Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 8

HOT!

Ecuador volcano spews giant ash column

Researchers use nanotechnology to fight breast cancer

Newsletter for October 8, 2015:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 3:57 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Oct 8
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 8, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers massively edit the genome of pigs to turn them into perfect human organ donors
- Wet paleoclimate of Mars revealed by ancient lakes at Gale Crater
- Ancient genome from Africa sequenced for the first time
- Discovery of how environmental memories may be transmitted from a father to his grandchildren
- Diet supplement keeps circadian clock from slowing down in aging mice
- Proteins with ALS, cancer role do not assume a regular shape
- Researchers build a digital piece of brain
- Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells using stem cell technology
- Adult sex ratio linked to gender chromosomes
- University team's robot inspired by jumping spider
- Difficulty processing speech may be an effect of dyslexia, not a cause
- MacGyver this! New DIY experiment shows students the physics of climate change
- Comprehensive study finds 238 genes that affect aging in yeast cells
- In the sex lives of male worms in the lab, one gene makes a big difference
- A long look back at fishes' extendable jaws

Nanotechnology news

	Smaller silver nanoparticles more likely to be absorbed by aquatic life, study finds More than 2,000 consumer products today contain nanoparticles—particles so small that they are measured in billionths of a meter.
University of Houston spin-off company hits commercial milestone A company formed to commercialize graphene research conducted at the University of Houston's Center for Advanced Materials has been listed on the Chinese stock exchange, an important step in the company's capitalization and growth.

Physics news

	Scientists float new approach to creating computer memory What can skyrmions do for you? These ghostly quantum rings, heretofore glimpsed only under extreme laboratory conditions, just might be the basis for a new type of computer memory that never loses its grip on the data it stores.
	New programming approach seeks to make large-scale computation more reliable Moore's Law, the observation that integrated circuits halve in size every two years, has been good to us. Prices for computers have dropped precipitously over the last few decades, even as their power has skyrocketed.
	MacGyver this! New DIY experiment shows students the physics of climate change Fishing line, paper clips, glass marble, glue - no, not the makings of a MacGyver episode but a new experiment that lets students precisely measure the effects of global warming on oceans.
A quantum simulator of impossible physics The research group Quantum Technologies for Information Science (QUTIS) of the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Countr has created a quantum simulator that is capable of creating unphysical phenomena in the atomic world—in other words, impossible physical phenomena. The researchers have succeeded in getting a trapped atom to imitate behaviours that contradict its own fundamental laws, thus taking elements of science fiction to the microscopic world.

Earth news

	Study restores consensus after controversial 2014 paper questioned direct effects of climate change An international research team led by UCLA life scientists has, for the first time, quantified the direct influence of climate on the growth of ecosystems around the globe.
Scientists: Major coral bleaching crisis spreads worldwide The bleaching of colorful coral is spreading into a worldwide, devastating crisis, scientists say, and they predict it will likely get worse.
	Image: 2015 Antarctic ozone hole area approaches annual maximum The Antarctic ozone hole, which typically reaches its annual peak area between mid-September and early October, formed more slowly this year but quickly expanded to cover a larger area of low ozone values than the past few years, according to NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists.
Paleoclimate researchers find connection between carbon cycles, climate trends Making predictions about climate variability often means looking to the past to find trends. Now paleoclimate researchers from the University of Missouri have found clues in exposed bedrock alongside an Alabama highway that could help forecast climate variability. In their study, the researchers verified evidence suggesting carbon dioxide decreased significantly at the end of the Ordovician Period, 450 million years ago, preceding an ice age and eventual mass extinction. These results will help climatologists better predict future environmental changes.
	Ecuador volcano spews giant ash column Ecuador's Cotopaxi volcano, which began erupting in August after being dormant for 138 years, on Thursday coughed up a two-kilometer-high column of ash, officials said.
	Now 'right moment' for carbon tax: IMF chief The time is right for governments to introduce taxes on carbon emissions, which would help fight global warming and raise badly needed revenue, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday.
	Thai tourist islands hit by haze from Indonesia fires Popular Thai holiday islands were engulfed with haze from Indonesian forest fires Thursday, forcing several planes packed with beach-bound tourists to turn back, further stoking regional tensions.
	Video: Watch lenticular clouds form in the moonlight Clouds and moonlight are usually the bane of astronomers and astrophotographers. But on a recent evening at Mount Shasta in northern California, the two combined for a stunning look at usual cloud formations called lenticular clouds.
	Growing up in an era of extreme events—what we need to know now The recent flooding in South Carolina is yet another reminder of just how much destruction natural disasters can cause and how ill prepared communities throughout the US continue to be. Extreme events such as flooding, drought, and storms are leading to not only short-term economic and health impacts but are setting the stage for significant struggles for future generations.
	Waste water treatment plants fail to completely eliminate new chemical compounds Deformities, feminisation and fall in reproductive capacity are some of the effects that living organisms can be afflicted by due to changes in the endocrine system caused by these compounds. A study conducted on the Basque coast by a research group indicates that the most polluted waters, the ones with the highest levels of bioconcentration, the highest percentage of intersex fish, etc. exist around waste water treatment plants. Most of these plants are not equipped to eliminate the new compounds, because legislation in this matter has yet to catch up with the development of the chemical industry. The journal Science of The Total Environment has recently published a paper on the subject.
	NASA sees a speedy Extra-Tropical Storm Choi-Wan NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Storm Choi-wan as it moved over cooler waters and was becoming an extra-tropical storm.
	NASA satellite data shows Joaquin becoming a post-Tropical Cyclone Infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite showed Hurricane Joaquin weakening over cooler waters and transitioning into a post-tropical cyclone.An infrared image of Hurricane Joaquin was taken from the AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite on Oct. 7 at 15:41 UTC (11:41 a.m. EDT). The infrared data, which shows temperature, showed the highest, coldest clouds and the bulk of cold clouds were being pushed from the center to northeast of the center by westerly winds. Cloud top temperatures had also warmed since the previous day indicating weaker storms and less uplift in the air. AIRS infrared data also showed the sea surface temperatures were colder than the 80F (26.6C) required to help a tropical cyclone maintain intensity.
	NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP sees wind-shear battered extra-tropical Oho Infrared data from NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite showed Tropical Storm Oho weakening over cool waters and transitioning into an extra-tropical cyclone while being battered by strong wind shear.
	Vulnerable nations launch 'V20' to fight climate change Finance ministers from 20 of the countries most vulnerable to climate change launched the "V20" group Thursday to marshal resources for their nations' fight against the impact of global warming.
California to phase out microbeads used in soaps, toothpaste Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that requires California to phase out the use of microscopic beads in personal care products sold in the state starting in 2020 to protect fish and wildlife.

Astronomy & Space news

	Wet paleoclimate of Mars revealed by ancient lakes at Gale Crater We have heard the Mars exploration mantra for more than a decade: follow the water. In a new paper published October 9, 2015, in the journal Science, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team presents recent results of its quest to not just follow the water but to understand where it came from, and how long it lasted on the surface of Mars so long ago.
	Orbiter views Mars surface fractures The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter often takes images of Martian sand dunes to study the mobile soils. These images provide information about erosion and movement of surface material, about wind and weather patterns, even about the soil grains and grain sizes. However, looking past the dunes, these images also reveal the nature of the substrate beneath.
	Blue skies, frozen water detected on Pluto Pluto has blue skies and patches of frozen water, according to the latest data out Thursday from NASA's unmanned New Horizons probe, which made a historic flyby of the dwarf planet in July.
	Image: Robotic arm testing AIM mission's camera A practical test of the navigation camera planned to guide ESA's proposed Asteroid Impact Mission around its double-asteroid target.
	NASA challenge seeks ways to use Mars' natural resources for astronauts Living off the land is different when the land is 140 million miles away, so NASA is looking for innovative ideas to use in situ (in place) Martian resources to help establish a human presence on the Red Planet.
Hamburgers might be on the menu for Russian cosmonauts (Update) Hamburgers could soon be debuting on Russian menus in space.
	Dunes, dust devils and the Martian weather I study how windblown desert features can be used to monitor wind patterns and atmospheric conditions in remote places, such as Mars, where there are plenty of pictures of the surface but not many instruments on the ground.
	Rocket with secret payload launches from California coast A rocket carrying a secret payload for the U.S. government has successfully launched from the central California coast.
	NASA offers licenses of patented technologies to start-up companies NASA is unveiling a new opportunity for start-up companies to license patented NASA technology with no up-front payment. The Startup NASA initiative addresses two common problems start-ups face: raising capital and securing intellectual property rights.
Rocket launched from Wallops to test motor, other technology NASA says preliminary indications show that a modified motor performed as planned during a test flight.

Technology news

	Researcher explores cost-effective, non-polluting enhanced geothermal systems Tapping the natural heat of the earth may be more cost-effective and clean thanks to a research project by New Mexico State University Assistant Professor Kenneth C. Carroll and others.
	Remote Mexican village uses solar power to purify water Deep in the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula, residents of the remote Mexican village of La Mancalona are producing clean drinking water using the power of the sun.
	Bio-inspired robotic finger looks, feels and works like the real thing (w/ Video) Most robotic parts used to today are rigid, have a limited range of motion and don't really look lifelike. Inspired by both nature and biology, a scientist from Florida Atlantic University has designed a novel robotic finger that looks and feels like the real thing. In an article recently published in the journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, Erik Engeberg, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering and Computer Science at FAU, describes how he has developed and tested this robotic finger using shape memory alloy (SMA), a 3D CAD model of a human finger, a 3D printer, and a unique thermal training technique.
	University team's robot inspired by jumping spider Special insights and observations about how animals move, handle danger and preserve energy are not only interesting but valuable to scientists in the field of robotics. One such contribution of animal-like robotic movement was presented at IROS 2015 in Hamburg, Germany.
	Amazon challenges Etsy with Handmade at Amazon Amazon is launching its site for handcrafted goods called Handmade at Amazon on Thursday, hoping to capitalize on shoppers' appetite for homemade goods ahead of the holiday season.
US journalist found guilty in hacking trial A federal jury in Northern California on Wednesday found a journalist guilty of computer crimes for helping hackers deface the Los Angeles Times website.
	Tokyo auto show to highlight 'smart' green cars The Tokyo Motor Show, opening to the public Oct. 30 at Tokyo Big Sight convention hall, will be packed with futuristic eye-catching vehicles that drive themselves, offer online information in dazzling ways and are so green they are zero-emissions. Taking part with their latest offerings are 160 companies, including automakers, suppliers and motorcycle manufacturers from around the world, but the biggest stars of the Tokyo show are usually the Japanese. There will be 42 "world premiere" vehicles, being unveiled for the first time.
	California adopts ambitious climate change bill The governor of California on Wednesday signed an ambitious climate change bill that aims to increase the use of renewable electricity and make buildings more energy efficient.
VW's US CEO to face tough questions in congressional hearing Volkswagen's top U.S. executive is expected to face tough questions on Capitol Hill as the emissions-rigging scandal enveloping the world's largest automaker appears to be deepening.
California grooms utility giants to compete against Big Oil California wants more drivers to dump the pump and plug in.
	NREL seeks to optimize individual comfort in buildings On a typical early fall morning in Golden, Colorado, the temperature outside was about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Tucked inside a unique structure at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), two volunteers felt considerably cooler than that, but would soon be pushed past the outdoor conditions. The volunteers were participating in an experiment inside NREL's newly constructed Comfort Suite (C-Suite) designed to reveal the connection between human comfort and energy systems.
	New maps identify opportunities for renewable energy investment Interactive maps of Australia's electricity grid released today will help identify the most valuable locations to invest in renewable energy and demand management within the grid.
	Internet for all remains an impossible dream, no matter what Jimmy Wales says From satellites, to autonomous solar-powered drones, or balloons, there have been plenty of ideas recently on how to connect up the world. Facebook, Google, large international organisations, national governments, even Bono, have laid out ideas of a near future in which we are all hooked into the network.
	US Volkswagen chief admits knew of emissions problem in 2014 Volkswagen's US chief revealed he knew more than a year ago that the group's cars possibly breached pollution rules, as he prepared to apologize Thursday before Congress over the massive scandal.
	'Harry Potter' e-books come to life in new Apple edition You don't need to be a wizard to see the "Harry Potter" books come to life.
	Material improves the combustion efficiency of waste and biomass Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have discovered that a certain bed material improves the combustion efficiency of waste and biomass while decreasing operating and maintenance costs significantly. In collaboration with the energy supplier Eon, the researchers have proven the concept in today's commercial boilers.
	Greek town glimpses mass transit future: driverless buses There'll be no arguing with the driver on this bus: the rides are free and there's no driver anyway.
	A new measure for wireless power transfer Wireless power transfer has many promising applications, such as contactless powering, electric vehicles, and energy harvesting. To construct a wireless power-transfer system, a "wireless transfer coupler" is necessary to deliver the energy from a high-frequency power source to a load, with no physical contact.
	VW executive: Any fix for car owners could take year or more Volkswagen's top U.S. executive apologized Thursday as the emissions-rigging scandal engulfing the world's largest automaker deepened and members of Congress said the company violated the public's trust.
	Austria launches language app for migrant children Austria's government, under pressure from the far-right over the migrant crisis, announced on Thursday a new app for smartphones and tablets to help foreign children learn German.
	Beyond 'Like:' 5 ways you might soon emote on Facebook Sometimes "Like" just doesn't cut it. So how about Love or Angry? Haha or Sad? Or just Yay or Wow?
	Netflix raising US price for most popular video plan by $1 Netflix is raising the price of its Internet video service by $1 for new customers in the U.S., Canada and some Latin America countries to help cover its escalating costs for shows such as "House of Cards" and other original programming.
	Sony cuts PlayStation 4 price to match Xbox One Sony sliced $50 off the price of PlayStation 4 video game consoles Thursday, matching that of rival Xbox One ahead of the frantic holiday shopping season.
VW may compensate owners of diesel cars for loss of value Volkswagen could compensate owners of diesel-powered cars that emit high levels of pollutants, possibly by paying them for the lost value of their vehicles, the company's top U.S. executive said Thursday.
Computer shipments sink under weight of strong dollar Worldwide shipments of personal computers sank in the recently ended quarter with a strong US dollar weighing down sales, market tracker Gartner reported on Thursday.
Review: Android Pay works well, when you can use it When it comes to using a smartphone to make purchases in retail stores, Apple Pay has been getting most of the attention.
	German prosecutors conduct searches in VW emissions probe German prosecutors carried out searches Thursday in connection with their investigation of the Volkswagen emissions scandal, seeking material that would help clarify who was responsible for the cheating.
Renewables and consumer choices key to sustainable energy use in EU's food sector A report analysing the use of energy in the EU food industry finds that the share of renewable remains relatively small (7%) when compared to its part in the overall energy mix (15%). Progress in the decarbonisation of the food sector is challenging: while farmers and industry have made relevant efforts to improve their energy profile, consumers can also play their part by reducing meat consumption, buying locally and seasonally, and reducing food waste.
	UT Arlington, UW partner to design bioengineered REHEAL Glove to heal extremity trauma UT Arlington and University of Washington researchers are developing a healing glove that delivers needed medicine to an injured hand and speeds up healing so that rehabilitation can start sooner.
Federal truck size and weight study falls short of congressional requirements, says new report Although a U.S. Department of Transportation report on federal truck size and weight limits acknowledges gaps in addressing its legislative charge, a more comprehensive and useful response would have been possible, says a new letter report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The DOT's Comprehensive Truck Size & Weight Limits Study lacks a consistent and complete quantitative summary of the alternative configuration scenarios, and major categories of costs—such as expected bridge structural costs, frequency of crashes, and infrastructure costs on certain roads—are not estimated.
	Graft-digging editor joins Spain's online media race One of Spain's most prominent and controversial journalists has launched a major online newspaper, the latest in a range of websites shaking up the Spanish media in politically volatile times.

Chemistry news

	Better fluorescent lighting through physics General Electric (GE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have created new kinds of fluorescent lighting phosphors that use far less rare-earth elements than current technology.
	Porous material holds promise for prosthetics, robots Cornell researchers have developed a new lightweight and stretchable material with the consistency of memory foam that has potential for use in prosthetic body parts, artificial organs and soft robotics. The foam is unique because it can be formed and has connected pores that allow fluids to be pumped through it.
	Can a chemical search engine explain how life began on Earth? Scientists have developed a new form of 'chemical search engine' which could provide clues to the origins of life on Earth.
	SLAC experiment finds key to natural detoxifier's reactivity Researchers working at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have discovered that a mere 9-trillionths-of-a-meter reduction in the length of a chemical bond dramatically boosts the reactivity of a family of molecules that helps keep humans and many other organisms healthy.
	Unraveling the secret of silk that's more alive than dead Hannes Schniepp and Sean Koebley talk about silk as being either alive or dead.
	New method facilitates research on fuel cell catalysts While the cleaning of car exhausts is among the best known applications of catalytic processes, it is only the tip of the iceberg. Practically the entire chemical industry relies on catalytic reactions. Therefore, catalyst design plays a key role in improving these processes. An international team of scientists has now developed a concept, that elegantly correlates geometric and adsorption properties. They validated their approach by designing a new platinum-based catalyst for fuel cell applications.
Researchers unlock secrets of troublesome Tribble protein Scientists from New Zealand and Australia have created the first three-dimensional image of a key protein involved in the development of blood and other cancers.
	Unveiling distribution of protons and oxygen vacancies in perovskite-type proton conductors Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), recently used as a power source for households in Japan, have several drawbacks such as high-cost, material degradation and long start-up time derived from high operating temperatures up to 750°C.
	How does titanium oxide promote water oxidation in hematite-based photoanodes? Hematite is an expensive, Earth-abundant photoactive material that can be used as a photoanode for water splitting devices. It offers attractive properties, such as a low band gap that allows it to theoretically satisfy the requirements for implementing practical photoelectrochemical systems with a life-cycle net energy feasible for large-scale hydrogen production facilities. It also has a set of intrinsic limitations that lessen its maximum photooxidation performance. Among the methods used for improving its photoactivity, titanium doping has witnessed an intensive research during recent years.
Researchers develop rapid method for water, soil pathogen screening Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a highly sensitive, cost-effective technology for rapid bacterial pathogen screening of air, soil, water, and agricultural produce in as little as 24 hours.
	Molecular characteristics of mammalian melanopsins for non-visual photoreception Researchers at Institute for Molecular Sciences reported that a mammalian photoreceptive protein melanopsin spontaneously releases the chromophore retinal. The property would be important to regulate non-visual photoreception in mammals. This work was carried out as a collaborative work of Drs. Hisao Tsukamoto and Yuji Furutani (Institute for Molecular Science) with Yoshihiro Kubo (National Institute for Physiological Sciences), David Farrens (Oregon Health and Science University), Mitsumasa Koyanagi and Akihisa Terakita (Osaka City University). This study was published online in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on September 28, 2015.

Biology news

	Researchers massively edit the genome of pigs to turn them into perfect human organ donors (Phys.org)—One benefit of the closeness between pigs and humans is the potential to be organ donors. There are however, just a few nagging uncertainties that still stand in the way. The big one, the possibility of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) getting reactivated inside the human organ recipient, is no longer the concern it once was. That comes thanks to the recent groundbreaking work of the one-man army of genetics, George Church, and his lab at Harvard. The latest news, just reported in Nature, is that the group was able to use CRISPR gene-editing techniques to inactivate 62 PERVs in pig embryos.
	Clues to future of undersea exploration may reside inside a jellyfish-like creature Siphonophores, they're called: Marine animals that navigate inner space like undersea mini-versions of the starship Enterprise.
	Novel microscopy method illuminates cell changes caused by aging, injury and disease A University of Maryland-led team of researchers has developed an optical microscopy technique capable of shedding new light on how the mechanical properties of cells change in the course of aging, injury healing and disease pathogenesis.
	Beetles provide clues about the genetic foundations of parenthood A team of researchers including scientists from the University of Georgia has identified many of the genetic changes that take place in burying beetles as they assume the role of parent. Their findings, published recently in the journal Nature Communications, may provide clues about the fundamental genetics of parenthood in insects and other animals.
	Group builds most comprehensive family tree of birds to date (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from several institutions in the U.S. has created the most comprehensive family tree of birds to date. In their paper published in the journal Nature the team describes the genomic sequencing technique they used and the structure of the tree they created. Gavin Thomas with the University of Sheffield, in the U.K. offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same issue, highlighting differences in phylogeny between this newer work and that conducted by another team last year.
	Adult sex ratio linked to gender chromosomes (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from institutions in Hungary, the U.S. and the U.K. has found a link between the adult sex ratio (ASR) and gender chromosome differences. In their paper published in the journal Nature, they describe how they used data from a large number of tetrapods to find patterns that revealed male or female biases which suggested a link between such biases and ASR.
	New protein cleanup factors found to control bacterial growth Biochemists have long known that crucial cell processes depend on a highly regulated cleanup system known as proteolysis, where specialized proteins called proteases degrade damaged or no-longer-needed proteins. These proteases must destroy their specific targets without damaging other proteins, but how this orderly destruction works is unknown in many cases.
	Evolution of kangaroo-like jerboas sheds light on limb development With their tiny forelimbs and long hindlimbs and feet, jerboas are oddly proportioned creatures that look something like a pint-size cross between a kangaroo and the common mouse.
	Comprehensive study finds 238 genes that affect aging in yeast cells Following an exhaustive, ten-year effort, scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the University of Washington have identified 238 genes that, when removed, increase the replicative lifespan of S. cerevisiae yeast cells. This is the first time 189 of these genes have been linked to aging. These results provide new genomic targets that could eventually be used to improve human health. The research was published online on October 8th in the journal Cell Metabolism.
	Proteins with ALS, cancer role do not assume a regular shape Gene expression, DNA repair, and protein making are intricate and vital processes, so it's a bit of a surprise in a new Brown University study that those processes depend significantly upon proteins that do not take a static form. Instead, FUS—Fused in Sarcoma's—protein interaction region remains forever squirmy and squiggly, the study reports, performing its healthy functions by assembling into liquid-like droplets with other copies of itself and key molecules such as RNA.
	Diet supplement keeps circadian clock from slowing down in aging mice Falling levels of polyamines, compounds present in all living cells, cause circadian rhythms to slow down in older mice, reports a study published October 8 in Cell Metabolism. This effect was reversed by dietary supplementation with a type of polyamine called spermidine, which is abundant in foods such as soybeans, corn, green peas, and blue cheese. No studies have yet been conducted in humans.
	A long look back at fishes' extendable jaws When it comes to catching elusive prey, many fishes rely on a special trick: protruding jaws that quickly extend their reach to snap up that next meal. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 8 have found a clever way to trace the evolution of jaw protrusion in fishes over many millions of years.
	In the sex lives of male worms in the lab, one gene makes a big difference For tiny nematode worms of the species Caenorhabditis elegans—one of the workhorses of modern biology—males are rare and all but irrelevant in nature. That's because the vast majority of C. elegans individuals are self-fertilizing hermaphrodites. In the laboratory environment, males of the species do turn up with some regularity, and now researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 8 have made an intriguing discovery: natural variation in a single gene produces males with excretory pores that attract the sexual attentions of other males.
	Researchers create inside-out plants to watch how cellulose forms Researchers have been able to watch the interior cells of a plant synthesize cellulose for the first time by tricking the cells into growing on the plant's surface.
Scientists discover essential amino acid sensor in key growth-regulating metabolic pathway Whitehead Institute scientists have at last answered the long-standing question of how the growth-regulating pathway known as mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) detects the presence of the amino acid leucine—itself a key player in modulating muscle growth, appetite, and insulin secretion.
	Plant biosensor could help African farmers fight parasitic 'witchweed' Engineering and biology professors at the University of Toronto have developed a new strategy for helping African farmers fight a parasitic plant that devastates crops.
Climate change could benefit northern lizards Higher temperatures result in Swedish sand lizards laying their eggs earlier, which leads to better fitness and survival in their offspring, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.
	Feds say first humpback whales of season spotted in Hawaii Humpback whales were spotted in the waters off Hawaii for the first time this season, leading officials to warn ships and recreational boaters to steer clear of the endangered visitors.
	Researcher finds it takes guts to locate elusive shrimp Rachel Lasley-Rasher wanted to learn more about highly mobile shrimp that are important food for baleen whales and commercial fish along the continental shelf from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia.
	Otago researchers sequence kuri dog genomes The genetic heritage of New Zealand's first dog, the now extinct kurī, is being unravelled by University of Otago scientists using state-of-the-art ancient DNA analysis.
	Jellyfish venom capsule length association with pain Since the PLOS San Francisco office is a quick car ride from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, so many of us at PLOS have been captivated by jellyfish movements. They are simply mesmerizing to watch as they travel through the water. Unfortunately, close proximity to a jellyfish in open water can be nerve-wracking – contact with their tentacles triggers the discharge of venom. It only takes three milliseconds for jellyfish venom to transfer to a victim, which is one of the fastest movements in the animal kingdom. This sting can result in persistent pain and swelling, and sometimes even death.
	Relationship between domestication and human social skills Brian Hare wants to know why humans are such big babies.
	Multilaminar chromatin model explains the structure of chromosomal aberrations in cancer cells The organization of DNA packaged in chromosomes during cell division has been very difficult to study experimentally. Researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have found that the structure of translocations in cancer cells shows that chromosomes are formed by thin plates of chromatin.
	Encapsulated bacteriophages for enhanced oral phage therapy Encapsulated bacteriophages are more resistant to low stomach pH and live longer in the intestinal tract of broilers. The research, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, was conducted jointly by the UAB Group of Molecular Microbiology, led by Dr Montserrat Llagostera, and the ICN2 Supramolecular NanoChemistry and Materials Group, led by ICREA Professor Daniel Maspoch.
	Tropical ants in Europe "Imagine I could send an ecologist to Europe back tens of millions of years ago. Then, ask them to look at the ants and to tell me where they think they have landed… They would say Southeast Asia", explains Prof. Evan Economo of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). His team compared a database of modern ants with a database of fossil ants. The analysis has shown in which locations fossilized ants are more related to the ants now living in the same area of the world. Interestingly, ants which lived in Europe 45 to 10 million years ago were more similar to modern ants now living in South East Asia than their European counterparts. The study has been published in the Journal of Biogeography.
Shhh... to make ocean conservation work we should keep the noise down Quiet areas should be sectioned off in the oceans to give us a better picture of the impact human generated noise is having on marine animals, according to a new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin. By assigning zones through which ships cannot travel, researchers will be able to compare the behavior of animals in these quiet zones to those living in noisier areas, helping decide the best way to protect marine life from harmful noise.
Evidence for functional redundancy in nature One of biology's long-standing puzzles is how so many similar species can co-exist in nature. Do they really all fulfill a different role? Massive data on beetles now provide strong evidence for the idea that evolution can drive species into groups of look-a-likes that are functionally similar, according to a study by an international consortium of scientists led by Wageningen University, Netherlands.
	Urban runoff killing coho salmon, but simple solution within reach Toxic runoff from highways, parking lots and other developed surfaces is killing many of the adult coho salmon in urban streams along the West Coast, according to a new study that for the first time documents the fatal connection between urban stormwater and salmon survival.
	How small is the smallest? New record of the tiniest free-living insect provides precision The long-lasting search and debate around the size and identity of the World's smallest free-living insect seems to have now been ended with the precise measurement and second record of the featherwing beetle species.
	Team made new discoveries at the cellular and molecular levels about how the eye processes light An animal's ability to perceive light incorporates many complex processes. Now, researchers in Craig Montell's lab at UC Santa Barbara have used fruit flies and mice to make novel discoveries about sensory physiology at both cellular and molecular levels that are important for light processing.
	Researchers creating rapid diagnostic test for blood infections BYU is a major part of a collaborative team which has just kicked off a massive multidisciplinary effort to combat a threat to global health: the rising prevalence of bacteria that can't be treated by antibiotics.
	Assessing seabird communities A new study of sub-Antarctic seabirds shows that their community structure (how they co-exist and share resources) is unaffected by annual changes in availability of different types of prey, including Antarctic krill (a small shrimp-like crustacean). Reporting this month (November) in the Journal of Animal Ecology, a team of scientists studied the diet and feeding relationships of 13 species of seabirds on the sub-Antarctic island of Bird Island, near South Georgia. The results show that even if food availability changes, the different seabird species maintain roughly the same position in the food web.
	Working group seeks better cell type classification Traditionally, cells have been categorized based on location within an organism, structure, function, or even developmental history. But recent advances suggest there might be better and more uniform approaches to cell classification and understanding of cell types.
Risk assessment models prove unreliable at predicting which biofuel crops are likely to become invasive Several of the plants grown as biofuel crops have proved to be invaders in some environments – spreading rapidly and overwhelming surrounding natural ecosystems. Concerns about these weedy tendencies have led many to contend that risk assessments should be conducted before any bioenergy crop becomes widely cultivated. A new study featured in the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management, though, shows that current "gold-standard" weed risk assessment techniques simply aren't up to the task.
Decrease in antimicrobial use in animals in Denmark Antimicrobial use in animals has decreased in 2014 due mainly to decreased consumption in the pig production. In general very little of the critically important antimicrobials – which are used to treat humans – is used in the production of livestock. The use of critically important antimicrobials in companion animals has also decreased. These are some of the findings in the annual DANMAP report from Statens Serum Institut and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. DANMAP is the Danish integrated antimicrobial resistance monitoring and research programme.
	Broad-spectrum antimicrobials—considering 'holobiont' welfare The discovery of antibiotics (also referred to as antimicrobials) is perhaps the most revolutionary outcome in the medical sciences during the twentieth century, and has allowed medical practitioners to treat a wide range of bacterial infections; and therefore, antimicrobials are the most commonly prescribed drug in many types of illness all over the world. However, antibiotics may cause some adverse effects in the host body, yet it is often difficult to determine the long-term health effects of antimicrobials. However, different types of abnormalities that are common manifestations after antimicrobial therapy include: pathogen-induced colitis, cholera, atopic dermatitis, asthma, eczema, allergic sensitization, candidiasis, autoimmune encephalitis, and diabetes. A recent study out of the Center for Diabetes Research in Denmark showed that antibiotics exposure increases risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
	Unexpected connections: Calcium refill mechanisms in nerve cells affects gene expression Calcium is not just required for strong bones - it is an essential requirement for muscle and nerve cells to work normally. Latest research from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS, Bangalore), now shows that maintaining Calcium balance in cells is also needed for another purpose - it may be regulating the levels of an important signalling molecule called dopamine in the brain.

Medicine & Health news

	Discovery of how environmental memories may be transmitted from a father to his grandchildren If you have diabetes, or cancer or even heart problems, maybe you should blame it on your dad's behaviour or environment. Or even your grandfather's. That's because, in recent years, scientists have shown that, before his offspring are even conceived, a father's life experiences involving food, drugs, exposure to toxic products and even stress can affect the development and health not only of his children, but even of his grandchildren.
	Women and men react differently to infidelity If your partner has sex with someone else, it is considered infidelity - even if no emotions are involved. But it is also considered infidelity when your significant other develops a close personal relationship with someone else, even if there is no sex or physical intimacy involved.
	Companion animal patients aid scientists' search for human health solutions Dogs and cats may provide their human companions with more than love and affection. From cancer and osteoarthritis to inflammatory bowel and heart disease, animals are afflicted with many of the same ailments found in people.
	Scientists identify potential therapeutic target for pulmonary hypertension Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. As a prime example, pulmonary hypertension is especially lethal, with one-half of patients dying within three years of being diagnosed. Yale researchers have uncovered a novel cell type that is essential to the development of pulmonary hypertension and promises to lead to improved therapies.
	Compound doubles up on cancer detection Tagging a pair of markers found almost exclusively on a common brain cancer yields a cancer signal that is both more obvious and more specific to cancer, according to a study published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Difficulty processing speech may be an effect of dyslexia, not a cause The cognitive skills used to learn how to ride a bike may be the key to a more accurate understanding of developmental dyslexia. And, they may lead to improved interventions.
	Researchers build a digital piece of brain If you want to learn how something works, one strategy is to take it apart and put it back together again. For 10 years, a global initiative called the Blue Brain Project—hosted at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)—has been attempting to do this digitally with a section of juvenile rat brain. The project presents a first draft of this reconstruction, which contains over 31,000 neurons, 55 layers of cells, and 207 different neuron subtypes, on October 8 in Cell.
	Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells using stem cell technology For the first time, scientists can use skin samples from older patients to create brain cells without rolling back the youthfulness clock in the cells first. The new technique, which yields cells resembling those found in older people's brains, will be a boon to scientists studying age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
	Why elephants rarely get cancer: Potential mechanism identified that may be key to cancer resistance Why elephants rarely get cancer is a mystery that has stumped scientists for decades. A study led by researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah and Arizona State University, and including researchers from the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation, may have found the answer.
Salmonella unmasked as major killer of young children in Africa Invasive Salmonella infections in sub-Saharan Africa are a major cause of child illness and deaths, a new body of research into this usually overlooked infectious disease has revealed.
Gut microorganisms cause gluten-induced pathology in mouse model of celiac disease Investigators interested in celiac disease, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder caused by an immunologic response to the ingestion of gluten, have wondered why only 2% to 5% of genetically susceptible individuals develop the disease. Attention has focused on whether environmental determinants, including gut microorganisms, contribute to the development of celiac disease. Using a humanized mouse model of gluten sensitivity, a new study in The American Journal of Pathology found that the gut microbiome can play an important role in the body's response to gluten.
UK doctors and nurses routinely using own smartphones for patient care UK doctors and nurses are routinely using their own smartphones—including apps and messaging systems—for patient care, reveals a survey of frontline staff, published in the online journal BMJ Innovations.
	Treating aortic aneurysms through virtual reality Virtual models can be created in the angiography room thanks to an approach developed by researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) and the university's departments of radiology, radiation oncology, and nuclear medicine. The latest advances were presented by Dr. Gilles Soulez at the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe (CIRSE) conference on September 27, 2015.
New study shows electronic tracking helps reduce blood transfusions and infection rates An electronic system developed and implemented by Intermountain Healthcare that monitors how physicians give blood to patients after a surgical operation has enabled the healthcare system to significantly reduce the amount of blood transfusions patients receive, cutting costs by $2.5 million over two years and contributing to lower infection rates without harming patients, according to a new study presented Wednesday at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
New heart attack test could identify two-thirds of patients at very low risk of heart attack in the emergency department Using a high sensitivity blood test, researchers have identified the optimal level of a protein called troponin that could rule out a diagnosis of heart attack for two-thirds of people attending the emergency department, according to new research published in The Lancet. Using this threshold in routine practice could potentially double the number of patients suitable for immediate discharge directly from the emergency department, say the authors.
	Researcher: Children's cancer linked to Fukushima radiation A new study says children living near the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer at a rate 20 to 50 times that of children elsewhere, a difference the authors contend undermines the government's position that more cases have been discovered in the area only because of stringent monitoring.
	Researchers use nanotechnology to fight breast cancer October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are conducting innovative research aimed at improvements in early detection by molecular imaging.
Adding cultural values to mental health care In a national first, Flinders University is pioneering an innovative teaching and learning approach to combat mental health and culture stereotypes.
Ethnicity impacts perceptions of mental health among black communities When it comes to self-reported mental health among black Americans, ethnicity may play a role in how individuals perceive their status, say researchers at the University of Michigan.
	Reusing plastic bags a 'contamination risk' Reusing carrier bags for different food products such as fresh meat to cheese and bread is putting consumers at risk of biological contamination, warns an Aston academic.
P5CS mutations identified as new target for skin rejuvenation Led by scientists from Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)'s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), an international team of researchers has discovered a novel protein mutation which results in a rare premature skin ageing condition. The findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of skin ageing, and bring us one step closer to maintaining skin youthfulness through targeting such enzymes. The study was published in the American Journal of Human Genetics and involved collaborations with over 16 hospitals and research centres across 11 countries.
	MRI scans could predict patients at risk of major depressive disorder Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) could be used to predict which patients with recovered major depressive disorder are most likely to have more depressive episodes, according to a study published today in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Groundbreaking discovery for major trauma patients Researchers from the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre (ANZIC-RC) in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (SPHPM) at Monash University presented significant research findings on traumatic brain injury (TBI) mortality at the 28th Annual European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) congress today in Berlin.
	The public must speak up about gene editing – beyond embryo modification Researchers led by the Francis Crick institute recently applied to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for a licence to genetically modify human embryos. The research would use the genome editing technique CRISPR/Cas9 to shed light on the genetic causes of defect of miscarriages in pregnancy.
	Up to 1 billion people at risk of blindness by 2050 Up to 1 billion people could be at risk of blindness by the middle of the century if an emerging short-sightedness (myopia) epidemic is ignored say researchers at the Brien Holden Vision Institute.
	New study shows that varying walking pace burns more calories Looking for a simple way to burn more calories while walking? Change up your pace.
Researchers discover new information on the spread of cancer A new study from the University of Turku, Finland, shows that intracellular receptor signalling sustains cancer cells that have detached from the surrounding tissue. When the signalling is prevented, the cells cannot spread to other parts of the body. This significant research result influences how cancer research is directed in the future.
Wild blueberries could boost primary schoolchildren's memory and concentration Consuming wild blueberries may have a significant effect on the cognitive ability of primary schoolchildren, new University of Reading research has found.
	Is there a guide to long life? At age 40, Finns, Swedes, and Norwegians have reached the approximate mid-point of life. It is well known that, on average, whether an individual has more or fewer than 40 additional years to live after reaching age 40 depends on the person's sex. But almost as important as sex in determining life expectancy is whether the person belongs to the so-called "vanguard": If the individual is married and well educated, he or she will, on average, live five years longer than others of the same sex.
Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain For nearly nine years, researchers at Lund University have been working on developing implantable electrodes that can capture signals from single neurons in the brain over a long period of time - without causing brain tissue damage. They are now one big step closer to reaching this goal, and the results are published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.
Mental disorders as risk factors for chronic pain in teenagers One in four young people have experienced chronic pain and a mental disorder. According to a new report in the Journal of Pain, the onset of pain is often preceded by mental disorders: an above-average rate of incidence of depression, anxiety disorders, and behavioral disorders occurs before the onset of headaches, back pain and neck pain. The report is based on the findings of researchers at the University of Basel and Ruhr-Universität Bochum, who analyzed data from around 6,500 teenagers from the USA.
Protein research uncovers potential new diagnosis and therapy for breast cancer Scientists at the University of York, using clinical specimens from charity Breast Cancer Now's Tissue Bank, have conducted new research into a specific sodium channel that indicates the presence of cancer cells and affects tumour growth rates.
	Emotionally charged facial expressions can influence actions A face with an emotionally charged expression, especially if the emotion is anger, can influence the course of our actions, according to a study by the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste published in Cognitive Neuroscience. The distracting effect is potentially dangerous in come situations (for example, when driving).
	New report on the use of antiviral drugs to treat and prevent influenza A major new national report into the use of antiviral drugs (neuraminidase inhibitors) to treat and prevent influenza has drawn heavily on two pieces of research undertaken at The University of Nottingham.
	Study: Protecting dialysis patients from sudden cardiac death When people with end-stage kidney disease start dialysis, a treatment that filters the blood to rid the body of harmful waste, extra salt and water, they are at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are leading a study focused on reducing sudden death in these patients, the largest such clinical trial ever conducted.
Popular crime shows may help reduce sexual assault A new study reveals viewers of "Law and Order" have a better grasp of sexual consent than viewers of other crime dramas such as "CSI" or "NCIS," suggesting that individuals who watch programs in which sexual predators are punished may avoid sexual predatory behavior in real life.
Lab-grown 3-D intestine regenerates gut lining in dogs Working with gut stem cells from humans and mice, scientists from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the University of Pittsburgh have successfully grown healthy intestine atop a 3-D scaffold made of a substance used in surgical sutures.
	New study suggests hallucinations, alone, do not predict onset of schizophrenia Despite decades of study, schizophrenia has remained stubbornly difficult to diagnose in its earliest stage - between the appearance of symptoms and the development of the disorder. Now, a new analysis led by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine and the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) identified illogical thoughts as most predictive of schizophrenia risk. Surprisingly, perceptual disturbances - the forerunners of hallucinations - are not predictive, even though full-blown hallucinations are common features of schizophrenia. The results were published online today in the journal Schizophrenia Research.
	Professor Janet Hemingway, outlines 15 years of malaria interventions in Africa In an editorial in the weekly science journal Nature, LSTM's Director, Professor Janet Hemingway, looks at how the last 15 years of control measures have led to massive reductions in disease prevalence in Africa since 2000. The article comes as a study by Bhatt et al featured in the same edition provides the first authoritative, data-driven models to estimate the relative impact of the different interventions employed. At the same time Professor Hemingway warns of the problems that growing insecticide and drug resistance could mean to those efforts.
	Identified an 'alarm clock' of a leukemia-causing oncogene In the last thirty years it has been described in the field of oncology a large number of mutations in genes involved in multiple cellular pathways. The current ability to sequence all the genetic material of a tumor implies that it has been identified an even greater number of mutations in human tumors. However, we know very little about what are the consequences for the activity of the cells of these changes in the structure and composition of DNA.
Researchers discover a potential therapeutic strategy for a lethal brain cancer A team of Ludwig Cancer Research scientists has mapped out how a mutant version of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) known as EGFRvIII specifically drives critical processes that alter the reading of the genome to fuel the growth of the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and—most important—how each process is linked to the other. The study, published in the current issue of Molecular Cell, also reveals how those interconnections could potentially be exploited to treat GBM using a class of cancer drugs whose members are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.
Genetic variation is key to fighting viruses Using a genome-wide association study, EPFL scientists have identified subtle genetic changes that can cause substantial differences to how we fight viral infections.
Immune studies suggest remedies for parathyroid hormone-driven bone loss A common cause of bone loss is an overactive parathyroid gland, which doctors usually treat with surgery. New research on how excess parathyroid hormone affects immune cells suggests that doctors could repurpose existing drugs to treat hyperparathyroidism without surgery.
	Wyss Institute launches Opsonix to commercialize its pathogen-extracting sepsis therapy Today the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University unveiled the launch of its start-up company Opsonix Inc. The announcement follows a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement between Harvard's Office of Technology Development (OTD) and Opsonix Inc. enabling the company to ready the Wyss-designed sepsis therapy for clinical use.
Study examines cancer-care outcomes among US hospitals Decades of research have shown that cancer survival outcomes can vary widely depending on where patients receive care. But efforts to rank hospitals by long-term survival rates have been hindered by the readily available administrative data derived from Medicare claims, which lacks information about cancer stage. Two hospitals providing equally good care may have different survival rates if one hospital treats sicker patients, for example.
Examining contemporary occupational carcinogen exposure, bladder cancer Despite manufacturing and legislative changes to improve workplace hygiene, the risk of occupational bladder cancer appears to be on the rise in some industries, although the profile of at-risk occupations has changed over time, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
First-born in family more likely to be nearsighted; priority of education may be factor First-born individuals in a sample of adults in the United Kingdom were more likely to be nearsighted than later-born individuals in a family, and the association was larger before adjusting for educational exposure, suggesting that reduced parental investment in the education of children with later birth orders may be partly responsible, according to a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Helmeted bicycle riders have significantly reduced severity of injury after an accident Helmeted bicycle riders have a 58 percent reduced odds of severe traumatic brain injury after an accident compared to their non-helmeted counterparts, according to researchers from the University of Arizona, Tucson. Their findings were presented today during the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
	Surgery on that has spread into abdomen more than doubles patient survival time Patients with metastatic melanoma who undergo surgery to remove lesions that have spread into the abdomen live more than twice as long as those treated with drug therapy alone, according to novel new research by a North Shore-LIJ Health System cancer surgeon.
Many colonoscopy patients do not accurately recall important exam details as time lapses As time lapses, many colonoscopy patients become less and less likely to recall when and where they last had the procedure performed; who the doctor was who performed it; whether polyps were found, and, if so, the number and size of those polyps, according to new study results presented at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
	Role of breast cell infection in flu transmission between mothers and breast-feeding ferrets Influenza is known as an infectious respiratory disease, but a study published on October 8th in PLOS Pathogens suggests that infected cells in breast tissues could play a role in virus transmission from mothers to breast-feeding infants and vice versa using a ferret model.
Smoking and heavy alcohol use are associated with epigenetic signs of aging Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use cause epigenetic changes to DNA that reflect accelerated biological aging in distinct, measurable ways, according to research presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
Severity of skin psoriasis linked to blood vessel inflammation, cardiovascular risk People with more psoriasis may also have more inflammation in their blood vessels, according to research published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.
	Study shows treatment for bleeding disorder is effective Researchers in Manchester have demonstrated for the first time the relative safety and effectiveness of treatment, eltrombopag, in children with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), as part of an international duo of studies.
Sex change hormonal treatments alter brain chemistry Hormonal treatments administered as part of the procedures for sex reassignment have well-known and well-documented effects on the secondary sexual characteristics of the adult body, shifting a recipient's physical appearance to that of the opposite sex.
	EpiPens save lives but can cut like a knife Epinephrine autoinjectors can be life-saving for patients experiencing anaphylaxis - a life-threatening emergency - but a new case series published online Tuesday in Annals of Emergency Medicine identifies design features of EpiPens, the most commonly used autoinjector, that appear to be contributing to injuries in children.
Perceptions of fetal size influence interventions in pregnancy, study finds Nearly one-third of women, without a prior cesarean, reported that they were told by their maternity care providers that their babies might be ''quite large," leading to higher rates of medically-induced labor or planned cesarean deliveries that may not be warranted, a new study co-authored by Boston University School of Public Health and Medicine researchers shows. The study in the Maternal and Child Health Journal found that only a fraction (one in five) of the expectant mothers who were told their newborns might be large actually delivered babies with excessive birth weights - a condition known as fetal macrosomia, or a birth weight of more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces.
Thousands of older adults and persons with disabilities transitioning home The State of Connecticut's Department of Social Services, with its state evaluator UConn's Center on Aging, successfully transitioned more than 2,200 older and disabled Connecticut residents from nursing homes and other institutions to their own home or a community setting between 2008 and 2014, as part of the federal "Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration."
Mysterious disease may be tied to climate change, researcher says A mysterious kidney disease that has killed over 20,000 people in Central America, most of them sugar cane workers, may be caused by chronic, severe dehydration linked to global climate change, according to a new study by Richard J. Johnson, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
High dose chemo and stem cell transplantation results in long-term survival for amyloid patients Patients with Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis who are treated with high-dose chemotherapy (melphalan) and autologous (one's own) stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) have the greatest success for long-term survival.
Emergency department CT scans can change physicians' diagnoses and management decisions A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute for Technology assessment finds that, after viewing CT scan results, physicians in the emergency departments of four major academic medical centers made key changes in clinical decision-making for patients with symptoms frequently seen in emergency rooms. The study that has been published online in the journal Radiology adds important information to health policy debates regarding the appropriate use of CT scanning.
	Poor infant sleep may predict problematic toddler behavior Temper tantrums and misbehavior, restlessness and inattention are the trappings of the typical toddler. But they may also be signs of developmental delays or disorders. Are infant sleep irregularities red flags for later developmental difficulties?
One in eight children at risk for measles, analysis shows Gaps in measles vaccination rates place one in eight children at risk for becoming sick from the highly contagious illness, according to an analysis of national vaccination coverage being presented at IDWeek 2015. Measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization and occasionally, death.
	Study ties restless legs syndrome to heart, kidney problems Imagine trying to lie down and rest but feeling an uncontrollable urge to keep moving your legs.
Fracking industry wells associated with premature birth Expectant mothers who live near active natural gas wells operated by the fracking industry in Pennsylvania are at an increased risk of giving birth prematurely and for having high-risk pregnancies, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.
Epigenetic algorithm accurately predicts male sexual orientation An algorithm using epigenetic information from just nine regions of the human genome can predict the sexual orientation of males with up to 70 percent accuracy, according to research presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
	Surgeons restore hand, arm movement to quadriplegic patients A pioneering surgical technique has restored some hand and arm movement to patients immobilized by spinal cord injuries in the neck, reports a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol What has previously been known as good cholesterol—high density lipoprotein (HDL)—has now been shown to be not so good in protecting women against atherosclerosis while they are transitioning through menopause. That's according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health that was presented last week at the annual meeting of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) in Las Vegas.
	Researchers create 'leukemia in a dish' to better study it Scientists engineered stem cells to better understand the mechanisms behind a form of leukemia caused by changes in a key gene, according to a study led by Mount Sinai researchers and published online today in the journal Cell Reports.
Protecting newborn brains using hypothermia A unique study at Children's Hospital Los Angeles of newborns treated with hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) - a condition that occurs when the brain is deprived of an adequate oxygen supply - confirms its neuroprotective effects on the brain.
	Machines have nothing on mum when it comes to listening More than 99% of the time, two words are enough for people with normal hearing to distinguish the voice of a close friend or relative amongst other voices, says the University of Montreal's Julien Plante-Hébert. His study, presented at the 18th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, involved playing recordings to Canadian French speakers, who were asked to recognize on multiple trials which of the ten male voices they heard was familiar to them. "Merci beaucoup" turned out to be all they needed to hear.
	Opposites don't attract when learning how to use a prosthesis New research suggests that upper limb amputees, who typically struggle to learn how to use a new prosthesis, would be more successful if fellow amputees taught them. Most usually learn by watching a non-amputee demonstrate the device during physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions. A Georgia Institute of Technology study that measured arm movements and analyzed brain patterns found that people do better when they learn from someone who looks like them. The paper is published in the journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair.
Presenting options to patients: Menu approach good for patients and physicians A significant proportion of medical treatment decisions, perhaps the majority, are not clear-cut. Which is better for a specific patient—medication or surgery, medication or talk therapy, or even no treatment? If medication, which class of drugs? If surgery, what type of surgery?
Older tobacco users pay more for health insurance under Affordable Care Act A new study finds tobacco users would pay more for a health insurance plan from the Affordable Care Act exchanges than non-tobacco users in nearly every county of the 37 states that used healthcare.gov to sell their plans in 2015. In some instances, tobacco users would pay up to 46% more. The authors say future research may determine how many enrollees facing these surcharges will simply decide not to be truthful about their smoking status, or perhaps avoid buying health insurance altogether. The study appears early online in the American Journal of Public Health.
Adult high blood pressure risk identifiable in childhood Groups of people at risk of having high blood pressure and other related health issues by age 38 can be identified in childhood, new research from New Zealand's University of Otago suggests.
Common gene variant linked to chromosome errors and early pregnancy loss Researchers have identified a common genetic variant strongly associated with chromosome gains and losses during the early stages of human embryonic development. These errors in cell division, which are almost always fatal to the embryo, are thought to be a major cause of early pregnancy loss in humans and contribute to failure of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The findings were presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
Breakthrough drug approval signals great advances in lung cancer treatment The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) says the move by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant accelerated approval for a cutting-edge lung cancer treatment is a positive step forward that may help many patients improve their survival.
	Carrots do help aging eyes, study shows (HealthDay)—Your parents may have told you, "Eat your carrots, they're good for your eyes," and a new study suggests they were on to something.
	Whistle... and walk... while you work (HealthDay)—If you have to sit almost all day while you work, take a short walk whenever you can.
	Americans spend more on health care, but fare worse: report (HealthDay)—A new global report shows that money doesn't buy everything when it comes to health care in the United States.
	Study of daclizumab yields mixed results in multiple sclerosis (HealthDay)—Multiple sclerosis patients taking daclizumab high yield process (HYP), a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to CD25 (alpha subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor) and modulates interleukin-2 signaling, experienced lower relapse rates but more side effects than patients receiving interferon beta-1a, new research indicates. The study was published in the Oct. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Most cancer patients believe surgery will be curative (HealthDay)—Most patients undergoing surgery for lung or colorectal cancer believe that the surgery is likely to be curative, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Cancer.
	Extended RAS testing urged before EGFR MoAB therapy (HealthDay)—For patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (MoAB) therapy should be considered only after extended RAS testing, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Substantial proportion of revisits post ambulatory Sx occur in ER (HealthDay)—Acute care revisits occur with considerable frequency among low-risk patients undergoing ambulatory operations, with a substantial proportion of revisits occurring in emergency departments, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers isolate novel urinary biomarkers that may indicate adrenal cancer A global analysis of metabolites and small molecules in urine samples from patients with adrenal cancer has identified four biochemicals that, when measured together, can distinguish malignant from benign adrenal tumors, according to study results presented at the 2015 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
Thyroidectomy complication rates are lower if surgeon performs 25 or more cases yearly Patients undergoing a total thyroidectomy are 34 percent less likely to experience complications if their surgeon performs at least 25 cases per year of this operation to remove the entire thyroid gland, according to new study results presented at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. Yet, the research results show that most U.S. adults under-going total thyroidectomy have a surgeon who annually performs fewer of these surgical cases.
	Shakespeare acting program helps veterans deal with emotions William Shakespeare's words from more than 400 years ago are proving to be healing for modern-day veterans.
	Getting clean: Heroin addict goes through pioneering program Kylee Moriarty has experienced her share of ups and downs since deciding to kick her heroin habit this past summer.
Health groups back efforts to protect tobacco control measures under trans-pacific partnership agreement As the United States and 11 other countries conclude negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, we welcome reports that a proposal offered this week would protect the rights of participating nations to adopt public health measures to reduce tobacco use and prevent tobacco companies from using the TPP to launch legal attacks on such measures.
	Hearts on screen With the patient's heart displayed on a screen, cardiac specialists and engineers can run simulations of a variety of surgical procedures and predict their effects prior to an operation. This will save lives.
Therapy reduces the risk of fragility fractaures by 40 percent Osteoporosis, a disease of progressive bone loss, affects 70 percent of the U.S. population older than age 50: one in two women—and one in five men. These individuals are at risk for fragility fractures, a break that results from a fall, or occurs in the absence of obvious trauma, and most commonly seen in the wrist, the upper arm, the hip, and the spine.
Affordable Care Act helps Virginia improve HIV outcomes Low-income HIV patients enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care plans achieved better outcomes and the resulting cost savings allowed the state of Virginia to support care for more patients, according to a groundbreaking study from the University of Virginia being presented at IDWeek 2015.
Learning from the MDGs: Improved sanitation and drainage in cities World leaders have agreed on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but arguably Goal six - the water and sanitation goal - will have the hardest job building on the work undertaken by the previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A timely special double edition of the journal Environment and Urbanization on "Sanitation and drainage in cities" explores persistent gaps in urban sanitation provision and ways to address them.
	Long-term opioid therapy relieves chronic pain in only 20 percent of women Women, and especially younger women, are much less likely than men to have good relief of chronic, non-cancer pain with long-term opioid use, with only one in five women reporting low levels of pain and high levels of function with chronic opioid therapy in a new study published in Journal of Women's Health.
Study sheds light on protecting transgender individuals from suicide The likelihood of a transgender person attempting suicide is very high, often because of the prejudice, transphobia and other stressors he or she may experience. A new study examined factors that may protect transgender adults from attempting suicide. Its conclusions also inform medical and mental health professionals who work with transgender clients.
	UN: Polio vaccines in Ukraine safe despite local concerns The World Health Organization says it's worried that millions of doses of polio vaccine might be wasted in Ukraine after a patient group raised concerns that the doses are unsafe.

Other Sciences news

	Ancient genome from Africa sequenced for the first time The first ancient human genome from Africa to be sequenced has revealed that a wave of migration back into Africa from Western Eurasia around 3,000 years ago was up to twice as significant as previously thought, and affected the genetic make-up of populations across the entire African continent.
	Rare braincase provides insight into dinosaur brain Experts have described one of the most complete sauropod dinosaur braincases ever found in Europe. The find could help scientists uncover some of the mysteries of how dinosaur brains operated, including their intellectual and sensory abilities.
'Blind analysis' could reduce bias in social science, biology research A course on critical thinking at the University of California, Berkeley, co-taught for the past three years by a public policy expert and a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, has generated a new proposal to remove sources of bias in research and improve confidence in published studies.
	Research pair suggest crowd sourcing could improve social science experiment results (Phys.org)—Social science experiments do not have the best track records—oftentimes, studies are conducted, followed by wild claims which are then either contested or outright refuted by colleagues. There might be a better way Raphael Silberzahn and Eric Uhlmann suggest in an essay piece published in the journal Nature—crowdsourcing.
	Math story time at home bolsters achievement in school Adding math talk to story time at home is a winning equation for children's math achievement, according to new research from the University of Chicago.
College labor market still in high gear The job market for college graduates is poised for a third straight year of explosive growth, as companies in most industries seek new talent, according to the largest annual survey of U.S. employers.
Debates around sex industry based on 'sexist stereotypes', says report More than a third of UK escorts advertising on a prominent website identify as male or trans, with more than two-thirds advertising to women, according to new research that paints a surprising picture of the UK sex industry.
	From 'Huh?' to 'Who?' The universal utterances that keep us talking There's more to our discovery that every language appears to have the word "Huh?", or at least something that sounds very similar, that saw us pick up one of this year's Ig Nobel Prizes that celebrate some of the more unusual research.
	How a one night stand in the Ice Age affects us all today Over the past half decade, ancient DNA research has revealed some surprising aspects to our evolutionary history during the past 50,000 years.
	They won a Nobel for what? Why good science communication counts When I was a newspaper science editor, I approached Nobel Prize season with mixed glee and anxiety. Glee, because I knew that, without even an argument, I would get space in the paper for stories about research too arcane to make it into print the other 51 weeks of the year. Like the Academy Awards, the Nobels always get covered, and obscure topics like neutrino metamorphosis and DNA excision repair get their moment to shine, like the folks who win Oscars for sound mixing.
Wind and insect patterns dispel myth of 'finer feelings' in Neanderthal burial rituals Research from academics at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) could dispel myths that our Neanderthal ancestors buried flowers with their dead 60,000 years ago.
Frequent school moves hurt low-income childrens' math scores Low-income students who change schools frequently are at risk for lower math scores and have a harder time managing their behavior and attention in the classroom than similar students who stay in the same school, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
87 percent of Americans say candidates should have basic understanding of science informing public policy An overwhelming majority of Americans (87%) say it is important that candidates for President and Congress have a basic understanding of the science informing public policy issues, including majorities across the political spectrum (92% of Democrats, 90% of Republicans and 79% of Independents). Americans also say the presidential candidates should participate in a debate to discuss key science-based challenges facing the United States, such as healthcare, climate change, energy, education, innovation and the economy, with 91% of Democrats, 88% of Republicans and 78% of Independents agreeing.
	New discovery of Late Miocene hipparion fossils from Baogeda Ula, Inner Mongolia, China Hipparionine horses were extensively distributed in North America and the Old World, and they were especially abundant during the Late Miocene and Pliocene in Eurasia. As a result, Hipparion fossils are important biological markers for stratigraphic correlations as well as climatic and environmental reconstructions. The fossils of the genus Hipparion are the most representative in the Late Miocene and Pliocene terrestrial strata of China, and their rich specimens are found in many fossil localities. Like most localities bearing Hipparion in China, the Hipparion fossils in central Inner Mongolia were collected from the red clay deposits, such as Tuchengzi in Huade County and Wulanhua in Siziwang Banner. From the fluvial and lacustrine deposits of central Inner Mongolia, a great number of micromammalian localities have been discovered, in which sporadic Hipparion fossils were mentioned, without specific reports and detailed descript! ions.
	New enantiornithine bird reveals the refinement for cranial kinesis occurring early in avian evolution Enantiornithes is the most diverse Mesozoic birds. Approximately half of the known global diversity of Enantiornithes is from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. The Jehol birds are usually complete and articulated, but compressed in two dimensions. Consequently, key features regarding some skeletal elements, particularly the gracile skull bones, are obscured by crushed and overlying elements. Thus, detailed cranial morphology remains largely unknown for enantiornithines. In a paper published online August 21 in Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, Dr. WANG Min, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his colleagues reported a new enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Although incomplete, the skeleton is disarticulated and several cranial elements are exquisitely well preserved in their entirety, providing morphological information that had pr! eviously been poorly understood.
Idaho nuclear lab director eyes new generation of scientists Idaho's federal nuclear facility can become the nation's premier energy security lab while also bolstering the region's economy, the new director says.

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