Science X Newsletter Friday, Oct 23

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 23, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers develop new method for scaling up quantum devices
- In unexpected discovery, comet contains alcohol, sugar
- New general-purpose optimization algorithm promises order-of-magnitude speedups on some problems
- Trisulfur anion helps explain gold deposits on Earth
- Cobalt-ligand catalyst successfully converts carboxylic acids and esters into alcohols
- Team hacks off-the-shelf 3-D printer towards rebuilding the heart
- Blocking enzymes in hair follicles promotes hair growth
- CRISPR technique allows for gene splicing without introducing foreign DNA bits
- Sensing small molecules may revolutionize drug design
- Deutsche Telekom, Huawei in cloud link to rival Amazon
- NASA study shows that common coolants contribute to ozone depletion
- Collaborative research reveals a new view of cell division
- Signs of faster ageing process identified through gene research
- People can raise their pain threshold by altering brain chemistry, arthritis study shows
- Upgrading the quantum computer

Astronomy & Space news

	In unexpected discovery, comet contains alcohol, sugar Scientists on Friday identified two complex organic molecules, or building blocks of life, on a comet for the first time, shedding new light on the cosmic origins of planets like Earth.
	Average chemical composition of the universe to be the same as that of the sun All of the chemical elements that are heavier than carbon, the oxygen we breathe, the silicon that makes up the sand on the beach, were produced inside stars through nuclear fusion and released by stellar explosions called supernovae. By measuring the chemical composition of the Universe, scientists are trying to reconstruct the history of how, when, and where each of the chemical elements so necessary for the evolution of life were produced.
	Mysterious Kerberos revealed by New Horizons Images of Pluto's tiny moon tiny Kerberos taken by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft – and just sent back to Earth this week – complete the family portrait of Pluto's moons.
	NASA takes Lasercom a step forward A NASA-developed laser communication (lasercom) system made headlines in 2013 when it demonstrated record-breaking data download and upload speeds to the moon. Now, a NASA optical physicist says he can match those speeds—plus provide never-before-achieved, highly precise distance and speed measurements—all from the same relatively small package.
	Watch worn by US astronaut on Moon sells for $1.6 mn An exceptionally rare watch worn by an American astronaut on the Moon which bears remnants of lunar material has sold for more than $1.6 million, a US auction house said Friday.
	NASA calls for American industry ideas on ARM spacecraft development NASA, through its Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has issued a call to American industry for innovative ideas on how the agency could obtain a core advanced solar electric propulsion-based spacecraft to support the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM).
	NASA completes critical design review for space launch system For the first time in almost 40 years, a NASA human-rated rocket has completed all steps needed to clear a critical design review (CDR). The agency's Space Launch System (SLS) is the first vehicle designed to meet the challenges of the journey to Mars and the first exploration class rocket since the Saturn V.
	Can lunar Earthshine reveal ashen light on Venus? A recent celestial event provided a fascinating look at a long-standing astronomical mystery.
	OSIRIS-REx spacecraft completes assembly stage, begins environmental testing NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft has begun environmental testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems facilities, near Denver, Colorado. OSIRIS-REx, led by the University of Arizona, will be the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth for further study.
	Maneuver moves New Horizons spacecraft toward next potential target NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has carried out the first in a series of four initial targeting maneuvers designed to send it toward 2014 MU69 – a small Kuiper Belt object about a billion miles beyond Pluto, which the spacecraft historically explored in July.

Technology news

	New general-purpose optimization algorithm promises order-of-magnitude speedups on some problems Optimization problems are everywhere in engineering: Balancing design tradeoffs is an optimization problem, as are scheduling and logistical planning. The theory—and sometimes the implementation—of control systems relies heavily on optimization, and so does machine learning, which has been the basis of most recent advances in artificial intelligence.
	Review: Amazon's cheap Fire tablet does a lot for $50 The thing to remember about Amazon's new $50 Fire tablet is that it's a $50 tablet.
	Tech companies face rocky road on the way to making cars Silicon Valley may think it can build a better car. But should it?
	Finland team's collaborative device could spark farewell to PCs Think of PC as standing for an innovative pocket computer not personal computer. This is a made-in-Finland computing rethink called Solu, now up on Kickstarter seeking funds.
Deutsche Telekom, Huawei in cloud link to rival Amazon German telecoms operator Deutsche Telekom said Friday it is to partner with China's Huawei to offer public cloud computing services in a bid to rival US behemoth Amazon.
	Free housing, other efforts try to attract women to tech Free rent and groceries were selling points, but college freshman Aishwarya Mandyam was more excited about the chance to connect with like-minded women when she moved into the eight-bedroom house offered up by a Seattle software startup.
Hacking puts 4 million UK telecoms customers' data at risk Phone and Internet service provider Talk Talk said Friday that private data from its 4 million British customers may have been compromised in a "significant and sustained" cyberattack on its website.
	German autonomous car travels across Mexico An autonomous car developed at Freie Universität Berlin has traveled through Mexico without any human intervention. Named AutoNOMOS, the car traveled 2400 kilometers and reached Mexico City on Tuesday. According to the researchers' knowledge, this was the longest journey ever completed by an autonomous vehicle in Mexico. The car traveled 2250 kilometers on freeways and 150 kilometers through cities; part of the route led through the semi-arid Sonoran Desert. Designed by researchers in the groups of Professor Raúl Rojas and Professor Daniel Göhring, the car had previously traveled autonomously in Germany, the United States, and Switzerland. Long-distance test drives of autonomous vehicles routinely take place in the USA and in Europe. The researchers have no knowledge of reports of this type of journey in Latin America up to now.
	The future of encryption If you want to protect valuable information, wouldn't you keep it under lock and key?
	Benefits and risks of the 'Internet of Things' Technology publications call 2015 "the year of the car hack."
	Australia's first electric jet ski A team of students from The University of Western Australia has built Australia's first electric personal watercraft, commonly referred to as a jet ski.
	Tesla sells over 3,000 cars in China in nine months US electric carmaker Tesla Motors sold more than 3,000 cars in China, the world's biggest auto market, in the first nine months of this year, it said Friday.
	Research studies cyberattacks through the lens of EEG and eye tracking University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have conducted a study that provides new insights on users' susceptibility to, and capability to detect, cyber-criminal attacks such as malware and phishing attacks.
	A friendly robot Researchers have developed a robot that adjusts its movements in order to avoid colliding with the people and objects around it. This provides new opportunities for more friendly interaction between people and machines.
	Are nature apps interesting enough? The full potential of nature apps for getting the public more interested in ecology and conservation is not being exploited enough, says a new study.
	How big data and The Sims are helping us to build the cities of the future By 2050, the United Nations predicts that around 66% of the world's population will be living in urban areas. It is expected that the greatest expansion will take place in developing regions such as Africa and Asia. Cities in these parts will be challenged to meet the needs of their residents, and provide sufficient housing, energy, waste disposal, healthcare, transportation, education and employment.
	UK telecoms firm gets ransom demand after being hacked Phone and Internet service provider Talk Talk said Friday that it has received a ransom demand after a "significant and sustained" cyberattack that may have compromised customers' credit card and banking details.
	Researchers find geothermal heat pumps most feasible in Halifax Researchers at the Université du Québec have recently conducted a survey of four Canadian cities to determine the economic feasibility of installing geothermal heating systems in homes in Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto.
	Russia 'tried to hack MH17 inquiry system' Russian spies likely tried to hack into the Dutch Safety Board's computer systems to access a sensitive final report into the shooting down of flight MH17 over Ukraine, experts said Friday.
	With Bills-Jags from London, NFL experiments with streaming The NFL, already a $10 billion a year business, keeps looking to grow even bigger.
	Jazz-playing robot will provide insight into how computers communicate with humans When jazz musicians improvise alongside each other, they interact in ways that are as much about feeling the music as about thinking. But suppose one of the musicians is a robot. Can it improvise a jazz solo in response to what its human partner is playing?
	Twitter CEO gives up $200M in stock for company employees After laying off more than 300 workers, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is trying to lift the spirits of the remaining employees by giving them 6.8 million shares of the stock he owns in the online messaging service.
	'Back to the Future' fans transform town into Hill Valley For one day only, a picturesque town about 60 miles north of Los Angeles was transformed into Hill Valley, the fictional hometown of Marty McFly from the "Back to the Future" franchise.
	Britain runs the risk that Chinese state-owned nuclear firms have more in mind than just business Chinese president Xi Jinping will return to Beijing with good reason to think his first trip to the UK was a roaring success. Feted by a UK government more concerned with cash than with China's domestic human rights record, Xi will arrive home with a keen overseas partner and a fistful of contracts.
Ericsson shares slide on concern over Chinese market Wireless equipment maker Ericsson says its third-quarter earnings increased but slowing demand in China and uncertain outlooks for Europe and the United States worried investors, causing the shares to slide.
Zuckerbergs to start school mixing learning and health Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his doctor wife on Friday revealed plans to start a private school in a hardscrabble Silicon Valley town, mixing education with health care.

Medicine & Health news

	Mini-kidney organoids re-create disease in lab dishes Mini-kidney organoids have now been grown in a laboratory by using genome editing to re-create human kidney disease in petri dishes.
	People can raise their pain threshold by altering brain chemistry, arthritis study shows Scientists at The University of Manchester have shown for the first time that the numbers of opiate receptors in the brain increases to combat severe pain in arthritis sufferers.
	Scientists find 1500 'ageing' genes that could lead to new treatments Researchers from The University of Queensland have helped identify nearly 1,500 genes associated with ageing that could lead to new health treatments.
	Mapping face sensation in the brainstem Filippo Rijli and his group at the FMI have shown how the formation of a sensory topographic map in the brainstem is controlled by a single transcription factor, thus shedding light on a decades-old question in neuroscience. The expression of Hoxa2 in brainstem sensory neurons is sufficient to establish a topographic map in which each whisker on the face is represented by a neuronal module (barrelette), permitting accurate mapping of facial sensory input to the brain.
	Probing the mysterious perceptual world of autism The perceptual world of a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is unique. Beginning in infancy, people who have ASD observe and interpret images and social cues differently than others. Caltech researchers now have new insight into just how this occurs, research that eventually may help doctors diagnose, and more effectively treat, the various forms of the disorder. The work is detailed in a study published in the October 22 issue of the journal Neuron.
	Blocking enzymes in hair follicles promotes hair growth Inhibiting a family of enzymes inside hair follicles that are suspended in a resting state restores hair growth, a new study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center has found. The research was published today in the online edition of Science Advances.
	Signs of faster ageing process identified through gene research New research has shed light on the molecular changes that occur in our bodies as we age.
	PCI can be considered for noninfarct artery in STEMI (HealthDay)—For select patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with multivessel disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), PCI in the noninfarct artery should be considered, according to new guidelines published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Ultrasound highly accurate for diagnosing groin hernia (HealthDay)—Ultrasound (US) is highly accurate for diagnosing the presence and type of groin hernia, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
	Data on foodborne disease outbreaks at your fingertips (HealthDay)—With one in six Americans infected with foodborne disease—sometimes called "food poisoning"—every year, U.S. health officials have upgraded an online resource for local health investigators and wary consumers.
Hands-only CPR in high school class pumps up likelihood of bystander response to cardiac arrest Freshmen at eight Florida high schools who learned how to provide circulatory support to someone in sudden cardiac arrest using chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilations said they would be significantly more comfortable performing the skill in a real-life situation when their training included a hands-on component, according to a new study.
Skin-to-skin contact with baby in neonatal unit decreases maternal stress levels Research shows that stable parent-child bonds are fundamental to healthy child development. For parents of babies born prematurely or with special medical needs, this early bonding can be interrupted by the complex medical care required in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Study finds gap in awareness of return-to-play practices following youth sport head hits Coaches and parents need more training on concussions to avoid making bad calls about when to let a young athlete back in the game, according to a study to be presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC, on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Study identifies roadblocks to mental health services for adolescents affected by bullying Nearly one in three U.S. adolescents are affected by bullying, placing them at risk for health problems including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression and self-harm. Unfortunately, fewer than a quarter of these teens receive help, and new research identifies some of the reasons why.
Health food stores recommend teens try performance supplement not recommended under 18 Posing as a 15-year-old athlete wanting to bulk up during strength training, a researcher asked more than 200 health food stores whether he should take a sports performance supplement containing creatine. Despite recommendations against using creatine under age 18 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Sports Medicine, more than two-thirds of the stores' sales attendants told him to give it a try.
A longer look at treatments for leg length discrepancies When balancing treatment options for a child with a significant difference in leg length, doctors typically advise families about the risks and benefits of surgeries to either shorten or elongate one of the limbs. New research suggests they may also want to consider how the child's ultimate height will affect his or her income as an adult.
Job opportunities, after-school activities, cleaner city top urban teens' priorities When researchers in New Haven, Conn., asked teens to identify solutions to reduce violence in their community, the adolescents had clear recommendations: better employment opportunities, more after-school activities and a cleaner city environment.
New AAP report targets lack of adequate food as ongoing health risk to US children For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recommending that pediatricians screen all children for food insecurity. In a new policy statement identifying the short and long-term adverse health impacts of food insecurity, the AAP also recommends that pediatricians become familiar with and refer families to needed community resources, and advocate for federal and local policies that support access to adequate, nutritious food.
Do as I say, not as I show: Ads in parenting magazines don't always illustrate safe practices Readers with young children frequently turn to parenting magazines for tips on raising healthy kids. While these publications contain helpful articles, a new study found a surprising number of advertisements appearing in the nation's top magazines for parents showed images or products that contradicted health and safety recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Nearly 1 in 6 ads containing at least one offense.
Tool helps patients, providers decide if lung cancer screening is warranted A 65-year-old male smoker with a history of 2 packs a day for 45 years with no personal or family history of cancer wonders: Should I be screened for lung cancer?
	3-D organoids allow tests of lymphoma treatments Cornell researchers have engineered a 3-D lymphoma organoid – a tissue culture that mimics the complex environment of lymphomas allowing scientists to study non-Hodgkin lymphomas – a technology that promises to rapidly advance our understanding and treatment of these tumors.
	New DNA insights may lead to cancer therapy Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed a better understanding of a complex mechanism that contributes to the growth of telomeres, the repetitive sequences of DNA that protect the end of a cell's chromosomes. Their study, published Oct. 22 in PLOS Genetics, may one day allow scientists to develop new, targeted cancer drugs.
	An easy test for sickle cell disease A team of UConn biomedical engineers, working with colleagues from Yale, MIT, and Harvard, has developed a simple, inexpensive, and quick technique for the diagnosis and monitoring of sickle cell disease that can be used in regions where advanced medical technology and training are scarce.
	Men can benefit from pelvic exercises to prevent urinary leaks after prostate cancer treatment, study finds Men with urinary leaks from surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer can benefit from "Kegel" exercises known for treating incontinence in women after giving birth, according to a Case Western Reserve University study.
	Support for research without prior consent in cases involving critically ill children Public health experts at the University of Liverpool have shown that parents and medics support research without prior consent in the emergency treatment of critically ill children.
Study links light exposure to weight gain in children A world-first study by QUT's Sleep in Early Childhood Research Group has revealed pre-schoolers exposed to more light earlier in day tend to weigh more.
	Link between epilepsy and autism A new UK study has shed light on the negative impact that epilepsy can have on autism in adult patients.
	Researchers help identify genetic variants for colorectal cancer Six genetic variants associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer were newly identified by University of Hawai'i Cancer Center researchers as part of a large international collaboration. The discovery will help identify high-risk individuals who should be prioritized for colonoscopy screening, potentially resulting in tumors being found earlier and increased patient survival.
	Collagen's role in skin cancer Type VII collagen is an important protein that helps hold the skin together. Patients with a severe skin condition known as recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) have genetic mutations that lead to reductions in type VII collagen, causing blistering following minor trauma.
	Online gambling to get safer through better prediction of addiction A new 'early warning' system that automatically informs gamblers as soon as their behaviour shows signs of turning into an addiction is helping people engage in the pastime responsibly.
	Toxins remain in your clothes Thousands of chemicals are used in clothes manufacturing. Researchers at Stockholm University have examined if there are chemicals in the clothes we buy as well. Several substances related to health risks were identified and not even organic cotton was a guarantee for non-toxic textiles.
	Advanced therapy medicine Imlygic indicated to treat certain stages of melanoma The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended authorising Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec) for the treatment of adults with melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery and that has spread either to the surrounding area or to other areas of the body (regionally or distantly metastatic) without affecting the bones, brain, lung or other internal organs.
	Endogenous 'cannabis' influences development of the fetal pancreas According to the latest research results from the Medical University of Vienna, endocannabinoids, cannabis-like substances produced by the body itself, can affect the development of a baby's pancreas. The study also highlights the importance of diet during pregnancy for the foetal pancreas to form. These are the findings of a recent study that has now been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Sarcoidosis surface marker allows new diagnostic approaches A team of scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München together with colleagues of the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich recently developed a new strategy to determine monocyte subsets involved in diseases. The results published in the journal Blood could help facilitating the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and may improve the respective patient management.
	The secret to a younger brain may lie in exercising your body It is widely recognised that our physical fitness is reflected in our mental fitness, especially as we get older. How does being physically fit affect our aging brains? Neuroimaging studies, in which the activity of different parts of the brain can be visualised, have provided some clues. Until now, however, no study has directly linked brain activation with both mental and physical performance.
	WHO expert panel urges pilot roll-out of first malaria vaccine (Update) A World Health Organization expert panel on Friday recommended pilot roll-outs of the world's most advanced malaria vaccine to young children in several areas of sub-Saharan Africa, before considering wider use.
	When anxiety silences a child (HealthDay)—It's a little-known anxiety disorder that renders one in every 150 children speechless in certain situations.
	Depression too often reduced to a checklist of symptoms How can you tell if someone is depressed? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) - the 'bible' of psychiatry - diagnoses depression when patients tick off a certain number of symptoms on the DSM checklist. A large-scale quantitative study coordinated at KU Leuven, Belgium, now shows that some symptoms play a much bigger role than others in driving depression, and that the symptoms listed in DSM may not be the most useful ones.
Shift in vaccine use needed to eradicate polio: WHO experts A World Health Organization expert panel called Friday for a shift in the kinds of vaccines used to fight polio, insisting full eradication of the crippling disease is within reach.
New drug approved for soft-tissue cancer (HealthDay)—The chemotherapy drug Yondelis (trabectedin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat certain soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) that have spread or can't be treated by surgery.
	Resistance training may cut white matter lesion progression (HealthDay)—For older community-dwelling women, engaging in progressive resistance training (RT) seems to reduce white matter lesion (WML) progression, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Neuromuscular stimulation doesn't aid dysphagia patients (HealthDay)—Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) does not add benefit to traditional swallow exercises for patients experiencing dysphagia after treatment for head and neck cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Head & Neck.
	Patients' reasons for returning to ER differ from predicted (HealthDay)—Patients' reasons for returning to the emergency department after discharge from an internal medicine unit include being discharged too soon and feeling weak, and these reasons differ from those predicted by the liaison nurse clinician's evaluation, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Intensive lifestyle intervention improves GI symptoms in T2DM (HealthDay)—An intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) can reduce gastrointestinal symptoms among overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
	Operative vaginal delivery remains appropriate (HealthDay)—Operative vaginal delivery remains an important component of modern labor management, but obstetric care providers need to be familiar with the proper use of the instruments and the risks involved, according to a practice bulletin published in the November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Yoga intervention ups sleep quality for staff nurses (HealthDay)—For staff nurses, a regular yoga intervention can improve sleep quality and reduce work stress, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Study finds injuries from nonpowder guns severe among children Researchers at a Dallas children's hospital aim to show that nonpowder firearms such as airsoft, BB, and paintball guns should not be viewed as toys, but rather powerful weapons causing increasingly severe and sometimes life-threatening injuries in pediatric patients.
New study characterizes pediatric ED visits attributed to contact with law enforcement In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital (UH Rainbow) found injuries related to legal interventions, or contact with law enforcement, involving male teenagers is not an uncommon occurrence in the United States.
	Breastfeeding difficulties may increase risk of postnatal depression In a recent study, stopping breastfeeding due to pain or physical difficulties predicted an increased risk of postnatal depression, but stopping for other reasons, such as social reasons or embarrassment, did not.
ACL injuries increase among school-aged children and adolescents A new study confirms what doctors working with young athletes already suspected: the number anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears among youths, particularly high school students, has risen during the past 20 years.
More than 25 percent of women giving birth who test positive for marijuana also using other drugs As an increasing number of states legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use, health officials expect consumption of tetrahydrocanabis (THC) during pregnancy to increase. A new study suggests a mother's use of marijuana while pregnant could indicate other drug use as well.
Birth tourism in the United States delivers complex medical cases in neonatal units Expectant mothers traveling to the United States with the expressed purpose of giving birth before returning home are presenting more complex medical, social and financial challenges at a large metropolitan children's hospital.
New rule that limits tackling during football practices knocks down concussions New research shows that limiting the amount of full-contact tackling during high school football practices can have a big impact on reducing the number of concussions among players.
Basketball, soccer, lacrosse lead to most ACL injuries among high school female athletes A new study finds the overall rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among high school athletes is significantly higher among females, who are especially likely to experience ACL tears while playing basketball, soccer and lacrosse.
Research suggests canine companionship helps calm children undergoing cancer treatment Although survival rates for children diagnosed with cancer have increased dramatically over the past 40 years, hard evidence of proven psychosocial benefits to improve quality of life among patients and families during treatment has remained elusive.
Internet misfires as source of accurate information on storing firearms The vast majority of Internet pages visited by people searching for firearms storage guidance prove to be duds when it comes to giving accurate and complete information on how to keep children safe around guns.
Most parents form vaccination preferences before becoming pregnant Efforts to educate parents about the importance of vaccinations for their children might be more effective if they begin prior to pregnancy, according to findings of a new study to be presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC.
More than one in five anaphylactic reactions occur in students with no known allergies More than 1 in 10 schools in the United States responding to a survey reported at least one severe allergic reaction during the 2013-14 school year, and 22 percent of those events occurred in individuals with no previously known allergies.
Children in foster care three times more likely to have ADHD diagnosis Researchers already knew that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the most common behavioral health diagnosis among children enrolled in Medicaid. A new study to be presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2015 National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC, found that children in foster care were three times more likely than others to have an ADHD diagnosis.
	Premiums expected to rise in many health law markets Premiums are expected to rise in many parts of the country as a new sign-up season under President Barack Obama's health care law starts Nov. 1. But consumers have options if they're willing to shop, and an upgraded government website will help them compare.
	Disappointed patients in Ghana A recent study published in PloS One reveals that the quality of healthcare by Ghanaian providers is perceived a lot better by healthcare staff as compared to their clients. For example, health workers believe they are a lot more compassionate than perceived by their patients. The lead author of the article is Robert Kaba Alhassan, a PhD researcher within the NWO-WOTRO programme Global Health Policy and Health Systems.
American College of Gastroenterology, Oct. 16-21 The annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology was held from Oct. 16 to 21 in Honolulu and attracted approximately 5,000 participants from around the world, including gastroenterology and digestive specialists and other health care professionals. The conference featured presentations focusing on clinical updates in gastroenterology and hepatology as well as the latest advances in digestive health and gastrointestinal disorders.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Oct. 17-21 The annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine was held from Oct. 17 to 21 in Baltimore and attracted approximately 5,000 participants from around the world, including physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians, and other health care professionals interested in reproductive medicine. The conference featured more than 1,000 abstracts that focused on reproductive biology, as well as more than 200 different vendors.

Biology news

	Flying ants mate close to home and produce inbred offspring Ant queens stay close to home in their hunt for a mate and as a result produce thousands of inbred offspring, a study led by a University of Exeter biologist has found.
	A social network of human proteins Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich and at the MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden have now drawn a detailed map of human protein interactions. Using a novel mass spectrometric quantification method, the researchers determined the strength of each interaction. "Our data revealed that most interactions are weak, but critical for the structure of the entire network," explains Marco Hein, first author of the study. The paper has now been published in the journal Cell.
	CRISPR technique allows for gene splicing without introducing foreign DNA bits (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in South Korea has found a way to introduce an enzyme into a cell using the CRISPR technique without having to use a bacterial carrier—the result, the group claims, is a possible way to bypass laws meant to outlaw genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from being used in the human food chain. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team outlines their technique and explains why it works.
Collaborative research reveals a new view of cell division Basic research into the mechanisms of cell division, using eggs and embryos from frogs and starfish, has led researchers to an unexpected discovery about how animal cells control the forces that shape themselves.
	New DNA research reveals undiscovered white dots on the map Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have located a previously unknown function in the so-called histones, which allows for an improved understanding of how cells protect and repair DNA damages. This knowledge may eventually result in better treatments for diseases such as cancer.
	Rio reintroduces howler monkeys after century's absence Scientists have given Rio de Janeiro something to shout about with the reintroduction of howler monkeys to the city's famed Tijuca forest after a century's absence.
	Research suggests new direction for tissue engineering and cancer therapeutics Nikolai Slavov, a new assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering, wasn't looking to upend conventional wisdom when he set out to measure protein levels in ribosomes, the particles in cells that synthesize all the other proteins that keep living things—from animals to bacteria—functioning. He just wanted to understand what was driving some of the yeast cells in his lab to grow faster than others.
	Marginal soil can make for good biofuel crops Switchgrass, a perennial native to the tallgrass prairie, is one of the most promising bioenergy crops in the United States, with potential to provide high-yield biomass on marginal soils unsuitable for traditional agricultural crops.
	What dog owners can learn from a mysterious canine infection While he's usually fighting Perth's crooks and thieves, over the past week WA police dog Rumble has been battling a mysterious infection resulting in seizures.
	Social networking for lizards – when neighbours don't become good friends New research from Murdoch University has revealed that lizards avoid each other in their own neighbourhood, and most of all steer clear of their relatives.
	Scientists identify molecular mechanism behind early flowering Plants adapt their flowering time to the temperature in their surroundings. But what exactly triggers their flowering at the molecular level? Can this factor switch flowering on or off and thus respond to changes in the climate? In a study currently published in PLOS Genetics, a team headed by Professor Claus Schwechheimer from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) describes a molecular mechanism with which plants adapt their flowering time to ambient temperatures and thereby indicate ways in which the flowering time can be predicted on the basis of genetic information.
	A new algorithm to predict the dynamic language of proteins Researchers from the Structural Biology Computational Group of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), led by Alfonso Valencia, in collaboration with a group headed by Francesco Gervasio at the University College London (UK), have developed the first computational method based on evolutionary principles to predict protein dynamics, which explains the changes in the shape or dimensional structure that they experience in order to interact with other compounds or speed up chemical reactions. The study constitutes a major step forward in the computational study of protein dynamics (i.e. their movement), which is crucial for the design of drugs and for the research on genetic diseases, such as cancer, resulting in higher levels of complexity than allowed by current methods.
	Potato harvest reduced by half On the way from field to fork, more than half of the potato harvest is lost. This is according to a new study conducted by researchers from Agroscope and ETH Zurich.
Bacteriophage treatment decontaminates infant formula A phage showed strong anti-microbial activity against a type of food-borne bacterium that often kills infants after infecting them via infant formula. Phages are viruses that infect only bacteria. The research is published Oct. 23 online in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
When less is more: Smaller offspring thrive in competitive environments The parenting debate has raged for ages in the halls of academia and in homes around the world. For the best chance of survival and fitness, should mothers coddle their offspring, giving them every advantage, or let them learn to fend for themselves?
	Climate change could push snow leopards over the edge Urgent international action must be taken in the face of climate change to save the snow leopard and conserve its fragile mountain habitats that provide water to hundreds of millions of people across Asia, according to a new WWF report.

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