Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 22, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Astronomers peer inside stars, finding giant magnets
- Plague in humans 'twice as old' but didn't begin as flea-borne, ancient DNA reveals
- Calls vs. balls: Monkeys with more impressive roars produce less sperm
- Construction site robot adapts as tools drop, plans change
- Manduca sexta caterpillars' developed surprising detoxification mechanism against their host plant's sweet toxin
- Babies' babbles reflect their own involvement in language development
- Study finds key molecular mechanism regulating plant translational activity
- New model helps zero in on harmful genetic mutations
- Biologists unravel drug-resistance mechanism in tumor cells
- Some antibiotics work by stressing bacteria out (metabolically)
- NASA's New Horizons on new post-Pluto mission
- Researchers transform slow emitters into fast light sources
- Biologists find keys to driving a cockroach
- Speedy evolution affects more than one species
- New hope for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers peer inside stars, finding giant magnets Astronomers have for the first time probed the magnetic fields in the mysterious inner regions of stars, finding they are strongly magnetized.
	Game theory experts to analyse space debris removal Researchers from the University of Liverpool are using strategic game theory to analyse the accumulation of space debris, and to assess removal efforts and mitigation measures to limit its growth.
	Hubble spies Big Bang frontiers Observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have taken advantage of gravitational lensing to reveal the largest sample of the faintest and earliest known galaxies in the Universe. Some of these galaxies formed just 600 million years after the Big Bang and are fainter than any other galaxy yet uncovered by Hubble. The team has determined, for the first time with some confidence, that these small galaxies were vital to creating the Universe that we see today.
	NASA's New Horizons on new post-Pluto mission The spacecraft that gave us the first close-up views of Pluto now has a much smaller object in its sights.
	Halloween asteroid a treat for radar astronomers NASA scientists are tracking the upcoming Halloween flyby of asteroid 2015 TB145 with several optical observatories and the radar capabilities of the agency's Deep Space Network at Goldstone, California. The asteroid will fly past Earth at a safe distance slightly farther than the moon's orbit on Oct. 31 at 10:05 a.m. PDT (1:05 p.m. EDT). Scientists are treating the flyby of the estimated 1,300-foot-wide (400-meter) asteroid as a science target of opportunity, allowing instruments on "spacecraft Earth" to scan it during the close pass.
	Landing site recommended for ExoMars 2018 Oxia Planum has been recommended as the primary candidate for the landing site of the ExoMars 2018 mission.
	NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft begins environmental testing NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission is undergoing environmental testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems facilities, near Denver, Colorado. OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth for further study.
	SETI Institute undertakes search for alien signal from Kepler Star KIC 8462852 "We either caught something shortly after an event like two planets crashing together or alien intelligence," said Dr. Gerald Harp, senior scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, referring to the baffling light variations seen in the Kepler star KIC 8462852.
	Image: Kilimanjaro captured by Proba-V A view of the glacier atop Africa's highest peak, as observed by ESA's Proba-V minisatellite.
	Technology tackles space junk Orbital debris can cause problems for space travel and satellites, so scientists have banded together to come up with innovative solutions, from laser cannons to proactive removal.

Technology news

	Up to 27 seconds of inattention after talking to your car or smartphone If you think it is okay to talk to your car infotainment system or smartphone while driving or even when stopped at a red light, think again. It takes up to 27 seconds to regain full attention after issuing voice commands, University of Utah researchers found in a pair of new studies for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
	Engineering students innovate 3-D printing process to improve accessibility Penn State engineering students Kevin Paroda and Justin Keenan quickly discovered that they had much in common. As first-year roommates, they designed a keyless entry mechanism for their dorm room during the first week of school.
	Shining more light on solar panels Solar panels are the beacon of renewable energy, yet they are not getting as much light as they could be. Joshua Pearce from Michigan Technological University and a team from Queen's University in Canada have found a way to get more sun to shine on the panels and crank up the output by 30 percent or more. The work is published in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Journal of Photovoltaics.
	Top EU court rules Bitcoin exchange tax-free in Europe The EU's top court ruled Thursday that the exchange of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies should be treated just like traditional money in Europe and not incur any sales tax.
	Simulating two types of brain cells may allow robots to navigate in a new way A team of researchers with Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research has developed a new way to allow robots to navigate on their own. It is based on mimicking two types of neural cells in the brain, and as MIT Technology Review reports, initial tests indicate the approach might lead to robots that are able to adapt as an environment changes, allowing for a more robust navigation system.
	Construction site robot adapts as tools drop, plans change Robots engineered for construction sites are in the news this week. Namely, there is a robot called the In-situ Fabricator. Described as an autonomous construction robot, one can put the accent on autonomous.
Apple chief shrugs off China's economic slowdown US technology giant Apple will keep investing in China despite slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy, chief executive Tim Cook said, as the company prepares to open its newest store in the mainland.
Apple cleaning up act in China with more renewable energy Apple is cleaning up its manufacturing operations in China to reduce the air pollution caused by the factories that have assembled hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads during the past eight years.
Blood-test startup Theranos defends 'integrity' The founder of innovative blood test startup Theranos on Wednesday challenged The Wall Street Journal on its own turf about an investigation into the firm's technology.
	Japan startup gets bank money as entrepreneurship grows Tucked in a shabby alley of Shibuya, Japan's Silicon Valley, is a startup that's done the almost impossible: win funding from the country's notoriously conservative banks.
SK Hynix misses Q3 analyst estimates South Korea's SK Hynix Inc. announced a fall in third quarter profits Thursday due to slowing global demand for memory chips that failed to offset orders from Apple for is popular new iPhone.
	Australian technology allows cows' weights to be monitored from space Australian farmers managing cattle stations as large as some European nations will soon be able to monitor their cows and pastures from space as part of "groundbreaking" technology, scientists say.
	VW says newer motor may also have had trick software (Update) German automaker Volkswagen said Thursday that the U.S. cars identified as having been fitted with software to cheat on emissions tests include some vehicles with a newer diesel engine.
	Introducing MARTY, a self-driving, electric, drifting DeLorean If you're going to build an autonomous, electric, drifting automotive research vehicle, why not do it with some style?
	Robot bees fly and swim, soon they'll have laser eyes How do you teach robotic insects to see?
	Putting homelessness on the map Every two years, Homeward Trust does a count of Edmonton's homeless population. Some 300 volunteers set out along predetermined routes through the city's streets and shelters on one day to create a snapshot of homelessness, using a set of survey questions to learn more about the lives of participants, including their age, ethnicity, housing history, sources of income and other details. This count is supported in part by United Way, and the data it produces are valuable to agencies and governments, allowing them to make better decisions about how to support Edmonton's citizens who are the most affected by poverty.
	Algorithms to improve user-generated recordings Sound quality on phones, video recorders and dictaphones is often poor; distorted or noisy with garbled speech or indistinct music.
	As companies continue to steal private data, technical solutions may be the answer Apple has removed 250 apps from its app store because they were secretly stealing Apple users' account and device identifiers to Chinese advertiser Youmi. The developers of the apps were unaware that this was happening as they were simply using Youmi's service to display ads.
	Today's smart machines owe much to Australia's first computer Australia's first computer weighed two tonnes, filled a large room and had a tiny fraction of the capacity of today's typical smartphone. But why would such a machine continue to be relevant today?
How drone warfare threatens Europe's existence Are the traditional boundaries and borders of states and continents being subverted by drone warfare? In a new article from Global Affairs, author Giuseppe Zappalà takes the reader on a flight to a world of metadata collection, nodes and lethal violence.
Virtual currency groups form alliance with law enforcement The Obama administration is joining with private companies in a partnership aimed at training enforcement officials about the virtual currency Bitcoin and fighting crime arising from its use.
	Robot's influent speaking just to get attention from you Communication in human dialogue is based on one another's words and body language. We can sense whether the other person is distracted, and we change the course of our conversation and our actions to regain their attention.
Popular US prepaid debit card hit by days-long glitch A prepaid debit card founded by hip hop pioneer Russell Simmons and popular with poor Americans has experienced days-long problems that has left many low-income customers in the lurch.
	Cybersecurity: Senate takes initial step to bill's passage (Update) The Senate is set to pass a bill aimed at improving cybersecurity by encouraging the sharing of threat information among companies and the U.S. government.
	Amazon 3Q results up on strong sales, cloud computing growth Amazon is Primed for success as the busy holiday season approaches.
	Google's 3Q earnings surge 45 pct, Alphabet stock soars Google's third-quarter report is getting an "A'' from investors as the Internet search leader enters a new era under Alphabet, its new parent company.
	Instagram short 'Boomerang' videos aim to hook users Instagram unveiled a new feature allowing users to post one-second video "loops" in an effort to keep up with rivals offering animated images.
	Microsoft's new businesses shine, but PC software still sags Microsoft may still be suffering from lagging sales of personal computers, but the tech giant has taken some cues from rivals like Apple and Google—and it's now seeing substantial growth in more promising lines of business ranging from Internet apps and advertising to online games and cloud computing.
	Airbnb apologizes for San Francisco tax ads Airbnb apologized Thursday for street ads here with sassy suggestions as to what San Francisco should do with hotel tax money collected from the home-sharing platform.
	Facebook tweaks search to shine light on hot topics Facebook on Thursday boosted its search capabilities to let people find and dive into conversations about news publicly shared at the leading social network.
Telegram CEO: App briefly blocked in Iran after spy request Iranian officials briefly blocked access to the smartphone messaging application Telegram, its founder and CEO says, making it the latest social media outlet to be targeted by authorities in the Islamic Republic.
Vietnam sets up its own Facebook page to reach its young Communist Vietnam is turning to Facebook to reach its young people.
End of Safe Harbour data protection rules isn't the end of the world – let's hope its successor is better The Safe Harbour agreement that reduced US firms compliance with European data protection rules to a tick-box exercise has been scrapped, leading to apocalyptic claims such as tech giants like Facebook closing their doors in Europe. While the ending of the long-established Safe Harbour framework is a blow for US firms looking for red tape-free opportunities in the EU, there are many other routes to doing business legally across the Atlantic.
	Review: Activision's 'Guitar Hero' reboot kicks out the jams I've been to dozens of rock concerts, and there are a few things I've always wondered: What's it like to perform in front of a stadium full of adoring fans? How much nerve does it take to stage-dive into a mosh pit? Why is there a guy wearing a panda costume backstage?
To eliminate lead from large-sized engines With the aim of more efficient and less polluting industry, the Basque R&D centre IK4-TEKNIKER is participating in a European project focusing on the development of a new range of lead-free bearings for large-sized, high-performance engines.
	Scientists develop virtual K-pop dance teacher to make dance learning easier Daijin Kim and his team at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), South Korea, have developed a virtual dance teacher that can make learning famous K-Pop dances easier at home by precisely tracking 3D body joints. Kim presented the relevant technical paper at ICIP 2015 (IEEE International Conference on Image Processing 2015).
	Game on as Vivendi becomes Ubisoft's biggest shareholder French media company Vivendi on Thursday stepped up its bid to increase its interests in content providers by becoming the main shareholder in French video-game makers Ubisoft and Gameloft.
	'Despicable' conditions at China iPhone plant An Apple contractor factory in China houses its workers in overcrowded dormitories lined with mould and crawling with bed bugs, a labor watchdog alleged on Thursday.
Pandora to pay $90 million to settle suit over pre-1972 hits Streaming music company Pandora has agreed to pay $90 million to settle a lawsuit brought by major record labels over its use of recordings released before 1972.

Medicine & Health news

	Biologists unravel drug-resistance mechanism in tumor cells About half of all tumors are missing a gene called p53, which helps healthy cells prevent genetic mutations. Many of these tumors develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs that kill cells by damaging their DNA.
	Researchers suss out brain tumors and therapy response with new metabolic PET tracer Locating a tumor hiding in a thicket of brain cells can be a tricky proposition. But doing so accurately is critical to removing the cancer via surgery, or for monitoring its response to therapy.
	How many senses do humans really have? Ask even the youngest schoolchild how many senses we have and she'll tell you five—sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
	Could a drug engineered from bananas fight many deadly viruses? New results show promise A banana a day may not keep the doctor away, but a substance originally found in bananas and carefully edited by scientists could someday fight off a wide range of viruses, new research suggests.
	New insights into REM sleep crack an enduring mystery REM sleep—the phase of night-time mammalian sleep physiology where dreams occur—has long fascinated scientists, clinicians, philosophers, and artists alike, but the identity of the neurons that control REM sleep, and its function in sleep have been controversial due to a lack of precise genetic methods to study the sleeping brain. Now, in a remarkable demonstration of a recent brain technology, neuroscientists provide the first answers to both questions, identifying a neural circuit in the brain that regulates REM sleep, and showing that REM sleep controls the physiology of the other major sleep phase, called non-REM (NREM) sleep.
	A subpopulation of white blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis One goal of immunotherapy is to rally a patient's often over-burdened immune cells to effectively attack a tumor. Among foot soldiers on the immune front line is a subpopulation of white blood cells called "patrolling monocytes," whose job is to cruise the bloodstream, cart off cellular debris, and block invasion of a less benign population of inflammatory cells.
	Babies' babbles reflect their own involvement in language development 'Dada' is a first word for many babies. Babbling sounds with consonant-vowel repetitions, such as 'dada,' are common among infants once they reach 8 months old; however, these sounds are not prevalent among infants who have profound hearing loss—that is, until they receive cochlear implants. Now, University of Missouri research shows that babies' repetitive babbles primarily are motivated by infants' ability to hear themselves. Additionally, infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants to improve their hearing soon babbled as often as their hearing peers, allowing them to catch up developmentally.
	New hope for the treatment of multiple sclerosis Modern scientific understanding has considered multiple sclerosis (MS) to be a disease controlled by the T cell, a type of white blood cell. Research has shown that in MS, T cells inappropriately attack myelin, the protective layer of fat covering nerves in the central nervous system, exposing them to damage.
Medical procedures should be recorded to improve quality and accountability, say experts Professors Martin Makary and Timothy Pawlik at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore say that as well as detecting unprofessional behaviour, video recording has the potential to radically improve quality through increased accountability, and can be used for learning and self improvement.
Dehydration in older people could be detected by routine blood tests Dehydration in older people could be accurately identified as part of routine blood testing according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Splitting human embryos to produce twins for IVF may not be viable Human twin embryos created in the laboratory by splitting single embryos into two using a common method known as blastomere biopsy may be unsuitable both for IVF and for research purposes, according to a new study led by King's College London.
Leprosy and elephantiasis: New cases could be prevented in ten years The life chances of over one billion people could be improved through examining the transmission of nine neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), an international consortium of researchers has argued. Leprosy, Elephantiasis and Sleeping Sickness are among nine tropical diseases targeted. Neglected tropical diseases affect over one billion people worldwide.
World's largest clinical trial on aspirin to stop cancer returning launches today The world's largest ever clinical trial looking at whether taking aspirin every day stops some of the most common cancers coming back, launches across the UK today (Thursday).
Racial differences in outcomes, costs of care in older men with prostate cancer Older black men with localized prostate cancer were more likely to have poorer quality care, incur higher costs and have worse postoperative outcomes than white men but that did not translate to worse overall or cancer-specific survival, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
	Zebrafish study offers insights into nerve cell repair mechanisms Tropical fish may hold clues that could aid research into motor neuron disease and paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
	Fear-based appeals effective at changing attitudes, behaviors after all Fear-based appeals appear to be effective at influencing attitudes and behaviors, especially among women, according to a comprehensive review of over 50 years of research on the topic, published by the American Psychological Association.
	Weill analysis finds high prevalence of hepatitis C Upwards of a million more people have been infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) than current estimates indicate, according to new research from Weill Cornell Medicine. The investigators say their finding exposes a critical flaw in the survey that calculates disease prevalence and underscores the need for stronger public health policies to combat the viral infection.
	Researchers identify potential new leukemia drug target New treatment options are badly needed for acute myeloid leukemia, a relatively rare form of cancer. The malignancy begins in the bone marrow, and from there can spread rapidly to the bloodstream, depriving the body of the essential blood cells that carry oxygen and fight infections.
	When a field researcher's first aid kit is the only one for miles Under a clear blue autumn sky, the 20 or so people gathered in UC Berkeley's Memorial Glade, with their sleeping pads and trekking poles, appeared to be part of a camping or picnic outing. In fact, they were field researchers preparing to study wilderness first aid.
	Methadone's side effects, efficacy may be linked to genetic makeup​ Methadone—long used to treat pain and addiction to heroin and other opioid drugs—can be lethal itself if it lingers too long in the body. Although people are known to metabolize methadone differently, researchers have not completely understood how a person's genetic makeup influences how slowly or rapidly the drug is cleared.
	Dreaming of a good night's sleep New research from the University of Leeds has revealed that some people are losing more than 15 day's worth of sleep a year.
	New study confirms that alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer Saying that the link between alcohol and cancer is dangerous is nothing new. Five Spanish universities and more than 300,000 female volunteers participated in a European investigation that is now confirming that alcohol intake increases the chances of developing breast cancer. This risk quadruples with the intake of each daily glass of wine or beer.
	Aggressive music related to anxiety in men Brain imaging reveals how neural responses to different types of music really affect the emotion regulation of persons. The study concludes that men who process negative feelings with music react negatively to aggressive and sad music.
	Antidepressants and Alzheimer's disease drugs might boost recovery in stroke patients Evidence is mounting that drugs used to treat depression and Alzheimer's disease also can help patients recover from strokes.
	3-D map of the brain: Researchers develop software to better understand brain's network of neurons The animal brain is so complex, it would take a supercomputer and vast amounts of data to create a detailed 3-D model of the billions of neurons that power it.
	Taking less asthma medicine can be done safely with guidance Mayo Clinic study says Stepping down asthma medicines can be done safely and at less cost for patients says a new Mayo Clinic study published this week in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. It is common for patients and doctors to test out if taking less daily asthma medicine is safe—primarily because of the high cost of asthma medicine. However, deciding when to step down daily asthma medicines can be challenging, and it would be helpful to understand the risks involved.
Briton who could 'smell' Parkinson's prompts new research The widow of a man who suffered with Parkinson's has triggered new research this week into the condition after she discovered she could "smell" the disease.
	Blood pressure tablets offer radiotherapy protection for prostate cancer patients Blood pressure medication could help protect men from complications arising from radiotherapy for prostate cancer, a new study by researchers at the University of Dundee has found.
	Solving the mysteries of fibromyalgia could help patients break free For 10 years, Gail De Sciose felt that pain controlled her activities, her schedule, her every move. She often found herself sprawled on the floor of her Birmingham home, sharp pains radiating down her neck, back, and hips. It was an abrupt change from the vibrant life she once led in New York City, where she had worked as a sales manager, traveled around the country, and volunteered at a local animal shelter.
Developing sense of self may help individuals be more empathetic Empathy, or the ability to identify with others' feelings, often is considered an important relational skill. Previously, researchers had hypothesized that in order for individuals to be empathetic, they needed to be selfless. However, University of Missouri researchers found just the opposite: individuals who were more self-aware had higher levels of empathy.
	New depression diagnosis and treatment Major depression now believed to be caused by abnormalities in immune cells of the brain; may revolutionize next-gneration psychiatric medication treatment, according to Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers.
	Simple test to detect diabetes risk after pregnancy Gestational diabetes is one of the most common conditions that can occur during pregnancy. Although the symptoms generally disappear after delivery, women suffering from gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing postpartum diabetes in the following years. Researchers at the Helmholtz Zentrum München have now developed an accurate method of predicting the probability of developing this progressive disease following childbirth. Their findings were published recently in Acta Diabetologica.
Recession damages mental health of families, says new study New results from the Growing Up in Ireland Study on how the recent Irish recession impacted on families and children indicate that economic strain caused by unemployment and falling family incomes has damaged parental mental health and had knock on effects on child mental health.
	Subliminal effect of facial color on fearful faces Facial color is suggestive of emotional states, as in the phrases: "flushed with anger" and "pale with fear." Although some behavioral studies have investigated the effects of facial color on expression, there is limited neurophysiological evidence showing the effects of facial color on emotional expression perception.
	Knee, hip arthroplasty tied to increased short-term MI risk (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is increased in the first postoperative month, according to a study published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Nearly 5,000 cholera cases, 74 deaths in Tanzania: WHO Tanzania is facing a major cholera outbreak, counting nearly 5,000 cases and dozens of deaths, the World Health Organization said Thursday, calling for urgent action to stop the disease from spreading to neighbouring countries.
	New gene a key to fighting sepsis Scientists have identified a gene that could potentially open the door for the development of new treatments of the lethal disease sepsis.
	Alzheimer's disease: Plaques impair memory formation during sleep Alzheimer's patients frequently suffer from sleep disorders, mostly even before they become forgetful. Furthermore, it is known that sleep plays a very important role in memory formation. Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now been able to show for the first time how the pathological changes in the brain act on the information-storing processes during sleep. Using animal models, they were able to decode the exact mechanism and alleviate the impairment with medicinal agents.
Study finds thyroid function may be restored through patient-derived human cells A discovery made by investigators from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) may help lead to the development of a cell-based regenerative therapy to restore thyroid function in patients with cancer who have had their thyroids surgically removed and children born with congenital hypothyroidism. The new findings are described in the Oct. 22 issue of Cell Stem Cell.
	Study uses gene editing to take brakes off lab-based red blood cell production Turning off a single gene leads to a roughly three-to-five-fold gain in the yield of laboratory methods for producing red blood cells from stem cells, according to a multi-institutional team led by researchers at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. These findings, published in Cell Stem Cell, suggest a way to cost-effectively manufacture red blood cells from stem cells; the patients who could potentially benefit include those who cannot use blood currently available in blood banks.
	Cardiac muscle cells as good as progenitors for heart repair Stem cell therapies for post-heart attack tissue repair have had modest success at best. Clinical trials have primarily used bone marrow cells, which can promote the growth of new blood vessels, but many studies have shown no benefit. A better alternative may be to use human heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes), suggests a study published October 22 in Stem Cell Reports.
	A biomarker for premature death A single blood test could reveal whether an otherwise healthy person is unusually likely to die of pneumonia or sepsis within the next 14 years. Based on an analysis of 10,000 individuals, researchers have identified a molecular byproduct of inflammation, called GlycA, which seems to predict premature death due to infections.
	Interrupting the transmission cycle: A protein required for dengue virus infection of mosquitoes There is currently no approved specific treatment or vaccine for dengue fever, and an estimated 2 billion people are at risk for being bitten by Aedes mosquitoes and infected with the dengue virus (DENV). A study published on October 22nd in PLOS Pathogens introduces a candidate target for a transmission-blocking vaccine that interferes with virus infection of the mosquito after it feeds on the blood of infected hosts (such a vaccine would be a valuable complement to traditional DENV vaccines in development that seek to prevent human infection).
Resistance developing in drug treatment for tropical skin disease Dermal leishmaniasis is an ulcerous skin disease caused by a tropical parasite, all forms of which can be treated with the drug miltefosine. Researchers from the National Institute of Pathology, Indian Council of Medical Research and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi studied the responses of 86 patients treated with miltefosine over 18 months that indicated a developing parasitic resistance to the drug, supporting a growing evidence base showing the rise of miltefosine resistance.
New medication class may safely and effectively treat anemia Investigational drugs that produce effects in the body similar to what occurs at high altitudes may offer a new way to stimulate red blood cell production and treat patients with anemia, according to studies appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings may lead to safer alternatives than currently used anemia medications.
Drugs commonly used in kidney transplant patients not as effective as previously thought Kidney transplants saves lives and dramatically improve quality of life, but transplant recipients often must take dozens of pills a day to keep their new kidney functioning and prevent complications. Now, three new studies led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa show that three of these drugs are not nearly as effective as previously thought and may have serious side-effects. The results are expected to change medical practice around the world.
C-section delivery does not decrease at-birth fracture rates in infants with rare bone disease Cesarean delivery was not associated with decrease in the at-birth fracture rates in infants with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare bone disorder, said a consortium of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine.
Implant procedure helps patients with sacroiliac joint pain A minimally invasive implant procedure is highly effective in reducing pain and disability for patients with sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction, reports a clinical trial in the November issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
	The power of two may help explain brain design At its most basic level, the brain is about the power of two, says Medical College of Georgia neuroscientist Dr. Joe Z. Tsien.
Deaths from chronic diseases now hitting poorest households hard in Bangladesh The number of people in Bangladesh dying from chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension—long considered diseases of the wealthy because the poor didn't tend to live long enough to develop them—increased dramatically among the nation's poorest households over a 24-year period, suggests new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Unhealthy pregnancy weight gain tips the scales for mothers seven years later Unhealthy weight gain in pregnancy has been linked with postpartum weight retention but until now its long-term effects had been understudied in low-income and minority populations who are at high risk for obesity. For the first time, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health studied the association between gestational weight gain and long-term weight retention and body fat among a multi-ethnic urban population. The results show that mothers with excessive weight gain during pregnancy weighed more and had greater body fat seven years after delivery if they began pregnancy at normal or slight overweight. The findings suggest that excessive gestational weight gain has long-term consequences for women who are normal weight or a little overweight before pregnancy.
Gene therapy treats all muscles in the body in muscular dystrophy dogs Muscular dystrophy, which affects approximately 250,000 people in the U.S., occurs when damaged muscle tissue is replaced with fibrous, fatty or bony tissue and loses function. For years, scientists have searched for a way to successfully treat the most common form of the disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which primarily affects boys. Now, a team of University of Missouri researchers have successfully treated dogs with DMD and say that human clinical trials are being planned in the next few years.
Advocating for raising the smoking age to 21 Henry Ford Hospital pulmonologist Daniel Ouellette, M.D., who during his 31-year career in medicine has seen the harmful effects of smoking on his patients, advocates for raising the smoking age to 21.
	Monitoring critical blood levels in real time in the ICU No larger than a pack of chewing gum, the prototype developed by EPFL's Integrated Systems Laboratory (LSI) is deceptively simple in appearance. But this little black case with two thin tubes sticking out contains some real miniaturized high-tech wonders. "We embedded biosensors in it to measure several different substances in the blood or blood serum along with an array of electronics to transmit the results in real time to a tablet via Bluetooth," said Sandro Carrara, an LSI scientist.
	'Sensor' protein could help fight against obesity and diabetes Melbourne researchers have identified an internal 'sensor' that helps fight obesity by instructing cells to burn their fat stores. The finding could play a major role in the fight against obesity and metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.
	Drug compounder offers cheap version of costly Turing drug Stepping into the furor over eye-popping price spikes for old generic medicines, a maker of compounded drugs will begin selling $1 doses of Daraprim, whose price recently was jacked up to $750 per pill by Turing Pharmaceuticals.
FDA warns of deadly liver damage with AbbVie hepatitis drugs Federal health officials are warning doctors and patients that two hepatitis C drugs from AbbVie can cause life-threatening liver injury in patients with advanced forms of the disease.
	Many teens knowingly ride with drunk drivers, survey finds (HealthDay)—Many U.S. teenagers have willingly accepted a ride from a drunk driver within the past year, a new survey reveals.
	ADHD may have different effects on brains of boys and girls (HealthDay)—Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifests itself differently in the brains of girls than in the brains of boys, new research suggests.
	Brain differences seen in young adults at genetic risk of Alzheimer's (HealthDay)—Young adults who have an increased genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease may already show differences in how their brains handle spatial navigation, a small study suggests.
	HPV-linked throat cancer responds to reduced chemo, radiation: study (HealthDay)—Lower-level radiation and chemotherapy may be as effective as standard doses for some patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer of the throat, tonsils and tongue, and may cause fewer side effects, researchers say.
	FDA approves new pancreatic cancer drug (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug called Onivyde as part of a treatment regimen for advanced pancreatic cancer.
	Case of ovarian hyperthecosis described (HealthDay)—A case of ovarian hyperthecosis has been presented in the Oct. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	High-dose metformin linked to increases in child height (HealthDay)—Metformin use at high doses seems to be associated with increases in height among children, according to a review published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Pain relief, function up post knee replacement in arthritis (HealthDay)—Total knee replacement usually results in greater pain relief and better joint function after a year than nonsurgical osteoarthritis treatment, researchers report in the Oct. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	CRT may be preferred strategy for elderly with lung cancer (HealthDay)—Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is associated with survival benefit over chemotherapy (CT) alone for elderly patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Many US physicians communicate with parents in ways that may discourage HPV vaccination In a national sample, many pediatricians and primary care physicians reported communicating about HPV vaccination with parents in ways that likely discourage them from getting their children vaccinated, says a report in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
	Opinion: Angry doctors are just the latest victims of globalisation The current threat of a doctors' strike is just the latest example of the unhappiness of NHS staff. 2014 saw strikes from nurses, occupational therapists, porters, paramedics and healthcare assistants – the first in the health service since the 1980s. Staff are being asked to make huge efficiency savings after years of small or non-existent pay increases. Morale has plummeted as healthcare workers come under fire for the quality of NHS care.
Music proves to be a real hit in dementia project Creative activities, such as designing musical instruments, can improve the quality of life of people with dementia, according to researchers at Lancaster University.
Responsiveness essential for mental health care in Iran The Iranian mental health system should pay more attention to responding to non-medical expectations of service users. The measurement of responsiveness can inform us how well the mental health care system interacts with the population. These are the conclusion drawn in a dissertation by Ameneh Setareh Forouzan at Umeå University in Sweden.
Malawi receives $300 million grant to fight AIDS Malawi President Peter Mutharika said Thursday the country had received a grant of $332 million (292 million euros) to fight AIDS and other diseases, bringing much-needed support to a nation wrestling with public health problems.
	First human trials of drug to prevent death due to severe blood loss The University of Alabama at Birmingham will launch the first Phase 1 human trials of a drug—derived from the female hormone estrogen—that may help patients with severe bleeding survive long enough to get to appropriate medical care. A three year, $10 million U.S. Department of Defense contract from the Combat Casualty Care Research Program, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick MD, will fund studies of a synthetic estrogen molecule that may have a profound effect on an individual's ability to survive major blood loss.
	Stem cell research opens door to new diabetes treatments Type 1 diabetes is a chronic insulin deficiency condition that is triggered by massive destruction of beta cells – pancreatic cells that normally produce insulin. This type of diabetes can be diagnosed at all ages but is the most frequent form when clinical onset occurs under the age of 40 years. While the administration of insulin can make up for shortages within the body, mimicking the tight hormonal control of a normal beta cell mass – and thus avoiding the risk of complications – is difficult to achieve.
	MAMMOCARE Project achieves earlier and more accurate breast cancer diagnosis Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women, and one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality and early diagnosis is essential to reduce the risk of mortality. First diagnostic tool is clinical imaging (mainly Mammography and Ultrasound) but suspicious findings usually require a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis; 2% of women who undergo a screening mammogram will require some type of breast biopsy (1.3 million women each year in Europe).
	Care homes can be a solution to crumbling community care services, says expert A new review of how NHS and social care services in England are performing by the charity Age UK has found that thousands of older people are ending up in hospital every year with potentially life-threatening infections because GPs and other community-based NHS services do too little to keep them well.
Common shoulder dislocation can heal just as well without surgery Acromio-clavicular joint dislocation is one of the most common shoulder injuries orthopedic surgeons treat. Severe dislocations are often treated with surgery, but patients who opt for non-surgical treatment typically experience fewer complications and return to work sooner, according to new research published today in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
French court finds pharma firm Servier negligent in deadly drug scandal Eight years after a scandal erupted over a diabetes drug linked to hundreds of deaths, a French court on Thursday found pharmaceutical firm Servier negligent for the first time for having left "defective" medicine on the market.
Certain vulnerable groups are less likely to use e-health resources Disparities exist in kidney disease patients' access to e-health resources, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). Such disparities may reinforce or widen existing health-related inequities that relate to race and income.
	Discovering the secret to success and innovation in commercializing biotechnology Mitchell Finer, PhD, a scientist with expertise in biochemistry and molecular biology, who has had an integral role in the success of numerous biotechnology companies, including most recently as chief scientific officer of gene therapy innovator bluebird bio, shares insights on his experiences and what it takes to shepherd a biotech start-up to commercial success in an interview recently published in Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development.
For young patients with spina bifida, smartphone app improves self-management A system incorporating a smartphone app may help adolescents and young adults with spina bifida to improve their daily self-management skills, suggests a paper in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists.
Study combats 'anxiety' as barrier to breast cancer screening Recent American Cancer Society (ACS) breast cancer screening guidelines consider the anxiety created by false-positive mammography an "important but not critical outcome" when deciding who should be screened. In other words, in these guidelines, the chance that mammography will create needless cancer worry is a light thumb on the scale against breast cancer screening in some populations. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology describes a successful intervention to decrease this anxiety, lessening this barrier to screening. The study reports that after attending a public informational talk by a trained radiologist speaking about the logistics and outcomes of mammography, 117 participants scored a mean of "4" on a scale from 1-5 describing decreased screening anxiety.
New curriculum teaches patient-centric practices for 21st-century docs Medical students at Penn State are now receiving training in health systems sciences and patient navigation, along with the traditional areas of medical education.
New study could save breast cancer patients time, money and side effects Most breast cancer patients with invasive lobular carcinoma could be treated with hormones alone and not with chemotherapy, according to a study by Virginia Piper Cancer Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, part of Allina Health.

Biology news

	Plague in humans 'twice as old' but didn't begin as flea-borne, ancient DNA reveals New research using ancient DNA has revealed that plague has been endemic in human populations for more than twice as long as previously thought, and that the ancestral plague would have been predominantly spread by human-to-human contact—until genetic mutations allowed Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), the bacteria that causes plague, to survive in the gut of fleas.
	Calls vs. balls: Monkeys with more impressive roars produce less sperm Howler monkeys are about the size of a small dog, weighing around seven kilos, yet they are among the loudest terrestrial animals on the planet, and can roar at a similar acoustic frequency to tigers.
	Scientists identify new Galapagos giant tortoise species A team of Ecuadoran and international scientists said Wednesday they have identified a new giant tortoise species on the Galapagos Islands.
Study finds key molecular mechanism regulating plant translational activity Plants can't get up and run away when they're being attacked by insects or harsh weather conditions. So they need mechanisms to rapidly respond to a stressful event - being eaten by a bug, for example - and then quickly transition back to "normal" conditions when the stress level subsides.
	Scientists find that crocodiles do, indeed, sleep with one eye open Scientists from La Trobe University have found evidence to support a great Australian legend: crocodiles do indeed sleep with one eye open.
	Tracing cyanobacteria's tree of life in Earth's extreme environments The tree of life of cyanobacteria, a key group of microorganisms widely considered to be the most successful on Earth, which emphasises cyanobacteria from extremely cold habitats such as the Poles and the high mountains on every continent, has been reconstructed by Dr Patricia Sánchez-Baracaldo and colleagues from the Glaciology Centre in Bristol's School of Geographical Sciences.
	Electric eels found to use jolt also for electrolocation (Phys.org)—Kenneth Catania, a biological scientist with Vanderbilt University, has found evidence that suggests that electric eels use their electrical powers to both stun prey and to find them. In his paper published in the journal Nature Communications, he describes the study he undertook of the eels in his lab and how he showed that they use electrolocation to find the prey they have stunned.
Researchers identify potential alternative to CRISPR-Cas genome editing tools An international team of CRISPR-Cas researchers has identified three new naturally-occurring systems that show potential for genome editing. The discovery and characterization of these systems is expected to further expand the genome editing toolbox, opening new avenues for biomedical research.  The research, published today in the journal Molecular Cell, was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health.
	New model helps zero in on harmful genetic mutations Between any two people, there are likely to be at least 10 million differences in the genetic sequence that makes up their DNA.
	Scientists discover protein factories hidden in human jumping genes Scientists have discovered a previously unknown wellspring of genetic diversity in humans, chimps and most other primates. This diversity arises from a new component of itinerant sections of genetic code known as jumping genes.
	Vibrations tell bees where mates are from In choosing among potential suitors, red mason bee females pay attention to the specific way in which males of the species vibrate their bodies. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 22 have found that those vibrations carry important information about where their potential mates are from.
	These social bees farm and eat fungus or die Researchers have discovered that a social, stingless bee from Brazil feeds its larvae on a special type of fungus grown in the nest. Without it, very few young survive, according to a report in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 22.
	Some antibiotics work by stressing bacteria out (metabolically) The innocent days when antibiotics worked reliably and scientists could assume they worked directly—like popping a balloon—are fading. As resistance mounts, understanding how antibiotics really work could be the key to sustaining their efficacy. A new study provides direct evidence that antibiotics sometimes don't kill outright. Rather, they create conditions for bacterial demise by upsetting their metabolism, leading bacteria to a state of oxidative stress that ultimately breaks down their DNA and other key molecules.
	Researchers uncover a novel link between genetics and movement control A small molecule in cells that was previously believed to have no impact on animal behaviour could in fact be responsible for controlling precise movements, according to new University of Sussex research.
	Cellular damage control system helps plants tough it out As food demands rise to unprecedented levels, farmers are in a race against time to grow plants that can withstand environmental challenges—infestation, climate change and more. Now, new research at the Salk Institute, published in Science on October 23, 2015, reveals details into a fundamental mechanism of how plants manage their energy intake, which could potentially be harnessed to improve yield.
	Scientists discover ancient safety valve linking pollen to bacteria Like seeds, pollen loses most of its water during maturation, entering a state of suspended animation. This allows it to survive its journey from male to female organs of a flower, where it is rehydrated by sugary fluids secreted by the female organ, and springs into life again.
	Manduca sexta caterpillars' developed surprising detoxification mechanism against their host plant's sweet toxin Plants produce a large arsenal of toxic compounds in order fend off herbivorous insects. To make sure that the toxicity of these defensive substances will not harm the plants themselves, many plants add a sugar molecule to some of their toxins. Digestive enzymes called glycosidases in the insect gut usually cleave off this sugar to release the toxin—with harmful effects on the insects. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, now found the opposite mechanism: a defensive compound of the wild tobacco species Nicotiana attenuata which is toxic with sugar molecules bound to it and a glycosidase in the gut of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta which removes one sugar from this toxin to convert it to a non-toxic form. This is the first time that the role of deglycosylation in detoxification as an insect counter-adaptation could be shown (Nature Communications, October 2015).
	Biologists find keys to driving a cockroach Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified neurons in a cockroach's brain that control whether the insect walks slow or fast, turns right or left or downshifts to climb.
	Speedy evolution affects more than one species The concept that biodiversity feeds upon itself is not uncommon in the world of evolution. The problem is a lack of hard data that shows this process to be naturally occurring.
	Biologists fly drone to track health of endangered orcas Federal biologists flying a drone have taken thousands of rich images of endangered Puget Sound orcas showing the whales are in good condition this year and that several appear to be pregnant.
	Fish farming gobbles up phosphorus Fish farming is the largest source of phosphorus emissions in Norway, generating about 9,000 tonnes a year. Finding ways to reuse the waste from the fish farming industry could cut consumption of this important and increasingly scarce resource.
World's first video footage of Borneo's rare and elusive 'vampire squirrel' Dr Heiko Wittmer, a specialist in conservation and restoration ecology, has been collaborating with Dr Andrew Marshall from the University of Michigan to investigate species interactions across different habitats in Borneo's Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
	Researchers use GPS to discover how people are using national parks Wildlife always has the right of way in the Grand Teton National Park. And in the park's Moose-Wilson Corridor, wildlife is abundant.
	Gear, not mud-burrowing bivalve mollusks, impacts ecosystem if farming increases The equipment used to farm geoducks, including PVC pipes and nets, might have a greater impact on the Puget Sound food web than the addition of the clams themselves.
	What you didn't know about naked mole-rats The naked mole-rat is a particularly ugly or cute animal, depending on your definition. It is tubular in shape, like the tunnels it creates, hairless and wrinkled, for wiggling through those tunnels, and has long, chisel-like front teeth. It looks somewhat like a walrus in miniature. And these rodents can chew through concrete!
	Ancient soils considered for impact on diverse flora Understanding how WA plants live and thrive in a certain soil type has been the focus of a recent review by scientists and the findings may help rehabilitate the environment, especially mined areas.
	Researchers publish analysis of giant panda milk A five-year study of giant pandas by Glasgow researchers has uncovered previously unknown details of the complex changes that a female bear's milk undergoes immediately after birth. The findings may have implications for rearing in other species, including humans.
Blocking differentiation is enough to give cells 'stemness' Though immune therapy and regenerative medicine are promising areas of research for future medical therapies, they are limited today by the difficulty of creating stem cells, and scientists around the world are searching for ways to create somatic stem cells in the easiest way possible. Now, a collaboration between the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science (IMS) and other institutions in Japan and Europe have found that in immune cells, simply blocking a transcription factor that leads to differentiation is sufficient to keep cells in a multipotent stem cell-like state where they can continue to proliferate and can later differentiate into various cell types.
	Obstacle avoidance by echolocating bats: It might be simpler than it sounds Echolocating bats can fly through complex environments in complete darkness. Swift and apparently effortless obstacle avoidance is the most fundamental function supported by biosonar. Despite the obvious importance of obstacle avoidance, it is unknown how bats perform this feat. New research published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that bats compare the volume of an echo in both left and right ears, they then turn away from the side receiving the loudest echo, whereby avoiding the object.
How can we build wildlife-friendly roads and railways? Scientists behind new research into the effects of transport infrastructure on biodiversity have developed much-needed approaches to protect wildlife.
	New study provides first field observations of rare Omura's whales An international team of biologists has made the first-ever field observations of one of the least known species of whales in the world—Omura's whales—off the coast of Madagascar.
	Researchers discover how CRISPR/Cas steals foreign DNA for the bacterial immune system The CRISPR/Cas9 protein system, which is central part to bacterial adaptive immunity, has soared to great prominence in recent years for its enormous potential as a genome editing tool. In studying this system, scientists have found it to be akin to a Russian doll in that the unlocking of one secret reveals another secret within. Jennifer Doudna, a biochemist with Berkeley Lab's Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) division, who has been at the forefront of unlocking CRISPR/Cas secrets has just unlocked another. Working off data acquired at the Advanced Light Source, Doudna and her research group have discovered the structural basis by which bacteria are able to capture genetic information from viruses and other foreign invaders for use in their own immunological system.
	Discovery explains how Leishmania parasite boosts its infection A team of international scientists led by Dr. Martin Olivier from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) uncovered an important mechanism behind Leishmania, a deadly parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies that affects over 12 million people worldwide, and with more than 1.3 million new cases reported every year. In a new study published today on the website Cell Reports, researchers described how key molecules known as exosomes, boost the process by which the Leishmania parasite infects humans and other mammals. These findings could lead to the development of new potential vaccine targets and diagnostic tools for Leishmania and other parasitic diseases.
Wasp that kills stink bugs found; could help fruit orchards Scientists from Washington State University have discovered a parasitic wasp in the state that kills its host like a scene from the movie "Alien." But the discovery is good news because the wasp kills a type of stink bug that harms fruit orchards.
	How do you grow a 2,000-pound pumpkin? It's complicated Ron Wallace grows pumpkins nearly the size of a Fiat.
	Human factors are main cause of errors in veterinary practice Human error is the largest single cause of mistakes made by veterinary surgeons when treating patients, new research by The University of Nottingham has revealed.
	Tourism businesses keen for term-time ban reform, study shows More than two thirds of tourism businesses in the South West say they have been negatively impacted by the ban on holidays in term time.
	App to help manage grapevines A new, free phone app developed by University of Adelaide researchers will help grapegrowers and viticulturists manage their vines by giving a quick measure of vine canopy size and density.
	Link between champion horses and offspring careers revealed If a foal has race-winning parents it is more likely to have a champion career, research into complex traits shows.
Study finds migration strategy predicts stopover ecology in shorebirds As anyone who has ever taken a long car trip knows, frequent rest and refueling stops are needed to make it to the destination. For migratory birds, this is the case as well, only they fuel up on food during their rest stops and put on large amounts of fat in the process. However, not all bird species have the same migration strategy, that is, in terms of their stopping times and eating rates. Some birds stop and feed for weeks at a time, and some do so for brief periods of one or two days. Now, a new study from online journal Animal Migration, has uncovered one of the reasons for this difference, and it has to do with the length of the next flight.
Big baby: Los Angeles Zoo's new giraffe is just under 6 feet The Los Angeles Zoo has a big baby.

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