Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jun 29

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 12:30 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jun 29
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Now Available: COMSOL Multiphysics and COMSOL Server version 5.2a >> http://goo.gl/jLKyQc
Check out the release highlights video to see what's new.

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 29, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Astronomers discover three 'Qatar' exoplanets

Testing for malaria—or cancer—at home, via cheap paper strips

Virus particles in a doughnut-shaped chamber form fixed patterns

Baby fish lose poisonous protectors in acidified oceans

Humans artificially drive evolution of new species

Our ancestors evolved faster after dinosaur extinction

Night-time light pollution causes spring to come early

Making a meal of it: Praying mantis cannibalism explained

Penguin population could drop 60 percent by end of the century

Crucial peatlands carbon-sink vulnerable to rising sea levels

Motivation to bully is regulated by brain reward circuits

UK wildlife calendar reshuffled by climate change

New material can switch stiction and wetting

Human early visual cortex subconsciously resolves invisible conflicts

Mummified ancient bird offers clues about flight during mid-cretaceous

Nanotechnology news

	New material can switch stiction and wetting TU Wien (Vienna), KU Leuven and the University of Zürich have discovered a robust surface whose adhesive and wetting properties can be switched using electricity. This remarkable result is featured on the cover of Nature magazine.
	Graphene used as a frequency mixer in new research A professor, a postdoctoral researcher and a graduate student hop onto a trampoline.
	Synthesized microporous 3D graphene-like carbons Zeolites' nanoporous systems are an ideal template for the synthesis of three-dimensional (3D) graphene architecture, but the high temperatures required for their synthesis cause the reactions to occur non-selectively. The team from the IBS Center for Nanomaterials and Carbon Materials lowered the temperature required for the carbonization by embedding lanthanum ions (La3+), a silvery-white metal element, in zeolite pores.
	How cancer cells spread and squeeze through tiny blood vessels The spread of cancer from a tumor's original location to other parts of the body can play a major role in whether the disease turns deadly. Many steps in this process, called metastasis, remain murky. But now scientists are gaining new insights into how cancer cells might squeeze through and even divide within narrow blood vessels while travelling in the body. They report their study using microtubular nanomembranes in the journal ACS Nano.

Physics news

	Virus particles in a doughnut-shaped chamber form fixed patterns Large biomolecules in a small space spontaneously form symmetrical patterns. Researchers from FOM institute AMOLF discovered this together with colleagues from Oxford and Jülich when they confined rod-shaped virus particles in doughnut-shaped micro-chambers. What started as a chance discovery has opened up a whole new area in the physics of ultrasmall liquid crystal cells with potential applications in new displays. The results of the research will be published on June 29 2016, in Nature Communications.
	Researchers develop key power-splitting component for terahertz waves One of the most basic components of any communications network is a power splitter that allows a signal to be sent to multiple users and devices. Researchers from Brown University have now developed just such a device for terahertz radiation—a range of frequencies that may one day enable data transfer up to 100 times faster than current cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
	Scientists suggest a PC to solve complex problems tens of times faster than with massive supercomputers A group of physicists from the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Lomonosov Moscow State University, has used a personal computer for calculations of complex quantum mechanics equations usually solved using supercomputers. The results have been published in the journal Computer Physics Communications.
Advanced signal processing and magnetic layer stacking promises to increase hard drive capacity and reliability The next generation of magnetic hard drives could be based on a new combination of technologies developed by A*STAR researchers aimed at increasing performance by stacking hard disk data and tracking bits in separate layers.
	Nanofluidics research could contribute to oil spill cleanup strategies The spreading of mixable liquids into 'droplet hats' was observed for the first time, which could lead to insight into improving strategies for cleaning animals affected by oil spills.
	Global helium supplies balloon World supplies of helium, the gas that makes your voice squeaky, may be on the ascent.

Earth news

	Crucial peatlands carbon-sink vulnerable to rising sea levels Crucial peatlands carbon-sink vulnerable to rising sea levels, research shows
	Geologists make their own lava to prep for explosive experiments How do you make your own lava?
	Country pledges overshoot Paris temperature limit Pledges made for the Paris agreement on climate change last winter would lead to global temperature rise of 2.6 to 3.1°C by the end of the century, according to a new analysis published in the journal Nature. In fact, the entire carbon budget for limiting warming to below 2°C might have been emitted by 2030, according to the study.
	First detailed recordings of earthquakes on ultraslow mid-ocean ridges The earthquake distribution on ultraslow mid-ocean ridges differs fundamentally from other spreading zones. Water circulating at a depth of up to 15 kilometres leads to the formation of rock that resembles soft soap. This is how the continental plates on ultraslow mid-ocean ridges may move without jerking, while the same process in other regions leads to many minor earthquakes, according to geophysicists of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Their study is going to be published advanced online in the journal Nature on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
	Using highly sensitive isotope analysis, team obtained detailed measurements of carbon exchange in temperate forest For the first time, scientists have been successful in measuring the processes by which an entire forest "breathes," using sophisticated technology involving flux towers and new instrumentation that can precisely measure two different types (isotopes) of carbon dioxide in the air. A team led by Richard Wehr and Scott Saleska at the University of Arizona obtained detailed long-term measurements of the respiration and photosynthesis rates of a temperate deciduous forest during the day and the night.
	Climate study finds human fingerprint in Northern Hemisphere greening A multinational team led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory Climate Change Science Institute has found the first positive correlation between human activity and enhanced vegetation growth.
	El Nino could drive intense season for Amazon fires The long-lasting effects of El Niño are projected to cause an intense fire season in the Amazon, according to the 2016 seasonal fire forecast from scientists at NASA and the University of California, Irvine.
	Does a planet need plate tectonics to develop life? Plate tectonics may be a phase in the evolution of planets that has implications for the habitability of exoplanets, according to new research published this month in the journal Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors.
	Grapevines of Southern Spain will suffer more from the impact of climate change UPM researchers are studying the effects of climate change on Spanish vineyards and they suggest adopting adaptation choices of crops in order to make premium wines more globally competitive.
	Changes in Antarctic sea ice production due to surrounding ice conditions The high sea ice production of Antarctic coastal polynyas is attributable to the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), which is a driving force for global ocean circulation. Sea ice production varies year to year as well as seasonally; however, there are various explanations for the factors that increase or decrease this production, such as wind, temperature, and surrounding ice conditions, which have not been understood till date.
New cameras keep electronic eye on Western wildfires As the summer wildfire season heats up in the West, a growing network of online cameras installed on forested mountaintops is changing the way crews fight fires by allowing early detection that triggers quicker, cheaper and more tactical suppression.
	Protein in, ammonia out: Cattle diet impacts ammonia emissions Ammonia gas packs quite the smelly punch. In small doses, it's what makes smelling salts so effective. But high levels of ammonia can be a health hazard and a pollutant.
	As sea level rises, Hudson River wetlands may expand In the face of climate change impact and inevitable sea level rise, Cornell and Scenic Hudson scientists studying New York's Hudson River estuary have forecast new intertidal wetlands, comprising perhaps 33 percent more wetland area by the year 2100.
	NASA sees heavy rain in Arabian Sea tropical cyclone Tropical Cyclone 02A in the Arabian Sea east of Oman has been weakening and has become a tropical depression. The Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM mission core satellite analyzed the rainfall in the system.

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover three 'Qatar' exoplanets (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has discovered three new exoplanets using a Qatar-based planet-searching survey. The newly discovered gas giant exoworlds belong to the so-called "hot Jupiter" family of planets and were designated Qatar-3b, Qatar-4b and Qatar-5b. The findings were presented in a paper published June 23 on arXiv.org.
	Universe becoming cleaner as cosmic dust gets mopped up by stars, astronomers reveal An international team of astronomers today (29 June) released a gazetteer of the hidden universe, which reveals the unseen sources of energy found over the last 12 billion years of cosmic history. Professor Haley Gomez of Cardiff University presented this catalogue of the Universe's hidden energy sources, made with the ESA Herschel Space Observatory, at the National Astronomy Meeting in Nottingham.
	Juno peers inside a giant NASA's Juno spacecraft will make its long anticipated arrival at Jupiter on July 4. Coming face-to-face with the gas giant, Juno will begin to unravel some of the greatest mysteries surrounding our solar system's largest planet, including the origin of its massive magnetosphere.
	Recent hydrothermal activity may explain Ceres' brightest area The brightest area on Ceres, located in the mysterious Occator Crater, has the highest concentration of carbonate minerals ever seen outside Earth, according to a new study from scientists on NASA's Dawn mission. The study, published online in the journal Nature, is one of two new papers about the makeup of Ceres.
	Automated method for 3D tracking of coronal mass ejections Scientists at Aberystwyth University have developed an automated method for three-dimensional tracking of massive eruptions from the sun, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The Automated CME Triangulation (ACT) system uses data from three space-based observatories that orbit the sun at different locations, allowing scientists to view the sun and CMEs from different angles. ACT's ability to track whether a CME is heading towards Earth, and when it is likely to reach us, should lead to significant improvements in space weather forecasting. ACT will be presented at the National Astronomy Meeting 2016 in Nottingham by Joe Hutton on Wednesday 29th June.
	OSIRIS-REx gears up for 3-D mapping on the fly Scheduled for launch on Sept. 8, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission will travel to an asteroid, study it and return a sample to Earth for analysis. All of these goals depend on accurate mapping of the target, Bennu, so the team is gearing up for the challenges of cartography of an asteroid.
Meteorites from fireball seen over Arizona found Arizona State University says researchers have found pieces of a small asteroid that left a fiery trail in the sky over eastern Arizona earlier this month.
Researchers create new method for identifying black holes Rochester Institute of Technology professors have developed a faster, more accurate way to assess gravitational wave signals and infer the astronomical sources that made them.

Technology news

	Robot mimics vertebrate motion Based on X-ray videos, EPFL scientists have invented a new robot that mimics the way salamanders walk and swim with unprecedented detail: a tool for understanding the evolution of vertebrate locomotion.
	Can Sidewalk Labs kick parking, congestion headaches to the curb? (Tech Xplore)—The grass is always greener in some other yard. Especially when the envious one is in the big city, caught between traffic jams, late bus arrivals, unhealthy smog, and high-rise office life, mutant sardines caged up in the clouds.
	Toyota announces recalls for defective air bags, canisters Toyota announced Wednesday it is recalling 1.43 million vehicles for defective air bags and another 2.87 million vehicles for faulty fuel emissions controls.
	Pinterest ramps up e-commerce features Online bulletin board Pinterest on Tuesday unveiled new features to facilitate shopping on the site, as the platform pushes to become an e-commerce hub.
	California land officials sign off on closing nuclear plant California land officials dropped their longstanding environmental objections to the state's last nuclear power plant and signed off Tuesday on a deal to close the Central Coast facility many years earlier than its operators had previously sought.
	Media firms lose control of news as tech platforms rise When allegations emerged that Facebook was skewing its trending news stories, many learned about it... on Facebook.
	Augmented reality enables helicopter flight in degraded visual environments Fog, blizzards, gusts of wind - poor weather can often make the operation of rescue helicopters a highly risky business, and sometimes even impossible. A new helmet-mounted display, developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), may in the future be able to help pilots detect hazards at an early stage, even when their visibility is severely impaired: the information required to do this is created in an on-board computer and imported into digital eye glasses. A new study has shown that this augmented reality improves the performance of pilots.
Airbnb to be valued at $30 bn after additional investment: report Airbnb is in talks to secure a new round of investment that would value the company at around $30 billion, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
	Uber software tracks drivers for high speed, sudden stops Using smartphone sensors to peek over its drivers' shoulders, Uber is promising to keep a closer eye on their behavior—while discouraging speeding or slamming on the brakes.
	New method for monitoring internet traffic to detect cyber attacks The brute force and sheer scale of current Internet attacks put a heavy strain on classic methods of intrusion detection. Moreover, these methods aren't prepared for the rapidly growing number of connected devices: scalability is a major issue. PhD researcher Rick Hofstede, of the University of Twente's CTIT institute, proposes another way of monitoring internet traffic, thus tracing those attacks that actually have an effect and not all the others. The open source software he developed, is already being tested and used by several organizations in the world. Hofstede defends his PhD thesis on June 29.
	Early days of internet offer lessons for boosting 3D printing Even in its relative infancy, 3D printing has created an enormous list of possibilities: dental aligners to straighten your teeth, unique toys for your children, inexpensive custom prosthetics for people with limb deficiencies, and restoring lost or destroyed cultural artifacts. It can also be used to create untraceable firearms and an endless supply of copyright infringements.
	New materials and processes to make the manufacturing and use of solar cells more efficient For decades, solar technology and applications have been dependent on dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). To mimic nature's absorption of light during photosynthesis, DSSCs use a photoactive dye that absorbs photons and uses their energy to excite electrons, which are then transferred into a nanocrystalline titanium dioxide layer. Although this process works well, the high-temperature processing required for titanium is not compatible with low-cost fabrication methods – an impediment to the mass market production of solar panels and thus a roadblock to increased use of solar energy.
	From dating profiles to Brexit—how to spot an online lie There are three things you can be sure of in life: death, taxes – and lying. The latter certainly appears to have been borne out by the UK's recent Brexit referendum, with a number of the Leave campaign's pledges looking more like porkie pies than solid truths.
	Microsoft readies Windows 10 update, answers critics Microsoft has a birthday present for Windows 10 users: more capabilities for its Cortana digital assistant and new ways to ditch passwords.
	After Fire flop, Amazon unveils phones with its apps, ads (Update) Amazon is back in the phone business—sort of.
	Rice University lab runs crowd-sourced competition to create 'big data' diagnostic tools Big data has a bright future in personalized medicine, as demonstrated by an international competition centered at Rice University that suggested ways forward for treatment of patients with leukemia.
	Facebook to put friends and family first, not media Facebook said Wednesday it would give friends and family more prominence on user feeds, a move that may hurt media outlets that rely on the social network to draw readers.
	Media use in America up a full hour over just last year The typical American adult is using media for a full hour a day more than just last year, with smartphones accounting for most of the increase.
Teen makes 3-D printed hand for brother with teacher's help A 6-year-old boy born without a left hand now has one, thanks to his older brother and a high school teacher who used a 3-D printer to create the prosthetic limb.
	Facebook's latest news feed tweak: This time, it's personal Facebook has once again tweaked the formula it uses to decide what people will see in their news feed—and this time, it's personal.
	China replaces top internet regulator and censor with deputy China has replaced its internet regulator, Lu Wei, the hard-liner responsible for leading the government's efforts to tighten control over domestic cyberspace and export the ruling Communist Party's philosophy of web control.
	Electric vehicle charging infrastructure business models compared The Tecnalia and UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country researchers Carlos Madina, Inmaculada Zamora and Eduardo Zabala have published a paper titled "Methodology for assessing electric vehicle charging infrastructure business models" in the journal Energy Policy. The study explores the advantages of charging at home, en route and in shopping car parks.
	Prototype for narrowband Internet-of-Things system Researchers at the department of Communications and Networking, School of Electrical Engineering, have implemented successfully a prototype for Narrowband Internet-of-Things system. This is a narrowband version of LTE (Long Term Evolution) system targeting machine-type communications applications with low data rate that requires low module cost, long battery life time and increased coverage.
	Why resist? Get Windows 10 while it's still free What are you waiting for? There are few reasons left to resist Microsoft's Windows 10 update, especially while it's still free.

Chemistry news

	Testing for malaria—or cancer—at home, via cheap paper strips What if testing yourself for cancer or other diseases were as easy as testing your blood sugar or taking a home pregnancy test? In a few years, it might be.
	Scientists study compounds with anti-prion properties to address rare but fatal diseases A team of scientists from the University of Alberta is examining compounds with anti-prion properties, which can alter the misfolding of proteins in rare but universally fatal prion diseases like Mad Cow and Creutzfeld-Jakob. Their results have just been published in Nature Communications.
	Portable test rapidly detects Zika in saliva for $2 Anxiety over the Zika virus is growing as the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro approach. To better diagnose and track the disease, scientists are now reporting in ACS' journal Analytical Chemistry a new $2 test that in the lab can accurately detect low levels of the virus in saliva.
Computer model fills fundamental knowledge gaps of a high performance solar material Laboratory-scale solar cells based on inexpensive, crystalline materials called perovskites have emerged as serious contenders to silicon in terms of their efficiency at capturing energy from sunlight. Unfortunately, the neglect of fundamental research into perovskites in favor of close focus on its solar applications has left holes in basic knowledge about the material itself. A*STAR researchers are helping to fill some of these gaps—and by doing so could propel perovskite solar cell performance to the next level.
	Polymeric materials that stretch out when electrically stimulated can benefit from realistic numerical simulations Robotic devices are usually composed of hard components such as aluminum and steel, in contrast to the soft tissues that power biological organisms. A study conducted by A*STAR researchers now makes it easier to turn squishy, electroactive polymers into artificial muscles and biomimetic energy harvesters through computer-aided design.
Charging ahead with magnesium batteries A battery for laptops and smart phones that is long-lasting, safe and affordable is a step closer thanks to work by A*STAR researchers.
Fibrous mussel 'beards' secrete sticky protein primers to cling to wet surfaces The Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) anchors itself underwater by timed secretion of adhesive proteins from threadlike foot extensions, a team of researchers in Singapore finds.

Biology news

	Baby fish lose poisonous protectors in acidified oceans A common close partnership which sees baby fish sheltering from predators among the poisonous tentacles of jellyfish will be harmed under predicted ocean acidification, a new University of Adelaide study has found.
	Humans artificially drive evolution of new species Species across the world are rapidly going extinct due to human activities, but humans are also causing rapid evolution and the emergence of new species. A new study published today summarises the causes of manmade speciation, and discusses why newly evolved species cannot simply replace extinct wild species. The study was led by the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.
	Night-time light pollution causes spring to come early Human use of artificial light is causing Spring to come at least a week early in the UK, researchers at the University of Exeter in Cornwall have found.
	Making a meal of it: Praying mantis cannibalism explained When a female praying mantis bites the head off her sexual partner, it is probably not out of anger.
	Penguin population could drop 60 percent by end of the century Climate has influenced the distribution patterns of Adélie penguins across Antarctica for millions of years.
	UK wildlife calendar reshuffled by climate change Climate change is already reshuffling the UK's wildlife calendar, and it's likely this will continue into the future, according to new research published this week in the journal Nature.
	Acidic waters dull snails' ability to escape from predatory sea stars Ocean acidification makes it harder for sea snails to escape from their sea star predators, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
	Sexual arms race drives range expansion in beetle species A battle between the sexes may be behind a dramatic shift in diving beetle populations over the past three decades, a new study shows.
	It's not just a grunt—pigs really do have something to say The grunts made by pigs vary depending on the pig's personality and can convey important information about the welfare of this highly social species, new research has found.
	Mountaineering ants use body heat to warm nests For their colonies to survive at high altitudes, army ants keep their underground nests as much as 13 degrees F warmer than surface temperatures, according to a new study by Drexel University scientists.
	Collisions during DNA replication and transcription contribute to mutagenesis When a cell makes copies of DNA and translates its genetic code into proteins at the same time, the molecular machinery that carries on replication and the one that transcribes the DNA to the mRNA code move along the same DNA double strand as their respective processes take place. Sometimes replication and transcription proceed on the same direction, but sometimes the processes are in a collision course. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Wisconsin have determined that these collisions can significantly contribute to mutagenesis. Their results appear today in Nature.
	Campgrounds alter jay behavior Anyone who's gone camping has seen birds foraging for picnic crumbs, and according to new research in The Condor: Ornithological Applications, the availability of food in campgrounds significantly alters jays' behavior and may even change how they interact with other bird species.
	Even with 'mixed fibers' chromatin does not change its 3-D structure "Interphase" refers to the period in the cell cycle in which chromosomes spend most of their time. During this phase, in between mitoses, chromosomes live "dissolved'' in the nucleus where they carry out the processes required for the duplication of genetic material. Our current knowledge regarding the behaviour of chromosomes during interphase is unfortunately quite limited; for example, we would need to know more about the three-dimensional structure of the chromatin filament - the long molecule that makes up the chromosomes and that consists of DNA and other proteins - and how it changes in time and space. The shape of the chromosome is in fact important for its function as it allows or prevents access to portions of genetic code for the duplication processes.
	Northern bird found to be more resilient to winter weather One of the UK's most widespread songbirds, the Wren, varies in its resilience to winter weather, depending on where it lives in Britain, according to new UEA research.
Mutation threatening high-quality brewing yeast identified Biologists at Hiroshima University, located in the historic sake brewing town of Saijo, have identified the genetic mutation that could ruin the brew of one particular type of yeast responsible for high-quality sake. The research was part of an academic-government-industry collaboration involving the National Institute of Brewing (Japan), the Asahi Sake Brewing Company (Niigata), the Brewing Society of Japan, The University of Tokyo, The University of Pennsylvania, and Iwate University.
	The promise of more productive pasture grasses The grass might be greener on the other side, but otherwise people don't pay much attention to how it grows. And yet some two thirds of Switzerland's agricultural land comprises meadows and pastures. So at least in economic terms, grass growth is a factor that we have to bear in mind, and that should be optimised where possible.
	Drones diagnose plant health and decrease insecticide use Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are playing the role of medical doctor and are now able to diagnose the stress levels of plants, which could lead to less insecticide use.
	Research combats Russian wheat aphids in Australia Researchers at Murdoch University could hold the key to stopping the exotic pest which is threatening Australia's $8 billion cereal crop industry.
	'Starballing' starfish may hold clue to mystery of mass strandings Scientists believe they may have discovered the reason why common starfish are prone to mass beach strandings during strong wind and tide conditions.
	Expanding outreach to support bees and other pollinators A lot of people want to know what they can do to help bees – and a new initiative at NC State University is aimed at helping to meet that demand.
Conserved microRNAs may regulate limb regeneration in evolutionarily distant species Several conserved microRNAs, or short, highly conserved noncoding RNAs that are targeted to and inhibit expression of specific genes, may be involved in the regulation of limb regeneration across evolutionarily distant species, according to a study published June 29, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Benjamin King and Viravuth Yin from Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and the University of Maine.
	EU offers temporary approval of weedkiller glyphosate (Update) The European Commission on Wednesday extended approval of the weedkiller glyphosate in Europe for up to 18 months amid disagreements over whether the chemical could cause cancer.
	Jasmonate-deficient tobacco plants attract herbivorous mammals Coyote tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) produces a potent neurotoxic substance: nicotine. The production of nicotine is regulated by plant hormones called jasmonates. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, the University of Bern, Switzerland, and Washington State University have now demonstrated the importance of jasmonate-dependent nicotine production for the survival of tobacco plants which are attacked by mammalian herbivores. Through experiments with genetically modified plants that are impaired in their ability to produce jasmonates, the researchers showed that jasmonate-deficiency strongly increases attacks by both insects and vertebrates. Interestingly, insect attack did not significantly affect flower production and attacked plants were still able to produce seeds, whereas attack by herbivorous mammals had a strong negative impact on the plants' reproductive ability. The scientists found that nicotine plays a crucial role in this context. Especially rabbits liked to peel the stems of nicotine-deficient plants, which strongly reduced flower production. However, when nicotine accumulates in the outer layers of the stem epidermis, it provides extremely effective protection against this type of damage. The study published in the journal eLife illustrates the importance of jasmonate-dependent defenses to provide protection against mammalian herbivores in nature.
	New species of spider discovered 'next door' at the the borders of cereal fields in Spain The image that comes to mind when we think of new species being discovered is that of scientists sampling in remote tropical forests, where humans have barely set foot in. However, new species waiting to be discovered can in fact be very close to us, even if we live in a strongly humanized continent like Europe.
	A hair's breadth away: New tarantula species and genus honors Gabriel Garcia Marquez With its extraordinary defensive hairs, a Colombian tarantula proved itself as not only a new species, but also a new genus. It is hypothesised that the new spider is the first in its subfamily to use its stinging hairs in direct attack instead of 'kicking' them into the enemy.
	Research reveals widespread herbicide use on North American wildlands University of Montana researchers are giving the public its first look at the widespread use of herbicides on federal and tribal land in North America, and they urge land managers to better document it.
	Researchers design new camera tag for white sharks Scientists know that white sharks are important ocean predators, but many aspects of their lives are still a mystery. For example, each winter, large white sharks leave the California coast and swim halfway to Hawaii, congregating in an area known as the "White Shark Café." The males then repeatedly dive hundreds of feet below the surface. Researchers speculate that the sharks might be chasing prey or mating.
	Behavioral research could help shelter dogs find homes All it takes is a little footage of sad-eyed puppies set to a Sarah McLachlan soundtrack to cue the waterworks and get many people pulling out the credit card to donate for shelter dogs. But what actually goes on at the humane organizations, animal control facilities and rescue groups across the country that do the work of caring for homeless dogs and matching them with new families?
	Machine learning method differentiates between healthy male, female microbiomes The week-long International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) ended June 24, and the last day included the 2016 ICML Workshop on Computational Biology. UC San Diego professors Larry Smarr (computer science) and Rob Knight (pediatrics, computer science) as well as Qualcomm Institute data scientist Mehrdad Yazdani were represented in a poster presentation and paper on "Using Topological Data Analysis to find discrimination between microbial states in human microbiome data." Borrowing a statistical method originally from topology, the co-authors applied Topological Data Analysis (TDA) as an "unsupervised learning and data exploration tool to identify changes in microbial states."
Do English bulldogs and other short-snouted dogs need special care in the summer heat? English bulldogs are brachycephalic dogs, which means that they have been bred over the past 200 years or so to have a very short nose. Other brachycephalic dogs include pugs, French bulldogs, boxers, Boston terriers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Shih Tzus, Lhasa apsos and their crossbreeds.

Medicine & Health news

	Motivation to bully is regulated by brain reward circuits Individual differences in the motivation to engage in or to avoid aggressive social interaction (bullying) are mediated by the basal forebrain, lateral habenula circuit in the brain, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published June 30 in the journal Nature.
	Human early visual cortex subconsciously resolves invisible conflicts Our visual system is constantly bombarded with complex optical information. The input information is often insufficient or ambiguous, leading to potentially conflicting interpretations about the structure of the physical world. The human brain applies impressive computational powers to resolve these ambiguities and generate a coherent perception almost instantly. Scientists are interested in how the human brain achieves this goal and what it might reveal about general brain function.
Viral protein silences immune alarm signals Viruses must avoid a host's immune system to establish successful infections—and scientists have discovered another tool that viruses use to frustrate host defenses. Researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrate a novel mechanism by which viruses shut down alarm signals that trigger immune responses. This finding may open the door to future tools for controlling unwanted inflammation in severe infections, cancers and other settings.
	Patients with multiple sclerosis found to have gut microbe changes (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School has discovered that people with multiple sclerosis appear to have differences in their gut biome than the rest of the population. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers describe testing they undertook of patients that had MS and of others in a control group, and the differences they found in levels of gut microbes between the two.
	Ovarian cancer study provides painstaking look at inner workings of tumors In what is believed to be the largest study of its kind, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University and their collaborators from institutions across the nation have examined the collections of proteins in the tumors of 169 ovarian cancer patients to identify critical proteins present in their tumors.
	Little to no association between butter consumption and chronic disease or total mortality Butter consumption was only weakly associated with total mortality, not associated with cardiovascular disease, and slightly inversely associated (protective) with diabetes, according to a new epidemiological study which analyzed the association of butter consumption with chronic disease and all-cause mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis, published in PLOS ONE, was led by Tufts scientists including Laura Pimpin, Ph.D., former postdoctoral fellow at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts in Boston, and senior author Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H., dean of the School.
	Cannabinoids remove plaque-forming Alzheimer's proteins from brain cells Salk Institute scientists have found preliminary evidence that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other compounds found in marijuana can promote the cellular removal of amyloid beta, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.
	Allergy-causing 'bad guy' cells unexpectedly prove life-saving in C. difficile Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have identified immune cells vital for protecting us from potentially fatal C. difficile infection. Surprisingly, those cells are often vilified for their role in causing asthma and allergies. But when it comes to C. difficile, they could be the difference in life and death.
	Immune system link to kidney disease risk, research finds A gene which forms part of our body's first line of defence against infection may be associated with an increased risk with a type of kidney disease, research involving academics at The University of Nottingham has discovered.
	New technique sorts 'drivers' from 'passengers' in cancer genomic studies, pinpoints GON4L as new driver Tumor DNA is cluttered with genomic alterations, the vast majority of which have little or no functional or clinical relevance. This means that even when cancer researchers discover an alteration in a tumor or a line of cancer cells, the alteration may or may not be relevant to the progression of the disease - chances are good (and history has shown) that many alterations that are correlated with cancer are not causative of cancer; many alterations are "passengers" rather than "drivers". A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal Cancer Research demonstrates a novel method for sorting passenger from driver alterations, and uses this method to pinpoint a new driver and potential therapeutic target in cancer progression, GON4L.
Testosterone therapy improves sexual interest, function in older men Older men with low libido and low testosterone levels showed more interest in sex and engaged in more sexual activity when they underwent testosterone therapy, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Persistent HPV infection raises risk of anal and genital cancers Women with a history of severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, a precancerous condition of the cervix that arises from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), had a long-term increased risk of developing anal, vulvar, and vaginal cancer.
Daily 'soak and smear' or steer clear? How often should you bathe your child with eczema? If you have a child with newly-diagnosed eczema, you may be wondering how often you should bathe him. You are not alone. For more than 100 years, doctors have been asked about the risks and benefits of frequent bathing for those with atopic dermatitis (eczema). And parents haven't gotten consistent responses.
Aerobic exercise and CVD in women with fatty liver disease In an article publishing online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), Rosamar E.F. Rezende, MD, PhD, and colleagues in São Paulo present results of their study testing the efficacy of aerobic exercise in postmenopausal women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is considered a cardiovascular disease risk factor, independent of other risk factors, and is associated with insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical manifestations include steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Pilot study tests possible diagnostic tools for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis New animal research has shown that measuring copper concentrations and isotope ratios in blood and other tissue may allow early diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At present, there is no test for this disease, meaning that the illness needs to develop before care can begin. The work is being presented at the Goldschmidt conference in Yokohama, Japan.
	Your blood can reveal your risk for heart disease When you visit your general practitioner you can get your blood analyzed for cholesterol and triglycerides, to get an idea of your risk for cardiovascular disease. With additional information about BMI, smoking habits and blood pressure, this can be used to calculate your 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease. There are several risk prediction calculators available today.
New study shows a generational shift toward lighter drinking in Australia Alcohol consumption in Australia has declined steadily during the past decade, with per capita consumption in 2013-14 reaching its lowest level since the early 1960s. A new study published today by the scientific journal Addiction shows that the overall decline in drinking is due mainly to less drinking among people in their teens and early twenties.
European Medicines Agency talks to doctors and industry about revising trial design The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has discussed its concept paper for evaluating trial results on treatments for acute coronary syndromes with doctors and drug companies. The conclusions are published today in European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care.
	Not kidding: childless couples happier (HealthDay)—Parents in the United States are not quite as happy as their childless peers, a new report reveals.
	Basketball legend Pat Summitt's death points to ravages of early Alzheimer's (HealthDay)—Legendary coach Pat Summitt stared down myriad challenges as she thrust women's college basketball onto the world stage. But her greatest foe wasn't on the court—it was Alzheimer's disease.
Success in mice shows zika vaccine 'feasible' (HealthDay)—Studies involving mice support the effectiveness of two vaccine candidates against the Zika virus, scientists say.
	Zika infection may give future immunity, monkey study suggests (HealthDay)—Infection with the Zika virus may protect against future infection, but pregnancy seems to extend how long the mosquito-borne virus stays in the body, a new study in monkeys suggests.
	Doctors swamped by 'e-medicine' demands (HealthDay)—Doctors say they're drowning in electronic paperwork, feeling burned out and dissatisfied with their jobs thanks to countless hours spent filling out computerized medical forms, researchers report.
	The older the drinking age, the lower the illness rates? (HealthDay)—States typically raised the minimum drinking age to lower drunk driving rates, but a new study suggests the move could have other health benefits.
	Walking: the cheap, easy workout (HealthDay)—Walking is a simple and inexpensive exercise that has been shown to offer numerous benefits for bones, muscles and joints.
	Ultrasound findings can predict pancreas transplant failure (HealthDay)—For pancreas transplant recipients, absent or reversed arterial Doppler flow is associated with subsequent transplant failure, according to a study published in the July issue of Radiology.
	Gastric bypass cuts hormonal responses to hypoglycemia (HealthDay)—Gastric bypass (GBP) surgery is associated with reduced symptoms and neurohormonal responses to hypoglycemia, according to a study published online June 16 in Diabetes.
	Clopidogrel plus aspirin good for noncarriers of CYP2C19 variants (HealthDay)—For patients with minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, the risk of new stroke is reduced with use of clopidogrel plus aspirin versus aspirin alone among those who are not carriers of the CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles, according to a study published online June 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The research was published to coincide with the Second Annual Scientific Session of the Chinese Stroke Association and the Tiantan International Stroke Conference, held from June 24 to 26 in Beijing.
	Few young males receive HIV testing at physician office visits (HealthDay)—Few young males receive HIV testing during visits to physicians' offices, although the rates are higher for black and Hispanic males than for white males, according to a report published in the June 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Guidance updated for sedation of pediatric patients (HealthDay)—Guidelines have been updated for monitoring and management of pediatric patients before, during, and after sedation, according to a clinical report published online June 27 in Pediatrics.
	AAP: doctors should screen teens for suicide risk factors (HealthDay)—Suicide is the second leading cause of death among U.S. teens, and health care providers should screen teen patients for suicide risks, according to a report published online June 27 in Pediatrics.
	USPSTF: evidence lacking for pelvic screening examinations (HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to weigh the balance of benefits and harms for screening pelvic examinations in asymptomatic, nonpregnant adult women. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement, published online June 28 by the USPSTF.
	Rate of decline of cardiovascular deaths slows in US In a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Stephen Sidney, M.D., M.P.H., of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, and colleagues examined recent national trends in death rates due to all cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart disease (HD), stroke, and cancer, and also evaluated the gap between mortality rates from HD and cancer.
Pubic hair grooming common among some US women Women in the United States increasingly groom their pubic hair, especially those who are younger, white and have partners who prefer it, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.
	Partners of patients with melanoma find new cancers with skin exam training Skin-check partners of patients with melanoma effectively performed skin self-examinations and identified new melanomas as part of an effort to increase early detection of the skin cancer that can be fatal, according to the results of a clinical trial published online by JAMA Dermatology.
	Religious service attendance associated with lower suicide risk among women Women who attended religious services had a lower risk of suicide compared with women who never attended services, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
	Parsley and dill help fight cancer, research shows A collaborative of Russian scientists has proposed an efficient approach to novel agents with anticancer activity. A synthesis of these compounds is based on extracts from parsley and dill seeds. The results of the study have been published in the Journal of Natural Products.
Binge-eating disorder patients respond well to major forms of treatment A new systematic review by the RTI International-University of North Carolina (UNC) Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC),  published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, identified several effective options for treating patients with binge-eating disorder.
	Unlocking the secrets of nerve regeneration Scientists at Hokkaido University, Japan, found that a glutamate receptor GluD2 was responsible for the regeneration of synapses in the cerebellum.
	Nature and nurture shape infant eating habits, education professor finds Parents have a dual influence on how their infant children eat, passing on their genetic makeup to their children as well as serving as role models of eating behavior in early childhood, according to studies conducted by a University at Buffalo education professor.
	New prostate cancer treatment to be evaluated Men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States now have another treatment option: high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). However, the jury is out in terms of the effectiveness of the treatment, according to Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.
Researchers identify treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy New research into the treatment of epilepsy, led by scientists at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), has identified a new approach to drug therapy to prevent seizures in patients who have a drug-resistant form of epilepsy. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, has identified a way to target an underlying cause of epilepsy, rather than masking the symptoms, with the potential to prevent seizures returning to previous levels even when the patient stops taking the medication. This is the first time such a disease-modifying effect has been found in epilepsy research.
	Solar-powered oxygen delivery system saves lives in Uganda A new twist on the use of renewable energy is saving children's lives in Africa. The innovation—a-solar powered oxygen delivery system—is providing concentrated oxygen in hospital for children suffering from severe pneumonia.
	Make no mistake, revenge is (bitter)sweet, study confirms Deep, dark and sometimes overwhelming, the human compulsion to seek revenge is a complex emotion that science has found incredibly hard to explain.
Lack of stimulation in the workplace, dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effects A new study by a Florida State University researcher shows that both a lack of stimulation in the workplace and a dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effect on employees.
	Receptor suppresses the immune response in order to save it When viruses enter the body, they activate receptors on the surface of cells that allow viruses to invade those cells. A Yale-led team has found that one of the receptors, known as AXL, actually plays an essential role in the immune system's ability to fight viral infections.
Chewing habits determine blood sugar levels after a carbohydrate-rich meal Taking slower and fewer bites of a spoonful of rice releases less glucose into the bloodstream than quick and continuous chewing, show A*STAR researchers. Surges in blood sugar levels, known as the glycemic response, can increase a person's risk of developing obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, which is of particular concern in Asia, a region accounting for 60 per cent of the global diabetic population.
	Can healthy eating reduce diabetes risk? A diet rich in vegetables and fruit may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. The study identified a combination of foods that reduce biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. This dietary pattern, high in vegetables and fruit, and low in chips, sugar, and white bread, is also associated with reduced prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
	New clues about the aging brain's memory functions A European study led by Umeå University Professor Lars Nyberg, has shown that the dopamine D2 receptor is linked to the long-term episodic memory, which function often reduces with age and due to dementia. This new insight can contribute to the understanding of why some but not others are affected by memory impairment. The results have been published in the journal PNAS.
	Avoiding and treating for contact with poisonous plants Poisonous plants cause the most common allergic reactions to the skin, affecting as many as 50 million Americans each year, according to the American Skin Association. University of Alabama at Birmingham associate professor of Emergency Medicine, Walter Schrading, M.D., says it is important people are able to identify poisonous plants, prevent an allergic reaction and treat skin irritations after contact.
	Good gut relationships key in defence against pathogens Fighting infection in the gut relies on a dynamic relationship between the cells that line gut walls and microbiota – the hundreds of different bacteria that co-exist within the human body without causing harm.
	Greater alcohol use may reduce heart attacks, increase atrial fibrillation In a study of Texas counties either permitting or prohibiting the sale of alcohol, researchers at UC San Francisco have found residents of permitting counties had fewer heart attacks, but increased atrial fibrillation (AF).
	Cancer cells play hide-and-seek with immune system When the immune system attacks cancer, the tumour modifies itself to escape the immune reaction. Researchers at LUMC published on this subject in Nature on 28 June.
	Child oral health program triples preventive visits An innovative program that serves low-income and uninsured children in Los Angeles, the UCLA–First 5 LA 21st Century Dental Homes Project, has more than tripled preventive dental visits for children from birth to age 5, according to a new policy brief by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
	Current stimulation of the brain restores vision in patients with glaucoma and optic nerve damage Vision loss due to glaucoma or optic nerve damage is generally considered irreversible. Now a new prospective, randomized, multi-center clinical trial demonstrates significant vision improvement in partially blind patients after 10 days of noninvasive, transorbital alternating current stimulation (ACS). In addition to activation of their residual vision, patients also experienced improvement in vision-related quality of life such as acuity, reading, mobility or orientation. The results are reported in PLOS ONE.
Rio athletes may benefit from 'leaky gut' therapy 'Leaky gut' is a condition where the thin mucosal barrier of the gut, which plays a role in absorbing nutrients and preventing large molecules and germs from the gut entering the blood stream, becomes less effective.
	FDA has a few questions for makers of hand sanitizer Federal health officials want to know whether hand sanitizers used by millions of Americans work as well as manufacturers claim—and whether there are any health risks to their growing use.
Overweight youths at greater risk for heart failure It comes down to starting healthy habits early. Fortunately, it's never too late to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and losing weight is great for reducing your risk of heart attack. But you can still be at a higher risk for other heart problems if you're late in changing your habits.
Researchers devise test to predict sepsis in burns patients Researchers have created a potentially life-saving new test that will allow clinicians to predict which burn victims will develop sepsis during their treatment.
	Protein associated with improved survival in some breast cancer patients A family of proteins that help cancer cells survive and spread around the body may be associated with improved prognosis for some women receiving treatment for breast cancer, research has shown.
Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy responsive in microsatellite-stable mCRC comb with MEK inhibition Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy may achieve a response in patients with microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer if combined with a MEK inhibitor, according to phase I data presented at the ESMO 18th World Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, Spain.
	Significant expansion of data available in the Genomic Data Commons The recently launched Genomic Data Commons (GDC) will get a dramatic increase in the power and utility of its resources with the announcement today of the signing of a data sharing agreement between the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Foundation Medicine, Inc. (FMI), a molecular information company that has generated genomic profiles of people with cancer. NCI's GDC is a unified data system that promotes the sharing of genomic and clinical data among researchers and is a core component of the Cancer Moonshot and the President's Precision Medicine Initiative. NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health.
	Modeling NAFLD with human pluripotent stem cell derived immature hepatocyte like cells Researchers from the Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at the University Clinic of Düsseldorf have established an in vitro model system for investigating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study led by Prof. James Adjaye has now been published in the journal Stem Cells and Development.
	Analysis of 1976 Ebola outbreak holds lessons relevant today With the recent Ebola epidemic in West Africa reviving interest in the first outbreak of the deadly hemorrhagic fever 40 years ago, scientists led by Dr. Joel Breman of the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health have released a report highlighting lessons learned from the smaller, more quickly contained 1976 outbreak.
	New research could lead to restoring vision for sufferers of retinal disorders Engineers and neuroscientists at the University of Sheffield have demonstrated for the first time that the cells in the retina carry out key processing tasks. This could pave the way for improving retinal implants and therefore the sight of thousands of people suffering from retinal disorders.
	Educating parents on healthy infant sleep habits may help prevent obesity Teaching parents bedtime techniques to encourage healthy sleep habits in their infants may help prevent obesity, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Strong links exist between inadequate sleep and childhood obesity.
	It sucks—startups look to redesign the breast pump Ask many mothers and they'll tell you, pumping sucks in more than one sense of the word.
	Researchers identify the molecular roots of lung damage in preemies with GI disease Johns Hopkins researchers report they have figured out a root cause of the lung damage that occurs in up to 10 percent of premature infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis, a disorder that damages and kills the lining of the intestine. The finding, they say, led them to identify and successfully test a potential treatment for the lung damage in a mouse, which may one day be offered to human infants.
	Everolimus R-CHOP combination safe for treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma The targeted therapy everolimus may be safely combined with R-CHOP for new, untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma according to the results of a pilot study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the Lancet Haematology. R-CHOP is a combination of drugs used to treat lymphoma. The combination includes rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.
	Our brain benefits from an overlap in grammar when learning a foreign language Researchers from Nijmegen have for the first time captured images of the brain during the initial hours and days of learning a new language. They use an artificial language with real structures to show how new linguistic information is integrated into the same brain areas used for your native language.
Both limited and excess sleep may raise diabetes risk in men Men who sleep either fewer or more hours than average may face a greater risk of developing diabetes, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Video may help heart failure patients choose level of end-of-life care A picture may be worth a thousand words. Patients with advanced heart failure who watched a short video depicting different levels of end-of-life care were more likely to choose comfort care over invasive care that could prolong their life, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Men may face high lifetime risk of sudden cardiac death About one in every nine men will experience sudden cardiac death, most before age 70, as well as about one in 30 women, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Genetically inherited high cholesterol increases long-term risks of CHD and stroke Patients who experience high cholesterol due to an inherited genetic disorder from one of their parents—heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia—are much more likely than those with average cholesterol levels to have diseases caused by hardening of the arteries, including an accelerated onset of coronary heart disease by up to 30 years, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Stem cell treatment for Lou Gehrig's disease may be safe A phase II clinical trial in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, suggests that transplanting human stem cells into the spinal cord may be done safely. The research is published in the June 29, 2016, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. While the study was not designed to determine whether the treatment was effective, researchers noted that it did not slow down the progression of the disease.
	Health officials prepare for Zika, but local efforts tight The poorest parts of Houston remind Dr. Peter Hotez of some of the neighborhoods in Latin America hardest hit by Zika.
Rx for better orthopaedic surgeons: Track their errors as well as their skills In a small study to determine the best way to assess the operating skills of would-be orthopaedic surgeons, Johns Hopkins researchers found that tracking the trainees' performance on cadavers using step-by-step checklists and measures of general surgical skills works well but should be coupled with an equally rigorous system for tracking errors.
	How a low-calorie diet could extend lifespan Overeating can lead to health issues that can shorten one's life, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. On the other end of the spectrum, several studies have shown that restricting calorie intake below what a normal diet would dictate may lead to a longer life. In an animal study, scientists now report in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research the metabolic reasons why these opposite diets may lead to such differences in longevity.
	Next generation of viral vectors, called AAV 3.0, for gene therapies and genome editing The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has launched a new program, called AAV 3.0, to create new viral vectors to find quicker and better treatments for an array of diseases. James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, a professor of Medicine and director of the Orphan Disease Center, will lead an interdisciplinary team of over 30 scientists to create this new technology platform with support provided by the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
	New method detects telomere length for research into cancer, aging UT Southwestern Medical Center cell biologists have identified a new method for determining the length of telomeres, the endcaps of chromosomes, which can influence cancer progression and aging.
	Nutrition labels on dining hall food: Are they being used? By who? Dining halls at the University of Illinois voluntarily label food items with nutrition information but are students using the information to make healthy food choices? A new study shows that students who are already health conscious are the primary users.
Cost of poor child growth in developing world: $177 billion in lost wages for children born each year Early life growth faltering in low- and middle-income countries results in a US $176.8 billion reduction in potential career earnings for children born each year, according to new Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health research funded by Grand Challenges Canada.
Group of rare blood cancers respond to new treatment pioneered by Stanford physician A global trial of an oral medication called midostaurin indicates that the drug can produce partial or complete resolution of organ damage in 60 percent of patients with a group of rare blood cancers known collectively as advanced systemic mastocytosis.
To improve global health, experts call for a standard list of essential diagnostic tests In a western doctor's office or hospital, patients don't think twice about giving a blood or urine sample that can tell if they have a disease or infection, or show if their medicines are working. The samples get rushed to a testing lab with modern equipment that's held to high quality standards.
	Stay alert for child drowning dangers this summer (HealthDay)—School's out and the temperature's rising and that means more people will be cooling off at beaches, lakes and pools. But a new report reveals that parents and caregivers need to be extra vigilant when kids are around the water.
	Prostate cancer diagnoses down from 2011 to 2013 (HealthDay)—From 2011 to 2013 there was a decrease in prostate cancer (PC) diagnoses, especially for younger men and low-risk disease, according to a research letter published online June 23 in JAMA Oncology.
	Gastric bypass helps achieve diabetes treatment goals (HealthDay)—The addition of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to lifestyle-medical management is associated with improved achievement of treatment goals in type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online June 16 in Diabetes Care.
Parents told to contact doctors amid Indonesia vaccine scandal Indonesian parents were being advised Wednesday to consult their doctors and consider re-innoculating their children as a massive counterfeit vaccine scandal sweeps the country.
	Biden threatens funding cut if cancer trials conceal results (Update) Vice President Joe Biden threatened Wednesday to pull federal funding for cancer studies that fail to publicly disclose their results, putting pressure on researchers, clinicians and drug companies to speed up progress toward cancer cures.
	Neuroscientists probe link between music pleasure responses, dopamine and cravings Researchers at the University of Melbourne are recruiting electronic music fans for a study exploring the connection between cravings and the "risky" sounds of dance music.
	Investigating the association between atrial fibrillation and dementia Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, turns out to be a potential mechanism into the genesis of AF-related cognitive impairment/dementia. The work published by the interdisciplinary group composed by researchers from the Politecnico di Torino (Luca Ridolfi, Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering - DIATI, and Stefania Scarsoglio, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - DIMEAS) and medical doctors from the Cardiology Division of the "Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino" (Fiorenzo Gaita, Matteo Anselmino e Andrea Saglietto) relies on a mathematical model developed combining fluid dynamics and cardiology expertise. The present study investigates some mechanisms that associate AF to an increased risk of dementia, by highlighting the potential relations between them.
Why the Haitian cholera victims deserve their day in court The battle between victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti and the United Nations may resemble a classic David and Goliath story except in this case Goliath hasn't even shown up to fight.
Simple screening tool helps determine COPD risk A simple 7-item screening tool can help clinicians identify patients at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even if they are not experiencing any symptoms.
Certain red flags indicate an increased need for intensive care among patients with asthma In patients admitted to the hospital for asthma, illicit drug use and low socioeconomic status were linked with an increased risk of requiring admission to the intensive care unit. Not adhering to asthma prevention medication further increased this risk.
AJR opinion piece considers managing the radiation dose while communicating the risk Despite evidence that low doses of ionizing radiation associated with imaging are not dangerous, the medical community is frequently faced with the challenge of communicating the risk and managing the dose.
	New laws on abortion set to take effect around the country New laws targeting abortion are set to take effect Friday in about one-fifth of the states, initiating another wave of restrictions just days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas measure that led several clinics to close.
Inserting stents through the wrist reduces bleeding, death rates in heart disease patients Access through the wrist, or radial access, when inserting stents to restore blood flow in heart disease patients has fewer complications and should be the default approach over access through the groin, or femoral access, according to researchers involved in a study today in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Total face transplant in patient with severe burns—team outlines surgical approach Last year, the most extensive clinical face transplant to date was successfully carried out at NYU Langone Medical Center. A complete report on this procedure—including the extensive organizational and training program created to prepare for it—is published in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Wearable technology gets good ratings from plastic surgeons Plastic surgeons see some clear advantages of using Google Glass in the operating room, reports a survey study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
	New neuroendovascular technique shows promise in stroke patients with large-vessel clots In an article published online April 16, 2016 by the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery, investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report promising 90-day outcomes for stroke patients with large-vessel clots who underwent thrombectomy or clot removal using the direct-aspiration, first pass technique (ADAPT). Approximately 58% of stroke patients with a large-vessel clot removed using the technique achieved a good outcome at 90 days, defined as a Modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 0 to 2.

Other Sciences news

Our ancestors evolved faster after dinosaur extinction Our ancestors evolved three times faster in the 10 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs than in the previous 80 million years, according to UCL researchers.
	Mummified ancient bird offers clues about flight during mid-cretaceous (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from China, Canada and the U.S. has found an example of mummified remains of a bird from the mid-cretaceous period, in amber. As they note in their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the remains represent the first example of skeletal material alongside feathers in Mesozoic amber.
	Fire discovery sheds new light on 'hobbit' demise Crucial new evidence has revealed modern humans (Homo sapiens) were likely using fire at Liang Bua 41,000 years ago, narrowing the time gap between the last hobbits (Homo floresiensis) and the first modern humans at this site on the Indonesian island of Flores.
	Researchers develop new statistical test that shows racial profiling in police traffic stops By analyzing data from 4.5 million traffic stops in 100 North Carolina cities, Stanford researchers have found that police in that state are more likely to search black and Hispanic motorists, using a lower threshold of suspicion, than when they stop white or Asian drivers.
	Intervention dramatically lowers violent crime arrests for at-risk teens A school-based intervention for at-risk teenagers in Chicago significantly cuts violent crime arrests, while increasing the likelihood students graduate from high school on time, according to researchers at the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
	Why research has not been able to solve the gun control debate Can more guns lead to less crime, or is increased gun control the best way to promote a more peaceful society?
Blue-collar training in high school leaves women behind What's the best way to prepare high schoolers for jobs in the 21st century? Education leaders and the general public have been debating this question with more heat in recent years, clashing over whether to focus on college preparation or vocational training, especially training linked to blue-collar jobs.
	Skype data of 500 million people reveals the real patterns of social adoption Global patterns of adoption spreading are induced by local adoption cascades initiated by multiple spontaneous adopters arriving at a constant rate, amplified by a large number of adoptions induced by social influence, and controlled by individuals who are immune to the actual adoption.
Researchers find truth to age-old maxim 'work hard, play hard' Queen's University biology professor Lonnie Aarssen has published a study that, for the first time, provides strong empirical support for a correlation between a motivation to seek accomplishment and an attraction to leisure.
	NY-based explorers find 1868 schooner wreck in Lake Ontario The shipwreck of a Canadian schooner that sank off Lake Ontario's central New York shore nearly 150 years ago has been discovered, a team of underwater explorers announced Wednesday.
Researchers analyze political views and involvement of Latino immigrants Latino immigrants in the United States who are not yet citizens will not be voting in the 2016 presidential election, but history shows they are civically involved, says a Purdue University political science professor who followed Latino political engagement through the last presidential election.
Lifting transgender military ban is significant but leaves issues to resolve, social policy expert says As the U.S. military prepares to lift its prohibition on transgender service members, a University of Kansas researcher who studies social change in the military said there could be several obstacles to address after the ban ends.
	Preliminary research findings show gender, not race, a factor in college students dropping out of engineering fields According to recent studies, in colleges and universities up to 60 percent of students drop out or transfer from science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, and more than 50 percent of students pursuing STEM in community colleges never graduate. Researchers from the University of Missouri and partner institutions are exploring how ethnic and gender variables affect retention rates, goal setting and satisfaction among engineering students. Preliminary findings in the middle of this five-year study found no differences in retention between Latino and white engineering students, but did show differences between men and women. Their study could help shape methods needed to retain students in engineering fields.

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