Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jul 29

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Review: Five ways Windows 10 fixes annoyances in predecessor

Microsoft gears for turnaround with Windows 10 rollout (Update)

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What the shape of your face says about you

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 30, 2015 at 3:57 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jul 29
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Multiphysics Simulation for Everyone
The latest advancements in simulation and design are showcased in the all new product booklet from this month's sponsor, COMSOL. Get instant access here: http://goo.gl/kLattc
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Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 29, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers demonstrate the world's first white lasers
- Meet the high-performance single-molecule diode
- Like paper, graphene twists and folds into nanoscale machines
- Making the new silicon: Gallium nitride electronics could drastically cut energy usage
- First detection of lithium from an exploding star
- Researchers mount successful attacks against Tor network—and show how to prevent them
- Brown dwarf stars host powerful aurora displays, astronomers discover
- Researchers design first artificial ribosome
- Researchers build bacteria's photosynthetic engine
- Dense star clusters shown to be binary black hole factories
- Structures reveal basis of recurring urinary tract infections
- Women's immune system genes operate differently from men's, study finds
- Long telomere length associated with increased lung cancer risk
- Red grape chemical may help prevent bowel cancer but less is more
- Antibiotics increase risk of hearing loss in patients with deadly bacterial infections

Nanotechnology news

	Meet the high-performance single-molecule diode A team of researchers from Berkeley Lab and Columbia University has passed a major milestone in molecular electronics with the creation of the world's highest-performance single-molecule diode. Working at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility, the team used a combination of gold electrodes and an ionic solution to create a single-molecule diode that outperforms the best of its predecessors by a factor of 50.
	Like paper, graphene twists and folds into nanoscale machines The art of kirigami involves cutting paper into intricate designs, like snowflakes. Cornell physicists are kirigami artists, too, but their paper is only an atom thick, and could become some of the smallest machines the world has ever known.
	Probe enables tumor investigation using complementary imaging techniques An organic dye that can light up cancer cells for two powerful imaging techniques providing complementary diagnostic information has been developed and successfully tested in mice by A*STAR researchers.
	Graphene supercurrents go ballistic Researchers with Europe's Graphene Flagship have demonstrated superconducting electric currents in the two-dimensional material graphene that bounce between sheet edges without scattering. This first direct observation of the ballistic mirroring of electron waves in a 2d system with supercurrents could lead to the use of graphene-based Josephson junctions in applications such as advanced digital logic circuits, ultrasensitive magnetometers and voltmeters.

Physics news

	Researchers demonstrate the world's first white lasers More luminous and energy efficient than LEDs, white lasers look to be the future in lighting and light-based wireless communication.
	Researchers build bacteria's photosynthetic engine Nearly all life on Earth depends on photosynthesis, the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. Oxygen-producing plants and cyanobacteria perfected this process 2.7 billion years ago. But the first photosynthetic organisms were likely single-celled purple bacteria that began absorbing near-infrared light and converting it to sulfur or sulfates about 3.4 billion years ago.
	Japanese team fires world's most powerful laser (Phys.org)—A team of researchers and engineers at Japan's Osaka University is reporting that they have successfully fired what they are claiming is the world's most powerful laser. In their paper published in the journal Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion in 2012, the team described their laser and how it works.
	Physicists close in on world's most sensitive resonators In their quest to make the world's most precise sensors, Cornell physicists have developed a novel method of manipulating mechanical resonators to be sensitive enough to work at the quantum scale.
	Rogue wave theory to save ships Physicists have found an explanation for rogue waves in the ocean and hope their theory will lead to devices to warn ships and save lives.
	Scientists unlock secrets of stars through aluminium Physicists at the University of York have revealed a new understanding of nucleosynthesis in stars, providing insight into the role massive stars play in the evolution of the Milky Way and the origins of the Solar System.
	Detecting small metallic contaminants in food via magnetization The detection of metallic contaminants in foods is important for our health and safety. However, existing inspection methods have limitations. For instance, the X-ray radiation method cannot detect contaminants with sizes smaller than 1 mm with current practical X-ray levels, and it cannot be applied for the inspection of foods that have lactic acid bacteria because X-ray radiation causes ionization of such foods.
	Colonoscopies of the future: Adjustable-focus endoscope helps to reduce discomfort Colonoscopy is a safe and effective medical procedure that's proven to saves lives. Used for routine cancer screening, it can help identify colon tumors in their early stages. In addition, it is a key non-surgical imaging technique that allows doctors to spot ulcers, polyps or bleeding inside the large intestines of their patients safely, avoiding complications that an exploratory surgery might induce.
	NIST PET phantoms bring new accuracy to medical scans Teaming with a medical equipment company, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated the first calibration system for positron emission tomography (PET) scanners directly tied to national measurement standards. Better calibrations of the machines potentially can increase the accuracy of their diagnostic images by several times, according to NIST scientists.

Earth news

	Playing 'tag' with pollution lets scientists see who's 'it' Using a climate model that can tag sources of soot from different global regions and can track where it lands on the Tibetan Plateau, researchers have determined which areas around the plateau contribute the most soot—and where. The model can also suggest the most effective way to reduce soot on the plateau, easing the amount of warming the region undergoes.
	New research will boost grasp of North American carbon cycle For centuries, people have transformed and splintered landscapes and ecosystems in North America. This radical altering of nature makes it tough for scientists to analyze the continent's life-sustaining carbon cycle—the biological, geological and chemical routes the element carbon takes to shift among earth, water and atmosphere.
	Earth sciences researcher examines string of related disasters striking Nepal For Nepal, the hits just keep coming.
Researcher finds way to cut cost, save water and help the environment by changing one simple thing Sanjay Shukla looked out over row upon row of tomato and pepper plants and had an idea: What would happen if he made the compacted soil rows taller and more narrow? Would the plants need less water, fertilizer and fumigation? Would the plants grow as tall? Would the plants produce as many vegetables?
	World's largest climate research site pilots integrated modeling The next generation of equipment is coming to the world's largest climate research facility, the Southern Great Plains (SGP) field measurement site near Lamont, Oklahoma.
	Gascoyne's 'trapped continent' turns up unusual gold deposit Gold has been found in geologically unusual circumstances about 250km east of Carnarvon on the margin of the Japan-sized former continent which forms part of the Gascoyne.
Intensive biofuel planting poses risk to human health The race to meet carbon-neutral biofuel targets could put human health and food crop production at risk unless it is carefully planned, according to new research.
	Antarctic research and king crabs connect the climate change dots Biological science student and antarctic researchers shipped out this past winter to the wilds of the Antarctic in pursuit of rare and valuable data as part of the bi-annual SeaScience Expedition. The Antarctic is a place of extremes, relatively untouched by man and an ideal location to research the impact of climate change.
The challenge of mining rare-earth materials outside China Five years ago, the cost of rare-earth materials that are critical for today's electronics went through the roof. An export quota set by China, which mines most of the world's rare earths, caused the price run-up. Though short-lived, the occurrence spurred calls for developing mines outside China, but whether others can challenge the country's dominance remains to be seen, reports Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
Ongoing recovery efforts take toll on hurricane survivors Superstorm Sandy continues to affect the lives of tens of thousands of New Jersey residents, in the form of unfinished repairs, disputed claims, and recurrent mold. These after-effects still linger for Sandy-impacted residents, and are associated with increased odds of residents experiencing mental health distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression.
	As desert encroaches, Niger turns to natural gas Threatened by the advance of a desert that already covers two-thirds of Niger, the poor Sahel nation hopes to halt rapid deforestation by promoting natural gas.

Astronomy & Space news

	First detection of lithium from an exploding star The chemical element lithium has been found for the first time in material ejected by a nova. Observations of Nova Centauri 2013 made using telescopes at ESO's La Silla Observatory, and near Santiago in Chile, help to explain the mystery of why many young stars seem to have more of this chemical element than expected. This new finding fills in a long-missing piece in the puzzle representing our galaxy's chemical evolution, and is a big step forward for astronomers trying to understand the amounts of different chemical elements in stars in the Milky Way.
	Brown dwarf stars host powerful aurora displays, astronomers discover Brown dwarf stars host powerful aurora displays just like planets, astronomers have discovered.
	New names and insights at Ceres Colorful new maps of Ceres, based on data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, showcase a diverse topography, with height differences between crater bottoms and mountain peaks as great as 9 miles (15 kilometers).
	NASA Mars orbiter preparing for Mars lander's 2016 arrival With its biggest orbit maneuver since 2006, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will prepare this week for the arrival of NASA's next Mars lander, InSight, next year.
	Dense star clusters shown to be binary black hole factories The coalescence of two black holes—a very violent and exotic event—is one of the most sought-after observations of modern astronomy. But, as these mergers emit no light of any kind, finding such elusive events has been impossible so far.
Spaceship pilot describes harrowing free fall after breakup Free-falling miles above the desert, his test spaceship ripped to pieces and the frigid air hard to breathe, pilot Peter Siebold struggled through crippling injuries to turn on his oxygen and just to stay conscious.
	Russia schedules first Proton rocket launch since crash Russia on Wednesday set a date for the first Proton rocket launch since an engine failure in May saw a Mexican satellite destroyed.
	Mystery at misfits flat An amateur has discovered a trove of meteorites on Misfits Flat dry lake in Nevada. No meteorites had been found at this tiny lakebed before. In an unusual twist, at least some of those turn out to have fallen less than 300 years ago.
	Eris' moon Dysnomia Ask a person what Dysnomia refers to, and they might venture that it's a medical condition. In truth, they would be correct. But in addition to being a condition that affects the memory (where people have a hard time remembering words and names), it is also the only known moon of the distant dwarf planet Eris.
	Faces of the solar system "Look, it has a tiny face on it!"
	Neptune's moon of Triton The planets of the outer solar system are known for being strange, as are their many moons. This is especially true of Triton, Neptune's largest moon. In addition to being the seventh-largest moon in the solar system, it is also the only major moon that has a retrograde orbit – i.e. it revolves in the direction opposite to the planet's rotation. This suggests that Triton did not form in orbit around Neptune, but is a cosmic visitor that passed by one day and decided to stay.
Annual Perseid meteor shower promises a fine display The annual Perseid meteor shower is one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year. It peaks every year around the 12th/13th August, and under ideal conditions produces a maximum frequency of meteors, or zenith hourly rate, up to around 100 meteors per hour. If you have never seen a meteor, this August—weather permitting—will provide the ideal opportunity. The weather is still reasonably mild, and the Moon, whose light often drowns out many faint meteors, is waning towards New Moon on the 14th and so will not interfere with the peak of this year's shower.
	NASA tells lawmakers to brace for more Pluto secrets revealed by mission Hoping to capture lawmakers' imaginations and perhaps loosen their purse strings, NASA officials said Tuesday that the new scientific information gleaned from the New Horizons mission to Pluto was "revolutionizing" what they know about the icy dwarf planet.
	NASA's MMS formation will give unique look at magnetic reconnection On July 9, 2015 the four spacecraft of NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale, or MMS, mission began flying in a pyramid shape for the first time. The four-sided pyramid shape—called a tetrahedron—means that scientists' observations will be spread out over three dimensions.

Technology news

	Researchers mount successful attacks against Tor network—and show how to prevent them With 2.5 million daily users, the Tor network is the world's most popular system for protecting Internet users' anonymity. For more than a decade, people living under repressive regimes have used Tor to conceal their Web-browsing habits from electronic surveillance, and websites hosting content that's been deemed subversive have used it to hide the locations of their servers.
	Making the new silicon: Gallium nitride electronics could drastically cut energy usage An exotic material called gallium nitride (GaN) is poised to become the next semiconductor for power electronics, enabling much higher efficiency than silicon.
	Review: Five ways Windows 10 fixes annoyances in predecessor It took me just a weekend to get comfortable with Microsoft's new Windows 10 operating system, something I never did with its predecessor, Windows 8, even after nearly three years.
	Amazon wants air space for delivery drones Online retail colossus Amazon wants to carve out a special zone of the sky to shuttle commercial drones that would deliver goods to its customers.
	Wireless charging tech for metal case devices announced Power up without plugging in—that has been the catchy slogan of Qualcomm's WiPower and now WiPower has reached a milestone: power up without plugging in even if the mobile device has a metal case. Qualcomm took center-stage on Tuesday with the news. Qualcomm Technologies, a subsidiary of Qualcomm, on Tuesday beat its drum in announcing it was the first to enable wireless charging for mobile devices with metal cases. Until now, charging a device with a metal exterior has been incompatible with wireless charging technologies. The company said that WiPower can operate at a frequency more tolerant of metal objects coming within the charge field.
	Google adds 20 languages to instant translation app Google announced Wednesday it was adding 20 new languages for its mobile translation application that reads text and instantly converts to another tongue.
	Microsoft takes you through the steps in HoloLens video creation How does Microsoft record holographic video content for the HoloLens? A team has come forward with a video that steps you through the system they use for creating high quality free-viewpoint video that can be compressed for bandwidth fit for consumer applications. They use the example of a two-man traditional Maori performance in their video.
	Oculus debuts virtual reality film 'Henry' Oculus is hedging its bets that an adorable critter named Henry can help convince consumers—and Hollywood—about the viability of virtual reality as a storytelling medium.
	For dating apps in Asia, love by numbers or chaperone Move over Tinder—a crop of dating apps in smartphone-addicted Asia is offering to recruit friends for group dates or send along a chaperone to steer the course of romance.
LG Electronics reports 45 percent plunge in 2Q earnings LG Electronics said Wednesday its second quarter earnings sank 45 percent over a year earlier as losses widened in its TV business and mobile phones earned little income.
	Dating apps are changing US courtship rituals From adulterous middle-aged marrieds to millennials who say only freaks chat up people in bars, millions of Americans are finding love online as technology corners the market in romance.
Five things to know about artificial intelligence and its use In the sci-fi thriller "Ex Machina," the wonders and dangers of artificial intelligence are embodied in a beautiful, cunning android named Ava. She puts her electronic smarts to work with frightening results, manipulating and outwitting her human handlers.
	Nintendo swings to profit in April-June, sales up 21% Japanese video game giant Nintendo said Wednesday it swung to a $67 million net profit in the three months to June, owing to a jump in console sales and a weaker yen.
	Panasonic quarterly profit soars more than 50% on tax change Japanese electronics giant Panasonic said Wednesday that its net profit soared 57 percent from a year ago, mainly thanks to a tax accounting change as it reshapes its business.
	Twitter shares tumble amid fresh doubts on growth Twitter shares fell hard Wednesday after the latest update from the one-to-many messaging platform revived doubts about its growth prospects.
China's Alibaba to invest $1.0 bn in cloud computing Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will invest $1.0 billion in its cloud computing arm to expand its international presence, the company said Wednesday, as it looks outside its core business and beyond traditional markets.
	Nokia unveils virtual reality camera for filmmakers Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia unveiled Wednesday its new virtual-reality camera for professional filmmakers and content creators.
Average US vehicle age hits record 11.5 years In the age of Apple's CarPlay, a lot of cars on the road still have tape decks.
	Mobile software simplifies measurements of gel electrophoresis The first Android mobile application that can automatically detect gel electrophoresis bands and accurately measure their size has been developed by A*STAR researchers.
	Advanced system based on discrete events paves the way for automated industrial monitoring Individual operations on the shop floor of an industrial plant can be tracked using a sophisticated automated monitoring system that employs advanced mathematical techniques. To track work in progress, A*STAR scientists combined the popular radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags with rigorous computational processing of 'discrete-event observers'. This system will enable managers to make better, more timely decisions.
	How apps can help you make exercise commitments you can't refuse We all struggle to make a decision to do something now that will be good for us later on. It takes self-control and is amazingly easy to subvert. Getting fit, eating less, studying more, and many similar plans, are made, and almost as quickly abandoned, as our self-control resources become depleted through the business of life and more immediate, alternative, gratifications.
	Microsoft gears for turnaround with Windows 10 rollout (Update) Microsoft launched its Windows 10 operating system Wednesday, in its boldest effort yet to reshape the tech giant and move ahead in mobile computing and the "Internet of Things."
Visionize uses virtual reality headsets to help people with low vision To get through a day's work at the office, Kenyetta McCurdy-Byrd needs to pack an entire toolbox.
Snapchat brings on Buzzfeed and iHeartRadio as partners Snapchat has replaced Yahoo and Warner Music Group with iHeartRadio and Buzzfeed on the list of about a dozen media organizations that get a big opportunity to generate revenue through the popular entertainment app.
In Pittsburgh, older ride-sharing drivers offer wisdom behind the wheel When a passenger recently wondered aloud about the meaning of the phrase "Bye, Felicia," Pittsburgh Uber driver George DeBolt knew the answer, even though he's not quite in the demographic one might expect to have such information.
Pandora rolls out Sponsored Listening for all brands Pandora fans can now listen to a full hour of music uninterrupted by ads - if they agree to watch or interact with an advertisement first.
Facing regulatory roadblocks, Uber ramps up lobbying in its home state Uber now spends more on lobbyists in California than Wal-Mart, Bank of America or Wells Fargo.
	Microsoft hopes computer users show some love for Windows 10 Know someone required to use Microsoft Windows at work but who uses a Mac at home? Probably so.
	Apple, Samsung lose ground in shrinking tablet market Tablet computer sales fell in the second quarter of 2015, with market leaders Apple and Samsung losing ground to other vendors, a survey showed Wednesday.
	Yahoo unveils silent video chat app Yahoo on Wednesday unveiled a new mobile application allowing users to exchange live video, text and emoticons, without audio.
	Facebook profit dips as expenses bite into revenue Facebook reported a dip in its quarterly profit Wednesday but said revenues surged on mobile advertising gains, as its user base neared 1.5 billion.
Yelp's 2Q results, outlook disappoint as stock plunges Yelp is getting panned by investors after the online business review service sank to a second-quarter loss and dimmed its outlook amid a slowdown in its digital advertising sales.
	Opinion: Hacktivists aren't terrorists – but US prosecutors make little distinction Activists who use technology to conduct political dissent – hacktivists – are increasingly threatened with investigation, prosecution and often disproportionately severe criminal sentences.
	Fujitsu develops technology to visualize the energy required to execute software Fujitsu Laboratories today announced that it has developed technology that precisely calculates the energy required to execute various software programs running on server CPUs, for energy-efficient programming. Servers equipped with Intel-made CPUs include a power-control mechanism that can measure power consumption for the CPU as a whole. Until now, however, it was not possible to calculate the energy required to execute software on a core-by-core basis, so it has been difficult to take a software-based approach to reducing power consumption. Now Fujitsu Laboratories has developed technology that uses information that can be tracked at the individual core level, such as clock cycles and cache-hit percentages, to estimate energy consumption in detail, down to the program module level. This makes energy-efficient programming a more efficient process, contributing to both lower overall server energy usage and, by using surplus power! , higher software performance. Details of this technology are being presented at the Summer United Workshops on Parallel, Distributed and Cooperative Processing 2015 (SWoPP 2015), opening in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, on August 4.
Verizon to offer HBO Now streaming service HBO Now is now available to Verizon customers.
	Will the Internet listen to your private conversations? Like a lot of teenagers, Aanya Nigam reflexively shares her whereabouts, activities and thoughts on Twitter, Instagram and other social networks without a qualm.
	Microsoft debuts Windows 10: Why it's being given away free Microsoft debuted its new Windows 10 operating system Wednesday, in what the company hopes will be a pivotal moment in its bid regain its sway in a world where the PC is no longer king.

Chemistry news

	Researchers develop technology to reduce cost of purifying natural gas Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a cutting-edge method of reducing the carbon dioxide content of natural gas, a process of major economic and environmental importance in the oil and gas industry.
	Don't call them stiff: Metal organic frameworks show unexpected flexibility Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are proving to be incredibly flexible with a myriad of potential applications including as antimicrobial agents, hydrogen-storage materials and solar-cell components. And despite their rigid-sounding name, researchers are reporting that MOF structures are also dynamic—much more so than previously thought. They report this discovery, which could lead to the synthesis of brand-new types of materials, in ACS Central Science.
	Boxfish shell inspires new materials for body armor and flexible electronics The boxfish's unique armor draws its strength from hexagon-shaped scales and the connections between them, engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have found.
	Yarn from slaughterhouse waste ETH researchers have developed a yarn from ordinary gelatine that has good qualities similar to those of merino wool fibers. Now they are working on making the yarn even more water resistant.
	Phosphorus-based ligand facilitates palladium-catalyzed complex molecules The scope and productivity of an essential palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction that generates complex molecules has been improved thanks to A*STAR research that uses low-reactivity materials.
	Figuring out how to make tastier wines using fewer pesticides Wine-making is steeped in age-old traditions, but to address the threat of pests and concerns over heavy pesticide use, vintners are turning to science. With the goal of designing better grape breeds, scientists are parsing the differences between wild American grapes—which make terrible wine but are pest-resistant—and the less hardy grape species pressed for fine wines worldwide. They report their findings in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
	An all-natural sunscreen derived from algae For consumers searching for just the right sunblock this summer, the options can be overwhelming. But scientists are now turning to the natural sunscreen of algae—which is also found in fish slime—to make a novel kind of shield against the sun's rays that could protect not only people, but also textiles and outdoor materials. They report on their development in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
	Toward a safe antiobesity drug that could block fat absorption To help address the global obesity epidemic, scientists are developing a new class of compounds called "micelle sequestrant polymers," or MSPs, that could prevent fat particles from getting absorbed in the body and thus potentially reduce weight gain. They report on their novel agents, which they tested on mice, in the ACS journal Biomacromolecules.
	New ultrasound sensors for improved breast cancer screening The first prototype ultrasound sensors for a new improved breast screening technique have been developed as part of a collaboration between the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), University Hospitals Bristol (UHB), North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), Precision Acoustics Ltd and Designworks The team is now looking for commercial partners to translate the novel development into a clinical device.

Biology news

	Researchers design first artificial ribosome Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University have engineered a tethered ribosome that works nearly as well as the authentic cellular component, or organelle, that produces all the proteins and enzymes within the cell. The engineered ribosome may enable the production of new drugs and next-generation biomaterials and lead to a better understanding of how ribosomes function.
	Stressed out plants send animal-like signals University of Adelaide research has shown for the first time that, despite not having a nervous system, plants use signals normally associated with animals when they encounter stress.
	Study shows a way to tell if your hamster is happy (Phys.org)—A pair of researchers at Liverpool John Moores University in the U.K. believe they have found a way to measure happiness in hamsters. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, Emily Bethell and Nicola Koyama describe behavioral studies they carried out with hamsters, what they learned and why they believe their results indicate that hamsters, like other mammals, have feelings, or moods.
	Structures reveal basis of recurring urinary tract infections While the best antibiotics can wipe out most of the bacteria that cause notoriously difficult urinary tract infections, a few "sleeper cells" often remain. These "persisters," as they are called, survive by going dormant, essentially sleeping through the attack that kills off their more active brethren.
	Researchers discover new type of mycovirus Researchers, led by Dr Robert Coutts, Leverhulme Research Fellow from the School of Life and Medical Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, and Dr Ioly Kotta-Loizou, Research Associate at Imperial College, have discovered a completely novel type of mycovirus. The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Bioluminescence in lanternsharks appears to help with reproduction (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with members from Belgium, Sweden and Germany has a found what they believe is a possible explanation for bioluminescence in lanternsharks. In their paper, Julien Claes, Dan-Eric Nilsson, Jérôme Mallefet and Nicolas Straube describe field experiments they conducted watching the sharks to learn if the luminescence was tied to their behavior, genetic testing they conducted and what they found in doing so.
	Studies reveal details of error correction in cell division Cell biologists led by Thomas Maresca at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with collaborators elsewhere, report an advance in understanding the workings of an error correction mechanism that helps cells detect and correct mistakes in cell division early enough to prevent chromosome mis-segregation and aneuploidy, that is, having too many or too few chromosomes.
	Study of 'senior citizen' marine snails uncovered how nerve cells fail during learning A new research study on marine snails uncovered the first cells in the nervous system to fail during aging. The University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science researchers' findings are important to better understanding the underlying mechanisms of age-related memory loss in humans.
	Hard-won lizards: Clues in amber anoles cap long adventure for Losos Here's an unusual bit of math: What do you get when you add "Jurassic Park," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Ocean's 11," and then factor in a large slice of screwball comedy?
The evolutionary link between diet and stomach acidity An analysis of data on stomach acidity and diet in birds and mammals suggests that high levels of stomach acidity developed not to help animals break down food, but to defend animals against food poisoning. The work raises interesting questions about the evolution of stomach acidity in humans, and how modern life may be affecting both our stomach acidity and the microbial communities that live in our guts.
	CRISPR/Cas gene editing technique holds great promise, but research moratorium makes sense pending further study CRISPR/Cas is a new technology that allows unprecedented control over the DNA code. It's sparked a revolution in the fields of genetics and cell biology, becoming the scientific equivalent of a household name by raising hopes about new ways to cure diseases including cancer and to unlock the remaining mysteries of our cells.
	When cars and wildlife collide: Virtual reality could prevent real-life road accidents Roadside Animal Detection Systems (RADS), which use sensors to detect large animals on the road and to alert drivers by activating flashing lights on warning signs, could be the answer for preventing numerous wildlife casualties.
	Simulated seawater flooding decreases growth of vegetable seedlings Crop production in coastal areas is threatened by seawater intrusion, which increases soil salinity. Excessive salinity in soil and irrigation water, in combination with waterlogging, can significantly affect the growth and quality for agricultural crops, especially those vegetables that are sensitive to salinity. A new study determined salt-tolerant vegetable seedlings for coastal area production.
Study of birds' sense of smell reveals important clues for behavior and adaptation From slight sparrows to preening peacocks to soaring falcons, birds have long been known to possess distinct abilities in their sense of smell, but little has been known about the evolution of olfaction.
	USDA scientist helps Texas sorghum growers reduce water use As water becomes more precious in the Texas High Plains, more farmers are likely to turn to sorghum because it's more drought tolerant than corn and produces higher yields under moderate to severe drought. With recent droughts and water shortages, many farmers have suffered major losses raising corn. The problem is compounded because the region depends on the Ogallala Aquifer for water, which is being depleted. Many farmers' wells are pumping less water today than in the past.
	Varying animal research standards are leading to bad science Scientific research sometimes requires the use of animals. It's a fact. And as long as that is the case, we need to do everything in our power to minimise the distress for laboratory animals. This is not just for the sake of the animals, but also for the sake of science itself. We know that the quality of life of an animal can actually affect its physiology and, thereby, the research data.
	Management strategies to reduce catfacing in peaches For producers of peaches and other orchard-grown produce, managing the orchard floor can present challenges. Unwelcome vegetation on the orchard floor competes with trees for water and nutrients reducing tree growth and productivity, and can be a host for pathogens and insect pests. Utilizing best practices for irrigation and vegetation management in the orchard helps growers to optimize tree growth, fruit yield, and fruit size. Scientists at North Carolina State University published a study in the May 2015 issue of HortScience that includes guidelines that can help increase tree vigor and fruit yield, and limit damage from hemipteran or "catfacing" insects - pests that damage and distort peaches and other fruit.
	Light-emitting diode sole-source lighting effective in bedding plant seedling production In northern latitudes, producers of bedding plants depend on supplemental lighting during the late winter and early spring growing seasons. Unfortunately, these peak times for young plant production are also the darkest. Researchers have determined that a minimum amount of photosynthetic light (daily light integral; DLI) is necessary to produce high-quality young plants in greenhouses. In northern latitudes, though, the average greenhouse photosynthetic DLI can fall far short of optimal levels, resulting in delayed production and poor quality plants.
Malic acid encourages sweet cherry cracking "Cracking" is a problem for sweet cherry production wherever the high-value crop is grown. However, despite considerable research, the reason that this phenomenon occurs has not been clear. In a new study, Andreas Winkler, Max Ossenbrink, and Moritz Knoche reveal their discovery of what makes sweet cherries crack.
End-of-production LED lighting increases red pigmentation in lettuce Growing vegetables in greenhouses extends crop production seasons in northern latitudes, but the greenhouse environment is far from ideal for providing plants with optimal photosynthetic light. In fact, available photosynthetic daily light in greenhouses can be reduced by up to 50% or more by the structures' glazing material, superstructure, and shading. In northern latitudes, low light is considered the most limiting environmental factor in greenhouse vegetable production.

Medicine & Health news

	Women's immune system genes operate differently from men's, study finds A new technology for studying the human body's vast system for toggling genes on and off reveals that genes associated with the immune system toggle more frequently, and those same genes operate differently in women and men.
	Long telomere length associated with increased lung cancer risk A large-scale genetic study of the links between telomere length and risk for five common cancers finds that long telomeres are associated with an increased risk of lung adenocarcinoma. No significant associations between telomere length and other cancer types or subtypes were observed. The study, led by scientists from the University of Chicago, uses a novel method to measure genetic predisposition for telomere length, rather than physiological measures which are confounded by factors such as age and lifestyle. The findings are published in Human Molecular Genetics on July 29, 2015.
	Proof-of-concept study shows successful transport of blood samples with small drones In a proof-of-concept study at Johns Hopkins, researchers have shown that results of common and routine blood tests are not affected by up to 40 minutes of travel via hobby-sized drones.
	Antibiotics increase risk of hearing loss in patients with deadly bacterial infections Seeking to stem the tide of permanent hearing loss from the use of life-saving antibiotics, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have found that patients stricken with dangerous bacterial infections are at greater risk of hearing loss than previously recognized. Inflammation from the bacterial infections substantially increased susceptibility to hearing impairment by increasing the uptake of aminoglycoside antibiotics into the inner ear, the researchers report. Their findings are published in online in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Using proliferative properties of cancer cells to rejuvenate cardiac progenitor cells In a way, trying to repair age-related heart damage and trying to fight cancer are opposite problems. Your heart cells' ability to regenerate themselves and proliferate into new, young cells degrades as you get older. They simply lose their proficiency at cell division. Cancer cells, on the other hand, are too good at proliferating. They don't know when to stop, and the overgrowth results in tumors.
	Study finds brain chemicals that keep wakefulness in check Mice that have a particular brain chemical switched off become hyperactive and sleep for just 65 per cent of their normal time.
	Surprising similarity in fly and mouse motion vision At first glance, the eyes of mammals and those of insects do not seem to have much in common. However, a comparison of the neural circuits for detecting motion shows surprising parallels between flies and mice. Scientists have learned a lot about the visual perception of both animals in recent years. Alexander Borst at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried and Moritz Helmstaedter at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, both of whom have made a significant contribution to the current level of knowledge in the case of flies and mice, have now demonstrated the similarities.
	Red grape chemical may help prevent bowel cancer but less is more Resveratrol, a chemical found in red grapes, is more effective in smaller doses at preventing bowel cancer in mice than high doses, according to new research published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
	Blocking a gene reduces fat By blocking the expression of a certain gene in patients, University of Montreal researchers have contributed to the demonstration of great decreases in the concentration of triglycerides in their blood, even in various severe forms of hypertriglyceridemia and regardless of the base values or the treatment the patient usually receives. The gene in question codes for the apoC-III protein.
	Scientists discover link between common medications and serious falls in older men Using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), scientists from Trinity College Dublin, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland and three UK Universities have discovered a significant link between serious falls causing injury in older men and a particular group of commonly used medicines. The findings are published today by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
'Dialing for Diabetes Control' helps urban adults lower blood sugar Periodic telephone counseling can be a highly effective, low-cost tool for lowering blood-sugar levels in minority, urban adults with uncontrolled diabetes. The findings are the result of a clinical trial led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and their collaborators at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Health Department). The study published online today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
45 years of work finally pays off for Uni of Adelaide geneticists At least half of those with an intellectual disability across the world do not have a formal diagnosis. However, thanks to new DNA sequencing technology, along with the expertise and perseverance of University of Adelaide researchers over 45 years, dozens of Australians with intellectual disability now have a name for their condition.
Hair samples may offer new insights into the relationship between asthma, cortisol, and complications in pregnancy Hair samples can be used to measure the effects of asthma on the cortisol levels of women during pregnancy, according to research presented today at the 2015 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Atlanta. This research also shows that levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, tend to be lower among pregnant women with asthma than among pregnant women without the chronic, inflammatory lung disease.
Deceptive claims in cosmetics advertising If you're sceptical about the claims made by cosmetics firms about the attributes of their lotions and potions, you're not alone. A study by US academics just published in the Journal of Global Fashion Marketing shows how little truth there seems to be in those glossy magazine ads – as well as how unlikely we are to believe them anyway.
Two new tests that may make diagnosing and monitoring diabetes easier and more affordable Researchers have successfully tested two new potential methods for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes in its standard and gestational forms. These findings, presented today at the 2015 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Atlanta, may lead to easier, timelier, and more affordable ways of identifying and treating this chronic disease.
Scientists discover experimental therapy for chronic inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer UCLA scientists have discovered a groundbreaking experimental therapy that has the ability to suppress the development of ulcerative colitis (UC), a disease which causes inflammation in the digestive tract and colon cancer. The treatment utilizes a chemical inhibitor able to block an RNA molecule (microRNA-214) involved in the transmission of genetic information.
	Giving consumers a "prize" for choosing smaller meal portions results in lower daily intake of calories It's not easy to lose weight in our "super-sized" nation, but researchers at USC Dornsife and the USC Marshall School of Business have found that even modest incentives to eat smaller portions work in a big way.
Fats from fish and vegetables may increase longevity A study that included more than 4,000 Swedish 60-year-olds, showed that high levels of polyunsaturated fats in the blood are linked to increased longevity and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study was a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University and was published in the medical journal Circulation.
Hospital penalties based on total number of blood clots may be unfairly imposed Johns Hopkins researchers say their review of 128 medical case histories suggests that financial penalties imposed on Maryland hospitals based solely on the total number of patients who suffer blood clots in the lung or leg fail to account for clots that occur despite the consistent and proper use of the best preventive therapies.
	Women who are socially well integrated have lower risk for suicide Women who were socially well integrated had a lower risk for suicide in a new analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
Wet spring, high mosquito numbers could mean more West Nile virus Scientists at Colorado State University have detected a notably high number of Culex mosquitoes in northern Colorado this season, which could translate into high infection rates of West Nile virus. But so far there is no indication that the virus is spreading quickly from mosquito populations to birds, horses or people.
	A deeper knowledge of the body's immune response to combat Chikungunya Infection with the Chikungunya virus produces a 'signature' pattern of immune messenger molecules in the blood, according to the latest research from A*STAR scientists. This discovery will hopefully improve patients' prognoses, and lead to better outcomes for the often-debilitating disease.
	Prostate 'organoid' hints at how early BPA exposure may increase cancer risk A first-of-its kind prostate 'organoid' grown from human embryonic stem cells has enabled researchers to show that exposure to bisphenol A, a chemical in many plastics, can cause overproduction of prostate stem cells in the developing organ—and thus may increase men's risk of prostate cancer.
	The result of eating too much salt can be measured in blood pressure People who gradually increase the amount of salt in their diet and people who habitually eat a higher salt diet both face an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Prescription for medical students: A day at the art museum? With the growing number of people with Alzheimer's disease, understanding their care is vital for doctors. Yet medical students often just learn the facts and may only see people with advanced disease who are at the hospital or nursing home. A study shows a new way to help medical students learn about the disease—at the art museum.
Mild hypothermia in deceased organ donors improves organ function in kidney transplant Mild hypothermia in deceased organ donors significantly reduces delayed graft function in kidney transplant recipients when compared to normal body temperature, according to UC San Francisco researchers and collaborators, a finding that could lead to an increase in the availability of kidneys for transplant.
	How resistance to a new cancer treatment might be overcome A promising agent for the treatment of cancer has so far had little effect on the most common lung tumours, but new research from The University of Manchester has suggested how this resistance might be overcome.
	Neural protein mutations cause extreme brain malformations and atrophy A gene responsible for a severe form of the brain formation disorder microlissencephaly has been identified by A*STAR scientists through a collaboration with researchers in seven countries.
	What the shape of your face says about you Imagine a prototypical thug. A real bruiser. Chances are they are male – no surprises there – but picture what his face looks like.
	Adolescents with sleep problems more likely to self-harm There is a strong relationship between sleep problems such as insomnia, and self-harm, according to findings in a new Norwegian study.
Study reveals latest evidence that prejudice causes the perception of threat When people feel or act negatively toward a group, they may explain their feelings or behavior by saying, "I felt threatened." However, new research reveals how easily people can be conditioned to feel prejudice—and that unrecognized prejudice can be the source of a perceived threat. The study by Angela Bahns, a social psychologist and professor at Wellesley College, is published this month in the journal Group Processes and Intergroup Relations.
	Fast, accurate and cost-effective diagnoses to tackle respiratory infections ecently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study found that starting anti-HIV treatment within two weeks of TB being diagnosed improved survival rates among patients with both infections who had very low immune-cell counts. Those with strong immune systems, however, appeared to benefit from waiting until after the end of the six-month TB treatment before initiating anti-HIV therapy. The study recommended updating guidelines to take these findings into account.
	High intensity training helps ease arthritis pains It's a disease that sneaks up on you. Fingers and toes slowly but surely become stiff and painful. A nice morning stretch is no longer all it takes to get your body moving. Arthritis is a chronic illness that sinks its claws into your body, and causes inflammation in your joints.
	Mechanism behind the lack of effectiveness of certain antagonist drugs discovered Researchers have published a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) about the formation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) which allows understanding the unexpected behaviour of some antagonists that block physiological responses.
	Social groups and emotions The semantic representation of social groups involves areas of the brain associated with processing emotions. So says a study at SISSA in collaboration with the University of Trieste and the University Hospital of Udine which was published in the journal Cortex.
	Childhood asthma rates down 10 percent in 10 years according to UK's oldest asthma survey Asthma rates in children have dropped by more than 10 percent in ten years according to the first and longest running asthma survey in the UK which itself is now 50 years old.
Barrow scientists 'rewrite' history books: Brain surgery saved Russian general who helped defeat Napoleon Researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have spent years of medical sleuthing across three continents to uncover a brain surgery that changed history.
	Closing the gap on developing a vaccine for middle ear infections Researchers from Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics, together with the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio, have uncovered groundbreaking evidence to help vaccine developers prevent middle ear infections.
	An imbalance of cellular bioenergetics in pancreatic beta-cells links to type 2 diabetes Impaired activation of mitochondrial energy metabolism in the presence of glucose has been demonstrated in pancreatic beta-cells from patients with type 2 diabetes. The cause of this dysfunction has been unknown. Publishing online in Endocrinology, Buck Institute assistant research professor Akos Gerencser, PhD, shows that in patients with type 2 diabetes the balance between supply and demand of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔψM) is altered causing a decrease in the signaling that turns on insulin secretion.
	Naturally occurring protein fragment found in brain inhibits key enzyme implicated in Alzheimer's For the first time, UCLA researchers have shown that a natural protein fragment produced in the brain can act as an inhibitor of a key enzyme implicated in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, a finding that could lead to the development of new drugs to treat the disease.
	Monitoring wildlife may shed light on spread of antibiotic resistance in humans Antibiotics are a blessing but may also be an empty promise of health when microbes develop resistance to our pharmacological arsenal. Globally, the emergence of antibiotic resistance is an important threat to both human and animal health.
	Taking St. John's wort for depression carries risks: study (HealthDay)—St. John's wort is a popular herbal therapy for depression, but a new Australian study highlights the fact that "natural" does not always equal "safe."
	Study developed to track pediatricians' experiences (HealthDay)—A longitudinal study that will track the personal and professional experiences of early-career pediatricians has been developed. The details are published online July 27 in Pediatrics.
	2008 initiative had minimal impact on pressure ulcer charges (HealthDay)—The 2008 Hospital-Acquired Conditions Initiative (HACI) payment changes for pressure ulcers have had a minimal effect, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Higher health costs for diabetes mainly meds, inpatient care (HealthDay)—From 2002 to 2012, individuals with diabetes had consistently higher health expenditure compared to those without diabetes, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
	Not all placebos are equal in knee osteoarthritis (HealthDay)—Not all placebos are equally effective for knee osteoarthritis and some can trigger clinically relevant responses, according to a review published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Atorvastatin/Ezetimibe beats atorvastatin after PCI (HealthDay)—For Japanese patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), atorvastatin plus ezetimibe is associated with improved outcomes versus atorvastatin alone, according to a study published in the Aug. 4 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Components of mediterranean lifestyle cut postprandial lipemia (HealthDay)—Components of the Mediterranean lifestyle may reduce postprandial lipemia (PPL), an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to a review published online July 7 in the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism.
	Visit-to-visit BP variability may impact cardiovascular outcomes (HealthDay)—Wide blood pressure fluctuations may signal an increased risk of coronary heart disease and early death, according to research published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	ASCO calls for cancer trials to include more seniors (HealthDay)—In a position statement published online July 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology has called on the U.S. government and the cancer research community to broaden clinical trials to include older adults.
	Higher incidence of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia reported (HealthDay)—The incidence of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) following cryolipolysis may be higher than previously described, according to a report published in the August issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
	No lasting value for minimally invasive lumbar laminotomy (HealthDay)—For patients with neural foraminal or lateral recess stenosis with unilateral leg neurogenic symptoms (NS), a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach offers no advantage over an open lumbar laminotomy approach in the longer term, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
	Not resecting ideal candidates ups mortality in liver cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), not resecting ideal candidates for resection is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of Hepatology.
	USPSTF: screen all adults for depression in primary care (HealthDay)—In an updated draft recommendation released Monday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force urges that primary care physicians regularly screen for depression in all adult patients (B recommendation).
Small study affirms accuracy of free mobile app that screens for liver disease in newborns In a small study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center report they have verified the ability of a free smartphone app to accurately read, interpret and record the color of a newborn's poop as a possible early symptom of biliary atresia (BA)—a rare disorder that accounts for nearly half of pediatric end-stage liver disease in the United States.
Bioethicists call for end to 'pay-to-play' clinical research Charging people to participate in research studies is likely to undermine the fundamental ethical basis of clinical research, according to a new paper written by bioethicists, including lead author Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, chair of the department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and published in Science Translational Medicine. The paper outlines the arguments for and against the concept of "pay-to-play" research, ultimately concluding that this type of approach compromises the overall integrity of clinical research.
High number of unnecessary CT scans associated with pediatric sports-related head trauma Visits to emergency departments by children with sports-related head injuries have skyrocketed in the past decade, and new research finds that many patients undergo unnecessary computed tomography or CT scans that expose them to radiation and increase the cost of treatment. Fifty-three percent of patients studied received a CT scan, but only four percent of those actually had traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) on their CT scans. The new study was published online in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
	Alcohol laws have a preventive effect on young men When they reach for the glass, they often know no limits: Hazardous drinking is fairly common among young Swiss men. The good news: Based on a survey of around 5,700 young Swiss men with a mean age of 20, scientists from the University of Zurich reveal that legal regulations - such as the minimum legal drinking age and restrictions on the sale or advertising of alcoholic beverages - have a preventive effect on young consumers.
	Routine dyspnea severity assessment could aid care (HealthDay)—The majority of hospitalists believe that routinely assessing dyspnea severity would enhance their clinical decision making and positively affect patient care, according to a study published online July 20 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Probiotic supplements may help prevent infantile eczema (HealthDay)—Probiotic supplementation in pregnancy and early infancy can prevent infantile eczema, according to a review and meta-analysis published online July 21 in Allergy.
	Novel microendoscope ups accuracy of esophageal screening (HealthDay)—A novel, low-cost, high-resolution microendoscope (HRME) improves the accuracy of Lugol's chromoendoscopy (LCE) for screening and surveillance of esophageal squamous cell neoplasia, according to a study published in the August issue of Gastroenterology.
	Low incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis with canagliflozin (HealthDay)—For canagliflozin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes, the incidence of serious adverse events of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is low, according to research published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
	No significant pregnancy risks for topical retinoid exposure (HealthDay)—Topical retinoid exposure is not significantly associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, or prematurity, according to a review published online July 26 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	RAPID score validated for prognosis of pleural infections (HealthDay)—The recently developed RAPID score, which identifies the risk of mortality in patients with pleural infections based on five clinical factors, has been validated in a diverse patient cohort. The findings have been published online July 20 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Early invasive strategy no benefit 10 years after NSTE-ACS (HealthDay)—For patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), routine early invasive strategy (coronary arteriography and myocardial revascularization, as clinically indicated) is not associated with improved outcomes at 10 years over a selective invasive strategy (coronary arteriography for recurrent ischemia only). The findings were published in the Aug. 4 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Rise in day surgery has been good for patients and saved money The rising proportion of operations carried out as day cases over the past few decades has been good for patients and a much more efficient use of NHS resources, says John Appleby, Chief Economist at the King's Fund, in a databriefing for The BMJ this week.
	Could a sugar tax help combat obesity? Following the BMA's call for a 20% sugar tax to subsidise the cost of fruit and vegetables, experts in The BMJ this week debate whether a sugar tax could help combat obesity.
New computer-based technology may lead to improvements in facial transplantation Following several years of research and collaboration, physicians and engineers at Johns Hopkins and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center say they have developed a computer platform that provides rapid, real-time feedback before and during facial transplant surgery, which may someday improve face-jaw-teeth alignment between donor and recipient.
	Real-time imaging of lung lesions during surgery helps localize tumors and improve precision More than 80,000 people undergo resection of a pulmonary tumor each year, and currently the only method to determine if the tumor is malignant is histologic analysis. A new study reports that a targeted molecular contrast agent can be used successfully to cause lung adenocarcinomas to fluoresce during pulmonary surgery. This enables real-time optical imaging during surgery and the identification of cancer cells. The results are reported in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the official publication of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS).
Scientists identify gene vital for rebuilding intestine after cancer treatment The stem cells in our gut divide so fast that they create a completely new population of epithelial cells every week. But this quick division is also why radiation and chemotherapy wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal systems of cancer patients - such therapies target rapidly dividing cells. Scientists at the UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found that a rare type of stem cell is immune to radiation damage thanks to high levels of a gene called Sox9.
Generalized anxiety disorders twice as likely in those with inflammatory bowel disease People who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, have twice the odds of having a generalized anxiety disorder at some point in their lives when compared to peers without IBD, according to a new study published by University of Toronto researchers.
	Researchers illuminate key role of NOX proteins in liver disease Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have demonstrated a direct connection between two signaling proteins and liver fibrosis, a scarring process underlying chronic liver disease, the 12th leading cause of death in the United States.
	Type 1 diabetes patients have lower blood levels of four proteins that protect against immune attack Patients with type 1 diabetes have significantly lower blood levels of four proteins that help protect their tissue from attack by their immune system, scientists report.
	Targeted therapy shows effectiveness against a subtype of the brain tumor medulloblastoma A targeted therapy already used to treat advanced skin cancer is also effective against the most common subtype of the brain tumor medulloblastoma in adults and should be considered for treatment of newly diagnosed patients, according to research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
	New pig model will provide insights into early detection, new treatments of cancers With many types of cancers, early detection offers the best hope for survival. However, research into new early-detection screenings, as well as possible interventional radiology and surgical treatments, has been hindered by the lack of a large animal model that would accurately reflect the types of cancers seen in human cells.
	Then & Now: Medicare and Medicaid turn 50 When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law on July 30, 1965, roughly half of Americans 65 and older had no health insurance.
Immigrants, poor fish for their dinner, unaware of mercury It's midday and the white bucket balanced on the rocky shore at Mountha Uppasay's feet holds five or six white bass, moving sluggishly in the water she scooped from the Des Moines River.
	Human fetal tissue long used for variety of medical studies Controversy over a leading U.S. reproductive health group supplying fetal tissue for research has focused attention on a little-discussed aspect of science.
	Toss the flash cards: child expert urges intuitive parenting Parents should lose the flash cards, learning apps and other educational gadgets and strategies de jour, advises Stephen Camarata, a child development researcher and professor who thinks they need to rediscover their inner "parenting voice" instead.
	Rapid Ebola test could play key role in efforts to end lingering outbreak Research presented at the 2015 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo will expand on the studies that led to a fingerprick Ebola test becoming the first and only rapid diagnostic for this disease to receive approval from the World Health Organization (WHO). This test could prove vital to breaking Ebola's grip on West Africa by identifying suspected Ebola cases within minutes, and enabling healthcare workers to isolate and treat these patients much faster than is currently possible.
	The physician "brain drain" from sub-Saharan Africa to the US A recent PLOS One research article, "Monitoring Sub-Saharan African Physician Migration and Recruitment Post-Adoption of the WHO Code of Practice: Temporal and Geographic Patterns in the United States," examined how the migration of physicians from sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for work has led to a dire health worker shortage in the region.
How digital health care systems are changing the doctor-patient relationship Writing in the International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, researchers in Denmark explain how the new paradigm of a digital health care system, as it matures, is putting the picture of the doctor-patient relationship in an entirely new frame and not always in a positive way.
	Teaching computers to create an early warning system for kidney disease About twice every hour, all of the blood in our bodies filters through our kidneys, removing waste and excess water to produce urine. But this important kidney function is irreversibly compromised in about 20 million Americans by chronic disease, most often related to poorly controlled diabetes and high blood pressure. In many cases, modern medicine does nothing to slow kidney disease for one very simple reason—most who are affected don't know it until it's already too late.
	The impact of nutrients before and during pregnancy on the health of mothers and their babies Researchers in the United Kingdom (Southampton), Singapore and New Zealand (Auckland) from the EpiGen Global Research Consortium are to trial the use of a combination of nutrients and probiotics before and during pregnancy in a bid to improve the health of mothers and their babies.
Study to investigate nurse staffing levels and safe care A University of Southampton study will investigate how the provision of nurses in hospitals affects the care and safety of patients.
Mylan gets European clearance in proposed Perrigo takeover Mylan NV said Wednesday that it received European regulatory approval to move forward with its proposed buyout of Perrigo Co., which has resisted repeated overtures.
	New 3-D human skin models could replace animal testing to assess dermal sensitivity to medical device New research shows that exposing a 3D human skin tissue model to extracts of medical device materials can detect the presence of sensitizers known to cause an allergic response on contact in some individuals. Conventional skin sensitization testing of medical devices relies on animal testing, whereas human skin models could replace animal methods, according to an article in the new journal Applied In Vitro Toxicology.
Ebola cases fall to year low but WHO warns of trouble ahead The World Health Organization on Wednesday hailed the fewest weekly infections for over a year in the west African Ebola epidemic, but warned they were braced for a significant new outbreak in Sierra Leone.
	2015 MOC program expected to cost $5.7 billion over 10 years (HealthDay)—The 2015 version of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) maintenance-of-certification (MOC) program is expected to generate considerable costs, mainly due to physician time costs, according to research published online July 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Experts recommend tumor removal as first-line treatment for Cushing's syndrome The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on strategies for treating Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by overexposure to the hormone cortisol.
RAND analysis shows more work needed to engage consumers after enrolling in health insurance plans Enrolling in an insurance plan under the Affordable Care Act is only the first step for consumers to be actively engaged in their health care, according to a new analysis from RAND Corporation researchers.
State immunization laws should eliminate non-medical exemptions, say internists Support for eliminating existing exemptions, except for medical reasons, from immunization laws was among the policy recommendations adopted last weekend at the summer meeting of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Researchers find links between individual characteristics and disability employment gap Researchers have explored the characteristics of people with disabilities who have achieved success in the workplace. The gap was found to be smaller among women, married people, individuals with higher educational achievement, Asians, and Hispanics, and people in their 20s and 60s. These findings can inform efforts to develop policies and practices that will narrow the persistent gap in employment between people with and without disabilities. The article, "Individual characteristics and the disability employment gap" appears in a special issue of the Journal of Disability Policy Studies.
Teaching med students about health disparities builds their confidence An innovative three-month elective course has helped make some first-year medical students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine more confident about dealing with health disparities they'll likely encounter as physicians, according to a follow-up study published online today in the journal Academic Medicine.

Other Sciences news

Switching off street lights at night does not increase car crashes and crime, study finds Reduced street lighting in England and Wales is not associated with road traffic collisions or crime, according to research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
	Findings shed light on evolutionary factors behind cooperative parenting It's been said often enough to become cliché—it takes a village to raise a child. But how many of us have ever thought about why?
	Early prosocial behavior good predictor of kids' future Kindergarteners' social-emotional skills are a significant predictor of their future education, employment and criminal activity, among other outcomes, according to Penn State researchers.
'Redshirting' kids yields no advantage in higher education While many parents and educators believe holding children back from entering kindergarten offers advantages if they are older relative to their classmates, Cornell researchers Kevin Kniffin and Andrew Hanks have found that such "redshirting" has no impact on their performance in graduate school.
	Auctions are not best options for abandoned property If officials in distressed cities want their communities to recover, abandoned commercial and residential properties would be available through a managed sales program rather than auctions, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Early Mormon marriages database to shed light on polygamy, past and present University of Virginia religious studies professor Kathleen Flake is building a digital database of early polygamous marriages among Mormons to understand the nature of these marriages, their internal logic and the resistance to conventional 19th-century norms. Though a historical study, it raises many of the same issues as today's debate over the definition of marriage.
	People walk slower, swerve when texting while distracted Texting while walking and being cognitively distracted may significantly affect the way a person walks, resulting in a more cautious gait, according to a study published July 29, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE led by Dr. Conrad Earnest of Texas A&M University and colleagues from the University of Bath, UK.
Science educators analyze genetics content of Next Generation Science Standards The genetics content of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) - a recent set of performance-based expectations for elementary, middle, and high school students in science classes - represents, on average, a modest improvement over state standards, but is missing core genetics concepts and is difficult to interpret, according to research published today in PLOS ONE by science education specialists at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG).
Using math to make Guinness If you ever read public health research, you've probably encountered the term "Student's t-test," or just "t-test." The experimenters will do this magical test, and suddenly conclude that everything is awesome. But even when you're familiar with the t-test and what it does, very little thought goes into where this came from, or who came up with it. Well, today I'm going to tell you the origins of this staple of public health research.
	Can the emerging middle class make Coca-Cola lose its fizz? The emergence of a "new middle class" is an important economic phenomenon in many emerging markets, with prominent examples being Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Turkey. In this process, a substantial mass of low-income households experience upward socio-economic mobility reflected in higher incomes. As a result, they begin to consume goods and services that they could not previously afford. Demand by these "new consumers" may potentially provide an engine of growth for the global economy.
New research shows two-thirds of over-50s don't understand their pension The ESRI and Trinity College Dublin have released a new study examining how well-informed people are about their future pension benefits. The results of the study by Alan Barrett, ESRI, Irene Mosca, Trinity College Dublin and Brendan Whelan, ESRI, are striking. Two-thirds of people who are aged over 50 and who are members of pension schemes were unable to provide basic information on their future pension benefits.
Report finds oldest voters 10-20 times more likely to vote for mayor than youngest ones Voters ages 65 and older are 10-20 times more likely to cast ballots in mayoral elections than 18-to-34-year-olds, according to a new Portland State University (PSU) study of four U.S. cities.
Start-ups lose faith in London after just 12 months Start-up firms fall out of love with London after just 12 months, according to research from Sussex Innovation Croydon, the business incubation network wholly owned by the University of Sussex.

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