Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Oct 6

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The hand and foot of Homo naledi

Newsletter for October 6, 2015:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 7, 2015 at 3:48 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Oct 6
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 6, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Nobel Prize for missing piece in neutrino mass puzzle (Update)
- Astronomers devise 'habitability index' to guide future search
- Covalent organic framework that has highest reported stability and can be modified for organocatalysis
- What role does the hippocampus play in memory?
- Researchers design material that more effectively slows light
- Fecal mimicry found in seeds that fool dung beetles
- Studies suggest new ways to inhibit oncogenes, enhance tumor-suppressor activity
- Chimpanzees shed light on origins of human walking
- Biologist makes extinction predictions for frogs based on the past
- Runner's high linked to cannabinoid receptors in mice
- Team reports detailed analysis of electrical characteristics of a tiny transistor made from two quantum dots
- The hand and foot of Homo naledi
- New surfaces delay ice formation
- AI machine achieves IQ test score of young child
- New auto safety technologies leave some drivers bewildered

Nanotechnology news

From trees to power: Engineers build better energy storage device McMaster Engineering researchers Emily Cranston and Igor Zhitomirsky are turning trees into energy storage devices capable of powering everything from a smart watch to a hybrid car.

Simple detection of magnetic skyrmions At present, tiny magnetic whirls – so called skyrmions – are discussed as promising candidates for bits in future robust and compact data storage devices. At the University of Hamburg these exotic magnetic structures were recently found to exist in ultrathin magnetic layers and multilayers, similar to the ones used in current hard-disk drives and magnetic sensors. However, up to now an additional magnet was necessary for a read-out of skyrmions. Now researchers from the University of Hamburg and the Christian-Albrechts-Universität in Kiel have demonstrated that skyrmions can be detected much more easily because of a drastic change of the electrical resistance in these magnetic whirls. For future data storage concepts this promises a significant simplification in terms of fabrication and operation.

Physics news

	Nobel Prize for missing piece in neutrino mass puzzle (Update) Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for key discoveries about a cosmic particle that whizzes through space at nearly the speed of light, passing easily through Earth and even your body.
	Researchers design material that more effectively slows light Researchers at The University of Alabama designed and made a material that manipulates the speed of light in a new, more effective way than previous methods, according to findings recently published in Scientific Reports by the Nature Publishing Group.
	Team shrinks particle accelerator: Prototype demonstrates feasibility of building terahertz accelerators An interdisciplinary team of researchers has built the first prototype of a miniature particle accelerator that uses terahertz radiation instead of radio frequency structures. A single accelerator module is just 1.5 centimetres long and one millimetre thick. The terahertz technology holds the promise of miniaturising the entire set-up by at least a factor of 100, as the scientists surrounding DESY's Franz Kärtner from the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) point out. They are presenting their prototype, that was set up in Kärtner's lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S., in the journal Nature Communications. The authors see numerous applications for terahertz accelerators, in materials science, medicine and particle physics, as well as in building X-ray lasers. CFEL is a cooperation between DESY, the University of Hamburg and the Max Planck Society.
	Slow and fast, but not furious: Researchers trace how birds, fish go with the flow Fish and birds, when moving in groups, could use two "gears"—one slow and another fast—in ways that conserve energy, a team of New York University researchers has concluded. Its findings offer new insights into the contours of air and water flows—knowledge that could be used to develop more energy-efficient modes of transportation.
	Physicists turn toward heat to study electron spin The quest to control and understand the intrinsic spin of electrons to advance nanoscale electronics is hampered by how hard it is to measure tiny, fast magnetic devices.
	Superconductivity trained to promote magnetization Under certain conditions, superconductivity, which is basically incompatible with magnetism, can promote magnetization. Russian scientist Natalya Pugach from the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at the Lomonosov Moscow State University discovered this still unexplained effect with her British colleagues, whose theory group was headed by Professor Matthias Eschrig. They suggest that techniques based on this effect can move us closer to future supercomputers—spintronic devices. Their study was published in Nature Physics.
	200-terawatt laser brings new extremes in heat, pressure to X-ray experiments A newly upgraded high-power laser at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory will blaze new trails across many fields of science by recreating the universe's most extreme conditions, such as those at the heart of stars and planets, in a lab.
	Team reports detailed analysis of electrical characteristics of a tiny transistor made from two quantum dots A single-electron transistor (SET) is an electrical device that takes advantage of a strange quantum phenomenon called tunneling to transport single electrons across a thin insulator. The device serves as an on/off switch on the tiniest scale and could play an important role in quantum computing.
	New surfaces delay ice formation If you've ever waited on an airport runway for your plane to be de-iced, had to remove all your food so the freezer could defrost, or arrived late to work because you had to scrape the sheet of ice off your car windshield, you know that ice can cause major headaches.
	The Latest: Research changed the course of particle physics Latest developments in the announcements of the Nobel Prizes (all times local):
	Neutrino research: Tracking a shapeshifter For over eight decades, the neutrino—one of the most abundant yet elusive particles in the Universe, has been giving physicists the runaround, forever shape-shifting just out of reach.
	Even if imprisoned inside a crystal, molecules can still move X-ray crystallography reveals the three-dimensional structure of a molecule, thus making it possible to understand how it works and potentially use this knowledge to subsequently modulate its activity, especially for therapeutic or biotechnological purposes.
	Nobel laureate hopes work could pave way to fusion power Canadian Arthur McDonald, who shared the Nobel Physics Prize with Takaaki Kajita of Japan, said Tuesday he hoped their work on neutrinos could pave the way to nuclear fusion power.

Earth news

	Self-regulating coral protect themselves against ocean acidification A new study carried out by researchers from The University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland has found that the Porites cylindrica variety of coral have an in-built mechanism that protects them in environments where there is a high fluctuation in ocean pH.
	What is a forest? NASA/USGS mission helps answer the question Examining eight different satellite-derived maps of global forest cover, a team of scientists from NASA and other institutions noticed striking differences. The forested area on the maps differed by as much as 6 percent of Earth's land area, nearly equivalent to the size of China. The reason, they found with the help of the Landsat satellites, was varied definitions of what constitutes a forest. With deforestation responsible for up to one-sixth of greenhouse gas emissions, an accurate measurement of global forests figures prominently into carbon cycle studies.
	Ancient rocks record first evidence for photosynthesis that made oxygen A new study shows that iron-bearing rocks that formed at the ocean floor 3.2 billion years ago carry unmistakable evidence of oxygen. The only logical source for that oxygen is the earliest known example of photosynthesis by living organisms, say University of Wisconsin-Madison geoscientists.
	Climate change: Inuit culture on thin ice Residents of the sub-Arctic village of Umiujaq wistfully remember the good old days, when the ice-fishing season was long and the catch bountiful.
	Researchers use IT to study environmental sustainability of the 'Living Filter' water system Heather Gall sprays a few sprits of tick spray around her face and arms, pulls on her baby blue waterproof waders and adjusts the straps to fit her petite frame before wading knee-deep into a pond at one of Penn State's Living Filter spray fields.
	How does El Nino warm the entire globe? We regularly hear about how El Niño events raise the temperature across much of the planet, contributing to spikes in global average temperature such as the one witnessed in 1998, with severe bush fires, droughts and floods.
	Want to 'see' climate change? Check your thermometer Scientists often use satellites, supercomputers or high-tech arrays of instruments to show how the climate is changing.
Court orders EPA to revise ship ballast dumping regulations A federal appeals court ordered the government Monday to rewrite its regulations on ballast water discharges from ships, one of the leading culprits in the spread of invasive species across U.S. waterways.
	Draft restoration plans for Gulf of Mexico following 2010 disaster NOAA and the other Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Trustees today released 15-year comprehensive, integrated environmental ecosystem restoration plans for the Gulf of Mexico in response to the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and spill. Implementing the plan will cost up to $8.8 billion. The explosion killed 11 rig workers and the subsequent spill lasted 87 days and impacted both human and natural resources across the Gulf.
	India activists back 'pollution tax' to clean Delhi air Environmentalists called Tuesday for a pollution tax in the Indian capital after a top court ordered the city and national governments to quickly come up with a plan to clean New Delhi's notoriously filthy air.
	NASA gets Hurricane Oho by the tail Tropical Storm Oho intensified into a hurricane on October 6 and appeared to have a "tail" in Infrared NASA satellite imagery. Oho is the seventh hurricane of the 2015 season in the North Central Pacific Ocean.
	Satellites see Hurricane Joaquin moving through Northern Atlantic NASA and NOAA satellites have been watching Hurricane Joaquin move to the northeast through the northern Atlantic Ocean. Although Joaquin is moving away from the U.S. and Canada it is still generating dangerous surf conditions.
	NASA sees Typhoon Choi-wan moving north in Western Pacific Typhoon Choi-wan continued to move north in the western Pacific Ocean as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead in space on October 6 and took an infrared look at the storm. Earlier, the RapidScat instrument aboard the International Space Station measured the storm's strongest winds.
	Korean energy economist to head UN climate science panel A South Korean professor of climate change economics will lead the Nobel Prize-winning group of climate scientists who keep track of global warming.
	Oil from freighter collision off Belgian coast threatens nature reserve Belgium and the Netherlands are frantically trying to stop the spread of oil leaking from a collision Tuesday morning between a freighter and a tanker in the North Sea before the slick sullies a coastal nature reserve.

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers devise 'habitability index' to guide future search Powerful telescopes are coming soon. Where exactly shall we point them?
	Image: The lunar North Pole The pockmarked landscape captured in this image from ESA's SMART-1 mission is the surface of our moon. Some of the many craters scattered across the lunar surface are clearly visible, records of the many impacts that have plagued it.
High-powered telescope designed to explore origins of universe moving toward 'first light' An effort to peer into the origins of the universe with the most effective instrument ever used in the effort is taking a big step forward, as Johns Hopkins University scientists begin shipping a two-story-tall microwave telescope to its base in Chile.
	Thousands of photos by Apollo astronauts now on Flickr A cache of more than 8,400 high-resolution photographs taken by Apollo astronauts during trips to the moon is now available for viewing and download. Kipp Teague, who created the massive image repository Project Apollo Archive in 1999, recently uploaded new, unprocessed versions of original NASA photo scans to the image sharing service Flickr.
	How close are we to living on Mars? Like any long-distance relationship, our love affair with Mars has had its ups and downs. The planet's red tint made it a distinctive – but ominous – nighttime presence to the ancients, who gazed at it with the naked eye. Later we got closer views through telescopes, but the planet still remained a mystery, ripe for speculation.
	Images of Pluto's moon Charon show huge fractures and hints of icy 'lava flows' Since the New Horizons probe flew through the Pluto system on July 14, most of the attention has been on Pluto itself. But it also has a comparatively large and – as we now know – fascinating moon called Charon.
	Meteorite search about to begin Geological relics from the far reaches of the solar system are the focus of a quest by the fireball hunting team at Curtin University.
	JPL's role in making 'Th Martian' a reality When fictional astronaut Mark Watney becomes stranded alone on the Red Planet in the novel and film "The Martian," people and technology from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, play important roles in his castaway adventure. Acclaimed for its attention to scientific and technical detail, "The Martian" is steeped in decades of real-life Mars exploration that JPL has led for NASA.
	Is Jupiter our friend or enemy? Does Jupiter protect us from harm, or cause more objects to change trajectory and head towards Earth?
	NRL rocket experiment tests effects of dusty plasma on the ionosphere The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), in collaboration with numerous universities and government laboratories studying the effects of dusty plasmas—charged dust particles that can occur naturally in the mesosphere—generated an artificial plasma cloud in the upper-atmosphere to validate the theory of 'dressed particle scattering' caused by this phenomenon.
	The DAVINCI spacecraft It's no secret that there has been a resurgence in interest in space exploration in recent years. Much of the credit for this goes to NASA's ongoing exploration efforts on Mars, which in the past few years have revealed things like organic molecules on the surface, evidence of flowing water, and that the planet once had a denser atmosphere – all of which indicate that the planet may have once been hospitable to life.

Technology news

	European data sharing pact with US ruled invalid (Update) Facebook and thousands of other companies could find it vastly more complicated to do business in Europe after a court ruled that personal data sent to U.S. servers is potentially unsafe from government spying.
	Toyota shows self-driving technology being readied for 2020 (Update) Toyota unveiled its vision for self-driving cars in a challenge to other automakers as well as industry newcomer Google Inc., promising to start selling such vehicles in Japan by 2020.
	New auto safety technologies leave some drivers bewildered Many Americans buying new cars these days are baffled by a torrent of new safety technology.
	Microsoft unveils new Surface laptop, other updates Microsoft is doubling down on its Surface devices business, unveiling a new laptop Tuesday alongside an updated tablet.
	Discovery about new battery overturns decades of false assumptions New findings at Oregon State University have overturned a scientific dogma that stood for decades, by showing that potassium can work with graphite in a potassium-ion battery - a discovery that could pose a challenge and sustainable alternative to the widely-used lithium-ion battery.
	AI machine achieves IQ test score of young child Some people might find it enough reason to worry; others, enough reason to be upbeat about what we can achieve in computer science; all await the next chapters in artificial intelligence to see what more a machine can do to mimic human intelligence. We already saw what machines can do in arithmetic, chess and pattern recognition.
	Facebook says 'imperative' for EU, US to find data deal solution Facebook urged the EU and US to find a quick solution after Europe's top court struck down a key transatlantic data sharing deal that is relied on by the social media giant and other big firms.
Improved technology aids criminals in brazen cyber attacks Computer viruses and malware are obsolete scams for the latest wave of increasingly aggressive computer criminals, says a top cyber forensics expert at Purdue University.
	Video: Moderating extremes in building design Leon Glicksman designs buildings with an eye toward improved energy efficiency, and, like many of his MIT colleagues, he brings with him a high-tech portfolio. He develops aerogel panels to improve insulation and software packages to guide architects. The professor of architecture and mechanical engineering says that both will be needed in the retrofitting of existing buildings and the creation of new ones around the world.
	Google targets investment Symphony secure messaging Google is set to invest in secure messaging start up Symphony, primarily used by major financial entities and valued at $650 million, the Wall Street Journal said Tuesday.
Law from disorder Are you more likely to succeed if you appear before a judge in the morning? If you're self-represented or hire a lawyer? Legal experts Anita Stuhmcke and Pam Stewart explain how their latest research project, which involves data mining High Court decisions, is set to uncover previously unknown trends in our legal system and help to make Australian courts more efficient.
	Study cites cybercrime's rising costs to corporations Cybercrime costs are climbing for companies both in the U.S. and overseas amid a slew of high-profile breaches, according to research released Tuesday.
	Austria's Max Schrems: US high-tech giants' worst nightmare? Few in America's Silicon Valley could have predicted that a young Austrian law graduate who spent a semester studying there would one day become high-tech companies' worst nightmare.
	Study finds apps can benefit pre-schoolers, but parents need to choose wisely Apps can foster play and creativity in children aged between 0 and five, but parents need to choose the ones they use carefully, research by the University of Sheffield has found.
	The science of retweets What's the best time to tweet, to ensure maximum audience engagement? Researchers at the University of Maryland have demonstrated that an algorithm that takes into account the past activity of each of your followers—and makes predictions about future tweeting—can lead to more "retweets" than other commonly used methods, such as posting at peak traffic times.
	Twitter makes it easier to grab onto hot 'Moments' Twitter made it easier Tuesday to seize hot tweets and high-profile posts from the flood of real-time commentary at the one-to-many messaging service.
	Sharing on Facebook is predicated on perceptions of sharing benefits, not privacy issues Sharing to be sociable or posting to be popular? Whatever your stance on social media it seems from recent research in the Netherlands that a student's decision to share information on Facebook is predicated primarily on their perception of the benefits of sharing and not on their privacy concerns.
	It's inevitable that the internet changes how we relate – what matters is how Breaking up is never easy, and while 20 years ago there may well have been little or no post break-up contact between exes, 21st century technology – from social media to Whatsapp – means there are many new ways to open old wounds. With so many communications channels with which to get hold of people, and with so much of our lives visible online through such things as Facebook, it's easy to keep an eye on our exes once we've parted.
	Testing diesel engines A team at The University of Manchester is testing a Volkswagen diesel engine to try to get an accurate picture of how polluting it is.
	WageSpot app pulls back curtain on employee pay A WageSpot smartphone application released in the United States on Tuesday dove into a historically taboo topic—how much people get paid.
	Math researches find way to make something go viral on Facebook Researchers at Chapman University have proposed a strategic approach for information spreading via Facebook using cancer screenings as a health intervention. In a study called, Information diffusion, Facebook clusters, and the simplicial model of social aggregation: a computation simulation of simplicial diffusers for community health interventions, they use Facebook to identify social clusters and opinion leaders and mathematically determine the best way to spread information, using health information as the subject. What they found is neither way is better than the other. Rather, for maximum reach the best way to spread (or diffuse) information is to utilize both opinion leaders and social clusters on Facebook.
	US proposes nearly $2 million fine against drone operator The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday proposed a record $1.9 million fine against an aerial photography company for flying drones in crowded New York and Chicago airspace without permission.
	Competition for Microsoft lineup, which targets high end The success of Microsoft's fall lineup of devices will ride on the company's ability to convince people who got free Windows 10 software upgrades this summer to spring for new devices—specifically, Windows devices.
New Roku streaming TV device has 4K resolution Streaming TV device maker Roku on Tuesday unveiled a new model that offers video in Ultra HD, or 4K, resolution, matching what's available with Amazon's new Fire TV device.
	Review: 'Steve Jobs' plays man versus machine When is someone going to open a window in Aaron Sorkin's "Steve Jobs"? Alas, wrong operating system.
US group: Put Alibaba site back on "notorious" fakes list A clothing and shoe industry group is calling for the U.S. government to put Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's Taobao site back on its list of "Notorious Markets" for counterfeit goods.
Pushing boundaries in software analytics Researchers at the Singapore Management University have developed an automated 'debugging' approach called Adaptive Multimodal Bug Localisation (AML). AML gleans debugging hints from both bug reports and test cases, and it performs a statistical analysis to pinpoint programme elements that are likely to contain bugs.
	VW chief warns workers of 'pain' to come because of scandal Volkswagen's new CEO has told more than 20,000 workers that overcoming its emissions-rigging scandal will "not happen without pain" and that the company will have to review its investment plans.
	TU/e student team presents first electric touring motorcycle The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) student team, STORM Eindhoven, today presented its electric touring motorcycle. 'STORM Pulse' is the world's first long-distance electric motorcycle, up to 380 kilometers on a single charge. The team will be riding this motorcycle around the world in 80 days in 2016 during its 'STORM World Tour' to demonstrate the potential of sustainable transport. Television presenter Rick Nieman has already signed up to the project as its ambassador.
	Back to the future with nature's own construction materials? Europe's construction industry has a crucial role in cutting carbon emissions and energy consumption. But getting companies to ditch traditional building materials for greener, bio-based alternatives remains an uphill struggle. They are more costly and questions remain over safety, reliability and durability
How big data helps first responders Police officers and firefighters are leveraging big data to do their jobs more efficiently and more accurately.
	Researchers present new prototype of 3D display which can be used without 3D glasses Flying cars, hoverboards and video chat - a very futuristic vision for the year 2015 was presented in the movie "Back to the Future Part II", released in 1989. Now, shortly before "Back to the Future Day" on October 21st, 2015, it is time to check whether reality has indeed kept up with the daring predictions of the 80s.
Senate panel probing VW's use of tax credits The Senate Finance Committee opened a probe Tuesday into Volkswagen's use of a federal tax credit intended for fuel-efficient cars as the company's emissions-rigging scandal widened.

Chemistry news

	Covalent organic framework that has highest reported stability and can be modified for organocatalysis (Phys.org)—A group of researchers from the Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences in Japan report a novel covalent organic framework (COF) that is crystalline, highly stable in water, strong acids, and strong bases, and has a remarkably high 2D surface area. This COF was modified with catalytic subunits and used as a catalyst under inert conditions for Michael addition reactions using a variety of reactants. Their work is published in Nature Chemistry.
	Organic semiconductors get weird at the edge As the push for tinier and faster electronics continues, a new finding by scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Monash University could help inform the design of the next generation of cheaper, more efficient devices.
	From waste stream to sustainable fuel Many industrial processes produce large quantities of waste water containing all kinds of chemicals. These contaminated water streams can be used to produce hydrogen gas with help of catalysts without vaporizing the water. However, the conversion of the available chemicals into hydrogen is a difficult process, and in order to make it efficient, a detailed understanding of the chemical reactions taking place on the surface of the catalyst is required. A device, designed by Kamila Koichumanova from UT research institute MESA+, can supply important new information about this process. It enables scientists to observe what happens at the catalyst surface during the reaction in liquid water, so that they are able to improve the catalyst and the conditions of the reaction. Koichumanova will obtain her doctoral degree for her research at the University of Twente on 7 October.
	New molecular modeling techniques for catalysis in unmixed systems Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory have developed molecular modeling simulations and new theoretical formulations to help understand and optimize catalytic reactions that take place in chemical environments where the reactant "ingredients" for catalysis are not well mixed.
Protein reactions identified with subatomic resolution—why some switch proteins are slower than others Using subatomic resolution, researchers have gained insights into the dynamic modus operandi of two switch proteins which are responsible for the import of compounds into the nucleus and for cell growth. The team headed by Prof Dr Klaus Gerwert from the Department of Biophysics at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, together with partners from Dortmund and Shanghai, combined different methods in order to gain a resolution of one-hundredth of the atomic diameter. The current edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry dedicated its cover story to this issue.
Super yellow blends for light efficiency A blend of two polymers can be used to boost the efficiency of LEDs (light-emitting diodes), according to a research study published in the journal Applied Materials Today. Richard Friend of the Cavendish Laboratory, at the University of Cambridge and colleagues, have blended poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8) and a poly(para-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) copolymer known as Super Yellow (SY) and used cesium carbonate in their LED's negative electrode to minimize quenching and give them ultrahigh efficiency devices.

Biology news

	Fecal mimicry found in seeds that fool dung beetles (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the University of Cape Town and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, both in South Africa, has found an example of a seed from a plant using mimicry to fool a beetle. In their paper published in the journal Nature Plants, the team describes their study of the relationship between the seeds and beetles and the deceptive dispersal they witnessed.
	Sneezing monkey, 'walking' fish found in Himalayas: WWF A monkey that sneezes when it rains and a "walking" fish are among more than 200 species discovered in the fragile eastern Himalayas in recent years, according to conservation group WWF.
	'Hog-nosed rat' discovered in Indonesia Museum of Natural Science Curator of Mammals Jake Esselstyn at Louisiana State University and his international collaborators have discovered a new genus and species on a remote, mountainous island in Indonesia. This new discovery is the third new genus described by this group of scientists since 2012, and identifies a rodent with features never seen by the scientific community before.
	Biologist makes extinction predictions for frogs based on the past (Phys.org)—Australian biologist John Alroy, with Macquarie University has published a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences outlining his study and analysis of two groups of animals; amphibians and reptiles, focusing on extinction rates of the past and likelihood of extinction in the future. He suggests the data indicates that unless something changes, frogs are on a path of mass extinction.
	Bees use colour-coding to collect pollen and nectar A study published this week in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters finds that bees are able to learn which flowers to collect nectar and pollen from based on the colour of the blooms.
	Devastation in Philippine bird paradise Patches of tropical rainforest in the southern Philippines harbour some of the world's rarest birds, but nature lovers toting long-lens cameras now share them with people wielding chainsaws, traps and torches.
	Canines detect deadly disease in historic avocado trees Nestled within the lush tropical foliage of The Kampong resides 20 avocado trees. They were planted nearly 100 years ago under the supervision of plant explorer David Fairchild. Though historically significant, they are not immune to modern day pests and diseases.
The predator survives – but the ecosystem crashes What do killer whales, polar bears and humans have in common? They are adaptable predators with the ability to select new prey when their favourite food is in low supply. But this change can disrupt entire ecosystems.
	Student team engineers E. coli  to adhere to colon cancer cells Billions of harmless Escherichia coli bacteria thrive in the human gut, but why aren't the microbes flushed out of the intestines through digestion? Bacteria like E. coli produce pili, appendages resembling long strands of hair with sticky tips that adhere to intestinal surfaces.
	Wheat choice has lasting effect on soil health and yield Scientists investigating how to control take-all, a fungus that lives in soil and infects wheat roots to cause disease, have discovered that different varieties of wheat have distinct and lasting impacts on the health of the soil in which they are grown.
Cell's waste disposal system regulates body clock proteins Rhythmic expression of key genes is essential for maintaining proper timekeeping of the body's clock. In addition, rhythmic degradation of clockwork proteins is also crucial. However, surprisingly, researchers know little about these specific processes.
Researchers uncover new genetic markers for wheat improvement Kansas State University wheat scientists have completed the first study of a chromosome in a tertiary gene pool and have called it a breakthrough in exploring wheat wild relatives for future crop improvement.
	Study proposes first nationwide wildlife conservation network Wolves, elk and grizzly bears - some of the largest wild animals in America - are literally dying for more room to roam. But Alexander Fremier, associate professor in the School of the Environment at Washington State University, proposes a viable solution.
	Edible love gifts may influence female behavior, suggests cricket study Edible gifts given by male crickets to their female partners during mating contain unique proteins which could affect the females' behaviour according to research from the University of Exeter and Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, published today in the journal PLOS ONE.
	Knee-deep in spider leg evolution Authors Nikola-Michael Prpic et al., in a new study appearing in the advanced online edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution, have identified the driving force behind the evolution of a leg novelty first found in spiders: knees.
	US and Cuba discussing joint marine reserve: Kerry The United States and its former Cold War foe Cuba are discussing a joint maritime reserve in waters between their countries, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday.
	Data integration or die: The importance of biologist input in efficiently sharing data Vicky Schneider, 361° Division at The Genome Analysis Centre, along with UK and European partners, has reviewed key aspects of standards and formats of biological data to highlight the importance of data integration and management tools for biologists.
	Novel cybercatalog of flower-loving flies suggests the digital future of taxonomy Charting Earth's biodiversity is the goal of taxonomy and to do so the scientists need to create an extensive citation network based on several hundred million pages of scientific literature. By providing a novel taxonomic 'cybercatalog' of southern African flower-loving (apiocerid) flies, Drs. Torsten Dikow and Donat Agosti demonstrate how the network of taxonomic knowledge can be made available through links provided to online data providers. Their work is available in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal.
	Chile to create Patagonia Marine Protected Area network The Government of Chile announced today at the Our Oceans Summit in Valparaiso its plan to design a network of Marine Protected Areas for the purpose of safeguarding Patagonia's whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea birds and other coastal biodiversity, an initiative that would expand the country's protected waters by 100,000 square kilometers (more than 38,000 square miles).
	Illegal, industrial fishing threaten oceans: experts The world's oceans are under threat from both illegal and mass industrial fishing, in which millions of fish are caught and discarded, experts warned Tuesday.

Medicine & Health news

	What role does the hippocampus play in memory? (Medical Xpress)—Meet the hippocampus: A seahorse-shaped structure in the cerebral cortex's medial temporal lobe, it's part of the limbic system, generally believed to be involved in spatial navigation and establishing long-term memories. However, it's been unclear which specific memory functions the hippocampus manages—recall, which is the ability to retrieve memory; or recognition, which is the ability to identify a stimulus as new.
	Team succeeds in producing photoreceptors from human embryonic stem cells Age-related macular degeneration (AMRD) could be treated by transplanting photoreceptors produced by the directed differentiation of stem cells, thanks to findings published today by Professor Gilbert Bernier of the University of Montreal and its affiliated Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. ARMD is a common eye problem caused by the loss of cones. Bernier's team has developed a highly effective in vitro technique for producing light sensitive retina cells from human embryonic stem cells. "Our method has the capacity to differentiate 80% of the stem cells into pure cones," Professor Gilbert explained. "Within 45 days, the cones that we allowed to grow towards confluence spontaneously formed organised retinal tissue that was 150 microns thick. This has never been achieved before."
	Predicting change in the Alzheimer's brain MIT researchers are developing a computer system that uses genetic, demographic, and clinical data to help predict the effects of disease on brain anatomy.
	New study reveals clues to how thoughts take shape Let's start with a simple sentence: Last week Joe Biden beat Vladimir Putin in a game of Scrabble.
	Snapshot turns T cell immunology on its head Challenging a universally accepted, longstanding consensus in the field of immunity requires hard evidence. New research from the Australian Research Council Centre of excellence in advanced Molecular imaging has shown the proof is in the picture. And this proof may have implications for type 1 diabetes.
	Runner's high linked to cannabinoid receptors in mice (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from several institutions in Germany has found a link between cannabinoid receptors in mice and what is commonly known as "runner's high." In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their study with lab mice and why they now believe cannabinoid receptors are a vital part of the phenomenon.
	How the brain's wiring leads to cognitive control How does the brain determine which direction to let its thoughts fly? Looking for the mechanisms behind cognitive control of thought, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, University of California and United States Army Research Laboratory have used brain scans to shed new light on this question.
	Repeating aloud to another person boosts recall Repeating aloud boosts verbal memory, especially when you do it while addressing another person, says Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal's Department of Linguistics and Translation. His findings are the result of a study that will be published in the next edition of Consciousness and Cognition. "We knew that repeating aloud was good for memory, but this is the first study to show that if it is done in a context of communication, the effect is greater in terms of information recall," Boucher explained.
	People with higher 'intellectual arrogance' get better grades, study finds People who think they know it all—or at least, a lot—may be on to something, according to a Baylor University study.
	Studies suggest new ways to inhibit oncogenes, enhance tumor-suppressor activity Two new studies by cancer scientists at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) suggest new approaches for treating cancer by inhibiting overactive cancer-promoting genes and by enhancing the activity of sluggish tumor-suppressor genes. The findings were reported in the journals Nature Communications and Nature Genetics.
	Approach or buzz off: Brain cells in fruit fly hold secret to individual odor preferences Responding appropriately to the smell of food or the scent of danger can mean life or death to a fruit fly, and dedicated circuits in the insect's brain are in place to make sure the fly gets it right.
Predicting which soldiers will commit severe, violent crimes Workplace violence perpetrated by military personnel is a major concern of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Although programs have been implemented to teach violence prevention strategies to all military personnel, such programs are much less intensive than others developed in settings for people judged to be at high risk of violent behavior.
	Older patients recover more slowly from concussion Older individuals may have a more difficult time recovering from concussion, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Of skin and teeth: Identifying key differences in Asians Authors Susana Seixas et al., in a new study recently published in the advanced online edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution, have found key differences in a suite of genes important for skin and bone development that may have bestowed specific advantages amongst Asians.
	Rebates a cost-effective way to boost healthy eating among low-income people, study finds Providing low-income households that receive federal food assistance benefits with financial incentives to buy fruits and vegetables would encourage them to purchase and consume more healthy food, and slightly increase their longevity, a new study suggests.
Chinese Nobel medicine winner, 84, 'not really surprised' Tu Youyou, the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel prize for medicine, said Tuesday she was "not really surprised" to be recognised after a remarkable career which saw her team test a breakthrough malaria drug on themselves during the chaos of the Cultural Revolution.
Factfile on Nobel anti-malaria drug artemisin Today's frontline drug to fight malaria, artemisinin has a history going back many centuries, for it traces its past to ancient Chinese medicine.
'Gifts' from Chinese herbal medicine Derived from a herb used to treat fevers some 1,700 years ago, the anti-malaria drug artemisinin is one of many treatments plucked from the treasure chest of ancient Chinese medicine and repackaged for a modern age.
Nutritional needs for skeletal health change as you age, says new scientific review Whether you're young or old, the right nutrition can make a difference to your bone health and influence your ability to live an independent, mobile, fracture-free life into your more senior years. That's the key message of a new scientific review published today in the journal Osteoporosis International by leading bone and nutrition experts, in anticipation of World Osteoporosis Day on October 20.
	China wins long-sought Nobel Prize in one of the sciences (Update) For decades, China has yearned for a Nobel Prize in science. Now, a little-known researcher who helped develop a malaria medicine in a secret military project to assist Vietnam in its war against the U.S. has finally won Beijing that honor.
	Lack of D1 receptor leads to slowness of movements in Parkinson's disease Dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia (a set of subcortical structures) causes severe motor dysfunctions, such as slowness of movements (bradykinesia), as observed in Parkinson's disease. Dopamine binds D1 and D2 receptors that are expressed in the nerve cells of the striatum (a structure of the basal ganglia), and exerts different effects on the nerve cells. However, how dopamine controls through these receptors the information flow in the basal ganglia and voluntary movements is still not clear.
Researcher speeds up TB detection in Cambodia Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major health problem in Cambodia. Natalie Lorent, PhD student at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) and the University of Antwerp (UA), conducted her research in the slums of Phnom Penh, where tuberculosis (TB) wreaks havoc. Lorent and her team developed a more effective approach to actively detect TB cases by using new diagnostic tools and strong involvement by the local community. The new approach allowed health workers to detect TB cases more quickly, which reduces the risk of further transmission of the disease.
Researchers describe mechanism behind progeria Progeria, a premature aging disease, is the research focus of Roland Foisner's team at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna. Children suffering from progeria die at an average age of 14 to 15 years, often from heart attacks and strokes. So far, there is no cure for the disease, and though researchers identified the abnormal protein behind the disease – progerin – the exact way in which it causes the accelerated aging remains elusive. In their latest publication in Genes & Development, Roland Foisner and his group describe a yet unknown mechanism behind progeria that may provide new approaches for therapy.
More women may have option to get IUD minutes after giving birth First, giving birth. Next, birth control.
	Battling obesity in the classroom with exercise There's another burst of seat-bouncing, giggling and shouting in researcher Rebecca Hasson's simulated classroom at the University of Michigan as Hasson catches study participant Marcus Patton cheating at Sorry!
	Hidden aspect of health care falls disproportionately on the disadvantaged In 2010, people in the United States spent 1.1 billion hours seeking health care for themselves or for loved ones. That time was worth $52 billion.
Mobile technologies are ushering in a new kind of patient/physician partnership A recent cartoon in The New Yorker magazine depicts a human resource manager behind a desk, holding up a form and emphatically telling the person in front of him, "You can't list your iPhone as your primary physician!"
Expert explores use of antibiotics at end of life Antibiotics and other antimicrobials are often administered to terminally ill patients. But given widespread concern about antibiotic resistance, this common practice should be reconsidered by providers, patients, and families, according to a Yale researcher.
	Can chillis beat cancer? Recent evidence in lab based tests has shown that, capsaicin, (one of the main molecules found in chillies responsible for providing their fiery hot taste), may have anti-cancer properties.
	How hormones affect our moods "It's that time of the month – stay away from her!"
	Group identifications are the strongest indicator of mental and physical health Individuals who fail to derive value from their interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and other groups are much more likely to be depressed, drink heavily, eat unhealthily, smoke, and fail to exercise, according to a new study from the University of Dundee.
	Cells from dental pulp could be used to treat macular degeneration More than 15 million Americans suffer from age-related macular degeneration, a disease that can rob patients of their sight. It starts slowly. Over the course of months or years, lumps of cellular debris and new blood vessels can form in the retina, damaging tissue and causing progressive blindness—and in many cases, the effects of the disease are irreversible.
Are CT scans safe? With questions lingering about the safety of medical imaging and the radiation that is used in some of those tests, Mayo Clinic radiation safety expert Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D., wrote a paper that provides clear answers that she hopes will allay patients' fears.
Birth weight and poor childhood growth linked to hearing and vision problems in middle age A study of up to 433,390 UK adults, led by The University of Manchester, has linked being under and overweight at birth with poorer hearing, vision and cognition in middle age.
Sugar governs how antibodies work in the immune system Antibodies protect the body against diseases – but can also harm their own organism if the reactions are misdirected. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now discovered that a particular sugar in the antibodies determines whether one of the body's own cells is destroyed or not. This result could lead to new treatment possibilities for patients with autoimmune diseases.
	Combating 'neglected' diseases using nature's apothecary The 2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology recognized three researchers who made pioneering contributions to the treatment of parasitic diseases, which affect tens of millions globally. Tu Youyou was recognized for her work on the anti-malarial drug artemisinin, a natural product derived from wormwood, with origins in ancient Chinese herbal medicine. Likewise, co-recipients William Campbell and Satoshi Omura were cited for their research on a treatment for roundworm using the drug ivermectin, a derivative of a natural product found in soil bacteria.
	The 3D photo worth a thousand winks Be it snoring, insomnia or nightmares, most people have sleeping issues.
Americans can slow aging with regular exercise The average American loses about 10 percent of cardiorespiratory fitness a decade after they turn 20, says a Ball State University study.
	Possible new treatment for bladder cancer using a mycobacterium Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona researchers have found a mycobacterium that is more effective in treating superficial bladder cancer and does not cause infections, unlike those used up to now.
	Flu jab reduces risk of stroke The risk of suffering a stroke is significantly reduced for up to two months after receiving a flu vaccine, a major new study has shown.
	Why women aren't getting long-acting contraception when they need it most Why are 50% of pregnancies unintended in the US? Why are poor women more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy? One reason is that women can't get the kind of birth control they want, when they need it.
	FDA's new anti-smoking campaign uses hip-hop to target youth Government health officials are betting they can adapt the sounds, style and swagger of hip-hop culture to discourage young African Americans, Hispanics and other minority youths from using tobacco.
Britain tops world 'Quality of Death' index Britain topped an 80-country "quality of death" study released Tuesday, which warned that ageing and booming populations would make palliative care a growing worldwide issue.
Fresh insight into rheumatoid arthritis offers hope for transforming patient care Scientists have discovered what they believe has the potential to prevent the onset of an aggressive and hard-to-treat form of rheumatoid arthritis - a condition that affects 700,000 adults in the UK.
Simulation training saves precious minutes in speeding the treatment of trauma patients When a trauma patient enters the emergency room, the medical team has what is known as the "golden hour," a window of time to evaluate and stabilize the patient to prevent death. To help trauma teams optimize that limited time frame, trauma surgeons have developed a simulation training program that cuts precious minutes off evaluation times and gets trauma patients to medical imaging tests faster, investigators reported at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
Findings do not support routine use of minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer Compared to open resection (surgical removal) for rectal cancer, minimally invasive laparoscopic-assisted resection did not provide better cancer outcomes, according to two studies in the October 6 issue of JAMA.
Study questions benefit of exercise program following immobilization of ankle fracture A supervised exercise program and self-management advice, like those commonly given with physical therapy, did not improve activity limitation or quality of life compared with advice alone after removal of immobilization for patients with an uncomplicated ankle fracture, according to a study in the October 6 issue of JAMA.
	Professor fights cancer with hedgehogs A Binghamton University biochemist has discovered a new way to fight cancer, one that attacks only the cancer cells and promises fewer side effects. He hunts hedgehogs.
Heavy internet use may put teens at risk for high blood pressure Teens who spend hours on the Internet may be at risk for high blood pressure, say researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
	New test predicts teens' future risk of heart disease Risk for cardiovascular disease, currently running rampant in the United States, can now be predicted for adolescents thanks to a new diagnostic test developed by a University of Virginia Children's Hospital pediatrician and his collaborators. The test accounts for many risk factors for the deadly disease and has the potential to be adapted by physicians nationwide to assess teenagers' future risk and encourage the healthy behaviors that could save their lives.
Scientists identify how normally protective immune responses kill neurons National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists studying inflammation of the brain have discovered why certain immune responses, which typically help cells recognize and fight viral and bacterial infections, can sometimes be harmful to the brain. Many brain disorders involve the death of neurons, or nerve cells, but how these neurons die is not well understood. A new study in The Journal of Immunology describes how the activation of normally protective immune responses causes nerve cells to die and identifies the protein responsible, providing a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
New study reveals limited public understanding of dementia globally Believing that dementia is a normal part of aging is the most common misconception about dementia, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and St James's Hospital's Dementia Services Centre in Ireland.
	From molecular case studies: Genomics of exceptional responder to NOTCH inhibitor Normal T-cell development requires Notch signaling but hyperactivity can lead to cancer. Drugs that inhibit Notch, such as gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), are currently being tested in different cancer types but clinical remission has yet to be reported. In a paper published in Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies, researchers describe an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patient in which GSI treatment resulted in complete remission, suggesting that GSIs may hold therapeutic promise in ALL and other cancers.
Researchers discover mutation involved in neurodegeneration A mutation that increases the level of a special class of sphingolipids—molecules important to cell structure and signaling—can lead to neurodegeneration due to problems with neuronal membranes, reports a research team led by Jackson Laboratory Research Scientist Lihong Zhao, Ph.D. and Professor Patsy Nishina, Ph.D.
	Vaginal microbes influence whether mucus can trap HIV virus HIV particles are effectively trapped by the cervicovaginal mucus from women who harbor a particular vaginal bacteria species, Lactobacillus crispatus. The findings, published this week in mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, could lead to new ways to reduce or block vaginal transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
	Melatonin and mealtime: Common genetic difference could put some at greater risk of diabetes Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and the University of Murcia, Spain, have shed new light on why people who carry a common genetic mutation may be more at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. By carefully studying healthy subjects, researchers were able to chart the effect of melatonin supplements on blood sugar control. Their results, reported in Metabolism, suggest that taking melatonin close to mealtimes may put people with a common genetic variant more at risk.
Tolerant immune system increases cancer risk If peripheral immune tolerance is very distinct, the risk for lung cancer doubles, the risk for colon cancer increases by 60 percent, scientists from the German Cancer Research Center have now reported. They have shown for the first time that individual variations in immune tolerance have an impact on the development of specific types of cancer - long before the actual onset of the disease.
	Study shows how dominant parents affect kids' self-worth Children's self-esteem is linked to the behaviour of who is considered the most powerful parent within the household, new University of Sussex research suggests.
	Treatment for heparin-induced blood disorder revealed in structure of antibody complex A potential treatment for a serious clotting condition that can strike patients who receive heparin to treat or prevent blood clots may lie within reach by elucidating the structure of the protein complex at its root, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The team's work, published in Nature Communications, established that an antibody that disrupts the complex may have therapeutic potential. Almost 12 million patients are given heparin annually either as treatment for clots or to prevent clot formation, for example, during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
Virus-drug combination shows improved effectiveness against brain tumor cells A rabbit virus currently being developed for cancer therapy can be paired with one of several existing drugs to deliver a more potent punch to a deadly type of brain tumor cell, researchers have found.
	New analysis of chronic pain drug trials shows increasing placebo responses over time, in the US only A new study finds that rising placebo responses may play a part in the increasingly high failure rate for clinical trials of drugs designed to control chronic pain caused by nerve damage. Surprisingly, however, the analysis of clinical trials conducted since 1990 found that the increase in placebo responses occurred only in trials conducted wholly in the U.S.; trials conducted in Europe or Asia showed no changes in placebo responses over that period.
Chest CT scans often can be avoided in blunt trauma ER cases, study finds Use of computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest for hospital emergency-room patients with blunt trauma could be reduced by more than one-third without compromising detection of major injury, concludes a new study led by a UC San Francisco physician.
	Artificial intelligence uncovers clues to why embryos develop abnormally Uncle Joe smokes a pack a day, drinks like a fish and lives to a ripe old age. His brother, leading a similar lifestyle, succumbs to cancer at age 55. Why do some individuals develop certain diseases or disorders while others do not? In newly reported research that could help provide answers, scientists at Tufts University, in collaboration with the University of Florida, have developed a novel approach that uses artificial intelligence to illuminate cellular processes and suggest possible targets to correct aberrations.
Surgical trainees retain information, master skills better when honed beyond proficiency Researchers from Drexel University, Philadelphia, have found that when surgical trainees train beyond competence using a simulator, they retain information longer and master surgical skills better than those who stop practicing when they achieve an initial level of proficiency. Their study findings were presented today at the 2015 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons during a Posters of Exceptional Merit presentation.
	Understanding others' thoughts enables young kids to lie Kids who are taught to reason about the mental states of others are more likely to use deception to win a reward, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Commentary: Hospitals may sicken many by withholding food and sleep A Johns Hopkins surgeon and prominent patient safety researcher is calling on hospitals to reform emergency room, surgical and other medical protocols that sicken up to half of already seriously ill patients—in some cases severely—with preventable and potentially dangerous bouts of food and sleep deprivation.
Extremely active rats become lazy when they artificially receive 'runners' high' Past research has shown that the pleasure and reward centers of the brain are activated similarly by dangerous drugs as well as by exercise, which is why therapies have been developed for drug addicts that include lots of exercise. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that activating these pleasure and reward receptors in the brain could provide the "reward" of dangerous drugs without having to consume those drugs.
Targeted chemotherapy shows early signs of slowing tumor growth with less toxicity Surviving neuroblastoma as a child can come with just as many challenges as the cancer itself, mainly because of the toxic effects of chemotherapy. But a team of surgeons is in the nascent stages of developing a more targeted method of treating neuroblastoma patients with chemotherapy and lower toxicity. Their research results were presented at the 2015 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.
Report: More US hospitals are encouraging breast-feeding Health officials say more hospitals are encouraging new mothers to breast-feed.
	Hormone replacement may protect women's kidneys, study suggests (HealthDay)—Hormone replacement therapy may be good for a woman's kidneys, a preliminary study suggests.
	Doctors use 3-D printing to safeguard baby before birth (HealthDay)—When Michigan doctors saw a large mass on the face of a fetus late in pregnancy, they feared it might block the baby's airway at birth.
Optune device approved for newly diagnosed brain cancer (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday expanded its approval for the Optune device to include newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer.
Aristada approved for schizophrenia (HealthDay)—Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil) extended release injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat the disabling brain disorder schizophrenia, the agency said Tuesday in a news release.
	Young cancer survivors often develop new malignancies (HealthDay)—Teen and young adult cancer survivors are at increased risk for other cancers later in life, a new study reveals.
	Guidelines developed for managing conflicts of interest (HealthDay)—The Guidelines International Network has developed principles for disclosure and management of conflicts of interest (COIs) during the clinical practice guideline development process, according to a report published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Nitrites aid heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HealthDay)—In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), sodium nitrite infusion favorably reduces exercise-linked hemodynamic derangements of cardiac failure, according to a study published in the Oct. 13 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Upper-limb remote preconditioning no help in cardiac Sx (HealthDay)—Upper-limb remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is not beneficial for patients undergoing cardiac surgery, according to two studies published online Oct. 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, held from Oct. 3 to 7 in Berlin.
	Acetaminophen given early doesn't cut ICU days (HealthDay)—For intensive care unit (ICU) patients with fever due to probable infection, early administration of acetaminophen does not affect the number of ICU-free days, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, held from Oct. 3 to 7 in Berlin.
	USPSTF recommends CRC screening for 50- to 75-year-olds (HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends colorectal cancer (CRC) screening starting at age 50 years and continuing through age 75 years. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement, published Oct. 5 by the USPSTF.
New handbook on CAMHS launched at BPS conference A Review that aids understanding of what causes children to develop mental health problems and what can be done to help is launched today, Tuesday 6 October, at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society's Faculty for Children, Young People and their Families (CYPF) in Birmingham.
Four renal patients die in Singapore hospital from hepatitis C A top public hospital in Singapore said Tuesday that four of its patients died after a new renal ward was hit by an outbreak of hepatitis C, likely from intravenous treatment.
Life and death under austerity When Mark Wood was found dead in his home in August 2013 it could have been just another tragic, but private, event for one family. But it wasn't. His death came a few months after his disability benefits had been cut because he had been declared "fit for work" by the assessors appointed by the government to implement its "back-to-work" strategy. When his body was discovered he weighed just 5 st 8 lbs.
Hope for burns victims as researchers pilot revolutionary new dressing The disabling disfigurement suffered by many burns victims could be consigned to history thanks to a revolutionary new dressing developed by a team of Birmingham scientists.
	Malaysians not eating enough fruit Malaysians should eat more fruit and vegetables to help stave off obesity and other life-style related diseases.
When health apps offer conflicting advice John Stankovic wants to make smartphone health applications talk to each other to keep people safe and healthy.
	Section speed control reduces the number of killed and severely injured by half Section control reduces injury crashes and, even more, the number of killed or severely injured. The results refer to the section of road between the two cameras. Institute of Transport Economics in Norway has evaluated 14 sites in Norway.
	Vaccines are safe, and they save lives David Kimberlin, M.D., is the vice chair of Pediatrics, co-director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UAB and a physician at Children's of Alabama. He is the editor of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Red Book, which establishes which vaccines should be given, when and to whom. He is also the father of three children.
	Hepatitis C immunity study launched byresearcher in Pei Correctional Centre It's the beginning of the end for hepatitis C, according to Dr. Lisa Barrett, a clinician scientist in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Dalhousie Medical School and the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and lead investigator of a hepatitis C immunity study in Prince Edward Island's provincial correctional centre.
Dengue protein modulates human enzyme: Fuel for replication Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease currently endemic in more than 10 countries. According to the World Health Organization, 390 million people are infected by dengue every year.
Ceritinib in advanced lung cancer: No hint of added benefit The drug ceritinib (trade name: Zykadia) has been approved since May 2015 for the treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is an option when certain changes in the cancer cells (anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive) stimulate tumour growth and patients have already been pretreated with crizotinib.
FMT now available in capsule form: could this be the end of antibiotics in C. difficile? A new capsule form of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has raised hopes that this effective treatment for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection and other bowel conditions might soon become mainstream. A recently-reported study confirmed that capsules containing a frozen suspension of faecal material harvested from healthy unrelated donors was well tolerated and effectively resolved diarrhoea in 90% of patients with difficult-to-treat C. difficile infection.
Burnout impacts transplant nurses, study finds More than half of nurses who work with organ transplant patients in the United States experience high levels of emotional exhaustion, a primary sign of burnout, according to a study published by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.
	Project aims to help brain fix itself A Rice University project to decipher how neurons form networks aims to help injured brains heal themselves.
New AAOS guidelines outline prevention, treatment strategies for ACL injuries The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors has approved Appropriate Use Criteria (AUCs) for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programs and treatment, as well as rehabilitation and function checklists to help guide and ensure a safe return to sports for the treated athlete. The AUCs and checklists, and link to a smartphone app, are available online at http://www.orthoguidelines.org/auc.
	Psychostimulants more likely to reduce rather than worsen anxiety in children with ADHD A new review of studies involving nearly 3,000 children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) concludes that, although anxiety has been reported as a side-effect of stimulant medication, psychostimulant treatment for ADHD significantly reduces the risk of anxiety. Thus, patient reports of new-onset or worsening anxiety with the use of psychostimulants are not likely due to the medication and should not necessarily preclude stimulant use in ADHD, according to the authors of the study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
Express Scripts to cover pricey new cholesterol treatments The nation's biggest pharmacy benefits manager has decided to cover two new drugs that lower artery-clogging cholesterol but raise concern over prices that can top $14,000 a year.
Preferences for a good end-of-life experience A study comparing preferences and willingness to pay for end-of-life treatments between advanced cancer patients and the general population of older adults has shown that patients are willing to pay more for all aspects of a good end-of-life experience compared to what healthy older adults believe they would pay if in a similar situation. Yet, both groups are willing to pay more to be free of pain and to die at home rather than for treatments that moderately extend life. The research, led by members from the Lien Centre for Palliative Care (LCPC), was recently accepted for publication in the journal Health Policy and will be presented on Oct. 8, 2015 at the LCPC-SHC Palliative Care Symposium.

Other Sciences news

	New fossils intensify mystery of short-lived, toothy mammals unique to ancient North Pacific The identification of a new species belonging to the marine mammal group Desmostylia has intensified the rare animal's brief mysterious journey through prehistoric time, finds a new study.
	Who you gonna trust? How power affects our faith in others One of the ongoing themes of the current presidential campaign is that Americans are becoming increasingly distrustful of those who walk the corridors of power – Exhibit A being the Republican presidential primary, in which three of the top four candidates are outsiders of Washington.
	The hand and foot of Homo naledi The second set of papers related to the remarkable discovery of Homo naledi, a new species of human relative, have been published in scientific journal, Nature Communications, on Tuesday, 6 October 2015.
	Tiny ancient fossil from Spain shows birds flew over the heads of dinosaurs Birds have an enormously long evolutionary history: The earliest of them, the famed Archaeopteryx, lived 150 million years ago in what is today southern Germany. However, whether these early birds were capable of flying—and if so, how well—has remained shrouded in scientific controversy. A new discovery published in the journal Scientific Reports documents the intricate arrangement of the muscles and ligaments that controlled the main feathers of the wing of an ancient bird, supporting the notion that at least some of the most ancient birds performed aerodynamic feats in a fashion similar to those of many living birds.
	Chimpanzees shed light on origins of human walking A research team led by Stony Brook University investigating human and chimpanzee locomotion have uncovered unexpected similarities in the way the two species use their upper body during two-legged walking. The results, reported in Nature Communications, indicate that our early human ancestors, including the famous fossil 'Lucy' (a species known as Australopithecus afarensis), may have been able to use their torsos to increase walking efficiency in the same way as modern humans.
	Bad bosses inspire employees to sabotage customers When faced with rude customers, people in the service sector sometimes exact revenge – but they're much more likely to do so if their boss mistreats them as well, according to a new study by Professor Daniel Skarlicki and Associate Professor Danielle van Jaarsveld of UBC's Sauder School of Business.
	Coop's Scoop: Federal Citizen Science Tool Kit on next #CitSciChat Senator Chris Coons (Delaware) has made it unambiguously clear that federal agencies should embrace crowdsourcing and citizen science. Senator Coons introduced the Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act, the first proposed bill to clarify that all military branches, commissions, and executive branch agencies have the authority to harness the expertise of the public to more effectively carry out their missions.
Residents of Copenhagen less welcoming to immigrants than Houstonians are Residents of Copenhagen, Denmark, are more likely than Houstonians to believe immigration threatens their country's culture. That's one of several findings in a new survey from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
	New report shows more Texas workers getting health insurance from employers A larger percentage of Texas workers are getting health insurance through their employers now than before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a new report released today by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Episcopal Health Foundation.
New tools help provide vital demographics, population statistics to policymakers Every year, $400 billion in federal and state funds are distributed to state, county and local communities for infrastructure, public safety, community development and social services. When it comes to determining how the money is distributed, accurate data are paramount. Those looking for data and analytical reports often turn to the American Community Survey (ACS) from the U.S. Census, which provides data such as unemployment, median household income, and housing prices for multi-year periods. Now, using sophisticated statistical methods, University of Missouri researchers have developed a system that improves ACS data, allowing end users to more accurately analyze critical information in predefined geographic areas, making it easier for city, county, state and federal planners to use estimates in policy decisions.

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