Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 26

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 26, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Tiny sponges behave in a counterintuitive way when adsorbing water
- Nanotechnology offers new approach to increasing storage ability of dielectric capacitors
- Sheet music for creating the artificial sense of touch
- Researchers report on brain network development in young people
- Research backs human role in extinction of mammoths, other mammals
- Physicists uncover novel phase of matter
- Ancient babies boost Bering land bridge layover: DNA links many Native Americans to infants in Alaskan grave
- Entanglement at heart of '2-for-1' fission in next-generation solar cells
- Capacity to regenerate body parts may be the primitive state for all four-legged vertebrates
- Unraveling the complex, intertwined electron phases in a superconductor
- Researchers observe phase transition thought impossible
- Best of Last Week—The Zeno effect, self-driving cars and the genetic impact of stress on offspring
- Scientists predict that rocky planets formed from 'pebbles'
- Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance
- Ancient permafrost quickly transforms to carbon dioxide upon thaw

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists predict that rocky planets formed from 'pebbles' Using a new process in planetary formation modeling, where planets grow from tiny bodies called "pebbles," Southwest Research Institute scientists can explain why Mars is so much smaller than Earth. This same process also explains the rapid formation of the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, as reported earlier this year.
	X-ray emission from massive stars Massive young stars are known to emit strong X-rays. Unlike the X-ray emission from lower mass stars, however, which arises in stellar photospheres, the X-rays from massive stars are thought to result from powerful shocks. Several kinds of shocks can be responsible, produced either by very strong winds driven by the star's radiation, by the head-on collision between winds that have been magnetically channeled by the star's magnetic field, or by wind collisions in a binary stellar system in which each stars has a wind. Sorting out the mechanisms enables astronomers to identify the most active physical processes at work, and thereby decode additional information about the star's physical makeup and evolutionary status.
	Scientists predict space debris to enter earth's atmosphere around the Indian Ocean Millions of bits of space junk—leftover fragments from spacecraft and related debris—orbit Earth, and the majority of these will eventually fall into Earth's atmosphere and incinerate. Astronomers believe they have recently observed one of these pieces and, for the first time, can predict when and where it will enter the atmosphere. Such forecasts could allow scientists the opportunity to observe these events to better understand what happens when space debris—manmade or natural—comes in contact with the atmosphere and determine which objects might be hazardous to humans.
	Seven key facts about Cassini's Oct. 28 'plume dive' NASA's Cassini spacecraft will sample the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus on Wednesday, Oct. 28, when it flies through the moon's plume of icy spray.
	NASA spacecraft to fly through icy spray of Saturn moon An unmanned NASA spacecraft is about to make its deepest dive ever into the icy spray emanating from the underwater ocean on Saturn's moon, Enceladus.
	Reentry data will help improve prediction models A rare reentry of a suspected rocket body from a very high orbit next month offers an excellent opportunity to gather data to improve our knowledge of how objects interact with Earth's atmosphere.
	Image: A Hubble view of starburst galaxy Messier 94 This image shows the galaxy Messier 94, which lies in the small northern constellation of the Hunting Dogs, about 16 million light-years away.
	First direct electron observation in tera electron volt region Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Waseda University started global-leading direct electron observations in the extremely high-energy region of Tera electron volt (TeV, one trillion electron volts) using the CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) installed on the Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" of the International Space Station (ISS).
	Spacecraft discovers thousands of doomed comets For an astronomer, discovering a comet can be the highlight of a lifetime. Great comets carry the names of their discoverers into history. Comet Halley, Comet Lovejoy, Comet Hale-Bopp are just a few examples….
Dawn triangle of planets Winter is approaching. The early, wakeful sunbeams of summer are a fading memory as October mornings grow dark and cold. Frankly, waking up isn't as easy as it used to be.....
	Exploring the seas, thanks to space An underwater robot initially built to help astronauts train for life in weightlessness is now being tested in the Mediterranean Sea. One day, robots like this may carry out sophisticated missions on our ocean floors, from finding lost aircraft blackboxes to mining minerals or maintaining the sites of ancient pirate shipwrecks.
	New Horizons continues toward potential Kuiper Belt target NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has carried out the second in a series of four maneuvers propelling it toward an encounter with the ancient Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69, a billion miles farther from the sun than Pluto.
	Saturn's "Death Star" moon Mimas Much has been learned about Saturn's system of moons in recent decades, thanks to the Voyager missions and the more recent surveys conducted by the Cassini spaceprobe. Between its estimated 150 moons and moonlets (only 53 of which have been identified and named) there is no shortage of scientific curiosities, and enough mysteries to keep astronomers here on Earth busy for decades.
	Saturn's moon Tethys Thanks the Voyager missions and the more recent flybys conducted by the Cassini space probe, Saturn's system of moons have become a major source of interest for scientists and astronomers. From water ice and interior oceans, to some interesting surface features caused by impact craters and geological forces, Saturn's moons have proven to be a treasure trove of discoveries.
	Saturn's moon Rhea The Cronian system (i.e. Saturn and its system of rings and moons) is breathtaking to behold and intriguing to study. Besides its vast and beautiful ring system, it also has the second-most satellites of any planet in the Solar System. In fact, Saturn has an estimated 150 moons and moonlets – and only 53 of them have been officially named – which makes it second only to Jupiter.
	Lobster-inspired 3.8m super lightweight mirror chosen for Chinese-French space mission The University of Leicester announces today the signature of a contract to develop an innovative new type of X-ray mirror for a telescope to be flown on an orbiting observatory to be launched in 2021.
	Story Time from Space: Astronauts getting new picture books Once upon a time, when NASA's shuttles were still flying, an astronaut read a children's story from space.
New report offers NASA framework for establishing priorities among Earth observations A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers NASA a framework for prioritizing satellite observations and measurements of Earth based on their scientific value.

Technology news

	Digital-savvy, eco-conscious drivers targeted at Tokyo Motor Show Toyota's three-seater exoskeleton car and an electric vehicle with touch screens that turn it into a "digital space" are among the concept models that will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show this week.
	Hendo brings out second hoverboard iteration Will we ever see hoverboards join bicycles as our favored way of moving about? We may see the day.
	Tech spats spark US fears of 'digital protectionism' As American tech giants extend their global reach, fears are growing on their side of the Atlantic over trade barriers some see as "digital protectionism."
	When self-driving cars drive the ethical questions Driverless cars are due to be part of day to day highway travel. Beyond their technologies and safety reports lies a newer wrinkle posed by three researchers, in the form of ethical questions which policy makers and vendors will need to explore.
	Proposed FCC rules may smooth path to 5G wireless tech Mobile network traffic is heading in a direction that pleases many in the wireless industry. The Federal Communications on Thursday proposed new rules in wireless frequencies above 24 GHz.
	Bending to wearables, two battery kings step up game South Korea is making battery manufacturing news. Its two big tech companies, SamsungSDI and LG Chem, have been demonstrating an aggressive focus on new battery solutions for the crop of mobile gadgets under the umbrella term "wearables."
	Google scientist talks about RankBrain for search AI-using search technology RankBrain is becoming important to Google. and is helping to process Google search results.
	Facebook hits all-time high amid tech euphoria Facebook shares lifted Friday to an all-time high, crossing $100 for the first time, during a rally in the technology sector on Wall Street.
	Wikipedia awarded top Spanish prize for international cooperation Spain's King Felipe VI on Friday awarded online encyclopedia Wikipedia the country's Princess of Asturias award for international cooperation, hailing it a "universal symbol of teamwork".
Vice Media eyes TV channels in latest expansion Vice Media is readying plans to launch a US TV network, and a dozen in Europe next year, as the fast-growing digital video news network moves in on traditional media.
	ESPN pulling videos from YouTube due to rights issues ESPN has begun removing its videos from YouTube due to rights issues surrounding next week's launch of YouTube's ad-free subscription service, Red.
	Talk Talk says cyberattack data theft not as bad as feared British telecoms company Talk Talk says a cyberattack feared to have put 4 million customers' details at risk is not as bad as initially thought.
	TU Eindhoven starts using kingsize 3-D concrete printer Last month Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) began using a concrete printer that enables objects of up to 11 meters long, 5 meters wide and 4 meter high to be printed. The university will be working with the building industry to develop knowledge over the course of a number of years to print pioneering and easily recyclable concrete products. Like complete walls, printed with every conceivable individual feature and requirement.
	Thermoplastically deformable electronic circuits At this week's Meeting of the International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (IMAPS 2015), imec and CMST (imec's associated lab at Ghent University) present a novel technology for thermoplastically deformable electronics enabling low-cost 2.5D free-form rigid electronic objects. The technology is under evaluation in Philips LED lamp carriers, a downlight luminaire and a omnidirectional lightsource, to demonstrate the potential of this technology in innovative lighting applications.
Comcast board OKs proposal to reclassify its shares Comcast's board has approved a proposal that would reclassify its shares so that only its Class A common shares remain.
	Cars must be considerate of the driver when talking Smart telephones and TVs are well-established technical gadgets in today's society. The same cannot be said about smart cars with dialogue systems that can understand you and communicate as if they were a person sitting in the seat next to you. A PhD thesis in linguistics from the University of Gothenburg presents the theory that cars should consider both the driver and the traffic situation when communicating.
	An innovative response to the challenge of storing renewable energy A system for managing and storing energy, developed by EPFL's Distributed Electrical Systems Laboratory, has been inaugurated on the school's campus. The system, which received extensive co-financing from the Canton of Vaud, is built around an industrial-capacity battery developed by Vaud-based company Leclanché. It is now connected to the Romande Energie-EPFL solar park and will be used to conduct real-world tests on the behavior of a power grid that is fed electricity from solar panels.
	New online site BroadwayHD offers to stream live theater A new online streaming service launches on Monday that hopes to one day become the Netflix of Broadway, offering high-definition broadcasts of top theatrical events to computers and phones.
	France slams EU delay in tougher auto pollution tests France sharply criticised on Monday the years it has taken the EU to implement auto pollution tests that are to replace the easily riggable lab tests exposed by the Volkswagen diesel car scandal.
NY top prosecutor to Internet providers: Prove speed claims (Update) New York's attorney general suspects there's little difference between broadband's fast lanes and the slower freight of ordinary Internet access.
	Facebook expands smartphone alerts to news, weather Facebook, making a bigger push to deliver personalized information to its members, said Monday it was expanding its mobile alerts to include sports scores, weather updates and local news updates.
	15-year-old arrested over British cyber attack Police arrested a 15-year-old boy over a cyber attack on telephone and internet provider TalkTalk, feared to have breached the data of millions of Britons, Scotland Yard said on Monday.
US trial convicts trio of high-tech exports to Russia A US federal judge convicted two men and a woman in New York on Monday of illegally exporting high-tech electronics from Texas to Russian military and spy agencies.
	'Assassin's Creed Syndicate' game cavorts in London A new installment of winning video game "Assassin's Creed" was unleashed on Friday, letting people play at being deadly twins dispensing bloody justice in Victorian London.
Feds cancel research shipment of spent nuclear fuel to Idaho Federal authorities have canceled the first of two proposed research shipments of spent nuclear fuel to eastern Idaho but still hope to deliver the second.
	3D-printed food to help patients with dysphagia Labelled by some as the future of food, 3D printed meals could soon make it to our plates. The EU-funded PERFORMANCE project just presented its vision of this future in Brussels, with a 3D printed meal for elders facing swallowing and masticating difficulties.
	Novel online training for firefighters beats back residential fires, cardiovascular risk Firefighting isn't what it used to be. Whether it's a complex blaze raging in an urban high-rise or a seemingly straightforward single-level home fire, modern building construction and furnishings have made fighting fires more difficult: Flames burn hotter, produce more smoke, and spread more quickly.
	Free NFL game draws global audience in millions The first free global live stream of an NFL game drew a worldwide audience of 15.2 million across 185 countries, the NFL and partner Yahoo said Monday.
	China travel firms in share-swap deal: Bloomberg Two of China's largest online travel firms have agreed to a share swap and partnership deal to create the country's biggest Internet travel service, Bloomberg News reported Monday.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers report on brain network development in young people (Medical Xpress)—The understanding of human cognition has accelerated in the last decade thanks to the integration of network concepts derived from complex systems including airline transportation and the structure of the Internet. Cognition is now understood as a function of the interactions of networks between brain structures, though neuroscience is still grappling with the complexity of this problem.
	Sheet music for creating the artificial sense of touch A new study led by neuroscientists from the University of Chicago brings us one step closer to building prosthetic limbs for humans that re-create a sense of touch through a direct interface with the brain.
	Study illustrates how game design can reduce stereotypes and social biases The potential negative impact of games receives a lot of media coverage, yet research conducted at Dartmouth just published by Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, illustrates how games can have a positive impact in our society. The researchers use a new approach in game design— 'embedded game design'— to demonstrate how games can change players' biases, reduce social stereotypes and prejudice, and engender a more complex view of diversity.
	Study shows how stem cell therapy protects bone in lupus People with lupus, an autoimmune disease, suffer from fatigue, joint pain and swelling and also have a markedly increased risk of developing osteoporosis. Clinical trials have shown that receiving a transplant of mesenchymal stem cells can greatly improve the condition of lupus patients, yet it has not been clear why this treatment strategy works so well.
	Sausages, ham cause cancer, red meat 'probably' too: agency (Update) Sausages, ham and other processed meats cause bowel cancer, and red meat "probably" does too, a UN agency warned Monday, in a potentially heavy blow for the fast-growing livestock industry.
	Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins Scientists have created a highly specific and well-characterised chemical probe which can switch off two important proteins implicated in cancer—shedding new light on the role these proteins play in driving cancer cell proliferation.
	Research explains limits of cancer immunotherapy drugs Immunotherapy treatments have proven wildly successful in treating some patients with cancer. But despite this success, the majority of patients do not respond to the treatments.
	'Love hormone' helps produce 'bliss molecules' to boost pleasure of social interactions The hormone oxytocin, which has been associated with interpersonal bonding, may enhance the pleasure of social interactions by stimulating production of marijuana-like neurotransmitters in the brain, according to a University of California, Irvine study.
	Research team finds neurological notes that help identify how we process music New York University researchers have identified how brain rhythms are used to process music, a finding that also shows how our perception of notes and melodies can be used as a method to better understand the auditory system.
	Team solves longtime puzzle about how we learn More than a century ago, Pavlov figured out that dogs fed after hearing a bell eventually began to salivate when they heard the ring. A Johns Hopkins University-led research team has now figured out a key aspect of why.
	Study finds how Alzheimer's-associated protein tangles spread through the brain Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have discovered a mechanism behind the spread of neurofibrillary tangles - one of the two hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease - through the brains of affected individuals. In a report that has been released online in the journal Nature Communications, the research team describes finding that a particular version of the tau protein, while extremely rare even in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, is able to spread from one neuron to another and how that process occurs.
	Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance Loud noise, trauma, infections, plain old aging—many things can destroy hair cells, the delicate sensors of balance and sound within the inner ear. And once these sensors are gone, that's it; the delicate hair cells don't grow back in humans, leading to hearing loss and problems with balance.
Four microRNAs identified as playing key roles in cholesterol, lipid metabolism Four tiny segments of RNA appear to play critical roles in controlling cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. In their report receiving advance online publication in Nature Medicine, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-based research team describes finding how these microRNAs could reduce the expression of proteins playing key roles in the generation of beneficial HDL cholesterol, the disposal of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol, control of triglyceride levels and other risk factors of cardiovascular disease.
	Discovery could lead to better recovery after stroke UCLA researchers have identified a molecule that, after a stroke, signals brain tissue to form new connections to compensate for the damage and initiate repairs to the brain.
	CRISPR/Cas9 used for rapid functional study of cancer-causing genes In a novel use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which can be deployed to switch genes off, researchers from Germany, the UK and Spain have developed a multiplexed screening approach to study and model cancer development in mice. The scientists mutated genes in the adult mouse liver uncovering their cancer-causing roles and determining which combinations of genes cooperate to cause liver cancer.
Blackouts and near drownings may signal sudden death risk The annual congress of the South African Heart Association is being held in Rustenburg from Oct. 25-28, 2015. Experts from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will present a special programme.
The American Academy of Pediatrics tackles youth football injuries With football remaining one of the most popular sports for children and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is issuing new recommendations to improve the safety of all players while on the field. In a policy statement announced at its National Conference & Exhibition taking place in Washington DC., the AAP recommends:
S. Korean man first MERS-related death since July A South Korean man died of complications from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Sunday, in the first death linked to the virus in the country for more than three months.
	Study finds medication errors, adverse drug events in one out of two surgeries studied The first study to measure the incidence of medication errors and adverse drug events during the perioperative period - immediately before, during and right after a surgical procedure - has found that some sort of mistake or adverse event occurred in every second operation and in 5 percent of observed drug administrations. The study of more than 275 operations at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which will appear in Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, also found that a third of the errors resulted in adverse drug events or harm to patients. The report is being published online to coincide with a presentation at the Anesthesiology 2015 annual meeting in San Diego.
A cancer diagnosis can lead to significant income losses for families A new analysis indicates that when American adults are diagnosed with cancer, they experience significant decreases in the probability of working, in the number of hours they work, and correspondingly, in their incomes. Such negative impacts of a cancer diagnosis are particularly pronounced among working-age men. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study illustrates some of the financial challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis and highlight the need for efforts to mitigate the economic hardships associated with cancer.
Fewer antibiotics, better outcomes for complicated appendectomy patients? With acute appendicitis ranking among the nation's most common acute surgical emergencies, researchers studied the relatively routine use of post-operative antibiotics in complicated cases and found that they didn't reduce infections after surgery. They also found that patients who received post-operative antibiotics remained in the hospital up to one day longer than similar patients who had not received antibiotics.
Last two decades see rising life expectancy in every province of China but substantial health inequalities remain First ever comprehensive studies of life expectancy, causes of death, and child mortality at provincial level in China suggest that localisation of policies will be crucial to government health reforms
Pregnant women in Brooklyn have highest levels of certain preservatives used in cosmetics Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Arizona State University have published the first study of levels of parabens - antibacterial substances commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics and other products - in human cord blood samples. The researchers found that a cohort of pregnant women in Brooklyn predominantly of Caribbean- and African-American descent had the highest level worldwide of methyl paraben and propyl paraben.
	Stopping tuberculosis requires new strategy Unless there is a major shift in the way the world fights tuberculosis—from a reliance on biomedical solutions to an approach that combines biomedical interventions with social actions—the epidemic and drug resistance will worsen, say researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In a new study, they call for a "biosocial" approach that incorporates interventions in areas such as nutrition, urban planning, occupational health, addiction recovery, and mental health services.
	American Academy of Pediatrics issues sweeping recommendations on tobacco and e-cigarettes While adolescent use of tobacco has declined since the 1970s, it remains a persistent public health problem - and e-cigarettes are threatening to addict a new generation to nicotine. In a comprehensive set of policies issued during its National Conference & Exhibition, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) presents extensive recommendations to protect our nation's youth from the pernicious effects of tobacco and nicotine.
	Antibiotic-resistant gene discovered in soil bacterium that commonly infects foals A research team based in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine has discovered a novel gene—erm(46)—that confers antibiotic resistance in Rhodococcus equi, a soil-dwelling bacterium that commonly infects foals and causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised people. The finding was made in collaboration with researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Texas A&M University and the University of Washington.
	Using virtual technology to reverse engineer the gambler's addiction Scientists at the newly launched Institute for Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences at Monash University are studying the source within the brain behind addiction. The thinking behind the research is that regardless of the addiction – be it gambling, alcohol, drugs or OCD – the same area of the brain is affected.
Shaken baby prevention effort reduces crying-related calls to nurse advice line A new evaluation of a statewide shaken baby prevention effort found that the number of calls to a nurse advice line from North Carolina parents who called because of a crying baby were reduced in the first 2 years after the intervention was implemented in 2007.
	Too much, too late: Doctors should cut back on some medicines in seniors, studies suggest Anyone who takes medicine to get their blood sugar or blood pressure down - or both - knows their doctor prescribed it to help them.
	Treatment outcomes of brain hemorrhage after thrombolysis for stroke Treating brain hemorrhage (symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, sICH) after clot-busting thrombolysis for stroke was not associated with a reduced likelihood of in-hospital death or expansion of the hematoma but shortening time to diagnosis and treatment may be key to improving outcomes, according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology.
Medication deintensification in older patients with low HbA1c or blood pressure Among older patients with diabetes whose treatment has resulted in very low hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels or blood pressure values, only 27 percent or fewer underwent medication deintensification, a lost opportunity to reduce overtreatment, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
New study unravels mystery of why deadly tick disease appears to be surging, yet fatalities have not A mild disease spread by the aggressive Lone star tick that is now colonizing large swaths of the United States is being mistaken for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, according to a new study from scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings may indicate a key reason reports of infections with the potentially fatal pathogen appear to be surging but deaths are not, according to researchers. The study was presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
A 'profound' success in treating children and young adults with rare blood disorders Hematology researchers have safely and effectively treated children and young adults for autoimmune blood disorders in a multicenter clinical trial. In children with one of those conditions, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), all the patients showed a durable, complete response, with normal blood cell counts and rapid improvements, a result the study team called "profound."
	Is your doctor choosing the right IV? When we doctors sit down with patients in the hospital, discussions regarding diagnosis and prognosis are routine. For patients who need treatments such as antibiotics or chemotherapy beyond the hospital, our conversations span how best to arrange this therapy. And often, patients put their complete trust in us by saying, "Doc, do whatever's best."
	Emotions are key in military intelligence gathering The U.S. Army Field Manual is the law of the land for intelligence-gathering interrogations and it points to direct questioning as the most effective form. However, a laboratory study led by FIU psychologist Jacqueline R. Evans shows that an emotional approach to questioning is more effective in collecting information from both guilty and innocent participants.
	Are we sleep-deprived or just darkness-deprived? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that insufficient sleep is a serious public health concern, because it can lead to many immediate dangers such as car crashes as well as long-term health problems like diabetes. The blame for sleep deprivation is often pinned on our fast-paced, 24/7 lifestyle, made possible by electric lighting at all times of day and night.
	Use of benzodiazepines and related drugs common around Alzheimer's diagnosis Benzodiazepines and related drugs are initiated frequently in persons with Alzheimer's disease already before the diagnosis, and their use becomes even more common after the diagnosis, shows a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. Benzodiazepines and related drugs are used as a sleep medication and for anxiolytic purposes. These drugs were initiated more frequently in persons with Alzheimer's disease than in persons not diagnosed with AD. Compared to persons not diagnosed with AD, it was three times more likely for persons with Alzheimer's disease to initiate benzodiazepine use after the diagnosis, and benzodiazepines were most commonly initiated six months after the diagnosis.
	New model for hepatitis B helps identify potential new therapeutic approach A promising new avenue for treating hepatitis B has been reported by researchers at Hiroshima University who have developed a new animal model of the disease.
	Three-minute test detects common form of dementia that's hard to diagnose Although Lewy Body disease (LBD) is the second-most-common degenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, it's not exactly a household name. It affects more than 1.3 million Americans, is poorly recognized, and diagnosis is often significantly delayed. Patients with LBD simultaneously experience losses in cognitive function, mobility and behavior. The late Robin Williams had this form of dementia as did legendary NHL coach Alger Joseph "Radar" Arbour, which also can cause visual hallucinations and make depression worse. Until now, there has been no way to assess or operationalize many of the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of LBD in clinical practice.
	Raise smoking age to 21, US pediatricians urge (HealthDay)—The minimum age to purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes should be raised to 21 across the United States, according to a new policy recommendation released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
	Nitrous oxide OK during surgery for people with heart disease (HealthDay)—Nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas," is a safe anesthetic for surgery patients who have or are at risk of heart disease, a new study finds.
	Light meal during labor may be safe for most women, study finds (HealthDay)—Labor and delivery is often a grueling ordeal for many women, and current guidelines rule out eating.
	Oral immunotherapy seems beneficial for cow's milk allergy (HealthDay)—Most cow's milk allergic patients undergoing oral immunotherapy are able to consume cow's milk protein regularly without significant adverse reactions, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in Allergy.
	AMA: eight reasons for nonadherence to medications (HealthDay)—Eight reasons associated with patient's intentional nonadherence to medications have been identified in a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
New testosterone guideline to help Canadian physicians diagnose and treat patients Controversy exists about how to manage patients with low testosterone, and many health care professionals are reluctant to treat testosterone deficiency, but a new guideline aims to provide a road map to help diagnose and treat this health condition. The guideline, created by the Canadian Men's Health Foundation and published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), targets primary care physicians, general internists, endocrinologists, geriatricians and urologists as well as psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who deal with men at or beyond middle age.
Researchers study differences in ischemic stroke in marijuana users A new study found strokes in young adults who use marijuana are more likely to be caused by stenosis, narrowing of the arteries, in the skull than strokes in non-users.
Young women more likely to die in hospital after STEMI Young women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were less likely to receive life-saving angioplasty and stenting to restore blood flow to blocked arteries than men and also had longer hospital stays and higher rates of in-hospital mortality, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Young women less likely to be informed of heart disease risk by providers Even when young women had a similar or greater risk for heart disease than young men, they were 11 percent less likely to report that healthcare providers told them they were at-risk for heart disease prior to a heart attack, according to a new study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Eating more fruits, veggies in youth linked to healthy heart decades later Eating more fruits and vegetables as a young adult may keep your arteries free of heart disease 20 years later, according to research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Care more expensive for dementia patients and families in last years of life The cost of care over the last five years of life for patients with dementia is significantly higher than for patients who die from heart disease, cancer, or other causes, according to a study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dartmouth College and University of California, Los Angeles, and published online today in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
	DNA test for Down's syndrome on the NHS could save lives Offering pregnant women a DNA test for Down's syndrome on the NHS would reduce the dependency on invasive tests and potentially save the lives of unborn babies, a study shows.
	Researchers discover an epilepsy switch Scientists at the University of Bonn and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) have decoded a central signal cascade associated with epileptic seizures. If the researchers blocked a central switch in epileptic mice, the frequency and severity of the seizures decreased. Using a novel technology, it was possible to observe the processes prior to the occurrence of epileptic seizures in living animals. The results are now being published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Researchers list products expectant mothers should avoid during first trimester Expectant mothers in their first trimester should avoid certain cosmetics, cleaning agents and medicines, to protect the developing fetal brain from chemicals that can trigger autism, York U health researchers have found.
	Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate Danish researchers have found that the ability to produce insulin is pivotal to the success of weight loss surgery in patients with type 2-diabetes. The study provides a better point of departure for advise and determining which patients will benefit from surgery.
Massive screen of drug combinations may find treatment for resistant, BRAF-mutant melanoma A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has discovered a new combination of drugs that may be effective against one of the deadliest cancers, malignant melanoma. The combination - pairing a drug targeted against mutations in the BRAF gene with a second drug that targets another important signaling pathway - was discovered through one of the largest screens of cancer drug combinations conducted to date. Findings from the study conducted at the MGH Cutaneous Biology Research Center and Center for Molecular Therapeutics have been published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
	Scientists uncover signal for when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor During the last few weeks of a woman's pregnancy, many keep an overnight bag ready to go at a moment's notice in case they begin to go into labor. They do this because there is no clear signal that labor is about to begin - before the body makes it abundantly clear that this process has started. Understanding the mechanisms that initiate this process is especially important when treating women at risk of going into labor early.
	FDA approves new therapy for pancreatic cancer patients Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer now have access to the new FDA approved drug, Onivyde, that produced significant overall survival rates in an international clinical study conducted in part by researchers at HonorHealth Research Institute and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Standard phenotypes will aid in genetic research on neuropathic pain Research on the genetic factors contributing to neuropathic pain has been hindered by the lack of a standard approach to assessing its clinical characteristics or "phenotype." Now, a report from an expert panel published in the journal Pain presents a consensus approach to assessing the phenotype of neuropathic pain.
	New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer A new and important genetic discovery, which sheds light on how prostate cancers develop and spread, has been made by an international research team led by scientists at The University of Nottingham.
Researchers discover mechanism that could lead to better ovarian cancer treatment Resistance to chemotherapy is a major problem for those suffering from ovarian cancer—a problem that prevents a cure from a disease dubbed the "silent killer." University of Georgia researchers are giving patients new hope with recent findings that help pinpoint the mechanisms causing chemoresistance.
	Case of basal cell carcinoma described within port wine stain (HealthDay)—A case of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been described within a port wine stain (PWS), with no preceding treatment, according to a case report published in the October issue of The Journal of Dermatology.
	Sartans improve survival, time to recurrence in liver cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation, angiotensin II receptor 1 blockers (sartans) correlate with significantly improved overall survival and time to recurrence, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	ASA: Peri-op surgical home beneficial after joint arthroplasty (HealthDay)—A perioperative surgical home (PSH) program improves outcomes for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, held from Oct. 24 to 28 in San Diego.
	Wrist fracture linked to higher subsequent fracture risk (HealthDay)—For postmenopausal women, wrist fracture is associated with increased risk of subsequent non-wrist fracture, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Cellphone system ups glucose self-monitoring in pregnancy (HealthDay)—For pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes, use of a cellphone-Internet technology (CIT) system, which collects and sends glucose readings directly to a cellphone, is associated with improved compliance in self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), according to a report published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
	MenB vaccine recommended for 16- to 23-year-olds (HealthDay)—Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccination is recommended for adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 23 years to provide short-term protection from most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease, according to a report published in the Oct. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Bedbugs the culprit in older woman with unidentified rash (HealthDay)—In a case report published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the authors describe a case of bedbugs in an older woman who presented with an unidentified itchy rash.
	High post-pregnancy BMI raises pelvic organ prolapse risk Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) is important for good cardiovascular health and blood sugar control, but maintaining it after pregnancy can also be key to preventing pelvic organ prolapse, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers.
	Study shows angry men gain influence and angry women lose influence Anyone who knows the history of the jury trial or has seen "12 Angry Men" is aware that U.S. juries were originally exclusively white and male. There have been many efforts toward making juries more diverse and representative of the population. Now that we have more women and racial minorities represented on juries the question becomes: Do they have the same opportunity to exert influence over jury decisions as do white men.
	Should I stop eating meat? No need, experts say The UN's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) warned Monday that processed meats like sausages and ham cause bowel cancer, and red meat "probably" does too.
Heart CT scans outperform stress tests in spotting clogged arteries Results of a head-to-head comparison study led by Johns Hopkins researchers show that noninvasive CT scans of the heart's vessels are far better at spotting clogged arteries that can trigger a heart attack than the commonly prescribed exercise stress that most patients with chest pain undergo.
Green office environments linked with higher cognitive function scores People who work in well-ventilated offices with below-average levels of indoor pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2) have significantly higher cognitive functioning scores—in crucial areas such as responding to a crisis or developing strategy—than those who work in offices with typical levels, according to a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Health and the Global Environment, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and Syracuse University.
Clinic offers rare hope for Sudan breast cancer patients Local doctors told Aida Abdulla her chest pain was an infection, arthritis or muscle strain. But when she travelled to a hospital in Khartoum months later she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
American Academy of Pediatrics links global warming to the health of children Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement that links climate change with the health of children, urging pediatricians and politicians to work together to solve this crisis and protect children from climate-related threats including natural disasters, heat stress, lower air quality, increased infections, and threats to food and water supplies.
	Valeant board forms committee to look into Philidor ties Valeant Pharmaceuticals promised a thorough examination of its dealings with a pharmacy that was targeted in a scathing research report last week, though the company on Monday stood by its financial accounting of that relationship.
The psychological impacts of mass shootings and violence College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Leonard Newman, area director of social psychology, offers expertise on the mass shooting and violence that has gripped the US during the past two decades.
	Sleep research, from molecules and circuits to behavior The Society for Neuroscience 2015 annual meeting was rife with research on all aspects of sleep and arousal. Indeed, several symposia and dozens of posters covered topics ranging from the most basic look at the molecules involved in sleep/wake states, to whole network systems. In this post I will cover a small sample of what I found particularly interesting at the meeting (keep in mind, though, that I was not able to get to everything!).
	"None for me, thanks"—social impact of changing alcohol habits Drinking alcohol is a large aspect of Australian culture but what happens when someone decides to stop drinking or cut back their alcohol consumption?
New ASN-GWU report examines key challenges for kidney health workforce The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) released the latest in series of analyses of the nephrology workforce, which outlines current and future challenges to the specialty. Authored by researchers from the George Washington University (GWU) Health Workforce Institute, The US Nephrology Workforce 2015: Developments and Trends is available online at http://www.asn-online.org/workforce.
HIV care could save lives and billions of dollars, computer model predicts A computer model developed by Johns Hopkins health care delivery specialists predicts that strengthening a handful of efforts to keep people with HIV in lifetime care, along with more rigorous testing, would potentially avert a projected 752,000 new HIV infections and 276,000 AIDS deaths in the United States alone over the next 20 years.
Regenerative Medicine gives a much needed update on magnetic tracking in cell therapy A new article published in Regenerative Medicine reviews the latest advances in magnetic particle tracking in cell therapy, a potentially groundbreaking strategy in disease treatment and regenerative medicine.
	Divided opinions on vitamin D enrichment Vitamin D is important for the absorption and metabolism of calcium, as well as for maintaining healthy bones and muscles. Danes generally have too low a level, and this is mainly because the sun - the main source - is absent for much of the year.
Medical Home Network achieves significant decrease in hospital readmissions Medical Home Network achieves significant decrease in hospital readmissions and increase in follow-up care through innovative care coordination exchange
Nigeria on 'relentless' drive to eradicate polio Nigeria will not relent in its campaign to stamp out polio until the crippling disease is completely eradicated, President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday.
Researcher contributes to study on safety of anesthesia An international team of researchers that includes a pediatric anesthesiologist from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado is reporting that limited use of general anesthesia with an infant does not cause developmental problems for the child.
Renewed hope for the brain-injured One day soon, people who suffer traumatic injury to their spinal cord and lose the use of their limbs could regain that mobility thanks to a clever workaround: a brain chip that reroutes neural signals around the injured nerves combined with a receiver that picks them up on the other side.

Biology news

	Deadly fish virus still present in Wisconsin lake In May 2007, hundreds of freshwater drum—also known as sheepshead—turned up dead in Lake Winnebago and nearby Little Lake Butte des Morts, both inland lakes near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The fish were splotched with red and their eyes were swollen and bulging.
	Ancient wild ox genome reveals complex cow ancestry The ancestry of domesticated cattle proves more complex than previously thought, reports a paper published today in the open access journal Genome Biology. The first nuclear genome sequence from an ancient wild ox reveals that some modern domestic cow breeds, including the Scottish Highland and Irish Kerry, had wild ancestors that were British, as well as Asian.
	Scientists produce beneficial natural compounds in tomato—industrial scale-up potential Given the opportunity to drink fifty bottles of wine or eat one tomato, which would you choose?
	Researchers explore how a cell's protein-making factories are assembled Ribosomes, the molecular factories that produce all the proteins a cell needs to grow and function, are themselves made up of many different proteins and four RNAs. And just as an assembly line must be built before it can manufacture cars, these tiny factories must be constructed before they can put proteins together.
	Spiders spin smart system for scientists to mimic, create new products A taut tug on the line signals the arrival of dinner, and the leggy spider dashes across the web to find a tasty squirming insect. The spider, known as an orb weaver, must perfectly execute this moment, from a lightning-fast reaction to an artfully spun web glistening with sticky glue.
	New high-speed microscope images entire living organisms at high resolution A new microscope developed at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus is giving scientists a clearer, more comprehensive view of biological processes as they unfold in living animals. The microscope produces images of entire organisms, such as a zebrafish or fruit fly embryo, with enough resolution in all three dimensions that each cell appears as a distinct structure. What's more, it does so at speeds fast enough to watch cells move as a developing embryo takes shape and to monitor brain activity as it flashes through neuronal circuits.
	Male mosquitoes lured to traps by sounds of female wing-beats Like mariners lured on to the rocks by the siren songs of legend, male mosquitoes have been found to zero in on inexpensive traps that broadcast sound that is similar in frequency to the sound that is produced by the wing-beats of female mosquitoes—a discovery that may lead to better mosquito control in developing countries.
	Two mutations are better than one Two wrongs don't make a right, but in the case of genetic mutations, having two mutations in the same gene could be better than having either one individually. Recent research by biologists at San Diego State University found that two separate genetic modifications each greatly reduced the function of the myosin muscle protein in fruit flies, but flies with both mutations had nearly three-quarters of the protein function restored. The findings are important for researchers looking to better understand and treat heart muscle disease in humans.
	Siberian jays can recognize unfamiliar, distant relatives Can animals recognize distantly related, unfamiliar individuals of the same species? Siberian jays possess this ability as evolutionary biologists from the University of Zurich recently could demonstrate for the first time. This bird species belongs to the crow family and is able to accurately assess the degree of kinship to unfamiliar individuals. This ability provides advantages when sharing food and other forms of cooperation.
	Study shows declines in whales, fish, seabirds and large animals damages Earth's nutrient cycle Giants once roamed the earth. Oceans teemed with ninety-foot-long whales. Huge land animals—like truck-sized sloths and ten-ton mammoths—ate vast quantities of food, and, yes, deposited vast quantities of poop.
	Persistence toxin promotes antibiotic resistance: Structure reveals how HigB bacterial protein recognizes mRNA Scientists call them toxins. But these bacterial proteins don't poison us, at least not directly.
	Loss of large land mammals could change landscapes forever Large land animals such as elephants, wildebeest and other big plant-eaters are worth preserving in part because their disappearance could have permanent effects on the plants and animals they coexist with, according to an analysis of past large-mammal extinctions in North and South America.
	Elephants boost tree losses in South Africa's largest savanna reserve Protected areas, such as nature reserves and national parks, play a crucial role in sheltering wildlife, such as African elephants, from hunting and habitat destruction. But it's important that conservation managers understand how the vegetation in these natural protected zones is affected by the population growth that is spurred by this animal safeguarding. To this end, new work from a team led by Carnegie's Greg Asner examined the effect elephants have on the woody plant life in Kruger National Park, the largest protected area in South Africa, and showed that elephants are one of the preserve's leading causes of fallen trees.
	'Hypercarnivores' kept massive ancient herbivores in check When the largest modern-day plant-eaters—elephants—are confined to too small an area, they devastate the vegetation. So 15,000 years ago, when the herbivores like the Columbian mammoth, mastodons and giant ground sloths were even larger, more numerous and more widely distributed, how did the landscape survive?
	Females more promiscuous in colder climates, says insect study Females have more sexual partners when they live in colder climates and are happier being monogamous when it is hotter, a study into the behavior of insects has found.
Molecular motor grows cell's microtubules Motor proteins that pause at the ends of microtubules and produce pushing forces can also stimulate their growth, according to researchers at Penn State. The proteins' function could be a critical component in understanding cell division and nerve branching and growth.
	Controlling genes using CRISPR shows high degree of specificity Researchers have demonstrated the exceptional specificity of a new way to switch sequences of the human genome on or off without editing the underlying genetic code.
	Only four percent of the ocean is protected, study shows Despite global efforts to increase the area of the ocean that is protected, only four per cent of it lies within marine protected areas (MPAs), according to a University of British Columbia study.
	Professor helps develop new technique for locating genetic 'switches' Dr. Eric Mendenhall, assistant professor at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has discovered a new way of locating the genetic "switches" on specific points on DNA, called enhancers, that control when a gene is turned on or off.
	We need to stop Australia's genetic heritage from being taken overseas In August this year Professor Mark Chase from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, west of London, flew into Perth in Western Australia, hired a 4WD vehicle and drove north.
	Lizard bling colour may act as social cue It would come as no surprise to hear that people who live in a certain area and consume a certain diet—perhaps residents of Perth's more affluent suburbs—may present themselves in a certain way to show off to everyone else.
	Spiders—how spooky are they? Spooky scenes of fake spiders in giant webs are everywhere this time of year. But despite the Halloween hype, spiders hardly deserve their reputation as dangerous creatures, says NC State University entomologist Matt Bertone.
	Simpler method for measuring viral infections in bees Scientists from Aarhus University have developed a model that makes it easier for beekeepers to assess the seriousness of viral infections in their honey bees.
	Climate change threatens survival of common lizards While there is no doubt that climate change is affecting many organisms, some species might be more sensitive than others. Reptiles, whose body temperature depends directly on environmental temperature, may be particularly vulnerable. Scientists have now shown experimentally that lizards cope very poorly with the climate predicted for the year 2100.
	Chinese smuggling endangers rare Philippine turtles Chinese demand for forest turtles is threatening an endangered species found only on one Philippine island, wildlife officials said Sunday.
	Veterinary orthopedist borrows from human medicine to repair canine facial fractures To treat dogs with shattered facial bones, veterinary orthopedist Randy Boudrieau has taken a page from human medicine, using titanium plates narrower than a pencil to repair the fractures.
	Rubbish haul found in stomach of dead whale in Taiwan Taiwanese marine biologists have discovered a mass of plastic bags and fishing net in the stomach of a dead whale, underlying the dangers posed by floating ocean trash.
	Zimbabwe: 22 more elephants killed in Hwange Park by cyanide Cyanide poisoning has killed 22 elephants in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said on Monday. This brings to 62 the number of elephants poisoned by poachers in this southern Africa country in October.
	Nearly 300 bears killed in controversial Florida hunt Hunters in Florida over the weekend killed some 300 black bears as part of a controversial program allowing sportsmen to track and kill the animals, wildlife officials said Monday.

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