Science X Newsletter Week 21

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for week 21:

	College watercraft project Jet Blade has three-ski design A four-person team from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have come up with a unique personal watercraft dubbed The Jet Blade. In terms of being durable, stable and agile, which were the project's goals, the Jet Blade prototype looks promising as a product that could provide good rider experiences in water sports.
	Oculus Rift teams with researchers to produce ability to capture and display facial expressions The Oculus Rift (now owned by Facebook) is very well known in the virtual reality world—the headsets let gamers play in virtual 3D worlds, and interact using avatars. Now, it appears the team is ready to take the idea to another level by allowing facial expressions of the wearer to be captured and then displayed on the face of an avatar for others in the virtual world to see—in real time.
	CEO: Nissan will be ready with autonomous driving by 2020 Nissan Motor Co. will have vehicles packed with autonomous driving technology by 2020 but whether people will be able to drive them on roads is up to government regulators, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Monday.
	Gel filled with nanosponges cleans up MRSA infections Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego developed a gel filled with toxin-absorbing nanosponges that could lead to an effective treatment for skin and wound infections caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), an antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This "nanosponge-hydrogel" minimized the growth of skin lesions on mice infected with MRSA - without the use of antibiotics. The researchers recently published their findings online in Advanced Materials.
Substance abuse risk not greater in those using medical marijuana with prescribed opioids Among people who use medical cannabis for chronic pain, those who also take prescription pain medications are not at increased risk for serious alcohol and other drug involvement, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
	Youth dance classes score low in physical activity For parents who send their kids to dance classes to get some exercise, a new study from researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests most youth dance classes provide only limited amounts of physical activity.
	Study validates effectiveness of genomic test for lung cancer detection A new test co-developed by a Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researcher will allow patients suspected of having lung cancer to be subjected to fewer and less-invasive tests to determine if they have the disease.
	Shift work can affect your health Shiftwork is an occupational health risk of growing significance because it is becoming more common and because of its potential influence on health outcomes, possibly increasing health differences between workers of higher vs lower socioeconomic status. A new study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health determined that employees who work shifts outside of a 9-to-5 schedule are more likely to be overweight and experience sleep problems, and possibly more likely to develop metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, compared to workers following traditional work schedules. The study is published in Sleep Health, journal of the National Sleep Foundation.
	Russia restarts spacecraft after embarrassing failures Russia on Monday managed on a second attempt to restart the engines of a Progress spacecraft attached to the International Space Station (ISS) and shift the station's orbit.
	Online dating scams top Australian financial fraud Australians were tricked out of Aus$82 million (US$66 million) last year, with online dating scams accounting for the biggest losses, the competition regulator revealed on Monday.
	Stem cell 'Wild West' takes root amid lack of US regulation The liquid is dark red, a mixture of fat and blood, and Dr. Mark Berman pumps it out of the patient's backside. He treats it with a chemical, runs it through a processor—and injects it into the woman's aching knees and elbows.
Key strategies can boost donations at crowdfunding sites, experts say Stanford computer scientists have shown how crowdfunding websites can use data science to boost cash value of donations. Their research confirms, among other findings, the importance of a timely thank you.
Indian nurse dies after 42 years in coma after rape A Mumbai nurse who was in a vegetative state for 42 years after being sexually assaulted while working in a hospital has died, authorities said Monday.
Luxury fashion brands accuse Alibaba of profiting from fakes (Update) The owner of fashion brands Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent has accused Alibaba Group in a lawsuit of profiting from sales of counterfeit goods despite the Chinese e-commerce giant's pledge to combat the trade in fakes.
	Why Big Pharma is not addressing the failure of antidepressants Around a quarter of people experience depression at some point in their lives, two-thirds of whom are women. Each year more than 11m working days are lost in the UK to stress, depression or anxiety and there are more than 6,000 suicides. The impact of depression on individuals, families, society and the economy is enormous.
	Study questions existence of housekeeping genes In a study to better understand the role of the body's "housekeeping" genes, scientists in the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University scoured every existing database of these genes, to isolate the bona fide genes responsible for basal and essential cellular functions.
	World's smallest micro-camera promises to revolutionize smart sensors Swiss researchers at CSEM in Neuchatel have developed the smallest-ever complete vision system on a chip, called Vision-In-Package (VIP). With a variety of potential uses—including brand recognition, robotic surgery guidance, driving assistance, and even home security—the optics, processor and wireless transmitter are combined into a single easily-integrated package. The concept and complete packaging, to be unveiled at the Sensor+Test Fair in Nuremberg on May 19, is a camera three times smaller than the very latest in optic sensors and eight times smaller than what is currently used in motor vehicles for assisted driving—less than one cubic centimeter in total volume; not much bigger than a 10-cent euro coin.
	How the dog found a place in the family home – from the Victorian age to ours Dogs have been companions to humans for tens of thousands of years. In a new book, Dr Philip Howell argues that it was the Victorians who 'invented' the modern dog with a place at the heart of the family. But, as some dogs became pets, others became pests.
	Satellites make a load of difference to bridge safety When extreme weather comes our way, realtime information from space can help us to decide if closing a bridge is the right thing to do.
	Small changes to a child's head size should not concern parents Measuring the size of a child's head is done routinely worldwide to screen for possible learning or developmental problems but new research out today [18 May] suggests that differences within the normal range of measurements are common – and mainly due to human error – and should not unduly concern parents.

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