfer Vehicle tested a new technique before docking with the International Space Station in August, at the same time revealing the orbital complex in a new light.
	Geminid meteor shower returns December 13-14 If it's clear late on Saturday and Sunday nights (the nights of December 13th and 14th), keep a lookout high overhead for the "shooting stars" of the Geminid meteor shower. "The Geminids are usually one of the two best meteor showers of the year," says Alan MacRobert, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine. "They are sometimes more impressive than the better-known Perseids of August."
	How does space travel affect organ development? The crew of the International Space Station will soon be joined by 180 mice from Berkeley Lab. Their mission: help scientists learn how space travel affects the immune system, organ development, and reproduction across generations.
	How low can you go? Take the Great Square challenge Cast your gaze up, up, up on the next dark, moonless night and stare into the Great Square of Pegasus. How many stars do you see? Zero? Two? Twenty? If you'd like to find out how dark your sky is, read on.
	How was the Earth formed? Just how did the Earth—our home and the place where life as we know it evolved—come to be created in the first place? In some fiery furnace atop a great mountain? On some divine forge with the hammer of the gods shaping it out of pure ether? How about from a great ocean known as Chaos, where something was created out of nothing and then filled with all living creatures?
	Students aiming to put the first life on Mars #LettuceOnMars, a student project from the University of Southampton Spaceflight Society, has reached the finals of an international competition, run by Mars One, to land experiments on Mars. It is now one of the ten short-listed university projects, and the only UK entry, that was selected for technical feasibility and popularity. The winning payload will arrive on Mars in 2018 together with the official Mars One experiments.
	Lessons learned from Orion's first test flight With the successful flight test of NASA's Orion spacecraft on Dec. 5, a new space era for has started for America and its aerospace industry. Companies engaged in space exploration like Lockheed Martin, which built the Orion spacecraft, learn a valuable lesson from this first and crucial step on a long journey to Mars. In times of U.S. reliance on other countries regarding spaceflight, this lesson is also a major step forward to an independent homegrown space engineering.
	Russia's pioneering days in space flight; what that meant for the US race for space The Soviet Union's early interest and competitiveness in the space race is something today's space exploration enthusiasts, private companies and organizations can learn from, says a Purdue University historian.
	Video: Chasing starlight in the Canadian rockies Ready for an adventure? One of our favorite photographers, Jack Fusco, created this stunning travel video for Travel Alberta and viewing it might be enough to make you start packing your bags.

Technology news

	Bridging sensory gap between artificial and real skin "Smart" prosthetics still has a long road ahead. In the human, skin-based mechanoreceptors and thermoreceptors gather information streams from the environment but it is not so easy to create artificial skin for people in need of better-functioning prosthetics to experience the same. Sensory receptors in human skin transmit a wealth of tactile and thermal signals from external environments to the brain yet replication of these sensory characteristics in artificial skin and prosthetics has its challenges. Holding a cup with a prosthetic hand is one thing; being able to tell if it is scalding hot or lukewarm is another. Now a team of scientists from South Korea and the U.S are getting down to work to bring better capabilities of touch for prosthetics.
	WikiGalaxy turns Wikipedia into a galaxy of stars Owen Cornec, an engineering student studying in Paris, has released a web browser application called WikiGalaxy that gives using Wikipedia a whole new spin. He's used a star/galaxy based analog as a basis for the user interface that transforms the mostly text based application to a modern gee-whiz, attention grabbing application that most anyone will find both interesting and fun.
	Organic electronics could lead to cheap, wearable medical sensors (Phys.org) —Future fitness trackers could soon add blood-oxygen levels to the list of vital signs measured with new technology developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley.
	Crowdfunding 101: Researchers use #SciFund Challenge to determine key factors in successful Internet fundraising Everything you know about crowdfunding is wrong, at least according to researchers at UC Santa Barbara. And that, they add, is good news for scientists. Crowdfunding is the practice of financing a project or venture through contributions from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.
	FIDO specs to pave way for post-password era Dedicated to easier yet stronger authentication, the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance announced Tuesday that it has published specifications, for broad industry adoption of strong authentication next year. The standards-delivering consortium formed in July 2012. The mission has been to address a lack of interoperability among strong authentication technologies, and to remedy user problems in creating and remembering multiple usernames and passwords. The new entrants are final 1.0 drafts of two specifications, Universal Authentication Framework (UAF) and Universal 2nd Factor (U2F). Alliance members include device manufacturers, online service providers and enterprise, They can now implement and commercialize the 1.0 specs. The Alliance notice said that "both specifications are unencumbered by FIDO member patents. Members are free to implement and market solutions around FIDO-enabled strong authentication, and non-members are fr! ee to deploy those solutions." Current implementations available in the market include those from Nok Nok Labs, Synaptics, Alibaba, PayPal, Samsung, Google, Yubico and Plug Up.
	Australia to crack down on online pirates Australia's government Wednesday outlined plans to tackle online piracy as it moves to end the country's position as one of the world's top illegal downloaders of television shows such as "Game of Thrones".
Apple trial likely to go on with new plaintiff A billion-dollar class-action lawsuit against Apple will likely continue, after a 65-year-old Massachusetts business consultant read about the plaintiffs' floundering case online and volunteered to represent consumers in the suit.
	California prosecutors sue Uber; Lyft settles California prosecutors sued Uber on Tuesday over the ride-booking company's background checks of drivers and other allegations, adding to the popular startup's worldwide legal woes.
Researchers stymied by hackers who drop fake clues It's a hacker whodunit. Researchers say they have a wealth of clues—but no clear answers—as to the identity of those behind a series of newly discovered cyberattacks targeting Russian and Eastern European embassies, oil companies and military officers.
Thailand partially bans Uber ride-sharing service Thailand has partially banned services by ride-sharing application Uber, authorities said Wednesday, as the US-based car hire business continues to grapple with regulators across the world.
New woes may put brakes on Uber, ride-share growth Uber, the ride-sharing service and Silicon Valley superstar startup, has hit problems around the world which threaten to put the brakes on its spectacular growth.
Sweden targets Pirate Bay again after complaint Swedish police have raided a server room in Stockholm in an action targeting the file-sharing website The Pirate Bay.
	Satellites shed light on solar system—the one on your rooftop You've gone solar! Thousands of dollars worth of photovoltaic panels sit atop your roof, harnessing the sun's energy to power your lights and devices. But has your investment been paying off as richly as it should? A pair of satellites orbiting Earth at about a 10th of the distance to the moon can help you find out.
	Autonomous underwater robot with intelligent 3D cameras for high precision search and tracking in deep seas Okayama University researchers in collaboration with industrial partners have developed an innovative underwater robot incorporating intelligent three-dimensional object recognition CCD technology for autonomous search and tracking operations over long durations of time in open water.
Using analytics to optimize cloud computing performance and cost savings IBM inventors have patented a technique that uses analytics to increase cloud computing performance and reduce costs by dynamically moving workloads—between or within cloud centers—based on an automatic analysis that determines the most efficient and effective use of available resources.
	Software capable of quickly producing 3-D building models Researchers at the UT have developed software which enables users to quickly produce 3D models of buildings for relatively little money. 3D models are used for navigation purposes, training purposes, urban planning and safety, building maintenance and the fitting of solar panels, for example. The software can automatically generate 95% of the detailed 3D building models, thus reducing production costs and lead time. The software is based on research conducted by Biao Xiong, who obtained his doctorate at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) on 5 December. The software is already being used for the provision of 3D maps.
	Thin-film hybrid oxide-organic microprocessor Holst Centre, imec and their partner Evonik have realized a general-purpose 8-bit microprocessor, manufactured using complementary thin-film transistors (TFTs) processed at temperatures compatible with plastic foil substrates (250°C). The new "hybrid" technology integrates two types of semiconductors—metal-oxide for n-type TFTs (iXsenic, Evonik) and organic molecules for p-type TFTs—in a CMOS microprocessor circuit, operating at unprecedented for TFT technologies speed—clock frequency 2.1kHz. The breakthrough results were published online in Scientific Reports, an open access journal from the publisher of Nature.
	Researchers use multiple photos to estimate lighting conditions of outdoor scenes Techniques now used to reconstruct 3D models based on multiple photos of a building, object or scene can also be leveraged to automatically estimate illumination conditions depicted in a collection of photographs, scientists at Disney Research and Université Laval report.
	California sues Uber in startup's latest legal woe California prosecutors sued Uber over the ride-booking company's driver background checks and other allegations, adding to the popular startup's legal woes in the U.S. and around the world.
Prank 'spider dog' video most shared YouTube item A prankster video depicting a dog disguised as a giant spider was the most-shared item on the Google-owned YouTube platform in 2014.
	Congress told US lags other nations on drones Commercial drone flights are taking off in other countries while the U.S. lags behind in developing safety regulations that would permit unmanned aircraft operations by a wide array of industries, witnesses told a House panel Wednesday.
	Artificial life expert: We are in danger of losing control of our technology and our lives Future technology will be more intelligent and more living than most people can imagine today. We need clear guidelines on how to implement and use technology, or else citizens will lose their rights to their identity and their life. This is the prediction by Danish professor and expert in artificial life in a new international book about the future of technology.
'Smart windows' have potential to keep heat out and save energy Windows allow brilliant natural light to stream into homes and buildings. Along with light comes heat that, in warm weather, we often counter with energy-consuming air conditioning. Now scientists are developing a new kind of "smart window" that can block out heat when the outside temperatures rise. The advance, reported in ACS' journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, could one day help consumers better conserve energy on hot days and reduce electric bills.
Students design workstations that accommodate groups and individual New school and office workspace designs created by a group of Penn State engineering students are intended to allow users to share space and materials while maintaining their own work areas—a dual purpose the researchers say has been neglected.
	Instagram hits 300 million users, passes Twitter Instagram, the photo-sharing social network owned by Facebook, announced Wednesday it has more than 300 million users as it unveiled a new system to authenticate celebrity members.
	Historic leap: Navy shipboard laser operates in Persian Gulf Officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today that the laser weapon system (LaWS)—a cutting-edge weapon that brings significant new capabilities to America's Sailors and Marines—was for the first time successfully deployed and operated aboard a naval vessel in the Persian Gulf.
Apple and IBM to help cable guy arrive quicker Apple and IBM, once the most unlikely of allies, on Wednesday announced the first fruits of a partnership aimed at developing new mobile software—and selling more mobile devices—to business customers.
	Pirate Bay offline after raid on Swedish server Swedish police have seized the computer servers hosting file-sharing site The Pirate Bay, taking the notorious website offline, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said on Wednesday.
	Top pilot sees risk in unregulated US drones Small drones pose a danger in US skies so long as clear rules governing their operation are not in place, the head of the world's biggest pilots' union said Wednesday.
	Mazda develops bioplastic for exterior car parts Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a bio-based engineering plastic suitable for exterior automobile parts. The new bioplastic will help Mazda decrease its environmental impact. Made from plant-derived materials, it curbs petroleum use and with it CO2 emissions. And since the bioplastic can be dyed and does not require painting, it also reduces emissions of volatile organic compounds. Dying the material gives the parts a deep hue and smooth, mirror-like finish of a higher quality than can be achieved with a traditional painted plastic.
	New model to predict the thermal performance of vegetal façades After years of monitoring different experimental buildings, a group of researchers from the School of Architecture of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has developed a model that can estimate the thermal performance of vegetal façades. Therefore, this model is an effective tool for assessing energy saving associated with vegetal façades installations in addition to having thermal benefits for the users of these buildings.
	Firefighters' portable radios may fail at elevated temperatures New test results from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) confirm that portable radios used by firefighters can fail to operate properly within 15 minutes when exposed to temperatures that may be encountered during firefighting activities.
	Turning olive oil waste into energy to benefit rural economies A pilot plant capable of converting toxic olive oil waste into heat and electricity has been built at an olive farm in Andalucía. The facility, constructed through the EU-funded BIOGAS2PEM-FC project, was completed in November 2014 and promises to provide economic and environmental benefits to a predominantly agricultural and industrially underdeveloped region of Spain.
	Move over smart cities – the Internet of Things is off to the country Lancaster University is about to take the concept of smart cities out of town. Computer scientists at Lancaster University are investigating how the Internet of Things could work in the countryside.
	Tech summit addresses industry's lack of diversity Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson spent most of this year pressuring the technology industry into facing up to the glaring scarcity of women, blacks and Latinos at companies renowned as great places to work.

Medicine & Health news

	Link between weak magnetic fields from power lines, phones and ill-health called into question Several past studies have suggested that the magnetic fields created by phones, high-voltage power lines and other electrical equipment are harmful for humans.
	Brain inflammation a hallmark of autism, large-scale analysis shows While many different combinations of genetic traits can cause autism, brains affected by autism share a pattern of ramped-up immune responses, an analysis of data from autopsied human brains reveals. The study, a collaborative effort between Johns Hopkins and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, included data from 72 autism and control brains. It will be published online Dec. 10 in the journal Nature Communications.
	Saving old information can boost memory for new information The simple act of saving something, such as a file on a computer, may improve our memory for the information we encounter next, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The research suggests that the act of saving helps to free up cognitive resources that can be used to remember new information.
Researchers unlock protein key to harnessing regenerative power of blood stem cells (Medical Xpress)—UCLA scientists have for the first time identified a protein that plays a key role in regulating how blood stem cells replicate in humans.
	Study pinpoints part of brain that triggers addiction (Medical Xpress)—Activating the brain's amygdala, an almond-shaped mass that processes emotions, can create an addictive, intense desire for sugary foods, a new University of Michigan study found.
	Smoking lights up brain's response differently in men and women (Medical Xpress)—Yale researchers using a new brain imaging analysis method have confirmed that smoking cigarettes activates a dopamine-driven pleasure and satisfaction response differently in men compared to women.
	Next-generation treatment for urinary tract infections may focus on fitness genes Urinary tract infections can occur with no apparent cause, and as effectiveness of antibiotics fades, treating them is also becoming less predictable.
	Rare gene mutations raise risk of early heart attack A team of investigators from the Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and other leading biomedical research institutions has pinpointed rare mutations in a gene called APOA5 that increase a person's risk of having a heart attack early in life. These mutations disable the APOA5 gene and also raise the levels in the blood of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, a type of fat. The researchers' findings, together with other recent genetic discoveries—specifically, the identification of protective mutations in the APOC3 gene that lower triglyceride levels and the risk of heart attack—refocus attention on abnormal triglyceride metabolism as an important risk factor for heart attack at any age. The work—the largest exome sequencing study yet published for any disease—appears this week in the journal Nature.
	Patient's own stem cells could clear a cloudy cornea, study says Treating the potentially blinding haze of a scar on the cornea might be as straightforward as growing stem cells from a tiny biopsy of the patient's undamaged eye and then placing them on the injury site, according to mouse model experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, published today in Science Translational Medicine, could one day rescue vision for millions of people worldwide and decrease the need for corneal transplants.
	Targeting mitochondrial enzyme may reduce chemotherapy drug's cardiac side effects Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have identified two compounds that appear, in cellular and animal models, to block the cardiac damage caused by the important chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. Their report in the Dec. 10 issue of Science Translational Medicine indicates that inhibiting the action of an enzyme that is key to the generation of cellular energy in mitochondria could prevent doxorubicin-induced damage to cardiac cells without reducing the drug's anti-tumor effects.
	Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop in child IQ Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated levels of two common chemicals found in the home—di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP)—had an IQ score, on average, more than six points lower than children exposed at lower levels, according to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
	Myelin linked to speedy recovery of human visual system after tumor removal An interdisciplinary team of neuroscientists and neurosurgeons from the University of Rochester has used a new imaging technique to show how the human brain heals itself in just a few weeks following surgical removal of a brain tumor.
Delayed cancer diagnosis unlikely to be due to poor medical practice Poor professional performance is an unlikely cause of delays in referral for suspected cancer, argue researchers in The BMJ this week.
Can doctors be trained in a 48-hour working week? Since August 2009 all UK trainee doctors have been restricted to a 48 hour week, but some say this has had negative effects on the quantity and quality of medical training. Is there any evidence to substantiate these fears? Doctors discuss the issue in The BMJ this week.
Insulin dosage for type 2 diabetes linked with increased death risk In a report published today in the journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, researchers from Cardiff University were also able to show a correlation between patients treated with a higher dosage of insulin and a raised risk of cancer development, heart attacks and stroke.
	Brain reward circuits respond differently to two kinds of sugar The brain responds differently to two kinds of sugar, according to a report today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology annual meeting in Phoenix Arizona. The study suggests that fructose heightens the response of brain reward circuits to food cues, promoting feeding behavior.
Alcohol-control law may curb partner abuse Communities with fewer places to buy or drink alcohol also tend to have lower rates of intimate partner violence, new evidence suggests.
	Male breast cancer is different (HealthDay)—Men's breast cancer differs in some ways from women's, new research finds.
	Continued metformin beneficial for diabetes with cirrhosis (HealthDay)—Continuation of metformin therapy may improve survival in diabetes patients who are diagnosed with cirrhosis, according to research published in the December issue of Hepatology.
	Depression, anxiety tied to T-wave abnormalities (HealthDay)—Depression and anxiety are independently, yet oppositely, associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) T-wave inversions, according to a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Postural sway mediated by low back pain, not fear of pain (HealthDay)—Changes in postural sway are caused by low back pain (LBP), but not pain-related fear, indicating that pain control should be a treatment component in the rehabilitation process to restore optimal postural control, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of Spine.
	Basophil reactivity to allergens varies by time of day (HealthDay)—Circadian variations in gene expression may contribute to temporal variations in the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, according to research published online Dec. 2 in Allergy.
	Too much TV time may lower colorectal CA survival odds (HealthDay)—Watching too much television may lower odds of survival after colorectal cancer, new research suggests. The findings were published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Drug proves effective against antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' A treatment pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) is far more effective than traditional antibiotics at inhibiting the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, including so-called "superbugs" resistant to almost all existing antibiotics, which plague hospitals and nursing homes.
	Lawmakers wary of genetically modified food labels The food industry is likely to find a receptive Congress come January in its fight against mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods.
	Congress relaxes whole grain standards for schools Congress is taking some whole grains off the school lunch line.
	Bio-hybrid dental implant that restores the physiological tooth functions Our bodies function thanks to the smooth integration of different organs within the surrounding tissues. One challenge of creating artificial organs is to mimic the comprehensive organ function. Bio-hybrid implants are the way to go, but so far they have not been able to fully integrate into the living tissue and perform the same functions as real biological organs. Now Takashi Tsuji and collaborators at several institutions in Japan have developed a bio-hybrid dental implant that restores the physiological tooth functions by using a conventional dental implant and dental follicle stem cells as a bio-hybrid organ.
Study of generic antiepilepsy drugs finds minimal differences A comparison of two of the most disparate approved generic antiepileptic drugs found minimal differences when compared under rigorous testing procedures in people with epilepsy, according to research presented by a University of Cincinnati (UC) clinician-researcher.
Baby steps to easing labour pain One in three women experience severe back pain during labour and birth, but that might change thanks to a safe, simple and effective treatment developed by University of Queensland researchers.
	E-cigs catching on in Connecticut schools, new study shows One in four Connecticut high school students surveyed report having tried an e-cigarette, a Yale-led study has found.
	Study finds social media to be potentially addictive, associated with substance abuse A recent University at Albany study has concluded that excessive use of online social networking can not only be addictive, but may also be associated with other impulse control disorders, including substance abuse.
Healthcare lessons learned in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 Fourteen years after the attack on the World Trade Center (WTC),  a case study in the current issue of Annals of Global Health identifies several elements that have had a critical impact on the evolution of the WTC response and, directly or indirectly, on the health of the WTC-exposed population. The case study also recounts and assesses post-disaster monitoring efforts, recent scientific findings from the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), and explores the implications of these experiences for ongoing and future environmental disaster response.
	Early trial of new drug shows promise for patients with triple-negative breast cancer In patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer—a disease with no approved targeted therapies—infusion of pembrolizumab produced durable responses in almost one out of five patients enrolled in a phase-Ib clinical trial, according to data presented Dec. 10, at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
	Self-doubt hampers disaster preparation efforts People who are indecisive rather than anxious are more likely to be under-prepared for disasters, such as bushfires, according to a recent study.
Significantly higher levels of brominated flame retardants in toddlers compared to their mothers Toddlers are more exposed to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) at home than their mothers, shows a new doctoral thesis from Stockholm University.
	Mutations drive unrestrained secretion Benign tumors in the pituitary gland lead to uncontrolled secretion of the stress hormone cortisol by the cells of the adrenal cortex. An international research effort has now characterized a new mechanism that triggers the syndrome.
	Awake, online and sleep-deprived – the rise of the teenage 'vamper' About three years ago, a teenage girl was talking with me and other students about using her cell phone late at night. She told us how she waited until her parents were asleep, then spent at least four hours every night texting with her friends. Her parents thought she was asleep in bed. "I'd sleep a few hours, then get up at 6am," she told me. "My parents always thought I had slept through the night and was just the first one up." The kicker? She reported doing this virtually every night.
	Half of English women are taking prescribed medicines Results published today in the latest Health Survey for England show that 50% of women and 43% of men reported taking at least one prescribed medicine in the past week. 22% of men and 24% of women reported taking at least three prescribed medicines in the past week. These figures exclude smoking cessation products and contraception.
A new study to show why young people with diabetes develop heart damage A new study led by a research team at Leicester's Hospitals hope to reveal, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), why young people with Type-2 diabetes develop heart damage.
Immune function marker does not predict benefit of trastuzumab in HER-2+ breast cancer A marker of immune function that predicts for better outcomes in patients treated with chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer is also linked to improved prognosis in patients treated with chemotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer. But that marker—the quantity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (S-TILs) in a biopsy—appears irrelevant when trastuzumab is used.
	Researchers propose better substances for treating the dengue virus Researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg are proposing potential new active substances for treating the dengue virus. Just like Ebola, dengue fever is also caused by a virus for which there is currently no cure and no vaccine and can be fatal.
New study uses DNA to solve mystery of sudden unexplained death Researchers at the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) have launched a clinical trial aimed at cracking one of the toughest mysteries in forensic science—sudden unexplained death.
	Time names Ebola fighters as 'person' of 2014 Time magazine on Wednesday named as its "Person of the Year 2014" the healthcare workers treating the Ebola epidemic, which has killed more than 6,300 people worldwide, in a move welcomed by the White House.
Revolutionary new procedure for epilepsy diagnosis unlocked by research Pioneering new research by the University of Exeter could revolutionise global diagnostic procedures for one of the most common forms of epilepsy.
	New breast cancer classification based on epigenetics Breast cancer is the most common in women. One in nine will suffer breast cancer over their lifetime. Progress in prevention and early detection, and the use of chemotherapy after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy), have achieved significantly increase survival in this disease in the last ten years, but much remains to be done.
Lifestyle the key to gap in cardiac patient outcomes Patients suffering from the world's most common heart rhythm disorder can have their long-term outcomes significantly improved with an aggressive management of their underlying cardiac risk factors, according to University of Adelaide researchers.
	Supplement could reduce heart disease risk in people of low birth weight A simple supplement could be a safe and cost-effective way of reducing heart disease in individuals born with a low birth weight, suggests research from the University of Cambridge. The study, carried out in rats, also raises the possibility of developing a blood test to indicate how much damage there is in the aortas of these individuals.
	Most women with early-stage breast cancer in US receive radiation for too long Two-thirds of women treated for early-stage breast cancer in the U.S. receive longer radiation therapy than necessary, according to a new study published in JAMA this week from Penn Medicine researchers Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, and Justin E. Bekelman, MD. Their findings reveal that the vast majority of women after breast conserving surgery receive six to seven weeks of radiation therapy, despite multiple randomized trials and professional society guidelines showing that three weeks of radiation - called hypofractionated whole breast radiation - is just as clinically effective, more convenient, and less costly.
US taxpayers bear financial burden of smoking-related disease Cigarette smoking generates as much as $170 billion in annual health care spending in the United States, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Georgia State University's School of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and RTI International.
	NYU Langone performs first US implant of patient-specific rod for spinal deformities In early November, NYU Langone Medical Center became the first hospital in the U.S. to implant a patient with a new customized osteosynthesis rod precisely designed and manufactured preoperatively to properly realign the individual's spine, which had been severely deformed from scoliosis since childhood.
Study finds link between government healthcare spending and maternal mortality rates across the EU Reductions in government healthcare spending in the European Union (EU) are associated with increased maternal mortality rates, suggests a new paper published today (10 December) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG). However, if skilled birth attendants are in place, the association disappears, highlighting the potential importance of maternal care, finds the research.
How long can Ebola live? The Ebola virus travels from person to person through direct contact with infected body fluids. But how long can the virus survive on glass surfaces or countertops? How long can it live in wastewater when liquid wastes from a patient end up in the sewage system? In an article published Dec. 9 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Kyle Bibby of the University of Pittsburgh reviews the latest research to find answers to these questions.
CWRU nursing school develops how-to exercise pamphlet for people with MS Fatigue and pain, along with other symptoms, prevent many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) from exercising. But a new how-to guide for a home-based exercise program, tested by researchers at Case Western Reserve University's nursing school and the Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, offers a way for people with MS to stay more physically active.
	New insight into cancer defense mechanism Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified a new mechanism which gives a better understanding of cancer development. The results have just been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Internet searches can predict volume of ER visits The correlation between Internet searches on a regional medical website and next-day visits to regional emergency departments was "significant," suggesting that Internet data may be used in the future to predict the level of demand at emergency departments. The first study to use Internet data to predict emergency department visits in either a region or a single hospital was published online Friday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
	Biomarker discovery sheds new light on heart attack risk of arthritis drugs A class of drug for treating arthritis - all but shelved over fears about side effects - may be given a new lease of life, following the discovery of a possible way to identify which patients should avoid using it.
Testosterone may contribute to colon cancer tumor growth Previous cancer research has revealed that women are less likely than men to suffer from non-sex specific cancers such as cancer of the colon, pancreas and stomach. Scientists theorized that perhaps this trend was due to a protecting effect created by female hormones, such as estrogen, that help prevent tumors from forming. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found evidence suggesting that the male hormone testosterone may actually be a contributing factor in the formation of colon cancer tumors.
	Patients given less blood during transfusions do well Patients with heart disease who receive transfusions during surgeries do just as well with smaller amounts of blood and face no greater risk of dying from other diseases than patients who received more blood, according to a new Rutgers study.
	A better biomonitor for children with asthma For the firefighters and rescue workers conducting the rescue and cleanup operations at Ground Zero from September 2001 to May 2002, exposure to hazardous airborne particles led to a disturbing "WTC cough"—obstructed airways and inflammatory bronchial hyperactivity—and acute inflammation of the lungs. At the time, bronchoscopy, the insertion of a fiber optic bronchoscope into the lung, was the only way to obtain lung samples. But this method is highly invasive and impractical for screening large populations.
	The ups and downs of support from friends when teens experience peer victimization There are pros and cons to the support that victimized teenagers get from their friends. Depending on the type of aggression they are exposed to, such support may reduce youth's risk for depressive symptoms. On the other hand, it may make some young people follow the delinquent example of their friends, says a team of researchers from the University of Kansas in the US, led by John Cooley. Their findings are published in Springer's Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment.
	Pathway that degrades holiday turkey fuels metastasis of triple negative breast cancer A University of Colorado Cancer Center study being presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium shows that triple negative breast cancer cells process tryptophan to promote survival while traveling through the body in order to seed new tumor sites.
New drug combination for advanced breast cancer delays disease progression A new combination of cancer drugs delayed disease progression for patients with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, according to a multi-center phase II trial. The findings of the randomized study (S6-03) were presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 6-9, by Kerin Adelson, M.D., assistant professor of medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center and chief quality officer at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.
	Microbiologists discover how gut bacterial resources are hijacked to promote intestinal illnesses UT Southwestern Medical Center microbiologists have identified key bacteria in the gut whose resources are hijacked to spread harmful foodborne E. coli infections and other intestinal illnesses.
	Merck advancing breast cancer drug to mid-stage Drugmaker Merck & Co. said Wednesday that it will advance a new cancer drug into bigger patient tests, after promising findings in an early study against a very aggressive, common type of breast cancer.
	Can poor sleep lead to dementia? People who have sleep apnea or spend less time in deep sleep may be more likely to have changes in the brain that are associated with dementia, according to a new study published in the December 10, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Commonly prescribed painkiller not effective in controlling lower back pain A new study out today in the journal Neurology shows that pregabalin is not effective in controlling the pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis, the most common type of chronic lower back pain in older adults.
Progesterone offers no significant benefit in traumatic brain injury clinical trial Treatment of acute traumatic brain injury with the hormone progesterone provides no significant benefit to patients when compared with placebo, a NIH-funded phase III clinical trial has concluded.
Is care best in West? Racial gaps in Medicare Advantage persist across US, except in West Despite years of effort to help American seniors with high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes get their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar under control, new research shows wide gaps between older people of different ethnic backgrounds in all three of these key health measures.
Novel fMRI technique identifies HIV-associated cognitive decline before symptoms occur A five-minute functional MRI (fMRI) test can pick up neuronal dysfunction in HIV-positive individuals who don't yet exhibit cognitive decline, say neuroscientists and clinicians at Georgetown University Medical Center.
How to achieve health equity Despite recent significant gains in health care access throughout the nation, people of color continue to grapple with a disproportionate burden of chronic disease. Two studies in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) indicate that differences in how care is delivered to patients in various racial or ethnic groups have narrowed nationally, but health outcomes remain worse for blacks than for whites.
	Racial and ethnic disparities narrow for acute care A study of more than 12 million acute care hospitalizations over a five-year span found that as quality improved on each of 17 measures so did racial and ethnic equity. Nine major disparities evident in 2005 had mostly or totally disappeared by the end of 2010.
Study finds eczema, short stature not associated overall Eczema, an itchy chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, was not associated overall with short stature in an analysis of data from several studies, although a small group of children and adolescents with severe eczema who do not get enough sleep may have potentially reversible growth impairment, according to a study published online by JAMA Dermatology.
Islet cell transplantation after pancreas removal may help preserve normal blood sugar Surgery to remove all or part of the pancreas and then transplant a patient's own insulin-producing islet cells appears to be a safe and effective final measure to alleviate pain from severe chronic pancreatitis and to help prevent surgically induced diabetes, according to a report published online by JAMA Surgery.
	Many kids with open bone breaks can heal safely without surgery Many children who sustain so-called open bone fractures in the forearm or lower leg can, and do, heal safely without surgery, according to the results of a small study led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
	Alcohol interferes with body's ability to regulate sleep, researchers find Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that drinking alcohol to fall asleep interferes with sleep homeostasis, the body's sleep-regulating mechanism.
New HPV vaccine strengthens cancer protection The drugmaker Merck & Co. Inc. has received approval for an updated version of its Gardasil vaccine that protects against an additional five strains of the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer.
Novel approach for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer reported Loyola researchers and collaborators have reported promising results from a novel therapeutic approach for women with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Meniscus regenerated with 3-D printed implant Columbia University Medical Center researchers have devised a way to replace the knee's protective lining, called the meniscus, using a personalized 3D-printed implant, or scaffold, infused with human growth factors that prompt the body to regenerate the lining on its own. The therapy, successfully tested in sheep, could provide the first effective and long-lasting repair of damaged menisci, which occur in millions of Americans each year and can lead to debilitating arthritis. The paper was published today in the online edition of Science Translational Medicine.
	Study finds low weight gain in pregnant women reduces male fetal survival The amount of weight a woman gains during pregnancy can be vitally important—especially if she's carrying a boy—according to a study by researchers at the University of Georgia released today in PLOS ONE, an open access peer-reviewed journal published by the Public Library of Science.
Boosting chemical by-product of dietary fiber fermentation in gut slims and trims Boosting levels of a naturally produced by-product of dietary fiber fermentation in the bowel can help trim the waistline and stave off weight gain, reveals a small study published online in the journal Gut.
	Anti-smoking campaign successful and cost-effective, CDC says (HealthDay)—A national anti-smoking campaign featuring tips from former smokers was highly successful and cost-effective, a new study reports.
	Anticoagulation seen in about half of sub-segmental PE cases (HealthDay)—Sub-segmental pulmonary embolism (SSPE) represents a substantial burden of total pulmonary embolisms (PEs), according to research published online Dec. 1 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
BMJ investigation sheds light on alleged NHS privatisation since government reforms One-third of NHS contracts have been awarded to private sector providers since the Health and Social Care Act came into force, finds an investigation by The BMJ today.
Most exaggeration in health news is already present in academic press releases Most exaggeration in health related science news is already present in academic press releases, finds a study published in The BMJ this week.
Annual NHS spend on management consultancy has doubled since 2010 Annual NHS spending on management consultancy has doubled from £313m to £640m between 2010 and 2014, despite a promise by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to 'slash' spending after the 2010 election, reveals an article in The BMJ this week.
Experts call for faster mobilization of 'overlooked' survivors to contain Ebola epidemic In an editorial published online today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, experts from the Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Columbia University, New York, are calling for survivors of the Ebola epidemic to be mobilised in a bid to hasten containment of the disease.
Baby born in flight aboard airliner over US A Southwest Airlines flight landed in Los Angeles with one more passenger than when it took off.
China mulling cigarette tax increase to curb smoking China's government is likely to raise cigarette taxes in order to boost prices and deter smoking, an official said Wednesday, amid a push by the nation of 300 million smokers to crack down on the habit.
	Topical steroid cream leads to improved treatment for cancer patients Researchers have shown how a topical steroid cream frequently used  to treat common skin conditions, can be used to improve dermatitis in cancer patients.
On Target Laboratories begins Phase 2 clinical trials for its cancer imaging agent Officials at On Target Laboratories LLC, whose fluorescent imaging technology could help surgeons remove more cancerous tissue than previously possible, have announced that patients are being enrolled in a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of the OTL38 imaging agent in patients with ovarian cancer.
	Breaking down barriers to healthcare for the incarcerated UConn has recently established a new collaboration to improve healthcare for a vulnerable population with complex medical issues.
Report calls for better work experience opportunities for doctors of the future More work experience opportunities and better outreach activities are key in addressing the shortage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds considering a career in medicine, says a report today.
Guidelines for treatment of Ebola patients are urgently needed As the Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD) epidemic continues to rage in West Africa, infectious diseases experts call attention to the striking lack of treatment guidelines. With over 16,000 total cases and more than 500 new infections reported per week, and probable underreporting of both cases and fatalities, the medical community still does not have specific approved treatment in place for Ebola, according to an editorial published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
	Sierra Leonean docs strike again over Ebola care Sierra Leone's junior doctors went on strike for a second day Tuesday, a move they dubbed a "tactical retreat" to demand better care for medical workers who catch Ebola after a spate of deaths.
Home births minimise the risk of medical intervention and hospital infection Research published in Health, Risk & Society discusses why home birth rates remain so low despite evidence that they minimise the risk of medical intervention and hospital infection.
Daclatasvir for hepatitis C: Added benefit not proven The drug daclatasvir (trade name Daklinza) has been available since August 2014 for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.
'We were slow': WHO admits mistakes in Ebola response The head of the World Health Organization conceded on Wednesday that the UN body was slow to respond to the outbreak of Ebola that has now killed more than 6,300 people in west Africa.
More meds, limited literacy reduces adherence to drug regimen by liver transplant patients New research reports that liver transplant recipients with less understanding of treatment information and improper use of medications may be more likely to have trouble following the prescribed regimen. According to the study published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, the patients' non-adherence is linked to adverse clinical outcomes, such as organ rejection or graft loss.
A strong, year-end finish for the pharmaceutical industry As 2014 comes to a close, pharmaceutical companies have much to celebrate. An article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, takes a look back at the milestones the drug industry hit this year, some of its stumbles and what it could mean for patients.
Liberian president: Help needed to stamp out Ebola Liberia is making progress against Ebola but stamping out the epidemic will be difficult, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told U.S. lawmakers Wednesday.
Thyroid hormones reduce animal cardiac arrhythmias Rats that received thyroid hormones had a reduced risk for dangerous heart arrhythmias following a heart attack, according to a new study by a team of medical researchers at New York Institute of Technology.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists may treat alcohol dependence Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptor proteins that regulate the expression of genes. Drugs that activate PPARs - PPAR agonists - are used to treat diabetes and elevated blood lipids. Given previous rodent research, this study examined the effects of different classes of PPAR agonists on chronic alcohol intake and preference in mice with a genetic predisposition for heavy drinking, and then examined genome-wide association data for polymorphisms in PPAR genes in alcohol-dependent (AD) humans. Findings indicate potential for repurposing FDA-approved PPARα or PPARγ agonists for the treatment of AD.
	Congressional deal upends pot legalization in DC Elected officials and drug-policy advocates hoped to make the nation's capital the first place on the East Coast with legal pot. They wanted to use the District of Columbia as further encouragement for states to make their own marijuana laws, and they were optimistic that Congress wouldn't intervene, pointing to a Republican caucus that's far from unified against pot.
Gilead faces lawsuit over hepatitis C drug pricing Philadelphia's Transportation Authority has filed a lawsuit against Gilead Sciences Inc. over the pricing of its hepatitis C drug.
Ebola lockdown in eastern Sierra Leone mining district Sierra Leone authorities imposed a two-week lockdown on the eastern diamond mining district of Kono Wednesday after eight cases of Ebola were confirmed in one day.
	Doctors face steep Medicaid cuts as fee boost ends Primary care doctors caring for low-income patients will face steep fee cuts next year as a temporary program in President Barack Obama's health care law expires. That could squeeze access just when millions of new patients are gaining Medicaid coverage.
Ebola death toll climbs to 6,388 as S.Leone cases soar Nearly 6,400 people have now died from Ebola, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, amid a ballooning case load in Sierra Leone.

Biology news

	Researchers document aviary eggshell with iridescence for the first time (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from New Zealand, Czech Republic and the U.S. has documented for the first time an example of an aviary egg that has iridescence. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the team describes their study of eggs laid by great tinamou, which revealed the nature of the egg coloring.
	Dragonflies on the hunt display complex choreography The dragonfly is a swift and efficient hunter. Once it spots its prey, it takes about half a second to swoop beneath an unsuspecting insect and snatch it from the air. Scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have used motion-capture techniques to track the details of that chase, and found that a dragonfly's movement is guided by internal models of its own body and the anticipated movement of its prey. Similar internal models are used to guide behavior in humans.
	Can organic crops compete with industrial agriculture? A systematic overview of more than 100 studies comparing organic and conventional farming finds that the crop yields of organic agriculture are higher than previously thought. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, also found that certain practices could further shrink the productivity gap between organic crops and conventional farming.
	Fathering offspring is more than just a race to the egg The chance of a male fathering offspring may not be a simple race to the egg, but is influenced by the length of the male's sperm, say scientists from the University of Sheffield.
	You are what you eat—if you're a coral reef fish In a world first study researchers have found a coral-eating fish that disguises its smell to hide from predators.
	Study shows embryos can learn Pond snails are able to sense chemicals released by their predators whilst they are still embryos in the egg and alter their behaviour accordingly, according to new research.
	Regions in the genome cause infertility in some hybrids of house mouse subspecies Three from one: Half a million years ago, the house mouse, Mus musculus, split into three subspecies, two of which are native to Europe. Within a transition zone, the two European forms interbreed to produce hybrids that are less fertile than their purebred kin. Two scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön have now identified sections in the genomes of such hybrid mice that reduce the animals' fertility. The genes control testicular gene activity and testicular weight. The researchers' analysis uncovered a complex web of interactions between various gene regions that can suppress reproduction between the hybrids in the course of evolution. Consequently, the mouse forms continue to diverge until the two subspecies give rise to entirely distinct species.
	Biologist addresses ways in which management efforts can shape predator-prey interactions A sex-changing fish called California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) plays a vital role in the food web of kelp forests along the Pacific coast. Commonly found in the waters from Baja California to Point Conception—although they can sometimes be found as far north as Monterey Bay—sheephead feed on sea urchins, whose grazing habits can wreak havoc on community composition in kelp forests.
	Discovery links shift in metabolism to stem cell renewal Stem cells in early embryos have unlimited potential; they can become any type of cell, and researchers hope to one day harness this rejuvenating power to heal disease and injury. To do so, they must, among other things, figure out how to reliably arrest stem cells in a Peter Pan-like state of indefinite youth and potential. It's clear the right environment can help accomplish this, acting as a sort of Neverland for stem cells. Only now are scientists beginning to understand how.
Molecular tag team revealed to control cell division In a ground-breaking paper published in Nature, they show that the three protein complexes act in relay to regulate cell division: reactivation of one leads to the second becoming active.
	Research reveals structure of key CRISPR complex Using a gene-editing system originally developed to delete specific genes, MIT researchers have now shown that they can reliably turn on any gene of their choosing in living cells.
New method solves centuries-old animal mystery Most animal embryos contain three layers of cells that transform into every part of the body—from brains to bones to guts. Since the 19th century, biologists have been puzzling over which of these layers came first in animal evolution. We now have the answer, thanks to a powerful 21st-century technology developed at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and deciphering the secrets of evolution may have a side benefit in helping to understand cancer.
	Worms' mental GPS helps them find food You've misplaced your cell phone. You start by scanning where you remember leaving it: on your bureau. You check and double-check the bureau before expanding your search around and below the bureau. Eventually, you switch from this local area to a more global one, widening your search to the rest of your room and beyond.
	Humpback whales increasing in waters near NYC Maybe they want to sing on Broadway. Humpback whales, the gigantic, endangered mammals known for their haunting underwater songs, have been approaching New York City in greater numbers than even old salts can remember.
	Seed germination regulators for optimising harvests The timing of seed germination is crucial for optimising harvests. Pre-harvest sprouting is prevented when seeds enter a dormant state, but a high level of dormancy has economic repercussions. Now, using RNA and sequence analysis and comparisons with other plants, researchers at Okayama University have unravelled some of the mechanisms regulating seed maturation and dormancy in wheat.
	The utility of mathematical models in evolutionary biology Despite their important role as "proof-of-concept" tests in evolutionary research, mathematical models are commonly misunderstood in the biology research community.
	Tiny possum discovered in national park near Albany One of Australia's most endearing marsupials, the tiny western pygmy possum, has been discovered for the first time in Albany's Torndirrup National Park by a research team from The University of Western Australia examining the pollination of native plants by mammals.
	Rhino species to die unless science can help The task was never going to be easy: Fly four highly endangered rhinos from a Czech Republic zoo to East Africa, drive them to the savannah grasses of Mount Kenya and hope that the natural environment helps produce a calf, staving off extinction.
	Sowing sandalwood seeds bolsters ailing populations Long-term studies in the Murchison and Goldfields have revealed populations of the aromatic sandalwood tree (Santalum spicatum) are at risk of dying out in some areas.
	Sea urchins from Antarctica show adaptation to ocean acidification A study of sea urchins from the Antarctic Peninsula has revealed an ability to adapt to changing conditions such as rising sea temperature and acidification. Writing in the Journal of Animal Ecology the authors set out to answer important and fundamental questions on how life in the ocean will respond to projected changes in the coming decades.
	Ancient creature discovered in the depths of the Arctic Ocean In the depths of the Arctic Ocean, buried deep in the sediment, an ancient creature waited for over a million years to be discovered. Paul Valentich-Scott, from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (California), and three scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS, Menlo Park, California), Charles L. Powell, Brian D. Edwards, and Thomas D. Lorenson were up to the challenge. Each with different expertise, they were able to collect, analyze, and identify a new genus and new species of bivalve mollusk.
	Climate change projected to drive species northward Anticipated changes in climate will push West Coast marine species from sharks to salmon northward an average of 30 kilometers per decade, shaking up fish communities and shifting fishing grounds, according to a new study published in Progress in Oceanography.
	Fungus-growing ants selectively cultivate their crops Ever since agriculture evolved ca 10.000 years ago, plants have been artificially selected to become the fast growing and highly productive varieties we know today. However, humans were not the first to see merit in cultivating their own food, as ants have been doing this for 50 million years.
	Sharing that crowded holiday flight with countless hitchhiking dust mites As if holiday travel isn't stressful enough. Now University of Michigan researchers say we're likely sharing that already overcrowded airline cabin with countless tiny creatures including house dust mites.
	Reducing arsenic accumulation in rice grains Arsenic is a highly toxic element derived from both natural and human sources, the accumulation of which can trigger cancer and skin diseases in humans. A key human health concern is the contamination of drinking water and soils with arsenic, a phenomenon which is particularly prevalent in South and South-East Asia where rice is grown in contaminated water and soils. Rice plants are particularly good at absorbing arsenic, and the chemical accumulates heavily in the rice grains, subsequently transferring to the food chain.
	Veterinary researchers deliver pain medicine to piglets through sow's milk Veterinary researchers at Iowa State University have devised a novel means of delivering pain medication to piglets through the milk of the mother sow as the piglets nurse.
	New research could help the welfare of working animals With over 42 million horses and 95 per cent of the world's donkeys found in developing countries, new research could change the health and welfare of millions of working animals in some of the poorest parts of the world.
Poppies fade from Flanders fields as Europe's plant life changes One hundred years after the outbreak of the First World War, the flower that has come to symbolise the lives lost in conflict – the poppy – is disappearing from former battle fields of northern France and Belgian Flanders. Ecologists who have been studying the dramatic changes that have occurred in Europe's plant biodiversity will present their findings at this week's joint BES/SFE conference in Lille.
	Rare canine open-heart surgery succeeds Last April, Dylan Raskin's Japanese Chin, Esme, was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation, a fatal condition that causes backflow of blood in the heart's chambers. Though veterinarians initially treated the condition with pills, the dog's heart failure became worse, leading specialists to predict just a few more months of life for Esme.
	Protecting biodiversity The Congo Basin is an unruly ribbon of tropical forest: Over a million square miles spanning six countries in Central Africa, running inward along the equator from the continent's western coast. It is the second-largest contiguous tropical forest in the world. The basin is home to the classics of African wildlife—chimpanzees, elephants, gorillas—along with thousands of other less well-known species: pale, long-legged Golden Puddle Frogs, hook-beaked Olive Sunbirds, and squat Blue Duikers, which look like shrunken antelopes.
With experience, people can tell bears apart Studying the social interaction of bears through the use of camera traps and visual observations requires that humans be able to tell individuals apart. A study done using volunteers to study the vulnerable Andean bear indicates that people can learn to identify individual bears, given a little practice. The research, done by San Diego Zoo conservationists with international collaborators using photos spanning many years, also indicates that young bears usually retain many of their unique markings as they grow older.

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