Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 7

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Unique structures spotted around nearby star: Mysterious ripples found racing through planet-forming disc

Groundbreaking computer program diagnoses cancer in two days

Newsletter for October 7, 2015:

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 3:52 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 7
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

See the latest advancements in multiphysics simulation and application design - Free online resource, view online or download now: http://goo.gl/7ajYB7
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Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 7, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Trio wins Nobel Prize for mapping how cells fix DNA damage
- The topolariton, a new half-matter, half-light particle
- Unique structures spotted around nearby star: Mysterious ripples found racing through planet-forming disc
- New study indicates Earth's inner core was formed 1 - 1.5 billion years ago
- Newly discovered 'design rule' brings nature-inspired nanostructures one step closer
- Study shows visual clues important for pigeons homing abilities
- Professor solves 140-year fluid mechanics enigma
- High-arctic butterflies shrink with rising temperatures
- Perfectly accurate clocks turn out to be impossible
- 'Psychic robot' will know what you really meant to do
- Patched atoms: Energy researchers discover new structure for bimetallic catalysts
- A village of bacteria to help frogs fight disease
- 48-million-year-old horse-like fetus discovered in Germany
- Young male chimpanzees play more with objects, but do not become better tool users
- Research points to possible fungal control for leaf-cutter ants

Nanotechnology news

	Newly discovered 'design rule' brings nature-inspired nanostructures one step closer Scientists aspire to build nanostructures that mimic the complexity and function of nature's proteins, but are made of durable and synthetic materials. These microscopic widgets could be customized into incredibly sensitive chemical detectors or long-lasting catalysts, to name a few possible applications.
	New research shows candle soot can power the lithium batteries in electric cars Burning a candle could be all it takes to make an inexpensive but powerful electric car battery, according to new research published in Electrochimica Acta. The research reveals that candle soot could be used to power the kind of lithium ion battery used in plug-in hybrid electric cars.
Architecture-inspired nanostructures enable perfect optical metasurfaces Optical devices are critical in diverse military and civil applications, whereas traditional optical devices are bulky and heavy because they rely on the phase accumulation on a long optical path. In an article published in Science Advances, Prof. Xiangang Luo from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and co-workers have now demonstrated that ultrathin and lightweight optical devices could be constructed using nanostructures catenaries, which were typically used in architecture to construct incredible bridges and arches.

Physics news

	The topolariton, a new half-matter, half-light particle A new type of "quasiparticle" theorized by Caltech's Gil Refael, a professor of theoretical physics and condensed matter theory, could help improve the efficiency of a wide range of photonic devices—technologies, such as optical amplifiers, solar photovoltaic cells, and even barcode scanners, which create, manipulate, or detect light.
	Scandium trifluoride shrinks when warm, lends understanding of volume-changing materials Most materials swell when they warm, and shrink when they cool. But UConn physicist Jason Hancock has been investigating a substance that responds in reverse: it shrinks when it warms.
	Perfectly accurate clocks turn out to be impossible Can the passage of time be measured precisely, always and everywhere? The answer will upset many watchmakers. A team of physicists from the universities of Warsaw and Nottingham have just shown that when we are dealing with very large accelerations, no clock will actually be able to show the real passage of time, known as "proper time".
Professor solves 140-year fluid mechanics enigma A Purdue University researcher has solved a 140-year-old enigma in fluid mechanics: Why does a simple formula describe the seemingly complex physics for the behavior of elliptical particles moving through fluid?
	New microscopy technology augments surgeon's view for greater accuracy Researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) have developed a prototype of a new microscope technology that could help surgeons work with a greater degree of accuracy. The new technology, call augmented microscopy, overlays images depicting diagnostic information such as blood flow and cancerous tissue over real images of blood vessels and other tissues and structures being viewed in the microscope.
Everyone has their own daily rhythm of digital activity, shows study Over the past decade, there has been a surge of scientific studies on the digital activity of people, such as making mobile calls, texting, e-mailing, and posting on social media. Because nearly all human behavior leaves a digital footprint, scientists can use such digital activity as a proxy to track human activity in general, for example to study differences between cultures or communities in sleep patterns, work schedules, and leisure activities.
	Towards the development of a new evaluation method of semiconductors by using terahertz waves Wide-gap semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN) are widely used for optical devices such as blue LED and are also anticipated as materials for next-generation energy saving power devices and solar cells. However, the quality of GaN crystals does not come up to that of conventional semiconductor materials such as silicon (Si) and this prevents GaN from being used for power devices.

Earth news

	New study indicates Earth's inner core was formed 1 - 1.5 billion years ago There have been many estimates for when the earth's inner core was formed, but scientists from the University of Liverpool have used new data which indicates that the Earth's inner core was formed 1 - 1.5 billion years ago as it "froze" from the surrounding molten iron outer core.
	Predictable ecosystems may be more fragile When it comes to using our natural resources, human beings want to know what we're going to get. We expect clean water every time we turn on the tap; beaches free of algae and bacteria; and robust harvests of crops, fish and fuel year after year. As a result, we try to manage the use of our resources in a way that minimizes their variability.
	Toxic metals exposures lower school scores and slow childhood development High levels of toxic metals, found in and near mining towns, could be negatively influencing the neurological development of children in these regions, a study led by researchers at Macquarie University has found.
	Wastewater treatment plants not responsible for spreading antimicrobial resistance New research challenges the common perception that bacteria develop antimicrobial resistance in wastewater treatment plants. The findings have recently been published in the recognized scientific journal Nature Communications.
	Distinguishing coincidence from causality: Connections in the climate system Detecting how changes in one spot on Earth - in temperature, rain, wind - are linked to changes in another, far away area is key to assessing climate risks. Scientists now developed a new technique of finding out if one change can cause another change or not, and which regions are important gateways for such teleconnections. They use advanced mathematical tools for an unprecedented analysis of data from thousands of air pressure measurements. The method now published in Nature Communications can be applied to assess geoengineering impacts as well as global effects of local extreme weather events, and can potentially also be applied to the diffusion of disturbances in financial markets, or the human brain.
	Climate-linked insurance a boon for poor farmers Poor farmers the world over are increasingly falling prey to natural disasters, droughts and torrential rain largely due to climate change. But there is some good news as well.
	Forest storm resilience improved with latest software Software to help protect forests from storm damage is being released today by Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission.
	Footage shows Indonesia fires as pressure mounts in Singapore New aerial footage released Wednesday showed smoke billowing from Indonesian forest fires as smog-choked Singapore's biggest supermarket chain announced a ban on products from a paper company accused over the haze shrouding Southeast Asia.
	Turning political pledges into action on climate change In a previous life, Jo-Kristian Røttereng walked the rainforests of the Congo Basin, as a part of the Norwegian government's NOK 3 billion effort to curb tropical deforestation. He's seen the towering trees, heard the grunting of gorillas from deep in the jungle, watched brightly coloured birds flit through sunlight filtered through the thick forest canopy.
	Research to expand knowledge of fish populations in a post-oil spill gulf Kevin Boswell is on a mission to restore the health of the Gulf of Mexico as it continues to recover from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
	New biofertilizer made from exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects Researchers from the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (UPM-INIA) have developed a method to obtain a clean organic fertilizer that is able to regenerate degraded soil caused by overharvesting.
	Unlocking the secrets of the shelf seas The Royal Research Ship Discovery has completed her first year of research. Over a series of nine research expeditions, scientists studied the seasonal events taking place in UK shelf waters throughout the year. The vessel, procured by the Natural Environment Research Council for UK science is the latest in marine technology.
	Water poses challenge to major cities Too much water, too little water, or contaminated water. Cities around the world are facing major water-related challenges. These challenges are further aggravated by global trends such as urbanization and climate change. The time has come for water to become an asset rather than a problem in 'smart liveable cities' of the future.
	End to contaminated drinking water As things stand, a suspected contamination of drinking water requires that a technician first be sent out to take samples from the water supply. The samples are then cultured and analysed in the laboratory. Only after several days does it become clear whether the water is contaminated and which bacterium is the offender.
	Gardens of coral discovered in Gulf of Maine Brilliantly colored gardens of red tree coral (Primnoa), fan coral (Paramuricea), and multiple species of sponge grow on underwater ridges and along the walls of box canyons deep in the cold waters of the Gulf of Maine.
	Satellite sees the long arms of Hurricane Oho Hurricane Oho appears to have extremely long arms in imagery from NOAA's GOES-West satellite on October 7. Moisture from Oho is being drawn along a stationary front to Oho's northeast, making it appear as if Oho is pointing toward southwestern Canada.
	NASA's GPM reveals very strong thunderstorms in Typhoon Choi-Wan NASA's GPM satellite saw strong thunderstorms remained in Typhoon Choi-wan as the storm continued to weaken. On October 7, the typhoon had weakened to a tropical storm.
	NASA provides an infrared look at Hurricane Joaquin over time A series of NASA infrared images of Hurricane Joaquin from October 1 to 6 show the development and movement of the storm, and its moisture stream into South Carolina.

Astronomy & Space news

	Unique structures spotted around nearby star: Mysterious ripples found racing through planet-forming disc Using images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and ESO's Very Large Telescope, astronomers have discovered never-before-seen structures within a dusty disc surrounding a nearby star. The fast-moving wave-like features in the disc of the star AU Microscopii are unlike anything ever observed, or even predicted, before now. The origin and nature of these features present a new mystery for astronomers to explore. The results are published in the journal Nature on 8 October 2015.
	Israeli team advances in contest to send spacecraft to moon A team of Israeli engineers is the first to advance in an international competition sponsored by Google to send a privately-funded spacecraft to the moon, contest organizers announced Wednesday.
	NASA measuring the pulsating aurora Thanks to a lucky conjunction of two satellites, a ground-based array of all-sky cameras, and some spectacular aurora borealis, researchers have uncovered evidence for an unexpected role that electrons have in creating the dancing auroras. Though humans have been seeing auroras for thousands of years, we have only recently begun to understand what causes them.
	NASA completes successful heat shield testing for future Mars exploration vehicles As NASA missions to Mars progress with science and complex human exploration missions, spacecraft will require larger heat shields to protect against the extreme heat of entering a planet's atmosphere and decelerating at a safe altitude in the thin Martian atmosphere.
	Biologist weighs in on recent findings regarding the potential for life on Mars The red planet made a splash in the media this past week, due to the combined efforts of Ridley Scott's film The Martian and NASA's announcement of new evidence for the existence of water flowing on the surface of Mars.
	NASA orbiter views sites of fiction film's Mars landings Images from a NASA Mars orbiter's telescopic camera reveal details of real regions on Mars where a new Hollywood movie, "The Martian," places future astronaut adventures.
	Top five ways to get the most from the stars Since humanity first looked up at the stars we have been amazed and inspired by the wonders of the night sky.

Technology news

	A ping pong robot and a mirror that 'doesn't lie' unveiled in Japan A ping pong playing robot, a flying origami bird and a mirror that some might find a little too honest for comfort were on display at a huge tech show in Japan on Wednesday.
	Researcher maps human locomotion in detail to improve rehabilitative and assistive robotics It's not every day that graduate students get to test out their research on their advisors. But MIT's David Hill, a PhD student in media arts and sciences, builds computational models of human locomotion, which are the basis for designing ever-better prosthetics—and his advisor, Hugh Herr, an associate professor of media arts and sciences, is a double amputee.
	'Psychic robot' will know what you really meant to do What if software could steer a car back on track if the driver swerves on ice? Or guide a prosthesis to help a shaky stroke patient smoothly lift a cup?
	IROS 2015: Thermobot feels the heat and walks (and walks) Takeru Nemoto and Akio Yamamoto of University of Tokyo have presented a bipedal walking robot which is driven by constant heating. No sensors. No actuators, said Even Ackerman in IEEE Spectrum. Just a hot surface will do to get this robot walking. And once it starts to walk, he said, "it can keep going pretty much forever."
	Ruling on transatlantic data transfers puts US tech firms in rough water The legal blow in Europe that removed "Safe Harbor" protection of cross-border data transfers from US tech firms on Tuesday has thrust them into rough water.
	Samsung 3Q operating profit surges, shares jump 9 percent Samsung Electronics announced a forecast-beating profit for the third quarter Wednesday, sending its share price up nearly 9 percent, but analysts said strong component sales and favorable currency exchange rates masked persistent weakness in its smartphone business.
VW CEO: recall of cars hit by scandal to begin in January Volkswagen plans to launch in January a recall of vehicles with software at the center of the emissions-rigging scandal and aims to fix them all by the end of next year, the company's new chief executive says.
	Tellurium electrodes boost lithium batteries A*STAR researchers have demonstrated that electrodes made from tellurium can improve the energy storage and power output of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
	A robot computer algorithm that copies the navigation functionality of humans and animals A robot with a navigation system that mirrors the neural scheme used by humans and animals to find their way around has been developed by A*STAR researchers.
	Saudi tycoon raises stakes in Twitter Saudi tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and his Kingdom Holding Company announced Wednesday they have increased their stake in Twitter Inc to become the firm's second-largest shareholders.
	Google is latest tech giant to claim space in mobile news Technology giants including Apple, Facebook, Snapchat and now Google want to take charge of how we get and see news on our phones.
	Expect more online fraud as new credit cards arrive The new chip credit cards that shoppers are getting in their mailboxes may prevent criminals from stealing from stores, but many thieves are expected to move their operations online. Small businesses could be the most vulnerable.
	Smart vehicles in the urban traffic of the future Head-up display on the windshield, connected simulations, tactical behavior of bicyclists and phased traffic lights for trucks: These are among the technologies being presented by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) at the closing event of the joint research project "UR:BAN" on October 7th at the Messe Düsseldorf trade fair grounds.
	Frogs resolve computing issues When male Japanese tree frogs sing at the same time, the females cannot differentiate between them in order to choose the best one. Therefore, the would-be suitors have come to an agreement and sing one by one. This natural lyrical desynchronisation has inspired the development of computational algorithms which can be used to design wireless systems and analyse social networks such as Facebook or Twitter.
	Pandora buys ticket seller for $450 million Online radio leader Pandora said Wednesday it was buying ticket seller Ticketfly for $450 million, seeing promise in greater technological integration as the market for live music booms.
Government tests technology to find illegal drone operators The Federal Aviation Administration has signed an agreement to test technology that could locate the operators of small drones that are flying illegally near airports, as the government tries to crack down on near-collisions with manned aircraft.
	Theoretical computer science provides answers to data privacy problem The promise of big data lies in researchers' ability to mine massive datasets for insights that can save lives, improve services and inform our understanding of the world.
Private database lets police skirt license plate data limits For years, police nationwide have used patrol car-mounted scanners to automatically photograph and log the whereabouts of peoples' cars, uploading the images into databases they've used to identify suspects in crimes from theft to murder.
	A yacht that pilots itself Driverless technology is making inroads in maritime shipping, search-and-rescue operations and security work. But it has been conspicuously absent from recreational boating.
	Kremlin sets out to extend control over the Russian Internet Galina Timchenko recalls how proud she felt when the Russian news website she edited reached 3 million users per day. When she reported the figures to the website's owner, he was horrified.
	Doubling the lifetime of lithium-air batteries Since they were first commercialised in 1991, lithium-ion batteries have come a long way. The global market is expected to reach EUR 30 billion by 2019, with applications in almost every industry – from intermittent renewable energy storage devices to smartphones and electric cars.
	Web design plays a role in how much we reveal online How many people read online privacy warnings? Few probably do. Long, detailed and technical privacy notices are the current answer to one of the greatest privacy issues of our time: websites collect information about us all the time and we frequently allow it without really knowing or understanding the conditions. JRC scientists have found that web design, and the information shown on the screen, does influence how and whether a user discloses personal data.
	Led by Seinfeld show, Sony's Crackle carving online niche Sometimes what worked in the old days of TV can work online. A celebrity star. A funny show brought to you by a major sponsor. The ability to seep into the nation's collective cultural consciousness.
	A guide to watching sports if you don't have cable It's football season, and baseball playoffs are starting. Don't have cable? You can still watch.
	Monsanto to eliminate 2,600 jobs, posts 4Q loss Monsanto Co. said Wednesday it will eliminate 2,600 jobs as part of a cost-saving plan designed to deal with falling sales of its biotech seeds and herbicides, which pushed its quarterly losses deeper into the red.

Chemistry news

	Trio wins Nobel Prize for mapping how cells fix DNA damage Three scientists from Sweden, the U.S. and Turkey won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for showing how cells repair damaged DNA—work that has inspired the development of new cancer treatments.
	Detecting HIV diagnostic antibodies with DNA nanomachines New research may revolutionize the slow, cumbersome and expensive process of detecting the antibodies that can help with the diagnosis of infectious and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and HIV. An international team of researchers have designed and synthetized a nanometer-scale DNA "machine" whose customized modifications enable it to recognize a specific target antibody. Their new approach, which they described this month in Angewandte Chemie, promises to support the development of rapid, low-cost antibody detection at the point-of-care, eliminating the treatment initiation delays and increasing healthcare costs associated with current techniques.
	How the stick insect sticks (and unsticks) itself New research shows the fluid found on insects' feet does not help them adhere to vertical and inverted surfaces, as previously thought, but may in fact help them to unstick their feet more easily to allow greater control over their sticking power.
	Patched atoms: Energy researchers discover new structure for bimetallic catalysts In the world of catalytic science and technology, the hunt is always on for catalysts that are inexpensive, highly active, and environmentally friendly.
	Way cheaper catalyst may lower fuel costs for hydrogen-powered cars Sandia National Laboratories researchers seeking to make hydrogen a less expensive fuel for cars have upgraded a catalyst nearly as cheap as dirt—molybdenum disulfide, "molly" for short—to stand in for platinum, a rare element with the moonlike price of $1,500 a gram.
	The Latest: Nobel winner revolutionized understanding of DNA Latest developments in the announcements of the Nobel Prizes (all times local):
	Ionic and covalent drug delivery Researchers at Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences compared three different drug delivery models based on ionic liquids. Scientists have developed a powerful API-IL concept to realize structural diversity and dual-action pharmaceuticals. The study, published in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, introduces new drug delivery concepts using ionic and covalent molecular level forces.
	US-based Nobel chemistry laureates stunned by honor The two US-based scientists who shared the Nobel prize in chemistry with a Swedish man for their work on how our cells repair damaged DNA expressed their shock Wednesday over their win.
	Developing a gel that mimics human breast for cancer research to reduce the need for animal models Scientists at the Universities of Manchester and Nottingham have been funded to develop a gel that will match many of the biological structures of human breast tissue, to advance cancer research and reduce animal testing.

Biology news

	Study shows visual clues important for pigeons homing abilities (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with Oxford University in the U.K. and the University of Pisa in Italy, has through experimentation, found that homing pigeons use visual cues to help them find their way home. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study and results which they suggest, help explain the birds' remarkable abilities.
	Researchers discover clues on how giraffe neck evolved Scientists have long theorized that the long neck of modern-day giraffes evolved to enable them to find more vegetation or to develop a specialized method of fighting.
	High-arctic butterflies shrink with rising temperatures New research shows that butterflies in Greenland have become smaller in response to increasing temperatures due to climate change.
	Zebra finches change their call communication pattern in groups according to their reproductive status The vocal repertoire of songbirds not only consists of complex song which is mainly uttered in the breeding season but is complemented by a large number of simpler calls. Their function however is still poorly understood. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen in Germany now recorded the calls of individual zebra finches behaving freely inside groups, and found that the birds change their call repertoire and calling behaviour in the group over the course of the breeding cycle. Using tiny microphone transmitters they discovered perfectly timed patterns of call communication that were associated with successful egg-laying.
	Researchers find genetic defences of bacteria don't aid antibiotic resistance When bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, they alter the expression of a number of genes within their genome. One of these responses, known as the SOS response, results in an increase in the rate of DNA mutation. Given that DNA mutation is a fundamental trait of evolution, many people have speculated that the stimulation of this response helps contribute to the increased resistance to antibiotics in bacteria over time.
Research reveals new clues about how humans become tool users New research from the University of Georgia department of psychology gives researchers a unique glimpse at how humans develop an ability to use tools in childhood while nonhuman primates—such as capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees—remain only occasional tool users.
	Genetic diversity of sub-species of a malaria-causing parasite found (Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has found that three sub-species of Plasmodium knowlesi, parasites that cause malaria, are genetically diverse and diverge between sub-populations. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their study in great detail and their opinion on whether the sub-species present a threat to human health.
	Rock-wallaby interbreeding causes rethink on evolution Scientists have discovered that rock-wallabies living in north east Queensland are sharing genetic material despite belonging to six different species.
	How to manipulate the brain to control maternal behavior in females and reduce aggression in males Most female mammals give birth and care for their offspring, while the males often breed with multiple partners and play little role in parenting once the mating is over. Yet researchers have had a hard time pinpointing where, exactly, in the brain these differences between the sexes are located and how they translate into behavior. The extent of "hardwired parental behavior" is hotly disputed.
	A village of bacteria to help frogs fight disease The naturally occurring bacteria on a frog's skin could be the most important tool for helping the animal fight off a deadly skin disease, according to an experiment conducted by Virginia Tech researchers.
	Young male chimpanzees play more with objects, but do not become better tool users New research shows a difference between the sexes in immature chimpanzees when it comes to preparing for adulthood by practising object manipulation—considered 'preparation' for tool use in later life.
	Research points to possible fungal control for leaf-cutter ants A 15-year study of leaf-cutter ants and their relatives across North and South America found that their nests are susceptible to infection by a diverse group of specialized fungal parasites. The discovery by biologists from Rice University, São Paulo State University in Rio Claro, Brazil, and the University of Texas at Austin could provide new clues for controlling the agricultural and garden pests.
	How you can help scientists track how marine life reacts to climate change There are many factors that determine where a marine species will find a place to call home, such as wave exposure, salinity, depth, habitat and where other friend or foe species live.
	Mad cow disease changed the diet of the Galician wolf The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease crisis in Europe was a turning point for the diet of the Galician wolf, which until the year 2000, had primarily fed on the carrion of domestic animals. A new study shows that after European health regulations made it illegal to abandon dead livestock, wolves started to consume more wild boars, roe deer and wild ponies, but also began to attack more cattle ranches when faced with food shortages in certain areas.
	Tequila plant shows promise for biofuel A desert plant, best known for producing tequila in Mexico, shows promise as a source of biofuel and other biochemical products, according to University of Adelaide research.
	Ravens cooperate—but not with just anyone Ravens spontaneously solve a task that requires both coordination and cooperation—an ability that so far only a handful of species like chimpanzees and elephants have proved to master. A team of researchers led by Thomas Bugnyar of the Department of Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna showed this for the ravens using an experimental set-up. The results of their study have been published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
New treatment extends shelf life of bananas Around the world, bananas are one of the most popular tropical fruits. Despite their popularity, bananas have a relatively short shelf life that creates challenges for both producers and consumers. A new study revealed that a postharvest treatment with a natural phospholipid can extend bananas' shelf life, thus enhancing the fruit's marketability. Scientists Zienab F.R. Ahmed from South Valley University in Egypt and Jiwan P. Palta from the University of Wisconsin-Madison published their research in HortScience.
	Remote sensing technology used to map habitat of monkey with hominid-like behavior Biologists and psychologists are fascinated by the bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) of northeastern Brazil, which exhibit behavior that is extremely rare in the animal kingdom: they use stone tools to crack open the hard casings of palm nuts, to eat the meat inside.
Study sheds light on stem cells A Johns Hopkins University biologist has led a research team reporting progress in understanding the mysterious shape-shifting ways of stem cells, which have vast potential for medical research and disease treatment.
	Student collaboration leads to first results describing sick sea star immune response Though millions of sea stars along the West Coast have perished in the past several years from an apparent wasting disease, scientists still don't know why. The iconic marine creature develops white lesions on its limbs and within days can dissolve or "melt" into a gooey mass.
	Cones, squirrels, and rusty blackbird nests The bird that's experienced the steepest population declines in North America in recent decades is also one that few people have heard of: the Rusty Blackbird. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) populations have decreased by about 95% in the last fifty years, but the reasons are not well understood; it doesn't help that their preferred breeding habitat, stunted conifers deep in the wetlands of the boreal forest, makes finding and studying them difficult.
	Can osteoarthritis affect a dog's mood? It is well known that osteoarthritis (OA) can have an emotional impact on humans but is this the case in dogs? Researchers at the University of Bristol are looking for dogs affected by the condition to take part in an arthritis and emotion study.
	Indonesia seizes shark fins destined for Hong Kong Indonesian authorities have seized about 3,000 shark fins that were about to be flown to Hong Kong, an official said Wednesday, a rare success in the battle against the illegal trade.
	New census critical for mountain gorillas in Virunga A new census of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif will help gauge the impact of conservation work in the area and play a vital role in guiding future efforts to safeguard the critically endangered great ape and its fragile and restricted habitat.
Study shows potential for sweetpotato production in Pacific Northwest Sweetpotato, a warm-season root crop grown across the world, needs heat and humidity to flourish. In the United States, commercial sweetpotato production occurs predominantly in the southeastern states and California, while production farther north is limited. Recently, Oregon State University researchers discovered cultural practices that could help to increase sweetpotato production in the semiarid Pacific Northwest.
Who buys fresh flowers as gifts? Researchers from the Department of Bio-Industry Communication and Development at National Taiwan University have new insights into who buys fresh flowers as gifts, and why consumers purchase floral gifts. Their study in HortScience reveals some interesting factors that they say can inform retail floral marketing. Fresh flower purchases, say the researchers, are based on a set of "gift values", and depend on the relationship between the giver and receiver.
	Dogs, like people, need surgery to repair cleft palates Dogs, like people, can be born with cleft palates. Some die from pneumonia or malnourishment. Some with the defect, which is basically a hole in the mouth, are euthanized.
	14 elephants die of poisoning in Zimbabwe: officials At least 14 elephants died from poisoning in three separate incidents in Zimbabwe last month with poachers suspected of being behind 11 of the deaths, parks authorities said Wednesday.

Medicine & Health news

	Damaged nerve cells communicate with stem cells Nerve cells damaged in diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), 'talk' to stem cells in the same way that they communicate with other nerve cells, calling out for 'first aid', according to new research from the University of Cambridge.
	New theory about how the brain decodes sensory information New research out of the University of Pennsylvania is filling in gaps between two prevailing theories about how the brain generates our perception of the world.
	Our brain's response to others' good news depends on empathy The way our brain responds to others' good fortune is linked to how empathetic people report themselves to be, according to new UCL-led research.
	In boost for transplants, kidney tissue grown in lab Scientists said Wednesday they had grown rudimentary human kidney tissue from stem cells, a key step towards the Holy Grail of fully-functional, lab-made transplant organs.
	Popular antioxidant seems to spread skin cancer cells in mouse research A man-made antioxidant appears to accelerate the spread of skin cancer in mice, raising questions about its safety in humans, researchers say.
	Coronary artery calcium score improves CHD risk prediction (HealthDay)—Inclusion of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score improves coronary heart disease (CHD) risk prediction, while the absence of CAC reclassifies many patients as not eligible for statins, according to two studies published in the Oct. 13 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Therapeutic positioning doesn't affect vital parameters (HealthDay)—For severely disabled patients with central neurological disorders, therapeutic positioning does not affect vital parameters, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Researchers urge routine screening for child abuse (HealthDay)—The early signs of child abuse among infants and toddlers—head trauma, rib fractures, or abdominal injuries—are often missed, and that may be due in part to a lack of standardized screening, researchers report. The findings were published online Oct. 5 in Pediatrics.
New research shows ovarian transplants appear to be safe and effective Women who have ovarian tissue removed, stored and then transplanted back to them at a later date have a good chance of successfully becoming pregnant, according to a review of the largest series of ovarian transplants performed worldwide.
	Smoking cessation drug proves initially more effective for women The most effective prescription drug used to quit smoking initially helps women more than men, according to a Yale School of Medicine study.The study, published Oct. 7 by the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, found that varenicline, marketed as Chantix, was more effective earlier in women, and equally effective in women and men after one year.
	Catching cancers when they are small still makes a difference to survival Catching cancers when they are small still makes a difference to survival, even in the current era of more effective therapies, suggests a study of breast cancer patients in The BMJ this week.
	Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy? In The BMJ this week, experts discuss the evidence and current guidelines on the controversial topic of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Study finds considerable differences in bowel cancer deaths across Europe Over the past 40 years, deaths from bowel (colorectal) cancer have been falling in an increasing number of European countries. Yet considerable disparities still exist between men and women and between specific regions in Europe, finds a study in The BMJ this week.
Warning labels should be introduced to prevent digital addiction, researchers find Labels and messages could encourage responsible use of digital devices and raise awareness of potential side effects
	Treating 5 percent of hepatitis C patients with new drugs would reduce cost and infections, study shows Treating 5 percent of all hepatitis C patients with the latest drugs would be more effective at reducing infections and health care costs than the current approach, a new study shows.
Reseracher pinpoints diagnostic errors as the critical blind spot of health-care providers Most Americans will get at least one faulty diagnosis in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. "Urgent change is warranted to address this challenge," according to a recent landmark report from the Institute of Medicine.
Emergency department visit provides opportunity to reduce underage drinking The results of a five-year trial from faculty at the University of Michigan Injury Center found giving youth in the emergency department a short intervention during their visit decreased their alcohol consumption and problems related to drinking over the following year.
	Loss of support cells in brain may inhibit neuronal development Shedding light on possible contributors to autism, schizophrenia and other neuro-psychiatric disorders, researchers have found that a type of support cell abundant in the brain may play a role in the ability of neurons to communicate.
	Names influence racial bias among study participants In a study exploring racial bias and how people use their mind's-eye image of an imagined person's size to represent someone as either threatening or high-status, UCLA researchers found that people envisioned men with stereotypically black names as bigger and more violent.
	Blanket approach to asthma treatment not ideal, researchers find University of Queensland research into the effects of dust mite and cockroach allergens has found that different types of asthma respond differently to a new experimental treatment.
Privacy concerns decline about digital health records Patients whose doctors use electronic health record systems are increasingly confident that their health information will remain private and secure, Weill Cornell Medicine researchers found in a new longitudinal study, published Oct. 5 in the American Journal of Managed Care.
	Expectant moms should get vaccinated, experts say Chills. No appetite. Fever. Body aches. Fatigue. Congestion. Dry cough.
	New treatment for obesity developed Researchers at the University of Liverpool, working with a global health care company, have helped develop a new treatment for obesity.
	Singaporean Chinese, Malays and Indians produce different insulin responses to a bowl of rice Following a carbohydrate-rich meal, Singaporean-Indians have more insulin released into their bloodstreams than their Chinese and Malay compatriots to maintain the same blood sugar levels, according to a clinical study by researchers at the A*STAR Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS). The results suggest that consuming fewer carbohydrates and choosing those with a lower impact on blood glucose levels could benefit populations—including Singaporean-Indians—that have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
	Trapping cells that tumors release into the bloodstream allows fast and sensitive genetic analysis A simple and non-invasive method to detect cancer-related mutations without direct biopsy sampling of tumors has been developed by A*STAR researchers.
	Refinement of an algorithm for determining genetic ancestry could help identify genetic factors in disease A statistical algorithm for determining genetic ancestry has been improved by A*STAR researchers, an advance that could increase the sensitivity and accuracy of studies that aim to link genetics with disease.
	A tool for isolating progenitor cells from human heart tissue could lead to heart repair A*STAR researchers and colleagues have developed a method to isolate and expand human heart stem cells, also known as cardiac progenitor cells, which could have great potential for repairing injured heart tissue.
Larger food pack sizes increase consumer estimates of portion sizes The size of a food package can influence people's perception of portion size.
	The secret Maoist Chinese operation that conquered malaria – and won a Nobel At the height of the Cultural Revolution, Project 523 – a covert operation launched by the Chinese government and headed by a young Chinese medical researcher by the name of Tu Youyou – discovered what has been the most powerful and effective antimalarial drug therapy to date.
	Online advertising can deliver targeted cancer prevention messages, study finds Online advertising based on Google search terms is a potentially effective way to deliver targeted cancer prevention education, according to a study led by Eleni Linos, MD, DrPH, an assistant professor of dermatology at UC San Francisco.
Gay, bisexual men report higher rates of indoor tanning, skin cancer than heterosexual men Gay and bisexual men were up to six times more likely than heterosexual men to take part in indoor tanning, and twice as likely to report a history of skin cancer, including nonmelanoma and melanoma, according to a study led by UC San Francisco researchers.
Advanced device improves health and saves costs for patients with lymphedema Lymphedema patients saw a nearly 80 percent reduction in their cellulitis episodes just by using an advanced pneumatic compression device at home, according to a study in JAMA Dermatology co-authored by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Professor Sheila Ridner, PhD, MSHSA, FAAN, and University of Minnesota School of Public Health Associate Professor Pinar Karaca-Mandic, PhD.
	Study details prevalence of PTSD in Vietnam War women vets Women who served in Vietnam have higher odds of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than women stationed during that era in the United States, and this effect appears to be associated with wartime exposures including sexual discrimination or harassment and job performance pressures, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
Risk of suicide appears to increase after bariatric surgery A study of a large group of adults who underwent bariatric surgery finds that the risk for self-harm emergencies increased after the surgery, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery.
Groundbreaking computer program diagnoses cancer in two days In by far the majority of cancer cases, the doctor can quickly identify the source of the disease, for example cancer of the liver, lungs, etc. However, in about one in 20 cases, the doctor can confirm that the patient has cancer—but cannot find the source. These patients then face the prospect of a long wait with numerous diagnostic tests and attempts to locate the origin of the cancer before starting any treatment.
	Attentional blink examined to aid struggling readers While you are reading this article, your brain is identifying letters, constructing sounds and recognising meaning, all within milliseconds… but what is going on behind the scenes?
	More than one-third of cancers can be avoided if Australians modify their lifestyle Nearly 40,000 cancers diagnosed in Australia can be prevented if people avoid known risk factors for the disease, according to research published today.
	Magnet hospitals have better patient experiences, possibly enhancing reimbursement Researchers from NYU and U. of Penn conclude that the possibility of a better patient experience is good for quality of care and good for hospitals' fiscal health.
	New research says that increasing personal happiness produces easier weight loss Many people believe that if they lose weight they will be happier about themselves, but new research by the University of Adelaide is suggesting people take the opposite approach.
The perfect match might be the imperfect one, when it comes to treating blood cancers Bone marrow transplantation is a life-saving therapy for many patients with blood cancers like leukemias and lymphomas. Currently, the gold standard blood-generating stem cells are obtained from a donor, a sibling, with a perfect match to the patient in order to minimize the chance of rejection and other complications. However, not all patients will have a perfectly matched sibling. Some cancer centers have begun to explore whether half-matched donors might work just as well.
Brain cooling lessens chances of head injury recovery, study finds Head injury patients do not benefit from a therapy that involves cooling their bodies to reduce brain swelling, research has found.
Social networks can motivate people to exercise more Can the Web make people more fit? It's a question hot on the minds of everyone from health insurers to gym owners to public health officials. Although millions of dollars a year are being spent designing promotional ads and social media campaigns, they clearly aren't working: more than 43 percent of Americans get insufficient levels of daily exercise, and nearly a third are obese.
Researchers discover a new player in tumor suppression and aging A study conducted by the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre´s (CNIO) Genomic Instability Group, led by Óscar Fernández-Capetillo, describes for the first time in mammals, the role played by the SMC5/6 protein complex in cancer suppression and premature ageing. Mutations in these complexes, which were sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents, had been previously described in yeast cells, but their exact relationship with cancer or other diseases in mammals was unknown. Researchers from the CNIO´s Telomere and Telomerase Group and the DNA Replication Group, headed by Maria Blasco and Juan Méndez respectively, also participated in the study. This work is published today in the digital version of the EMBO Journal.
	Satiety hormone leptin plays a direct role in cardiovascular disease in obesity While high levels of the satiety hormone leptin don't help obese individuals lose weight, they do appear to directly contribute to their cardiovascular disease, researchers report.
Review addresses value and waste in biomedical research Estimates suggest that biomedical research consumes almost a quarter of a trillion US dollars every year, yet according to some studies up to 85 per cent is avoidably wasted.
Survey shows over half of workers with depression do not recognize need for treatment More than half of workers who reported symptoms of depression did not perceive a need for treatment, according to a study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto.
	Singapore scientists uncover genetic landscape of distinct breast tumors A team from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, comprising scientists and clinicians from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, has uncovered the genetic landscape of a distinct breast tumour group called fibroepithelial tumours.
Many use prescription painkillers, most see abuse as major health concern More than one in four Americans has taken prescription painkillers in the past year, even as a majority say that abuse of these medications is a very serious public health concern, according to new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research.
Experts recommend assessing individual benefits, risks of menopausal therapies The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on identifying women who are candidates for treatment of menopausal symptoms and selecting the best treatment options for each individual.
Surprise: Narcissists are not always risk-takers The results surprised Amy Brunell, lead author of the study and associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University at Mansfield.
	Attention's place in the human cognitive architecture Neuroscientists can't build a brain, so they have settled with reverse engineering—learning a lot about each part in hopes that they can understand how all of the pieces fit together. In a Neuron special issue on "Cognitive Architecture," published October 7, researchers present integrated theories on how processes—such as attention, body self-consciousness, and language—function within the hardware of the human brain.
	Medical diagnosis: Will brain palpation soon be possible? If there is one technique used by the physician to explore the human body during every medical examination in order to make a diagnosis or prescribe further tests, it is palpation. By its nature, however, the brain cannot be palpated without using a highly invasive procedure (craniotomy, or opening the skull), which is limited to rare cases. By drawing on seismology, Inserm researchers led by Stéfan Catheline (Inserm Unit 1032, "Therapeutic Applications of Ultrasound") have just developed a noninvasive brain imaging method using MRI that provides the same information as physical palpation. Ultimately, it could be used in the early diagnosis of brain tumours or Alzheimer's disease. This work is published in PNAS.
	Team develops classification model for cancers caused by most frequently mutated gene in cancer UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have developed a classification for cancers caused by KRAS, the most frequently mutated gene in cancer, that could eventually help oncologists choose more effective, customized cancer therapies.
Metabolic syndrome leads one in three Americans to need more vitamin E New research shows that the estimated one-third of Americans who have a cluster of health problems that add up to metabolic syndrome don't absorb dietary vitamin E as effectively as healthy people.
	Berkeley's soda tax boosts retail prices of sugary drinks, study confirms Not long after Berkeley became the first city in the country to levy an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, questions arose about whether the move would have its desired effect by increasing the retail price of soda. The latest signs, coming from a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, say yes.
	Multiple sclerosis may start later for those who spend teenage summers in the sun A study of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) found that those who spent time in the sun every day during the summer as teens developed the disease later than those reporting not spending time in the sun every day. The study, which was published in the October 7, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, also found that people who were overweight at age 20 developed the disease earlier than those who were average weight or underweight.
Two-hit therapy for breast tumors using approved drugs looks promising in animal study Disabling a cancer-causing pathway and administering an immune-molecule-based mop-up therapy eradicated a specific type of breast tumor in mice, according to researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. They describe their findings in Cell Reports.
Exposure to common flame retardants may contribute to attention problems in children Prenatal exposure to some flame retardants that have been widely-used in consumer products is associated with attention problems in children ages three through seven, according to a new study by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, within Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health. The researchers are the first to show the effects of prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on children's development, during both the preschool and school age periods. Results appear in the journal of Neurotoxicology and Teratology.
	Parents influence children's play of violent video games, according to new study Parents who are more anxious and emotional can impact the amount of violent video games their children play, according to new consumer research from Iowa State University. The study is published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs.
	Just 30 minutes a day: Regular exercise relieves asthma symptoms Millions of people suffer from asthma. Many report having poor control of their symptoms. Fortunately, new research shows there is a simple antidote: 30 minutes of exercise a day, year-round.
Sex is more likely on days college students use marijuana or binge drink Undergraduate college students were more likely to have sex on days they used marijuana or binged on alcohol than on days they didn't, new research from Oregon State University has found.
	Shaking up the foundamentals of epigenetics Cells of multicellular organisms contain identical genetic material (the genome) yet can have drastic differences in their structural arrangements and functions. This variation of the distinct cell types comes from the differential expression of genes, which is controlled by interplay between different regulators within the cells, such as transcription factors, the transcription machinery, and the "epigenetic" modifications (which do not change the underlying genetic code) that occur on the DNA and protein factors within chromatin.
'Chromosomal Chaos:' Complex array of mutations found in rare, aggressive leukemia Sezary syndrome (SS), an aggressive leukemia of mature T cells, is more complicated at a molecular level than ever suspected, according to investigators from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. With a poor prognosis and limited options for targeted therapies, fighting SS needs new treatment approaches. The team's results uncover a previously unknown, complex genomic landscape of this cancer, which can be used to design new personalized drug regimens for SS patients based on their unique genetic makeup.
Expanding global access to radiotherapy Queen's University researcher Timothy Hanna has co-authored a Lancet Oncology study that suggests as many as 90 per cent of people in low-income countries lack access to radiotherapy treatment. The lack of access to radiotherapy costs millions of lives and billions of dollars in lost economic growth in low- and middle-income countries.
	Cleaning hospital rooms with chemicals, UV rays cuts superbug transmissions In a hospital, what you can't see could hurt you.
	Nobel-winning research could help people beat cancer Understanding how our cells repair damaged DNA, a breakthrough which earned the Nobel Chemistry Prize on Wednesday, could make cancer treatment more effective, experts say.
	Interview: Nobel gives scientist recognition in China The time could not have been more hostile for Chinese scientists. Research came to a virtual halt and intellectuals were routinely persecuted. But Tu Youyou, then a 39-year-old researcher, was summoned to join a secretive military project during the Cultural Revolution to find a cure for malaria for soldiers in North Vietnam.
	WHO hails first full week with no new Ebola cases since March 2014 No new Ebola cases were confirmed last week, marking the first full week without fresh cases of the deadly disease in a year an a half, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
	Excess weight helps women with heart failure, hurts men: study (HealthDay)—Overweight and mildly obese women with heart failure may live significantly longer than similarly heavy men with the progressive disease, a new study suggests.
	Bedtime texting may be hazardous to teens' health (HealthDay)—Many American teens text in bed, leading to lost sleep, daytime drowsiness and poorer school performance, a new study says.
	More than 730 illnesses reported in latest salmonella outbreak (HealthDay)—A salmonella outbreak that has been linked to contaminated cucumbers imported from Mexico has now caused 732 illnesses in 35 states, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
	Medical marijuana seems safe for chronic pain patients, study finds (HealthDay)—Medical marijuana appears mostly safe for treating chronic pain, at least among people with some experience using the drug, a new study suggests.
	H. pylori resistance to antibiotics increasing (HealthDay)—Resistance to the antibiotics clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin is high among patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, according to a study published in the September issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Ultrasound diagnosis of fetal teratoma very accurate (HealthDay)—Ultrasonography (US) has very high sensitivity and low false-positive rates in identifying fetal teratoma prenatally, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
	Prognostic disclosure improves life expectancy estimates (HealthDay)—Prognostic disclosure is associated with more realistic patient expectations of life expectancy (LE) in advanced cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	'GOLD' criteria may misdiagnosis normal phenotypes (HealthDay)—The Global Lung Initiative (GLI)-defined normal spirometry includes adjusted mean values in the normal range for multiple phenotypes, even when classified as respiratory impairment by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Study shows babies born extremely premature may benefit from proactive, coordinated care Denise Foyle had been pregnant for just 23 weeks when she gave birth to her daughter, Bryn. She weighed one pound and three ounces, and measured only 12 inches long.
Regular exercise before pregnancy may stave off pains that are common among moms-to-be Exercising up to five times weekly before pregnancy may help to stave off pelvic girdle pain—an umbrella term for any type of pain associated with the joint and ligament changes prompted by pregnancy—finds research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Bowel screening kit with extras could help save more lives Thousands more people would take part in bowel cancer screening if the kit included extras, such as gloves and "poo catchers", according to a Cancer Research UK study published today in Biomed Research International.
Factors influencing patient satisfaction vary by care settings The factors that determine the level of patient satisfaction with pediatric care vary significantly depending on which departmental setting patients receive treatment within a healthcare system, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality. Researchers from Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware said the findings could greatly aid improvements in patient experience in primary, specialty outpatient specialty, emergency, and inpatient care settings.
Nearly 700 killed by dengue in Brazil: health officials Health officials in Brazil said Tuesday a record 693 people have died so far this year after contracting dengue fever, the deadly mosquito-borne disease running rampant across Central and South America.
	Gov't health insurance website getting upgrades Consumers shopping on the government's health insurance website should find it easier this year to get basic questions answered about their doctors, medications and costs, according to an internal government document.
Study uses smartphone technology to promote pulmonary rehab at home Harold Ridgeway is a type 'A' kind of guy. "I had my first heart attack when I was 50," recalled the retired businessman.
	Trade agreements must consider health A leading health research expert at The Australian National University (ANU) has urged the federal Government to think more about the health implications of Australia's trade agreements.
Clinical trial opens to examine therapies on invasive lobular breast cancer Physicians at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) have opened a clinical trial to learn more about how three commonly prescribed anti-estrogen therapies affect the tumor tissue of patients diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC), a less common and understudied type of breast cancer. This is the first study of its kind to employ a prospective clinical trial approach to understanding ILC, doctors said.
	Relative age in school and suicide among young individuals in Japan Researchers from Osaka University, Japan, and Syracuse University, USA, found for the first time that those who were born right before the school cutoff day and thus youngest in their cohort have 30 % higher mortality rates by suicide, compared to their peer who were born right after the cutoff date and thus older. They also found that those with relative age disadvantage tend to follow a different career path that those with relative age advantage, which may explain their higher suicide mortality rates.
Cholera cases in Iraq top 1,200: ministry The number of confirmed cases of cholera in Iraq has risen to 1,201, the health ministry said Wednesday of an outbreak that started along the Euphrates river last month.
	Forward motion: Book suggests ways to limit reversals in health care Medical reversal—when accepted medical interventions are abandoned because they are found to be ineffective—is the "most important problem in medicine today," according to the authors of a new book: Ending Medical Reversal.
	New protein found in immune cells Researchers of the University of Freiburg have discovered Kidins220/ARMS in B cells. They also determined that it plays a decisive role in the production of antibodies and the formation of B cells, which are a type of white blood cells. Various teams of researchers had already found that Kidins220/ARMS is present in nerve cells and in T cells of the immune system. However, that it is present in B cells was unknown until now.
	Researchers team up with Illumina to speed-read your microbiome The human microbiome—the total collection of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms living in and on your body—has been linked to a variety of health and disease states, including obesity, allergies, asthma, and a rapidly growing list of other conditions. But as researchers try to sort out the complex relationship between microbial populations and human health and use that information to diagnose or treat disease, they are generating a deluge of microbial sequence data that first needs to be organized and analyzed.
Kentucky pharmacy PharMerica agrees to $9.25M settlement A Kentucky pharmacy has agreed to pay $9.25 million to settle allegations that it solicited and received kickbacks from a manufacturer in exchange for promoting a drug with nursing home patients, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Other Sciences news

	48-million-year-old horse-like fetus discovered in Germany A 48 million year-old horse-like equoid fetus has been discovered at the Messel pit near Frankfurt, Germany according to a study published October 7, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jens Lorenz Franzen from Senckenberg Research Institute Frankfurt, Germany, and Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues.
	Keeping the supply chain flowing In this age of rapid and escalating change, what can businesses do to flourish? Take a look at their supply chains, say researchers in the Centre for International Manufacturing, based on their research in the UK and India.
	New studies explore impact of environmental change on tooth wear Researchers at the University of Arkansas have established that pits and scratches on the teeth of mammal fossils give important clues to the diet of creatures that lived millions of years ago. Two new studies, both involving undergraduate Honors College students, analyze the effect of environmental change on the teeth of existing species, and may shed light on the evolutionary fossil record.
	Rewarding good behavior of prisoners is a benefit to society, expert says In any penal system, controlling the misbehavior of prisoners is challenging and costly. However, reducing the operational costs of prisons is possible when good behavior is rewarded, a Stanford professor says.
Population makeup is major factor in global resource allocation Less is more, in terms of population, in the Malthusian view. In past debates on the links between population and development, many have emphasized population size and population growth as the main (negative) factor. Informed by this perspective, they saw reduction in population growth as the key to sustainable development and solving global inequality.
	Predictive policing substantially reduces crime in Los Angeles during months-long test A new study by a UCLA-led team of scholars and law enforcement officials suggests the answer is yes. A mathematical model they devised to guide where the Los Angeles Police Department should deploy officers, led to substantially lower crime rates during a recent 21-month period.
	If you made money buying a first home in 2000s, you probably weren't black In the tumultuous real estate market of the 2000s, some U.S. homebuyers found wealth while others took big hits. But no matter when they bought, most black first-time homeowners lost money, a Johns Hopkins University study found.
For first time, MIT's free online classes can lead to degree The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has offered free online courses for the last four years with one major downside: They didn't count toward a degree. That's about to change.
	Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics, research says When women's health clinics close because of government funding cuts aimed at abortion providers, fewer women seek lifesaving preventive care that can identify health threats such as cancer, research from the University of Kansas shows.
	Researchers need to pay attention to differences in self-control Whether it's resisting buying a candy bar in the checkout lane or purchasing an unneeded pair of shoes on sale at the mall, self-control varies from person to person. Researchers must pay attention to these differences in individuals' self-control when assessing the impact of public policies, according to a new study by marketing and consumer behavior experts at Rice University and Vanderbilt University.
Mormon + Mormon = Higher home price A unique study that combined real estate transaction data and Mormon congregation boundaries in Utah found home sellers made an average of about $4,000 more when they used a real estate agent from the same church congregation.
New report paints sobering picture of urban education in the U.S. A groundbreaking new report provides a sobering picture of the state of urban education in America, especially when it comes to educational opportunities for poor students and students of color, who now make up the majority of America's public school students nationwide.
	Lindahl celebrates Nobel with plastic cup of champagne Tomas Lindahl was toasted by colleagues with plastic cups of champagne and hastily-arranged party snacks after winning the Nobel Chemistry Prize on Wednesday.
Colorado man gets probation in fossil importation case A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Colorado man to one year of probation for understating the value of unspecified fossils imported from China to the United States.
	Study shows impact of poverty and gender on children's welfare A new research paper by a Plymouth University academic shows that children all over the world are more likely to be at risk if they're female and below the poverty line.
	When Facebook use becomes a problem, could social anxiety be to blame? A new study shows that the combination of social anxiety and the need for social assurance by feeling part of a group increases the risk for excessive and uncontrolled use of Facebook, which can negatively affect school performance, work, and one's health and well-being, as described in an article published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

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