Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, May 30

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, May 31, 2014 at 2:20 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, May 30
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 30, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Space-based experiment could test gravity's effects on quantum entanglement
- Elliptical galaxies: Chandra helps explain 'red and dead galaxies'
- Pair of researchers suggest black holes at center of galaxies might instead be wormholes
- Researchers create highly detailed 3D model of an individual neural synapse (w/ Video)
- Research team claims to have accurately 'teleported' quantum information ten feet
- New algorithms and electronic components could enable printable robots that self-assemble when heated
- Coral reefs are better at coping with rising sea temperatures than we thought
- Scientists pinpoint the creeping nanocrystals behind lithium-ion battery degradation
- Observing the random diffusion of missing atoms in graphene
- Research details how developing neurons sense a chemical cue
- Researcher discovers inexpensive catalyst to produce oxygen and hydrogen gas
- Atomic structure of essential circadian clock protein complex determined
- For the first time in the lab, researchers see stem cells take key step toward development
- Genome sequences show how lemurs fight infection
- Researchers detect unwanted effects of important gene manipulation system

Astronomy & Space news

	Virgin space flights cleared for US take-off Richard Branson's dream of commercial space flights took a step nearer reality after Virgin Galactic signed a deal with US aviation authorities to let it blast paying customers into space, the company said Thursday.
	Five things to know about SpaceX's flight plans SpaceX has made supply runs to the International Space Station under a NASA contract. Now it's eyeing carrying astronauts to low-Earth orbit. NASA is depending on private companies to fill the void left by the retirement of its space shuttle fleet.
	Will an asteroid smack Jupiter in 2022? A recent space rock discovery has sent a minor buzz through the community that tracks such objects. And as usual, it has also begun to attract the dubious attention of those less than honorable sites—we won't dignify them with links—that like to trumpet gloom and doom, and we thought we'd set the record straight, or at very least, head the Woo off at the pass as quickly as possible.
	The battle against what spaceflight does to your health Why do some astronauts come back from the International Space Station needing glasses? Eye problems are one of the largest problems that have cropped up in the last three to four years of space station science, affecting 20% of astronauts. And the astronaut office is taking this problem very seriously, pointed out Scott Smith, who leads the Nutritional Biochemistry Lab at the Johnson Space Center.
Apollo 13 astronaut's toothbrush sells for $11,794 A toothbrush used by one of the American astronauts who flew to the Moon was sold at auction for nearly $12,000, or triple the starting bid, the auction house said Friday.
	SpaceX unveils capsule to ferry astronauts to space A sleek, white gumdrop-shaped space capsule that aims to carry up to seven astronauts to the International Space Station and return to land anywhere on Earth was unveiled Thursday by SpaceX.
	The 'Serpent' star-forming cloud hatches new stars (Phys.org) —Stars that are just beginning to coalesce out of cool swaths of dust and gas are showcased in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). Infrared light has been assigned colors we see with our eyes, revealing young stars in orange and yellow, and a central parcel of gas in blue. This area is hidden in visible-light views, but infrared light can travel through the dust, offering a peek inside the stellar hatchery.
	Pair of researchers suggest black holes at center of galaxies might instead be wormholes (Phys.org) —Zilong Li and Cosimo Bambi with Fudan University in Shanghai have come up with a very novel idea—those black holes that are believed to exist at the center of a lot of galaxies, may instead by wormholes. They've written a paper, uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, describing their idea and how what they've imagined could be proved right (or wrong) by a new instrument soon to be added to an observatory in Chile.
	Elliptical galaxies: Chandra helps explain 'red and dead galaxies' (Phys.org) —NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has shed new light on the mystery of why giant elliptical galaxies have few, if any, young stars. This new evidence highlights the important role that supermassive black holes play in the evolution of their host galaxies.

Medicine & Health news

Canada pledges Can$3.5 bn for maternal, child health Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged Can$3.5 billion Thursday for immunization, better nutrition and the introduction of birth certificates in developing nations to improve the health of mothers and children.
In Russia, new anti-smoking law alarms tobacco giants Tough new anti-smoking legislation that comes into force on Sunday in Russia has dismayed cigarette companies as they face the prospect of declining sales and tighter regulation of their industry.
US lawmakers back state medical marijuana laws The U.S. House of Representatives voted early Friday in favor of blocking the federal government from interfering with states that permit the use of medical marijuana.
	Landmark study offers solutions to inequality still afflicting St. Louis region A half-century after the Civil Rights Act, unequal access to resources continues to afflict the St. Louis area, resulting in billions of dollars lost in health-care costs and wages.
	Lung cancer patients may benefit from innovative informatics project A multidisciplinary team of doctors, researchers, and informaticists the University of Kentucky is working to improve identification of lung cancer patients who are eligible to participate in clinical trials for novel treatments.
	If cheating is 'normal' in cycling, how can we build integrity? "Integrity" is currently the buzzword around Australian sport policy-making.
American Heart Association presses congress to keep special interests off school menus American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments today on the House Appropriations Committee's approval of a proposed waiver that would allow school districts to withdraw from federal school nutrition standards:
Sierra Leone reports two Ebola deaths, 12 cases Health officials in Sierra Leone say there have been two deaths from Ebola and a dozen other cases of the deadly disease.
Research shows overall survival benefit for patients with Stage III soft tissue sarcomas Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers have carried out the first retrospective analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy's impact on overall survival in patients with stage III soft tissue sarcomas (STS), adjusted for socioeconomic status and other variables. The findings show that regardless of socioeconomic status and comorbidities, adjuvant chemotherapy improved survival by approximately 23 percent in stage III STS. Study leader Sujana Movva, MD, Medical Oncologist at Fox Chase, will present the findings the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Moffitt Cancer Center instrumental in new clinical guidelines for cancer-related fatigue Fatigue is a debilitating problem for cancer patients undergoing treatment; however, it also poses a huge detriment after treatment and can significantly affect quality of life. Approximately 30 percent of cancer patients endure persistent fatigue for several years after treatment, according to an American Society of Clinical Oncology Expert Panel co-chaired by Paul Jacobsen, Ph.D., associate center director of Population Sciences at Moffitt Cancer Center.
US program ends ban on sex-change surgery coverage Transgender people enrolled in the U.S. health program for the elderly and disabled can no longer be automatically denied coverage for sex reassignment surgeries, a Department of Health and Services review board ruled Friday. The groundbreaking decision recognizes the procedures as a medically necessary and effective treatment for individuals who do not identify with their biological sex.
Sierra Leone raises Ebola death toll, confirms new cases Sierra Leone on Friday raised its death toll from Ebola and doubled the number of confirmed cases of the virus amid fears the deadly epidemic gripping West Africa is spreading.
US House moves to end raids on medical marijuana Reflecting growing public support for easing marijuana laws, the House of Representatives voted Friday to bar federal authorities from raiding medical marijuana facilities or growers in states that have legalized its use.
Mothers of women with PCOS have increased risk of early death Mothers of daughters with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly increased risk of death, particularly if they also have diabetes, when compared to the general population, according to new research.
	Gene expression signature identifies patients at higher risk for cardiovascular death A study of 338 patients with coronary artery disease has identified a gene expression profile associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular death. Used with other indicators such as biochemical markers and family history, the profile – based on a simple blood test – may help identify patients who could benefit from personalized treatment and counseling designed to address risk factors.
Remote monitoring device approved for heart patients (HealthDay)—An implanted wireless device that measures key vital signs in people with heart failure has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	More Americans working to control blood pressure, cholesterol (HealthDay)—Although more Americans are trying to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, more needs to be done to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes in the United States, government health officials said Thursday.
	Risk of serious complications in obstetric anesthesia is low (HealthDay)—The risk of serious complications in obstetric anesthesia is low, according to research published in the June issue of Anesthesiology.
	Informed consent plays major role in prostatectomy lawsuits (HealthDay)—Claims of not receiving proper informed consent and clinical performance are the main issues that arise in radical prostatectomy malpractice litigation, according to a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Urology.
	ECO: stress in children impacts hormones, diet, adiposity (HealthDay)—For children, stress is associated with poorer diet, which stimulates adiposity, according to a study presented at the annual European Congress on Obesity, held from May 28 to 31 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
	Review: A-fib risk up with oral, intravenous bisphosphonates (HealthDay)—The risk of atrial fibrillation is increased with use of oral or intravenous bisphosphonates, with a greater risk seen for intravenous versus oral preparations, according to a review published in the June 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	What you wear can change your brain Clothing affects our mental processes and perceptions which can change our minds and the way we think, according to research by Professor Karen Pine from the University of Hertfordshire.
Improvements in blood pressure control prevent hundreds of thousands of major cardiovascular events Hypertension (raised blood pressure) treatment rates have almost doubled and control rates have trebled in England between 1994 and 2011, resulting in the saving of tens of thousands of lives each year, according to a new study published in a special themed issue of The Lancet. The issue is published ahead of ahead of Hypertension 2014, the Joint Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and International Society of Hypertension (ISH), to be held in Athens, Greece, June 13-16, 2014.
Systolic and diastolic blood pressures predict risk of different cardiovascular diseases Raised systolic and diastolic blood pressures may have different effects on different types of cardiovascular diseases and at different ages, according to new research involving 1.25 million patients from primary care practices in England published in a special themed issue of The Lancet. The issue is published ahead of ahead of Hypertension 2014, the Joint Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and International Society of Hypertension (ISH), to be held in Athens, Greece, June 13-16, 2014.
	Teen drinking may lead to problems later in life In a television interview early this year, ABC news anchor Elizabeth Vargas talked candidly about her recovery from alcoholism. Before seeking treatment last fall, Vargas drank as many as three to four glasses of wine a night to cope with the panic attacks that have plagued her since childhood, starting when her father went away to serve in Vietnam.
	Study suggests strong link between depression and early death among seniors with diabetes (Medical Xpress)—People with diabetes have about double the risk of premature death as people of the same age without diabetes. Studies also have shown that they have about twice the odds of suffering from depression, which further increases their mortality risk.
	Study examines the causes of high school disconnection by youth and potential solutions (Medical Xpress)—The Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives at Tulane University released an extensive report, High School Disconnection: Insights from the Inside, which explores the causes of high school disconnection by youth and potential solutions to address it.
	Online avatar helps demystify breast cancer risk (Medical Xpress)—About one in eight American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime – more than 200,000 this year alone. A simple blood test can determine if a woman faces increased risk due to genetic mutations, yet decisions about whether to get the test and what to do about the results are far from simple – a fact exemplified by Angelina Jolie's choice to undergo a double mastectomy last year upon learning she carried a harmful BRCA1 gene mutation.
Exposure to organic solvents before first childbirth may increase hormone-related breast cancer risk Among women with a family history of breast cancer, those who worked with organic solvents prior to their first full-term birth had an increased risk for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Alterations in LRIG1 gene may increase the risk for breast cancer relapse and death (Medical Xpress)—Women whose early-stage breast cancers had reduced numbers of copies of the LRIG1 gene were more likely to have a relapse or die of their disease, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
	Five or more blistering sunburns before age 20 may increase melanoma risk by 80 percent (Medical Xpress)—The risk of developing the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma, was more closely related to sun exposure in early life than in adulthood in young Caucasian women, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Study highlights side effects experienced by BRCA mutation carriers following cancer risk-reducing surgical procedure The majority of women with cancer causing BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations experience sexual dysfunction, menopausal symptoms, cognitive and stress issues, and poor sleep following prophylactic removal of their Fallopian tubes and ovaries - a procedure known as risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) - according to results of a new study from the Abramson Cancer Center and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The team's findings, which reaffirm the need for a better understanding of how to manage long-term effects of the risk-reducing procedure, will be presented during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago's McCormick Place on Saturday, May 31, 2014 (abstract #1508).
	Scientists discover new route to boost pancreatic cancer treatment Cancer Research UK scientists have uncovered new insights into how a key pancreatic cancer drug – gemcitabine – is broken down in tumour cells, according to research* published in the British Journal of Cancer (BJC), today (Friday).
	Researchers question e-cigarette regulation Public health specialists in the UK have urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) not to "control and suppress" e-cigarettes as it prepares to publish global guidelines on the devices.
Poorer people more likely to get and die from cancer The poorer you are, the more likely you are to get and die from cancer, with more than 19,000 cancer deaths every year linked to lower levels of income according to new research published today (Thursday).
	Eating prunes can help weight loss Research by the University of Liverpool has found that eating prunes as part of a weight control diet can improve weight loss.
	Phase I study of DMOT4039A in patients with pancreatic or ovarian cancer A study presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) describes the results of a phase I clinical trial of the investigational agent DMOT4039A against pancreatic and ovarian cancers. In this early clinical trial with the goal of identifying possible risks and defining likely dosages, the drug was well tolerated and in some patients showed initial evidence of anti-cancer activity.
	New research reveals brain differences in youth who commit homicide A new study conducted by The Mind Research Network (MRN) in Albuquerque found that youth 12 to 18 who commit homicide have very different brains than other serious juvenile offenders who have not committed a homicide.
Mindfulness intervention for people with diabetes and coronary heart disease Mindfulness-based interventions have been hailed as effective in targeting negative cognitions such as worry and thought suppression, but their ability to improve long-term conditions (LTCs) has remained unexamined. In the Open Access article, "A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of the Acceptability and Effectiveness of a Brief Meditation and Mindfulness Intervention for People with Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease," published in Behavioral Medicine, researchers examine how meditation and mindfulness affect people with diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease.
	New test measuring cell bioenergetic health could become key tool in personalized medicine Researchers at the University of Alabama at BirminghamSchool of Medicine have created an experimental blood test that, for the first time, determines a "Bioenergetic Health Index," or BHI, by gauging the performance of mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouses. They report their laboratory findings in a recent issue of the journal Clinical Science.
Rectal artesunate beneficial in young children with severe malaria, but may be harmful in older children, adults Researchers from the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group, hosted at LSTM, conducted an independent review of the effects of pre-referral rectal artesunate for people with severe malaria, published in the Cochrane Library today.
	New sublingual pill may help allergies Allergy sufferers are breathing a sigh of relief with the news that FDA-approved medications taken via a pill or drops under the tongue over the course of weeks – as opposed to a series of injections that might last years – are starting to hit the market.
	Drug offers huge potential for endometriosis A recent clinical study on a drug designed at the University has confirmed its potential in targeting the gynaecological disease endometriosis.
	Dying cells trigger immunity The immune system produces various types of immune cells—some are pre-programmed to target pathogens that the immune system has previously encountered, while others are 'naive' and retain the ability to mature or differentiate into specific cell types to target new invaders. Some of the triggers of this differentiation, however, remain poorly understood.
	High-frequency nerve signals let mice remember how to make the right move Information processing in the brain is complex and involves both the processing of sensory inputs and the conversion of those inputs into behavior. The passing of electrical oscillations between networks of neurons in different parts of the brain is thought to be a critical component of cognition as well as conscious perception and awareness, but so far there has been little direct evidence linking specific neuronal oscillations to discrete thinking and behavior events.
	Algorithm reconstructs lineages of competing cancer cells within individual tumours Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have developed a method to characterise the main lineages of cells that are present in a tumour and their prevalence over time following chemotherapy. Aiming to reconstruct the genetic profiles of cellular lineages within the tumour, the team created a new computational algorithm named cloneHD which makes use of whole-genome DNA sequencing from mixed populations.
Identification of central nervous system involvement for patients with AIDS-related lymphomas Patients with AIDS-related lymphomas (ARL) may face an increased risk of central nervous system involvement (CNSi) compared to other lymphomas. The effect of CNSi on survival outcomes, however, hasn't been thoroughly examined until now.
Hepatitis C reactivation doesn't worsen survival for HIV+ patients diagnosed with lymphoma More than a quarter of HIV+ patients are also infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which may complicate treatment and care decisions after a cancer diagnosis. The specifics of those complications haven't been well-researched in the past. Results from a new Fox Chase Cancer Center study on this patient population may start filling in that gap.
More patients with ovarian cancer are receiving chemotherapy before surgery The use of chemotherapy before surgery to remove ovarian cancer has increased dramatically in recent decades, particularly among certain patients, according to a new analysis from Fox Chase Cancer Center that will be presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
	One cell's meat is another cell's poison As a new therapeutic approach, Janus kinases are currently in the limelight of cancer research. The focus of interest is the protein JAK2. By inhibiting this protein one tries to cure chronic bone marrow diseases, such as myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
	Study explains how green tea could reduce pancreatic cancer risk Green tea and its extracts have been widely touted as potential treatments for cancer, as well as several other diseases. But scientists have struggled to explain how the green tea and its extracts may work to reduce the risk of cancer or to slow the growth of cancer cells.
Standard approaches to menopause symptoms discount non-Western experiences Understanding menopausal symptoms through a simple checklist has serious limitations, particularly within different ethnic groups or populations, according to a new study of British Pakistani women's beliefs about and experiences of menopause.
Radiation for prostate cancer linked to secondary cancers, study finds Among men treated for prostate cancer, those who received radiation therapy were more likely to develop bladder or rectal cancer, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Trial uncovers potential dangers of chemotherapy regimen for bladder cancer patients Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer often benefit from chemotherapy before surgery to remove the tumor, but a test of one regimen by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center was halted when too many people experienced serious side effects such as heart attacks and blood clots in the legs and lungs.
Genetic profile predicts which bladder cancer patients will benefit from early chemotherapy Three genetic changes can predict whether a patient will benefit from chemotherapy before surgery to remove bladder cancer, according to new findings presented by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers during the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
	Children of divorced parents in higher risk of obesity, study finds Divorce rates, family quarrels and the habit to eat out influence child obesity rates, new studies presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Sofia suggested on Friday.
Women with metastatic breast cancer can safely receive bisphosphonates less frequently, without comp Women with metastatic breast cancer to the bone may be able to receive bisphosphonates, the bone-targeting class of drugs like zoledronic acid, less often after the first year of monthly administration. With that practice change, women may also reduce their risk of serious side effects, according to a study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Coaxing iPS cells to become more specialized prior to transplantation cuts rejection risk For many scientists, the clinical promise of stem cells has been dampened by very real concerns that the immune system will reject the transplanted cells before they could render any long-term benefit. Previous research in mice has suggested that even stem cells produced from the subject's own tissue, called iPS cells, can trigger an immune attack.
	Stopping statins may benefit terminally ill patients Results presented today at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and June 6 at the European Association of Palliative Care Research Conference show that stopping statins for cholesterol management in the late stages of cancer or other terminal illnesses may offer quality-of-life and even life-extending benefits. The results highlight the larger question of when, if ever, it is appropriate in patients with life-limiting illnesses to discontinue medications prescribed for other conditions that will likely not lead to their death.
New drug treatment helps prevent early menopause in breast cancer patients Among young women treated for breast cancer, one of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy is early menopause. But a major clinical trial has found that the risk of early menopause can be significantly reduced by adding a drug called goserelin to the chemotherapy regimen. Also, women who took goserelin and wanted to have children were more likely to get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby.
	Diabetes drug may spur weight loss in obese nondiabetics (HealthDay)—A higher dose of the diabetes drug liraglutide (Victoza) may help obese people without the disease lose weight, a new study suggests.
	Schizophrenia may raise dementia risk in older adults (HealthDay)—Older adults who have schizophrenia appear to face a higher risk of getting dementia, new research suggests.
	Could white bread be making you fat? (HealthDay)—If you're watching your weight, you may have to watch your white bread consumption, too.
	Calcium supplements don't raise women's heart risks, study says (HealthDay)—In the wake of concerns that calcium supplements increase the risk for heart attack or stroke, a large, new U.S. study offers women and their doctors some reassurance.
	Pre-op factors contribute to longer LOS with spinal surgery (HealthDay)—Preoperative factors are independently associated with longer length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), according to a study published in the May 20 issue of Spine.
	Lack of data plagues physician re-entry into practice (HealthDay)—There are significant barriers for physicians wishing to re-enter practice following a temporary leave and there are not many available resources to aid in the transition, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
	Inflammation tied to depressive symptoms in new T2DM (HealthDay)—For patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, inflammatory markers are associated with depressive symptoms, according to a study published online May 19 in Diabetes Care.
	New 3-D representation of Richard III's spine shows 'spiral nature' of his scoliosis Shakespeare may have characterised Richard III as a hunchback, but now everyone can explore the true shape of one of history's most famous spinal columns.
	Scientists identify metabolic link between aging, Parkinson's (Medical Xpress)—University of Alabama researchers identified within animal models an enzyme that links genetic pathways that control aging with the death of dopamine neurons – a clinical hallmark of Parkinson's disease.
Can narcissists be moved to show empathy? Researchers at the University of Surrey and the University of Southampton have investigated whether narcissists can elicit empathy for another person's suffering. It has been well documented that narcissists lack empathy, but why is that the case, and do they have the capacity to change that behavior? The research is published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
	Researchers detect unwanted effects of important gene manipulation system Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have devised a way to detect unintended side effects of manipulating genes using a revolutionary new system that is sweeping the scientific world by storm.
Compounds in saliva and common body proteins may fend off DNA-damaging chemicals A compound in saliva, along with common proteins in blood and muscle, may protect human cells from powerful toxins in tea, coffee and liquid smoke flavoring, according to results of a new study led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
	Research details how developing neurons sense a chemical cue Symmetry is an inherent part of development. As an embryo, an organism's brain and spinal cord, like the rest of its body, organize themselves into left and right halves as they grow. But a certain set of nerve cells do something unusual: they cross from one side to the other. New research in mice delves into the details of the molecular interactions that help guide these neurons toward this anatomical boundary.
	Researchers create highly detailed 3D model of an individual neural synapse (w/ Video) (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers in Germany has created a very highly detailed 3D computer model of an individual rat synapse showing the distribution of approximately 30,000 proteins involved in the process of sending a message from one neuron to another. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes how they combined several imaging techniques to create the model, and what it is able to display.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
(......)
You are subscribed as pascal.alter@gmail.com