Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Sep 3

RESPEKT!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Sep 4, 2015 at 4:03 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Sep 3
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 3, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New law implies thermodynamic time runs backwards inside black holes
- Making nanowires from protein and DNA
- Macrophages create the elusive spermatogonial stem cell niche
- 'Littlest' quark-gluon plasma revealed by physicists using Large Hadron Collider
- Long-sought chiral anomaly detected in crystalline material
- In analyzing a scene, we make the easiest judgments first
- Aspirin could hold the key to supercharged cancer immunotherapy
- A house that runs itself? Samsung believes it's about time
- Study decodes structure of protein complex active in DNA repair
- Could more intensive farming practices benefit tropical birds?
- Health risks of saturated fats aggravated by immune response
- Immune cells take cue from animal kingdom: Together, everyone achieves more
- Ecologists find predator-prey pattern consistent across diverse ecosystems
- Self-sweeping laser could dramatically shrink 3-D mapping systems
- Fighting explosives pollution with plants

Nanotechnology news

	Making nanowires from protein and DNA The ability to custom design biological materials such as protein and DNA opens up technological possibilities that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. For example, synthetic structures made of DNA could one day be used to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumor cells, and customized proteins could be designed to specifically attack a certain kind of virus. Although researchers have already made such structures out of DNA or protein alone, a Caltech team recently created—for the first time—a synthetic structure made of both protein and DNA. Combining the two molecule types into one biomaterial opens the door to numerous applications.
	Researchers characterize individual defects inside a bulk insulator using scanning tunneling microscopy Nanoscale defects are enormously important in shaping the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of a material. For example, a defect may donate charge or scatter electrons moving from one point to another. However, observing individual defects in bulk insulators, a ubiquitous and essential component to almost all devices, has remained elusive: it's far easier to image the detailed electrical structure of conductors than insulators.
	Organic 'computers' made of DNA could process data inside our bodies We invariably imagine electronic devices to be made from silicon chips, with which computers store and process information as binary digits (zeros and ones) represented by tiny electrical charges. But it need not be this way: among the alternatives to silicon are organic mediums such as DNA.
	Researchers identify behaviors of nanoparticle that shows promise as nanofertilizer Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered unique behaviors of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) that show promise as a phosphorus nanofertilizer and could be used to help slow the release of phosphorous in soils.
	Phagraphene, a relative of graphene, discovered A group of scientists from Russia, the USA and China have predicted the existence of a new two-dimensional carbon material via computer generated simulation, a "patchwork" analogue of graphene called phagraphene. The results of their investigation were recently published in the journal Nano Letters.

Physics news

	New law implies thermodynamic time runs backwards inside black holes (Phys.org)—Black holes are known to have many strange properties, such as that they allow nothing—not even light—to escape after falling in. A lesser known but equally bizarre property is that black holes appear to "know" what happens in the future in order to form in the first place. However, this strange property arises from the way in which black holes are defined, which has motivated some physicists to explore alternative definitions.
	'Littlest' quark-gluon plasma revealed by physicists using Large Hadron Collider Researchers at the University of Kansas working with an international team at the Large Hadron Collider have produced quark-gluon plasma—a state of matter thought to have existed right at the birth of the universe—with fewer particles than previously thought possible.
	Long-sought chiral anomaly detected in crystalline material A study by Princeton researchers presents evidence for a long-sought phenomenon—first theorized in the 1960s and predicted to be found in crystals in 1983—called the "chiral anomaly" in a metallic compound of sodium and bismuth. The additional finding of an increase in conductivity in the material may suggest ways to improve electrical conductance and minimize energy consumption in future electronic devices.
	Material surfaces are not just two-dimensional, researcher discovers A physical science process that may yield a profound understanding for developing future nanomaterials—such as those used in cellphones or computer chips—was recently demonstrated and confirmed by a University of Wyoming researcher.
	Self-sweeping laser could dramatically shrink 3-D mapping systems A new approach that uses light to move mirrors could usher in a new generation of laser technology for a wide range of applications, including remote sensing, self-driving car navigation and 3D biomedical imaging.
	Microscopic animals inspire innovative glass research Prof. Juan de Pablo's 20-year exploration of the unusual properties of glass began, oddly enough, with the microscopic animals known as water bears.
	The theory of parallel universes is not just maths – it is science that can be tested The existence of parallel universes may seem like something cooked up by science fiction writers, with little relevance to modern theoretical physics. But the idea that we live in a "multiverse" made up of an infinite number of parallel universes has long been considered a scientific possibility – although it is still a matter of vigorous debate among physicists. The race is now on to find a way to test the theory, including searching the sky for signs of collisions with other universes.
	Magnetic wormhole connecting two regions of space created for the first time "Wormholes" are cosmic tunnels that can connect two distant regions of the universe, and have been popularised by the dissemination of theoretical physics and by works of science fiction like Stargate, Star Trek or, more recently, Interstellar. Using present-day technology it would be impossible to create a gravitational wormhole, as the field would have to be manipulated with huge amounts of gravitational energy, which no-one yet knows how to generate. In electromagnetism, however, advances in metamaterials and invisibility have allowed researchers to put forward several designs to achieve this.

Earth news

	Testing of soil water compartmentalizing indicates it is widespread among many biomes (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers with the University's of Saskatchewan and Calgary, both in Canada has found evidence that backs up a theory that has suggested that soil water is compartmentalized. In their paper published in the journal Nature, Jaivime Evaristo, Scott Jasechko and Jeffrey McDonnell describe how they carried out their study and their surprising results.
	Clues from ancient Maya reveal lasting impact on environment Evidence from the tropical lowlands of Central America reveals how Maya activity more than 2,000 years ago not only contributed to the decline of their environment but continues to influence today's environmental conditions, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.
	Ocean upwelling and increasing winds As the southern westerly winds drive the Antarctic circumpolar current around Antarctica, deep waters are forced up to the surface south of the polar front. Changes in the intensity with which this relatively warm, nutrient and CO2-enriched Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) upwells has significant implications for glacier melt, sea-ice cover, primary productivity and the global carbon budget. With the southwards migration and strengthening of the Southern Westerly Winds (SWW) observed in recent decades predicted to continue, enhanced upwelling of CDW is also anticipated. To determine/assess whether this expectation is realistic, we look to the past and investigate the relationship between CDW upwelling and the SWW.
	New robot has invasive reef starfish in its sights It's the robot that has the scourge of the Great Barrier Reef in its sights.
	Pollution dispersion in cities improved by trees, research shows Trees in cities throughout the UK could be significantly improving the quality of the air we breathe by decreasing pollution levels for pedestrians, researchers from the University of Leicester have revealed.
	Consequences of loss of ice in Arctic investigated Researchers from the University of Aberdeen are set to investigate what consequences the rapidly shrinking sea ice cover in the Arctic is having on the marine ecosystem.
	Spatially corrected sea-level records for Pacific coast of North America indicate that uplift rates are overestimated For millions of years, the Pacific and North American plates have been sliding past—and crashing into—one another. This ongoing conflict creates uplift, the geological phenomenon that formed mountains along the west coast.
	NASA's Aqua Satellite sees Typhoon Kilo headed west Typhoon Kilo is the westernmost tropical cyclone of a four storms in the Pacific Ocean basin on September 4. From west to east they include Typhoon Kilo, Hurricane Ignacio, Hurricane Jimena and Tropical Storm Kevin.
	Are we at a new tipping point in the war on climate change? For four decades UC San Diego atmospheric scientist Veerabhadran "Ram" Ramanathan has warned that carbon dioxide and other emissions from human activity are heating up the planet. One of the first scientists to predict global warming, his models of rising temperatures have proved remarkably accurate.
	Innovative visualisation technology to help strengthen climate change action Data scientists at the University of Warwick are starting a new project using innovative visualisation techniques, which they believe could transform how evidence is used to inform climate change adaptation initiatives.
	Crop rotation boosts soil microbes, benefits plant growth In the first study of its kind, new research from the University of New Hampshire shows that crop rotations, in isolation from other management factors, can increase the functions performed by soil microbial communities that benefit plant growth. The study was conducted by researchers with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station.
	India's Modi urges 'climate justice' ahead of Paris meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Thursday for a focus on "climate justice" rather than climate change, saying the poor suffered most from global warming.
	The Alaska fire season—before and after The 2015 Alaska fire season has been particularly brutal this year. The fire season reached another milestone on Aug. 7 by surpassing the 5-million- mark in the number of acres burned so far this season.
	NASA's RapidScat sees winds increase in Tropical Storm Kevin NASA's RapidScat instrument observed tropical storm-force winds in the Eastern Pacific Ocean's Tropical Depression 14E or TD14E that helped forecasters see it was strengthening.
	Nations narrow gap on make-or-break climate issue Rich and developing nations thrashing out a UN climate-rescue pact have moved closer on the make-or-break issue of compensation for damages caused by global warming, observers and negotiators said Thursday.

Astronomy & Space news

	Hubble survey unlocks clues to star birth in neighboring galaxy In a survey of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope images of 2,753 young, blue star clusters in the neighboring Andromeda galaxy (M31), astronomers have found that M31 and our own galaxy have a similar percentage of newborn stars based on mass.
	New NASA soil moisture satellite loses one science instrument A NASA satellite launched just seven months ago has lost the use of one of two science instruments, but the space agency said Wednesday that the mission to map global soil moisture will continue.
	James Webb Space Telescope's ISIM passes severe-sound test A critical part of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope successfully completed acoustic testing during the week of Aug. 3. The Integrated Science Instrument Module, or ISIM, passed all of the "severe sound" tests that engineers put it through.
	The (possible) dwarf planet 2007 OR10 Over the course of the past decade, more and more objects have been discovered within the trans-Neptunian region. With every new find, we have learned more about the history of our solar system and the mysteries it holds. At the same time, these finds have forced astronomers to reexamine astronomical conventions that have been in place for decades.
	A fiery end for Kosmos 1315 over Hawaii A relic of the Cold War surprised beach-goers and Hawaiian islands residents Sunday night, as Kosmos-1315 reentered the Earth's atmosphere in a dramatic display.
	MUOS-4 secure communications satellite responding normally to ground control post-launch The U.S. Navy's fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-4) satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, is talking from space to the satellite control team at the Naval Spacecraft Operations Control facility here after its Florida launch this morning. MUOS-4 will enable near-global coverage for a new secure military communications network offering enhanced capabilities for mobile forces.

Technology news

	Bored phone user is more open to consume suggested content Do you ignore your phone and try connecting to the world without it when you are bored, or do you eagerly check certain stuff out on your phone precisely when you are bored?
	Customizing 3-D printing The technology behind 3-D printing is growing more and more common, but the ability to create designs for it is not. Any but the simplest designs require expertise with computer-aided design (CAD) applications, and even for the experts, the design process is immensely time consuming.
	Team creates an algorithm for predicting success of fashion models A trio of researchers at Indiana State University has created an algorithm that crunches data used to describe fashion models—adds Instagram influence and then predicts, reasonably accurately, which among a list of models will become successful. Jaehyuk Park, Giovanni Luca Ciampaglia and Emilio Ferrara have written a paper describing the process they took in creating the algorithm, how they tested it and how accurate it proved to be on a limited number of aspirants—and have uploaded it to the arXiv preprint server.
	How to curb emissions? Put a price on carbon Literally putting a price on carbon pollution and other greenhouse gasses is the best approach for nurturing the rapid growth of renewable energy and reducing emissions.
	Capitol Hill Buzz: Polishing senators' images on Wikipedia Now we know how some Senate staffers keep busy during Congress' summer recess.
	A house that runs itself? Samsung believes it's about time Imagine the alarm clock ringing on a typical Monday morning, except this time the curtains draw themselves back, the bathroom lights switch on automatically and you smell fresh coffee brewing.
	Nest thermostat gets new look Bigger screen?
	Federal Sony data breach lawsuit settled, lawyer says Former Sony Pictures Entertainment employees whose personal information was posted online last year after a massive data breach have reached a settlement in a proposed class action lawsuit, their attorneys said Wednesday.
Tesla says it will take orders for cheaper car in March Tesla Motors says it will reveal its lower-cost Model 3 electric car in March and will start taking orders then.
	Why we need a legal definition of artificial intelligence When we talk about artificial intelligence (AI) – which we have done lot recently, including my outline on The Conversation of liability and regulation issues – what do we actually mean?
	How cybercrime has changed over the past five years (it hasn't got any better) Intel has used the 5th anniversary of their purchase of security company McAfee to release a review of how the cybersecurity landscape has changed in that time.
	Security vs. usability—that's the choice we make with passwords We all need some kind of authentication process if we are to access information systems at work or at home. We know why we need to do it: to make sure we have access to our data and unauthorised people don't.
	Facebook's digital assistant blends AI with customer service staff – but will it cope without human help? With the arrival of its monosyllabic M, Facebook has introduced its own personal digital assistant, following those from Apple (Siri), Microsoft (Cortana), Google (Now) and Amazon (Echo). Technically, M operates partly on the user's smartphone via the Facebook Messenger app, but it is mostly a cloud-based service. Unlike the others, however, this isn't just an artificial intelligence but a mix of smart machine learning and human assistance.
	'Slave Trade' video game altered after social media backlash An educational video game has been edited following a social media backlash over a scene depicting slaves being packed into a ship.
	New federal requirements on cellphone surveillance Federal law enforcement officials will be routinely required to get a search warrant before using secretive and intrusive cellphone-tracking technology under a new Justice Department policy announced Thursday.
Microsoft to buy startup focused on worker efficiency Microsoft on Thursday said it was buying a startup that specializes in analyzing email, meeting schedules and other work data to increase people's efficiency on the job.
Trio charged with running $54M green-energy Ponzi scheme Three people were charged Thursday with running a $54 million Ponzi scheme built on promises of a green energy technology that would turn trash into fuel and "carbon-negative" housing developments, neither of which were ever fully developed, federal prosecutors said.
Do you need to tip your Uber driver? When it comes to tipping, some Uber drivers have started to take matters into their own hands.
	Interdisciplinary research at LTU leading to new UAV technologies Faculty from a number of academic disciplines at Louisiana Tech University are working together to develop new and innovative technologies in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that could impact industries from public safety to forestry to oil and gas exploration.

Chemistry news

	New family of luminescent materials could find broad uses in chemical and biological detectors Researchers at MIT have developed a family of materials that can emit light of precisely controlled colors—even pure white light—and whose output can be tuned to respond to a wide variety of external conditions. The materials could find a variety of uses in detecting chemical and biological compounds, or mechanical and thermal conditions.
Researchers find plastic deformation develops differently in titanium and zirconium Despite the many similarities between titanium and zirconium, researchers at CEA, CNRS and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 have demonstrated that plastic deformation develops differently in these two metals. It is commonly accepted that Ti and Zr should exhibit a similar response to mechanical stress. However, by combining microscopic experimentation and modeling techniques with GENCI and PRACE computing resources , the researchers have identified two different dislocation motions in these materials. Their goal is now to investigate and predict the mechanical properties of various innovative alloys. The results are published in the August 2015 issue of Nature Materials.
New isotopic labeling process to speed up candidate drug assessment A team of CEA researchers, in collaboration with two laboratories associating INSA Toulouse , CNRS and Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse), has developed a new labeling process that will make it possible to speed up in vivo studies of candidate drugs. This original and pioneering process is based on a reaction mechanism discovered using computer modeling. The results were published in Angewandte Chemie on August 13, 2015.

Biology news

	Macrophages create the elusive spermatogonial stem cell niche (Phys.org)—Every organ strikes its own balance between self-renewal and differentiation. At one extreme is the brain, where only a few isolated outposts are known to contribute to a largely quiescent population. At another extreme are the testes, where at least in males, prolific germline turnover is maintained amidst a protracted and deliberate multi-month creation cycle. Perhaps surprisingly, both organs are uniquely immunoprivileged against various vascular indiscretions and yet rely on various myeloid-derived cells like macrophages or microglia to instruct important structural maturations.
	New research shows why cats are more independent than dogs Domestic cats do not generally see their owners as a focus of safety and security in the same way that dogs do, according to new research published today.
	Which insects are the best pollinators? Bees top the charts for pollination success according to one of the first studies of insect functionality within pollination networks, published today by researchers at the University of Bristol and the University of St Andrews.
	Surprisingly, low-toxin MRSA strains may be the real killer The most serious MRSA infections could be those caused by superbugs which produce fewer toxins, as opposed to high toxin strains, according to surprise findings revealed today by scientists from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry.
	Image-tracking technology allows scientists to observe nature vs. nurture in neural stem cells One of the longstanding debates in science, that has, perhaps unsurprisingly, permeated into the field of stem cell research, is the question of nature versus nurture influencing development. Science on stem cells thus far, has suggested that, as one side of the existential debate holds: their fate is not predestined. But new research from the Neural Stem Cell Institute and Drexel University's College of Engineering suggests that the cells' tabula might not be as rasa as we have been led to believe.
	Study decodes structure of protein complex active in DNA repair The human body, if anything, is economical. The fittingly named and abundant protein ubiquitin is best known for its central role in recycling misfolded proteins. But it has other functions, too - the addition or removal of ubiquitin chains can tweak the activity of newly made proteins and enzymes. Indeed, this process, called ubiquitination, influences DNA damage repair via the BRCA1 breast cancer-associated protein and anti-inflammatory, immune responses.
	Could more intensive farming practices benefit tropical birds? The world is facing an extinction crisis as more and more forests are converted into farmland. But does it help when farms share the land with birds and other animals?
	Fighting explosives pollution with plants Biologists at the University of York have taken an important step in making it possible to clean millions of hectares of land contaminated by explosives.
	Ecologists find predator-prey pattern consistent across diverse ecosystems Why aren't there more lions? That was what puzzled McGill PhD student Ian Hatton, when he started looking at the proportion of predators to prey across dozens of parks in East and Southern Africa. In this case, the answer had nothing to do with isolated human hunters. The parks were teeming with potentially tasty treats for the lions. So one might imagine that the population of lions in each park would increase to match the available prey. Instead, what Hatton and the McGill-led team discovered was that, in a very systematic way, in crowded settings, prey reproduced less than they did in settings where their numbers were smaller. Moreover, they found this same pattern in a whole range of different ecosystems.
	Scientists successfully edit genes of dengue fever mosquitoes Mosquitoes are a key contributor to the spread of potentially deadly diseases such as dengue and malaria, as they harbor parasites and viruses that are spread when mosquitoes bite humans and animals. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found an effective way to edit the genes of mosquitoes.  Shengzhang Dong, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, says this new technique opens the door for future research into genetically modifying mosquitoes so they cannot carry and transmit viruses and parasites that are harmful to humans.
	Huddling rats behave as a 'super-organism' Rodents huddle together when it is cold, they separate when it is warm, and at moderate temperatures they cycle between the warm center and the cold edges of the group. In a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology, Jonathan Glancy, Roderich Gross, Jim Stone and Stuart Wilson from the University of Sheffield found they could simulate huddling by assuming simply that touching individuals in turn brings their temperatures closer to an ideal body temperature. According to the model, these selfish individual behaviours improved the ability of the whole group to regulate its temperature.
Study uncovers how seeds are kept in dormancy until the appearance of favorable conditions for germination Seed germination is a crucial step in the life cycle of a plant. This is why the small embryo is maintained in a state of dormancy until the appearance of optimal environmental conditions. The quality of its sleep is insured by the envelope of the seed, which continuously produces a hormone named ABA. A study led by the universities of Pohang (POSTECH), Zurich (UZH) and Geneva (UNIGE) reveals how the transport of the hormone to the embryo is controlled, for which no less than four transporters are involved. Published in Nature Communications, these results should also have practical applications, since this knowledge can be integrated in breeding programs to avoid producing seeds displaying premature germination and, so, cutting economic and environmental losses.
	Diverse insect population means fewer pests in cornfields Cornfields with a more diverse insect population have fewer problems with pests, according to a study done by U.S. Department of Agriculture agroecologist Jonathan Lundgren and South Dakota State University economics professor Scott Fausti.
	Historical data hold secrets of one of UK's favourite fish UK fisheries survey logbooks from the 1930s to 1950s have been digitised for the first time, revealing how cod responded to changing temperatures in the last century.
	Found! Endangered fishing cat in coastal Cambodia Pictures of the endangered fishing cat – the first in Cambodia for more than a decade – provide welcome evidence that these elusive felines still survive in some parts of the country.
	Not on my watch: Chimp swats film crew's drone Cool. Calm. And oh, so calculated. That's how a chimpanzee living in the Royal Burgers' Zoo in the Netherlands set out to swat an aerial drone that was filming her group. In an article in the journal Primates published by Springer, Jan van Hooff and Bas Lukkenaar explain it as yet another example of chimpanzees' make-do attitude to using whatever is on hand as tools.
	One step closer to cheaper antivenom Researchers involved in an international collaboration across six institutions, including the University of Copenhagen and the National Aquarium of Denmark (Den Blå Planet), have successfully identified the exact composition of sea snake venom, which makes the future development of synthetic antivenoms more realistic. Currently, sea snake anitvenom costs nearly $2000, yet these new findings could result in a future production of synthetic antivenoms for as little as $10-100.
	Pacific bluefin tuna group puts off new moves to save fish An international body that monitors fisheries in most of the Pacific Ocean ended a meeting in Japan on Thursday without agreement on fresh measures to protect the dwindling bluefin tuna.
	Japanese town's controversial dolphin hunt begins A small Japanese town began its controversial dolphin hunt on Thursday after bad weather delayed the start, according to a local fisheries official, while a separate whaling hunt was due to start at the weekend.
	Team improves understanding of Guam plant's pollination syndrome The University of Guam has continued to expand the foundation of knowledge on the reproductive biology of native tree species with a new publication in the July issue of the national science journal HortScience.

Medicine & Health news

	New mechanism discovered behind infant epilepsy Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden have discovered a new explanation for severe early infant epilepsy. Mutations in the gene encoding the protein KCC2 can cause the disease, hereby confirming an earlier theory. The findings are being published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Study reveals the genetic start-up of a human embryo An international team of scientists led from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet has for the first time mapped all the genes that are activated in the first few days of a fertilized human egg. The study, which is being published in the journal Nature Communications, provides an in-depth understanding of early embryonic development in human - and scientists now hope that the results will help finding for example new therapies against infertility.
	Aspirin could hold the key to supercharged cancer immunotherapy Giving cancer patients aspirin at the same time as immunotherapy could dramatically boost the effectiveness of the treatment, according to new research published in the journal Cell today (Thursday).
	Health risks of saturated fats aggravated by immune response High levels of saturated fat in the blood could make an individual more prone to inflammation and tissue damage, a new study suggests.
	In analyzing a scene, we make the easiest judgments first Psychology researchers who have hypothesized that we classify scenery by following some order of cognitive priorities may have been overlooking something simpler. New evidence suggests that the fastest categorizations our brains make are simply the ones where the necessary distinction is easiest.
	Immune cells take cue from animal kingdom: Together, everyone achieves more Much like birds fly in flocks to conserve energy, dolphins swim in pods to mate and find food, and colonies of ants create complex nests to protect their queens, immune cells engage in coordinated behavior to wipe out viruses like the flu. That's according to a new study published today in the journal Science by researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
	Growing up on a farm provides protection against asthma and allergies Researchers at VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Belgium) and Ghent University have successfully established a causal relationship between exposure to so-called farm dust and protection against asthma and allergies. This breakthrough discovery is a major step forward towards the development of an asthma vaccine. The results of the research were published in the leading journal Science.
	Variations in cell programs control cancer and normal stem cells In the breast, cancer stem cells and normal stem cells can arise from different cell types but tap into distinct yet related stem cell programs, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. The differences between these stem cell programs may be significant enough to be exploited by future therapeutics.
Arabs or Jews, children who need pain relief in the ER get it Children with broken bones or joint dislocations in northern Israel emergency departments received equal pain treatment, regardless of their ethnicity or the ethnicity of the nurses who treated them, even during a period of armed conflict between the two ethnic groups. An investigation of potential disparities in pediatric emergency department pain relief in northern Israel was published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine (""Emergency Department Pain Management in Pediatric Patients with Fracture or Dislocation in a Bi-Ethnic Population").
Drug for fungal infections in lung transplant recipients increases risk for cancer, death Voriconazole, a prescription drug commonly used to treat fungal infections in lung transplant recipients, significantly increases the risk for skin cancer and even death, according to a new study by UC San Francisco researchers. The team recommends physicians consider patient-specific factors that could modify the drug's risks and benefits, when providing care.
	DC needle exchange program prevented 120 new cases of HIV in two years The District of Columbia's needle exchange program prevented 120 new cases of HIV infection and saved an estimated $44 million over just a two-year period, according to a first-of-a-kind study published today by researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University.
Instagram making you sad? Blame the Kardashians Shira Hecht keeps up with all her friends on Instagram, but she still hasn't met most of the 896 people she follows.
Long-term study links common psychiatric disorders with increased risk of violent reoffending in ex-prisoners Ex-prisoners with common psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) and alcohol and drug abuse are substantially more likely to commit a violent crime after release than other prisoners, according to new research published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal. The study of almost 48000 ex-prisoners suggests that diagnosed psychiatric disorders are potentially responsible for up to a fifth of violent reoffending by former male prisoners and two-fifths by female ex-prisoners.
Emotional behavior altered after multiple exposures to anesthesia during infancy Repeated exposure to anesthesia early in life causes alterations in emotional behavior that may persist long-term, according to a study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in collaboration with the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and published in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Study finds increased risk of MGUS in Vietnam Vets exposed to Agent Orange A study that used stored blood samples from U.S. Air Force personnel who conducted aerial herbicide spray missions of Agent Orange during the Vietnam war found a more than 2-fold increased risk of the precursor to multiple myeloma known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
Spanish-speaking families prefer native language when discussing surgical care Spanish-speaking families are more satisfied with and better understand their children's surgical care when they communicate with the surgical team in their native language, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford.
	Startup's digital stethoscope green-lighted by FDA A digital stethoscope startup founded by three young UC Berkeley graduates and nurtured by Skydeck, the campus accelerator, has won federal permission to enter the market.
	Research on women's cancers lacking in poor and middle-income countries Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) see millions of cases of breast and cervical cancer each year, but much of the research on these diseases is based in wealthier countries that have far greater resources and treatment options available, according to a review of existing research published Sept. 1 by the CDC's Global and Territorial Health Research Network. The network's coordinating center is based at the University of Rochester.
	Dieting during pregnancy linked to lower math scores in kids In a recent study, siblings whose mothers dieted during pregnancy scored lower on math tests at age five than their siblings who had been exposed to higher prenatal caloric intake. The research provides some of the first human evidence of a direct link between prenatal nutrition and math ability in children.
	Supplements, exercise could improve muscle mass and strength for older adults The loss of muscle strength and function, what's known as sarcopenia, is a natural part of aging. It's also a growing public health concern because of the risk for falls, injury and decline in quality of life. That's why an Iowa State University researcher is working to slow or reverse the progression of sarcopenia.
	Exclusion more harmful to teens than overt bullying A UQ researcher has found that social exclusion among teens can be more harmful than direct bullying.
Switching from conventional to electronic cigarettes reduced toxicant exposure, even for dual users Among adults who wanted to stop smoking conventional cigarettes, both those who switched to using only electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and those who switched to dual use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes had significant reductions in exposure to carbon monoxide and the toxicant acrolein, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
	Study explores why humor is important in romantic attraction Men might want to ditch the pickup lines and polish their punchlines in their quest to attract women, new research at the University of Kansas suggests.
	Biases influence how multiracial individuals are categorized Throughout U.S. history, individuals who were part-white and part-black were typically treated as black, a tendency that has been called the "one-drop rule."
	Susceptibility to allergies can be reduced Susceptibility to allergies reduced by increased production of regulatory T cells. This is the main finding of a current study being conducted at the Institute of Immunology at MedUni Vienna, headed up by Winfried F. Pickl. The initial results of this study by Alina Neunkirchner, which looks at the root cause of the development of allergies, are being presented at the European Congress of Immunology, which starts in Vienna this Sunday (6 – 9 September 2015, Austria Center Vienna).
	Researchers discover protein that regulates development of heart muscle It is arguably the hardest working muscle in our body and without its incessant, regular beating our organs would be starved of life-giving nutrients.
	The BMJ reveals 'unethical' targets in India's private hospitals Many doctors working in India's private hospitals are under pressure to carry out unnecessary tests and procedures to meet revenue targets, according to The BMJ this week.
	Dangerous drug-resistant superbugs happily co-exist in the gut but can be eliminated by fecal transplants The gut is an important reservoir for drug-resistant bacteria responsible for life-threatening hospital-acquired infections. A study in mice published on September 3rd in PLOS Pathogens reports that two of the most common antibiotic-resistant bacterial species circulating in hospitals occupy and effectively share the same location in the gut, and that they can be eliminated by fecal transplantation of a healthy gut microbiome.
	Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in remyelination Researchers in Japan have revealed the molecular mechanism involved in the process of repair to damage of the myelin sheath.
	Childhood coeliac disease discovery opens door for potential treatments A new study has revealed childhood coeliac disease mirrors the condition in adults, increasing the possibility a coeliac disease therapy that could enable patients to eat gluten again will work in children.
	Do antipsychotic medications affect cortical thinning? People diagnosed with schizophrenia critically rely upon treatment with antipsychotic medications to manage their symptoms and help them function at home and in the workplace.
	Novel genes found in inflammatory bowel disease under age 5 Researchers analyzing the complicated genetic influences in inflammatory bowel disease have discovered new gene variants associated with an often-severe type of the disease that affects children under age five. The genes play important roles in immune function, and that knowledge helps guide more precise, individualized treatments for very young patients.
	Mushroom powder shows potential in prostate cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, treatment with white button mushroom (WBM) powder may reduce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of Cancer.
	One-third of US kids with ADHD diagnosed before age six: report (HealthDay)—Almost a third of U.S. children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were diagnosed before the age of 6, even though there aren't many valid tests to support diagnosis in children that young, a new federal government report shows.
Babies benefit from parenting classes even before birth A brief series of classes to help first-time parents better support each other through the often stressful transition to parenthood has a positive effect on birth outcomes as well, according to health researchers.
Team develops and gives away new drug-like molecule to help crowd-source cancer research Researchers from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) at the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto have developed a new drug prototype called OICR-9429 and made it freely available to the research community. Already research conducted by international groups using OICR-9429 has shown it to be effective in stopping cancer cell growth in breast cancer cell lines and a specific subtype of leukemia cells.
Acupuncture reduces hot flashes in breast cancer survivors Acupuncture may be a viable treatment for women experiencing hot flashes as a result of estrogen-targeting therapies to treat breast cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Hot flashes are particularly severe and frequent in breast cancer survivors, but current FDA-approved remedies for these unpleasant episodes, such as hormone replacement therapies are off-limits to breast cancer survivors because they include estrogen. The results of the study are published this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Targeting newly discovered pathway sensitizes tumors to radiation and chemotherapy In some patients, aggressive cancers can become resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In a paper published in the journal Nature Communications, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers identified a pathway that causes the resistance and a new therapeutic drug that targets this pathway.
	Back to school and back to sleep Sleep matters for kids, especially when they are stressed. A new study led by researchers Jinshia Ly, Jennifer J. McGrath and Jean-Philippe Gouin from Concordia University's Centre for Clinical Research in Health and the PERFORM Centre shows that poor sleep might explain how stress impacts health in kids.
Targeting glucose production in liver may lead to new diabetes therapies High blood sugar is a defining characteristic of Type 2 diabetes and the cause of many of the condition's complications, including kidney failure, heart disease, and blindness. Most diabetes medications aim to maintain normal blood sugar (glucose) levels and prevent high blood sugar by controlling insulin.
	Finding a way forward in the fight against prion disease For much of her adult life Valerie Sim has been fascinated by a disease very few in the world can claim to even begin to understand. Sim is one of Canada's foremost authorities on prion disease—more commonly known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease in cattle, or Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease among humans. In both cases there is no cure; nor are there treatments available. But Sim's latest research is providing new hope for the future.
	New strategy to lower blood sugar may help in diabetes treatment Some treatments for type 2 diabetes make the body more sensitive to insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar. But new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests a different strategy: slowing the production of glucose in the liver.
Liberia declared free of Ebola spread—again: WHO The World Health Organization said on Thursday that Ebola-ravaged Liberia was once again free of the deadly virus, prompting muted celebrations in the capital Monrovia.
Philippine children stunted by malnutrition: welfare report Children in the Philippines suffer from "sub-Saharan levels" of malnutrition that stunts growth in a people who have traditionally been considered short because of genetics, a campaign group said Thursday.
Calls for greater action to prevent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide A leading researcher in the field of Indigenous Mental Health at The University of Western Australia has used the approach of World Suicide Prevention Day to call for united action to reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide rates, which remain among the highest in the world.
How kidney injury during combat affects the long-term health of today's soldiers Acute kidney injury (AKI) leading to an abrupt or rapid decline in kidney function is a serious and increasingly prevalent condition. While little information is available on the effects of AKI in military personnel who are injured during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN) reveals better-than-expected results concerning survival and kidney function.
Health benefits of marriage equality Leading public health experts have urged politicians to support marriage equality and said marriage discrimination contributed to higher rates of poor mental health amongst the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community.

Other Sciences news

	X-rays reveal fossil secrets A sophisticated imaging technique has allowed scientists to virtually peer inside a 10-million-year-old sea urchin, uncovering a treasure trove of hidden fossils.
	Amateur paleontologist finds rare fossil of fish in Arizona Growing up, Stephanie Leco often would dig in her backyard and imagine finding fossils of a tyrannosaurus rex. She was fascinated with the idea of holding something in her hand that was millions of years old and would give her insight on how the world evolved.
	'New era' in Iran science with end of sanctions: report The Iran nuclear deal will usher in a new era in science by lifting sanctions and encouraging research in the Islamic republic, the US journal Science said Thursday.
	Investments reflected shift in environmental views A new study from The University of Texas at Dallas examines the differences in climate change perceptions in the United States and Europe by looking at investor behavior.
	Improving street safety for cyclists more effective than information campaigns Concerns that telling new cyclists to protect themselves with helmets and hi-viz might make cycling look more dangerous than it is, and thereby inadvertently put people off cycling rather than get them started, appear to be groundless.
Israel unveils 1,800-year-old sarcophagus Israel has unveiled an 1,800-year-old sarcophagus that workers found at a building site and initially tried to conceal.
Greedy kestrel provides first proof of bird breeding in Ancient Egypt 3D imaging of a mummified kestrel that died due to forced overeating provides evidence that the ancient Egyptians bred birds of prey as offerings for the gods, according to a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The digital CT imaging revealed that the kestrel was force-fed its last meal - a mouse - suggesting it was kept in captivity.
	Attorneys in civil courts make bigger impact working the system than knowing the law Civil courts are where many people meet the legal system, dealing with life-altering issues like foreclosure, bankruptcy and child custody.
	Californians support stronger climate-change rules Californians support stronger efforts to fight climate change by requiring more electricity to come from renewable resources and cutting gasoline use in half, according to a new poll from UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies.
Study finds that after weighing options, a majority of Americans approve Iran nuclear deal A new University of Maryland study finds that a majority of a national citizen advisory panel, made up of a representative sample of American registered voters, recommends Congress approve the deal recently negotiated between Iran, the United States and other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (plus Germany) on Iran's nuclear program. The study was conducted by the university's Program for Public Consultation (PPC) and the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM).
	When sex education emphasizes shame, it harms youth who have been sexually abused Sex education has long been a controversial topic in the United States. In Texas, where I work, sex education does not really exist, at least not in schools. About 47% of school districts provide nothing in terms of sex education and state-approved textbooks lack information on contraception. If a school chooses to teach sexual health education, they must emphasize abstinence and inform youth about the "emotional trauma" associated with sexual activity before marriage.
	New research challenges 'broken windows theory' of crime prediction The traditional "broken windows theory" goes that acts of public disorder in neighborhoods—such as graffiti, litter, and abandoned homes—can encourage future crime there. But now research led by Northeastern University assistant professor Daniel T. O'Brien has leveraged Big Data to shed new light on the factors that predict crime in urban neighborhoods.

---

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