Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Sep 9

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 9, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Label-free technique that images DNA in vivo
- Physicists create exotic states that could lead to new kinds of sensors and optical devices
- Astronomers discover how lowly dwarf galaxy becomes star-forming powerhouse
- Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds
- Women are more fairly funded in the social sciences
- What's behind million-dollar crop failures in oil palm? Would you believe bad karma?
- Metal-eating microbes in African lake could solve mystery of the planet's iron deposits
- Science provides new way to peer into pores
- Celeste: A new model for cataloging the universe
- Hybrid solar cell converts both light and heat from sun's rays into electricity
- Human-like nose can sniff out contamination in drinking water
- Scientists reawaken sleeping HIV in patient cells to eliminate the virus
- Female cowbirds pay attention to cowbird nestling survival, study finds
- Mindfulness may make memories less accurate
- Battery-free smart camera nodes automatically determine their own pose and location

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover how lowly dwarf galaxy becomes star-forming powerhouse A nearby dwarf galaxy poses an intriguing mystery: How is it able to form brilliant star clusters without the dusty, gas-rich environments found in larger galaxies? The answer, astronomers believe, lies in densely packed and previously unrecognized nuggets of star-forming material sprinkled throughout the galaxy.
	China aims to be first to land probe on moon's far side China's increasingly ambitious space program plans to attempt the first-ever landing of a lunar probe on the moon's far side, a leading engineer said.
	Neutral hydrogen gas in galaxy clusters Most galaxies are members of a cluster, a grouping of several to thousands of galaxies. Our Milky Way, for example, is a member of the "Local Group," a set of about fifty galaxies whose other large member is the Andromeda galaxy about 2.3 million light-years away. The closest large cluster of galaxies to us is the Virgo Cluster, with about 2000 members; its center is about 50 million light-years away. The clustering of galaxies influences how any particular member galaxy will evolve, but what happens and how it happens are not well understood. The cluster's influences on the star-formation activity within its galaxies is a particularly interesting question because the star formation rate helps set the luminosity of a galaxy, its supernovae activity, and the processing of its hydrogen gas into heavier elements.
	Young gas giants fly close to their suns Hot Jupiters, giant Jupiter-like exoplanets that orbit 20 times closer to their host stars than the Earth does to the Sun, can form and migrate towards their infant stars in as little as a few million years, researchers at the University of St Andrews have discovered.
	Celeste: A new model for cataloging the universe The roots of tradition run deep in astronomy. From Galileo and Copernicus to Hubble and Hawking, scientists and philosophers have been pondering the mysteries of the universe for centuries, scanning the sky with methods and models that, for the most part, haven't changed much until the last two decades.
	Ceres' bright spots seen in striking new detail The brightest spots on the dwarf planet Ceres gleam with mystery in new views delivered by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. These closest-yet views of Occator crater, with a resolution of 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel, give scientists a deeper perspective on these very unusual features.
	Mercury's movements give scientists peek inside the planet The first measurements of Mercury's movements from a spacecraft orbiting the planet reveal new insights about the makeup of the solar system's innermost world and its interactions with other planetary bodies.
	Slam dunk for Andreas in space controlling rover on ground Putting a round peg in a round hole is not hard for someone standing next to it. But yesterday ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen did this while orbiting 400 km up aboard the International Space Station, remotely operating a rover and its robotic arm on the ground.
	First pieces of NASA's Orion for next mission come together NASA is another small step closer to sending astronauts on a journey to Mars. On Saturday, engineers at the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans welded together the first two segments of the Orion crew module that will fly atop NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on a mission beyond the far side of the moon.
	Video: Complex mass of solar plasma A small, but complex mass of solar material gyrated and spun about over the course of 40 hours above the surface of the sun on Sept. 1-3, 2015. It was stretched and pulled back and forth by powerful magnetic forces in this sequence captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO.
	Guide to the September 13th partial solar eclipse Eclipse season 2 of 2 for 2015 is nigh this weekend, book-ended by a partial solar eclipse on September 13th, and a total lunar eclipse on September 28th.
	Electronic 'ear' aims to pick up gravitational waves in real time UWA researchers have developed an electronic 'ear' that will vastly improve the ongoing international search for elusive gravitational waves, which are created by violent cosmic events throughout the universe.
	The moons of Neptune Neptune, that icy gas giant that is the eight planet from our Sun, was discovered in 1846 by two astronomers – Urbain Le Verrier and Johann Galle. In keeping with the convention of planetary nomenclature, Neptune was named after the Roman god of the sea (the equivalent to the Greek Poseidon). And just seventeen days after it was discovered, astronomers began to notice that it too had a system of moons.
	Image: International Space Station transits the sun This composite image made from five frames shows the International Space Station, with a crew of nine onboard, in silhouette as it transits the sun at roughly 5 miles per second, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal, VA.

Technology news

	WhatsApp speeds patch, wins Check Point praise for response Earlier this year, WhatsApp released its web-based service, making it accessible both on the phone and computer. WhatsApp Web was designed as the computer based extension of the WhatsApp account; as a web-based extension it mirrors messages sent and received; users can see messages on both devices
	Smog vacuum cleaner inspires more steps to cleaner cities A certain structure in a public place in Rotterdam is described in Inhabitat as a smog-sucking vacuum cleaner. If going places, that cleaner is designed to ease city pollution. Lucy Wang reported Tuesday of a Netherlands-based designer behind the machine. This air purifier is part of his Smog-Free Project, and the project team simply defines it as the world's largest smog vacuum cleaner.
	New wearable technology can sense appliance use, help track carbon footprint In today's smart home, technologies can track how much energy a particular appliance like a refrigerator or television or hair dryer is gobbling up. What they don't typically show is which person in the house actually flicked the switch.
	New nanoscale solar cells could revolutionize solar industry University of Maryland Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Jeremy Munday and graduate students Yunlu Xu and Tao Gong have designed a new type of nanoscale solar cell that they predict could outperform traditional devices by as much as 40 percent. This new technology could revolutionize the solar industry by allowing for significantly more power generation from a single device by simply making it much smaller.
	Battery-free smart camera nodes automatically determine their own pose and location Scientists at Disney Research and the University of Washington (UW) have shown that a network of energy-harvesting sensor nodes equipped with onboard cameras can automatically determine each camera's pose and location using optical cues.
	Apple unveils large-format iPad Pro tablet Apple on Wednesday unveiled its iPad Pro, saying the large-screen tablet has the power and capabilities to replace a laptop computer.
	Apple presses deeper with new iPhones and more There were new iPhones of course. But Apple also moved into the living room with an upgraded streaming TV box and unveiled an iPad Pro aimed at reviving the flagging tablet market.
	Apple TV overhauled for games, shows, shopping Apple on Wednesday unveiled a new streaming television device with voice search, touchscreen remote control and an app store in a challenge to Google, Amazon, and video game console titans.
	Kites, drones, armchair finders in Turkana Basin fossil search Hunting fossils in Africa from the comfort of an armchair is now possible. Fossilfinder is the way to do this. It's a "citizen science project," which launched Tuesday in the UK at the British Science Festival in Bradford. It works by volunteers studying high-resolution photos of the Turkana basin in Kenya; the photos are taken from aerial camera systems mounted on drones and kites. The volunteers try to see if they can spot newly exposed fossils before they erode. The Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya and the University of Bradford are joining in this effort.
	Tech world waits for iPhone news and hopes for magic The tech world on Wednesday will have its eyes on Apple, expecting new versions of the company's coveted iPhone but hoping for magic in the form of unexpected innovation.
Yahoo says IRS declined to rule on Alibaba spinoff A crucial deal for Yahoo has hit a snag, with the IRS declining to issue a private ruling that would have confirmed the Internet company can spin off its stake in China's Alibaba Group tax free.
	Fun not fuel-saving focus in Las Vegas debut of Toyota Prius Where does a practical car like the Toyota Prius go to reinvent itself? The same place many people go to let loose and have fun: Las Vegas.
	Justice Department looks to sharpen computer crime law (Update) Stung by recent court decisions that have gone against them, Justice Department lawyers are making a fresh push to clarify a computer trespass law that critics malign as overly broad.
	Facebook business pages closer to becoming online shops Facebook pages moved closer to replacing small business websites Tuesday, announcing features designed to make it easier for shops to hawk their wares.
	Instagram steps up advertising effort, adds 30 markets Instagram unveiled plans Wednesday to expand its offerings to advertisers, opening up possibilities for global marketing efforts on the Facebook-owned photo-sharing network.
	Android widgets may boost effectiveness of sleep-monitoring apps An effective smart phone application should make data collection easy, but not so easy that the user forgets to access and reflect on that information, according to a team of researchers.
	New atlas could help wind energy sweep across Great Lakes By compiling meteorological wind data – derived from several sources – Cornell University and the Technical University of Denmark scientists have assembled the first full observational wind atlas of the Great Lakes. The atlas bolsters the chances for developing wind energy in the region.
	Silicon photonics meets the foundry Advances in microprocessors have transferred the computation bottleneck away from CPUs to better communications between components. That trend is driving the advance into optical interconnection of components, now moving from systems to boards to chip packages to chips themselves.
	Television audio of the future—customizable and in 3D The next generation of Ultra High Definition televisions (UHDTV) offers not only crystal-clear images, but also perfect sound. At the IBC trade show (September 11-15 in Amsterdam), Fraunhofer researchers are presenting a TV audio system based on the recently published MPEG-H 3D Audio standard, which lays the groundwork for the television audio of the future. Besides offering immersive audio capability, this new technology allows viewers to customize the audio playback of the television or other devices.
Making the 'Internet of Things' configuration more secure and easy-to-use With an ever increasing number of everyday objects from our homes, workplaces and even from our wardrobes, getting connected to the Internet, known as the 'Internet of Things' (IoT), researchers from the University of Southampton have identified easy-to-use techniques to configure IoT objects, to make them more secure and hence help protect them from online attacks.
	The web has become a hall of mirrors, filled only with reflections of our data The "digital assistant" is proliferating, able to combine intelligent natural language processing, voice-operated control over a smartphone's functions and access to web services. It can set calendar appointments, launch apps, and run requests. But if that sounds very clever – a computerised talking assistant, like HAL9000 from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey – it's mostly just running search engine queries and processing the results.
	Netflix has its eye on four new markets in Asia for launch next year Netflix said Tuesday it will bring its television and movie streaming to four new locations in Asia—South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
	The Latest: Key dates on iPhones, other Apple releases The latest news on iPhones and other products from Apple's event in San Francisco. All times are PDT.
	Amazon takes its publishing program global US online giant Amazon said Wednesday it was expanding its crowdsourced publishing program called Kindle Scout, opening it up to authors around the world.
How hashtags and @ symbols affect language on Twitter Despite all the shortened words and slang seen on Twitter, it turns out that people follow many of the same communication etiquette rules on social media as they do in speech. Research from the Georgia Institute of Technology shows that when tweeters use hashtags—a practice that can enable messages to reach more people—they tend to be more formal and drop the use of abbreviations and emoticons. But when they use the @ symbol to address smaller audiences, they're more likely to use non-standard words such as "nah," "cuz" and "smh." The study also found when people write to someone from the same city, they are even more likely to use non-standard language - often lingo that is specific to that geographical area.
	Microsoft, US clash in court on overseas email warrant Microsoft and the US government clashed Wednesday in an appellate court hearing on law enforcement access to emails stored overseas, in a case with important implications for global data protection.
	Researchers mine information from next-generation subsurface flow simulations Ask a geoscientist how he or she feels about the phrase, "out of sight, out of mind," and you likely will meet some serious resistance. The scientist likely would explain that learning how different materials interact with one another below the Earth's surface is of the utmost importance.
YouTube unveils plan for production space in Rio YouTube has unveiled plans to build a production space in the Olympic city Rio de Janeiro.
	Microsoft shares Apple event stage in tech world twist Loyal Apple fans likely shuddered on Wednesday as longtime nemesis Microsoft was welcomed at a high-profile media event to show off software tailored for a new iPad.
	Billie Holiday to return to New York stage—by hologram Legendary singer Billie Holiday will return to the New York stage posthumously this year as the Apollo Theater launches hologram performances.
South Africa: Digital fans share innovations for Africa A solar backpack that powers a lamp at night and a tablet loaded with a school's curriculum are two ways that innovative young Africans are putting digital technology to use.
	Glass-like coatings for automotive parts combine protection with beautiful colour Today's car enthusiasts have a diverse range of requirements: popular issues that concern them include safety in the vehicle, a good driving experience, a powerful engine and sophisticated technology. If drivers want to make an impression with their vehicle, decorative elements such as coloured wheel rims, brake calipers, exhausts, footboards or bodywork and engine components are increasingly being added. In an ideal scenario, it is possible to combine decorative coatings with protection from corrosion and wear. INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials will be presenting such coatings at this year's IAA International Motor Show. It will present its results in cooperation with automotive.saarland in Hall 4.0 at Stand D27.
	Glassy counterfeit protection helps prevent imitations of high-strength spare parts Visible security features on automotive spare parts represent a seal of quality for manufacturers and consumers. They guarantee that spare parts are original. Whereas for the driver original parts mean a lower risk of an accident, the proof that they are original protects the manufacturer from any claims for compensation which are brought on the basis of counterfeit products. In the case of spare parts that are subjected to high stresses, such markings wear off too quickly. At this year's IAA, INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials will be unveiling methods and materials which can be used to ensure that security markings remain visible for a long time even when parts are dirty or subjected to high stresses. It will present its results in cooperation with automotive.saarland in Hall 4.0 at Stand D27.
	First bag of chips from fully automatic chip machine Dutch start-up Caenator, in collaboration with StartLife and Wageningen University & Research Centre, presented a new generation of fully automatic chip vending machines. On 2 September, in the Restaurant of the Future on the Wageningen Campus, the President of the Executive Board of Wageningen UR, prof. Louise Fresco, tried the first bag of chips from the machine. By doing so, she gave the starting shot for the first market test.
	World's first compact 300 GHz receiver for wireless communications of tens of gigabits per second Fujitsu today announced the development of the world's first 300 GHz band compact receiver capable of high-speed wireless communications at a rate of several tens of gigabits per second.
	Murdoch's Fox buys National Geographic media unit The National Geographic Society announced Wednesday it was selling its media operations, including its iconic magazine and cable television channels, to a joint venture led by 21st Century Fox.
New video series 'Beyond the Desktop' explores potential of 3-D printing The Wilson Center's Science and Technology Innovation Program (STIP) is releasing a five-episode video series looking at the potential for additive manufacturing to transform how we build things - and what we need to do to fully realize this potential.
	Video: What's in a football helmet? Football is back, and with all the hard hits and tough tackles come renewed concerns about safety. Every NFL player is required to wear a helmet, but the helmets of today are a far cry from the leather creations from decades ago.

Medicine & Health news

	Nearly half of testicular cancer risk comes from inherited genetic faults Almost half of the risk of developing testicular cancer comes from the DNA passed down from our parents, a new study reports.
	Pancreatic cancer subtypes discovered in largest gene expression analysis to date Dense surrounding tissue can block drugs from reaching pancreatic cancer tumors, but it can also help prevent the cancer from spreading. Now a new study by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers and collaborators helps explain the conflicting role of the surrounding tissue known as stroma. In the study, the researchers revealed that based on molecular characteristics, there are two subtypes of pancreatic cancer stroma.
	Scientists reawaken sleeping HIV in patient cells to eliminate the virus A consortium of investigators led by scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have found that a new class of drugs may be used to purge pockets of dormant HIV from a patient's body, eliminating the virus once and for all. Since these agents are already being explored in clinical trials for treating cancer, the route to approval for treating HIV may be significantly shorter than usual.
	Study finds viral protein that causes dengue shock Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have identified a key culprit responsible for the fluid loss and resulting shock that are the hallmark of severe - and potentially fatal - dengue virus infections.
	Mindfulness may make memories less accurate Mindfulness meditation is associated with all sorts of benefits to mental and physical well-being, but a new study suggests that it may also come with a particular downside for memory. The findings, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, show that participants who engaged in a 15-minute mindfulness meditation session were less able to differentiate items they actually encountered from items they only imagined.
	Injections may have passed on Alzheimer's 'seeds': study People injected with hormones extracted from cadaver brains in a long-abandoned procedure may have received "seeds" of Alzheimer's disease, said a study Wednesday, urging research into possible risks for "accidental" medical transmission.
	Research team reports sustained remission of multiple myeloma after personalized cellular therapy A multiple myeloma patient whose cancer had stopped responding after nine different treatment regimens experienced a complete remission after receiving an investigational personalized cellular therapy known as CTL019 developed by a team at the University of Pennsylvania. The investigational treatment was combined with chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant - a new strategy designed to target and kill the cells that give rise to myeloma cells.
	Very high-calorie diets show how overeating may lead to diabetes Everyone knows that high-calorie diets are tied to obesity and, too often, to type 2 diabetes. Now, a small study suggests that gorging on food can quickly tip the body into a "pre-diabetic" state.
A high BMI could reduce men's risk of rheumatoid arthritis, but not women's A high body mass index (BMI) could reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in men, according to a study published today in Rheumatology.
	Child deaths halved since 1990, but UN goal missed The number of deaths among children under five has halved globally since 1990—well short of the UN goal of slashing infant mortality by two-thirds in 25 years, said data released Wednesday.
	Pass on the salt? NYC board to vote on menu sodium warnings Chain restaurants across New York City may soon be compelled to add a new item to their menus: a salt-warning symbol.
New cholesterol-lowering drugs are discussed by UB cardiologist and researcher The new statin alternatives, the class of drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors, which are just coming onto the market, are a welcome addition for treating high cholesterol, said Stanley F. Fernandez, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
	Tracking vision fluctuations may help doctors adjust schizophrenia treatment for each patient Tracking changes in the eye's retina may help doctors provide more effective treatment for people with schizophrenia, according to researchers at Rutgers University and Mount Sinai's New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
	In Africa, a deadly salmonella strain takes hold Salmonella is an infectious agent with many faces, appearing in a multitude of strains affecting animals and humans. A distinct form of the bacterial invader has emerged in sub-Saharan Africa and is responsible for severe epidemic outbreaks. Its unusual characteristics—including a high rate of lethality, invasiveness, atypical symptomatolgy and resistance to multiple antibiotics—are of rising concern.
	Researchers seek physicians' help to increase HPV vaccinations in Newark Rutgers researchers are seeking the help of pediatric physicians to develop a plan to improve the frighteningly low rate of Newark-area adolescents getting vaccinated against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, a known risk factor for several cancers.
	Stress levels help explain how men and women differ in providing emotional support f it seems that men aren't as good at providing emotional support to their partners as women are, blame stress.
	Mental health advocates use technology to prevent and treat anxiety For most freshmen entering Penn State, transitioning to college life can be a challenge. But for Patrick Dix, it was nearly debilitating.
	Parent-child interactions contribute to language success A new study co-authored by a UT Dallas professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences details that the quality of interactions between young children and their parents is just as important—if not more important—as the quantity of words children experience in determining later language ability.
	Dental caries prevention breakthrough A new way to preserve caries-infected teeth and prolong the life of dental fillings has been developed at the University of Otago.
	Researchers find "dormant" parasite cysts are actually quite active A new University of Kentucky study in the journal mBio shows that tissue cysts of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, long thought to be dormant, are quite active.
	New immunotherapy drug for advanced melanoma A new immunotherapy drug has been approved for NHS patients in England whose melanoma has stopped responding to previous treatments.
	Researchers describe new way to attack malarial parasite in blood cells Yale University researchers have found a new way to slow the development of malarial parasites within blood cells they infect, even in some drug-resistant strains that are on the rise in many parts of the world.
Tackling chronic diseases in poor countries The health problems that have long plagued people in the West—heart disease, diabetes, cancer—are on the rise globally. Yale researchers examine the growing problem of chronic disease in poor countries in the September issue of the journal Health Affairs.
	24-hour OBs, midwives lead to fewer C-sections Privately insured pregnant women are less likely to have C-sections when their regular care includes midwives and 24-hour obstetrician coverage, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco and Marin General Hospital.
	Breakthrough discovery in cause, treatment and prevention of hypertension Hypertension affects more than four million Australians but the cause of the disease has never been understood. In research published today and presented at an international scientific meeting this week in Vienna, Monash researchers reveal the cause of hypertension and how the disease could be reversed.
	Genetic testing for pediatric epilepsy can be complicated, but beneficial The use of genetic testing in pediatric epilepsy is complicated and the list of known epilepsy genes changes almost daily. The steps from a doctor initially evaluating a patient when they first demonstrate the symptoms of epilepsy to genetic diagnosis remain complex. In a review paper published today in Epilepsia, physicians from Nationwide Children's Hospital discuss some of the genetic testing methods available for physicians, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
	Luteolin may inhibit growth of human breast cancer cells during postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy More than 100 women die from breast cancer every day in the United States. The odds increase in postmenopausal women who have taken a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy; these women also have an increased risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that luteolin, a natural compound found in herbs such as thyme and parsley as well as vegetables such as celery and broccoli, could reduce the cancer risk for women who have taken hormone replacement therapy.
	Study points to a possible new pathway toward a vaccine against MRSA New research led by NYU Langone Medical Center has uncovered why a particular strain of Staphylococcus aureus—known as HA-MRSA—becomes more deadly than other variations. These new findings open up possible new pathways to vaccine development against this bacterium, which the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions says accounts for over 10,000 deaths annually, mostly among hospital patients.
	New UK type 2 diabetes prevention programme shows 'promising' early results A programme aimed at preventing the development of Type 2 diabetes in people at high risk of the disease has achieved "promising" early results, a study has found.
	Peering into fish brains to see how they work The newest research group at Norwegian Nobel laureates May-Britt and Edvard Moser's Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience uses transgenic zebrafish to unlock the secrets of the brain.
Poor motor skills in two-year-olds could indicate slow development in mathematical proficiency A Norwegian study shows that two-year-olds with poor motor function also exhibit poor mathematical skills. This knowledge will make it easier for teachers to identify children who may need extra help.
	Spheroid stem cell production sows hope for IPF treatment In a small pilot study, researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated a rapid, simple way to generate large numbers of lung stem cells for use in disease treatment. This method of harvesting and growing a patient's own lung stem cells shows promise in mice for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and could one day provide human IPF sufferers with an effective, less invasive method of treatment for their disease.
Postoperative delirium results in poor outcomes in older adults Researchers from the Aging Brain Center at the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife confirm that delirium is a significant and independent contributing factor to poor postsurgical outcomes in older adults. Findings published in JAMA Surgery suggest that the combination of major postoperative complications and delirium demonstrate a strong combined effect on adverse outcomes in older adults undergoing major surgery.
	Association of low resting heart rate in men and increased violent criminality A low resting heart rate in late adolescence was associated with increased risk for violent criminality in men later in life, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
Low rate secondary surgeries for removal, revision of vaginal mesh slings for stress urinary incontinence A follow-up of nearly 60,000 women who received a synthetic vaginal mesh sling for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence finds the risk is low for needing a second surgery for mesh removal or revision (about 1 in 30 women ten years after surgery), according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery.
	Rosacea caused half by nature, half by lifestyle: study (HealthDay)—Millions of Americans may wonder what caused them to develop the chronic skin disease rosacea. New research suggests the reason is half environmental and half genetic.
	Metformin linked to lower risk of head, neck cancer (HealthDay)—Metformin is associated with a lower risk of developing head and neck cancer in patients with diabetes, according to a study published in the September issue of Head & Neck.
	Electrocortical therapy may prevent motion sickness (HealthDay)—A mild electrical current applied to the scalp—transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—can prevent motion sickness, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Neurology.
	Retail clinics, apps change doctor-patient relationship Tom Coote suspected the stabbing pain in his abdomen was serious, but the harried doctor at the urgent care center suggested it was merely indigestion.
Mothers use variety of strategies to mitigate risks to daughters' body image Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) research demonstrates how Jewish mothers' emphasis on the many aspects of well being, fitness and a sense of self-fulfillment helps to counteract the innumerable "ideal" body images seen and heard by their daughters in the mass media.
	Effects of MVA85A vaccine on tuberculosis A new systematic review of animal studies testing a vaccine for tuberculosis raises questions about whether the studies provided sufficient evidence to move into trials of children.
Three tips for adjusting to changes in primary health care The family doctor visit is getting complicated. Drugstores and other retailers are opening clinics that offer care alternatives. Shrinking insurance has made routine visits to a physician more expensive for many. Here are three tips for navigating this evolving world:
	In a 1st, New York to require salt warnings on eatery menus Some sub sandwiches, movie theater pretzels and even milkshakes and salads will soon come with a first-of-its-kind salt warning symbol in New York City after officials agreed Wednesday to stake out new ground in a national push for healthier eating habits.
	Researchers shed light on potential shield from Alzheimer's Today, more than 5.1 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, a devastating type of dementia that plagues memory and thinking. That number is expected to triple in the coming decades. Moreover, according to a 2012 survey, Americans fear Alzheimer's more than any other disease.
	Study with 'never-smokers' sheds light on the earliest stages of nicotine dependence In a study with 18 adults who had never smoked, scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have demonstrated one of the earliest steps—nicotine "reinforcement"—in the process of addiction, and shown that some people are far more vulnerable to nicotine addiction than others.
Brain plasticity in the most dreaded biblical disease Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to change both anatomically and functionally in response to changes in the body or in the environment.
	How can one assess the effectiveness of hypnosis? Although hypnosis has existed for hundreds of years, today it is still difficult to clearly judge its usefulness in the medical domain. In a report submitted to the French Directorate General for Health, researchers from Inserm led by Bruno Falissard assessed the effectiveness of this complementary medical practice for some of its indications (women's health, digestive ailments, surgery, psychiatry, etc.). The latter illustrates its therapeutic value during anaesthesia, and in the management of irritable bowel syndrome. It also confirms that risks associated with hypnosis are particularly limited.
Alzheimer's puts heavier economic burden on women Women are not only at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) when compared to men; per capita, they also bear six times the cost of AD care that men do, reports a study published today in the journal Women's Health Issues. Authors Zhou Yang of Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and Allan Levey of the Emory University School of Medicine used a lifetime perspective to calculate AD costs to women and men based on three factors: the probability of developing AD, the disease's duration, and the required formal or informal care for the patients.
	New Ebola test could help curb disease spread A new Ebola test that uses magnetic nanoparticles could help curb the spread of the disease in western Africa. Research published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics shows that the new test is 100 times more sensitive than the current test, and easier to use. Because of this, the new test makes it easier and cheaper to diagnose cases, enabling healthcare workers to isolate patients and prevent the spread of Ebola.
Rise in disability benefits for children with mental disorders consistent with population trends The percentage of poor children who received federal disability benefits for at least one of 10 major mental disorders increased from 1.88 percent in 2004 to 2.09 percent in 2013, and such growth is consistent with and proportionate to trends in the prevalence of diagnosed mental disorders among children in the general U.S. population, says a new report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The increase also is not unexpected. This is because a sizeable number of low-income children with disabling mental disorders do not receive federal benefits, and their number consistently exceeds the amount of children who receive benefits each year. Therefore, large numbers of children who are eligible for such benefits may not be receiving them.
Older kids less likely to have car seats checked for safety than infants Booster seat-aged children are twice as likely to suffer serious injury or death in a car crash than younger children but a new study shows they may be less likely to have car seats inspected for proper use.
	Immunity study signals new ways to treat liver failure Patients with liver failure could benefit from a treatment that helps the immune system to combat infections linked to the condition, research suggests.
Study shows smoking doesn't always mean a shortened life span or cancer Smoking has been shown to have drastic consequences for lifespan and disease progression, and it has been suggested that cigarette exposure may impact the risk of death and disease via its acceleration of the aging process. Not all smokers experience early mortality, however, and a small proportion manage to survive to extreme ages.
	Easy explanations for life's inequities lead to support for the status quo What if you heard that on planet Teeku, the Blarks were a lot richer than the Orps, and you had to guess why? In a new study, participants were asked to select from several potential explanations for this fictional disparity. A majority focused on inherent traits of the Blarks and Orps (maybe the Blarks were smarter, or better workers than the Orps), rather than on external factors.
	Research finds high rate of Texas bugs carrying Chagas disease A deadly parasite that causes Chagas disease is widespread in a common Texas insect, according to a new study by University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) researchers. The finding suggests that the risk of Texans contracting the disease may be higher than previously thought.
	Routinely screen those older than 70 for brain health, world expert panel advises A panel of world experts in aging convened at Saint Louis University recommended that everyone 70 and older should have their memory and reasoning ability evaluated annually by a doctor or health care provider.
	New research confirms how to take better workday breaks Most people take breaks during their workdays. Coffee breaks. Lunch breaks. Short chats with coworkers. Maybe late afternoon walks around the building.
Cells from human umbilical cord blood improve cognition in Alzheimer's disease model mice Alzheimer's disease (AD), which affects an estimated 26 million people worldwide, is the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly and the leading cause of dementia. Predictions are that the number of AD cases will quadruple by 2050.
A hint of increased brain tumor risk—five years before diagnosis A new study suggests that changes in immune function can occur as long as five years before the diagnosis of a brain tumor that typically produces symptoms only three months before it is detected.
	Scientists close in on first dengue treatment Clinical trials for a dengue fever treatment could start within a year, following a discovery by University of Queensland scientists.
Michigan 'See You in 7' program helps reduce heart failure readmissions Michigan hospitals participating in the American College of Cardiology's "See You in 7" program demonstrated important reductions in 30-day readmission rates for Medicare heart failure patients when compared to non-participating hospitals despite only modest increases in seven-day follow-up appointments, according to a study today in JACC: Heart Failure.
Regulators halt study of cancer risks at 7 nuclear plants Federal regulators are pulling the plug on a five-year study of the risk of cancer in communities around six U.S. nuclear plants and a nuclear fuel site.
	External brain stimulation temporarily improves motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's People with Parkinson's disease (PD) tend to slow down and decrease the intensity of their movements even though many retain the ability to move more quickly and forcefully. Now, in proof-of-concept experiments with "joysticks" that measure force, a team of Johns Hopkins scientists report evidence that the slowdown likely arises from the brain's "cost/benefit analysis," which gets skewed by the loss of dopamine in people with PD.
Discrimination during adolescence has lasting effect on body In both blacks and whites, everyday feelings of discrimination can mess with the body's levels of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, new research suggests.
Photovoice: A useful method to learn about the food environment Childhood obesity is linked to diet habits and food environment, but gaining information about these topics from children can often be difficult. Using the Photovoice method, however, researchers from the University of Minnesota were able to engage participants and learn about the food environments and eating habits of 9- to 13-year-old children eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Study defines clinical trials likely to exclude patients with brain metastases Non-small cell lung cancer frequently spreads to the central nervous system (CNS), but patients with CNS metastases may be excluded from clinical trials of new drugs. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study being presented at the 16th World Conference on Lung Cancer reveals the full extent to which the CNS may be under-explored in clinical research.
New enzyme-replacement therapy shows promise for genetic lipid disease treatment Of the more than 50 known lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs)-rare inherited metabolic disorders-only seven can be treated with approved enzyme-replacement therapies. Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LALD) is an LSD that causes fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. There is no treatment for the disease, which afflicts 1- 40,000 - 1 in 300,000 people across the world. In this week's New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report results of a trial showing the efficacy of a new enzyme-replacement therapy for LALD. In an accompanying editorial, Daniel J. Rader, MD, chair of the department of Genetics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, notes that this first-ever hepatocyte-targeting therapy will be pivotal in treating this disease.
Brief bouts of exercise begin to reverse heart abnormalities in people with type 2 diabetes A new study in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) is the first to show that high intensity intermittent exercise training improves heart structure and benefits diabetes control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study is led by Professor Michael Trenell and Dr Sophie Cassidy from Newcastle University (UK) and was funded by the National Institute for Health Research.
	A new marker for migraine? Researchers may have discovered a new marker found in the blood for episodic migraine, according to a study published in the September 9, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Episodic migraine is defined as having less than 15 headaches per month.
Patients prefer relief from lower back pain over improved mobility A new study out today in the journal Neurology examines the question of quality of life for individuals with a common form of lower back pain called lumbar spinal stenosis. The findings show that, when asked to choose between treatments that reduced pain or would help them stand or walk, patients overwhelmingly chose pain relief.
Experts: Unproven stem cell procedures need more oversight Federal officials need to do more to prevent for-profit stem cell clinics from exploiting and potentially injuring patients, according to an article published in a leading medical journal.
New anti-cholesterol drugs are too expensive: report The high price of two new anti-cholesterol drugs limits the benefits patients may see from them, according to a draft report released Wednesday by a US nonprofit examining drug cost-effectiveness.
	'Mud bogging' motor sport tied to carbon monoxide poisonings, deaths (HealthDay)—The off-road motor sport known as mud bogging can put drivers and passengers at risk of potentially lethal carbon monoxide poisoning, researchers say.
	Could marijuana chemical help ease epilepsy? (HealthDay)—A chemical found in marijuana might help prevent epilepsy seizures, but drug laws have hampered research efforts, a new study says.
	Non-O blood group tied to higher CAD, MI risk (HealthDay)—Having non-O blood group may be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction, according to a meta-analysis published in the Sept. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	'White diets' don't adversely affect colonoscopy preparation (HealthDay)—A diet of low-residue white foods the day before outpatient colonoscopies is preferred by patients over clear-fluid diets and does not negatively impact bowel preparation success or colonoscopy performance, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	ACP supports expanded role of telemedicine for health care (HealthDay)—Telemedicine can be beneficial, within the framework of an established physician-patient relationship, according to a position paper published online Sept. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Behavioral weight loss program assists breast cancer survivors (HealthDay)—For overweight/obese survivors of breast cancer, a behavioral weight loss intervention can lead to clinically meaningful weight loss, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Accelerated MD program doesn't mar academic performance (HealthDay)—An accelerated baccalaureate (BA)/doctor of medicine (MD) program does not impair the academic performance of medical students, according to a study published online July 3 in Academic Medicine.
Epileptic girl overcomes Mexico cannabis ban An eight-year-old girl who endures 400 daily epileptic seizures will become Mexico's first authorized consumer of medical cannabis after the government granted her Tuesday an exemption to its marijuana ban.
	Parents, unemployed focus of NYC mental-health experiment A $30 million, city-sponsored experiment in training non-professionals to provide mental health help will focus on people who work with parents of small children, the unemployed poor and young people who aren't in work or school, according to City Hall's charity arm.
Guinea passes one week with no new Ebola case: WHO Guinea has notched up a week without a new case of Ebola, a first since March 2014, the head of the UN's response to the epidemic, Bruce Aylward, said on Wednesday.
	Survey finds strokes of unknown cause leave patients and caregivers in the dark According to a new survey from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, more than 50 percent of stroke patients and caregivers report anxiety and frustration when the cause of the stroke was undetermined, or "cryptogenic." The survey, which included 309 cryptogenic stroke patients and caregivers, also found that only 20 percent of patients and caregivers report receiving information for cryptogenic stroke at the time of diagnosis.
	South West epilepsy support technology part of national commissioning toolkit Epilepsy Self Monitor (EpSMon), an app designed to help those with epilepsy monitor their condition and which was developed by researchers, clinicians and patient groups in the South West, has been included as part of an epilepsy toolkit to be used by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in the NHS across the country.
	Researchers receive Facebook grant to study cyberbullying and teen dating violence Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., a cyberbullying expert, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center and a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University has received a $188,776 grant from the Digital Trust Foundation, formed by Facebook, to collect nationally-representative data on cyberbullying and teen dating violence. The overarching goal of this study is to illuminate the nationwide prevalence, frequency and scope of cyberbullying and electronic dating violence among a population of youth.
Physician-patient decision making may differ in care of racial/ethnic minorities Racial and ethnic inequalities in medical care are widely documented in literature. However, variations in Americans' experiences with healthcare, specifically regarding physician-patient communication and shared decision-making about treatment plans, are not well understood. A new study from Boston Medical Center, which suggests that a patient's race/ethnicity may influence the amount and type of information they receive from physicians regarding treatment recommendations, is published online in advance of print in the journal Patient Education and Counseling.
	Study finds children eat healthier at daycare centers than at home A recent study conducted by researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has found that preschool age children are consuming more calories and fewer fruits, vegetables and milk outside of child care centers than what is recommended by the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Should wilderness athletes have pre-participation exams? Getting a sports pre-participation exam (PPE) is a familiar preseason ritual for student athletes. But what about the growing number of people, of all ages, interested in participating in wilderness athletic and adventure events? Issues and advice on the PPE for wilderness athletes are featured in a special September issue of the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.
	NIH grant funds project to study virus interaction with the immune system and identify poxvirus The National Institutes of Health are funding a Kansas State University research project that is looking at viruses that have the potential to be the next smallpox as well as an effective weapon against cancer.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder—review looks at treatment effectiveness Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that causes major disruption in several areas of life for many women. Many treatment options have been proposed, but which are most effective? A comprehensive review of the evidence, including specific treatment guidelines, is presented in the September Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
New directions in mental health care for older adults The aging of the population, shifting diagnostic criteria, and new health care policy initiatives are some of the factors driving changes in mental health treatment for older Americans, according to the September special issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Expanding the use of social vulnerability assessments to identify hotspots for disease risk A newly published research study by U.S. Forest Service researchers demonstrates that the social vulnerability indices used in climate change and natural hazards research can also be used in other contexts such as disease outbreaks. Authors of the article include Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) researchers John Stanturf, Scott Goodrick, Mel Warren, and Christie Stegall, and Susan Charnley from the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Vitamins against violence: aggressive Dutch inmates to get health kick A Dutch study aims to get a grip on violence in prisons by prescribing vitamins and minerals for inmates with anger management issues, justice officials said Wednesday.
California lawmakers approve right-to-die legislation The state Assembly approved legislation Wednesday that would allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives after an emotional and deeply personal debate, sending the proposal to the Senate that is expected to endorse it.
New edition of 'The Menopause Guidebook' helps women looking for facts, not myths There is much debate surrounding how a woman entering the stages of menopause, or in the throes of this life stage, can or should manage symptoms, and now there are more options than ever before, adding extra confusion to the mix. To help make the process easier for women and educate pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women about making smarter healthcare choices, The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) has published its eighth edition of "The Menopause Guidebook," a go-to resource for women looking for answers to commonly asked questions—just in time for September's Menopause Awareness Month.
Legionnaires' death toll rises to 10 in western Illinois At least 10 people in western Illinois have now died from Legionnaires' disease, after a state veterans home reported two new fatalities among its residents.
Judge clears way for House lawsuit challenging health law A federal judge cleared the way Wednesday for a legal challenge by congressional Republicans to President Obama's health care law to proceed.

Biology news

	Ocean acidification weighing heavily upon marine algae Ocean acidification can weaken algal skeletons, reducing their performance and impacting upon marine biodiversity, say scientists in a new research paper published this week.
	Penguins wander far, but come home to mates: study A species of remarkably faithful penguins may have found the secret to monogamy—plenty of time spent very far apart.
	Preventing chromosomal chaos: Protein-based genome-stabilizing mechanism discovered Most people are familiar with the double-helix shape that allows genetic information to be packed into a molecule of human DNA. Less well-known is how all this information - which, if laid end-to-end, would stretch some three meters - is packed into the cellular nucleus. The secret of how this crush of genetic code avoids chaos - remaining untangled, correctly compartmentalized, and available for accurate DNA replication - has recently been revealed.
Invasive ants found to carry novel virus and honey bee pathogens A group of scientists, led by Victoria University of Wellington's Professor Phil Lester, has discovered that invasive Argentine ants frequently carry a previously undescribed virus. These exotic ants also host a virus widely associated with honey bee deaths.
	Caterpillar deceives corn plant into lowering defenses against it In a deception that likely has evolved over thousands of years, a caterpillar that feeds on corn leaves induces the plant to turn off its defenses against insect predators, allowing the caterpillar to eat more and grow faster, according to chemical ecologists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
	Lateral lines on the bodies of African clawed frogs may be sensitive to light Researchers have shown that water movement sensors - known as lateral lines - on the bodies of the African clawed frog may also be sensitive to light.
	Fossil find shows ancient beaked whale hunted fish in shallow waters (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from several institutions in Europe and Peru has found evidence of an ancient ziphiid (toothed beaked whale) that unlike its modern ancestors, hunted near the surface of the sea. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of the whale fossil found in a dolomite concretion beneath the sea bed off the coast of Peru last year.
	What's behind million-dollar crop failures in oil palm? Would you believe bad karma? What has spoiled tens upon tens of thousands of fledgling oil palm plants at elite corporate plantations in Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia over the last three decades? The answer to this problem, which has cost untold millions in spoilage and had adverse implications for the tropical environment, is bad karma, says an international team of genetic sleuths.
	Female cowbirds pay attention to cowbird nestling survival, study finds Brown-headed cowbirds have a reputation for being deadbeat parents: They lay their eggs in other birds' nests and then disappear, the story goes, leaving the care and feeding of their offspring to an unwitting foster family. A new study suggests, however, that cowbird moms pay close attention to how well their offspring do, returning to lay their eggs in the most successful host nests, and avoiding those that have failed.
	Bats may use bidirectional echolocation to detect prey, orient themselves The barbastelle bat may emit two different types of weak echolocation signals alternately, one upward through the nose and one downward through the mouth, to find prey while undetected and to sufficiently keep track of the environment, respectively, according to a study published September 9, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Anna-Maria Seibert and colleagues from the University of Tübingen, Germany.
	England could eradicate bovine TB if it adopted Welsh or Scottish tactics Using publicly available data researchers from Queen Mary University of London's Biological and Chemical Sciences were able to determine the effectiveness of current Bovine TB management strategies; the study found declining numbers of infections in previously uninfected herds and more TB free herds in Scotland and Wales. Should their current programmes continue those countries are likely to eradicate the disease while the same is not true in England.
	New calves raise hopes for world's rarest rhino Three critically endangered Javan rhino calves have been filmed in an Indonesian national park, raising hopes for the future of the world's rarest rhino after years of population decline.
	Marine biologists develop portable kit to preserve coral DNA at sea It's Welcome Week, but not just for students at Northeastern's Boston campus. The doors have also opened for species of a different order: deep-sea corals and spiny sponges from remote northwest Hawaiian waters. Samples of the organisms will arrive via the ship Okeanos Explorer in a collaboration between Northeastern's Marine Science Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (For a peek into the depths, see the slideshow below.)
	Spotting the knowledge gaps in biological species data Wealthy, emerging countries that are home to some of the most threatened animals on Earth are also the very places where biological records about animals are most sparse.
	Study on Pacific sperm whales suggests culture isn't just for humans A Dalhousie University PhD candidate in biology is fuelling the debate that culture—generally viewed as distinctly human—is also found in the animal kingdom.
Capturing introns: Targeting rapidly evolving regions of the genome for phylogenetics Understanding the evolutionary history of organisms is important for myriad reasons. To name a few, information about relationships between species can be used to guide the classification of biodiversity, inform conservation policies aimed at protecting threatened species, aid in tracking the spread of pathogens, and can even play a role in the discovery of new medicines.
	Scientists discover new approach to managing parasitic roundworms Roundworms that feed on plants cause approximately $100 billion in annual global crop damage. But a new way of disrupting the motility and reproduction of these plant parasitic nematodes discovered by a University of New Hampshire scientist may one day provide farmers with a new way to safely manage these agricultural pests.
	How do migrating birds avoid predators while fueling up? Birds stopping for a break during their grueling migratory flights face a difficult tradeoff: They need to fuel up with food as efficiently as possible, but they need to avoid predators while they do it. To learn more about how they make these choices about food availability and predator risk, Jennifer McCabe and Brian Olsen of the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute spent two years capturing birds during fall migration along the coast of Maine. Their results, published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, show that overall birds prefer to stop in habitat with plenty of dense vegetation in which they can hide from predators such as hawks. However, the longer the migration a bird is facing, the more likely it is to take risks in order to fill up with high-energy fruit.
	Protected areas only work if they include what threatened species need The Tucuman Parrot (Amazona tucumana) is found only on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Bolivia and Argentina, in a region known as the Southern Yungas forest. In the 1980s, its population suffered a severe decline due to capture for the pet trade, and it has never recovered. Conservation efforts have focused on protecting swaths of Southern Yungas habitat, but new research published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications highlights the ways in which this strategy may fall short. Anna Pidgeon of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her colleagues found that only 19% of the Southern Yungas is actually suitable breeding habitat for these parrots, and only 15% of breeding habitat is under any form of protection. Not all Southern Yungas forest is the same, and protecting habitat can only work if it includes what Tucuman Parrots actually need to successfully reproduce: tree cavities to nest in, and plenty of mature pino blanco (Podocarpus parlatorei), the evergreen trees whose seeds are the primary food for the nestlings.
Game-changing technology enables faster, cheaper gene editing Within the past few years, a new technology has made altering genes in plants and animals much easier than before. The tool, called CRISPR/Cas9 or just CRISPR, has spurred a flurry of research that could one day lead to hardier crops and livestock, as well as innovative biomedicines. But along with potential benefits, it raises red flags, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.

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