Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 19

RESPEKT!

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 3:43 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 19
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 19, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists experimentally demonstrate 140-year-old prediction: A gas in perpetual non-equilibrium
- Magnetically controlled battery could store energy for power grids
- Kinematic blocks are actuated, sensed through pins
- Best of Last Week – Particle made of nuclear force, dire global warming news and standing not so good for you either
- Gene on-off switch works like backpack strap: Team unravels how loops form in genome
- Queen or worker? Flexibility between roles relies on just a few genes
- 'Molecular accordion' drives thermoelectric behavior in promising material
- Life on Earth likely started 4.1 billion years ago—much earlier than scientists thought
- Stressed dads affect offspring brain development through sperm microRNA
- Researchers learn how to steer the heart—with light
- Researchers discover graphene spirals could challenge macro solenoids 
- To infinity and beyond: Light goes infinitely fast with new on-chip material
- Study of lung cells suggests nanotubes are common pollutants
- The phage is a lonely hunter
- Google to give away software to Microsoft Office defectors

Nanotechnology news

	Magnetically controlled battery could store energy for power grids (Phys.org)—Scientists have built a battery containing a magnetic fluid that can be moved in any direction by applying a magnetic field. The magnetically controlled battery concept could be especially useful for flow batteries, where it could eliminate the need for the pumps that are typically required for moving the electrolyte from an external storage tank to the inside of a power stack to provide electricity. Flow batteries are being actively researched as large-scale energy storage devices for power grids, where they could store energy captured by intermittent alternative energy sources such as wind and solar.
	Researchers discover graphene spirals could challenge macro solenoids  In the drive to miniaturize electronics, solenoids have become way too big, say Rice University scientists who discovered the essential component can be scaled down to nano-size with macro-scale performance.
	Significant advance in stabilizing perovskite solar cells UCLA professor Yang Yang, member of the California NanoSystems Institute, is a world-renowned innovator of solar cell technology whose team in recent years has developed next-generation solar cells constructed of perovskite, which has remarkable efficiency converting sunlight to electricity.
	New graphene-based inks for high-speed manufacturing of printed electronics A low-cost, high-speed method for printing graphene inks using a conventional roll-to-roll printing process, like that used to print newspapers and crisp packets, could open up a wide range of practical applications, including inexpensive printed electronics, intelligent packaging and disposable sensors.
	Experimental treatment regimen effective against HIV Protease inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs that are commonly used to treat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists at the University of Nebraska Medical Center designed a new delivery system for these drugs that, when coupled with a drug developed at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, rid immune cells of HIV and kept the virus in check for long periods. The results appear in the journal Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine.
	Nanotechnology inspires next-generation dental materials Have a cavity? Ask your dentist about filling it with a mixture of nanoparticles including silica and zirconia. These white fillings (known as nano-composite resins) resemble teeth better than their metal alternatives and are less likely to come loose or fracture teeth. This is just the beginning argue Brazilian scientists in a review of "nanodentistry," published October 19 in Trends in Biotechnology. Next-generation dental materials incorporating nanotechnology aim to help teeth self-heal, rebuild enamel, and protect against bacterial infections.
	Study of lung cells suggests nanotubes are common pollutants Cars appear to produce carbon nanotubes, and some of the evidence has been found in human lungs.
	Solvents save steps in solar cell manufacturing Advances in ultrathin films have made solar panels and semiconductor devices more efficient and less costly, and researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory say they've found a way to manufacture the films more easily, too.
A new electronic component to replace flash storage Researchers funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation have created a new electronic component that could replace flash storage. This memristor could also be used one day in new types of computers.

Physics news

	Scientists experimentally demonstrate 140-year-old prediction: A gas in perpetual non-equilibrium (Phys.org)—In 1876, the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann noticed something surprising about his equations that describe the flow of heat in a gas. Usually, the colliding gas particles eventually reach a state of thermal equilibrium, the point at which no net flow of heat energy occurs. But Boltzmann realized that his equations also predict that, when gases are confined in a specific way, they should remain in persistent non-equilibrium, meaning a small amount of heat is always flowing within the system.
	To infinity and beyond: Light goes infinitely fast with new on-chip material Electrons are so 20th century. In the 21st century, photonic devices, which use light to transport large amounts of information quickly, will enhance or even replace the electronic devices that are ubiquitous in our lives today. But there's a step needed before optical connections can be integrated into telecommunications systems and computers: researchers need to make it easier to manipulate light at the nanoscale.
	Researchers learn how to steer the heart—with light We depend on electrical waves to regulate the rhythm of our heartbeat. When those signals go awry, the result is a potentially fatal arrhythmia. Now, a team of researchers from Oxford and Stony Brook universities has found a way to precisely control these waves - using light. Their results are published in the journal Nature Photonics on 19 October.
	'Molecular accordion' drives thermoelectric behavior in promising material Engines, laptops and power plants generate waste heat. Thermoelectric materials, which convert temperature gradients to electricity and vice versa, can recover some of that heat and improve energy efficiency. A team of scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory explored the fundamental physics of the world's best thermoelectric material—tin selenide—using neutron scattering and computer simulations. Their new understanding of the origin of atomic dynamics in this material, published in Nature Physics, may aid research in energy sustainability and enable the design of materials that efficiently convert heat into electricity.
	Powerful plastic microscope brings better diagnostic care for world's rural poor You can learn a lot about the state of someone's immune system just by examining their blood under the microscope. An abnormally high or low white blood count, for instance, might indicate a bone marrow pathology or AIDS. The rupturing of white blood cells might be the sign of an underlying microbial or viral infection. Strangely shaped cells often indicate cancer.
	Electronics get a power boost with the addition of a simple material The tiny transistor is the heart of the electronics revolution, and Penn State materials scientists have just discovered a way to give this workhorse a big boost, using a new technique to incorporate vanadium oxide—a functional oxide—into the electronic devices.
	Cyclic healing removes defects in metals while maintaining strength When designing a new material, whether for an airplane, car, bridge, mobile device, or biological implant, engineers strive to make the material strong and defect-free. However, methods conventionally used to control the amount of defects in a material, such as applying heat or mechanical stress, can also have undesirable consequences in terms of the material's strength, structure and performance.
Czechs open EU project with 'world's most powerful laser' The Czech Republic is opening a new scientific center that will include what officials call the world's most powerful laser device.
The missing 'recipe': Thermal conduction 'revealed' starting from the foundations It's a bit like the difference between preparing a dish following a recipe detailing ingredients and procedure, or trying to do it just by looking at photos of the dish: in many cases good results can also be obtained with the second method but, clearly, knowing the recipe not only guarantees a successful outcome but also allows us to devise variants of the dish, using different and perhaps even tastier ingredients. This also happens in the world of physics, where in some cases the "recipe" is completely lacking and one has to make do with approximate methods ("photos of the dish"). This is, or rather was, the case with thermal conduction, a very common phenomenon in materials. Although well known and extensively studied, so far it has never been given a theoretical description taking into account both the behaviour of atoms - regulated by the laws of classical mechanics - and the behaviour of electrons, which instead follows the ! laws of quantum mechanics.

Earth news

	Life on Earth likely started 4.1 billion years ago—much earlier than scientists thought UCLA geochemists have found evidence that life likely existed on Earth at least 4.1 billion years ago—300 million years earlier than previous research suggested. The discovery indicates that life may have begun shortly after the planet formed 4.54 billion years ago.
	Researchers find cascading elastic perturbation likely contributed to small earthquakes in Japan (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from Los Alamos National Laboratory, MIT and the University of Tokyo, has found evidence that suggests elastic disturbance caused by one earthquake may be one of the causes of another earthquake occurring in a far distant location. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes their study of seismic activity in Japan following an earthquake that occurred in the Indian Ocean, just days before.
	Alaskan boreal forest fires release more carbon than the trees can absorb A new analysis of fire activity in Alaska's Yukon Flats finds that so many forest fires are occurring there that the area has become a net exporter of carbon to the atmosphere. This is worrisome, the researchers say, because arctic and subarctic boreal forests like those of the Yukon Flats contain roughly one-third of the Earth's terrestrial carbon stores.
	New study explains near-annual Monsoon oscillations generated by El Nino A new research study by a team of climate researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa explains for the first time the source of near-annual pressure and wind changes discovered previously in the Southeast Asian Monsoon system.
	Interior Department curbs future Arctic offshore drilling The Interior Department announced Friday it is canceling future lease sales and will not extend current leases in Arctic waters off Alaska's northern coast, a decision that significantly reduces the chances for future Arctic offshore drilling.
	US cancels drilling rights auctions in Alaskan Arctic The United States has announced it is calling off two auctions for oil and gas drilling rights in the Arctic off Alaska and has denied requests for lease extensions by Shell and Statoil.
	El Nino brings rain to California but won't end drought The El Nino weather phenomenon is likely to drench California for some time to come and trigger floods, but it still won't end the state's severe drought, experts say.
	Vast Antarctic marine reserves in focus at Australia talks Campaigners Monday urged global leaders to put aside differences and create two vast Antarctic marine sanctuaries to protect one of the world's last untouched wildernesses and a unique array of species including whales and giant squid.
	Pledges by the top GHG emitters leave little room for the rest of the world's emissions Over two weeks in December, delegates from virtually every country in the world will gather in Paris for the 21st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. Their ambitious goal: to hammer out a binding international agreement on climate action.
	Student developing new technique to predict Pacific Decadal Oscillation A University of New Mexico Ph.D. student is perfecting a new way to forecast stream flow levels with tremendous accuracy.
Bacterium capable of aquifer decontamination characterised and cultivated for first time in Europe UAB researchers have identified in the Besòs river estuary (Barcelona, Spain) a bacterium of the genus Dehalogenimonas, which has the capacity to transform toxic organochlorine compounds into others that are harmless. These experts have succeeded in characterising and cultivating these bacteria for the first time in Europe, which opens the door to their production and application to contaminated aquifers.
	L.A.'s CicLAvia significantly improves air quality in host neighborhoods Due in large part to the high volume of traffic that clogs the city's streets and freeways, Los Angeles' air quality is notoriously bad. And research has shown that fumes from all of those vehicles increase L.A. residents' risk for respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
	Oslo moves to ban cars from city centre Oslo's new leftist city government said Monday it wants to ban private cars from the downtown area by 2019 as part of a plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions.
	Carbon sequestration in soil: The potential underfoot Declining greenhouse gas emissions from European cropland could compensate for up to 7 percent of annual agricultural emissions from the region, according to a new study analyzing the carbon uptake potential of soil. However at global scale, indirect effects could offset significant parts of these emission savings.
	Baylor researchers project long-term effects of climate change, deforestation on Himalayan mountain basins As part of an multi-disciplinary study, a team of Baylor researchers found that climatic changes, an increase in agricultural land use and population growth in the Himalaya Mountain basins could have negative impacts on water availability, further stressing a region plagued by natural disasters and food insecurity.
	NASA studying 2015 El Nino event as never before Every two to seven years, an unusually warm pool of water—sometimes two to three degrees Celsius higher than normal develops across the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to create a natural short-term climate change event. This warm condition, known as El Nino, affects the local aquatic environment, but also spurs extreme weather patterns around the world, from flooding in California to droughts in Australia. This winter, the 2015-16 El Nino event will be better observed from space than any previous El Nino.
	Climate change fans global security crisis: Kerry US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Saturday that climate change was a threat to global security and has inflamed volatile situations from Europe's migration crisis to the Syrian conflict.
	Rocky start for UN climate talks in Bonn As UN diplomats convened in Bonn Monday, developing nations were balking at the latest draft of a global climate agreement to be inked in Paris in December, negotiators and experts said.
	Indonesia fires can't be put out, Malaysian minister warns International efforts to douse raging Indonesia fires will fail and Southeast Asia could face several more weeks of choking smoke until the rainy season starts, Malaysia's environment minister warned on Monday.
	Tubewells to the rescue The next day we went out again for resistivity and augering. Céline picked out two alternative sites that might be drier. We drove through the abandoned valley to the site. We took the direct route and found the local road to be in a terrible state of disrepair. The vans could barely make it through. Then we hit a spot where slumping off each side of the road narrowed it too much. The villagers helped make a temporary road with bricks and wood, but it was still too narrow. Then they filled a sandbag and together with the bricks, wood and other handy items we got across. It turned out that since the Upazila (county) voted for the opposition party, they have not had their roads repaired for over a decade. This level of politicization of everything in Bangladesh really hurts the country. When we reached the location of the line, we found that ponds between the road and the fields limited our access. We walked around and found a site! next to a brick factory. The line was along an irrigation ditch. Fine to walk on either side, but submerged to mid-shin in you stepped in the middle. The data looked very good after processing. We may have found the top of the Pleistocene as relatively shallow depths consistent with the site being the top of a buried anticline (folded hill).
Drug residues in wastewater: Private households mainly responsible Most drug residues discharged to wastewater come from private households. As contributors of pollution by Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), health establishments, such as hospitals, psychiatric and nursing facilities are hardly worth mentioning. They merely discharge a small amount, and only at local level, of these significant contaminating substances to wastewater. These are the findings, which the sustainability researchers at Leuphana University of Lüneburg in collaboration with the Ortenau Klinikum at Offenburg-Gengenbach, have come to and recently published in the journal Environment International.
	SE Asia haze 'could last until year-end' The haze suffocating Southeast Asia could last for another month, Malaysia's environment minister warned Monday, while a forestry expert said it could even take until year-end to clear the air.
	New book explores the meaning of hope amid environmental struggles in the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean faces no shortage of perils these days. From giant islands of floating garbage to overfishing, it can be hard to find a reason for hope in that vast expanse. Teresa Shewry, an associate professor of English at UC Santa Barbara, though, tells a different story, exploring literature, art and film of the Pacific.
	Ohio River's huge algae bloom a warning for water suppliers A toxic algae outbreak that snaked more than 600 miles down the Ohio River past four states is forcing water utilities to reassess the threat from harmful algal blooms that are popping up increasingly around the nation.
	Leaders call for carbon pricing worldwide A group of world leaders called Monday for countries around the world to put a price on carbon to strengthen the international fight against climate change.
	NASA sees Koppu moving across the Philippines NASA's Terra satellite and RapidScat gathered data on Typhoon Koppu before and after it made landfall in the northern Philippines.
	Satellite animation shows Olaf grow into a major hurricane An animation of imagery from NOAA's GOES-West satellite over several days showed Hurricane Olaf become a major hurricane on Monday, October 19, 2015. NASA's GOES Project created the animation that compiled three days of GOES data.
	NASA's GPM measured Typhoon Champi's heavy rainfall Typhoon Champi has been generating heavy rainfall since Oct. 16, 2015, when NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission analyzed the storm. The storm intensified from a tropical storm to a typhoon after GPM passed overhead. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and JAXA.

Astronomy & Space news

	Spreading life throughout the universe Panspermia hypothesis proposes that life travels between stars and planets, surviving the effects of interstellar journeys and finally settling down on a planetary surface, beginning new evolutionary processes. The microorganisms can be transported to random destinations by asteroids, comets or meteoroids or distributed intentionally by some intelligent alien civilization. But with Earth as the only example of a life-bearing planet, the essential question is: If panspermia really occurs, how could we detect it?
	Discovery of two close-in exoplanet companions sheds new light on planet formation For the past 20 years, astronomers peered into the night sky, puzzled about a type of planet called hot Jupiters.
	NASA's MMS spacecraft achieve tightest flying formation ever On Oct. 15, 2015, a NASA mission broke its own record: the four satellites of its Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are now flying at their smallest separation, the tightest multi-spacecraft formation ever flown in orbit. The four spacecraft are just six miles apart, flying in what's called a tetrahedral formation, with each spacecraft at the tip of a four-sided pyramid. The close formation is all the more impressive as the spacecraft speed along at up to 15,000 miles per hour and – with their booms extended – each spacecraft covers as much area as a professional baseball stadium.
	Image: Hubble sees elegant spiral hiding a hungry monster NGC 4639 is a beautiful example of a type of galaxy known as a barred spiral. It lies over 70 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo and is one of about 1,500 galaxies that make up the Virgo Cluster.
	The minimum mass of a proto-solar system disk Astronomers estimate that at the time the Solar system formed, its proto-planetary disk contained the equivalent of about twenty Jupiter-masses of gas and dust. This so-called "minimum mass solar nebula (MMSN)" is derived from the current masses of the rocky planets and calculations of how they formed; a minimum mass is used in case the planet formation mechanism is somehow less efficient than expected. (Some earlier estimates had MMSN values up to about 100 Jupiter-masses.) As a nebula ages and its planets develop, its disk mass naturally decreases; current models estimate that a planetary system can form in under five million years.
	Dust particles from afar When in 1990 the solar probe Ulysses embarked on its 19-year-long exploration tour, the participating researchers turned their attention not only to our Sun, but also to significantly smaller research objects: interstellar dust particles advancing from the depth of space into our solar system. Ulysses was the first mission with the goal to measure these tiny visitors and successfully detected more than 900 of them. Researchers under the leadership of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany and the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Switzerland present a comprehensive analysis of this largest data set of interstellar particles in three articles published today in the magazine The Astrophysical Journal. Their conclusion: Within the solar system velocity and flight direction of the dust particles can change more strongly than previously thought.
	Video: Hefty Prominence Eruption Observed by SDO A mass of solar material gathered itself into a twisting mass, spun around for a bit, then rose up and broke apart over a 10-hour period on Oct. 13, 2015. Prominences are unstable clouds of gas tethered above the surface of the sun by magnetic forces.
	The Martian astrobiologist Mars has been a focus of astrobiology and exobiology research since the early days of NASA. Even before the invention of the telescope, Mars captured the imagination of scientists and philosophers who were interested in life's potential beyond Earth.
	Whatever the strangest star in the galaxy is, it's sure to be amazing For the past few days, the media has been abuzz with one of the most peculiar astronomical observations for many years. As described in a recent paper on the arXiv preprint service, a faint star in the northern constellation Cygnus has been seen acting incredibly strangely.
	Daily views of Earth available on new NASA website NASA launched a new website Monday so the world can see images of the full, sunlit side of the Earth every day. The images are taken by a NASA camera one million miles away on the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Air Force.

Technology news

	Kinematic blocks are actuated, sensed through pins The Tangible Media Group at the MIT Media Lab now brings you Kinetic Blocks in their explorations with pin-based shaped displays.
	UK town residents to enjoy WiFi connected pavement UK pedestrians in Chesham will experience a first when they stroll around. Virgin Media is behind the initiative of a Smart WiFi Pavement, to provide people with Wi-Fi access. Residents will be able to "streetsurf," according to the news release. Virgin Media is a provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.
	Backyard photo of Lee Harvey Oswald is authentic, study shows A new Dartmouth study confirms the authenticity of the famous backyard photo of Lee Harvey Oswald holding the same type of rifle used to assassinate President John F. Kennedy.
	Flashlight powered by body heat sparks campaign dollars How is this for hot response in a crowdfunding campaign. The project creator's goal was $5,000. So far the campaign has gathered $30,023 with 26 days to go.
	Newly launched mobile eye-test device could lead to prescription virtual-reality screens After five years of development and about 40,000 tests worldwide, the mobile eye-test device developed by MIT spinout EyeNetra is coming to hospitals, optometric clinics, optical stores, and even homes nationwide.
	Google to give away software to Microsoft Office defectors Google is escalating an attack on Microsoft's lucrative Office software in an attempt to hit its longtime rival where it will hurt the most.
	Study urges optimization of solar energy development With mounting vigor for combating global climate change, increasing the use of renewable energy resources such as solar, without compromising natural habitats, is a challenge to the traditional model of utility-scale solar energy installations. Such facilities use vast swaths of land for solar gathering and generating equipment. Until now, studies quantifying the effects on land-cover change and analyses of impacts on protected areas near solar facilities have been limited.
	Apple quashes apps that collect personal data Apple is kicking out applications that collect personal data in violation of the company's privacy policies from its online store, the tech giant said Monday.
	Xiaomi issues price-friendly 60-inch TV and electric scooter A company's general about-us description has exact resonance this week: China's Xiaomi, which makes various consumer electronics devices, to be exact. "Xiaomi was founded in 2010 by serial entrepreneur Lei Jun, who believes that high-quality technology doesn't need to cost a fortune."
Seeking love on Wall Street: Match.com owner files for IPO Match Group is swiping right and hopes investors will do the same: The parent of Tinder, Match.com and OkCupid is filing for an initial public offering of stock.
	Cybersecurity firm: Chinese hacking on US companies persists Chinese hacking attempts on American corporate intellectual property have occurred with regularity over the past three weeks, suggesting that China almost immediately began violating its newly minted cyberagreement with the United States, according to a newly published analysis by a cybersecurity company with close ties to the U.S. government.
Student moves from theory to proof in fuel cell research Sadia Kabir is exploring a new world in the basement of Farris Engineering Building. The Ph.D. engineering student works in the research group headed by University of New Mexico Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biologicall Engineering Plamen Atanassov.
	Researcher seeks to predict and optimize complex engineering systems under extreme uncertainty Creating anything new requires testing the limits of what already exists and delving into uncertainty. This is what Themistoklis Sapsis does regularly. "My work is on systems for which we understand as much as we don't understand," the assistant professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Stochastic Analysis and Nonlinear Dynamics Lab says. By using analytical and computational methods, Sapsis tries to predict and optimize behavior, particularly when the dynamics and excitations are uncertain and occasionally extreme. This places much of his work in the ocean environment, and whether it's an energy-harvesting configuration or an ocean structure, his goal is to create designs that maintain operational robustness and safety regardless of the constantly varying conditions.
Companies should rethink data collection Last week, the European Court of Justice struck down a 15-year-old agreement that allowed companies to move European citizens' personal data to servers in the United States. The so-called Safe Harbor agreement had made it possible for American companies to skirt European data privacy laws, many of which are stricter than U.S. laws.
	Unheeded cybersecurity threat leaves nuclear power stations open to attack There has been a rising number of security breaches at nuclear power plants over the past few years, according to a new Chatham House report which highlights how important systems at plants were not properly secured or isolated from the internet.
	Crowdfunded 'laser razor' begs the question of what the technology can and can't do Since their first use in the 1960s, there has been a tremendous expansion of laser technology into an impressively wide range of uses, from fundamental science, healthcare and security to entertainment. Since Theodore Maiman's first working laser at the Hughes Research Laboratory in 1960 more than 55,000 patents on laser technology have been filed in the US alone.
	Robotic exoskeleton to help heal hand injuries Curtin University researchers have developed an innovative robotic hand exoskeleton which can be made cheaply using a 3D printer and could potentially cut down on rehabilitation visits for patients.
	Classroom tech plugs kids into maker movement New Arduino 101 electronics development board, powered by the tiny Intel Curie compute module, and easy-to-follow guide offer today's students hands-on experiences that develop 21st century skills.
	Quick drawing of complex relationships Quality criteria for a readable graphic representation of complex relationships are high. For example, the node points have to be located at sufficient distances in order to be identifiable. At the same time, the graph drawing tool has to arrange all edges in a way that they can be recognized by the viewer and do not overlap randomly. For this reason, all criteria to be observed are formulated in a target function. To optimize this function and to enhance the efficiency of computation, the team of Christian Schulz, Henning Meyerhenke, and Martin Nöllenburg of the KIT Institute of Theoretical Informatics developed the "KaDraw" tool for drawing graphs.
Researchers present new breakthroughs for fundamental problems in computer science Academics from the University of Bristol will present new breakthroughs on two fundamental problems in Computer Science. These results will be presented at the world's leading international conference in computer science this week.
Think again before tapping the install button for that app Before installing a new app on a mobile device, people need to be mindful of the security risks. One poor decision can bypass the most secure encryption, and a malicious app can gain access to confidential information or even lock the user's device. A presentation at the upcoming HFES 2015 International Annual Meeting in Los Angeles notes that human factors/ergonomics research could guide designers in creating a just-in-time warning system that considers the decision-making abilities of the user while alerting him or her that the current conditions - especially while multitasking - are conducive to errors.
	Lawsuits could force VW to buy back cheating diesels Volkswagen almost inevitably will have to compensate owners of diesel cars equipped with emissions-rigging software. Some legal experts say the automaker could be forced to buy back the cars altogether.
	EU, Internet firms to launch anti-extremism forum The European Union announced Monday it will launch in December a forum bringing together Internet firms and law enforcement agencies to combat online extremism.
	Chinese kept hacking after pact with US: researchers (Update) Hackers linked to the Chinese government kept up efforts to break into US computer networks even after a cybersecurity agreement between the two countries announced last month, researchers said Monday.
	Close calls with drones spur federal registration of owners Concerned about rising reports of close calls and safety risks involving drones, the government announced Monday it will require many of the increasingly popular unmanned aircraft to be registered.
	Crackdown: Amazon sues to stop phony product reviews Amazon is stepping up its fight against bogus product reviews on its site, suing more than 1,000 people for allegedly offering to post glowing write-ups for as little as $5 apiece.
	Hacker claims to have breached CIA director's personal email An anonymous hacker claims to have breached CIA Director John Brennan's personal email account and has posted documents online, including a list of email addresses purportedly from Brennan's contact file.
	Facebook will warn users of state-sponsored attacks Facebook on Monday followed in Google's footsteps and began warning users when it appears they are targeted by state-sponsored cyber attacks.
Key test for self-driving cars: A northern Virginia highway (Update) Self-driving cars faced what might be their ultimate test Monday: I-95 in northern Virginia.
	Direct-drive linear switched reluctance actuator for automobile active suspension systems Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a linear switched reluctance actuator for automobile active suspension system. This system can significantly improve suspension performance and collect suspension energy.
	SUNfeet technology for the customization of comfort insoles using a smartphone The Instituto de Biomecánica (Biomechanics Institute-IBV) has developed SUNfeet, insoles that are customized to the anatomy of the user's foot, which increase the comfort of footwear and reduce pain and fatigue in the feet. This product is now available in Europe.
US models to be fixed in VW emissions cheating case Volkswagen has admitted that 11 million of its cars worldwide are programmed to cheat on emissions tests, including 8.5 million vehicles that will be recalled in Europe and another 482,000 cars in the U.S.
	Amazon steps up battle over NY Times workplace probe Amazon on Monday renewed its criticism of a New York Times investigation of the US online giant's workplace, saying the newspaper ignored and omitted key facts about the company.
	German prosecutors examine hate speech complaint against Facebook German prosecutors said Monday they were investigating a complaint against three Facebook managers, which alleges they failed to act against racist comments posted by users over Europe's migration crisis.
	While Clinton used home email, State's networks were at risk Hillary Rodham Clinton has come under fierce criticism for doing business over personal email while secretary of state, putting sensitive data at risk of being hacked. But her communications may not have been any more secure had she used a State Department email address, judging by years of independent audits that excoriated the department over poor cyber security on Clinton's watch.

Chemistry news

	Organic framework serves as a catalyst for the photocatalytic conversion of water into hydrogen Humanity's need for energy is ever-increasing. However, the traditional energy sources are finite. In contrast, water and sunlight are available in vast abundance. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart and from LMU Munich have now created a material that uses light to produce the versatile energy source hydrogen from water. This polymeric photocatalyst is chemically stable. Moreover, the rate of hydrogen production can be fine-tuned by means of small structural modifications of the catalyst.
	Surfing water molecules could hold the key to fast and controllable water transport Scientists at UCL have identified a new and potentially faster way of moving molecules across the surfaces of certain materials.
	Colour-change polymer offers sustainable solution to mercury contamination Australian scientists have developed a new material made from inexpensive industrial by-products to remove mercury from soil and water.
	Mapping the folding process of a single membrane protein Proteins are huge molecules containing hundreds to thousands of atoms that adopt a unique three dimensional structure, placing chemical groups in just the right place to catalyze reactions or build cellular structures. How all those atoms manage to find the right location - the so-called folding problem - has fascinated molecular biologists since the first structures were seen in the 1950s. Moreover, folding has important medical implications because most genetic defects cause protein misfolding.
	Video: What's the deal with the gut microbiome? Trillions of microorganisms inhabit our bodies. Scientists call this community the microbiome, and it's one of the hottest topics in research these days.

Biology news

	Gene on-off switch works like backpack strap: Team unravels how loops form in genome A research team based in Houston's Texas Medical Center has found that the proteins that turn genes on by forming loops in human chromosomes work like the sliding plastic adjusters on a grade-schooler's backpack. This discovery could provide new clues about genetic diseases and allow researchers to reprogram cells by directly modifying the loops in genomes.
	Queen or worker? Flexibility between roles relies on just a few genes Two insect species from Latin America, the dinosaur ant and the red paper wasp, have been used to uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning queen and worker roles in social insects. The research by an international team of scientists brings us closer to understanding how genomes are used to generate castes in social evolution.
	Public has chance to name new moth species An auction on eBay allows the public to make a different kind of purchase as they peruse the used clothing, electronics and war relics on the site. Up for sale: naming rights to a new insect.
	A fish in the desert—risky swims are key to survival Despite the extreme environment, Australia's iconic Lake Eyre Basin is home to a range of aquatic animals – including fish. In fact, during massive floods, the desert is teeming with them. But such flood events are very rare. So, how do fish survive in the meantime?
	Diesel fumes alter half the flower smells bees need In polluted environments, diesel fumes may be reducing the availability of almost half the most common flower odours that bees use to find their food, research has found.
	Structure revealed: Plant sugar transporter involved in carbon sequestration Like humans, plants are surrounded by and closely associated with microbes. The majority of these microbes are beneficial, but some can cause devastating disease. Maintaining the balance between them is critical. Plants feed these microbes, and it's thought that they do so just enough to allow the good ones to grow and to prevent the bad ones from gaining strength. This system of microbe feeding is mediated by proteins called sugar transporters.
	X-citing X chromosome discovery could aid research on many sex-linked disorders Think back to middle school biology class, when you learned that boys have an X and a Y chromosome inside each cell, and girls have two X's.
	Biomarker finder adjusts on the fly: Scientists build better tool to find signs of disease A Rice University laboratory has developed a continuously tunable method to find and quantify DNA and RNA biomarkers.
Poisonous frogs more likely to face extinction, study finds Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that amphibians that use toxins to protect themselves against predators are at a higher risk of extinction than those who use other types of defence, which poses a challenge to a long-held evolutionary hypothesis.
	Researchers discover mechanism that regulates aging and abundance of secreted proteins Physiological processes in the body are in large part determined by the composition of secreted proteins found in the circulatory systems, including the blood. Each of the hundreds of proteins in the blood has a specific life span that determines its unique range of abundance. In fact, measurements of their quantities and activities contribute to many clinical diagnoses. However, the way in which normal protein concentrations in the blood are determined and maintained has been a mystery for decades.
	Regrow a tooth? Fish—yes; humans—maybe some day When a Lake Malawi cichlid loses a tooth, a new one drops neatly into place as a replacement. Why can't humans similarly regrow teeth lost to injury or disease?
	The phage is a lonely hunter Sharks prowl the watery depths for their prey, lions stalk the tall-grass savannah, and bacteriophages, well, they've got snot. The thin layer of mucus that coats epithelial cells serves as the hunting ground for phages, viruses that kill and use bacteria to proliferate. Newly published research by scientists at San Diego State University finds that these phages use a novel hunting strategy known as "subdiffusive motion" to better their chances of finding bacteria within a mucosal surface.
	Doggie DNA study says Fido first appeared in Central Asia Where did dogs first arrive on the scene? Scientists have long debated that question, and now a study of doggie DNA from around the world is pointing to Central Asia.
	Fossils reveal humans were greater threat than climate change to Caribbean wildlife Nearly 100 fossil species pulled from a flooded cave in the Bahamas reveal a true story of persistence against all odds—at least until the time humans stepped foot on the islands.
Threatened sea duck may be reintroduced in southwest Alaska A colorful, threatened sea duck whose numbers plummeted in Alaska may be reintroduced to the southwest corner of the state.
Poisonous sea snake shows up in California after 30 years A poisonous sea snake last seen in Southern California 30 years ago has shown up again.
Feds eye refuges for cold-water species in five states Federal scientists using new technologies have mapped what is being called a Cold Water Climate Shield, an area spanning five western states that could support viable populations of native species if the region continues its warming trend.
	Rat race: With complaints on rise, NYC redoubles efforts To many in New York City, the rats are winning.
	Sharks could reveal how neck disease forms in humans New insights into how the neck vertebrae of elephant sharks naturally become fused could help researchers to understand how neck development can go wrong in people affected by disease.
	Markers of diet and behaviour in chimpanzee dental calculus Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have identified new information about chimpanzee diets and diet-related behaviours, based on the record of plant remains preserved in the dental calculus (calcified dental plaque) on the teeth of deceased individuals. The research team found that the plant remains recovered from the dental calculus record of wild Taï Forest Chimpanzees (Côte d'Ivoire) broadly match the feeding data collected over the past twenty years as part of the Taï Chimpanzee Project. Moreover, the plant remains may provide information on behaviours important in chimpanzee life histories. These life-history traits are otherwise largely invisible in populations where it is impossible to directly observe the individuals.
How wind might impact birds' migration routes For centuries, scientists have been working to unravel the many mysteries of bird migration, studying where birds go, how they find their way, and how much of the information they need is inherited and how much is learned.
Saving 'sang': New label aims to conserve wild ginseng Denny Colwell fires up a weed whacker and makes quick work of his prized American ginseng patch, a fall ritual that helps hide the slow-growing, long-lived perennials from poachers keen on digging them up.
	Volunteer divers asked to upload manta ray snaps for science A University of Queensland scientist is calling for volunteer divers to photograph the underside of manta rays in waters off the Western Australian coastline and upload them to Facebook as part of a research project.
New research on damsel bug bites Eduardo Faundez, an NDSU doctoral student majoring in entomology, recently had a paper published in the prestigious Journal of Medical Entomology. The paper, titled "A Case of Biting Humans by Nabis americoferus (Heteroptera: Nabidae), With Comments on Bites by Other Species of the Genus Nabis in the United States," reviews the first-known case of a person in Fargo being bitten by a damsel bug.
	Scientist at work—observing termite behaviors, personalities – and souls? In Afrikaans, they are called rysmiere, literally "rice ants," although their name is more commonly rendered into English as "white ants." They are not ants, though; they're not even closely related to the ants. In fact, their nearest insect relatives are cockroaches: they are termites.
Would you eat your pet cat? In most Western cultures cats are simply feline pet companions eager to greet us at the end of the day. In continents such as Asia and Africa, the social norms surrounding cats are very different; our furry friends commonly double up as dinner for a number of reasons ranging from food insecurity, simple preference or superstition. It is estimated that 4 million cats are consumed annually in Asia alone. Raymond Czaja et al recently conducted research on cat consumption in Anthrozoös. Their study reveals motives for, prevalence and methods of cat consumption in Madagascar and resulting public health implications for Malagasy citizens and beyond.
Towards a safer epidural anaesthesia for dogs A new method or anesthesia proven efficient in humans, has now been tested in animals. Two Spanish specialists in veterinary anesthesiology have successfully used the Baraka technique in dogs, proving that it is simpler and faster when trying to identify the epidurial space. With this research, presented at an international level, the two experts seek to reduce the risk of traditional anaesthesic techniques in these animals.
	Assessing influence of economic and demographic changes key for conservation planning team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Conservation International, found that larger protected areas, especially those in high population density regions, are more likely to undergo a downgrading, downsizing and degazettement (PADDD) event.
	Syrian seeds withdrawn from Arctic 'doomsday vault' In the first withdrawal from a "doomsday" seed vault in the Arctic, thousands of seeds that were originally kept in war-stricken Syria have been safely delivered to Morocco and Lebanon, officials said Monday.
	Wind turbines may reduce breeding success of white-tailed eagles While renewable energy sources such as wind power will play an increasingly important role in climate change mitigation, new research reveals that the breeding success of species such as the white-tailed eagle can be significantly reduced by wind power generation on a large scale, possibly due to collision mortality.

Medicine & Health news

	Stressed dads affect offspring brain development through sperm microRNA More and more, scientists have realized that DNA is not the only way that a parent can pass on traits to their offspring. Events experienced by a parent over a lifetime can also have an impact.
	Premature birth appears to weaken brain connections Babies born prematurely face an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric problems that may be due to weakened connections in brain networks linked to attention, communication and the processing of emotions, new research shows.
	Study reveals a key role your gut bacteria play in body's self-defense Chalk up another reason why your gut bacteria are so critical to your health—and why these microorganisms could be the key to preventing a host of diseases. Scientists in Sweden have discovered that human intestinal flora regulate the levels of the body's main antioxidant, glutathione, which fights a host of diseases.
	The brain's wiring is linked to good – and bad – behavioral traits The way our brains are wired may reveal a lot about us, according to new research co-authored by scientists at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Genetic heterogeneity in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders could lead to precision therapies Genetic research suggests that hundreds of genes are likely risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. This heterogeneity presents both challenges and opportunities when it comes to developing effective treatments for these diseases. The next generation of research must focus on the neural circuits underlying behavioral symptoms, the cell types in these circuits, and the signaling pathways that connect the diverse genes that potentially cause disease.
	Transplanting from pig to human Never before have scientists been able to make scores of simultaneous genetic edits to an organism's genome. But now, in a landmark study by George Church and his team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, the gene editing system known as CRISPR–Cas9 has been used to genetically engineer pig DNA in 62 locations—an explosive leap forward in CRISPR's capability when compared with its previous record maximum of just six simultaneous edits.
	Orange lichens are potential source for anticancer drugs An orange pigment found in lichens and rhubarb called parietin may have potential as an anti-cancer drug, scientists at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have discovered.
	Researchers find a protein that's involved in helping control the architecture of connections between neurons Our ability to learn, move, and sense our world comes from the neurons in our brain. This information moves through our brain between neurons that are linked together by tens of trillions of tiny structures called synapses. Although tiny, synapses are not simple and must be precisely organized to function properly. Indeed, diseases like autism and Alzheimer's are increasingly linked to defects in the organization and number of these tiny structures. Now researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have found a new way in which synapses organization is controlled, which could eventually lead to better treatments for neurological diseases.
	Study reveals new, potent way to boost immunity and fight viruses Many viral infections, such as the common cold, cause mild illnesses that the body's immune system eventually defeats. But when viruses cause severe disease, doctors have few options for effective treatment.
	Research on 377,000 people worldwide highlights the role of genes in eczema Eczema - an itchy dry-skin condition - affects an estimated one in five children and one in 12 adults in the UK. Genes play an important role in determining how likely we are to develop eczema but the majority of the genes that cause the condition have yet to be detected.
	'Reversible' tumor suppressor loss: Key to new brain cancer therapies? It's no surprise that people enjoy warm places like Hawaii but may suffer in hostile locales such as Antarctica. A tumor suppressor gene called PTEN is similar in that it is affected by the microenvironments of certain bodily organs to which it travels.
	Young babies don't experience tickles in the way you think they do When you tickle the toes of newborn babies, the experience for them isn't quite as you would imagine it to be. That's because, according to new evidence reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 19, infants in the first four months of life apparently feel that touch and wiggle their feet without connecting the sensation to you.
	Scientists find way to make leukemia cells kill each other Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found a way to change leukemia cells into leukemia-killing immune cells. The surprise finding could lead to a powerful new therapy for leukemia and possibly other cancers.
	Genomic ancestry linked to mate selection, study shows Genetic ancestry, as well as facial characteristics, may play an important part in who we select as mates, according to an analysis from UC San Francisco, Microsoft Research, Harvard, UC Berkeley and Tel Aviv University.
	Gene could hold key to treating Parkinson's disease Researchers at King's College London have identified a new gene linked to nerve function, which could provide a treatment target for 'switching off' the gene in people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
	Monkey model discovery could spur CMV vaccine development Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading infectious cause of birth defects worldwide, but scientists have been frustrated in their efforts to develop a vaccine to protect against infections.
	Birth order has only very small effects on personality, study shows Who we become only marginally correlates with our birth position amongst siblings. Psychologists from the universities of Mainz and Leipzig, Germany, came to this conclusion in a study recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Study finds mechanisms of early insulin treatment for diabetes may produce better outcomes A pilot study of 23 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes found early insulin therapy to be as effective as 15 months of oral therapy and may improve the body's ability to produce insulin.
Pacemakers identify atrial fibrillation and enable initiation of stroke prevention Pacemakers identify atrial fibrillation and enable initiation of anticoagulation to prevent strokes, according to research presented today at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2015 by Dr. Nathan Denham, a cardiologist at Warrington Hospital, UK.
Childhood infections associated with increased risk of early heart attack Infections in childhood are associated with an increased risk of early heart attacks, according to research presented today at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2015 by Dr. Andriany Qanitha, a Ph.D. candidate at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Unhealthy lifestyles in adulthood appear to compound the risk of early heart attack.
Sniffing and gasping can prevent fainting Dr Bavolarova said: "Recurrent syncope (fainting) has serious effects on quality of life. Patients are often injured when they fall, which reduces their mobility and ability to look after themselves. Depression is common in these patients."
New research offers first clinical evidence on the mental health toll of human trafficking A new study by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London provides the first clinical evidence on the toll human trafficking has on mental health, including high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, amongst a patient population in South London.
Researchers close in on a blood test for Alzheimer's disease Researchers from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine are nearing development of a blood test that can accurately detect the presence of Alzheimer's disease, which would give physicians an opportunity to intervene at the earliest, most treatable stage.
	Cancer drug improved cognition and motor skills in small Parkinson's clinical trial An FDA-approved drug for leukemia improved cognition, motor skills and non-motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia in a small phase I clinical trial, report researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) in Washington. In addition, the drug, nilotinib (Tasigna by Novartis), led to statistically significant and encouraging changes in toxic proteins linked to disease progression (biomarkers).
For lung cancer patients, IMRT associated with lesser side effects, better tolerance of chemotherapy An analysis of an international, cooperative-led trial of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has shown that those who received intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) had less severe lung toxicity and were able to better tolerate their chemotherapy, compared to patients who received 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT).
	Indian capital struggles to control dengue fever outbreak At dusk, the foggers come out to spray their sticky-sweet clouds of diesel smoke and insecticide across the Indian capital. Mothers scold their children for wearing short sleeves. Posters glued to signposts warn about the perils of neighborhood puddles.
	Researchers find resilience to stress and uncertainty reduces disappointment Uncertainty. It causes more anxiety and stress than facing difficult news, said Kate Sweeny, associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. But is it possible to cope with distress during what could be a life-altering period of uncertainty?
	Early childhood stress affects brain's response to rewards A Duke University-led study has pinpointed how early childhood stress affects the adult brain's response to rewards. Their findings suggest a possible pathway by which childhood stress may increase risk of depression and other mental health problems in adulthood.
	Nuclear transport problems linked to ALS and FTD Three teams of scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health showed that a genetic mutation linked to some forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) may destroy neurons by disrupting the movement of materials in and out of the cell's nucleus, or command center where most of its DNA is stored. The results, published in the journals Nature and Nature Neuroscience, provide a possible strategy for treating the two diseases.
	More than 11 moles on your arm could indicate higher risk of melanoma Researchers at King's College London have investigated a new method that could be used by GPs to quickly determine the number of moles on the entire body by counting the number found on a smaller 'proxy' body area, such as an arm.
	Students revolutionize medical sterilization Between 5% and 10% of patients admitted to modern hospitals in the developed world acquire one or more infections. The risk of health care-associated infection in developing countries is 2 to 20 times higher than in developed countries. In some developing countries, the proportion of patients affected by a health care-acquired infection can exceed 25%. In addition, many hospitals in developing countries and in disaster relief environments make do with simple disinfection of medical material but the risk of nosocomial infections remain high. Now, a company founded by EPFL students has developed a portable sterilization system that costs a fraction of the conventional equipment used in hospitals.
Expert evidence on tobacco taxes Research from our Department for Health and School of Management has contributed to a recent report by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health calling on the Chancellor to increase tobacco taxes, to fund a reduction in smoking prevalence.
Tualang honey supplements found to reduce harmful side effects of smoking Smoking is a known factor in many serious health issues: stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, to name but a few. In their recent research in Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, Syaheedah et al. sought to study what impact antioxidants in honey have on the oxidative stress in smokers.
	Better communication about sex is just as effective as 'female Viagra' A hormone treatment with oxytocin improves the sexual experience of women suffering from sexual dysfunction. This is the finding of a study conducted at MedUni Vienna, which has now been published in the prestigious journal Fertility and Sterility. However, a control group that only received a placebo via a nasal spray, showed similar improvements. Sexual dysfunction in women is therefore not merely a question of a chemical hormone deficiency but is often also a sign of a lack of communication with a partner and an expression of everyday stress, emphasizes Michaela Bayerle-Eder, specialist in internal medicine and sexual medicine at MedUni Vienna.
Heavy drinkers and drugs users underestimate their levels of consumption compared to others' Heavy drinkers and users of illegal drugs downplay their relative levels of consumption, when comparing themselves to others, reveals research by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
	Chronic abdominal pain often linked to psychological dysfunctions Gastrointestinal disorders are often linked to psychological dysfunctions and can be explained by a malfunction of the communication between bowels and brain, as has been shown by a research project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF.
	Clumsy teenagers under the microscope in bone health study Almost everyone knows one—that person who seems to fall or trip over a lot, and can have trouble with even the simplest of manual tasks.
	Blood test for chlamydia may predict pregnancy outcomes A blood test that detects antibodies to the sexually transmitted bacteriumChlamydia trachomatismay be helpful in screening infertile women for pregnancy outcomes, according to a new study.
	Genetic similarity suggests Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis form a continuum of subtypes in the bowel A new understanding of inflammatory bowel diseases has been prompted by the analysis of genetic and clinical data from more than 30,000 patients. This study reveals that genetic factors affect the location of the inflammation in the gut, with implications for diagnosis and treatment of patients.
	Watching the inflammation process in real time Junior Scientist from the Jena University develops a test system for the search for new active ingredients: Dr. Ulrike Garscha and her colleagues from Jena together with scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm published their results in the science magazine FASEB Journal. In this they report on how they were able to study in detail the mechanism through which the enzyme 5-Lipoxygenase together with another protein called FLAP starts inflammation processes.
	Many parents unaware of plans for emergencies at preschools and child care centers If your child's preschool or child care were affected by a tornado, fire or violent situation, would you know the center's emergency plan to keep the children as safe as possible?
Road accidents kill 1.25 mn each year, Africa deadliest: WHO Some 1.25 million people are killed in traffic accidents around the world each year, with Africa by far the continent with the most dangerous roads, the World Health Organization said in report published Monday.
Study of pregnancy complications finds refugee women in Ontario have higher rates of HIV Pregnant refugee women in Ontario have a higher prevalence of HIV than immigrants and Canadian-born women, a new study examining serious pregnancy and delivery complications has found.
Determining accurate life expectancy of older adults requires provider, patient discussion Health care providers must have detailed discussions with their older adult patients to better determine their true life expectancy, as older adults do not accurately predict their own prognosis, a key factor in making decisions about future health interventions, according to researchers at UC San Francisco and San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Unintended costs of health-care integration In recent years hospitals have been rapidly acquiring physician practices, a trend that could potentially lower health care spending—for example, through better coordination of inpatient and outpatient care—or increase spending by increasing prices or use of profitable hospital-based services.
New review: What to do to prevent food allergies in infants With food allergies in children on the rise, parents often ask the question, How do I prevent food allergies in my baby? A new review published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), based on the latest evidence, interprets new evidence to guide physicians and families regarding food introduction and allergy prevention.
	Memo to docs: Mind the nonresistant bugs too Drug-resistant bacteria have dominated news headlines and the attention of public health experts, but a study by experts at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Duke Clinical Research Institute shows that nonresistant bacterial infections occur far more often and can take just as great a toll on newborns as their drug-resistant cousins.
	Some patients in a vegetative state retain awareness, despite being unable to move New insight into a vital cerebral pathway has explained how some patients in a vegetative state are aware despite appearing to be unconscious and being behaviourally unresponsive.
The Canadian experience on pediatric liver disease: Early diagnosis is critical A first of its kind nationwide study on pediatric Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), a progressive inflammatory liver disease, was released today in the esteemed journal, Pediatrics.
First patients dosed with 'gene silencing' drug for Huntington's disease The first few patients have received doses of an experimental RNA-targeting drug for Huntington's disease, it was announced today.
	Discovery could lead to new heart disease treatments By tracking a single cell in a growing heart, scientists from Stanford University have discovered a cell type that could repair damaged arteries.
How mechanical stretching forces impact human vascular cells Cardiovascular diseases are globally the main cause of death and vascular tissue integrity is important for the proper functionality and homeostasis of the blood system. Therefore, a profound understanding of vascular cell physiology is beneficial in successfully treating vascular diseases and for improving strategies for regenerative medicine. Blood vessels walls are mainly composed of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). These cells are continuously subjected to a repeated mechanical stretching (cyclic tensile strain) caused by the pulsatile blood flow driven by the heart.
Study shows outreach increases completion of HPV vaccination series by adolescent girls A joint study by UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital System investigators found that a multicomponent outreach program increased completion of the three-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series that reduces the risk of cervical cancer caused by the virus.
High-fat diet may cause changes in the brain that lead to anxiety and depression A new study in mice reveals that increased body weight and high blood sugar as a result of consuming a high-fat diet may cause anxiety and depressive symptoms and measurable changes in the brain.
	The smell of death can trigger fight or flight in humans New research from a team led by a psychologist at the University of Kent suggests that humans, like other species, can perceive certain scents as threatening.
Johnson & Johnson: Stelara fares well in Crohn's disease Johnson & Johnson's immune disorder drug Stelara significantly reduced symptoms of the inflammatory bowel condition Crohn's disease with just one infusion in about half the patients tested, according to the company.
	Kitchen counter foods that relate to your weight The food on your counter can predict your weight - especially if it's cereal or soft drinks.
	Burnout and depression: Two entities or one? CCNY provides answer Burnout and depression overlap considerably, according to the latest study on the subject led by psychology Professor Irvin S. Schonfeld of The City College of New York's Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership and his colleague, Renzo Bianchi, of the Institute of Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland. The findings are based on a survey taken by 1,386 public school teachers, from pre-K to 12th grade across the United States, including New York, during the 2013-14 academic year.
	New approach toward a broad spectrum malaria vaccine In a recent breakthrough to combat malaria, a collaboration of Indian and American scientists have identified a malarial parasite protein that can be used to develop antibodies when displayed on novel nanoparticles. This approach has the potential to prevent the parasite from multiplying in the human host and also inhibits transmission through mosquitoes. The finding points towards developing a powerful malaria vaccine in the hope of eradicating this debilitating and often fatal disease.
Clear link between income and survival after cardiac surgery The higher a patient's income, the better are his or her chances of surviving cardiac surgery in both the short and long term. This is the finding of a new registry study by researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
Antiplatelet therapy with blood thinners reduces mortality for angioplasty patients Patients with acute coronary syndrome who have undergone angioplasty have a reduced risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality but an increased risk of bleeding when given glycoprotein 2b/3a inhibitors (GPI) after the procedure, according to a study published today in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Trial results show that 'health risk assessment' benefits non-disabled elderly people Implementation of a collaborative care model among community-dwelling older people using a health risk assessment instrument resulted in better health behaviors and increased use of preventative care, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The trial, conducted by Andreas Stuck from the University Hospital Bern and University of Bern, Switzerland, and colleagues, demonstrated improved 8-year survival among recipients of the intervention.
	Holocaust survivors' memories help researchers map brain circuitry for gratitude Neuroscientists have mapped how the human brain experiences gratitude with help from an unexpected resource: Holocaust survivors' testimonies.
No increased dementia risk found in diagnosed celiac patients A new and comprehensive study by investigators at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center has found that celiac patients are at no increased risk for dementia before or after their diagnosis of celiac disease.
	No amount of alcohol safe during pregnancy, doctors say (HealthDay)—While some studies have hinted that a little alcohol might be harmless during pregnancy, a leading U.S. pediatricians' group has issued a new warning that no amount of drinking is safe while pregnant.
	It's time for your flu shot (HealthDay)—The start of flu season is just around the corner and U.S. health officials are urging everyone aged 6 months and older to get their yearly flu shot.
	Preteen girls worry about breast cancer if it's in the family (HealthDay)—Preteen girls with a strong family history of breast cancer worry more than their peers without that background about getting breast cancer themselves, new research shows.
	Disaster plans must consider children, pediatrics group says (HealthDay)—Disaster response plans need to place more emphasis on the needs of children, a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says.
	Not all large breast tumors warrant mastectomy, study says (HealthDay)—A combination of breast conservation surgery and radiation is as effective as breast removal for some women with large, localized invasive breast tumors, a new study contends.
	Gene expression ratio may aid rapid pneumonia diagnosis (HealthDay)—A ratio evaluating the expression of two molecular markers may assist in the rapid diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) on ICU admission, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Needle type doesn't change epidural vascular uptake risk (HealthDay)—Blunt-tip and pencil-point needles have comparable risks of inadvertent vascular injection during lumbosacral transforaminal injections, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pain Medicine.
	Possible association for bortezomib therapy, chalazia (HealthDay)—There is a possible correlation between bortezomib use and chalazia, according to a report published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Declining polyamine levels tied to longer circadian period (HealthDay)—A group of metabolites whose levels decline as people age appear to have an effect on the circadian clock, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Cell Metabolism.
	Only some energy drinks change endothelial function (HealthDay)—Some energy drinks appear to significantly improve endothelial function, while other energy drinks and coffee do not, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	ASTRO: men's health supplements no use in prostate CA (HealthDay)—Men's health supplements (MHSs) offer no benefit for patients with localized prostate cancer, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, held from Oct. 18 to 21 in San Antonio.
Risks of LDCT LC screenings need to be assessed in 20- to 29-pack-year smokers The potential risks and harms of low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening in current 20- to 29-pack-year smokers needs to be assessed before recommending LDCT to this group, according to a study published October 19 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Study finds existence of protein in the blood can be early predictor of kidney disease Mayo Clinic researchers in Rochester, Minnesota, collaborated with the University of Mississippi Medical Center on a recent study, "Troponin T as a Predictor of End-Stage Renal Disease and All-Cause Death in African-American and Whites From Hypertensive Families." For the first time, this study identified the presence of a specific protein in the blood used to look for heart damage. This protein can be an early indicator of end-stage renal disease—and ultimately death—in people with hypertension, regardless of race or baseline kidney function. The study was published online today, and will be in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Australia set to legalise growing of medicinal cannabis Australia Saturday announced plans to legalise the growing of cannabis for medicinal purposes, saying those suffering debilitating illnesses deserved access to the most effective treatments.
	Bigger bite for health law penalty on uninsured The math is harsh: The federal penalty for having no health insurance is set to jump to $695, and the Obama administration is being urged to highlight that cold fact to help drive its new pitch for health law sign-ups.
Valeant tops Street 3Q forecasts, boosts outlook Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results and raised its outlook for the year.
Seizures from solving sudoku puzzles The JAMA Neurology feature "Images in Neurology" features the case of a 25-year-old right-handed physical education student who was buried by an avalanche during a ski tour and endured 15 minutes of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency).
Biosimilars—clinical perspectives in rheumatology Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the University of Massachusetts Medical School have been analyzing clinical data on biosimilars that have already been approved for use. The term 'biosimilars' refers to drugs that mimic the effects of biologics. A particular focus of the article, published in the current issue of Nature Reviews Rheumatology, is the efficacy of biosimilars that have already been approved for the treatment of rheumatic diseases within the past three years.
	Do male/female 'rape myths' influence a bystander's likelihood to intervene in a sexual assault? The growing use of bystander intervention strategies on college campuses and in the military to prevent sexual assault necessitates a better understanding of the effect that rape myths might have on an individual's likelihood to intervene and help an acquaintance or stranger. A new study examining how acceptance of myths about rape involving a male or female influences bystander behavior in a sexual assault setting is published in the peer-reviewed journal Violence and Gender.
Hearing aids may help keep hearing-impaired older adults mentally sharp Hearing loss is linked with accelerated cognitive decline in older adults, but the use of hearing aids may help safeguard seniors' memory and thinking skills.
Physical activity has greater impact on body composition in postmenopausal women Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, regardless of your age. But a new study coming out of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and presented earlier this month at the 2015 annual meeting of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) shows that some types of physical activity have a greater impact on body composition in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women.
QI program reduced use of indwelling urinary catheters in MICU by more than 77 percent Many hospitalized patients have an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC), and previous studies have found up to one-third of IUCs are unneeded. A team of researchers from Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, implemented an intervention that decreased the use of IUCs in patients from 92.3 percent to just 15 percent, representing a 77.3 percent reduction in use.
Condition of British Ebola nurse improves: hospital A British nurse who suffered a relapse after contracting Ebola in Sierra Leone has been taken off the critical list while remaining "serious but stable", the hospital treating her said Monday.
Low quality of life and depression may contribute to erectile dysfunction in men with sleep apnea Burdens related to poor sleep may put men with sleep apnea at increased risk of erectile dysfunction.
Gout risk high in patients with sleep apnea Sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing gout, a new study shows.
Early ID of physiological deterioration and appropriate care improves sepsis outcomes Researchers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, evaluated the rapid response system (RRS) training program on call rates and code blue events and found significant improvements were made in staff awareness and patient outcomes. The study was developed by the knowledge that critical deterioration in patients is often preceded by measurable signs of physiological worsening hours prior to the event.
Namaste, yogis: Yoga as effective as traditional pulmonary rehab in patients with COPD Researchers from the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, studied the effects of yoga as a form of pulmonary rehabilitation on markers of inflammation in the body. Results from this study showed yoga exercises provide improvements that are just as effective as traditional pulmonary rehabilitation methods in improving pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and indices of systemic inflammation.
Nearly 77 percent of pulmonary clinical trials failed to report race and ethnicity data Researchers from Duke University and Durham Veteran Affairs Medical Center have found that nearly 77 percent of pulmonary clinical trials registered with ClinicalTrials.gov failed to report race and ethnicity data, and biologic-related studies had even lower odds of reporting race and ethnicity data when compared with drug trials.
Patients awaiting lung transplant commonly suffer depression-related symptoms Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, have found patients awaiting lung transplant often suffer from stress, anxiety, or depressive symptoms, and these symptoms are not isolated to patients with pre-existing psychiatric diagnoses. Pre-existing psychiatric diagnoses have been investigated previous to lung transplant. Little is known about the prevalence and burden of active depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms pretransplant.
Boosting levels of a key growth factor may help prevent cardiovascular disease New research indicates that low levels of a growth factor called stem cell factor (SCF)—which is thought to be important for blood vessel repair—are linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
3-D printing provides low-cost alternative in bronchoscopy simulation training Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, found that 3D-printed tracheobronchial tree models compared favorably against other more standard models in training pulmonary physicians to perform bronchoscopy. The researchers compared the two models based on realism, accuracy, look and feel, and overall usefulness as a teaching tool. Currently, most simulation centers use models that are more expensive than 3D-printed models and fail to capture the subtle anatomical details of the airways.
Study examines the effects of childhood trauma on later sexual well-being Among 96 former Swiss indentured child laborers, 22 individuals showed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and 53 reported having experienced childhood trauma. Men reported a significantly higher prevalence of both sexual concerns and dysfunctional sexual behavior compared with women.
Case report finds 'popcorn lung' in patient using e-cigarettes Researchers from White River Junction VA Hospital, in Junction, Vermont, will present a case report of acute inhalation lung injury related to the use of e-cigarettes and a flavored e-cigarette liquid containing diacetyl.
Late-breaking study finds aerobic exercise significantly improved asthma control Researchers from Hospital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, the Montreal Chest Institute, and Concordia University in Montréal, Canada, conducted a 12-week supervised aerobic exercise program for patients with asthma and found that exercise yielded significant improvements in asthma control. This study was designed using the ORBIT framework to assess the impact of aerobic exercise on asthma control.
Smoking among physicians-in-training linked to duty hours, presence of peers who smoke A survey distributed by researchers from the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila, Philippines, may have found a link between the number of duty hours and the prevalence of physicians who smoke. The survey was used to evaluate the smoking behaviors and motives of health care professionals in specialty training in Metro Manila Hospitals. The physicians were divided into groups according to their duty schedules and specialty training. Results from the survey showed that in total, 27.83 percent of the surveyed population were smokers.
Easing ICU admission criteria improves mortality in patients with sepsis, reduces costs Researchers from Northwest Hospital and Lifebridge Critical Care in Randallstown, Maryland, conducted a study of patients with sepsis admitted in the ICU and found that a significant decrease in mortality, ICU length of stay, and intermediate care unit-to-ICU transfers occurred when a collaborative culture was created between the ED and ICU.
Mobile device reminders help to improve post-operative outcomes Researchers from Toronto East General Hospital and Seamless Mobile Health have found that the use of text message reminders and having patients log post-operative progress significantly reduces the risk of cancellations for procedures and decreases post-op ER visits.
Mixed bag: Electronic health records and ICU quality improvement Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine found significant reductions in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and surgical intensive care unit (SICU) mortality rates after implementation of electronic health records (EHR). The study found no significant impact on length of stay, Clostridium. difficile colitis rates, or readmission rates after adoption of an EHR system.
Sepsis and shock response team in the ED reduces mortality Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, formed a multidisciplinary sepsis and shock response team (SSRT) to help alert emergency department providers when these disorders are suspected. An automated electronic sepsis alarm for early recognition, followed by standardized multidisciplinary management of patients with suspected sepsis or shock with SSRT, improved the compliance with standard care measures and overall mortality.
Restrictive approach to chest x-rays provides positive outcomes for ICU Researchers from Mount Sinai Beth Israel, in New York, New York, created a quality improvement initiative in 2012, recommending a restrictive approach to ordering chest x-rays (CXRs) compared with ordering them routinely. They hypothesized that this restrictive approach would significantly reduce patients' exposure to radiation and reduce ICU operating costs without adversely affecting patient outcomes.
Social media usage at critical care conferences helps broaden reach Social media is a tool that groups have adopted to help educate, market, and promote causes or topics to a broad audience. Researchers examined trends in social media use at pulmonary and critical care conferences and found substantial growth and adoption of Twitter. Over the past two years, three major critical care conferences have used Twitter and garnered impressions far surpassing the number of attendees at each conference.
Noninvasive ventilation during exercise training beneficial in patients with COPD Researchers from Turkey's Ege University Department of Biostatistics evaluated the effects of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and supplemental oxygen during exercise training (ET) and found it to have multiple physiologic benefits in patients with severe COPD. Results showed that supplemental oxygen during exercise helped to reduce hyperinflation and improve respiratory muscle function and exercise capacity.
Veterans with PTSD admitted to the ICU found to have higher sedation requirements Researchers from the University at Buffalo at The State University of New York examined the effects of pre-existing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on mechanically ventilated veterans during ICU hospitalization. This retrospective cohort study found that mechanically ventilated patients with PTSD had higher sedation requirements.
Patients undergoing lung cancer screening experience elevated levels of distress Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening is recommended to screen patients with an increased risk of developing lung cancer, but little research regarding the emotional toll of screening has been conducted. Researchers from Stony Brook Cancer Center in Stony Brook, New York found 43 percent of patients undergoing LDCT experienced elevated distress before screening, and one-third of patients experienced continued distress even after being told there was no sign of cancer.
Significant nonmedical financial burden for families after child admitted to ICU Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that families with children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) incurred significant nonmedical, out-of-pocket expenses and demonstrated work absenteeism and inability to perform daily activities, with lowest income brackets bearing the highest burden.
Valeant mulls sale of business tied to drug price hikes Controversial pharma company Valeant signaled Monday it expects to dispose of a business associated with large drug price increases and foresees much more modest price hikes in the future.
	Progress made, but work to do in maternal, newborn health Eight hundred women die every day globally from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, despite great strides in that area, philanthropist Melinda Gates said Monday.

Other Sciences news

	Best of Last Week – Particle made of nuclear force, dire global warming news and standing not so good for you either (Phys.org)—It was another good week for physics as a combined team of researchers with Fermilab Lattice and MILC Collaborations made public a newly developed high-precision calculation they came up with that holds promise for significantly advancing the hunt for physics that lie past the standard model. The reckoning applies to a certain decay of a B meson, sometimes referred to as the "penguin decay" process. And speaking of mesons, another team at TU Wien in Austria, revealed that they had found evidence of a particle purely made of nuclear force—their calculations suggested meson f0(1710) could be the glueball, that many in the field have been looking for. And another team with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem asked: What is quantum in quantum thermodynamics?
	New mathematical method reveals structure in neural activity in the brain A newly-developed mathematical method can detect geometric structure in neural activity in the brain. "Previously, in order to understand this structure, scientists needed to relate neural activity to some specific external stimulus," said Vladimir Itskov, associate professor of mathematics at Penn State University. "Our method is the first to be able to reveal this structure without our knowing an external stimulus ahead of time. We've now shown that our new method will allow us to explore the organizational structure of neurons without knowing their function in advance."
Princeton honoring memory of mathematician John Nash Five months after his remarkable life ended in a crash on a New Jersey highway, Princeton University is paying tribute to John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician remembered by colleagues for his brilliance and by millions for the Hollywood movie about him.
	Refining persuasion experiments, from vaccines to voting One of the largest experiments ever conducted on people was carried out during the 2012 presidential campaign. Barack Obama's canvassing teams tested different persuasion scripts on millions of potential voters and donors. Later, when they canvassed again, they used only the proven winners to convince people to vote for Obama.
	Research examines how study abroad preps teachers for diverse student population Providing study-abroad experiences that mimic some of the experiences of immigrant students and facilitate critical thinking about global issues is an effective method for preparing teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL), according to two Penn State researchers.
	The battle for open access is far from over Today marks the beginning of the 8th Open Access (OA) week, a global event to highlight all things open access.
	Let's make sure the future of scientific publishing is fair as well as transparent Scientific publishing has undergone a revolution in recent years – largely due to the internet. And it shows no sign of letting up as a growing number of countries attempt to ensure that research papers are made freely available. Publishers are struggling to adapt their business models to the new challenges. But it is not just the publishers who struggle.
	How chickens walk holds clues to how they spread disease Plotting on a grid just how a chicken walks may one day give farmers more insight into how best to protect their flock from non-airborne pathogens that can also hurt their profit.
Smithsonian's new head: don't call it "The Nation's Attic" With millions of artifacts ranging from first ladies' dresses to the flag that inspired the national anthem, the Smithsonian Institution has been cheekily known for decades as "The Nation's Attic." Just don't let the new head of the Smithsonian catch you calling it that.
	Bottled water—the essence of life as commodity A new book co-authored by Deakin University academic Dr Emily Potter exposes the secret life of bottled water, one of the most controversial products in the world.
	Barriers that organizations face in the effort to fight food insecurity An exhausted working mother with her two toddlers in tow slowly approaches me at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Clinic. I am staffing the application desk for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and she is looking for extra help during the brutal winter.

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