Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 2

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 2, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Nuclear pasta may offer insight into strange world of neutron stars
- Language study offers new twist on mind-body connection
- Engineers use disorder to control light on a nanoscale
- One good turn: Birds swap energy-sapping lead role
- Wrinkle predictions: New mathematical theory may explain patterns in fingerprints, raisins, and microlenses
- Team shows how 'spontaneous' social norms emerge
- Best of Last Week – Popper's experiment realized again, unboiling eggs and the connection between Craigslist and HIV
- New reset button discovered for circadian clock
- Genetic switch regulates transcription and replication in human mitochondria
- To speed up magma, add water
- To save your energy while strolling, walk this sway
- Graphene displays clear prospects for flexible electronics
- Physicists reach new milestone measuring half-life of iron-60
- Winding borders may enhance graphene
- Scientists view effect of whisker tickling on mouse brains

Astronomy & Space news

	Historic balloon flight ends off Mexican coast Troy Bradley might have been exhausted and a bit dehydrated, but the words printed on his T-shirt said it all: "Failure is not an option."
	NASA launches groundbreaking soil moisture mapping satellite (Update) NASA successfully launched its first Earth satellite designed to collect global observations of the vital soil moisture hidden just beneath our feet.
	'Live fast, die young' galaxies lose the gas that keeps them alive Galaxies can die early because the gas they need to make new stars is suddenly ejected, research published today suggests.
	An infrared atlas of interacting galaxies Most galaxies, including our own Milky Way, have been influenced by an interaction with another galaxy at some time in their past. Interactions between galaxies can trigger an increase in star-formation activity as well an increased level of activity around the nuclear black hole. These general behaviors have been reproduced in simulations of merging galaxies, lending confidence to our understanding of the physical mechanisms at work. But not all interactions lead to such enhancements, and the reasons are not well understood; meanwhile the strength of the triggering mechanism(s) and many other details remain puzzling.
	India tests long-range missile from mobile launcher India on Saturday succeeded for the first time in using a mobile launcher to test-fire a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead deep inside rival China.
Japan launches new spy satellite Japan on Sunday successfully launched a back-up spy satellite, its aerospace agency said, after cancelling an earlier lift-off due to bad weather.
	Russia launches British comms satellite into space Russia on Sunday carried out its first space launch of the year, using its commercial Proton rocket to send a British satellite into orbit.
	Balloon pilots arrive in New Mexico after historic flight Two pilots who completed a record-breaking flight across the Pacific Ocean in a helium-filled balloon returned to New Mexico on Sunday to the sounds of mariachi music and an enthusiastic welcome
	Mining the moon becomes a serious prospect With an estimated 1.6 billion tonnes of water ice at its poles and an abundance of rare-earth elements hidden below its surface, the moon is rich ground for mining.
	Iran launches first satellite since 2012 Iran launched an observation satellite Monday—its first since 2012—with President Hassan Rouhani declaring it safely entered orbit and that he had personally ordered the mission.
	Image: Hubble's view of the polar ring of Arp 230 This image shows Arp 230, also known as IC 51, observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
	Exploring the universe with nuclear power In the past four decades, NASA and other space agencies from around the world have accomplished some amazing feats. Together, they have sent manned missions to the Moon, explored Mars, mapped Venus and Mercury, conducted surveys and captured breathtaking images of the Outer Solar System. However, looking ahead to the next generation of exploration and the more-distant frontiers that remain to be explored, it is clear that new ideas need to be put forward of how to quickly and efficiently reach those destinations.
	Image: XMM-Newton and Hubble view of Jupiter's ghost Names of astronomical objects are often ambiguous, especially when the historical designation of a certain class of celestial body preceded their physical understanding and was based on their appearance in the sky.
	Where is Rosetta's lander and when will it wake up? Ever since Philae touched down on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November the search has been on to identify it in images. While the CONSERT instrument has helped to narrow down a 350 x 30 m 'landing strip' on Comet 67P/C-G's smaller lobe, a dedicated search in OSIRIS images has so far not been able to confirm the little lander's final location.
	Zebrafish flex their muscles for research aboard the International Space Station Although zebrafish are not deadlifting weights in orbit, they are helping researchers learn about muscle changes during their stay aboard the International Space Station. This impacts not only the fish, but also the crew and can have implications for Earth-related muscle challenges too. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Zebrafish Muscle investigation observes the effects of microgravity on the zebrafish, Danio rerio, a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family.
	NASA hails spending boost under Obama budget proposal NASA on Monday hailed a proposal by President Barack Obama to boost spending for the US space agency and announced plans for a mission to explore Jupiter's moon, Europa.

Technology news

	Aircraft set for minute-by-minute tracking All commercial flights worldwide could soon send out an automated signal every minute in times of distress to help rescuers find downed aircraft more easily.
	Just whose Internet is it? New federal rules may answer that Whose Internet is it anyway?
	Researchers are working on new smart cameras to help the visually impaired Standing in the grocery store, you scan the peanut butter jars looking for the one on your list. Your eyes flit from label to label until they land on the familiar red, blue and green jar, and you reach to pick it up and place it in your cart. Then, it's on to the next item on your list.
	Biologists partner bacterium with nitrogen gas to produce more, cleaner bioethanol Indiana University biologists believe they have found a faster, cheaper and cleaner way to increase bioethanol production by using nitrogen gas, the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, in place of more costly industrial fertilizers. The discovery could save the industry millions of dollars and make cellulosic ethanol - made from wood, grasses and inedible parts of plants - more competitive with corn ethanol and gasoline.
IBM boss gets bonus despite company's woes IBM boss Virginia Rometty will get a $3.6 million bonus for her performance last year, even though the company's sales and profits declined in 2014.
AT&T, Verizon get more airwaves: Expect more mobile capacity Consumers may see improved networks after AT&T and Verizon, the two largest U.S. wireless companies, spent billions in the government's latest airwaves auction.
US to provide privacy group with memo on surveillance The Justice Department has agreed to turn over a legal opinion regarding government surveillance and census data after a years-long court fight with a privacy group.
Uber says outside review shows customer data safe, private Uber Technologies says that if you catch a ride with one of its drivers, your personal and financial data are safe—from Uber itself.
	Fitness game for the physically impaired Modern IT has the potential to make fitness training more varied for people with physi- cal limitations. But what exactly is required? Fraunhofer put this question to thalidomide victims, and developed new IT-based fitness training technology in close collaboration with them. The method motivates users with elements found in computer games.
	Scalable electric drive for heavy vehicles Although electric cars meet current trends, driving axles are still too heavy, too expensive and too large for them. To address this situation, Fraunhofer researchers joined forces with partners to design an optimized axle module for commercial vehicles. It is powerful, lightweight, compact and cost-effective.
	Finding valuable materials in metallurgical dumps Since metallic raw materials are scarce in Germany, it is reliant on imports. Yet some of these valuable materials are lying around unnoticed in dumps. Fraunhofer researchers are now compiling a Germany-wide registry of these resources, which reveals where these deposits are located and what metals they contain.
	Uneventful test flight in exciting field For all the hubbub and electric-motor buzz about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), watching a research drone take off, fly and land is hardly the world's most compelling activity.
	How will data retention laws cope with the Internet of Things? One of the many things that is troubling about the current Australian government's metadata retention proposals is how rooted in the past they are, which could make them obsolete before they even come into force.
Computer modeling study reveals the lethal dynamics of a San Francisco house fire A new computer-based fire-dynamics study by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has helped to clarify the circumstances and violent fire behavior of a lethal 2011 blaze in a San Francisco hillside home. The fire in the multi-story, single-family dwelling claimed the lives of two firefighters.
World's first real-time 'mixed reality' ski race A professional skier will battle against two online gamers in the world's first interactive 'mixed reality' downhill ski race using technology pioneered by European researchers.
Chipmaker Intel to buy German broadband specialist Lantiq Chip-making giant Intel plans to buy a German company that specializes in broadband access and home networking technologies, as part of a push to reach more households with high-end technology.
Skype chats compromised Syrian rebels: researchers Syrian opposition groups lost critical information when its members fell victim to a "femme fatale" scheme using Skype chats that injected computers and phones with malware, researchers said Monday.
	Tablet sales show more signs of cooling Tablet sales cooled dramatically in 2014 from the red-hot growth pace a year earlier, surveys showed Monday.
Smartphones change teenagers' digital media use patterns Teenagers who own smartphones spend more time online - also during the night, which may affect their sleep. A new University of Basel study on more than 300 students reports that teenagers' digital media use during the night is associated with an increased risk of sleep problems and depressive symptoms. The findings have been published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
Jeep recalls 228K Cherokees for air bag problem Jeep is recalling more than 228,000 SUVs worldwide to fix a software problem that can cause side air bags to inflate for no reason.
Apple turning closed Arizona facility into data center Apple said Monday it will invest $2 billion over 10 years to open a data center in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa that will be the company's fifth in the U.S. and serve as a control facility for its global networks.
	'Honey trap' hackers stole Syria rebel plans Hackers targeted Syrian opposition members with online "honey traps," posing as female supporters to steal battle plans and the identity of defectors, a security firm said in a report Monday.
Federal govt seeks national conversation on transportation Hoping to start a national conversation about future transportation needs, the Obama administration released a report Monday that identifies key population, environmental, cultural and technology trends expected to shape the way Americans get from one place to another over the next 30 years.
	Hey, (Not-As) Big Spender! Tech firms hint at more restraint Technology's big-spending trio of Google, Facebook, and Amazon.com appear to be tightening their belts—at least a notch—in a concession to cost-conscious investors and a strong dollar that's taking a big bite out of their revenue.
HP boss gets raise despite persistent sales slump Hewlett-Packard boss Meg Whitman has graduated from the dollar-a-year club, as the struggling company prepares to split up.
Interconnected IT for business models in rural areas More and more people are moving from rural areas to cities, leaving behind crumbling infrastructures that make daily life difficult for those who stay. Some people are bucking this trend. Now they get support from researchers: At CeBIT, they will show how they plan to create new business models in rural areas with the help of interconnected IT.
	Novel technology could combat flight pollution A breakthrough propulsion technology to provide greener air transport could be developed after the underlying engineering was declared a success.
Recognizing promising new technologies early As companies strive to identify the new technologies with the most potential, they are bombarded with a growing torrent of information. New smart software solutions can pick out these technologies and provide innovative methods of evaluating and implementing them into working processes. Now companies can tap the relevant information and feed it efficiently into the decision-making process.
	Safe production in Industry 4.0 Production facilities and components of Industry 4.0 are linked to the Internet, networked with each other, and thus open to attack. Using an IT security laboratory, Fraunhofer researchers offer a test environment in order to simulate attacks on this network and to detect any gaps. They will unveil the possibilities at this year's Hannover Mess.
SS&C Technologies to buy Advent Software for $2.29B SS&C Technologies is buying Advent Software for $2.29 billion in a combination of providers of software for financial services companies.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists view effect of whisker tickling on mouse brains Researchers at The Johns Hopkins University have succeeded in peering into the brains of live mice with such precision that they were able to see how the position of specific proteins changed as memories were forged. The technique has broad applications for future studies on learning and on what goes wrong in disorders like autism, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
	New reset button discovered for circadian clock The discovery of a new reset button for the brain's master biological clock could eventually lead to new treatments for conditions like seasonal affective disorder, reduce the adverse health effects of working the night shift and possibly even cure jet lag.
	Language study offers new twist on mind-body connection New research from Northeastern professor of psychology Iris Berent and her colleagues indicates that language and motor systems are intricately linked—though not in the way that has been widely believed.
	Toddler food often has too much salt and sugar, CDC study finds Many packaged meals and snacks for toddlers contain worrisome amounts of salt and sugar, potentially creating an early taste for foods that may contribute to obesity and other health risks, according to a new government study.
	Babies can follow complex social situations Infants can make sense of complex social situations, taking into account who knows what about whom, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Spray-and-sleep idea has Indiegogo backers eager to rise (Medical Xpress)—We know that adequate sleep is one of the most important paths to good health. We also know that any indiscriminate use of pills to help us sleep is one of the biggest health risks we can take. A group from Palo Alto believes they have a better path. Spray a melatonin recipe on your neck and sleep happens. Their solution is called Sprayable Sleep, a spray bottle that the person can use by just misting on the neck a couple of times at a go, about an hour before the user hopes to fall asleep.
	Illusion aids understanding of autism New research could lead to a better understanding of how the brain works in people with autism.
	Face blindness predicted by differences in the brain, scientists discover Recognizing the faces of family and friends seems vital to social interaction. However, some individuals lack this essential skill. Those with a condition called face blindness, or prosopagnosia, can see eyes, lips and other facial features, yet they cannot remember the whole picture, a face. The condition touches one in 50 people, including actor Brad Pitt, neurologist Oliver Sacks and primatologist Jane Goodall. Now Stanford neuroscientists have discovered that the structure of the wiring in the brain is key to predicting the condition.
	Epigenetic signatures that differentiate triple-negative breast cancers Australian researchers have identified epigenetic 'signatures' that could help clinicians tell the difference between highly aggressive and more benign forms of triple-negative breast cancer.
	New study shows how immune cells hone their skills to fight disease The last time you were in the doctor's office for a vaccine booster shot, did you wonder why you needed one? Exactly how booster shots offer long-term protection from viruses has long been a mystery to scientists.
	New pathway for stalling BRCA tumor growth revealed Inhibiting the action of a particular enzyme dramatically slows the growth of tumor cells tied to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations which, in turn, are closely tied to breast and ovarian cancers, according to researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center.
	Novel peptide shows promise in penetrating heart attack scar tissue to regenerate cardiac nerves Case Western Reserve's chemical compound aimed at restoring spinal cord function may have an additional purpose: stopping potentially fatal arrhythmias after heart attack.
	Simple intervention can make your brain more receptive to health advice A new discovery shows how a simple intervention—self-affirmation - can open our brains to accept advice that is hard to hear.
	More evidence that musical training protects the brain Scientists have found some of the strongest evidence yet that musical training in younger years can prevent the decay in speech listening skills in later life.
Stress balls, DVDs and conversation ease pain and anxiety during surgery Being conscious during an operation can make patients feel anxious and is often painful. However, new research from the University of Surrey has found that simple distraction techniques, such as talking to a nurse, watching a DVD or using stress balls, can help patients to relax during varicose vein surgery and reduce their pain.
	Scientist considered father of birth control pill dies Carl Djerassi, the chemist widely considered the father of the birth control pill, has died.
Researchers show value of tissue-engineering to repair major peripheral nerve injuries Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common consequence of traumatic injuries, wounds caused by an external force or an act of violence, such as a car accident, gun shot or even surgery. In those injuries that require surgical reconstruction, outcomes can result in partial or complete loss of nerve function and a reduced quality of life. But, researchers at Penn Medicine have demonstrated a novel way to regenerate long-distance nerve connections in animal models using tissue-engineered nerve grafts (TENGs). Their work was presented earlier this month at the annual meeting of the American Society for Peripheral Nerve (ASPN) at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas.
	Metformin may lower lung cancer risk in diabetic nonsmokers Among nonsmokers who had diabetes, those who took the diabetes drug metformin had a decrease in lung cancer risk, according to a study in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research,by Lori Sakoda, PhD, MPH, research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California.
	Improving health before pregnancy could be key to the prevention of childhood obesity A new study from the University of Southampton adds to a growing body of evidence that links a child's early environment before and soon after birth to their chance of becoming obese later in life.
Ebola vaccine trials begin in Liberia The first large-scale trials of two Ebola vaccines began in Liberia on Monday, the hospital hosting the research said.
	Older adults can build more muscle by doubling protein intake You are what you eat, especially when it comes to how your body builds protein. It is well known that consuming protein stimulates the body's cells to build protein. However, getting older combined with eating less protein can lead to a decline in the body's muscle-building efficiency. Maintaining and building muscle is especially important for older individuals. Increased muscle mass can contribute to a healthier weight, better fitness and an improved quality of life. New research in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism explores whether the amount and timing of protein consumption make a difference in the body's net protein gains.
	Super Bowl team cities see spike in flu deaths Boston and Seattle football fans beware! Cities with teams in the Super Bowl see a big spike in flu deaths, according to a new Tulane University study.
Is predisposition for depression acquired in the womb? Can a person actually be born with a predisposition to depression? The Austrian Science Fund FWF is currently supporting a new project to investigate this challenging question. Specifically, a research team led by Prof. Daniela Pollak at the Medical University of Vienna is attempting to determine whether immune responses in pregnant women lead to a subsequent tendency for depression in their children. There is already some evidence supporting that maternal infections during pregnancy can have an effect on the development of certain mental illnesses later in life – however, the extent to which this affects depression in particular is not yet known. Scientists are therefore now examining an animal model to analyse cellular and molecular processes that can lead to such a predisposition.
Possible cause of IVF failure in some women identified New research from The University of Manchester has demonstrated a previously unexplored biological process, which can lead to the failure of embryos to attach to the uterine wall during in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
	Doctors in tricky spot when family moves to take financial control from elderly Doctors need improved tools to test the capacity of elderly patients to manage their finances, University of Queensland research shows.
	Why we should aim for 100% vaccination coverage The measles outbreak traced back to Disneyland has spread to eight states, with as many as 95 cases reported by January 38. Media outlets are highlighting the rise of anti-vaccination sentiments. Scientists are expressing their dismay at people who reject sound medical advice and put their families and communities in harm's way.
	Neonatologist's study trial supports alternative therapy for drug-addicted babies In the past decade, the number of Kentucky babies starting life with a drug dependency, or neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), has skyrocketed from 1.3 per 1,000 births to 19 per 1,000 births.
Researchers study elder financial exploitation factors Researchers at the University of Wyoming are lifting the veil on elder financial exploitation—trying to identify red flags that could foretell and prevent shattered familial relationships and broken hearts.
	Science shows ethical questions remain unanswered with 3-person IVF Diseases caused by genetic mutations in the mitochondria – the powerhouses of the cell – can be disabling, or even deadly. That is why mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), otherwise also known as three-person IVF (in vitro fertilisation), is being touted as a much-needed option for women carrying mitochondrial mutations.
	Smart devices track hand-washing in hospitals to help reduce the spread of infection The World Health Organization (WHO) cites good hand hygiene as a major factor in stopping the spread of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) caused by exposure to various bacteria.
How cells use sophisticated signaling mechanisms to control production of interferon The immune system has a delicate balance to maintain. When certain infected cells detect an invader, they use a molecule called interferon to rally the body's defenses. The immune system responds to this rallying cry by immediately boosting its general antiviral defenses and simultaneously initiating a more specialized secondary response. But interferon production must be finely tuned: Too much can provoke immune cells to attack the body's own cells indiscriminately.
	Possible answer found to why moderate drinking might be healthy for some Moderate consumption of alcohol has been associated with health benefits in some—but not all—studies. Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine may have found an explanation, in part, for why non-smokers might benefit from a glass of wine.
	Foreign parents resist ADHD treatment for offspring Children diagnosed with attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) whose parents were born in non-Western countries are less likely to be treated with stimulant medication compared with their Western counterparts.
New research finds baby's genes, not mom's, may trigger some preterm births Some babies may be genetically predisposed to being born too soon, and variants in the DNA of the fetus—not the mother—may be the trigger for some early births.
New biologic approach may protect against any influenza strain A new biologic drug prevented death when administered to mice a week in advance of lethal challenge with influenza H7N9, a disease that has shown a roughly 30 percent mortality rate in humans. The biologic had previously proven protective in mice against the pandemic 2009 H1N1 and the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses. "This suggests that our approach could work for any strain of the influenza virus," says corresponding author Elena Govorkova, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. The research is published ahead of print in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
	Supercomputing reveals the genetic code of cancer Cancer researchers must use one of the world's fastest computers to detect which versions of genes are only found in cancer cells. Every form of cancer, even every tumour, has its own distinct variants.
Confidence in government linked to willingness to vaccinate A new study suggests that confidence in government may play a key role in the public's willingness to get at least some vaccines.
	Master switch found to stop tumor cell growth by inducing dormancy Two existing cancer drugs turn on a gene that tells tumor cells to remain inactive, according to a study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in Nature Communications.
Impact of probiotics on metabolic health in women with gestational diabetes In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report on the effect of a probiotic capsule intervention on maternal metabolic parameters and pregnancy outcomes among women with gestational diabetes.
Physical activity as medicine among family health teams To better understand the current use of physical activity as medicine among Family Health Teams (FHTs) in Ontario, researchers at the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team conducted an environmental scan of 102 FHTs. They published their findings today in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
New method shrinks metastatic ovarian cancer and reduces chemotherapy dose New research published in the February 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal, may eventually help improve the five-year survival rate of ovarian cancer patients by describing a new way of shrinking ovarian cancer tumors while also simultaneously improving drug delivery. This new method involves the use of a portion of a naturally occurring protein inhibitor of angiogenesis called thrombospondin-1 or TSP-1. The portion, known as 3TSR, interacts with another protein called CD36 causing cells needed for tumors to create new blood vessels (endothelial cells) to stop growing and die. In turn, this reduces the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) needed for tumors to grow.
How spaceflight ages the immune system prematurely As the world waits to see if Mars One can establish a human colony on Mars, scientists are working to determine the long-term consequences of living in low or no-gravity conditions, such as those that might exist on the trip to another planet. New research published online in The FASEB Journal, shows that spaceflight may be associated with a process of accelerated aging of the immune system. Specifically, researchers found that mice in low gravity conditions experience changes in B lymphocyte production in their bone marrow similar to those observed in elderly mice living in Earth conditions.
In mice and men: Laser treatment reverses effects of early age-related macular degeneration A new technique reported in the February 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal suggests that during early stages, it might be possible to reverse age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness that is currently irreversible. The treatment involving a nanosecond laser may also have further implications for other eye diseases such as diabetic macular oedema, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.
Barriers to end-of-life care discussions identified The most important barriers to discussions with seriously ill hospitalized patients and their families about goals of care has been outlined by a research team led by McMaster University.
Commonly used antibiotics with diuretic can double risk of sudden death in older patients The combination of the commonly prescribed antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with the diuretic spironolactone, widely used for heart failure, more than doubles the risk of death for older patients, reports a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
New '2-in-1' test simplifies retina evaluations New research published in the February 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal details a test developed using mice that can help measure two important aspects of retinal health—the function of retinal blood vessels and light-detecting cells. This approach opens new possibilities for understanding the molecular changes that occur in retinal disease and for evaluating the benefits of treatment early in the course of disease.
Study shows top 10 challenges facing global pharmaceutical supply chains Ten years after the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness reported on the need for better coordination in the global fight against disease, global pharmaceutical supply chains remain fragmented and lack coordination, facing at least 10 fundamental challenges, according to a newly published paper by professors at NYU Wagner and MIT-Zaragoza.
	Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia reduces suicidal thoughts in veterans A new study is the first to show that the treatment of insomnia in veterans is associated with a significant reduction in suicidal ideation.
Study finds occupational link in kidney disease epidemic in Central America Sugarcane workers in northwestern Nicaragua experienced a decline in kidney function during the harvest, with field workers at greatest risk, suggesting that heat stress or other occupational factors may be playing a role in the high rates of chronic kidney disease in the region, a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers shows.
Review of nonmedicinal interventions for delirium in older patients Interventions to prevent delirium that do not involve prescription drugs and have multiple components appeared to be effective at reducing delirium and preventing falls in hospitalized older patients, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Pregnancy outcomes similar for women with kidney transplants as child, adult Pregnancy outcomes appear to be similar for women who undergo kidney transplants as children or adults, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	When it comes to jogging, easy does it, study suggests (HealthDay)—A little jogging is good for your health, researchers say, but too much might not be.
Researchers discover biological markers associated with high-risk pancreatic lesions Pancreatic cancer affects approximately 46,000 people each year in the United States and ranks fourth among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Only about 6 percent of individuals with pancreatic cancer will live five years after their diagnosis. One reason for this high mortality rate is the lack of effective tools to detect pancreatic cancer early enough to allow its surgical removal. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers are now one step closer to devising an approach to detect pancreatic cancer earlier.
Physician guidelines for Googling patients need revisions With the Internet and social media becoming woven into the modern medical practice, Penn State College of Medicine researchers contend that professional medical societies must update or amend their Internet guidelines to address when it is ethical to "Google" a patient. "As time goes on, Googling patients is going to become more and more common, especially with doctors who grew up with the Internet," says Maria J. Baker, associate professor of medicine. Baker has dealt with the question first hand in her role as a genetic counselor and medical geneticist.
Laying a foundation for treating ALS, spinal cord injury This story starts in 1955, upon the death of Albert Einstein, when the pathologist charged with performing the famous scientist's autopsy stole his brain.
Activated immune cells indicate a favorable prognosis in colorectal cancer In recent years, a standard follow-up to colorectal cancer surgery has been to analyze the tumor tissue for the presence of immune cells. Finding high quantities of cytotoxic T cells, or "killer cells", means that there is a good chance that the disease will take a favorable course and that the risk of metastasis is comparatively low.
Break on through to the other side: How HIV penetrates the blood-brain barrier Although it is known that HIV can enter the brain early during infection, causing inflammation and memory/cognitive problems, exactly how this occurs has been largely unknown. A new research report appearing in the February 2015 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology solves this mystery by showing that HIV relies on proteins expressed by a type of immune cell, called "mature monocytes," to enter the brain. These proteins are a likely drug target for preventing HIV from reaching brain cells. Although not a direct focus of this research, these proteins might also shed light on novel mechanisms for helping drugs penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
Risk for autism increases for abandoned children placed in institutions A recent study published in the February 2015 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry demonstrates that children who were abandoned to institutional care have an increased risk for behaviors similar to those seen in children with autism, including impaired social communication. When these children were moved into child-centered foster family care at a young age, their social behaviors improved.
	Expert panel recommends new sleep durations The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), along with a multi-disciplinary expert panel, issued its new recommendations for appropriate sleep durations. The report recommends wider appropriate sleep ranges for most age groups. The results are published in Sleep Health: The Official Journal of the National Sleep Foundation.
Too many heart failure patients are treated with IV fluids, study finds Many patients hospitalized with severe heart failure are receiving potentially harmful treatment with intravenous fluids, a Yale-led study has found.
Complex incentives drive macular degeneration prescription decisions, study finds Two drugs that treat macular degeneration are practically interchangeable - except for the price.
Which breast cancer patients need lymph nodes removed? Ultrasound narrows it down Which breast cancer patients need to have underarm lymph nodes removed? Mayo Clinic-led research is narrowing it down. A new study finds that not all women with lymph node-positive breast cancer treated with chemotherapy before surgery need to have all of their underarm nodes taken out. Ultrasound is a useful tool for judging before breast cancer surgery whether chemotherapy eliminated cancer from the underarm lymph nodes, the researchers found. The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Discovery of a gene responsible for familial scoliosis The discovery of the first gene causing familial scoliosis was announced by an international France-Canada research team today.
	Team discovers new mechanism of acquired resistance to breast cancer drugs In the search for new approaches to treat ERBB2 (also known as HER2) positive breast cancers that have become drug-resistant, Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center investigator Manabu Kurokawa, PhD, led a team in discovery of a novel cancer resistance mechanism with findings published in Cell Cycle.
	Whose numbers determine cost-effectiveness of targeted anti-cancer therapies? Health economics helps insurers, health care systems and providers make treatment decisions based on the cost of extra "units" of health arising from a specific treatment. By calculating the cost for each year of life or quality-adjusted year of life gained, these groups can decide whether changing treatments or adding in a new treatment beyond the existing standard of care is "worth it."
British lawmakers to vote on three-parent babies Britain could become the first country in the world to allow the creation of IVF babies with DNA from three parents on Tuesday in a move that has divided campaigners and religious leaders.
Team discovers certain ARB drugs are better than others to treat heart failure Millions of people take angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to help treat heart failure. But it turns out not all ARBs are created equally, according to one Nova Southeastern University (NSU) researcher's findings.
Decreases in short-term memory, IQ, altered brain metabolic ratios in urban APOE4 children A new study by researchers at the Universities of Montana, Carleton, and North Carolina, and the Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, heightens concerns over the detrimental impact of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele—the most prevalent genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease—upon cognition, olfaction, and metabolic brain indices in healthy urban children and teens. These findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
	Researchers determine how the brain controls robotic grasping tools Grasping an object involves a complex network of brain functions. First, visual cues are processed in specialized areas of the brain. Then, other areas of the brain use these signals to control the hands to reach for and manipulate the desired object. New findings from researchers at the University of Missouri suggest that the cerebellum, a region of the brain that has changed very little over time, may play a critical role. Findings could lead to advancements in assistive technologies benefiting the disabled.
	Medication problems may spur many child ER trips, study finds (HealthDay)—Medication-related problems—from side effects to improper use—may be the cause of many kids' trips to the emergency room, a new study suggests.
	Mediterranean diet linked to lower left ventricular mass (HealthDay)—Greater adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (DT) is tied to a decreased left ventricular (LV) mass, according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Some kids use tobacco, E-cigarettes together, study finds (HealthDay)—American children and teens who smoke may also use a variety of other nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookahs and pipes, a new study finds.
	Bacteria may help battle cancer, study suggests (HealthDay)—Bacteria may offer a new way to treat cancer, a small, preliminary study suggests.
	U.S. measles cases now exceed 100: CDC (HealthDay)—The number of measles cases in the United States has climbed to 102, federal health officials reported Monday, with most of the cases part of the ongoing outbreak traced to Disney amusement parks in southern California.
	Few newborns have early well-child visit (HealthDay)—Only 15 percent of newborns with an estimated gestational age of ≥34 weeks have a well-child visit (WCV) within the recommended time frame, and these visits correlate with a reduction in the rate of readmissions, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics.
	Nursing students offer insight into aged care career choice (HealthDay)—Nursing students provide valuable insights into aged care, with equal numbers for and against pursuing a career in aged care, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Patients with psoriasis less likely to be physically active (HealthDay)—Patients with psoriasis are less likely to engage in physical activity, especially those with more severe disease, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Dermatology.
	Maternal depression up at four years postpartum (HealthDay)—Maternal depression is more common at four years postpartum than at any point during the first 12 months postpartum, and is more likely among women with only one child at four years postpartum, according to a study published in the February issue of BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
	Incidence of emergent hernia repair up from 2001 to 2010 (HealthDay)—From 2001 to 2010 there was an increase in the incidence rates of emergent hernia repair, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in JAMA Surgery.
Sharp, sustained increases in suicides closely shadowed austerity events in Greece Sharp and significant increases in suicides followed select financial crisis events and austerity announcements in Greece, from the start of the country's 2008 recession to steep spending cuts in 2012, Penn Medicine researchers report in a new study published online this week in the British Medical Journal Open, along with colleagues from Greece and the United Kingdom. After one austerity-related announcement in 2011, when the government announced steep spending cuts, suicides surged by over 35 percent, an increase that was then sustained through to the end of the study in 2012.
Ebola reveals shortcomings of African solidarity As Africa's leaders meet in Ethiopia to discuss the Ebola crisis, expectations of firm action will be tempered by criticism over the continent's poor record in the early stages of the epidemic.
Chile's Bachelet sends abortion bill to Congress Chile's President Michelle Bachelet on Saturday pressed ahead with plans to decriminalize abortion in certain cases, a decades-old taboo in one of Latin America's most socially conservative countries.
Ebola: timeline of a ruthless killer Here are key dates in the current Ebola epidemic, the worst ever outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever which first surfaced in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	Culturally sensitive palliative care represents new approach When doctors diagnosed Pilar Alcantara with advanced breast cancer, she felt lost and intimidated.
Ebola-hit Liberia delays school reopening Liberia's education ministry said on Sunday it had postponed by two weeks the reopening of the country's schools, which were closed six months ago to limit the spread of the Ebola virus.
	Senate takes up bill to lower suicide rate among vets A bill aimed at reducing a suicide epidemic among military veterans appears headed for the president's desk.
UK doctor's campaign for 'human touch' wins huge support A terminally-ill British doctor's campaign encouraging healthcare workers to introduce themselves to their patients and make a human connection has gained hundreds of thousands of followers.
STAN as an adjunct to intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring did not improve perinatal outcomes In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral plenary session at 8 a.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report that use of the ST segment (STAN) as an adjunct to conventional intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring did not improve perinatal outcomes or decrease operative deliveries in hospitals in the United States. STAN is used in Europe as an adjunct to conventional intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring, and was approved by the FDA for use in the US, mostly based on results of studies in Europe and one small study in the US.
The effect of expanded midwifery on cesarean delivery In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral plenary session at 8 a.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report that changes to the labor and delivery care system can reduce cesarean delivery rates.
Sequential screening provides better test performance than cell free DNA In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral plenary session at 8 a.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report that cell free DNA analysis is less effective than sequential screening as primary testing for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
Augmented labor during childbirth is not associated with increased odds of autism In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral pleanary session at 8 a.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report that induced or augmented labor are not associated with increased odds of Autism spectrum disorder.
Abnormalities in pregnancies with failures for noninvasive prenatal testing In a study to be presented on Feb. 6 in an oral concurrent session at 1:15 p.m. PST, at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report on the high rate of chromosomal abnormalities in patients in whom noninvasive prenatal testing fails to provide results.
Fetal decent and maternal feedback substantially shortens second stage labor In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report that the use of a system that provides precise measurement of fetal decent and maternal feedback during second stage labor substantially shortens second stage and improves outcomes.
Pregnancy associated hypertension associated with increased frequency of subsequent hypertension, metabolic syndrome In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers of the MFMU Network will present findings of long term cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities five to ten years later in women with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension during pregnancy.
Effect of maternal glycemia on childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report on the impact of maternal glycemia on childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
Low birth weight and preeclampsia tend to reoccur in the next generation In a study to be presented on Feb. 6 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will present findings on a study of mothers and daughters where low birth weight and preeclampsia were found to reoccur in the next generation.
Study looks at the impact of fetal gender on the risk of preterm birth In a study to be presented on Feb. 7 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in San Diego, researchers will report on the impact of fetal gender on the risk of preterm birth and neonatal outcome.
Study finds variation of the interval between first and second pregnancy In a study to be presented on Feb. 5 in an oral concurrent session at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting in San Diego, researchers will report that the variation of interval from delivery time to conception of the next pregnancy has a strong impact on the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
	Obama proposes new agency to make Americans' food safer President Barack Obama wants to create a new government agency dedicated to keeping the nation's food safe.
A simple method to monitor beta-cell death in individuals at-risk for type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes is characterized by death and reduced function of β cells, which produce insulin. The presence of specific autoantibodies can identify individuals at risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and many of these at-risk individuals exhibit evidence of β cell death before the onset of clinical symptoms. However, the course of β cell death that ultimately leads to the development of type 1 diabetes is poorly understood.
State-of-the-science help for hay fever sufferers Sublingual immunotherapy is one of several state-of-the-science treatments for allergic rhinitis, or "hay fever," being recommended by a panel of experts in a new guideline published Feb. 2, 2015, by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.
New study postulates the role of dietary advanced glycation end products in the risk of Alzheimer's Our new paper published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease provides evidence that cooking foods at high temperatures increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease. This study looked at the content of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in national diets and clinical studies comparing and compared total AGEs to Alzheimer's disease rates.
AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: Allergic rhinitis The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation addresses quality improvement opportunities in the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis in a new multi-disciplinary, evidence-based clinical practice guideline, published today in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
British city becomes first to impose public smoking curbs The British city of Bristol has become the country's first to test smoke-free zones in outdoor public places, without imposing an outright ban, officials said Monday.
	Obama's budget targets high cost of cutting-edge drugs With patients facing greater exposure to the high cost of new medications, President Barack Obama on Monday called for government to use its buying power to squeeze drug companies for lower prices.
'Low risk' bird flu identified at British farm Tests have confirmed an outbreak of avian flu in chickens at a farm in southern England but officials described it as a "low severity" strain of the disease on Monday.

Biology news

	Genetic switch regulates transcription and replication in human mitochondria (Phys.org)—The majority of the human genome is located within the nucleus. However, there is a small but important portion of DNA located within the mitochondria. This mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has received much attention in the last few years for tracing ancestry, mitochondrial disease, and three-parent IVF. Mitochondrial DNA's unique properties mean that it has different regulatory mechanisms. A new study by Dmitry Temiakov from Rowan University reports for the first time evidence that mtDNA transcription and replication are regulated by a molecular switch that may provide insight into developmental processes such as embryogenesis and spermatogenesis. The results are reported in Science.
	One good turn: Birds swap energy-sapping lead role Migrating birds 'share the pain' of the arduous task of leading a v-formation, so that they can then take turns saving energy by following in another bird's wake, a new study shows.
Fewer viral relics may be due to a less bloody evolutionary history Humans have fewer remnants of viral DNA in their genes compared to other mammals, a new study has found. This decrease could be because of reduced exposure to blood-borne viruses as humans evolved to use tools rather than biting during violent conflict and the hunting of animals.
	Scientists have re-discovered a fast-growing bacterial strain first described in 1955 (Phys.org)—Cyanobacteria, bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis, are of considerable interest as bio-factories, organisms that could be harnessed to generate a range of industrially useful products.
	Having a strong personality may be the difference between thriving and failing, according to new research When the chips are down, having a strong personality may be the difference between thriving and failing, according to new research which studied how aphids reacted when faced with predatory ladybirds.
	Turning up heat on plants could help grow crops of the future Crops that can thrive in warming climates are a step closer, thanks to new insights into how temperature and light affect plant development.
	New innovative method for mechanical screening of biological cells developed Cells, like any other material, have mechanical properties that can serve for their characterization. For example, cancer cells are characteristically more deformable than healthy cells. These mechanical properties can be determined without specialized, costly and time-consuming preparation, which makes them highly attractive for diagnosis and prognosis in medical applications. However, there has so far been a lack of an adequate method to mechanically screen large populations of cells in a short amount of time. Scientists at the TU Dresden have now presented a novel method, which addresses this need and which will help to answer many open questions in biology, physics, chemistry and medicine. The method is now being published in the current issue of Nature Methods.
	Identification of much-needed drug target against MRSA, gram-positive infections The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, when infectious bacteria evolve to evade drugs designed to control them, is a pressing public health concern. Each year two million Americans acquire antibiotic-resistant infections, leading to 23,000 deaths. In light of these unsettling statistics, there has been a call to develop new weapons to combat bacterial threats to human health.
	No knots in known RNA structures It had never been verified before: unlike other biopolymers, RNA, the long strand that is 'cousin' to DNA, tends not to form knots. The observation has been published in the journal PNAS by a research team of the International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste and the CEA of Saclay.
	Getting yeast to pump up the protein production From manufacturing life-saving biopharmaceuticals to producing energy-efficient biofuels, the cost-effective production of proteins will be essential to revolutionizing the future of healthcare and energy.
	Friend, foe or queen? Study highlights the complexities of ant perception Researchers report that trap-jaw ants recognize the unique odor of a fertile queen only if the queen also shares the workers' own chemical cologne - a distinctive blend of dozens of smelly, waxy compounds that coat the ants' bodies from head to tarsus. The discovery offers new insights into how social animals evolved and communicate with others in their group, the researchers say.
	New mechanism of inheritance could advance study of evolution, disease treatment For more than a century, scientists have understood the basics of inheritance: if good genes help parents survive and reproduce, the parents pass those genes along to their offspring. And yet, recent research has shown that reality is much more complex: genes can be switched off, or silenced, in response to the environment or other factors, and sometimes these changes can be passed from one generation to the next.
	GMO mosquito plan sparks outcry in Florida A British company's plan to unleash hordes of genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida to reduce the threat of dengue fever and other diseases has sparked an outcry from fearful residents.
	'Tiger heavyweight' Nepal hosts anti-poaching summit Nepal's success in turning tiger-fearing villagers into their protectors has seen none of the endangered cats killed for almost three years, offering key lessons for an anti-poaching summit opening in Kathmandu on Monday.
	Study analyzes how manmade noise impacts bird decline How noise can affect interactions between human and natural systems is the topic of a National Science Foundation grant awarded to researchers at Penn State and Boise State University.
	Researchers unlock new way to clone hemlock trees able to fight off deadly pest or the first time, University of Georgia researchers have successfully cryogenically frozen germplasm from hemlock trees being wiped out across the eastern U.S. by an invasive insect. They've also unlocked a new way to clone the few hemlock trees apparently fighting off the hemlock woolly adelgid, which could potentially lead to a solution for the pest.
	Legwork needed to chronicle Banksia resilience The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) and the University of WA (UWA) are calling on volunteer 'citizen scientists' to help determine if the range of one of WA's most well-known flora genera—the Banksia—is contracting with climate change.
	Climate projections show ways to improve crop yields New computer modelling shows farmers need to adopt remedial measures to prevent crop yields in western and eastern Australian agricultural districts declining over the next 75 years.
	New methods can protect animals during relocation As Arizona continues to see development into formerly rural areas, additional research is emerging to help protect wildlife species. Because the state is home to a dozen rattlesnake species, understanding best practices for relocation is more than just a humane undertaking, it is important for logistics and safety. These findings are part of a paper published in Conservation Biology.
	Urban taste for bushmeat poses threat to Amazonian wildlife Research has uncovered alarming evidence of an under-reported wild-meat crisis in the heart of Amazonia.
	New technique captures real-time diagnostic 3-D images Research, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, makes it possible to follow the development of living organisms up to three millimetres long with three-dimensional images.  These organisms, such as the zebrafish or the fruit fly, are frequently used in microscopic research.  The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), for example, has a genetic code where the counterparts of more than 60% of the genes of human illnesses can be found.
	Area-wide management a must for Asian citrus psyllid The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) carries a bacterial pathogen that causes citrus greening disease (huanglongbing), which is destroying trees in many countries and states, including Florida. It's been estimated that this insect-disease combination has cost Florida's citrus industry $1.3 billion in losses. The situation has become so bad that some citrus growers have abandoned their fields, leaving their trees untended, which can have dire consequences for neighboring growers.
In the Balkans, resilience is rooted in knowledge of wild plants Traditional communities living in isolated, rural areas with little money or infrastructure tend to have one thing in common: Resilience rooted in intricate knowledge of their natural environment, especially plants.
	Shrinking range of pikas in California mountains linked to climate change The American pika, a small animal with a big personality that has long delighted hikers and backpackers, is disappearing from low-elevation sites in California mountains, and the cause appears to be climate change, according to a new study.
Toward the next biofuel: Secrets of Fistulifera solaris Biofuels are an attractive alternative to fossil fuels, but a key challenge in efforts to develop carbon-neutral, large-scale methods to produce biofuels is finding the right organism for the job. One emerging candidate is the microalga Fistulifera solaris. An international collaboration between scientists from Japan and France has revealed the genome of F. solaris and provided exciting hints at the roots of its ability to grow and produce oil at the same time.
	Spiny lobster abundance study at Glover's Reef, Belize finds fishery in good shape A recent study conducted in the waters of Glover's Reef Marine Reserve in Belize by the Wildlife Conservation Society and its partners has revealed good news for spiny lobsters: the abundance of these commercially valuable crustaceans should support local fisheries into the future, an indication that no-take areas and other regulations are protecting the nation's marine resources.
	China demand threatens tiger protection Soaring demand for tiger parts in China has emptied Asia's forests, frustrating efforts to protect the big cats, wildlife experts said as an anti-poaching conference opened in Kathmandu Monday.
Advocates: Dams put dinosaur-like river fish at risk Wildlife advocates say an endangered, dinosaur-like fish is at risk of being eliminated from key habitat in two rivers in Montana and North Dakota because of dams that disrupt spawning.
	Researchers develop new high-yield pear cultivar A new pear cultivar, 'Gem', has been released jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Oregon State University, Michigan State University and Clemson University. Gem is ideal for the fresh market, combining high yields with excellent appearance, fruit quality and long storage potential. The new cultivar is resistant to fire blight and isn't prone to brown discoloration, called "superficial scald," that affects some pear varieties.
Scientists develop protein, skin care and biopesticide products from fish filleting residue and rapeseed press cakes Food industry co-streams which could be upgraded to more valuable products than the original ones ending up as animal feed. Scientists developed feasible and gentle methods to make good use of fish filleting residues and rapeseed press cakes. The APROPOS project succeeded in creating new technologies for SME's for the production of items such as dietary supplements and skin care products.
	Caring for animals at risk in bushfires While many people have considered how to care for homes and people during bushfires, they haven't always decided on a plan of action to protect threatened domestic animals, livestock and wildlife, says the Murdoch University Pet Emergency Centre.
	Pakistan prepares for Saudi royal to hunt 'protected' birds Pakistani authorities are finalising arrangements for a Saudi prince to visit its southwestern desert region to hunt the Houbara bustard, a bird supposedly protected by law, officials said Monday.
	Five-day meeting on the naming of plants, fungi and algae recorded for posterity The five-day discussions and decisions of the Nomenclature Section of the XVII International Botanical Congress took place in Vienna, Austria in July 2005. This meeting was held in association with the International Botanical Congress, which takes place every six years and is where the world's premier experts on the rules for naming plants, fungi and algae get together to debate and update the rule book for naming the organisms they study.
	Windfall for growers as ICoast posts record cocoa harvest Cocoa farmers in Ivory Coast, the world's top producer, enjoyed a 20 percent boost in revenues thanks to a record harvest last year, the economy minister has announced.
Addressing feral cats' diet may help protect native species Because reducing the impacts of feral cats—domestic cats that have returned to the wild—is a priority for conservation efforts across the globe, a research team recently reviewed the animals' diet across Australia and its territorial islands to help consider how they might best be managed.

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