Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Aug 18

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 2:18 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Aug 18
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 18, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week – Possible signal from dark matter, a robo-cook and a switchboard in our brains
- Study finds possible link between Arctic change and extreme mid-latitude weather
- Study finds crucial step in DNA repair
- Targeted brain stimulation aids stroke recovery in mice
- Bacterial nanowires: Not what we thought they were
- Promising ferroelectric materials suffer from unexpected electric polarizations
- Recycling old batteries into solar cells
- Study finds children as young as six are biased toward their social group when combating unfairness
- More than just X and Y: A new genetic basis for sex determination
- Zombie ant fungi manipulate hosts to die on the 'doorstep' of the colony
- New study reveals vulnerability in photo-ID security checks
- Older coral species more hardy, biologists say
- Scientists win race to find structure of rare nematode virus
- Pygmy phenotype developed many times, adaptive to rainforest
- Researchers obtain key insights into how the internal body clock is tuned

Astronomy & Space news

	The future of CubeSats (Phys.org) —To investigate climate change, scientists and engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing the IceCube satellite, which will be no larger than a loaf of bread. In 2016, this satellite will mature technology that scientists will use to analyze cloud ice in the atmosphere.
	New survey begins mapping nearby galaxies A new survey called MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory) has been launched that will greatly expand our understanding of galaxies, including the Milky Way, by charting the internal structure and composition of an unprecedented sample of 10,000 galaxies.
	Spacewalking astronauts release baby satellite (Update) Spacewalking astronauts launched a tiny Peruvian research satellite Monday, setting it loose on a mission to observe Earth.
	Dark Energy Survey kicks off second season cataloging the wonders of deep space On Aug. 15, with its successful first season behind it, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) collaboration began its second year of mapping the southern sky in unprecedented detail. Using the Dark Energy Camera, a 570-megapixel imaging device built by the collaboration and mounted on the Victor M. Blanco Telescope in Chile, the survey's five-year mission is to unravel the fundamental mystery of dark energy and its impact on our universe.
	Orbital cargo ship makes planned re-entry to Earth Orbital Sciences Corporation's unmanned Cygnus cargo ship disintegrated as planned Sunday as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere after a month-long resupply mission to the International Space Station.
	Image: Rosetta spies comet surface variations A new image of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko shows the diversity of surface structures on the comet's nucleus. It was taken by the Rosetta spacecraft's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on August 7, 2014. At the time, the spacecraft was 65 miles (104 kilometers) away from the 2.5-mile-wide (4-kilometer) nucleus.
	Beautiful morning conjunction Sleeping late is one of the simple pleasures of summer vacation. This week, waking up early will be a pleasure, too.
	Two new satellites for Europe's Galileo space network Europe is set to launch two satellites Thursday for its Galileo navigation system, boosting the number in the Earth-orbiting constellation to six and bringing the network a step closer to becoming operational after a long delay.
	Study reveals immune system is dazed and confused during spaceflight There is nothing like a head cold to make us feel a little dazed. We get things like colds and the flu because of changes in our immune system. Researchers have a good idea what causes immune system changes on Earth—think stress, inadequate sleep and improper nutrition. But the results of two NASA collaborative investigations—Validation of Procedures for Monitoring Crewmember Immune Function (Integrated Immune) and Clinical Nutrition Assessment of ISS Astronauts, SMO-016E (Clinical Nutrition Assessment)—recently published in the Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research suggest that spaceflight may temporarily alter the immune system of crew members flying long duration missions aboard the International Space Station. This is of concern as NASA looks ahead to six-month and multiple-year missions to asteroids, the moon and Mars because something as simple as a cold or the flu can be risky business in space.
	NASA image: U.S. Gulf Coast at night One of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the International Space Station photographed this nighttime image showing city lights in at least half a dozen southern states from some 225 miles above the home planet.

Medicine & Health news

	Study finds crucial step in DNA repair Scientists at Washington State University have identified a crucial step in DNA repair that could lead to targeted gene therapy for hereditary diseases such as "children of the moon" and a common form of colon cancer.
	Targeted brain stimulation aids stroke recovery in mice When investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine applied light-driven stimulation to nerve cells in the brains of mice that had suffered strokes several days earlier, the mice showed significantly greater recovery in motor ability than mice that had experienced strokes but whose brains weren't stimulated.
	Scientists uncover key clue for protecting hearts against deadly arrhythmia A study, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Medical Research Council, has shed new light on how carbon monoxide could be used to protect against life-threatening arrhythmias after a heart attack.
	The role of lactate in boosting memory (Medical Xpress)—EPFL researchers have decoded the mechanism by which a glucose derivative activates receptors involved in memorization.
	Visual 'gist' helps us figure out where a crowd is looking Have you ever seen a crowd of people looking off into the distance, perhaps toward a passing biker or up to the top of a building? There's a good chance you looked there, too, instantly, even without paying attention to the individuals in the group. How can we tell where a crowd is looking with so little effort?
	White blood cell research shows how causing and conquering inflammation are inextricably linked Hugely popular non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs like aspirin, naproxen (marketed as Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) all work by inhibiting or killing an enzyme called cyclooxygenase – a key catalyst in production of hormone-like lipid compounds called prostaglandins that are linked to a variety of ailments, from headaches and arthritis to menstrual cramps and wound sepsis.
	Study finds children as young as six are biased toward their social group when combating unfairness Just about every parent is familiar with the signs: the crying, the stomping feet and pouting lips, all of which are usually followed by a collapse to the floor and a wailed insistence that, "It's not fair!"
	Team finds proteins critical to wound healing Mice missing two important proteins of the vascular system develop normally and appear healthy in adulthood, as long as they don't become injured. If they do, their wounds don't heal properly, a new study shows.
Researchers obtain key insights into how the internal body clock is tuned Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found a new way that internal body clocks are regulated by a type of molecule known as long non-coding RNA.
High-intensity exercise found safe and effective in long-term heart transplant recipients High-intensity exercise can help stable heart transplant patients reach higher levels of exercise capacity, and gain better control of their blood pressure than moderate intensity exercise, investigators report in a new study published in the American Journal of Transplantation.
	Study examines how genes, gender and environment influence substance abuse Social integration, including strong family ties, can protect one's well-being and even reduce the impact high-risk genes have on health. Scientists call this phenomenon a gene-environment interaction. An Indiana University study focusing on substance abuse, however, found that a three-way interplay of gender, genetics and social integration produced the different outcomes for men and women.
Study finds women seek anti-aging clinicians to treat menopausal symptoms Feeling that conventional doctors did not take their suffering seriously, women instead sought out hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms from anti-aging clinicians, according to a Case Western Reserve University study that investigated the appeal of anti-aging medicine.
Provider and parental assumptions on teen sex yield 'missed opportunities' for HPV vaccine Probing deeper into the complex decisions that parents and providers face regarding the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, researchers found that though both parties appreciated importance of the HPV vaccine, their personal assumptions surrounding timing of administration relative to onset of sexual activity resulted in decreased vaccination rates.
	Resistant bacteria on the rise across Australia A national study led by University of Adelaide researchers has confirmed that antibiotic resistant strains of disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, are steadily on the rise in Australia.
Can Twitter help better identify foodborne illness cases? An estimated 55 million to 105 million people in the United States suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), resulting in costs of $2-$4 billion annually.
	Effective treatment for DCIS is vital for continued reduction in Australia's breast cancer mortality rate Variations in the treatment of DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ or precancerous cells of the breast) may be a contributing factor in worldwide differences in breast cancer mortality rates according to Professor John Boyages, Director of the Macquarie University Cancer Institute (Figure 1).
	Few surfers are deterred by ocean bacteria that makes them sick Health warnings issued when beaches have high levels of bacteria do not keep many surfers out of the water, according to a new study by Oregon State University.
	Death rates in top four cancer killers fall by a third over 20 years Death rates for breast, bowel, lung and prostate cancer combined have fallen by almost a third (30 per cent) in the last 20 years according to the latest Cancer Research UK figures released today.
	Screening trial confirms benefit of 'Bowel Scope' test A new trial of bowel cancer screening using flexible sigmoidoscopy – also known as Bowel Scope – has confirmed the benefits of adding the technique to existing screening programmes.
	Prostate drug decision highlights urgent need for reform Just a week after the controversy over breast cancer drug Kadcyla, the inflexibilities within the UK's disparate drug approval systems have been pulled into sharp focus once again.
	Our genes determine the traces that stress leaves behind on our brains Our individual genetic make-up determines the effect that stress has on our emotional centres. These are the findings of a group of researchers from the MedUni Vienna. Not every individual reacts in the same way to life events that produce the same degree of stress. Some grow as a result of the crisis, whereas others break down and fall ill, for example with depression. The outcome is determined by a complex interaction between depression gene versions and environmental factors.
	Poor health literacy poses risks for pacemaker and defibrillator patients Patients who rely on pacemakers and defibrillators to maintain a normal heart rhythm run the risk of serious health complications if they don't fully understand how the devices work and what to do when they experience an irregular heartbeat. But a study from Columbia University School of Nursing published this month in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing found that 40 percent of patients with these devices had little to no ability to understand information about their cardiac health.
Study shows zoning regulations impact where marijuana dispensaries can locate Municipal zoning regulations may push marijuana dispensaries into low income, minority areas, according to a study just released by the University of Colorado Denver.
	Myc inhibition is an effective therapeutic strategy against most aggressive brain tumors Research led by the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) evidence the most conclusive preclinical results to-date validating Myc inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in glioma – a highly agressive tumor type that notoriously outsmarts current anti-cancer therapies. The study led by Laura Soucek, Principal Investigator of VHIO´s Mouse Models of Cancer Therapies Group, published today in Nature Communications, not only represents an important step forward in ultimately providing brain glioma patients with new therapeutic avenues, but also reveals new insights into the biology of Myc that could further impact on its therapeutic potential.
	Antibiotics in early life may alter immunity long-term New University of British Columbia research found that receiving antibiotic treatments early in life can increase susceptibility to specific diseases later on.
Stronger drunk driving laws lead to safer roads, study finds Changes to British Columbia's laws against driving while impaired have reduced fatal crashes as well as ambulance calls and hospital admissions resulting from motor vehicle crashes, a new University of British Columbia study finds.
	Club cells are 'bad guys' during flu infection A specialized subset of lung cells can shake flu infection, yet they remain stamped with an inflammatory gene signature that wreaks havoc in the lung, according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
	Antibody research paves the way for new, more effective influenza drugs Research toward developing new antibodies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Medicine could pave the way for more effective drugs to combat influenza infection.
	Romani research reveals cause for inherited condition UWA researchers have helped identify the most common cause of congenital lactic acidosis in Roma patients, which could have wide-ranging implications in Australian settings.
	Moisturising routine reduces skin damage for elderly The twice-daily application of a common, readily available moisturiser has been shown to reduce the frequency of skin tears in the elderly by almost 50 per cent, new research shows.
White, straight women leading surge in infertility treatments Heterosexual white women are twice as likely as racial or sexual minority women to obtain medical help to get pregnant, according to a recent study published by the American Psychological Association.
Parents' vaccine intentions influenced by how benefits are communicated How do parents decide whether to vaccinate their child? In a study designed to formally look at the content of parent-targeted communications about the benefits of vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella, Indiana University School of Medicine investigators report that the framing of these messages influences parents' intentions to immunize their children.
Prioritizing suicide research can help lead to fewer suicide attempts and deaths In a new supplement to the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, experts address the state of the science on suicide prevention and provide useful recommendations for research to inform effective suicide prevention. Suicide has been a challenging and perplexing public health issue to study as it has many dimensions and underlying factors. Although much is known about the patterns and potential risk factors of suicide, the national suicide rate does not appear to have dropped over the last 50 years.
	Study suggests hatha yoga boosts brain function in older adults Practicing hatha yoga three times a week for eight weeks improved sedentary older adults' performance on cognitive tasks that are relevant to everyday life, researchers report.
Free fatty acids may be as effective as antibiotics in treating catheter infections Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital, Veterans Affair Medical Center in Providence and University of Rhode Island have found that a free fatty acid, made up of compounds similar to those naturally made in the body, may be as effective at fighting certain infections as antibiotics. The study is published online in advance of print in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
Smoking during pregnancy may affect grandchildren's growth A UK study published in the American Journal of Human Biology has found that smoking during pregnancy has discernible effects on the growth of a woman's future grandkids.
Pigs' hearts transplanted into baboon hosts remain viable more than a year Investigators from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have successfully transplanted hearts from genetically engineered piglets into baboons' abdomens and had the hearts survive for more than one year, twice as long as previously reported. This was achieved by using genetically engineered porcine donors and a more focused immunosuppression regimen in the baboon recipients, according to a study published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, an official publication of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
New mouse model points to therapy for liver disease Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common affliction, affecting almost 30 percent of Americans, with a significant number suffering from its most severe form, called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In recent years, NASH has become the leading cause of liver transplantation.
Blood pressure medication does not cause more falls It's time to question the common belief that patients receiving intensive blood pressure treatment are prone to falling and breaking bones. A comprehensive study in people ages 40 to 79 with diabetes, led by Karen Margolis, MD, of HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research in the US, found no evidence supporting this belief. The study appears in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
	It's in the cards: Reseacher sparks conversation about youth weight management Out of all his research, Geoff Ball says it is has been his simplest project that has shown the greatest return. In 2011, Ball, an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, created a deck of cards meant to help parents guide discussions with health professionals about their child's weight management. Today, that work continues to pay dividends.
Quasi-legal drug 15 times stronger than heroin hides in plain sight Emergency physicians should expect "an upswing in what on the surface appear to be heroin overdoses," but are actually overdoses tied to acetyl fentanyl, an opiate that is mixed into street drugs marketed as heroin. The looming threat of another unregulated quasi-legal drug is detailed today online in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
New research explores the red v. blue state knowledge about abortion A new national survey reveals that the political divide among red-versus-blue states does not support the hypothesis that knowledge about abortion and health is shaped by the state in which one lives. Research led by Danielle Bessett, a University of Cincinnati assistant professor of sociology, was presented at the 109th Meeting of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco.
	Applying new cholesterol guidelines to a patient population reduces heart attacks, strokes, study finds A study from UT Southwestern researchers found that recently introduced cholesterol guidelines would significantly reduce new cardiovascular events, when compared to treatment based on previous cholesterol guidelines.
Rheumatologic diseases like lupus can initially look like neurological disorders Lupus and other rheumatologic diseases can initially present as neurological disorders such as headaches and seizures, and thus delay diagnosis for many months, according to Loyola University Medical Center neurologists.
	First-of-a-kind surgery in US for severe headaches For those suffering excruciating pain from cluster headaches, relief may soon be available from an investigational device being studied in a national multicenter clinical trial. Recently, doctors at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center performed the first surgery in the United States to insert a neurostimulator to provide relief from cluster headaches, which are more painful than migraines. "Cluster headache is one of the most severe and disabling chronic pain conditions known to humankind. That's why it's important to look at options to help these patients," said Dr. Ali Rezai, director of the Neuroscience program at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center and one of the scientific developers of this technology.
Innate lymphoid cells elicit T cell responses In case of an inflammation the body releases substances that increase the immune defense. During chronic inflammation, this immune response gets out of control and can induce organ damage.
Why aren't pregnant women getting flu vaccine? Both mother and fetus are at increased risk for complications of flu infection during pregnancy. And prenatal care providers say they're advising women to get the flu vaccine, in line with recommendations from various organizations. But many pregnant women don't understand the importance of this advice—and don't get the vaccine.
Scientists map the pulse pressure and elasticity of arteries in the brain Researchers at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new technique that can noninvasively image the pulse pressure and elasticity of the arteries of the brain, revealing correlations between arterial health and aging.
Happiness in schizophrenia: Research suggests mental illness doesn't preclude enjoying life Schizophrenia is among the most severe forms of mental illness, yet some people with the disease are as happy as those in good physical and mental health according to a study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Implantable heart devices result in similar survival benefits among ethnic, racial group Racial and ethnic minorities who receive implantable devices to treat heart failure derive the same substantial survival benefit from these therapies as white patients, new UCLA-led research shows.
Hospitalizations, deaths from heart disease, stroke drop in last decade U.S. hospitalizations and deaths from heart disease and stroke dropped significantly in the last decade, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
	Doctors worldwide should stay current on developments in ongoing Ebola epidemic Doctors in hospitals and emergency rooms around the world should be prepared to recognize Ebola virus infection and isolate patients if necessary, infectious disease specialists recommend. However, concerns that Ebola will spread beyond West Africa to Europe and North America are unfounded because of the way Ebola is transmitted and because of highly developed hospital infection control practices, they say.
	Selective therapy may improve artery repair after interventional cardiovascular procedures A new therapy developed by researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) may help reduce the life-threatening complications of interventional cardiovascular disease treatment.
New synchrotron imaging technique reveals how cystic fibrosis makes lungs vulnerable to infection University of Saskatchewan researchers working at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron have developed a new imaging technique that reveals a hitherto unknown component of the immune system in the lungs, one that promises insights that could benefit cystic fibrosis patients. Their findings are published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Patient tests negative for Ebola in Spain scare: authorities Tests showed a person suspected of being infected with the deadly Ebola virus in Spain to be clear of the disease, health authorities said on Sunday.
	Shortage of gear to protect health workers from Ebola has closed many Sierra Leone clinics Harvard-affiliated physicians expect one deadly side effect of the West African Ebola outbreak will be a surge in deaths from non-Ebola causes due to the widespread shutdown of health clinics in affected countries.
	Controlling the deadly spread of Ebola The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa has Americans concerned about their health and safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international public health emergency in an effort both to contain the spread of the virus, which is considered 90 percent fatal, and to warn people about its seriousness.
	Can vets help fight domestic violence by identifying pet abuse? Pet abuse and domestic violence are closely linked. Animals can't talk but University of Sydney vet Dr Lydia Tong has shown vets how to tell the difference between bone fractures caused by accidents and those caused by abuse. Her fracture identification methods are giving vets the added confidence to identify cases of violence against pets and could serve as a warning of domestic violence.
	Why ordinary people become heroes You've just witnessed a horrific car crash. Your heart is pounding, you're in shock. And the decision you make in the next thirty seconds could be the difference between life and death.
Researcher helps develop standards for safe use of histotripsy therapy University of Cincinnati researchers are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to develop a set of regulatory standards to ensure the safe and effective administration of histotripsy therapy used to treat patients with an enlarged prostate.
BGRF announces OncoFinder algorithm for reducing errors in transcriptome analysis Scientists from the Biogerontology Research Foundation (BGRF), a UK-based charity founded to support ageing research and address the challenges of a rapidly ageing population, propose a new concept for signalome-wide analysis of changes in intracellular pathways, called OncoFinder, which allows for accurate and robust cross-platform analysis of gene expression data. This new technique will allow scientists to derive useful information from and compare the hundreds of thousands of data sets obtained using legacy equipment as well as data sets obtained from biological samples preserved in paraffin blocks and partially-degraded samples.
Invasion of the Americas by mosquito-borne virus likely While media attention has been focused recently on coronavirus cases in the Arabian peninsula and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, experts note that another threat lies in the spread of Chikungunya fever, an illness that is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause fever, joint and muscle pain, headaches, and rashes. While it does not often cause death, the symptoms can be severe and disabling, with no treatment available.
	Are children who play violent video games at greater risk for depression? While much attention has focused on the link between violent video game playing and aggression among youths, a new study finds significantly increased signs of depression among preteens with high daily exposure to violent video games. The details and implications of this important new study are described in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
	UN undertakes polio vaccination campaign in Iraq The United Nations said Monday it was undertaking a mass polio vaccination campaign in Iraq, hoping to reach millions of children as the highly contagious virus crosses from Syria into neighboring countries.
	Resistant hypertension: A review for physicians A new review article on resistant hypertension, which affects about 1 in 10 people with high blood pressure, is aimed at helping physicians assess and manage patients with the condition. The review, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) includes information on emerging therapies for the condition.
Liberia 'losing grip on Ebola' as hunt for patients goes on Liberia was desperately searching for 17 Ebola patients Monday who fled an attack on a quarantine centre in capital Monrovia, as the outbreak appeared to overwhelm authorities in west Africa's worst-hit nation.
WHO sets up Ebola task force with global airline and travel sector The World Health Organization said Monday that it had set up a task force with the global airline and tourism industry in an effort to contain the spread of Ebola.
Older patients with limited life expectancy still receiving cancer screenings A substantial number of older patients with limited life expectancy continue to receive routine screenings for prostate, breast, cervical and colorectal cancer although the procedures are unlikely to benefit them.
Plastic handles on disposable acupuncture needles would curb risk of needle buckling Replacing copper coil handles on all disposable acupuncture needles with plastic stick handles would not only substantially curb the risk of needle buckling, but would also save tonnes of copper wire and millions of meters of medical grade stainless steel, concludes research published in Acupuncture in Medicine.

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