Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 13

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 2:29 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 13
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 13, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researcher devises a new way to mimic Hawking radiation in a lab
- Best of Last Week – Nobel prize winners announced, new kind of fusion reactor and a new drug that destroys tumors
- Stanford scientists create a 'smart' lithium-ion battery that warns of fire hazard
- Simulation explains why Asian glaciers are not melting
- Tailored flexible illusion coatings hide objects from detection
- Scientists use plasma shaping to control turbulence in stellarators
- Researchers use real-world data to model the effect of more solar on the grid
- Britain on brink of freshwater species 'invasion' from south east Europe
- Alzheimer's 'in a dish' breakthrough could be the beginning of the end for poor-performing animal models
- A new land snail species named for equal marriage rights
- 3D printing goes solar
- New optical device designed to measure gravitational pull of a planet should speed the search for Earth-like exoplanets
- The 2014 Nobel Prizes at a glance
- Researchers make first observation of atoms moving inside bulk material
- Doctors connecting to symptoms searchers in Google trial

Astronomy & Space news

	Researcher devises a new way to mimic Hawking radiation in a lab Physicist Jeff Steinhauer, with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Israel has devised a means for mimicking Hawking radiation in his lab. In his paper published in the journal Nature Physics, he describes what he did in his lab and why he believes his experiments likely mimic real Hawking radiation. Giovanni Modugno offers a News & Views piece on the work in the same journal issue.
	NASA mission finds widespread evidence of young lunar volcanism NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has provided researchers strong evidence the moon's volcanic activity slowed gradually instead of stopping abruptly a billion years ago.
	Image: Hubble catches a dusty spiral in Virgo This magnificent new image taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4206, located about 70 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Virgo.
	Violent eruptions in Mercury's past could hold clues to its formation Volcanoes on Mercury may have been more explosive than previously anticipated, and they may have erupted more recently, as well.
	Image: Hubble captures the Butterfly Nebula Many celestial objects are beautiful – swirling spiral galaxies or glittering clusters of stars are notable examples. But some of the most striking scenes are created during the death throes of intermediate-mass stars, when great clouds of superheated gas are expelled into space. These dying breaths form planetary nebulas like NGC 6302, captured here in this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
New optical device designed to measure gravitational pull of a planet should speed the search for Earth-like exoplanets Astronomers Chih-Hao Li and David Phillips of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics want to rediscover Venus—that familiar, nearby planet stargazers can see with the naked eye much of the year.
First light for MAVEN (w/ Video) After 10-month voyage across more than 400 million miles of empty space, NASA's MAVEN spacecraft reached Mars on Sept. 21st 2014. Less than 8 hours later, the data started to flow.
	Watch the "blood moon" eclipse from Mercury (w/ Video) Yes, it's another time-lapse of the October 8 lunar eclipse that was observed by skywatchers across half the Earth… except that these images weren't captured from Earth at all; this was the view from Mercury!
	New ceramic bonding technique promises rigid composite structures A new ultrastable adhesive identified through ESA research could be a key to assembling rock-solid structures for space, including large telescopes, instruments and antennas to peer deeper into the cosmos or sharpen views of our terrestrial environment.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists sniff out unexpected role for stem cells in the brain For decades, scientists thought that neurons in the brain were born only during the early development period and could not be replenished. More recently, however, they discovered cells with the ability to divide and turn into new neurons in specific brain regions. The function of these neuroprogenitor cells remains an intense area of research. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that newly formed brain cells in the mouse olfactory system—the area that processes smells—play a critical role in maintaining proper connections. The results were published in the October 8 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
Alzheimer's 'in a dish' breakthrough could be the beginning of the end for poor-performing animal models A breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease research based on state-of-the-art human-relevant research techniques that replace scientifically unsatisfactory animal tests has been welcomed by the science team at Humane Society International. The research was published in Nature.
	Greater rates of mitochondrial mutations discovered in children born to older mothers The discovery of a "maternal age effect" by a team of Penn State scientists that could be used to predict the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations in maternal egg cells—and the transmission of these mutations to children—could provide valuable insights for genetic counseling. These mutations cause more than 200 diseases and contribute to others such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The study found greater rates of the mitochondrial DNA variants in children born to older mothers, as well as in the mothers themselves. The research will be published in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on October 13, 2014,
Chemical present in broccoli, other vegetables may improve autism symptoms A small study led by investigators at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has found evidence that daily treatment with sulforaphane – a molecule found in foods such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage – may improve some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. In their report being published online in PNAS Early Edition, the investigators describe how participants receiving a daily dose of sulforaphane showed improvement in both behavioral and communication assessments in as little as four weeks. The authors stress that the results of this pilot study – conducted at the MGHfC-affiliated Lurie Center for Autism – must be confirmed in larger investigations before any conclusions can be drawn about sulforaphane's therapeutic benefit.
Pediatricians debate whether tots should have access to electronic devices When the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published its policy statement in 1999 discouraging electronic media use by children under 2, the focus was on television programs, videos and DVDs.
	Impact of mental stress on heart varies between men, women Men and women have different cardiovascular and psychological reactions to mental stress, according to a study of men and women who were already being treated for heart disease. The study, published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, looked at 56 women and 254 men diagnosed with heart disease enrolled in a larger REMIT study of the impact of the medication escitalopram on heart disease induced by mental stress.
New knowledge about anemia and fatigue in cancer patients Many patients with cancer experience low blood counts, which causes weakness and fatigue. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and colleagues from China and the UK have discovered how a tumour affects a patient's blood count and bone marrow characteristics. The study has been published online in the scientific journal Cell Reports.
Diet and exercise during pregnancy has hidden benefits It might not be obvious on the scales, but healthy eating and increased physical activity from walking during pregnancy is directly associated with a range of improved outcomes at birth, according to researchers from the University of Adelaide.
	Single gene links susceptibility to rare infections with predisposition to autoimmune disease The mutations were familiar, but the patients' conditions seemed baffling at first. A team lead by Rockefeller University researchers had linked variations in an immune gene to rare bacterial infections. Shortly afterward, Chinese scientists told them of three children in that country with mutated versions of the same gene. However, the Chinese children had no history of the severe bacterial infections. Instead, they had seizures and unusual calcium deposits deep in their brains.
	Arthritis sufferers excluded from everyday life Arthritis is the second leading cause of disability in Australia with many sufferers so severely disabled they cannot engage in basic everyday activities, new UNSW research has found.
	New rules will help prevent e-cigarette advertisements targeting children From 10th November, new rules published by the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) will prevent e-cigarettes advertisements targeting non-smokers including children.
	What happens to your brain when your mind is at rest? For many years, the focus of brain mapping was to examine changes in the brain that occur when people are attentively engaged in an activity. No one spent much time thinking about what happens to the brain when people are doing very little.
Six medication myths busted Can pain relievers really target a specific part of the body? Are generic medicines inferior to their brand-name counterparts? Are natural medicines always safer then prescription drugs? Can you mix alcohol with a prescription medicine?
Researcher investigates chronic vertigo Imagine living in a world where everything around you is bouncing and spinning. And it won't stop. You are constantly nauseous and dizzy. Your vision is blurry. There's hearing loss and buzzing in your ears. Going out in public is difficult, if not impossible. So too is walking, reading, watching television or using the computer. And forget driving a car or holding down a job.
Thrombosis shouldn't be taken lightly Venous thromboembolism isn't as well known as stroke or heart attack, but this cardiovascular foe can be just as deadly.
Study looks at alcohol abuse among newly immigrated Hispanic teens Newly immigrated Hispanic youth who experience significant levels of bicultural stress—pressure from both their native and adopted cultures—are more prone to alcohol abuse, according to researchers in the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Scientists identify potential cause for 40 per cent of pre-term births Scientists from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and UCL (University College London) have identified what they believe could be a cause of pre-term premature rupture of the fetal membrane (PPROM), which accounts for 40 per cent of pre-term births, and is the main reason for infant death world-wide.
	Reporting distorts realities of suicide and gender roles Men angry and rejected, women sociable and mentally ill - a current study by the MedUni Vienna demonstrates that these gender stereotypes prevail when Austrian daily newspapers report on suicide. This has far-reaching consequences.
	Spotting eye problems in pets Pets don't have to read an eye chart to keep a driver's license or don prescription glasses to see the tiny text on a smartphone. But they still need eye care. In fact, animals experience many of the same eye problems that people do, including cataracts, glaucoma and injuries to the cornea.
	Sensors to simplify diabetes management For many patients diagnosed with diabetes, treating the disease can mean a burdensome and uncomfortable lifelong routine of monitoring blood sugar levels and injecting the insulin that their bodies don't naturally produce. But, as part of their Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) projects at Caltech, several engineering students have contributed to the development of tiny biosensors that could one day eliminate the need for these manual blood sugar tests.
	Indigenous kids the biggest winners in new skin sore treatment Medics in remote Aboriginal communities will welcome a new oral treatment for highly contagious skin sores, known as impetigo. The treatment replaces painful penicillin injections for children.
Telemedicine could revolutionize access to mental health treatment For millions of Americans, mental health treatment is largely out of reach—a fact one FIU psychologist is trying to change.
	Methods will reverse arsenic danger in Bangladesh water supply Arsenic poisoning is widespread in Bangladesh, where ground water is contaminated by runoff from the Himalayas. Now researchers have developed two simple and cheap methods that well drillers can use to tap arsenic-safe drinking water.
Aluminium and its likely contribution to Alzheimer's disease A world authority on the link between human exposure to aluminium in everyday life and its likely contribution to Alzheimer's disease, Professor Christopher Exley of Keele University, UK, says in a new report that it may be inevitable that aluminium plays some role in the disease.
Mutation of ARMC5 gene characterized as the cause of meningeal tumour growth Scientists at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg have published their findings that mutations in a gene known as "ARMC5" promote the growth of benign tumours in the adrenal glands and on the meninges: ARMC5 appears to belong to the group of so-called tumour suppressor genes. It is the first time in years that scientists have characterized such a gene.
'Hidden hunger', often overshadowed but devastating: report A major international research group rang alarm bells Monday over the scourge of hidden hunger, also known as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which affects over two billion people with often devastating consequences.
Versatile antibiotic found with self-immunity gene on plasmid in staph strain A robust, broad spectrum antibiotic, and a gene that confers immunity to that antibiotic are both found in the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis Strain 115. The antibiotic, a member of the thiopeptide family of antibiotics, is not in widespread use, partly due to its complex structure, but the investigators, from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, now report that the mechanism of synthesis is surprisingly simple. "We hope to come up with innovative processes for large-scale production and derivitization so that new, and possibly more potent versions of the antibiotic can become available, says co-corresponding author Joel S. Griffitts. The research is published ahead of print in Journal of Bacteriology.
	Should white mom be paid for brown baby mistake? What is the price of being forced to raise a brown baby?
New cancer drug to begin trials in multiple myeloma patients Scientists at Imperial College London have developed a new cancer drug which they plan to trial in multiple myeloma patients by the end of next year.
Moderate levels of 'free radicals' found beneficial to healing wounds Long assumed to be destructive to tissues and cells, "free radicals" generated by the cell's mitochondria—the energy producing structures in the cell—are actually beneficial to healing wounds.
Paving the way for a fructose tolerance test Increased consumption of table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup has been linked to rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the United States and throughout the world. Both sweeteners are commonly found in processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, and both are made up of nearly equal amounts of two basic sugars, glucose and fructose.
Dysregulation in orexinergic system associated with Alzheimer disease In patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of orexin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, may be associated with sleep deterioration, which appears to be associated with cognitive decline.
No association seen between physical activity, depressive symptoms in adolescents A study of teenagers suggests there is no association between physical activity (PA) and the development of depressive symptoms later in adolescence.
Study estimates 14 million smoking-attributable major medical conditions in US Adults in the United States suffered from approximately 14 million major medical conditions attributable to smoking.
Guideline offers direction in genetic testing for certain types of muscular dystrophy A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) recommends guidance on how doctors should evaluate the full picture—from symptoms, family history and ethnicity to a physical exam and certain lab test results—in order to determine what genetic tests may best diagnose a person's subtype of limb-girdle or distal muscular dystrophy. The guideline is published in the October 14, 2014, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. To develop the guideline, researchers reviewed all of the available studies on the disorders, which cause muscles to waste away.
Living near major roads may increase risk of sudden cardiac death in women Living close to a major road may increase women's risk of dying from sudden cardiac death, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Pfizer breast cancer drug to get FDA priority review Pfizer said Monday an experimental breast cancer treatment will be given an accelerated review by US regulators, speeding up the process for potential approval.
	ASA: lidocaine during breast sx may reduce long-term pain (HealthDay)—Lidocaine given to women undergoing mastectomy reduces their risk of persistent pain after the procedure, according to a new study. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), held from Oct. 11 to 15 in New Orleans.
	Yoga pose may help reduce spinal curve of scoliosis (HealthDay)—Asymmetric strengthening with yoga may reduce abnormal spinal curvature in patients with scoliosis, according to research published in the September issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Drug-coated balloon catheter approved (HealthDay)—The first drug-coated balloon catheter designed to clear narrowed or blocked arteries in the thigh and knee has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Frozen stool pills may make fecal transplants simpler and safer, study finds Would you swallow frozen stool in a pill? What if you were infected by a stubborn strain of Clostridium difficile and suffering from diarrhea bad enough to send you to a hospital?
First US Ebola infection result of 'protocol breach' A Texas health care worker has become the first person to contract Ebola on American soil, authorities confirmed Sunday, blaming a safety breach for the spread of the deadly disease.
English health workers in first strike for 32 years Workers in England's state-run National Health Service go on strike on Monday for the first time since 1982 following a government refusal to hike their pay.
WHO: Ebola is modern era's worst health emergency The World Health Organization called the Ebola outbreak "the most severe, acute health emergency seen in modern times" but also said Monday that economic disruptions can be curbed if people are adequately informed to prevent irrational moves to dodge infection.
Poll: Many insured struggle with medical bills One-fourth of U.S. adults with private health insurance don't have much confidence in their ability to pay for a major, unexpected medical expense.
	Update of USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference released The 2014 update of the Agricultural Research Service's USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 27, has been launched. The database is managed by scientists with the ARS Nutrient Data Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, and is the major authoritative source of food-nutrient profiles in the United States.
Clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of honey to treat dry, sore, red eyes Honey's antibacterial benefits are widely recognised but now a QUT team of optometry researchers is conducting clinical trials of the therapeutic effect of the sweet nectar as a remedy for dry, red and sore eyes, which are an irritating and chronic problem for one in three Australian adults.
Study looks at psychological solution for the problem of painful sex A QUT psychology researcher is seeking couples who experience a sexual pain disorder that affects 12-17 per cent of couples attending sex therapy clinics, to trial a new therapy program.
	Ebola's deadly toll on healthcare workers Since its first outbreak in Guinea in December, 2013, Ebola has hit West African healthcare providers disproportionately hard. Hundreds of healthcare workers have been infected, many of whom have died, according to the World Health Organization.
Major anti-tobacco conference in Moscow aims to bolster taxes A major anti-tobacco conference opened in Moscow on Monday aimed at agreeing higher taxes on cigarettes, a move being fiercely opposed by the tobacco industry.
Spain defends repatriation of missionaries infected with Ebola The Spanish government defended Monday its decision to repatriate two elderly missionaries who contracted Ebola in west Africa, creating the conditions for a Madrid nurse to catch the deadly virus.
Study reports on medical resident knowledge of High Value Care via exam vignette High Value Care sub-scores from the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) reflect the importance of training medical residents to understand the benefits, harms, and costs of tests and treatments, according to a study published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.

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