Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Sep 1

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 1, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Functional catalyst for alternative fuel source by depositing nanosheets on a flexible carbon cloth
- Study shows increase in concurrent droughts and heat waves in US
- Take a deep breath: Biodegradable DNA nanoparticles rapidly penetrate mucus barrier for inhaled lung gene therapy
- First global antineutrino emission map highlights Earth's energy budget
- ATLAS and CMS experiments shed light on Higgs properties
- Neural basis of multitasking identified
- Statin side effects linked to off-target reaction in muscle mitochondria
- Brazilian wasp venom kills cancer cells by opening them up
- Climate change will irreversibly force key ocean bacteria into overdrive
- Marine animal colony is a multi-jet swimming machine, scientists report
- Water heals a bioplastic
- Meet Pentecopterus, a new predator from the prehistoric seas
- First imagery from echolocation reveals new signals for hunting bats
- Oxygen oasis in Antarctic lake reflects Earth in the distant past
- Hackers raid Apple accounts via jail-broken iPhones

Astronomy & Space news

	Distant planet's interior chemistry may differ from our own As astronomers continue finding new rocky planets around distant stars, high-pressure physicists are considering what the interiors of those planets might be like and how their chemistry could differ from that found on Earth. New work from a team including three Carnegie scientists demonstrates that different magnesium compounds could be abundant inside other planets as compared to Earth. Their work is published by Scientific Reports.
	SpaceX delays next launch after blast SpaceX said Monday it has delayed by a couple of months the return to flight of its Falcon 9 rocket, following an explosion on the way to the space station in June.
	Explainer: What is a neutron star? Neutron stars are arguably the most exotic objects in the universe. Like one of those annoying friends who seemingly must overachieve in every aspect of life, neutron stars exceed in almost every category: surface gravity; magnetic field strength; density; and temperature.
	Image: LISA Pathfinder launch sequence Scheduled for launch in late 2015, ESA's LISA Pathfinder will test key technologies for space-based observation of gravitational waves – ripples in the fabric of spacetime that are predicted by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. Produced by massive accelerating bodies, these perturbations are expected to be abundant across the Universe, but they are yet to be detected directly.
	The feasibility of deflecting asteroids It's the ultimate science fiction: The immense power of the sun is harnessed and converted into a massive phased array of laser beams that have the potential to intercept and deflect asteroids before they smash into Earth.
	How to get rid of a satellite after its retirement Researchers at University of La Rioja (Spain) have developed a new method to eliminate artificial satellites in highly elliptical orbits when they finish their missions. The methodology, which reduces both cost and risk, has been tested with the European Space Agency INTEGRAL mission, which will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate in 2029.
	Report endorses advanced cosmic microwave background research at South Pole A next-generation cosmic microwave background (CMB) program should be a top priority for large-scale science efforts at the South Pole, according to a report published this month by the National Academies, and produced by the Polar Research Board in their Division on Earth and Life Studies. The report, requested by the National Science Foundation (NSF), identified several crucial areas of research for the next decade of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), which is managed by the NSF's Division of Polar Programs.

Technology news

	Magnetic fields provide a new way to communicate wirelessly Electrical engineers at the University of California, San Diego demonstrated a new wireless communication technique that works by sending magnetic signals through the human body. The new technology could offer a lower power and more secure way to communicate information between wearable electronic devices, providing an improved alternative to existing wireless communication systems, researchers said. They presented their findings Aug. 26 at the 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society in Milan, Italy.
	Neural algorithm gives photo masterpiece-style treatments Computer scientists are intrigued about what computers can tell us about artistic masterpieces, from picking out forgeries to assessing artistic worth.
	Butterfly wings help break the status quo in gas sensing The unique properties found in the stunning iridescent wings of a tropical blue butterfly could hold the key to developing new highly selective gas detection sensors.
New technique lowers cost of energy-efficient embedded computer systems Electrical and computer engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a new technique for creating less-expensive, low-power embedded systems – the computing devices found in everything from thermostats to automobiles.
	Hackers raid Apple accounts via jail-broken iPhones Hackers targeting jail-broken iPhones have raided more than 225,000 Apple accounts, using them for app-buying sprees or to hold phones for ransom, researchers said on Tuesday.
	Self-driving golf carts share sidewalk space with pedestrians At the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in September, members of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and their colleagues will describe an experiment conducted over six days at a large public garden in Singapore, in which self-driving golf carts ferried 500 tourists around winding paths trafficked by pedestrians, bicyclists, and the occasional monitor lizard.
	Harvard launches 'virtual classroom' for students anywhere The newest classroom at Harvard's business school has no desks or chairs. Instead, the professor teaches facing a towering digital screen that stretches from wall to wall, filled with the live video feeds of up to 60 students tuned in from their computers.
	Tech Tips: Windows 10 privacy settings worth checking Microsoft's new Windows 10 system offers more personalization than before, but it also collects more data than people might be used to on PCs, from contacts and appointments to their physical location and even Wi-Fi passwords.
	Yahoo chief Mayer says she's pregnant with twins Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is pregnant with identical twins.
A scalable tool for deploying Linux containers in high-performance computing The explosive growth in data coming out of experiments in cosmology, particle physics, bioinformatics and nuclear physics is pushing computational scientists to design novel software tools that will help users better access, manage and analyze that data on current and next-generation high-performance computing (HPC) architectures.
Bioengineers report most sensors designed to measure head impacts in sports produce inaccurate data Amid growing concern over sports-related concussions, some athletes are beginning to wear head-mounted sensors that gauge the speed and force of impacts they sustain during competition. Scientists are still working on identifying baseline parameters for injury, but research suggests that certain skull motions can contribute to concussions, and constant in-game monitoring of those motions promises to help limit injuries.
	Wireless charging and discharging for electric vehicles In the future, a wireless charging system will allow electric cars not only to charge their batteries, but also to feed energy back into the power grid, helping to stabilize it. The cost-effective charging system achieves high levels of efficiency across the whole power range, from 400 watts to 3.6 kilowatts, while the car and the charging coil can be up to 20 centimeters apart. Fraunhofer researchers are presenting their prototype from September 15 to 18, 2015 at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt (Hall 4, Booth D33).
Identifying illegal websites in photos European computer scientists have developed a way to "read" web addresses in images that could improve filters for blocking pornographic, gambling and other sites. They provide details in the new issue of the International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems.
	UK crime agency website downed by hackers as revenge A group of hackers on Tuesday claimed they had downed the website of Britain's lead law enforcement agency after it arrested six people over similar attacks.
	Axel Springer, Samsung join forces in mobile media content German media giant Axel Springer and Korean electronics group Samsung said Tuesday they are joining forces in a mobile media partnership.
	Amazon to let Prime members download videos Amazon is upping the ante in the streaming-video competition with downloadable videos.
	Hilton dips toe in 'sharing economy' with Uber partnership Hilton is hailing the ride sharing service Uber to help guests reach its hotels and then explore the city where they are staying.
	Five things to watch at the IFA gadget show in Berlin Some 1,500 companies and over 250,000 people are expected to visit Europe's flagship technology show, the IFA in Berlin, when it opens to the public on Friday.
	Comcast teeing up new services targeted at millennials Comcast, which became a TV powerhouse by signing up Generation Xers, baby boomers and their parents, now is fighting for millennial eyeballs.
	Google refines logo as it prepares to join Alphabet Google is refining its famous logo as it prepares to become a part of a new holding company called Alphabet.
	New product could help concepts become working apps Designing mobile applications for phones and other devices requires a handoff between graphic designers and programmers that can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
	Apple mulling original online television shows: report Apple is dabbling with the idea of making online television programming in a move that would challenge established players such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, according to show-business magazine Variety.
	New patent allows real-time learning based on previous decisions UT Arlington electrical engineers have patented an innovative method that improves a controller's ability to make real-time decisions.
A technique to predict the energy in future oceanic waves Marine energy has great future potential, according to the experts, but there is still a long way to go before it can be used on a large scale. Despite the problem of intermittency, wave energy has an advantage over wind energy. For example, it is easier to predict optimum swell than suitable gusts of wind. That is why knowing how much energy the waves will be bringing within a few hours is as important as having available efficient prototypes to make use of wave power. If predictions can be made, the energy produced by waves can be incorporated more easily into the mains, and renewable energy consumption can be increased at the same time.
	System designed to store and analyze extremely large array-structured data Science is swimming in data. And, the already daunting task of managing and analyzing this information will only become more difficult as scientific instruments—especially those capable of delivering more than a petabyte (that's a quadrillion bytes) of information per day—come online.
Mapping Pakistan''s power grid Charging your mobile phone at night is an act millions of people across the world do every day, almost unthinkingly. Yet this assumes a reliable power supply is available, something which many of us take for granted.
	Review: 'Star Wars' toy rush begins with 'Disney Infinity' When it comes to "Star Wars," some aliens in a different galaxy said it best: Resistance is futile.
	India regulator accuses Google of online search abuse India's competition investigators have accused Google of abusing its market dominance in online searches in the country, deepening the US Internet giant's woes with governments around the world.
LVMH recruits Apple music executive as digital chief French luxury giant LVMH said Tuesday it had recruited former Apple music heavyweight Ian Rogers as chief digital officer to the group that produces Louis Vuitton bags and Moet Hennessy spirits.

Medicine & Health news

	Take a deep breath: Biodegradable DNA nanoparticles rapidly penetrate mucus barrier for inhaled lung gene therapy (Medical Xpress)—A number of lung diseases are resistant to, or only marginally handled by, conventional therapies. Thanks to the discovery of numerous genetic targets, gene therapy provides an alternative or complementary therapeutic option. Over the past two decades or more, a large number of gene delivery systems, based on viruses or man-made nanoparticles, have been developed in order to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids to the target cells in the lung, while preventing these cargos from being degraded by the body's protective enzymes before they reach the target. However, while it is readily accessible via inhalation, the mucus lining the lung airways typically traps inhaled foreign matter that is then removed from the lung by being rapidly and continuously swept up towards the larynx to be swallowed into the stomach and degraded. Although this is a critical host defense mechanism, the same airway mucus also traps inhaled therapeutic nanoparticles, such as gene delivery systems, through steric obstruction and/or adhesive interactions, meaning that therapeutic nanoparticles trapped in airway mucus will be rapidly cleared from the lung and so not be able to reach their target cells in the lung. Indeed, several clinically tested viral and non-viral gene delivery systems have been shown unable to efficiently penetrate human airway mucus. In addition, the physiological environment in the lung renders it hard to retain stability of therapeutic nanoparticles until they reach the target cells. Thus, despite over two decades of effort, therapeutically effective lung gene therapy is yet to be realized.
	Obese at 50? Midlife weight may affect when Alzheimer's hits One more reason to watch the waistline: New research says people's weight in middle age may influence not just whether they go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, but when.
	Parents' views on justice affect babies' moral development Babies' neural responses to morally charged scenarios are influenced by their parents' attitudes toward justice, new research from the University of Chicago shows.
	Blocking a newly identified memory pathway could prevent PTSD About 8 million Americans suffer from nightmares and flashbacks to a traumatic event. This condition, known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is particularly common among soldiers who have been in combat, though it can also be triggered by physical attack or natural disaster.
	Researchers provide first evidence of how obstructive sleep apnea damages the brain UCLA researchers have reported the first evidence that obstructive sleep apnea contributes to a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier, which plays an important role in protecting brain tissue.
	Statin side effects linked to off-target reaction in muscle mitochondria Statins are a popular and easy-to-swallow option for people looking to lower their cholesterol. But for a quarter of patients, statins come with muscle pain, stiffness, cramps, or weakness without any clear signs of muscle damage. These symptoms may affect daily activities so much that people stop using the drugs. In Cell Metabolism on September 1, Dutch researchers show, in mice and humans, that statins yield an off-target reaction that disrupts muscle mitochondria function, possibly causing the side effects.
	Neural basis of multitasking identified What makes someone better at switching between different tasks? Looking for the mechanisms behind cognitive flexibility, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Germany's Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim and Charité University Medicine Berlin have used brain scans to shed new light on this question.
	Outside the body, a heart beats via life-saving system (Medical Xpress)—A system that enables heart transplants involving hearts that stopped beating in the donor's body continues to save lives. The Organ Care System (OCS) has been used in UK hospitals with good results.
	Completely paralyzed man voluntarily moves his legs, scientists report A 39-year-old man who had had been completely paralyzed for four years was able to voluntarily control his leg muscles and take thousands of steps in a "robotic exoskeleton" device during five days of training—and for two weeks afterward—a team of UCLA scientists reports this week.
Carbonated drinks linked with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin Carbonated beverages are associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of cardiac origin, according to results from the All-Japan Utstein Registry presented for the first time today at ESC Congress. The study in nearly 800 000 patients suggests that limiting consumption of carbonated beverages may be beneficial for health.
Modified CAR T cells can preferentially target cancer cells and spare normal cells Engineering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to lower their affinity for the protein epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) made the cells preferentially recognize and eliminate tumor cells that have high amounts of EGFR while sparing normal cells that have lower amounts of the protein, according to a preclinical study.
Newly engineered CAR T cells can better discriminate between cancer and normal cells A new development in engineering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, called affinity tuning, can make the CAR T cells spare normal cells and better recognize and attack cancer cells, which may help lower the toxicity associated with this type of immunotherapy when used against solid tumors, according to a preclinical study.
	Smoking rate among US adults drops to 15 percent The number of cigarette smokers in the United States has dropped to about 15 percent of the population, its lowest in decades, US health authorities said Tuesday.
	Daily marijuana use among US college students highest since 1980 Daily marijuana use among the nation's college students is on the rise, surpassing daily cigarette smoking for the first time in 2014.
	Severe poverty affects brain size, researchers find A six-year study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has added to the mounting evidence that growing up in severe poverty affects how children's brains develop, potentially putting them at a lifelong disadvantage.
Which blood thinner works better during stent placement? It's still a toss-up A large, ambitious contrast of blood-thinning medications used during cardiac stent placement suggests that a very expensive drug offers no clear safety benefits over a much more affordable option, according to a prominent North Shore-LIJ researcher and cardiologist.
Most CRT-P patients would not benefit from addition of defibrillator Most patients with a cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) pacemaker would not benefit from the addition of a defibrillator, according to results from the CeRtiTuDe cohort study presented for the first time today at ESC Congress and published in European Heart Journal.
Preoperative statins associated with reduced events after noncardiac surgery Preoperative statins are associated with a 17% reduction in cardiac complications and a 43% reduction in mortality after noncardiac surgery, according to results from the VISION Study presented for the first time today at ESC Congress by Dr Otavio Berwanger, director of the Research Institute HCor, Hospital do Coração (Heart Hospital) in São Paulo, Brazil. The findings suggest that statins have the potential to prevent cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.
	Study suggests couples need better antenatal care following fertility treatment Couples who have successfully conceived following fertility treatment need additional antenatal care and support, new research has found. Two per cent of all births in the UK are a result of fertility treatments such as IVF. An increasing body of evidence suggests the needs of these parents are often not adequately addressed, leaving them feeling abandoned in some cases.
	New test may detect who is most at risk for Alzheimer's Researchers at Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas have developed a test that may help detect who is at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
	Study connects objectification of women with increased vulnerability to sexual victimization University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have taken a first step toward understanding why some women struggle to say "no" to unwanted sexual advances and are more vulnerable to sexual victimization.
On-air shooting highlights 'American phenomenon' of disgruntled former employee, trauma expert says The concept of a disgruntled former employee shooting coworkers seems to be an especially American phenomenon, says Nancy Smyth, dean and professor in the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.
	Researchers identify genetic clues associated with cigarette addiction Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy have identified specific sets of genetic variants that are significantly associated with cigarette addiction. Pinpointing these genetic variants could eventually assist in identifying the biological mechanism behind nicotine addiction and in generating novel drug therapy targets to help people break their addiction to nicotine.
"Tumour paint" determines the precise location and size of primary brain tumours In 2004, Dr Richard Ellenbogen spent almost 20 hours operating on a 17-year-old girl with a brain tumour. He ended up leaving a big piece of the tumour behind, mistaking it for normal brain tissue. Less than a year after the surgery, the cancer hit back and the young girl died.
	Opinion: Why it's time to legalise doping in athletics Despite the glitz and glory of Usain Bolt's comeback victories and Jessica Ennis-Hill's heptathlon triumph at the World Championships, 2015 is shaping up as quite the annus horribilis for athletics.
	Reading emotions in a second language If we read about someone who is smiling and happy, without realizing it, we smile as well, and a similar reaction also occurs for the other emotions. If, however, the text is not in our mother tongue but in a second language, then our mind and body react in a blander manner. This effect, according to Francesco Foroni, the author of a new study that observed the phenomenon for the first time, may depend on the different way we learn our mother tongue and a second language.
Largest study to date shows no benefit to gene transfer therapy in heart failure Gene transfer therapy aimed at correcting an enzyme abnormality involved in myocardial contraction and relaxation did not improve outcomes in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, results of the CUPID 2 study show.
Automated pulmonary congestion alert no benefit in heart failure trial Heart failure patients whose implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) include an automated alert when too much fluid accumulates in their lungs did not have improved outcomes compared to patients with regular ICDs, according to results of the OPTILINK HF trial.
Central sleep apnoea device increases mortality in heart failure Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy increases mortality and should not be used to treat central sleep apnoea in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, the SERVE-HF trial shows.
	New study reveals how changes in lifestyle are contributing to dramatic rise in obesity New research from Royal Holloway, University of London has found that changes in lifestyle over the past 30 years have led to a sharp reduction in the strenuousness of daily life, which researchers say may explain why there has been a dramatic rise in obesity.
Absorbable matrix does not prevent cardiac remodelling An investigational material known Bioabsorbable Cardiac Matrix (BCM) that is injected through the coronary artery to prevent cardiac remodelling in heart attack patients had no significant effect compared to a saline placebo, according to results of the PRESERVATION I trial.
Non-invasive blood flow measurements reduce invasive tests in chest pain patients According to results of the PLATFORM (Prospective LongitudinAl Trial of FFRCT: Outcome and Resource Impacts) trial, a test known as FFRCT can obviate the need for invasive tests in up to 61% of patients who have chest pain and suspected coronary artery disease.
No benefit to prolonging bivalirudin after PCI Extending treatment with the anticoagulant bivalirudin for at least four hours after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) does not improve outcomes compared to stopping the treatment immediately after the procedure, according to results from the MATRIX Treatment Duration trial.
	Genetic cause of unknown disease uncovered Researchers at the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital have found the genetic cause of a previously undescribed disease. With this, they have solved an over ten year old medical conundrum.
	How does an insecticide treated bed net actually work? New research from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has revealed precisely how insecticide-treated bed nets are so effective against malaria mosquitoes.
	Mothers' diet during pregnancy linked to childhood asthma Ten-year-old children whose mothers' diets lacked vitamin D and E during pregnancy appear more likely to develop asthma, according to new research carried out at the University of Aberdeen.
Low bleeding and stroke rates in AF patients given rivaroxaban for stroke prevention Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients treated with rivaroxaban for stroke prevention have low rates of bleeding and stroke, reveals real-world data from the XANTUS study presented at ESC Congress today. The findings confirm clinical trial data and demonstrate that oral anticoagulation with rivaroxaban, a direct Factor Xa inhibitor, is safe and effective for stroke prevention in patients with AF at both high- and low-risk of thromboembolic events.
	Diabetic retinopathy screening for children with type 1 diabetes should start later A new study has found that the occurrence of advanced forms of a diabetic eye disease remains low among children living with diabetes, regardless of how long they have had the disease or their ability to keep blood sugar levels controlled. Researchers are therefore recommending that most children with type 1 diabetes delay annual diabetic retinopathy screenings until age 15, or 5 years after their diabetes diagnosis, whichever occurs later. Their findings were published online today in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
European cardiomyopathies registry finds high use of defibrillators and genetic testing The most representative snapshot of real world practice in cardiomyopathies in Europe has shown a higher than expected use of defibrillators and genetic testing. The baseline results of the ESC's EORP Cardiomyopathy Registry Pilot are presented for the first time today at ESC Congress 2015.
UK rolls out world's first Meningitis B vaccination programme Britain on Tuesday became the first country to implement a vaccination programme for all newborn babies against meningitis B, which is fatal in one in 10 cases.
	The timing of sleep just as important as quantity Washington State University researchers have found that the timing of an animal's sleep can be just as important as how much sleeps it gets.
Treatment with life-saving drugs increases but still suboptimal in ischaemic heart disease Treatment with life-saving medications has increased over the past ten years in ischaemic heart disease but levels are still suboptimal, according to the first results of the Chronic Ischaemic Cardiovascular Disease (CICD) Pilot Registry presented today at ESC Congress 2015 and published in European Heart Journal. Statin prescriptions markedly increased from 48% to 67% before admission and reached 93% at discharge
	Why do certain hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of HIV? In recent years, evidence has been building that injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera or DMPA) is associated with an increased risk of HIV infection. Now a study published in the September 1st issue of mBio, an online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, provides a biological explanation for the phenomenon. The findings will help women make more informed choices about birth control.
Suicide-by-firearm rates shift in two states after changes in state gun laws A new study examining changes in gun policy in two states finds that handgun purchaser licensing requirements influence suicide rates. Researchers estimate that Connecticut's 1995 law requiring individuals to obtain a permit or license to purchase a handgun after passing a background check was associated with a 15.4 percent reduction in firearm suicide rates, while Missouri's repeal of its handgun purchaser licensing law in 2007 was associated with a 16.1 percent increase in firearm suicide rates.
	Accuracy of dementia brain imaging must improve MRI scans and other tools to detect and diagnose dementia are helpful but not definitive - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.
Can marijuanna help transplant patients? New research says maybe Here's another discovery to bolster the case for medical marijuana: New research in mice suggests that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, may delay the rejection of incompatible organs. Although more research is necessary to determine if there are benefits to humans, this suggests that THC, or a derivative, might prove to be a useful antirejection therapy, particularly in situations where transplanted organs may not be a perfect match. These findings were published in the September 2015 issue of The Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
	Helping toddlers understand emotion key to development The simple parenting strategy of helping toddlers understand emotion may reduce behavioral problems later on, finds a federally funded study led by a Michigan State University researcher.
	Study identifies another way urate may protect against Parkinson's disease A study from members of the research team investigating whether increasing blood levels of the antioxidant urate can slow the progression of Parkinson's disease has found that the neuroprotective effects of urate extend beyond its own antioxidant properties. In their paper receiving online publication in the journal Neurobiology of Disease, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators report that urate also stimulates brain cells called astrocytes to activate a major antioxidant pathway believed to have a role in several neurodegenerative disorders. A National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)-funded phase 3 trial of a urate-elevating drug, led by the senior author of the current study, will begin enrolling patients next year.
	Body fat hormone leptin influences runner's high The euphoric feeling that gives runners a motivational boost in the middle of their workout is in part modulated by the satiety hormone leptin, a new study reports September 1 in Cell Metabolism. Mice with reduced leptin signaling in the brain logged nearly twice as many miles on a running wheel compared with normal mice. The research suggests that falling leptin levels send a hunger signal to the brain's pleasure center to generate the rewarding effects of running.
Provision of HIV treatment can be cost-saving for companies in high prevalence settings In settings with a high prevalence of HIV, such as South Africa, provision of antiretroviral therapy programmes in the workplace can be cost saving for companies due to reductions in healthcare costs, absenteeism, and staff turnover according to new research by Gesine Meyer-Rath, from Boston University and the University of the Witwatersrand, Peter Vickerman, from University of Bristol, and other colleagues published this week in PLOS Medicine. The analysis was the result of a long-standing collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and the Aurum Institute, South Africa.
Clinical trial is first to study impact of cognitive impairment assessment in primary care Does knowing whether older adults are cognitively impaired affect the treatment they receive from their primary care physician? Does it impact the rate of the patient's cognitive decline?
Vitamin A implicated in the development of alcoholic liver disease With a name like "Alcoholic Liver Disease," you may not think about vitamin A as being part of the problem. That's exactly what scientists have shown, however, in a new research report appearing in the September 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal. In particular, they found that chronic alcohol consumption has a dramatic effect on the way the body handles vitamin A. Long-term drinking lowers vitamin A levels in the liver, which is the main site of alcohol breakdown and vitamin A storage, while raising vitamin A levels in many other tissues. This opens the doors for novel treatments of alcoholic liver disease that focus on counteracting alcohol's effect on vitamin A in the liver.
Medication improves measure of kidney disease in patients with diabetes Among patients with diabetes and kidney disease, most receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker, the addition of the medication finerenone compared with placebo resulted in improvement in albuminuria (the presence of excessive protein [chiefly albumin] in the urine), according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.
	Genetic landscape can impact treatment for children with rare, aggressive cancer For children with rare, aggressive and advanced cancer, precision medicine may help doctors determine their best treatment options, a new study finds.
Inadequate BP control linked with increased risk of recurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage Survivors of an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH; a type of hemorrhagic stroke in which bleeding occurs directly into the brain) who had inadequate blood pressure (BP) control during follow-up had a higher risk of ICH recurrence, with this association appearing stronger with worsening severity of hypertension, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.
	Newer genetic testing methods may provide benefit for children with suspected autism The use of two newer genetic testing technologies (chromosomal microarray analysis and whole-exome sequencing) among children with autism spectrum disorder may help identify genetic mutations potentially linked to the disorder, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA. The study also found that children with certain physical anomalies were more likely to have genetic mutations, findings that may help identify children who could benefit most from genetic testing.
Simplified handwashing steps help reduce sickness-related absenteeism for kids A simplified handwashing routine, with five steps instead of seven, helps to reduce sickness-related absenteeism for students with mild intellectual disability (MID), according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Increase seen in bicycle-related injuries, hospital admissions Between 1998 and 2013, there was a large increase in bicycle-related injuries and hospital admissions of adults in the United States, with the increase in injuries driven by more injuries among adults older than 45 years of age, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.
	Forgiving others protects women from depression, but not men Forgiveness is a complex process, one often fraught with difficulty and angst. Now, researchers in the University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences studied how different facets of forgiveness affected aging adults' feelings of depression. The researchers found older women who forgave others were less likely to report depressive symptoms regardless of whether they felt unforgiven by others. Older men, however, reported the highest levels of depression when they both forgave others and felt unforgiven by others. The researchers say their results may help counselors of older adults develop gender-appropriate interventions since men and women process forgiveness differently.
	Gene may predict severity of post-traumatic stress disorder A gene linked in previous research, appears to predict more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as a thinner cortex in regions of the brain critical for regulating strong emotions and coping with stressful experiences. This study is believed to be the first to show that the spindle and kinetochore-associated complex subunit 2 (SKA2) gene may play a role in the development of PTSD.
	Maths skills count for premature babies A new study conducted by the University of Warwick links being born premature with low wages.
	An app twice a day keeps the dentist away Research published in the British Dental Journal shows that Brush DJ, an app designed to encourage youngsters to adopt and maintain an effective oral health care routine using evidence-based techniques, is effective in its aims.
New treatment strategy identified for tumors associated with diabetes If you have diabetes and cancer, here's some hope. In a new research report appearing in the September 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal, scientists reveal a newly discovered tissue- and organ-specific mechanism that regulates blood vessel growth, and when inhibited reduced the growth of tumors in diabetic mice. In addition to the treatment of the diabetes-related cancers, the approach may be also used to treat other diabetic complications that are associated with the increased blood vessel growth, like retinopathy or nephropathy for example.
	Study in mice suggests how anesthesia may fight lung infections In use for more than a century, inhaled anesthetics like nitrous oxide and halothane have made modern surgery possible. Now, in experiments in mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere have added to evidence that certain so-called "volatile" anesthetics—commonly used during surgeries—may also possess powerful effects on the immune system that can combat viral and bacterial infections in the lung, including influenza and pneumonia.
Valeant steps in to work on psoriasis drug with AstraZeneca Canadian drugmaker Valeant will work with British competitor AstraZeneca on a potential treatment for psoriasis a few months after biotech giant Amgen said it was ending research on the drug because of a link to suicidal thoughts and behavior.
	Most Americans' hearts are older than their actual years Three out of four Americans' hearts are older than their chronological age, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death, officials said Tuesday.
	Secondhand smoke in pregnancy, youth tied to irregular heartbeat years later (HealthDay)—People seem more likely to have atrial fibrillation as adults if they were exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke during childhood or while in the womb, new research suggests.
	Many say mental health care is vital, but often tough to get (HealthDay)—Although most Americans think mental health care is important, they often believe it's expensive and hard to get, a new survey shows.
	Endoscopic evaluation advised in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HealthDay)—For elderly adults diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, endoscopic evaluation may be recommended even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, according to a letter to the editor published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Needle guide improves catheterization of subclavian vein (HealthDay)—A multi-angle needle guide can improve ultrasound-guided catheterization of the subclavian vein, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in Anaesthesia.
	Immunological cross-reactions may increase food allergies (HealthDay)—Food allergy can be caused by immunological cross-reactions to common inhalant allergens, with diverse patterns of allergic reactions to foods observed, according to a position paper published in the September issue of Allergy.
	Researchers discover a gene variant that provides a delaying mechanism for Alzheimer's disease Medical research has yet to discover an Alzheimer's treatment that effectively slows the disease's progression, but neuroscientists at UC Santa Barbara may have uncovered a mechanism by which onset can be delayed by as much as 10 years.
	Dogs, cats, and big-wave surfers: Healthy heart lessons from animals and athletes For over 30 years, Terrie Williams has been studying exercise physiology in wild animals: African lions and wild dogs, dolphins and whales, coyotes and mountain lions, as well as a few human athletes. She has put mountain lions on treadmills and strapped heart-rate monitors onto big-wave surfers at Mavericks.
	Study identifies potential genes associated with the most common form of liver damage In a first-of-its-kind exploratory study, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has identified a potential gene associated with the initiation of the most common cause of liver damage.
Cirrhosis, antibodies increase risk of poor outcome for autoimmune hepatitis patients New research reports that cirrhosis at first diagnosis and antibodies for the soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas antigen (SLA/LP) are major risk factors for poor short- and long-term outcome in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Results published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, also found that patients diagnosed in childhood were at higher risk of relapse, need of a liver transplant, and reduced life expectancy.
	Study finds calorie restriction lowers some risk factors for age-related diseases A National Institutes of Health-supported study provides some of the first clues about the impact of sustained calorie restriction in adults. Results from a two-year clinical trial show calorie restriction in normal-weight and moderately overweight people did not have some metabolic effects found in laboratory animal studies. However, the researchers found calorie restriction modified risk factors for age-related diseases and influenced indicators associated with longer life span, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin resistance. The study was reported in the September, 2015 issue of Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.
When stroke patients undergo surgery to remove blood clots, what anesthesia works best? In carefully selected patients, minimally invasive surgery is enabling physicians to stop strokes in their tracks.
Redefining pediatric malnutrition to improve treatment In recent years, an effort has been underway to redefine malnutrition in pediatric patients to include both the acute clinical population and the more traditional ambulatory populations. Identifying and treating malnutrition in pediatric patients is important from an acute standpoint and to ensure that children have enough nutrition to reach optimal final height and development.
Autism Speaks launches MSSNG portal for open-access genomics research Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today launched the web-based portal for its MSSNG database, making the resource available to researchers worldwide. The MSSNG portal enables qualified scientists to access, study and share findings on detailed genomic information from people with autism spectrum disorder and their family members.
Smoking prevalence stays the same but proportion with no intention to quit rises Smoking prevalence has stayed the same but the proportion with no intention of quitting has risen in the last seven years, according to results from the latest EUROASPIRE surveys presented for the first time today at ESC Congress 2015 by Professor Kornelia Kotseva, chair of the EUROASPIRE Steering Committee and senior clinical research fellow at Imperial College London, UK.
Results suggest extending post-stenting DAPT beyond one year Extending clot-preventing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond the recommended 12 months after coronary stenting "should be considered" in patients at low risk for bleeding, investigators for the OPTIDUAL trial recommend.
Five key things to know about data on adverse effects The potential harms of interventions are tricky to get a handle on. Our feelings about them are, too. It wouldn't be easy – even if we didn't have to deal with people trying to beat up, or minimize, the risks of treatments. Here are the top 5 issues I keep in mind – and a bit on what lies behind them.
Study of diabetes threat for fly-in fly-out miners Fly-in fly-out workers and their families are being targeted in a new QUT study investigating the skyrocketing rates of diabetes in mining communities.
Antiparasitics for Chagas cardiomyopathy A 40 to 80 day treatment with the antiparasitic medication benznidazole significantly reduced parasite activity in the blood, but not the progression of serious heart problems over a 5-year period among patients with established Chagas disease (CD) cardiomyopathy, results of the BENEFIT trial show.
Absorbable stents prove non-inferior to metal in STEMI study A drug-eluting coronary stent made of absorbable material performed similarly to the gold-standard metal one in a non-inferiority trial among patients with the more serious type of heart attack known as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), according to results of the ABSORB STEMI TROFI II trial.
Hysterectomy can be safely combined with cosmetic surgery for 'hanging abdomen' For women undergoing hysterectomy, removal of "hanging" abdominal fat and skin—a cosmetic procedure called panniculectomy—can be performed at the same surgery without increasing the risk of complications, reports a study in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
American College of Physicians urges physicians to oppose mass deportation The American College of Physicians (ACP) today called on physicians, individually and collectively, to speak out against proposals to deport the 12 million U.S. residents who lack documentation of legal residency status, citing the adverse impact that mass deportation would have on individual and the health of the public.
Big differences in US healthcare costs for fixing back pain How much does spinal fusion surgery cost? The answer depends on what part of the country you live in, reports a study in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine, published by Wolters Kluwer.
How much liposuction is 'safe'? The answer varies by body weight What's the "safe" amount of fat to remove in patients undergoing liposuction? Rather than a hard-and-fast rule, the answer depends on the patient's body mass index (BMI), according to a report in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
50 people quarantinee after new Ebola death in S. Leone Fifty people have been placed in quarantine in northern Sierra Leone after the death of a middle-aged woman from the Ebola virus, medical officials said Tuesday, in a setback for the country's bid to gain Ebola-free status.
FDA issues warning letters to powdered caffeine distributors The Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to five distributors of pure powdered caffeine, saying the products put consumers at risk of illness or injury.
	Legionnaires' outbreaks not unusual in summer & early fall Legionnaires' disease has been reported in a handful of states this summer, leading to 19 deaths and more than 100 illnesses. The unrelated cases are part of a typical pattern seen with a disease that tends to appear in warm weather and is mostly dangerous for people who already are sick or weakened.
US announces raids on steroid trade linked to China More than 90 people have been arrested in America in raids targeting trade in anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs made in and shipped from China, the US said Tuesday.
Medical students with mental health problems do not feel adequately supported Over 80% of medical students with mental health issues feel they receive poor or only moderately adequate support from their medical schools, finds a small online survey published in Student BMJ today.

Biology news

	Orangutan females prefer dominant, cheek-padded males Unlike most mammals, mature male orangutans exhibit different facial characteristics: some develop large "cheek pads" on their faces; other males do not. A team of researchers studied the difference in reproductive success between cheek-padded males and males without cheek pads. They found that those with cheek pads are significantly more successful in fathering offspring.. The findings are published in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
	'Bacterial litmus test' provides inexpensive measurement of micronutrients A bacterium engineered to produce different pigments in response to varying levels of a micronutrient in blood samples could give health officials an inexpensive way to detect nutritional deficiencies in resource-limited areas of the world. This "bacterial litmus test," which currently measures levels of zinc, would require no electrical equipment and make results visible as simple color changes.
	Sea slug found to track seaweed by sniffing its defensive chemicals (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the Georgia Institute of Technology has found that one species of sea slug (Elysia tuca) uses chemicals produced defensively by one type of seaweed (Halimeda incrassata) to track down the seaweed. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study and other behaviors of both the slugs and seaweed they observed.
	Modern pigs found to have more wild boar genes than thought (Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has found that domesticated pigs in Europe have a lot more wild boar in them than has been thought. In their paper published in Nature Genetics, the team describes their genetic survey of a large number of domesticated pigs and wild boars in both Europe and Asia.
	Marine animal colony is a multi-jet swimming machine, scientists report The University of Oregon's Kelly Sutherland has seen the future of under-sea exploration by studying the swimming prowess of tiny jellyfish gathered from Puget Sound off Washington's San Juan Island.
	The more the merrier for animals that synchronize their behavior Social interaction could be the mechanism that allows animals living in groups to synchronize their activities, whether it's huddling for warmth or offering protection from predators.
	First imagery from echolocation reveals new signals for hunting bats The ability of some bats to spot motionless prey in the dark has baffled experts until now. By creating the first visual images from echolocation, researchers reveal we have been missing how bats sense their world.
	Parasitized bees are self-medicating in the wild, study finds Bumblebees infected with a common intestinal parasite are drawn to flowers whose nectar and pollen have a medicinal effect, a Dartmouth-led study shows. The findings suggest that plant chemistry could help combat the decline of bee species.
	Adapt or die: Arctic animals cope with climate change When it comes to coping with climate change in the Arctic region, which is warming at three times the global average, some animals are more equal than others.
	Endangered eastern chimpanzees inhabit rapidly shrinking Ugandan forest fragments Two years spent collecting and analyzing eastern chimpanzee fecal samples from an unprotected region in Uganda has revealed a far larger population of the primates than previous estimates suggested for the area.
	Scientists reveal New Zealand's prehistoric wildlife sanctuaries An international research team led by University of Otago scientists has documented prehistoric 'sanctuary' regions where New Zealand seabirds survived early human hunting.
	Better learning through neural distinguishing A study published in the latest issue of Nature Neuroscience describes work led by the University of Geneva's (UNIGE) Faculties of Medicine and Sciences, on the indisputable role of the olfactory bulb in mammal brains' ability to discriminate between smells. This research has verified the importance of a very active neural network, which cuts, prunes, and models the sequence of electrical impulses that result from information transmitted by the nose. Although the interpretation needed to distinguish between different smells takes place in the cortex, this step is greatly facilitated by the work done by the bulb neurons who put together the information to be read. From a behavioral perspective this concerns the learning process since the brain is better at learning and recalling what it can clearly differentiate.
	DNA division can slow to a halt A key mystery of the DNA replication process has been unraveled by researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
	New study rewrites genetic history of sheep At a time when the price of mutton is climbing and wool crashing, a groundbreaking new study has used advanced genetic sequencing technology to rewrite the history of sheep breeding and trading along the ancient Silk Road—insights that can help contemporary herders in developing countries preserve or recover valuable traits crucial to their food and economic security.
Heat and acid could squeeze trout out of southern Appalachian streams A newly published research study that combines effects of warming temperatures from climate change with stream acidity projects average losses of around 10 percent of stream habitat for coldwater aquatic species for seven national forests in the southern Appalachians - and up to a 20 percent loss of habitat in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests in western North Carolina.
	Inntags: New tools for innocuous protein tagging The study, published today at Nature Methods (the most prestigious journal for the presentation of results in methods development), proposes the use of two plant protein epitopes, named inntags, as the most innocuous and stable tagging tools in the study of physical and functional interactions of proteins.
	The four-letter code: How DNA barcoding can accelerate biodiversity inventories With unprecedented biodiversity loss occurring, we must determine how many species we share the planet with. This can start in our backyards, but speed is critical. A new study shows how biodiversity inventories can be accelerated with DNA barcoding and rapid publishing techniques, making it possible to survey a nature reserve in just four months. The final inventory of 3,500 species was written, released and published in the Biodiversity Data Journal in under one week.
	Yeast study yields insights into cell-division cycle Studies using yeast genetics have provided new, fundamental insights into the cell-division cycle, researchers at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute report.
Ancient hybridization key to domestic dog's origin, wolf conservation efforts The ancestry of man's best friend may be more complicated than its furry coat and soulful eyes betray. Understanding the evolutionary history of the domesticated dog may ultimately help protect endangered wolves, according to a study from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
	New international standards needed to manage ocean noise As governments and industries expand their use of high-decibel seismic surveys to explore the ocean bottom for resources, experts from eight universities and environmental organizations are calling for new global standards and mitigation strategies.
	Video: Understanding the ecological role of wolves in Yellowstone National Park Long loathed as a threat and nuisance, the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park was essentially wiped out by the mid 1920s. That changed in 1995, when the National Park Service reintroduced wolves there, with the goal of restoring a natural predator/prey dynamic to the landscape.
	Enhancing rice production during climate change in Malaysia A Malaysian rice variety gives higher yields with less fertilizer compared to two other varieties grown in Southeast Asia. This could be key to increasing food security in times of climate change, according to a recent analysis published in the Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science (JTAS).
	German zoo shoots dead escaped orangutan A German zoo said Tuesday its keepers had shot dead a panicked orangutan after it escaped its enclosure and threatened to run through city streets.

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