Science X Newsletter Thursday, Nov 5

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 5, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Nanographene charge trapping memory could further miniaturize flash
- Scientists transfer genes from poppy to a different species to prevent self-pollination
- What have we learned from the discovery of liquid water on Mars?
- Toppling conventional 'textbook' view from 1960s, stem-cell scientists redefine how blood is made
- Linking antibiotic to antibody found able to kill MRSA hiding in mice cells
- MAVEN mission reveals speed of solar wind stripping martian atmosphere
- Quantum process increases the number of electrons produced when light strikes a metal-dielectric interface
- It's a beauty: JILA's quantum crystal is now more valuable
- A new dimension to high-temperature superconductivity discovered
- Circadian clock controls insulin and blood sugar in pancreas
- DNA strands often 'wiggle' as part of genetic repair
- Eye drops could clear up cataracts using newly identified chemical
- Freshwater fish, amphibians supercharge their ability to see infrared light ​
- Fly method is epilepsy's ray of light
- Watching a memory form: Sea slug study reveals novel memory mechanism

Astronomy & Space news

	What have we learned from the discovery of liquid water on Mars? (Phys.org)—One of the biggest and most important findings made by NASA recently was the confirmation that liquid water currently flows on Mars. Scientists suspected this a long time ago, but really strong evidence was needed to confirm this hypothesis. Now, with the discovery of hydrated minerals on downhill flows, which are known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), we know that liquid water not only existed in the past on Mars, but also flows there in present day. But how does this breakthrough finding reflect our current knowledge about present-day Mars, and how could it change our understanding of the history of our reddish neighbor?
	MAVEN mission reveals speed of solar wind stripping martian atmosphere NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission has identified the process that appears to have played a key role in the transition of the Martian climate from an early, warm and wet environment that might have supported surface life to the cold, arid planet Mars is today.
	Black hole awakens after 26 years On 15 June 2015, V404 Cygni (V404 Cyg), a binary system comprising a sun-like star orbiting a black hole, woke up. A huge outburst of energy across the electromagnetic spectrum 'lit up' the sky. The last such outburst was 1989.
	Mapping winds and dune evolution on the Red Planet Three Irish scientists have discovered how winds shape sand dunes on Mars by using image data from the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then comparing patterns with wind models that were tested on dunes seen on Northern Ireland's peninsula of Magilligan.
	Shining a light on the aurora of Mars ESA's Mars Express has shed new light on the Red Planet's rare ultraviolet aurora by combining for the first time remote observations with in situ measurements of electrons hitting the atmosphere.
	Supernova twins: Making standard candles more standard than ever Less than 20 years ago the world learned that the universe is expanding ever faster, propelled by dark energy. The discovery was made possible by Type Ia supernovae; extraordinarily bright and remarkably similar in brightness, they serve as "standard candles" essential for probing the universe's history.
	Hubble uncovers the fading cinders of some of our galaxy's earliest homesteaders Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to conduct a "cosmic archaeological dig" at the very heart of our Milky Way galaxy, astronomers have uncovered the blueprints of our galaxy's early construction phase.
	A new generation of weird-looking space suits will take us to Mars When Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov conducted the world's first space walk in 1965, the mission nearly ended in catastrophe. After 12 minutes outside the Voskhod spacecraft, the vacuum of space had caused Leonov's suit to inflate so much he couldn't get through the air lock. He was forced to manually vent oxygen from inside the suit to reduce its size and get back onto the ship before the effects of decompression sickness overcame him.
	Out with the old, in with the new: Telescope mirrors get new shape Telescope mirrors of old basically came in one shape: they were round and fit nicely inside a tube. No longer. An emerging optics technology now allows these light-gathering devices to take almost any shape, potentially providing improved image quality over a larger field of view—all in a smaller package.
	NASA drops Boeing from race for $3.5 billion cargo contract NASA has informed Boeing that it is out of the running for a $3.5 billion competition to send cargo to the International Space Station, a company spokeswoman said Thursday.
	New NASA photos show massive rocket explosion in Virginia The launch of an unmanned commercial supply rocket on the eastern shore of Virginia was supposed to be a moment of celebration. Crowds gathered to watch as the sun set. Hundreds of miles up, astronauts huddled around a live video feed in anticipation.
	Protecting Juno's heart Each new probe we launch into space follows a finely-tuned, predetermined trajectory that opens up a new avenue of understanding into our solar system and our universe. The results from each probe shapes the objectives of the next. Each probe is built with maximum science in mind, and is designed to answer crucial questions and build our understanding of astronomy, cosmology, astrophysics, and planetary studies.
	Europe comes together for space weather Working with scientists in 14 countries across Europe, ESA is developing a warning network that will help protect us from the effects of our Sun's activity.

Technology news

	Project Zero hunts Galaxy, Samsung responds with eight fixes Any Android-vulnerability found in popular smartphones and reported in the press naturally gets everyone looking in Google's direction. What's wrong with those Android engineers?
	Austria's largest state goes 100% renewable Austria's largest state said Thursday that 100 percent of its electricity is now generated using renewable sources of energy.
RetailNext CEO Alexei Agratchev on using data to drive in-store sales Alexei Agratchev was working on a video security system to help casinos catch criminals, as part of an internal startup at Cisco Systems, when an idea popped into his head.
Could virtual reality become the way we watch sports? I took a step into the virtual future of sports last week. I'm glad I got to look around, but it didn't take long before I was ready to high-tail it back to the real world.
Bending razor-thin glass to tech's future needs "We don't make that kind of glass," said Waguih Ishak, director of Corning Inc.'s West Coast Research Center, pointing to the windows lining his office and, beyond that, to the windshields of the cars parked outside.
	Futuristic Black Ops 3 on mission to boost 'Call of Duty' franchise "Call of Duty" fans get to go on their latest mission in the first-person shooter franchise on Friday when Black Ops 3 sends them out into a "dark and twisted future" of souped-up multiplayer thrills.
	Toyota quarterly profit rises to $5 billion on weak yen Toyota's quarterly profit rose 13.5 percent to 611.7 billion yen ($5.0 billion) and the automaker kept its annual earnings forecast unchanged despite trimming its expectations for vehicle sales.
	Fire-starting drone could aid grassland conservation efforts, fire prevention A new drone under development at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln could change the way wildfires are fought—and encourage the use of prescribed burns for conservation purposes.
	Researchers develop a new tool to guide recovery from disasters The 1999 Odisha Cyclone struck the eastern coast of India, knocking out whole swaths of the Indian Railways Network, bringing the eastern IRN system to a halt. Cyclones Hudhud and Phailin caused similar mayhem in 2014 and 2013, while in 2012 power blackouts in northern and eastern India idled 300 intercity passenger trains and commuter lines. Closer to home, severe winter storms that hit Boston in 2014–2015 brought the MBTA mass-transit system to its knees.
	$6 billion for Candy Crush highlights the importance of female mobile gamers Computer game publisher Activision Blizzard has this week announced that they intend to buy King Digital, the makers of "Candy Crush Saga", for US $5.9 billion.
	Where we are on the road to driverless cars Who doesn't like the idea of getting in your car, sitting back finishing off your coffee and reading the paper while the vehicle whisks you to your destination? We're not quite there yet, but what is available are technologies and systems that can make the driving experience a little easier and much safer.
	How air accident investigators turn disaster into a way of saving lives Throughout aviation's comparatively brief history, properly investigating the causes of accidents has been essential to improving flight safety, to the point that aviation is one of the safest ways to travel. Looking at the pictures of debris scattered across many square miles of Egyptian desert, or Ukrainian sunflower fields, or floating at sea, the fact we're able to draw useful lessons from such destruction is testament to the efforts of air accident investigators worldwide. How do they do it?
	A rap generator is now available to the public on the Internet The DeepBeat is a machine learning algorithm that creates rap lyrics on the basis of huge data masses.
	In Tech: Light field VR camera, automatic Windows upgrades Recording live-action scenes for virtual-reality devices has been limited by the fact that cameras are stuck in one position and headset wearers can't lean their heads over to get a different view.
	Team showcases the biggest 3-D printing machine for industry The Basque Autonomous Community is once again spearheading R&D&i applied to the industrial base to enable companies to be more competitive, not only by improving productivity but also by creating new products. The first machine to combine manufacture by means of 3-D printing and precision machining for Industry across the Spanish State is the result of the collaboration between the Basque machine-tool manufacturer Ibarmia, the University of the Basque Country and the Tecnalia research center.
	Teaching the blind to draw—and do STEM University of Vermont start-up company E.A.S.Y. LLC has received a $1 million Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a commercial prototype for a digital printer that will translate conventional graphics to raised-line versions for the blind they are able to read and interact with.
	Korea's 'Hanoks' display acoustic excellence A "Hanok" is a type of traditional Korean house that embraces both nature and science. And these homes are gaining global recognition as being perfect acoustical settings to highlight the melody of classic Korean musical instruments that are similar to "zithers," which are essentially flat wooden soundboxes with several strings.
	Nomadic computing speeds up Big Data analytics How do Netflix or Facebook know which movies you might like or who you might want to be friends with?
	Structure of 'concrete disease' solved When bridges, dam walls and other structures made of concrete are streaked with dark cracks after a few decades, the culprit is AAR: the alkali-aggregate reaction. AAR damages concrete structures all over the world and makes complex renovations or reconstructions necessary. Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute and Empa have now solved the structure of the material produced in the course of AAR at atomic Level.
	Facebook soars to new heights on upbeat earnings Facebook shares rocketed to an all-time high Thursday as investors welcomed solid earnings for the social networking giant, which has seen big gains in advertising and better connections in mobile and video.
Pandora cuts songwriting rights deal with Sony/ATV Internet radio service Pandora says it has reached a direct licensing deal for songwriting rights with Sony/ATV music publishing, the largest music publisher in the world.
	Vestas raises guidance as quarterly profit doubles Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems on Thursday raised its annual revenue and profit forecast for the second time this year as quarterly profit more than doubled.
Smart fabric provides "air conditioning" for the wearer adjustable with a mobile app VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a new high-volume production method for hot embossing microscopic channel structures onto large areas of plastic film at a low cost for use, for example, in wearable technology and cosmetic applications. One of VTT's goals is to engineer a smart fabric adjustable with a mobile app for controlling the wearer's temperature.
	German prosecutors probe VW carbon emission allegations German prosecutors said Thursday they have launched a preliminary investigation against auto giant Volkswagen regarding new allegations it understated the carbon dioxide emissions of up to 800,000 cars.

Medicine & Health news

	Toppling conventional 'textbook' view from 1960s, stem-cell scientists redefine how blood is made Stem-cell scientists led by Dr. John Dick have discovered a completely new view of how human blood is made, upending conventional dogma from the 1960s.
	Researchers grow brain parts to study development, disease Dr. Sergiu Pasca, a neuroscientist, used to envy cancer specialists. They could get their hands on tumors for research, while Pasca could not directly study key portions of a living brain.
	Could electrical stimulation to the brain help with weight loss? Study shows promise Giving a region of the brain that's key to self-control and motivation a zetz of electrical stimulation may help the obese to eat less and lose more weight, says a new study.
	Zebrafish reveal how axons regenerate on a proper path When peripheral nerves are damaged and their vital synaptic paths are disrupted, they have the ability to regenerate and reestablish lost connections. But what about when a nerve is severed completely, its original route lost? How does a regenerating axon, looking to reconnect with its proper target—with so many possibilities and only one correct path to restore original functioning—know which way to go? Using a transparent zebrafish model, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have identified key components of a mechanism that allows the nervous system to heal itself. Their work was published online this week in Neuron ahead of the print issue.
	Watching a memory form: Sea slug study reveals novel memory mechanism Neuroscientists at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science have discovered that some neurons are joiners—seemingly eager to link-up with networks in which learning is taking place.
	No new heart muscle cells in mice after the newborn period A new study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet shows that new heart muscle cells in mice are mainly formed directly after birth. After the neonatal period the number of heart muscle cells does not change, and A new study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet shows that new heart muscle cells in mice are mainly formed directly after birth. After the neonatal period the number of heart muscle cells does not change, and heart growth occurs only by cell size increase, similar to the human heart. The results are presented in the journal Cell.
	Scientists find neural match for complexity of visual world The complexity of the neural activity we use to process visual images reflects the intricacy of those images, a team of New York University scientists has found. Their study offers new insights into how our brain extracts information about our natural surroundings from the light captured by our eyes.
	Tumour network in the brain increases treatment resistance Astrocytomas are special type of brain tumours that are difficult to treat, because they do not respond to standard therapies. One reason for this resistance could be their ability to form a communication network. This was discovered by scientists taking part in an international study involving experts from the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) of MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital. The study has now been published in the renowned specialist journal "Nature" and is regarded as a milestone by the medical world.
	Neurons reprogrammed in animals Building on earlier work in which they disproved neurobiology dogma by "reprogramming" neurons—turning one form of neuron into another—in the brains of living animals, Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have now shown that the networks of communication among reprogrammed neurons and their neighbors can also be changed, or "rewired."
	Competition between 'good bacteria' important for healthy gut The vital ecosystem of bacteria in the human gut operates like a jungle, with competition between microbes helping maintain the stability necessary to keep us healthy.
	Circadian clock controls insulin and blood sugar in pancreas A new Northwestern Medicine study has pinpointed thousands of genetic pathways an internal body clock takes to dictate how and when our pancreas must produce insulin and control blood sugar, findings that could eventually lead to new therapies for children and adults with diabetes.
	Fly method is epilepsy's ray of light Professor Richard Baines and Dr Carlo Giachello used a genetically-altered fruit fly to show that when nervous system activity is suppressed by shining yellow light through its embryo, it will not go on to develop symptoms of the disease when it gets older.
	Eye drops could clear up cataracts using newly identified chemical A chemical that could potentially be used in eye drops to reverse cataracts, the leading cause of blindness, has been identified by a team of scientists from UC San Francisco (UCSF), the University of Michigan (U-M), and Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL).
	Gut bacteria can dramatically amplify cancer immunotherapy By introducing a particular strain of bacteria into the digestive tracts of mice with melanoma, researchers at the University of Chicago were able to boost the ability of the animal's immune systems to attack tumor cells. The gains were comparable to treatment with anti-cancer drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-L1 antibodies.
	Earliest embryonic lethality gene identified A new study, published in the open access journal Genome Biology, has identified a single gene (TLE6) which, when mutated, is responsible for human embryonic lethality at an earlier stage of development than has ever previously been documented.
	Insufficient evidence for the use of omega 3 supplements in treating depression New research out today concludes that there is insufficient evidence for the use of taking an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement in treating major depressive disorder.
	Relapsing infections could challenge malaria eradication Eliminating malaria in the Asia-Pacific could prove more challenging than previously thought, with new research showing that most childhood malaria infections in endemic areas are the result of relapsed, not new, infections.
	March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card grades cities; focuses on racial disparities Portland, Oregon has the best preterm birth rate of the top 100 cities with the most births nationwide, while Shreveport, Louisiana has the worst, according to the 2015 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, which for the first time graded cities and counties around the nation and revealed persistent racial, ethnic and geographic disparities within states.
Adding ultrasound to breast screening results in higher rate of detection for women in Japan Adding ultrasound to standard mammography tests in breast screening could result in improved rates of detection for breast cancer in women in Japan, according to a new study, published in The Lancet.
Sierra Leone emerges from Ebola nightmare The Ebola epidemic is expected to be declared over in Sierra Leone on Saturday, when the west African nation will have gone 42 days without any new infections.
Citing cost to taxpayers, cities and states tackle obesity More than 35 percent of Arkansas adults are obese, making it the heaviest state in the nation. Gov. Asa Hutchinson looked at those numbers and saw two problems: an increased risk of all sorts of health challenges, and an increased burden on taxpayers.
	When pregnant women get cancer, what happens to their babies? A cancer diagnosis is always upsetting, and that's especially true when the patient is pregnant. A new study may reassure these patients that their babies can turn out fine despite exposure to the disease and the resulting treatments.
Higher insulin is an independent prognostic factor in advanced breast cancer Patients with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastasised) and who have higher insulin levels than normal, but are not diabetic, have a significantly worse prognosis compared with those with normal insulin levels, a researcher will tell the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference tomorrow.
	In preventing return of winter blues, talk outshines light, new study says A new study to be published online November 5 in the American Journal of Psychiatry casts a shadow on light therapy's status as the gold standard for treating SAD, or seasonal affective disorder.
First precision medicine trial in cancer prevention identifies chemoprevention strategy A team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, report that a genetic biomarker called loss of heterozygosity or LOH is able to predict which patients with premalignant mouth lesions are at highest risk of developing oral cancer.
Estrogen receptor 'beta' helps endometrial tissue escape the immune system and cause disease Endometriosis - tissue usually found inside the uterus that grows outside - thrives because of altered cellular signaling that is mediated by estrogen, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the journal Cell.
	Researchers create a worm model to investigate a rare subtype of blindness Retinitis pigmentosa is a progressive blindness that affects more than one million people worldwide. A subtype of the disease is caused by mutations in genes that produce proteins responsible for maturation of RNA, known as "splicing."
Veterinarians and physicians are poised to deliver a knockout blow to the cancers that their patients share When Renee Holden saw the large lump under her cat's tongue, her instincts told her it wasn't good. She just knew that her 13-year-old calico Ginger had cancer. The prognosis wasn't any better. Ginger was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, an aggressive cancer that is common in older cats.
	Being mom's favorite may not be good for your psychological health Being mom's favorite child is not a guarantee that it is best for one's psychological health, according to new research from Purdue University.
	New imaging technology helping detect oral cancer more accurately A noninvasive device that enables doctors to quickly and accurately identify cancerous tissue in a person's mouth could result in more effective diagnosis and treatment of the disease, says a biomedical engineer at Texas A&M University who is developing the instrument.
	iEAT application helps treat children with feeding disorders For most of his life, four-year-old Carsten had required a feeding tube for his nourishment. Born with a chromosome abnormality known as translocation, he also had negative experiences with food as an infant. While he seemed to like the taste of food, he just didn't eat enough to support his growth and development.
	New gene linked to lung cancer spread and tumor formation Worldwide, lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer. Most frequently, mortality is the result of metastasis—when lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as the brain, bones or liver.
	'Dickensian' lung disease rates on the rise in UK pensioners The number of people diagnosed with bronchiectasis, a lung condition thought to be a 'disease of the past', has risen considerably in the past decade and now affects more than 1% of UK pensioners, finds a new study by UCL, University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research.
	New technique paves the way for finding a HIV vaccine Researchers are one step closer to finding an effective vaccine against HIV thanks to a new approach to systematically understanding the immune response to the virus.
	Study finds anxiety impacts future cortisol production in gender specific ways African-American youth whose anxiety levels are elevated by the everyday struggles they encounter will overproduce the stress hormone cortisol into adulthood, according to new research by the University of Michigan.
	A new paradigm for cancer research The $100 billion federal government investment in the "War on Cancer," has produced only relatively modest progress in cancer research advances, according to Yale School of Medicine researcher Dr. Cary Gross, and his collaborator Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel.
	Protein repairs nerve cell damage In laboratory experiments on the basic mechanisms that cause Alzheimer's dementia, an international research team led by Heidelberg neurobiologist Prof. Dr. Ulrike Müller and a team of French scientists have succeeded in largely "repairing" the nerve cell damage typical in this disease. The researchers took a closer look at a key protein in Alzheimer's pathogenisis, APP, and one of its cleavage products APPsα. Prof. Müller of Heidelberg University's Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology explains that viral gene shuttles were used to drive the delivery of APPsα into the brains of Alzheimer´s mouse models. The protein APPsα in turn elicited repair effects and clearly improved memory. The researchers hope to use these findings to explore new approaches in the development of gene therapy for Alzheimer's. Their results were published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.
Playing football or handball during puberty prevents osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a serious health issue that mainly affects postmenopausal women. Now, a Spanish study has confirmed that doing exercise during puberty can improve bone health in adulthood. In this scope, sports such as football, handball and basketball are better than others such as swimming.
	Unhealthy' image influences adolescents' food choices Adolescents more readily choose an unhealthy snack if they've been shown a picture of, for example, crisps or chocolate. This is the main finding of research conducted among Amsterdam schoolchildren by researchers from the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University. Their results once again reafirm the negative effects of adverts on the unhealthy behavioural choices of children. The results will soon be published in the journal Appetite.
Automated detection of early schizophrenia The opinion of a qualified professional is unlikely to be replaced by a computer algorithm for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, additional medical evidence based on such an algorithm might be useful in early diagnosis, according to work published in the International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications.
	New drug combination suggests promising treatment for mantle cell lymphoma A combination therapy lacking many of the debilitating effects of traditional cancer treatment effectively manages mantle cell lymphoma, shrinking the aggressive and incurable malignancy and inducing remissions in the vast majority of patients, according to new research from Weill Cornell Medicine. Most patients' favorable response to the therapy continued over the more than two-year monitoring period.
	The effects of musical training on children's social and emotional skills Can group musical training produce more sympathetic, kinder and socially adept children? The latest study out of Professor Glenn Schellenberg's lab in the Department of Psychology at U of T Mississauga certainly suggests this to be the case.
	How do our brains reconstruct the visual world? Given that we see the world through two small, flat retinae at the backs of our eyes, it seems remarkable that what each of us perceives is a seamless, three-dimensional visual world.
	Better sleep and tai chi reduce inflammation and promote health Inflammatory processes occur throughout the body, with a primary function of promoting healing after injury. However, when too active, these inflammatory processes can also damage the body in many ways, and may contribute to heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and other significant medical problems.
	Vitamin D levels can be compared across studies and countries Knowledge about the vitamin D level of a population is important in order to assess the proportion that is vitamin D deficient or is at risk of becoming deficient, and to develop food strategies that will ensure optimal vitamin D intake. By using a standardizing method it is possible to compare existing vitamin D measurements across studies and countries. This is the finding of a Nordic project initiated by researchers from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Cumulative research shows no explicit medical impediment to surrogate motherhood The Swedish government is investigating a change of legislation to make surrogate motherhood permitted in Sweden. A Nordic research team, which compiled the scientific knowledge, has established that surrogacy as a rule works well for the child and the surrogate mother.
	Possible solution for side effect of Alzheimer's immunotherapy treatment It is estimated that 46.8 million people worldwide are living with dementia, with Alzheimer's disease the most common form.
	New research could help in the fight against infection, cancer and allergies New research has uncovered an important mechanism in the drive to understand immunological processes that protect us against infection, allergy and cancer.
	Labs make new, dangerous synthetic cannabinoid drugs faster than we can ban them XLR-11, PB-22, AB-FUBINACA, MAB-CHMINACA, 5F-AMB. These are the cryptic and sometimes unpronounceable names of the most dangerous drugs you've never heard of. They are responsible for kidney injury, psychosis, seizures, coma and death.
Candy, soda, and fast food are not driving the rising obesity trend in the US Soda, candy, and fast food are often painted as the prime culprits in the national discussion of obesity in the United States. While a diet of chocolate bars and cheese burgers washed down with a Coke is inadvisable from a nutritional standpoint, these foods are not likely to be a leading cause of obesity in the United States according to a new Cornell University Food and Brand Lab study conducted by the Lab co-directors David Just, PhD, and Brian Wansink, PhD. The study, published in Obesity Science & Practice, finds that intake of these foods is not related to Body Mass Index in the average adult.
	Relying on faith, culture and family to reduce stress of caregivers Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling psychiatric disorder that affects about one percent of the population in the United States. Approximately 60 percent of those suffering from this condition live with a relative. Despite the fact that that family interventions have shown to significantly improve outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia, only about seven percent of patients with this illness receive any family therapy.
	Lack of sleep, body clock disruption leads to impaired insulin sensitivity A new study by the University of Colorado shows that the longer people are awake during the time their biological clock is telling them to sleep the worse their sensitivity to insulin, which is a precursor to diabetes.
	Immunologists unearth key piece of MRSA vaccine puzzle Immunologists from Trinity College Dublin have unearthed a key piece of the MRSA vaccine puzzle by identifying specific 'helper' cells whose role in the immune response is critical in affecting infection outcomes.
	Why don't more uninsured people seek health coverage? Study suggests knowledge gap If you need health care in rural Michigan, and you don't have insurance or money, you can turn to a free clinic—like the one University of Michigan medical students run each Saturday in the tiny town of Pinckney.
Mindfulness training helps patients with inflammatory bowel diseases Training in meditation and other mindfulness-based techniques brings lasting improvements in mental health and quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), according to a study in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, official journal of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).
	Guides within electronic medical records during visits help doctors provide better care Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a medical condition that requires a lifetime of management, barely half of health care providers follow the clinical practice guidelines established on how to evaluate and manage patients with the condition.
	Early warning found for chronic kidney disease Make room, cholesterol. A new disease marker is entering the medical lexicon: suPAR, or soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that suPAR, a circulating protein measured by a simple blood test, can reliably predict a person's chances of developing chronic kidney disease as much as five years before this common killer starts causing damage.
Towards elimination of HIV reservoirs Current antiretroviral therapy can keep HIV in check and prevent AIDS in the vast majority of treated patients. However, as it is unable to eliminate viral reservoirs and cure the infection, patients need to stay on the life-long treatment, and deal with the potential side effects of drugs and chronic inflammation due to low-level viral infection. A study published on November 5th in PLOS Pathogens reports that engineered molecules that target both killer T cells and HIV-infected cells that contain viral envelope protein (Env) can induce killing of the HIV-infected cells and further reduce the levels of detectable HIV expression in blood cells taken from HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy.
Investigational treatment may restore kidney function in renovascular disease patients A new treatment may help patients with a chronic kidney condition that can also lead to heart problems and premature death, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
	Strength of brain connectivity varies with fitness level in older adults A new study shows that age-related differences in brain health - specifically the strength of connections between different regions of the brain - vary with fitness level in older adults. The findings suggest that greater cardiorespiratory fitness - a measure of aerobic endurance - relates to stronger brain connections and likely improves long-term brain function in aging populations.
	Researchers show how positive stimuli provide benefits to the distracted brain You're walking up your driveway, laden down with groceries, your cell phone glued to your ear. Your mother has just shared your elderly aunt's phone number, and you're repeating it as you walk to the door of your house. Suddenly a stray dog, barking and snarling, races across the lawn. Are you able to remember the number?
TCGA findings provide molecular background for second most common kidney cancer Scientists with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a National Institutes of Health-funded project, have molecularly characterized two types of the second most common kidney cancer and classified several subtypes of the disease.
	New breast cancer stem cell clues may help develop therapeutics Researchers have identified a new regulatory pathway that may play an important role in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer often referred to as "triple negative." This pathway may serve as a target for the development of an effective therapeutic.
Study finds surprises about drug use Conducting an economic analysis of drug use is a particularly difficult endeavor, but for Michigan State University professor and economist Siddharth Chandra, it just meant taking a look at the history books.
Study explores nicotine patch to treat memory loss Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a $9.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to test the effectiveness of a transdermal nicotine patch in improving memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.
Resilience-based interventions could curb depression in LGBT youths Previous research has found lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths are four times more likely to commit suicide compared to their straight peers. Members of this community usually are more stressed and depressed than the general population. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine are exploring the role resilience plays in off-setting stress and depression among LGBT adults and youths, and found that LGBT youths have a lower levels of resilience than LGBT adults. The researchers suggest caregivers, school counselors and health professionals use resilience-based programs and strategies to improve the mental health of LGBT youths earlier in their lives.
Study finds 75 percent of first-time moms plan to follow vaccine schedule First-time expectant mothers who do not plan to follow the recommended childhood immunization schedule differ in a number of ways from mothers who do, according to a recent study led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Georgia.
	Noise-induced hearing loss—genetic cause and mechanism discovered Scientists at the Institut Pasteur, Inserm, the Collège de France and Pierre & Marie Curie University, working closely with scientists at the University of Auvergne, have recently discovered the function of pejvakin, a molecule that plays a vital role in the hearing system. The absence of this molecule appears to be responsible for noise-induced hearing loss, one of the most common causes of deafness. The scientists' discovery, which was published on November 5 in the journal Cell, offers new prospects for the treatment of this condition.
	Small molecule inhibitor shows promise in precision cancer targeting Cancer cells with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which serve a vital role in preserving the integrity of the genetic code, are key targets for cancer therapeutics. Yet, few agents can selectively eliminate cells deficient in BRCA, and none can do so without the risk of inducing drug resistance. But scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) now think they can help overcome that problem, thanks to their discovery of a small molecule that selectively kills BRCA-deficient cancer cells by blocking the activity of an alternative DNA repair pathway.
Brain imaging reveals possible depression signature in traumatic brain injury Approximately half of individuals who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience depression within a year. Those with TBI and depression are prone to poorer recovery, reductions in cognitive performance, greater functional disability, increased suicide attempts and other social and sexual difficulties. Since depression symptoms vary greatly, teasing apart a diagnosis in the context of traumatic brain injury is often difficult. However, researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas have identified a potential brain-based biomarker for depressive symptoms that could simplify the process.
	Mixed martial arts bloodier but less dangerous than boxing, study finds Mixed martial arts has a reputation for being one of the most brutal and bloody of all contact sports, but the reality is boxing poses a greater risk of serious injury, according to new research from the University of Alberta.
AKI not a good sign for patients with diabetes, researcher says When acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in people with diabetes, the rate of renal function loss is twice that of their non-AKI counterparts, says a University of Cincinnati (UC) researcher.
	Adults' happiness on the decline, research found Are you less happy than your parents were at the same age? It may not be all in your head. Researchers led by San Diego State University professor Jean M. Twenge found adults over age 30 are not as happy as they used to be, but teens and young adults are happier than ever.
	What sex is safe for heart patients: A new approach using the KiTOMI model Changes in sexual satisfaction and decreases in sexual activity are often reported by heart patients. Both patients and partners may have misconceptions about the perceived dangers of sexual activities and commonly restrict their activities. However, in a new study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, researchers provide a comprehensive and updated review of the relevant literature and offer evidence- and expert-based practical recommendations regarding sexual activity in heart patients.
	Scientists discover genetic mechanism essential to ovary development Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Medicine have announced a discovery that is expected to allow doctors to diagnose a disease causing infertility and lack of puberty in women, with implications for the development of future treatment options.
US man's headache caused by tapeworm larvae A California man suffering from violent headaches learned just in time what was making him ill: a tapeworm larvae that had lodged in his brain.
Gilead's new four-in-one HIV pill, Genvoya, wins US approval Federal regulators have approved a new four-in-one combination pill to treat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
	'Balloon-in-a-pill' may be new weight-loss weapon (HealthDay)—Could losing weight ever be as easy as swallowing a pill? Preliminary research suggests the answer may very well be yes.
	Don't even talk about it: 'Food words' can make you overeat (HealthDay)—Certain food words can interact with stress and genetics to trigger unhealthy eating, two new studies suggest.
	Illegal toad venom 'aphrodisiac' linked to NYC man's death (HealthDay)— "Stone," an illegal aphrodisiac that contains substances derived from toad venom, may have claimed the life of a New York City man and should be avoided, city health officials warned.
	People have less faith in generic drugs, study suggests (HealthDay)—Brand-name drugs may offer more value, but not in the way you'd expect, a new study from New Zealand suggests.
	Metformin eligibility up with eGFR versus serum creatinine (HealthDay)—Use of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) rather than serum creatinine (sCr) can expand metformin eligibility, according to a study published in the November issue of Diabetes Care.
	Two novel collagen structures ID'd in human corneal limbus (HealthDay)—Two novel collagen structures have been revealed by second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of the human corneal limbus. The findings were published in the September issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
	Bariatric surgery found to reduce future health care costs (HealthDay)—Gastric bypass surgery may save health care dollars down the road, a new study suggests. The findings were scheduled to be presented at ObesityWeek 2015, a meeting hosted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and The Obesity Society and held from Nov. 2 to 6 in Los Angeles.
	Sleep-disordered breathing in REM linked to insulin resistance (HealthDay)—The correlation between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and glucose metabolism varies for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Feds worry that low-income people may not get hepatitis cure Confronting the consequences of high-priced drugs, the Obama administration Thursday pointedly reminded states that they cannot legally restrict access by low-income people to revolutionary cures for liver-wasting hepatitis C infection.
Biologics for asthma: Attacking the source of the disease, not the symptoms Imagine you suffer from severe asthma, and you've tried every treatment available, but nothing has worked. You still can't breathe. Then a new therapy comes along that attacks the source of the asthma, as opposed to the symptoms, and treats the disease at a cellular level. That's the promise of biologics, and the topic of four presentations at the 2015 ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, November 5-9.
Breast is best, but might not protect from allergies Pregnant women and new mothers receive many messages regarding the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for babies in the first year of life. Breastfeeding is thought to reduce the risk of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, food allergies and eczema in children.
Kids with asthma can avoid the ER by avoiding the ER Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, and one of the most difficult to manage, which is one of the reasons there are so many emergency department visits for asthma sufferers in the US. A new study has determined that the probability of future acute care visits increased from 30 percent with one historical acute care visit to 87 percent with more than five acute care visits.
Take two aspirin and make sure you're not allergic Many patients with cardiovascular disease are treated with aspirin because it is effective, low-cost and has few side effects. Some patients who have a reaction to aspirin are told they are allergic without being tested by an allergist, and stop an otherwise effective therapy.
Hay fever sufferers prefer prescription medication, but use over-the-counter relief Anyone suffering with seasonal allergies knows the local pharmacy carries shelves full of over-the-counter medications to help manage symptoms. Unfortunately, most seasonal allergy sufferers take over-the counter (OTC) products rather than the treatments they actually prefer - prescription medications.
	Stop the damaging messages about advanced breast cancer and include us in your discussions Organisations that issue "damaging messages" about advanced breast cancer need to be identified and educated to change the way they talk about the disease, a patient told the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference today (Thursday).
Study shows siblings of kids with food allergies aren't necessarily also allergic If one child in a family has a food allergy, the reasoning sometimes goes, chances are good that siblings might also have food allergies. Not necessarily, according to new research which shows that 53 percent of siblings of children with food allergies had a food sensitivity, but only 13 percent had actual food allergy.
Allergists as medical mystery detectives—uncovering all the clues Most people think of allergists as the doctors who help solve sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes. They might not realize allergists are the medical mystery detectives with the expertise to discover what is causing all sorts of unusual allergic responses.
Consider penicillin, even if you have had a prior reaction Most people who think they're allergic to penicillin have been told so by a doctor after they've had a reaction to the drug. And the majority, even though they've never been allergy tested, never take penicillin again.
	Mexico Supreme Court takes step toward recreational pot use Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that growing, possessing and smoking marijuana for recreation is legal under the right to freedom.
Botched cataract surgery blinds 14 in India At least 14 people in western India have lost sight in one eye after botched cataract surgeries, doctors and officials said Thursday, the latest example of poor medical care in the country.
	Drugs with directed molecules increase life expectancy by five years in breast cancer patients Clinical studies show that new drugs that target malignant cells of HER2-positive breast cancer, such as Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1), increase life expectancy in patients with advanced breast cancer.
Smartphones deliver nutrition labelling study An exciting five-week study on nutrition labelling using smartphones is underway at the National Institute for Health Innovation at the University of Auckland.
	Pioneering research on the underlying causes of dyslexia A unique research project on developmental dyslexia has been launched at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Warsaw. It is aimed at examining different factors responsible for development of the reading disorder. Children from the first five classes of primary school are encouraged to participate. They will have the chance to play computer games and have fun in a mock scanner.
	Reducing cholesterol with food made from soybeans and amaranth Scientists have developed a supplement to maintain optimal health that contributes to the growth and development of children and adolescents. It also prevents osteoporosis and certain cancers such as breast and prostate.
	Pfizer doubling patient income limit for free drug program As the furor over soaring U.S. prescription drug prices escalates and outrageous price hikes by several smaller drugmakers give the entire industry a black eye, the biggest U.S.-based drugmaker is expanding financial assistance to patients.
Dental implants frequently lead to complications Almost 8 percent of patients experience loss of at least one implant within ten years. Even more develop peri-implantitis. Patients with periodontitis run a greater risk of both implant loss and peri-implantitis. A doctoral thesis at Sahlgrenska Academy has explored the various issues.
Edoxaban: Considerable added benefit for certain patients Edoxaban (trade name: Lixiana) has been approved since June 2015 for two therapeutic indications in adults: on the one hand, for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) with other risk factors for stroke; on the other, for treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.
Duration of lactation associated with bone density Maternal bone density decreases after childbirth, but only among women who lactate for at least four months. The lactation period is unrelated to vitamin D status. A PhD thesis at Sahlgrenska Academy has explored the issue.
Hormone replacement therapy may benefit the kidneys Hormone replacement therapy may help protect kidney health, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3-8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.
Study finds access to specialists in Affordable Care Act plans may be inadequate While 12 million Americans are enrolled in health care networks through the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) insurance marketplace, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) raises concerns about patient access to specialists within these insurance plans.
CytomX and MD Anderson Cancer Center enter into strategic collaboration for Probody-enabled CAR-NK cell therapies CytomX Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing investigational Probody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today entered into a collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to research Probody-enabled chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapies, to be known as ProCAR-NK cell therapies.
	ACP joins 'Amicus curiae' brief to supreme court (HealthDay)—The American College of Physicians (ACP) has joined other organizations in an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court, urging the court to uphold considerations of race and ethnicity in the medical school admissions process.
	Sofosbuvir tied to rare cases of bradyarrhythmia (HealthDay)—One of the new, highly effective drugs for treating hepatitis C can cause bradyarrhythmia in some patients, according to a research letter published in the Nov. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Medicines for breast cancer: The affordability controversy New and better drugs to treat diseases such as advanced breast cancer will have little effect on improving patient outcomes if a country does not have good healthcare structures in place, Professor Richard Sullivan told the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference today (Friday).

Biology news

	Linking antibiotic to antibody found able to kill MRSA hiding in mice cells (Phys.org)—A large team of researchers from several institutions in the U.S. and one in Denmark, working for Genentech, has found that binding an antibiotic to an antibody can be more effective in treating bacterial infections than current methods. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes how their procedure works and the results they found when testing it in mice. Wolf-Dietrich Hardt with the Institute of Microbiology, ETH in Switzerland offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team and suggests that if the technique proves to work the same way in humans, it could lead to the development of drugs meant to kill infections that are less harmful to good bacteria in the body.
	Scientists transfer genes from poppy to a different species to prevent self-pollination University of Birmingham (UK) scientists have created a plant that rejects its own pollen or pollen of close relatives, according to research published in the journal Science today (5 November 2015).
	Freshwater fish, amphibians supercharge their ability to see infrared light ​ Salmon migrating from the open ocean to inland waters do more than swim upstream. To navigate the murkier freshwater streams and reach a spot to spawn, the fish have evolved a means to enhance their ability to see infrared light. Humans lack this evolutionary adaptation.
	Conventional 'free diffusion' model of steroid hormone release should be revisited Steroid hormones - hormones such as testosterone and estradiol - control various aspects of animal biology and are crucial for the proper functioning of the body. Produced and secreted by endocrine glands in the body, these cholesterol derivatives are released into the blood through which they are transported to cells of various organs where they mediate a wide variety of important physiological functions.
	DNA strands often 'wiggle' as part of genetic repair Sometimes, the molecules that make up life exhibit strange behavior. For instance, in simple organisms such as yeast, when genetic material becomes damaged, the affected DNA strands increase their motion, waving about inside the cell like a sail unfurled.
	Female birds show their true colours Showy plumage in birds is not just for the boys, ecologists from Massey University, McMaster University, Canada, Monash University, Australia, and Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Germany, have demonstrated.
	Researchers mapping genetic history of the Caribbean In the island chain called the Lesser Antilles, stretching from the Virgin Islands south to Trinidad and Tobago, a team of researchers lead by Theodore Schurr, an anthropology professor in the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences, is solving a generations-old mystery: Do indigenous communities still exist in the Caribbean region today?
Stanford researchers urge lifting of NIH funding restrictions on chimeric research Citing the "tremendous potential" of research on human stem cells in nonhuman embryos, scientists and a bioethicist from the Stanford University School of Medicine have co-authored a letter urging the removal of funding restrictions imposed on such research last month by the National Institutes of Health.
The astounding genome of the dinoflagellate The dinoflagellates aren't happy. In good times, these tiny ocean creatures live free-floating in the ocean or symbiotically with corals, serving up—or as—lunch to a host of mollusks, tiny fish and coral species. Some of them make glowing waves at night because they are bioluminescent. But when conditions are wrong, dinoflagellates poison shellfish beds with red tides and abandon coral reefs to a slow, bleached death.
	Study offers model to predict how microbiomes may respond to change Scientists studying microbiomes have created a framework for predicting how the composition of these complex microbial communities may respond to changing conditions.
	Why some genes are highly expressed The DNA in our cells is folded into millions of small packets, like beads on a string, allowing our two-meter linear DNA genomes to fit into a nucleus of only about 0.01 mm in diameter. However, these molecular beads, called nucleosomes, render DNA 'unreadable'. They thus need to be temporarily displaced to allow genes to be copied ('transcribed') into the messages that are used to make proteins. How cells ensure appropriate access to 'promoter' DNA, the regions where gene transcription begins, is still poorly understood.
	Monkeys in Asia harbor virus from humans, other species When it comes to spreading viruses, bats are thought to be among the worst. Now a new study of nearly 900 nonhuman primates in Bangladesh and Cambodia shows that macaques harbor more diverse astroviruses, which can cause infectious gastroenteritis or diarrhea in humans.
	Scientists have developed a 3-D printing method capable of producing highly uniform 'blocks' of embryonic stem cells These cells – capable of generating all cell types in the body – could be used as the 'lego bricks' to build tissue constructs, larger structures of tissues, and potentially even micro-organs.
	Can trees really change sex? The revelation that the UK's oldest tree is showing signs of switching sex has sparked much excitement in the world of horticultural science. The Fortingall yew (main image) in Perthshire, Scotland, having apparently spent 5,000 years as a male tree, has suddenly produced female berries. So what is going on?
	Human intervention can help endangered Saimaa ringed seal adapt to climate change Humans can help the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal to cope with climate change. Man-made snow drifts developed in a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland improved the breeding success of seals during winters with poor snow conditions.
Researchers reveal acoustic complexity of chickadee songs Songbirds join humans in the select few animal groups that are "vocal learners"—that is, they must learn from adults of their own species to develop a normal ability to speak (or sing, as the case may be). Because the brain wiring underlying vocal learning in songbirds is analogous to that of humans, songbirds are a useful model system for studying human language development.
	Elephants may use trunks like 'leaf blowers' to obtain inaccessible food Two captive elephants blast air through their trunks to grasp hard-to-reach food, suggests an initial study published today in Springer's journal Animal Cognition. This behaviour, studied in a zoo population of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), is altered according to the distance to the food, which may indicate advanced mental ability and awareness of their physical environment.
	Butterfly mimicry through the eyes of bird predators In the natural world, mimicry isn't entertainment; it's a deadly serious game spanning a range of senses - sight, smell and hearing. Some of the most striking visual mimics are butterflies. Many butterflies become noxious and unpalatable to predators by acquiring chemical defences from plants they ingest as caterpillars. Other butterflies mimic the 'aposematic' or warning colouration and conspicuous wing patterns of these toxic or just plain foul-tasting butterflies.
	New whirligig beetle species discovered A new species of whirligig beetle is the first to be described in the United States since 1991. Grey Gustafson, a PhD student at the University of New Mexico, and Dr. Robert Sites, an entomologist at the University of Missouri's Enns Entomology Museum, describe the new species in an article appearing in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America.
	The great tit bird is less attractive due to exposure to heavy metals Heavy metals, the result of contamination, may be toxic for animals to the extent of affecting their reproduction and physiology. This is the case with the great tit, a species of bird whose plumage colour is affected either negatively or positively depending on exposure to certain contaminating substances. Mercury, copper and chrome may cause the male great tit to be less attractive to the females.
	Three urgent steps for better protected areas A group of scientists have developed a three-point plan to ensure the world's protected areas meet new biodiversity targets set by the 193 signatory nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD). They recognize that part of the current failure of the protected areas to stop the decline of biodiversity is partly to do with the lack of science available.
	Vibrating bees tell the state of the hive Before eating your next meal, pause for a moment to thank the humble honeybee. Farmers of almonds, broccoli, cantaloupe and many other nuts, vegetables and fruits rely heavily on managed honeybees to pollinate their crops each year.
	Managed bees spread and intensify diseases in wild bees For various reasons, wild pollinators are in decline across many parts of the world. To combat this, managed honey bees and bumblebees are frequently shipped in to provide valuable pollination services to crops. But does this practice pose any risk to the wild bees?
	Wheat sequencing consortium is producing new tools for wheat breeders The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) announced today that it has started a new project to speed up gene discovery in bread wheat. It will provide plant breeders around the world with essential resources to accelerate their breeding programs and develop more sustainable wheat varieties with increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
	Research scientist advises delaying corn planting in stressful years A wet spring filled with hail storms brought challenges to this year's corn crop, some that a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist said could have been avoided if planting was delayed by a couple weeks or more.

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