Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 29

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 29, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New design points a path to the 'ultimate' battery
- Re-framing the placebo effect and informed consent
- Microscopic messengers from the depths of space
- Scientists are the first to simulate 3-D exotic clouds on an exoplanet
- 'Superhero' microbiome bacteria protect against deadly symptoms during infection
- Warming waters a major factor in the collapse of New England cod, study finds
- Kirobo Mini robot for drivers part of Toyota Heart Project
- Are embryonic stem cells and artificial stem cells equivalent?
- Researchers model birth of universe in one of largest cosmological simulations ever run
- Study of basic cell processes may inform health, synthetic biology efforts
- Research team fur-bricates hair with inexpensive 3-D printer
- New catalyst features unsurpassed selectivity
- Researchers identify potential security hole in genomic data sharing network
- A new primate species at the root of the tree of extant hominoids
- Study predicts bedrock weathering based on topography

Astronomy & Space news

	Microscopic messengers from the depths of space (Phys.org)—In 1990, an important space probe was launched, tasked with the ambitious mission of orbiting the sun and scanning our star at all latitudes. However, the much-publicized mission was not solar research but the detection of tiny particles from interstellar space. This joint NASA/ESA mission, lasting 19 years, has revealed the properties of the particles originating from interstellar space and has provided new insights on these tiny cosmic visitors.
	Scientists are the first to simulate 3-D exotic clouds on an exoplanet Scientists have catalogued nearly 2,000 exoplanets around stars near and far. While most of these are giant and inhospitable, improved techniques and spacecraft have uncovered increasingly smaller worlds. The day may soon come when astrophysicists announce our planet's twin around a distant star.
	'One size fits all' when it comes to unravelling how stars form Observations led by astronomers at the University of Leeds have shown for the first time that a massive star, 25 times the mass of the Sun, is forming in a similar way to low-mass stars.
	Astrophysicists produce the first age map of the halo of the Milky Way University of Notre Dame astronomer Timothy Beers and his Galactic Archaeology group, which includes Notre Dame astronomers Daniela Carollo and Vinicius Placco, have led an international team of researchers that produced the first chronographic (age) map of the halo of the Milky Way galaxy. The halo, along with the disk and bulge, are the primary components of the galaxy. Using a sample of 4,700 blue horizontal-branch (BHB) stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the research team showed that the oldest stars are concentrated in the central region of the galaxy, confirming predictions from numerical simulations of galaxy assembly. The researchers have also shown that chronographic maps such as theirs can also be used to identify complex structures of stars still in the process of being added to the halo system of our galaxy.
	Astrophysicists find Jupiter likely bumped giant planet from solar system It's like something out of an interplanetary chess game. Astrophysicists at the University of Toronto have found that a close encounter with Jupiter about four billion years ago may have resulted in another planet's ejection from the Solar System altogether.
	NASA spacecraft plunges through Saturn moon's icy spray On the hunt for alien worlds that might support life, NASA's unmanned Cassini spacecraft has survived its closest-ever dive through the icy spray coming from Saturn's moon Enceladus.
	Researchers model birth of universe in one of largest cosmological simulations ever run Researchers are sifting through an avalanche of data produced by one of the largest cosmological simulations ever performed, led by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.
	Spirals in dust around young stars may betray presence of massive planets A team of astronomers is proposing that huge spiral patterns seen around some newborn stars, merely a few million years old (about one percent our sun's age), may be evidence for the presence of giant unseen planets. This idea not only opens the door to a new method of planet detection, but also could offer a look into the early formative years of planet birth.
	Farming on Mars? The Martian raises questions about soil In the recent sci-fi hit, The Martian, the main character, astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon), manages to grow potatoes on the planet with a mix of ingenuity, science, and a bit of Hollywood make-believe. Could it work?
	Astronaut Scott Kelly to break US spaceflight record NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will Thursday set a new record for the longest single stretch of time spent in space by an American, with 216 consecutive days at the International Space Station.
	Geologists help NASA plan for human exploration of Mars This week, NASA is assembling scientists from across the country in Houston to start thinking about locations on Mars that would be good candidates for human exploration. Among those gathering for the Landing Sites/Exploration Zones Workshop for Human Missions to the Surface of Mars, is a Brown geologist who has first-hand experience in planning missions to explore another world.
	What is the black hole information paradox? In my day, things were simple. Robot dogs had wheels and laser noses. School was uphill both ways. Unwanted children removed themselves from lawns, and we didn't need those horrible electrified tentacle arms. The cut of my jib was completely beyond reproach. Nathan Fillion was the captain of the Serenity all day, every day. … And black holes were holes that were black. By that I mean black holes would compress matter and energy into an infinitely dense singularity, and didn't create a seemingly insurmountable information paradox. Yep, those were the good ole' days.
	The puzzle of planetary protection The recent announcement by NASA confirming the presence of liquid water on Mars pulls planetary protection into the spotlight and is causing some serious head-scratching in the scientific community. On the one hand, having existing liquid water on the Red Planet is a cause for wonder, excitement, and a strong desire to investigate it in a great deal more depth to look for the possibility of life. On the other hand, there is the dilemma of protecting a potential biosphere from contamination from Earthly bugs. As keen as the Curiosity mission team is to take advantage of the rover to have a much closer look at recurring slope lineae (RSL), the rover itself is just not clean enough.
	Working group: What physical principles predict life? We are immersed in life here on Earth, but life isn't found on the Moon. Nor has it arisen, so far as we know, anywhere else in the solar system. Why do some physical environments precipitate life, and why don't others?
	Space station investigation goes with the flow On Earth, blood flows down from a person's brain back toward the heart thanks in part to gravity, but very little is known about how this flow happens in microgravity. Many crew members aboard the International Space Station report headaches and other neurological symptoms in space, which may be related to microgravity's effect on cerebral blood circulation. The Drain Brain investigation, which was completed in July 2015, measured the blood flow from the brain to the heart of one crew member to help researchers better understand how the flow is affected by microgravity and which physical processes in the body can compensate for the lack of gravity, ensuring blood flows properly.
	Report: NASA needs better handle on health hazards for Mars (Update) NASA needs to get cracking if it wants to keep its astronauts alive and well on missions to Mars, according to an in-house report issued Thursday.
	New system giving SMAP scientists the speed they need For scientists now studying the voluminous amounts of data collected daily by NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, speed is everything. A new NASA-developed data-transmission technology installed at the U.S. Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station in Antarctica is giving them the speed they need.
	Saturn's "Yin-Yang" moon Iapetus Thanks to the Cassini mission, a great many things have been learned about the Saturn system in recent years. In addition to information on Saturn's atmosphere, rotation and its beautiful and extensive ring system, many revelations have been made about Saturn's system of moons. For example, very little was known about the obscure moon of Iapetus – sometimes nicknamed Saturn's "yin-yang" moon – before Cassini's arrival.
	Hunting Prospero A relic of the early Space Age turns 44 years old this week.

Technology news

	New design points a path to the 'ultimate' battery Scientists have developed a working laboratory demonstrator of a lithium-oxygen battery which has very high energy density, is more than 90% efficient, and, to date, can be recharged more than 2000 times, showing how several of the problems holding back the development of these devices could be solved.
	Bike-riding robot turns heads at Tokyo motor event Reports coming in from the Tokyo Motor Show 2015 indicated that one of the scene-stealers at this year's event has been a motorcycle-riding robot from Yamaha fittingly called Motobot.
	Robots that teach us about ourselves Janie, a quiet twelve-year-old girl sits at the table, her hands dropped casually in her lap. She doesn't turn to face you as you walk across the room and sit in the chair beside her. When you ask a question, she won't meet your eyes, and she repeats your words back to you, seemingly noncommittal and uninvolved in the conversation.
	Making cars of the future stronger, using less energy Engineers at The Ohio State University have developed a new welding technique that consumes 80 percent less energy than a common welding technique, yet creates bonds that are 50 percent stronger.
	Research team fur-bricates hair with inexpensive 3-D printer 3-D printers typically produce hard plastic objects, but researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have found a way to produce hair-like strands, fibers and bristles using a common, low-cost printer.
	Countries back roadmap toward 5G networks Countries have approved a roadmap for developing a new generation of "5G" mobile networks, the UN said Thursday, in what could pave the way for lightning-quick downloads and driverless cars.
	Kirobo Mini robot for drivers part of Toyota Heart Project What's a little robot that looks like a cute astronaut doing at a car event? Kirobo Mini is a companion robot from Toyota that appeared at the Tokyo Motor Show; it is engineered to make the driver have a better emotional experience when behind the wheel.
	America's next superbomber to be shrouded in secret for years Almost every aspect of America's newest bomber is top secret, but experts predict the warplane will be very "stealthy," packed with sensors—and able to deliver nuclear payloads anywhere.
	Review: Apple TV brings iPhone-like apps to the big screen It turns out that Apple's streaming-TV box—aptly named Apple TV—isn't just for streaming anymore. Its latest incarnation, which ships this week, offers on the big screen just about anything you could previously only do on an iPhone or iPad.
LG profit sinks as smartphone business suffers loss LG Electronics said Thursday its mobile communications division suffered its first operating loss in more than a year, dragging down the company's overall earnings for the third quarter.
	Samsung unveils $10 bln share buyback with Q3 profit surge South Korea's Samsung Electronics pulled out of an extended earnings dive on Thursday, reporting a nearly 30 percent surge in third-quarter net profit and announcing a $10 billion share buyback.
	Sony returns to profit after marathon restructuring effort Sony Corp. returned to profit last quarter in a sign its marathon restructuring effort is beginning to produce results.
	Google 'Loon' Internet balloons to take flight over Indonesia Google will next year step up testing of its Internet-beaming helium balloons in the stratosphere after striking deals with three Indonesian mobile network operators, it said Wednesday.
Nokia raises outlook, to give billions back to shareholders (Update) Telecom networks company Nokia saw its shares surge on Thursday after it raised its outlook for the year and said it would distribute 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) to shareholders, despite a drop in third quarter earnings.
	Student develops advertisement-free social media application, creates startup Ryan Ma, a Purdue University undergraduate in the College of Liberal Arts, has developed a new social media application for iOS smartphones that allows for a faster connection to family and friends that he is commercializing through the startup Meemees.
There might be ways to exploit renewable energy and also allow for protecting biodiversity Global expansion of bioenergy possesses serious threats to biodiversity, whereas solar energy could have potential for power provision with limited impacts on biodiversity.
	New research project could slash construction waste destined for landfill A pioneering project which could dramatically reduce the quantity of rubble from demolished buildings going to landfill is being developed at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).
Bio-mimicry and space exploration What DaVinci was talking about, though it wasn't called it at the time, was biomimicry. Biomimicry is the practice of using designs from the natural world to solve technological and engineering problems. Were he alive today, there's no doubt that Mr. DaVinci would be a big proponent of biomimicry.
	Researchers unlock details of Uber's surge pricing—and suggest ways to avoid it You're in Manhattan's Times Square, running late for dinner at Le Cirque, on East 58th St. You open the Uber app on your smartphone, hoping a car from the now ubiquitous ride-sharing service is nearby, only to discover that you'll have to pay 1.5 times the base rate for the ride.
	How Minecraft could help teach chemistry's building blocks of life Children should be playing more computer games in school. That idea might enrage you if you think kids today already spend too much time staring at screens or if you are already sick of your offspring's incessant prattling about fighting zombies and the like. But hear me out.
	Apple opens its first stores in Arab world in the Emirates Apple opened its first retail stores in the Arab world on Thursday in the luxury malls of the United Arab Emirates, hoping to sell wealthy consumers on their new high-end smartwatches.
	US court allows last month of phone spying program An appeals court Thursday upheld the US government's systematic surveillance of American telephone calls for the duration of a Congress-approved transition period that expires next month.
	Using Google Street View to assess the engineering impact of natural disasters Photographs from Google Street View before and after a major natural disaster could help researchers and civil engineers to assess the damage to buildings and improve resistance against future events, according to new research from the University of Southampton.
	Time Warner Cable plans for TV on the Internet Hate your cable box? In a few weeks, Time Warner Cable is going to start testing in New York City a cable service that doesn't need one and is delivered over their customers' home Internet.
	Tablet market slumps as buyers find alternatives Global sales of tablet computers fell for a fourth consecutive quarter, as buyers put off replacement or looked to alternative devices, a survey showed Thursday.
	LinkedIn's 3Q results top analyst views, propelling stock LinkedIn is behaving like an extremely productive worker who always seems to get the job done while still yearning to be more like flashier peers.
	Google parent Alphabet may open units to China: report Google parent Alphabet may do business in China following the reorganization of the technology giant, co-founder Sergey Brin said in an interview Thursday.
	New traffic app and disaster prevention technology road tested A new smartphone traffic app tested by citizens in Dublin, Ireland allows users to give feedback on traffic incidents, enabling traffic management centres to respond quicker when collisions and other incidents happen around the city. The 'CrowdAlert' app, which is now available for download, is one of the key components utilised in the EU-funded INSIGHT project and a good example of how smartphones and social networks can be harnessed to improve public services and safety.
	New laboratory to ensure electric vehicles and smart grids can work on both sides of the Atlantic Following the Transatlantic Economic Council's decision to promote electric vehicles and smart grid interoperability, on 29 October the European Commission inaugurated a dedicated state-of-the-art laboratory, operated by the Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre.
	Police stage European raids against spy malware users Authorities in five European countries said Thursday they had staged a coordinated swoop on suspected users of spy malware that gives remote access to other people's smartphones.
	Clemson researchers and IT scientists team up to tackle Big Data While researchers at Clemson University have recently announced an array of breakthroughs in agricultural and life sciences, the size of the data sets they are now using to facilitate these achievements is like a mountain compared to a molehill in regard to what was available just a few years ago.

Medicine & Health news

	Re-framing the placebo effect and informed consent (Medical Xpress)—Imagine that your doctor knows from evidence-based studies that if he tells you about certain, small side-effects to a particular drug, you are significantly more likely to experience that side effect than if he did not tell you about it. Given the three values of autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence, what should he do?
	New finding will help target multiple sclerosis immune response Researchers have made another important step in the progress towards being able to block the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases.
	Genomic fingerprint can highlight which breast, ovarian, pancreatic and gastric cancers likely to respond to treatment Gastric cancer, otherwise known as stomach cancer, does not respond well to existing treatments and it is currently the third leading cause of cancer death in the world (after lung and liver cancer). Researchers have discovered that certain drugs, currently used to treat breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, could also be used to treat certain gastric cancers with a particular pattern of mutations (genomic molecular fingerprint).
	Could aspirin shoulder the burden of inflammation? Aspirin could be used as an anti-inflammatory drug, bringing relief to the thousands who suffer with shoulder pain, Oxford University researchers have found.
	Nanotechnology could spur new heart treatment A new nanoparticle developed by University of Michigan researchers could be the key to a targeted therapy for cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that causes the heart to beat erratically and can lead to heart attack and stroke.
	Researchers discover new thyroid cancer gene Cleveland Clinic researchers have discovered a new gene associated with Cowden syndrome, an inherited condition that carries high risks of thyroid, breast, and other cancers, and a subset of non-inherited thyroid cancers, as published today in the online version of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
	Researchers identify potential security hole in genomic data sharing network Sharing genomic information among researchers is critical to the advance of biomedical research. Yet genomic data contains identifiable information and, in the wrong hands, poses a risk to individual privacy. If someone had access to your genome sequence—either directly from your saliva or other tissues, or from a popular genomic information service—they could check to see if you appear in a database of people with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung cancer or autism.
	'Superhero' microbiome bacteria protect against deadly symptoms during infection As concerns over deadly antibiotic-resistant strains of 'superbug' bacteria grow, scientists at the Salk Institute are offering a possible solution to the problem: 'superhero' bacteria that live in the gut and move to other parts of the body to alleviate life-threatening side effects caused by infections.
	To scratch an itch is a hairy problem An insect lands on your arm, moving the tiny hairs on your skin just enough to make you want to scratch. Salk Institute researchers have uncovered evidence of a dedicated neural pathway that transmits the itchy feeling triggered by such a light touch.
	Internal mammary lymph nodes ID'd on MRI likely to be benign (HealthDay)—Among women with breast cancer and silicone implant reconstruction, internal mammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) identified at implant-protocol breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are more likely to be benign than malignant, according to a study published in the November issue of Radiology.
	Case of lactic acidosis with metformin, normal renal function (HealthDay)—In a case report published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes, lactic acidosis is described in a patient with normal renal function receiving metformin for type 2 diabetes.
	Women more often treated with low-dose dabigatran (HealthDay)—Women are more often treated with low-dose dabigatran, although there is a trend toward lower stroke rates with high-dose dabigatran, according to a study published online Oct. 27 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	ASA: patients undergoing surgery should stay on statins (HealthDay)—Discontinuing statins before non-cardiac surgery is unnecessary and may increase the risk of death following the operation, researchers report. The findings were to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, held from Oct. 24 to 28 in San Diego.
Studies raise questions about impact of statins on flu vaccination in seniors A new pair of studies suggests that statins, drugs widely used to reduce cholesterol, may have a detrimental effect on the immune response to influenza vaccine and the vaccine's effectiveness at preventing serious illness in older adults. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the findings, if confirmed by additional research, may have implications for flu vaccine recommendations, guidelines for statin use around the time of vaccination, and future vaccine clinical trials in seniors.
	Prevent stroke and disability with healthy lifestyle Stroke is the top cause of disability but half of strokes could be prevented.
	Scientists appeal for ambitious microbiome study A group of 48 scientists from 50 US institutions Wednesday called for more ambitious research into the tiny microorganisms that play a huge role in health, energy and farming.
	Secret to staying slim may be as close as your fruit bowl The food sitting out on your kitchen counter offers clues about your weight, a new study reveals.
	Keep kids safe this Halloween (HealthDay)—Don't let kids' Halloween fun be spoiled by real-life injury scares.
	Phone for a doctor Worried you might be at risk from diabetes? Check your phone: it might help stop you getting the disease. And if you already have diabetes? Your phone might even help you monitor your condition at home.
	An estimated two-thirds of world's population under age of 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which commonly causes 'cold sores' and can also cause genital herpes, according to new research by the University of Bristol and the World Health Organisation [WHO]. The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, reveal the first global estimates of HSV-1 infection.
	What is your nurse saying on social media? More than a quarter of new nurses and midwives are unaware of the standards for social media in their workplace, though for the most part, they are a responsible bunch.
	Researchers discover potential treatment for tuberculosis Deakin University scientists have discovered a potential new treatment for tuberculosis, a disease rapidly gaining resistance against current medical therapies.
	Yale-led study finds a common-sense link between behavior and epidemics Common sense may be as powerful as public policy in reducing exposure to epidemics, according to a recent Yale-led study. It might be a lot less expensive and disruptive, as well, researchers say.
	New imaging method to reduce risk in gallbladder removal surgery Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for gallbladder removal, and one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide. While the procedure has a very high success rate, 1 in 200 patients will sustain serious bile duct injury, primarily due to misidentification of the biliary anatomy. With 800,000 procedures carried out in the United States each year, that means in the U.S. alone 4,000 patients will be seriously injured.
	If you want your child to bring home better grades, stop yelling and try this The end of the year is speeding towards us, and for teachers, kids and parents alike, that means one thing – report card time.
	Slime smokes are vomitus Just when it seemed cigarette packs couldn't be more revolting, expert health marketers are finding new ways to turn people off smokes, like creating a cigarette which looks like it is covered in slime.
Study suggests tumors may 'seed' cancer metastases earlier than expected A new study from scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) helps explain why cancer metastasis is so hard to stop.
	Research provides insights into genetic basis of obesity Just as poultry is steadily gaining in popularity on dinner plates, the chicken is growing in attractiveness as a biomedical model for studying health issues ranging from headaches and ovarian cancer to cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.
	Professor investigates role of stress in surgery recovery Can keeping calm before surgery decrease your post-operative pain and shorten your recovery time? That's the focus of current research by U of T Mississauga assistant professor of psychology Loren Martin.
	People will subject themselves to immense fear to gain social status, says researcher For many, Halloween is a night filled with treats, costumes, ghosts, ghouls and some fear—which can be a good thing, according to a Kansas State University expert.
Can changes in the brain affect your microbiome? The microbiome in your gut can affect your brain: More and more data have recently shown that. But can it go the other way? Can brain changes affect your gut microbiome? And if so, do these changes affect your health and well-being?
	Early life stress and adolescent depression linked to impaired development of reward circuits Early life stress is a major risk factor for later episodes of depression. In fact, adults who are abused or neglected as children are almost twice as likely to experience depression.
Breast milk purchased online contains caffeine and tobacco, but no illicit drugs In the latest update on the testing of breast milk samples purchased online, researchers found that no samples appeared to be contaminated with illicit drugs.
	Taking cholesterol medication before aneurysm repair improves outcomes Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is one of the most dramatic medical emergencies a person can face. It usually strikes without warning, killing approximately 50 percent of those who experience it before they reach a hospital. Of those who do get to a health facility alive, only about 50 percent survive. When diagnosed through screening, aortic aneurysms are carefully monitored for signs of enlargement, and surgical intervention often is needed to prevent rupture of the vessel. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that patients who took cholesterol-lowering medications before endovascular surgery experienced fewer complications and better outcomes.
	Low testosterone, men's empathy can determine parenting skills As they age, men often get concerned about their testosterone levels dropping. And rightfully so—it affects their sex drive and other health factors.
Study: Count your bites; count down the pounds Forget counting calories. The next new diet trend could be as simple as counting bites.
Study showcases potential new oral treatment for IBD For patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the possibility of taking a single pill to bring long-lasting relief might seem too good to be true. Scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University are on the brink of making that happen, thanks to a recent proof-of-concept study, in which the severity of a form of inflammatory bowel disease in mice was dramatically reduced with one oral dose of a protein isolated from a bacterial biofilm.
New enzyme therapy shows proof of concept as treatment for cocaine overdose A long-acting enzyme that rapidly and safely metabolizes cocaine in the blood stream is currently being investigated in animal models as a possible treatment for cocaine overdose. This research is being presented Oct. 29 at the 2015 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the world's largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting in Orlando, Fla. Oct. 25-29.
Regular physical activity protects against depression after heartattack In the study published in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine using data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study in Norway, the researchers studied whether pattern of leisure time physical activity among 189 patients prior to being hospitalized with first heart attack was associated with level of depressive symptoms after the initial heart attack.
Study: Racial gap in breast cancer diagnoses has closed For decades, breast cancer has been less common in black women than white women, yet killed black women at a higher rate.
Treatment for chronic sinus infection that may help maintain productivity Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (sinus infection) who decided to continue medical therapy rather than undergo surgery had little change in productivity, with results suggesting that medical therapy may help these patients maintain their level of productivity, according to a study published online by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Self-esteem not correlated with number of years younger patients look after face-lift Patient self-esteem measures appear to be unconnected to a positive outcome after face-lift surgery because patients felt they looked almost nine years younger but there was no change in self-esteem, according to an article published by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
	Media often overplays cancer drug research, study finds (HealthDay)—News articles that promise "breakthrough, "game-changing" new cancer drugs could irresponsibly raise the hopes of desperate patients, a new report suggests.
	Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer boosts survival by more than 75 percent in mice A new study in mice by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that a specialized type of immunotherapy—even when used without chemotherapy or radiation—can boost survival from pancreatic cancer, a nearly almost-lethal disease, by more than 75 percent. The findings are so promising, human clinical trials are planned within the next year.
	A vaccine candidate that supports immunity where it matters most Almost all infections make us sick by getting past our first line of defense - the sticky mucous surfaces that line our mouths, our eyes, our lungs and our guts. Once through, it's up to the immune cells that reside in our bodies to fight the disease. Now researchers have found that one virus activates the immune system to continually feed sentinel cells into the mucous membranes where they could offer better and more immediate protection at the front lines, preventing disease before it occurs. The work was published online October 29th, in the journal Cell Reports.
	Splicing alterations that cause resistance to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy identified Bottom Line: Resistance to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy that yields long-lasting remissions in many patients with B-cell leukemia, can be caused by CD19 splicing alterations, leading to loss of certain parts of the CD19 protein that are recognized by the CAR T cells.
What blocks pro-vaccine beliefs? Despite rhetoric that pits "anti-vaxxers" versus "pro-vaxxers," most new parents probably qualify as vaccine-neutral—that is, they passively accept rather than actively demand vaccination. Unless there is an active threat of polio or whooping cough, they have to remind themselves that injecting their crying infant with disease antigens is a good thing.
	Scientists show how frequently mutated prostate cancer gene suppresses tumors The gene SPOP is mutated in up to 15 percent of all cases of prostate cancer, making it one of the most mutated genes in the disease. However, when the gene is functioning properly, it acts as a tumor suppressor. Despite what's known about SPOP, scientists have not been able to determine exactly how the gene is able to halt the progression of disease.
'Ensemble' modeling could lead to better flu forecasts By combining data from a variety of non-traditional sources, a research team led by computational epidemiologists at Boston Children's Hospital has developed predictive models of flu-like activity that provide robust real-time estimates (aka "now-casts") of flu activity and accurate forecasts of flu-like illness levels up to three weeks into the future. The team's findings—published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology—show that their approach, called ensemble modeling, results in predictions that are more robust than those generated from any one data source alone, and which rival in real time the accuracy of the CDC's retrospective flu reporting.
	Long-term aerobic exercise prevents age-related brain changes A study of the brains of mice shows that structural deterioration associated with old age can be prevented by long-term aerobic exercise starting in mid-life, according to the authors of a research article publishing in the Open Access journal PLOS Biology on October 29th. Gareth Howell, Ileana Soto and their colleagues at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine (USA) found that structural changes that make the blood-brain barrier leaky and result in inflammation of brain tissues in old mice can be mitigated by allowing the animals to run regularly, so providing a potential explanation for the beneficial effects of exercise on dementia in humans.
Allergy is the price we pay for our immunity to parasites New findings, published in PLOS Computational Biology, help demonstrate the evolutionary basis for allergy. Molecular similarities in food and environmental proteins that cause allergy (such as pollen), and multicellular parasites (such as parasitic worms), have been identified systematically for the first time.
	Towards a safe and efficient SARS-coronavirus vaccine Live attenuated (weakened) viral vaccines are considered safe so long as their "reversal" to a virulent (or disease-causing) virus is prevented. A study published on October 29th in PLOS Pathogens reports on how to rationally modify an effective live attenuated SARS vaccine to make it genetically stable.
Newly developed cell transplantation delivery method could treat traumatic brain injury Treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) using stem cell therapy is an important area of current research. However, injecting stem cells into the central nervous system has serious drawbacks, including intracranial hemorrhage and cells failing to reach TBI-affected areas of the brain.
Computer-based modeling improves outcomes for infants in drug withdrawal Computer-based modeling is helping to further reduce length of hospital stay and duration of treatment with opioids that are used therapeutically to wean babies born in withdrawal from drugs their mothers have taken. This condition is known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
	Possible new explanation for ALS: Researchers discover RNA-binding proteins play important role Scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified a new property of essential proteins which, when it malfunctions, can cause the build up, or 'aggregation', of misshaped proteins and lead to serious diseases.
	People with multiple sclerosis may be more physically fit than tests indicate, study finds Conventional methods of assessing cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength among people with multiple sclerosis may underestimate participants' capabilities, prompting clinicians to prescribe exercise therapies that are less effective than they could be, according to new research by scientists at the University of Illinois.
	Molecular switch generates calorie-burning brown fat A research team led by UC San Francisco scientists has identified a molecular switch capable of converting unhealthy white fat into healthy, energy-burning brown fat in mice. Drugs that flip this switch rapidly reduced obesity and diabetes risk factors in mice fed a high fat diet.
Transplanted human umbilical cord blood cells may offer therapy for Alzheimer's sufferers Alzheimer's disease (AD), affecting millions worldwide, is the leading cause of dementia The prevalence of AD is rapidly increasing, and will possibly affect over 100 million people by 2050, yet there are no effective therapies for the disease.
	Part D enrollment doesn't improve outcomes after AMI (HealthDay)—For patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), enrollment in Part D by hospital discharge is not associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Oct. 27 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	Some RA treatments up second nonmelanoma skin cancer risk (HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with prior nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the risk of second NMSC varies with different treatments, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Low-dose rifaximin cuts endotoxin level in cirrhosis (HealthDay)—For patients with liver cirrhosis, low-dose rifaximin is comparable to high-dose rifaximin for reducing serum endotoxin levels, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
	Lidocaine, hyaluronidase mix works faster in myofascial pain (HealthDay)—In patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), trigger point injection (TPI) with lidocaine and hyaluronidase works more quickly on the first day following injection than lidocaine alone, but there are no significant differences between the methods after four days, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pain Practice.
	Review supports LMWH for cancer-linked incidental PE (HealthDay)—Cancer-associated incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) should be treated with low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), according to a review published online Oct. 15 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	Early CT scan impacts management of suspected CAP (HealthDay)—Computed tomography (CT) findings affect the diagnosis and management of suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Researchers link single gene variation to obesity A single variation in the gene for brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) may influence obesity in children and adults, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study suggests that a less common version of the BDNF gene may predispose people to obesity by producing lower levels of BDNF protein, a regulator of appetite, in the brain. The authors propose that boosting BDNF protein levels may offer a therapeutic strategy for people with the genetic variation, which tends to occur more frequently in African Americans and Hispanics, than in non-Hispanic Caucasians. The study is published in the journal Cell Reports.
Exercise could give margin of safety to women who want to delay preventive mastectomy Regular physical activity could play a role in helping women at high-risk of breast cancer delay the need for drastic preventive measures such as prophylactic mastectomy, according to new research led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Results of the WISER Sister study help clarify the emerging connection between exercise and breast cancer risk. As a result of the new findings, the authors suggest that women who have an elevated breast cancer risk or worry about having such risk should consider doing 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity per day for five days per week. The results are available today in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Gut bacteria could be blamed for obesity and diabetes An excess of bacteria in the gut can change the way the liver processes fat and could lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, according to health researchers.
Who mothers mommy? A mother is the tireless supporter of her family, very often setting aside her own needs to tend to her children's, a task that knows no schedules or time limits.
	Male/female brain differences? Big data says not so much A research study at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science has debunked the widely-held belief that the hippocampus, a crucial part of the brain that consolidates new memories and helps connect emotions to the senses, is larger in females than in males.
	Hair-GEL online tool gives bird's eye view of hair follicle formation A new online database will empower researchers exploring how hair follicles and the surrounding skin develop, according to an article published recently in the journal Developmental Cell. The work is central to understanding the interactions between stem cells and their environment - or "niche cells" - during fetal development, and will specifically facilitate future attempts to make skin grafts with functional hair follicles or to regenerate lost hair in patients.
Low-fat diet not most effective in long-term weight loss Researchers conduct a systematic review of randomized clinical trials comparing the long-term effectiveness of low-fat and higher-fat dietary interventions on weight loss
WHO says cancer report not calling for people to give up meat The World Health Organization stressed Thursday that an explosive report this week linking the consumption of processed meat to cancer was not calling for people to stop eating meat altogether.
	Researchers shed light on protein-related diseases Dartmouth researchers have found that some proteins turn into liquid droplets on the way to becoming toxic solids implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and other genetic disorders.
	New insight into how neurons regulate their activity Neurons communicate by passing electrical messages, known as action potentials, between each other. Each neuron has a highly specialized structural region, the axon initial segment (AIS), whose primary role is in the generation and sending of these messages. The AIS can undergo changes in size and location in response to alterations of a neuron's ongoing electrical activity. However, until now, all such 'AIS plasticity' has been exceptionally slow, occurring over a timescale of days. Work by researchers from the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology (MRC CDN), has found that AIS plasticity can happen quickly, influencing the way cells fire action potentials. These results were published today in the online edition of the journal Cell Reports.
Greater support needed for pregnant transgender men Many transgender men who have the capacity to bear children are faced with barriers in the healthcare system as a result of a lack of training, argue Juno Obedin-Maliver and Harvey Makadon in a commentary published in SAGE journal Obstetric Medicine.
Three-quarters of stroke patients in China have hypertension GW-ICC is being held in Beijing from 29 October 2015 to 1 November together with the Asia Pacific Heart Congress and the International Congress of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Experts from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will present a special programme.
Commission shows good progress in cancer care in Latin America Following the success of the 2013 Lancet Oncology Commission on cancer care in Latin America, The Lancet Oncology today launches a second Commission on cancer in this region, highlighting the promising progress that has been made in just 2 years, but also the substantial barriers that remain to ensure all those that need cancer treatment and care receive optimal clinical management.
Pfizer, Allergan weigh blockbuster merger: reports Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer recently approached Botox-maker Allergan over what would be the biggest takeover deal this year, The Wall Street Journal said Wednesday.
The right to say "No" In psychiatric wards, patients used to be medicated indiscriminately against their will for decades if doctors thought it necessary. It was only after a Federal Constitution Court ruling a few years ago that patient autonomy has been strengthened. What does that mean in practice? A report has been published in the science magazine RUBIN.
Rates of kidney failure due to blood cancer are declining The risk of kidney failure caused by multiple myeloma appears to be declining, and survival is lengthening for patients who do develop kidney failure due to this cancer. The findings, which are published in a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), are encouraging, although efforts to develop alternative and effective treatments with fewer side effects are still needed.
Bigger Pharma: Allergan in merger talks with Pfizer Botox-maker Allergan said Thursday it was in "friendly" merger talks with US company Pfizer that have the potential of forming a $300 billion pharmaceutical behemoth.
Novo Nordisk raises profit forecast as earnings jump The world's largest insulin maker, Novo Nordisk, raised Thursday its annual profit guidance after net profit jumped by 29 percent in the third quarter.
MD Anderson's moon shots mission grows to confront six more cancer types MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented effort and novel organizational model designed to more rapidly convert scientific discoveries into life-saving advances, has expanded its targets, adding several of the most intractable cancers to its campaign.
Achilles tendon ruptures missed in one of four cases, but surgery not needed for most Achilles tendon disorders are common and often misdiagnosed, with about 25 percent of ruptures missed during initial examination, but the prognosis is favorable for the vast majority of patients, according to researchers from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Rothman Institute of Jefferson Medical College.
'Tummy tuck' complications: Study looks at rates and risk factors Abdominoplasty—sometimes called "tummy tuck"—has a higher risk of major complications than other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, reports a study in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
No need to stop antidepressants before plastic surgery, evidence suggests For patients undergoing plastic surgery procedures, there's no consistent evidence that taking antidepressants increases the risk of bleeding, breast cancer, or other adverse outcomes, concludes a research review in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
HIV/AIDS deaths are down in South Africa, but most are still unacknowledged After peaking in 2007, AIDS mortality in South Africa has decreased with the widespread introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy, according to updated estimates published in AIDS, official journal of the International AIDS Society.

Biology news

Cell stress response and fat and obesity gene linked In one fell swoop, Cornell researchers have discovered mechanisms that control the function of a fat and obesity gene while at the same time answering a long-standing question about how cells respond to stress.
Researchers identify new factors that guide organization of plant roots As the root of a growing plant pushes its way through soil, its cells have a lot of organizing to do. New cells must take on the appropriate identities and positions to form distinct layers of tissue that give the root its structure, protect it from the environment, and ensure that it can properly transport materials to and from the rest of the plant.
Possible link to evolutionary development of the neural crest found in sea squirt tadpole (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with New York and Dalhousie Universities, in the U.S. and Canada respectively, has found a possible intermediate cell type that might help understand the evolutionary process that led to the development of the neural crest. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their study of sea squirt tadpole neural development and the similarities they found with the neural crest. Marianne Bronner, with the California Institute of Technology offers some insight into the work done by the team in a News & Views piece published in the same journal issue.
	Warming waters a major factor in the collapse of New England cod, study finds For centuries, cod were the backbone of New England's fisheries and a key species in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. Today, cod stocks are on the verge of collapse, hovering at 3-4% of sustainable levels. Even cuts to the fishery have failed to slow this rapid decline, surprising both fishermen and fisheries managers. For the first time, a new report in Science explains why. It shows that the cod collapse is in large part due to rapid warming of the ocean in the Gulf of Maine - 99 percent faster than anywhere else on the planet.
	Protein complex links cellular metabolism to gene expression Researchers in the Workman Lab at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have identified a link between cellular metabolism and gene expression, one with potentially far-reaching implications for cancer risk prediction and treatment.
	Study of basic cell processes may inform health, synthetic biology efforts Everyone who has played in a band or orchestra knows that playing in time creates music, while playing out of time creates cacophony. In an orchestra, each player may be out of tune when warming up, but eventually, all players must reach the same pitch, rhythm, and timing to produce a viable piece of music.
	Are embryonic stem cells and artificial stem cells equivalent? Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School have found new evidence suggesting some human induced pluripotent stem cells are the 'functional equivalent' of human embryonic stem cells, a finding that may begin to settle a long running argument.
	Wimps or warriors? Honey bee larvae absorb the social culture of the hive, study finds Even as larvae, honey bees are tuned in to the social culture of the hive, becoming more or less aggressive depending on who raises them, researchers report in the journal Scientific Reports.
	Nuclear membrane repairs the 'dark matter' of DNA Scientists have found a new function of the nuclear membrane, the envelope that encases and protects DNA in the nucleus of a cell - it fixes potentially fatal breaks in DNA strands.
	Study spells out why some insects kill their mothers One day a few years ago, while working on wasps in a rainforest in Costa Rica, entomologist Kevin J. Loope, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Riverside, began reading about the enigmatic matricidal behavior of some social insects. In most social insects, such as bees, ants and wasps, the workers, which are all female, work their whole lives to help the queen produce new offspring. Yet, in the literature Loope found anecdotal reports of workers killing their queen, presenting a fascinating evolutionary puzzle.
	New class of DNA repair enzyme discovered This year's Nobel Prize in chemistry was given to three scientists who each focused on one piece of the DNA repair puzzle. Now a new study, reported online Oct. 28 in the journal Nature, reports the discovery of a new class of DNA repair enzyme.
	Easy transfer of trace DNA can contaminate crime scene If your DNA is found on a weapon or at a crime scene, does that make you guilty?
	A new model for transmembrane cell-surface receptor activation "This 'rotation model', which made the cover of BioEssays, represents a true paradigm shift in the membrane receptor field," stated Prof. Pierre De Meyts, a renowned researcher of insulin and receptor binding for almost half a century and one of the reviewers of the paper by Prof. Ichiro Maruyama, the head of the Information Processing Biology Unit at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST).
	Frogs pit guns against sperm in battle for mates Males competing for female attention is nothing new but research into frogs in swamps near Albany has revealed something unusual—larger, stronger-armed males fare better fathering offspring in isolation while smaller, weaker males are more successful in a group.
	Combating pest insects in the soil with root-colonizing insecticidal fungi The biological control of pest insects in the soil has come one step closer. Wageningen UR has isolated five promising fungi that kill 90 to 100 per cent of the grubs and crane fly larvae, and which also survive well in the soil when there are no pest insects present. It is expected that these insecticidal fungi will also be effective against other pest insects in the soil.
	Biological control of plant bugs in greenhouses How can we biologically control the European tarnished plant bug and other plant bugs in the greenhouse? Wageningen UR, Entocare biocontrol CV and breeders have been working on a solution for many years. While a trap with pheromone attractant appears to be a good way, initial results show that the trap requires further optimisation to not only attract bugs but capture them as well. The right combination of attractants also needs to be found.
	In gene networks, it's location, location, location From appearance to endurance, nature's adaptations all trace back to complex molecular networks of living things. Improving our understanding of how genes give rise to outward adaptations may hinge on three concepts from network science – location, location, location.
	Major step towards a vaccine against a lethal disease that kills endangered tortoises Researchers may have found the basis for a vaccine against a disease that threatens endangered tortoises.
Predicting the human genome using evolution To gain a clearer picture of health and disease, scientists have now provided an independent reference for all human variation by looking through the evolutionary lens of our nearest relatives. Such a powerful approach has been developed by Temple University professor Sudhir Kumar and colleagues and was detailed in the advanced online publication of Molecular Biology and Evolution.
	Fire severity in southwestern Colorado unaffected by spruce beetle outbreak Contrary to expectations that spruce beetle infestations increase the severity of wildfires in southwestern Colorado, a new study led by University of Colorado Boulder researchers has found that this native insect may not be to blame after all.
	Researchers discover a new mechanism that deforms cell membranes Cell membranes are very elastic. They can become distorted when they are asked to do so, when the cell divides, or when a virus detaches itself from the cell. In both cases, the membrane is deformed by a protein complex called ESCRT-III. Up until now, we did not understand how this complex works. Swiss and French researchers say that this protein complex forms a molecular spring at the surface of the cell, and operates like a watch spring. This article was published in Cell.
	Key findings to develop a vaccine against Toxoplasma Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite which causes the development of fatal encephalosis or pneumonia in immunodeficient patients under treatment of AIDS or cancer. Pregnant women who are infected may suffer a miscarriage or the newborn child may suffer from a congenital disease. Currently, a toxoplasma vaccine for humans is not available. Using experimental animals such as mice, basic research for developing an inactivated vaccine is underway.
	NOAA report finds the 2014 commercial catch of US seafood on par with 2013 America's commercial and recreational fisheries show continued stability and make a large contribution to the nation's economy thanks to sustainable fisheries management policies, according to a new report from NOAA Fisheries.
	Pixelated plants shed light on cell size control Cells have characteristic sizes in different organisms and in different tissues in the same organism. How cells regulate their size and how cell size affects organism growth are among the remaining mysteries in cell biology. Research carried out at the John Innes Centre has shown that the stem cells that sustain plant growth actively control their size and that this process is important for the correct development of organs such as flowers. The research, conducted by Professor Robert Sablowski at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, is published today in the journal Current Biology.
Factor found to balance medically useful stem cell qualities A key protein controls stem cell properties that could make them more useful in regenerative medicine, according to a study led by Mount Sinai researchers and published online today in the journal Cell Stem Cell.
	Half of Africa's vultures flying towards extinction: conservationists Africa's vultures are increasingly the victims of poisoning and poachers, leaving around half the continent's 11 vulture species critically endangered, a top conservation body warned Thursday.
	Project seeks to answer how new genes arise One of the most thought-provoking questions in basic biology research is how life first arose and developed on Earth. A new research project is bringing together a cross-disciplinary group of scientists to undertake an experimental dive into the depths of the molecular processes at work in order to understand how new genes and proteins arise.
	Streamlined import of specimen and occurrence records into taxonomic manuscripts Substantial amount of documented occurrence records is awaiting publication stored in repositories and data indexing platforms, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD Systems), or Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio). In order to streamline the authoring process, save taxonomists time, and provide a workflow for peer-review and quality checks, Pensoft has introduced an innovative feature that makes it possible to easily import occurrence records into a taxonomic manuscript.

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