Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, Oct 3

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 4, 2014 at 2:28 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, Oct 3
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 3, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- A solar cell that stores its own power: World's first 'solar battery' runs on light and air
- Researchers discover a way to tease oxygen molecules from carbon dioxide
- Crumpled graphene could provide an unconventional energy storage
- Researchers build single molecule 'microphone' that can detect proton size displacements
- Researchers create more accurate model for greenhouse gases from peatlands
- Why training people to recognise specific objects improves ability
- Scientists manipulate split proteins to detect interactions in living cells 
- Mars rover technology adapted to detect gas leaks
- Breakthrough technique offers prospect of silicon detectors for telecommunications
- Cognitive coexistence radio and other technologies will help alleviate spectrum congestion for wireless devices
- Researchers discover daddy longlegs spiders capture prey using glue
- Coating nanotubes with aluminum oxide lowers risk of lung injury
- 'Data smashing' could unshackle automated discovery
- Swarm of tiny spacecraft to explore Europa's surface with rapid response
- Identifying the many layers of a bug's design

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers develop method for detecting water on Mars A Washington State University undergraduate has helped develop a new method for detecting water on Mars. Her findings appear in Nature Communications.
	Mars rover technology adapted to detect gas leaks (Phys.org) —In collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that it is testing state-of-the-art technology adapted from NASA's Mars rover program. Originally designed to find methane on the Red Planet, this laser-based technology is lightweight and has superior sensitivity to methane, a major component of natural gas. The technology applied back on Earth helps guide PG&E crews using a tablet interface to identify possible leak locations, fast-tracking their ability to repair gas leaks.
	Swarm of tiny spacecraft to explore Europa's surface with rapid response A small spacecraft carrying a swarm of "chipsats" the size of postage stamps could someday explore Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. NASA has funded early development of the unusual mission idea as it looks toward future space exploration of planets and moons that may contain both water and extraterrestrial life.
	James Webb Space Telescope sunshield test unfolds seamlessly (Phys.org) —A major test of the sunshield for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was conducted recently by Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, California. For the first time, the five sunshield test layers were unfolded and separated; unveiling important insights for the engineers and technicians as to how the deployment will take place when the telescope launches into space.
	Is the sun at solar minimum? We generally think of the Sun as a constant in our lives. It rises and sets regularly, and seems to be an unchanging sphere of brilliant light. In fact the Sun has a turbulent surface with prominences that fly off its surface, granules caused by convection in its upper layers, and even the appearance of slightly cooler regions known as sunspots.
	Black hole activity deduced from reflected X-rays The supermassive black hole in the center of our galaxy, known as Sagittarius A*, is pretty quiet for a black hole. It does however flare up from time to time, when material is captured, as can be seen in images from the NuSTAR x-ray telescope. Of course, x-ray astronomy with enough sensitivity to observe x-ray flares at galactic center is a fairly recent development. It would be nice to have a range of data spanning decades, or even centuries.
	How citizen scientists took control of a spaceship For decades, space exploration remained a domain within reach of only government agencies, who could command huge pools of expertise and public funds. Now the means by which our space endeavours are funded have become more diverse, and more and more private space initiatives are appearing.
	Researcher studies possibility of metal snow on Venus Is it snowing metal on Venus? Erika Kohler is trying to find out.
	Get ready for a total lunar eclipse Look up towards the east on Wednesday night (October 8) and a total lunar eclipse will be visible from across Australia.
	Image: Jet activity at the neck of the Rosetta comet (Phys.org) —The four images that make up a new montage of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko were taken on September 26, 2014 by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft. At the time, Rosetta was about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from the center of the comet.
	Alexander Gerst set for spacewalk ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst has spent four months in the relative safety of the International Space Station but on Tuesday he will venture into open space with NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman on a seven-hour spacewalk.
	Image: Inside BepiColombo's mercury transfer module This labyrinth of power, data and propellant lines is found inside the Mercury Transfer Module, the powerful haulage vehicle tasked with transporting ESA's BepiColombo mission on its 7.5-year journey to the innermost planet.
	Composite image shows two black holes orbiting each other The image above shows two supermassive black holes orbiting each other. It is a composite image where the blue/white indicates x-rays and the pink indicates radio wavelengths. It may look like they are orbiting closely, but the black holes are about 25,000 light years apart, which is about the same distance the Sun is from the center of the Milky Way.
	Image: Magnetospheric Multiscale Observatories undergo spin tests The Magnetospheric Multiscale, or MMS, Observatory #4, is undergoing spin testing on the Miller Table for Mass Properties at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
	One more absolutely amazing timelapse from the International Space Station We've featured several timelapse compilations of footage and imagery taken from the International Space Station (like here, here and here) but this one put together by Phil Selmes is great in that it also includes footage *of* the ISS, as shot by the astronauts on the space shuttle as well as actual space to ground audio communications. Phil said he included the audio clips "to remind the audience of the humanity that inhabits the space station."
	On-site construction begins on the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii On October 7, 2014, a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for the next-generation Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will launch a multi-national $1.4 billion project near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

Medicine & Health news

	Why we can't tell a Hollywood heartthrob from his stunt double (Medical Xpress)—Johnny Depp has an unforgettable face. Tony Angelotti, his stunt double in "Pirates of the Caribbean," does not. So why is it that when they're swashbuckling on screen, audiences worldwide see them both as the same person? UC Berkeley scientists have cracked that mystery.
	Why training people to recognise specific objects improves ability (Medical Xpress)—During the Second World War, analysts pored over stereoscopic aerial reconnaissance photographs, becoming experts at identifying potential targets from camouflaged or visually noisy backgrounds, and then at distinguishing between V-weapons and innocuous electricity pylons.
	New visualization software uncovers cancer subtypes (Medical Xpress)—Much of biomedical research these days is about big data—collecting and analyzing vast, detailed repositories of information about health and disease. These data sets can be treasure troves for investigators, often uncovering genetic mutations that drive a particular kind of cancer, for example.
	Study suggests neurobiological basis of human-pet relationship It has become common for people who have pets to refer to themselves as "pet parents," but how closely does the relationship between people and their non-human companions mirror the parent-child relationship? A small study from a group of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers makes a contribution to answering this complex question by investigating differences in how important brain structures are activated when women view images of their children and of their own dogs. Their report is being published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
	'Vaccinated' mosquitos released in Rio to combat dengue Ten thousand mosquitos immunized against dengue fever have been released in Brazil as part of an innovative attempt to curb the spread of the tropical viral sickness, biologists said Thursday.
Ovarian tissue and egg freezing should be made widely available to prevent Ovarian tissue and egg freezing to preserve fertility should no longer be reserved for cancer patients, and healthy women should also be offered these options to safeguard their future chances of conceiving a child, say world renowned fertility experts writing in a new Series on fertility preservation, published in The Lancet.
Second case of apparent HIV 'cure' in a baby followed by reappearance of virus Researchers today report the case of a baby, born HIV-positive, who appeared to have been cured of HIV after being given early antiretroviral treatment (ART) to combat the virus, but ultimately exhibited detectable HIV infection.
Moisturising newborns prevents allergies: Japan study Applying moisturiser to a newborn baby's skin could help prevent eczema and even food allergies in later life, possibly offering a cheap and easy way to combat a growing global problem, a Japanese institute said Friday.
	BRAIN initiative is underway, funding new ways to map cells, circuits Scientists will aim to capture the workings of the human brain in comprehensive recordings, to watch the brain while in motion and to reimagine the world's most complex biological organism as a buzzing network of interlocking circuits with the award of $46 million in study grants announced Tuesday.
New York City promotes acceptance of controversial HIV drug New York City's health department is advertising on gay hookup apps and lobbying doctors to promote wider use of a controversial anti-HIV pill that vastly cuts the risk of infection. But the therapy has stoked infighting among AIDS activists over promiscuity and safer sex practices.
Two more studies say FDA is bad at regulating medical devices Two new studies add to a mountain of evidence that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has done a poor job of making sure medical devices are safe.
Kids get new hands made with 3-D printers Trauma surgeon Albert Chi gave a talk last year to families about advanced prosthetics that would someday benefit their children who were missing hands.
	Hospitalization rates double for older male motorcyclists Motorcycle-related hospitalizations and associated health care costs have increased sharply for older men, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.
	Multiple sclerosis researchers find the effects of age on remyelination are reversible (Medical Xpress)—Like conducting an errant orchestra to play together, researchers are guiding processes that go awry in multiple sclerosis to repair themselves.
Sense of purpose might ease diversity anxiety (Medical Xpress)—Envisioning an increasingly diverse America – the Census Bureau predicts ethnic minorities, combined, will constitute the majority of the U.S. population by 2050 – causes anxiety for a lot of white people.
	New discovery in the microbiology of serious human disease (Medical Xpress)—Previously undiscovered secrets of how human cells interact with a bacterium which causes a serious human disease have been revealed in new research by microbiologists at The University of Nottingham.
	Applying proteomics to Parkinson's (Medical Xpress)—Scientists studying two genes that are mutated in an early-onset form of Parkinson's disease have deciphered how normal versions of these genes collaborate to help rid cells of damaged mitochondria. Mitochondria are the cell's primary energy source, and maintaining their health is critical for cellular function. Mitochondrial dysfunction may underlie multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's.
	11 million work days lost to smoking each year Health experts have warned that 11 million work days are lost each year as a result of sick days linked to smoking.
	Researchers aiming to improve global standards for detection of leading cause of blindness Diabetic retinopathy - a common complication of diabetes which occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the cells at the back of the eye - is the biggest cause of blindness in the working population globally.
Discrimination leaves lesbian and bisexual women facing depression, anxiety and alcohol problems Homophobia and inadequate social support are contributing to high rates of mental health problems and alcohol use among lesbian and bisexual women, a University of Melbourne study has found.
	Study says hope inspires MS treatment abroad When Canadians lose faith in the ability of their caregivers to offer them the latest treatment options for their diseases, they increasingly turn to new caregivers abroad. A Simon Fraser University research team, led by health sciences professor Jeremy Snyder, comes to that conclusion in a newly published study about why Canadian multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers seek unproven treatments abroad.
	Rat experiments prove that chronic melatonine consumption fights obesity and diabetes Scientists at the University of Granada, in collaboration with La Paz University Hospital in Madrid and the University of Texas, San Antonio in the US have demonstrated through several experiments conducted on Zucker obese rats that chronic consumption of melatonine helps combat obesity and diabetes mellitus type two.
	Hunting viruses that play hide and seek Every year, two million children die of acute respiratory infections. Among the culprits are several different viruses, one of which your child almost certainly has had without you or the doctors ever knowing it.
Low-carbohydrate diet improved quality of life in diabetes patients Low-carbohydrate diet has a good effect not only on blood glucose, but also on physical functions, bodily pain and general health, according to a diet study including patients with type 2 diabetes.
Genetic test reveals risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke Many of those who are genetically predisposed to develop atrial fibrillation, which dramatically raises the risk of stroke, can be identified with a blood test. This is shown by new research from Lund University in Sweden.
	Myths vs. realities of early parenthood Becoming a parent is commonly imagined to be a joyful and "natural" life event. The reality is often very different. In the early weeks and months of life with a first baby, parents must master new skills including nappy changing, breast or bottle feeding, and "settling" a crying baby, usually while experiencing considerable sleep deprivation.
	Public spaces neglecting young people's needs Children and teenagers need more say in the design of public spaces such as parks and playgrounds, University of Western Australia researchers contend.
Experts recommend against diagnosing testosterone deficiency in women The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) advising against the use of testosterone therapy in healthy women.
	Armed Forces veterans at lower risk of alcoholic liver disease than general population They might have a reputation for hard-drinking, but armed forces personnel have a lower risk of developing alcoholic liver disease than civilians.
	Waking up the visual system The ways that neurons in the brain respond to a given stimulus depends on whether an organism is asleep, drowsy, awake, paying careful attention or ignoring the stimulus. However, while the properties of neural circuits in the visual cortex are well known, the mechanisms responsible for the different patterns of activity in the awake and drowsy states remain poorly understood. A team of researchers led by Tadaharu Tsumoto from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute has observed the changes in activity that occur in rodents on waking from anesthesia.
	Pain words stand out more for those experiencing it Ache, agony, distress and pain draw more attention than non-pain related words when it comes to people who suffer from chronic pain, a York University research using state-of-the-art eye-tracking technology has found.
	A family meal a day may keep obesity away Increasing rates of adolescent obesity and the likelihood that obesity will carry forward into adulthood, have led to various preventive initiatives. It has been suggested that family meals, which tend to include fruits, vegetables, calcium, and whole grains, could be protective against obesity. In a new study scheduled for publication in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers studied whether frequent family meals during adolescence were protective for overweight and obesity in adulthood.
Vitamin D significantly improves symptoms of winter-related atopic dermatitis in children A study conducted in more than 100 Mongolian schoolchildren found that daily treatment with a vitamin D supplement significantly reduced the symptoms of winter-related atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema. Led by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physician, the report in the October issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology supports the results of a preliminary study that showed similar results in a small group of children in Boston.
	Viral infection may trigger childhood diabetes in utero The incidence of type 1 childhood diabetes has been increasing rapidly worldwide. If blood sugar levels aren't well-controlled, juvenile diabetes can affect nearly every organ of a child's body. And while long-term complications of the disease develop gradually, they may become disabling and even life-threatening. The exact cause of juvenile diabetes has eluded scientists, but a new study from Tel Aviv University suggests a likely trigger before birth.
	Certain autoimmune drugs in pregnancy may up newborn infection risk (HealthDay)—When given to pregnant women, a common treatment for ulcerative colitis may inadvertently lower their baby's ability to fight off infections at birth, new French research suggests.
	Docs offer advice for combating respiratory virus that's striking kids (HealthDay)—As Enterovirus D68 infections continue to spread across the United States, the American Lung Association offers tips on how to protect your child from infection and what to do if your child is struck by the virus.
	Only DM duration independently tied to microvascular events (HealthDay)—In patients with type 2 diabetes, age or age at diabetes diagnosis and diabetes duration are independently associated with macrovascular events and death, but only duration of disease is independently associated with microvascular events, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Diabetologia.
	Walking protects against functional limitation in OA (HealthDay)—For individuals with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis, walking is associated with reduced incidence of functional limitation over two years, according to a study published in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
	Hospital charges for adolescent scoliosis surgery up (HealthDay)—Over the last decade, the number of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) fusion procedures has remained constant, although hospital charges for the procedure have increased substantially, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
	Major bleeds found to be rare for patients with stable CAD (HealthDay)—Major bleeding events are rare in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD); however, concomitant antiplatelet therapy (APT) when oral anticoagulation is required increases bleeding risk—an independent predictor of mortality—and should be reconsidered in select patients, according to research published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Too many stroke patients miss out on the window to regain crucial functions Too many stroke patients in Canada are not getting the rehabilitation they need to return to a healthy, active life, according to a new study which will be presented at the Canadian Stroke Congress in Vancouver tomorrow. The research findings strongly suggest that such decisions are being made based on what services are available in the health system rather than what patients really need. It found that overall just 16 per cent of patients with stroke were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation but that the rates varied widely by province (1% to 26%) and hospital (0% to 48%). Meanwhile, some of the people who do get rehabilitation don't need it. And those who do get rehabilitation don't always get the right amount of services.
US consumer giant seeks to smash India menstruation taboos The latest commercial for Procter & Gamble's top-selling brand of sanitary pads in India ticks all the usual boxes—a young woman jogs happily in pristine white trousers, before effortlessly winning a tennis tournament.
US cameraman tests positive for Ebola in Liberia An American cameraman helping to cover the Ebola outbreak in Liberia for NBC News has tested positive for the virus and will be flown back to the United States for treatment.
Salix Pharma scuttles Cosmo Technologies merger Salix Pharmaceuticals is scrapping its merger with the subsidiary of an Italian drugmaker after the U.S. created new limitations on the tax benefits of incorporating overseas.
Ebola strikes fourth American as UN ramps up response The US prepared Friday to fly home a cameraman who contracted Ebola in Liberia, as the head of the UN's response agency headed to Sierra Leone to lead the fight against an epidemic he called the world's "highest priority".
	New materials for better, stronger and cheaper dental implants Experts have developed next-generation dental implants from mixtures of polymers with ceramic and a light consistency. So far, the experts at University of Baja California have optimized the performance of those dental tools as they simulated the repetitive force of mastication to ensure that the impact of stress is absorbed by the piece and not by the bone structure.
Could there be an end in sight for AIDS? South Africa is the epicentre of the HIV and AIDS epidemic with a staggering 6.4 million HIV infected citizens. In 1990 the WHO reported just 386 cases in South Africa. Over the next 15 years, despite warnings from scientists and policy makers, a tidal wave of infections ensued. How can policy and health provision cope to improve the outlook? The article 'The end of AIDS: Possibility or pipe dream? A tale of transitions' published in the African Journal of AIDS Research strategically examines the whole epidemic and identifies economic, epidemiological, and programmatic points for transition and future improvement.
	Expanding Medicaid increases rural health care access and use A new study in Health Services Research reveals that expanding Medicaid to cover more adults boosts health care access and use in rural populations.
Fewer Texas abortion providers after court ruling Women seeking legal abortions in Texas starting Friday must drive for hours if they live near the Mexico border and have fewer options in big cities after a federal appeals court allowed the state to enforce tough Republican-backed clinic laws.
EU OKs Eli Lilly's $5.4B bid for Novartis division The European Union's antitrust authority says it has approved the $5.4 billion sale of Novartis' animal health division to U.S. pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly.
	Scanning for health and disease Many mysteries still surround the human body. In particular, the molecular and cellular processes of the body's systems and organs, and their occasional malfunctions, remain largely unobserved at the macroscale. But RIKEN researchers are shedding light on these mysteries by developing advanced imaging techniques that permit the real-time observation of intricate internal processes.
	New polio cases in Pakistan edge closer to record Pakistan has registered seven new polio cases, raising the number of those affected by the crippling disease this year to 194 and edging closer to the nation's own record number of 199 in 2001, a senior health official said Friday.
Intestinal failure-associated liver disease—new position paper in Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Children who require long-term parenteral nutrition are at risk of a potentially devastating complication called intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IAFLD). The diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of IAFLD are discussed in a new position paper in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
	One in three adults 50+ suffer progressive muscle loss, research shows As global life expectancy increases, adults want to maintain healthy and active lifestyles well into retirement. In fact, research shows that adults think, feel and behave five to ten years younger than their actual age. But new findings from a review paper published in Age and Ageing show that approximately one out of three adults age 50 and older suffer from sarcopenia, a condition that could interfere with aging adults' ability to live a full and active life.
	Crew arrives to clean quarantined Texas apartment (Update) A hazardous-materials crew arrived Friday at a Texas apartment where the U.S. Ebola patient stayed to collect bed sheets and towels used by the infected man before he was hospitalized.
	Researcher measures frailty in intensive care units Since arriving at the University of Alberta seven years ago, Sean Bagshaw spends each day searching for ways to deliver better health outcomes to patients with critical illness. Lately, the associate professor in the Division of Critical Care Medicine has focused his efforts on measuring the impact of frailty among patients admitted to intensive care units in Alberta. That focus has now been rewarded, as Bagshaw has been honoured with the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Global Rising Star award.
	More women having reconstruction surgery after breast cancer treatment (HealthDay)—A growing number of breast cancer patients in the United States are having breast reconstruction surgery immediately after breast removal (mastectomy), a new study shows.
	Lung cancer screening found cost-effective for Medicare (HealthDay)—Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is a low-cost and cost-effective strategy for screening Medicare beneficiaries for lung cancer, according to a study published in the August issue of American Health & Drug Benefits.
	Stroke researchers explore implications of ipsilateral spatial neglect after stroke Stroke researchers have confirmed that damage to the right frontal-subcortical network may cause ipsilateral spatial neglect. Among individuals with ipsilateral neglect, a much greater proportion had frontal subcortical damage than anticipated by the investigators – 83% vs the expected 27%.

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