Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Sep 16

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 16, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- What's the best way to charge millions of electric vehicles at once?
- Data analysis yields striking maps of human expansion in North American Holocene
- New support for converging black holes in Virgo constellation
- Ban on microbeads offers best chance to protect oceans, aquatic species
- New catalyst yields more accurate PSA test
- LUTZ Pathfinder pod is off to University of Oxford for brains
- Researchers achieve near-perfect absorption of sounds waves
- Study shows concept of high numbers varied over time in indigenous Australian languages
- A quantum lab for everyone
- The rise of the musical omnivore
- Bats frequently come into contact with infectious diseases, but rarely suffer from them
- Study identifies how key brain region orchestrates punishment decisions
- Natural defense against HIV discovered
- Gene editing study reveals possible 'Achilles heel' of sickle cell disease
- Beet juice boosts muscle power in heart patients

Astronomy & Space news

	New support for converging black holes in Virgo constellation Earlier this year, astronomers discovered what appeared to be a pair of supermassive black holes circling toward a collision so powerful it would send a burst of gravitational waves surging through the fabric of space-time itself.
	Nearby red dwarfs could reveal planet secrets An accidental find of a collection of young red dwarf stars close to our solar system could give us a rare glimpse of slow-motion planet formation.
	Watching an exoplanet in motion around a distant star A team of astronomers has given us our best view yet of an exoplanet moving in its orbit around a distant star. A series of images captured between November 2013 to April 2015 shows the exoplanet β Pic b as it moves through 1.5 years of its 22-year orbital period.
	A shy galactic neighbor The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy, pictured in this new image from the Wide Field Imager camera, installed on the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory, is a close neighbour of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Despite their close proximity, both galaxies have very distinct histories and characters. This galaxy is much smaller and older than the Milky Way, making it a valuable subject for studying both star and galaxy formation in the early Universe. However, due to its faintness, studying this object is no easy task.
	Advanced alien civilizations rare or absent in the local universe Sensitive new telescopes now permit astronomers to detect the waste heat that is expected to be a signature of advanced alien civilizations that can harness enormous energies on the scale of the stellar output of their own galaxy. Professor Michael Garrett (ASTRON General & Scientific Director) has used radio observations of candidate galaxies to show that such advanced civilizations are very rare or entirely absent from the local universe.
	Advanced LIGO to begin operations The Advanced LIGO Project, a major upgrade of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is completing its final preparations before the initiation of scientific observations, scheduled to begin in mid-September. Designed to observe gravitational waves—ripples in the fabric of space and time—LIGO, which was designed and is operated by Caltech and MIT with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), consists of identical detectors in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington.
	NASA pushes first flight of Orion spacecraft with crew to 2023 NASA's newest spacecraft, the Orion, won't be flying astronauts as soon as anticipated.
	Image: Proba-2 captures partial solar eclipse ESA's Sun-watching Proba-2 satellite experienced three partial solar eclipses on 13 September 2015. On Earth, a single partial eclipse occurred over South Africa, the southern Indian Ocean and Antarctica.
	How Hubble's successor will give us a glimpse into the very first galaxies A key feature of our understanding of cosmology is that the universe has a finite age. This means that there was a period of the universe's history when galaxies first formed. Studying this epoch has long been one of the tantalising goals of observational astronomy – it is a goal that is about to become a whole lot easier to reach.
	Mauna Kea telescope protesters say stone altar was destroyed People protesting the construction of a giant telescope on a Hawaiian mountain they hold sacred are decrying the destruction of a stone altar they built near the construction site.

Technology news

	Facebook working on long-sought 'dislike' button Facebook, pressed for years by users to add a "dislike" button, says it is working on the feature and will be testing it soon.
	Giraffe machine has taught itself to play chess at higher levels "Chess, after all, is special; it requires creativity and advanced reasoning. No computer could match humans at chess." That was a likely argument before IBM surprised the world about computers playing chess. In 1997, Deep Blue's entry won the World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov.
	Platform analyzes data from multiple sources to better predict buying preferences All activity on your social media accounts contributes to your "social graph," which maps your interconnected online relationships, likes, preferred activities, and affinity for certain brands, among other things.
	Robot can assess its situation and call a human for help when it needs assistance Like a driver who refuses to ask for directions when lost, today's industrial robots don't know when they're in trouble and should stop and get help—which limits their usefulness in manufacturing.
	LUTZ Pathfinder pod is off to University of Oxford for brains The electric-powered LUTZ Pathfinder pod was presented Tuesday. This is Britain's self-driving car and it is paving the way for trials across the UK, said The Telegraph. The trials will be assessing the vehicle on "pedestrianized" areas and footpaths.
	Digital era hits income for writers: study The digital era is cutting into income for book authors, making it more difficult to live off writing alone, a survey by the Authors Guild said Tuesday.
	3D design putting golfers above par Master of Design Innovation student James Irvine has developed a design process that takes data from a player's swing and deciphers where their sweet spot is—the area of the club the player hits the ball with most.
	Why the newest Porsche runs on batteries After a slow start, electric vehicles are gaining in popularity. London is now host to an electric car-sharing service, which proved successful in Paris.
	Researchers studying how to make longer, more durable bridge girders Engineering researchers at The University of Alabama are testing massive concrete girders in a campus laboratory to find ways for bridges to span longer distances with fewer supports underneath.
	Fossil fuels and renewables incur similar future costs Are renewable energies coupled with energy efficiency too expensive? Regardless of whether the Swiss people choose a future based largely on fossil fuels, nuclear power or a combination of renewable energy sources, the cost of our future energy system is not likely to vary much. At least that's what Energyscope.ch, the energy calculator developed by EPFL, has determined.
	Key benchtop testing planned for wireless brain sensor An important step in the ongoing development and testing of the investigational BrainGate Neural Interface System is creating a wireless version so that future users will not have to be tethered to the system's computers via cable. In recent years Brown University has developed wireless transmitter prototypes, but benchtop preclinical testing is still needed before the technology can be considered for use in a clinical trial.
	More Mad Max than max safety—teenagers don't dream of safe cars Hardly a week goes by without calls for something to be done to prevent any further deaths or serious injuries caused by young drivers on our roads.
	The future of the Internet The current buzzwords that one might hear flung across the boardroom tables of internet and telecommunications companies might include, "the cloud", "ubiquitous computing", "internet of things", "pervasive computing", "distributed systems", "Wi-Fi drones", "big data", even "ambient intelligence". The list goes on. Some of these are essentially synonyms, some have been used for years, others are emerging concepts. Either way, the internet as we know it is evolving into something much bigger, something way beyond the social imaginings of that twee paradigm we so coolly used to know as Web 2.0.
	World urged to make clean energy cheaper than coal Top environmental advocates on Wednesday urged the international community to increase and coordinate investments in research and development for renewable energy to make it cheaper than coal within 10 years.
	Amazon links Washington Post to 'Prime' subscription US online giant Amazon announced Wednesday that members of its Prime subscription program would be eligible for discounted digital access to The Washington Post newspaper.
	Tech disruption hangs over automakers at Frankfurt show A sense of impending disruption hangs over all the shiny new cars at this year's edition of the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
Hyundai cautious on prospects for self-driving cars The self-driving car is coming, but not as rapidly as people think, the head of the European operations of South Korean carmaker Hyundai, Thomas Schmid, told AFP on Wednesday.
	US bolsters link to Europe's centre against cybercrime Washington is boosting its cooperation with Europol to fight cybercrime by posting an American official full time to its headquarters in The Hague, the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday.
Startup's software allows diners to text servers Where's our waiter? Patrons won't ever have to ask that again if a South Florida tech startup has its way.
California court makes it tougher for music, movie industries to take down Web postings For a Pennsylvania mom who has waged a closely watched Silicon Valley legal battle for nearly 10 years with the music industry, it appears, perhaps, her baby should have simply been allowed to dance to a Prince song on YouTube after all.
Microsoft teaching, learning in Africa Anand Mariappan spends his days at Microsoft building data-analysis tools largely designed for people like him. That is, office workers accustomed to high-resolution computer monitors, lightning-quick Internet and the creature comforts of a modern office park.
	Review: Microsoft Surface 3 LTE tablet acts as laptop Tablets like the Apple iPad are fun, but they're not exactly a replacement for a full-blown computer.
	Review: Nest's new products offer pricey protection As I've noted before, I have a decidedly dumb home. But lately I've been testing out some products from Nest that promise to make it a bit smarter - and safer.
Banks testing tech to speed up transactions Banks are experimenting with a tool that could shorten your wait times in the teller line or at the ATM: your smartphone.
Auto industry shows off car cockpit of future at IAA Imagine climbing into your car seat exhausted but knowing you have to keep awake for the long drive home.
	News Corp buys social video firm Unruly News Corp, the publishing group created by magnate Rupert Murdoch, announced plans Wednesday to buy social video ad firm Unruly for up to $176 million.
	Guide to software refinements in iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch Apple's mobile devices are getting free software updates Wednesday, as iPhones and iPads receive battery improvements and a smarter virtual assistant, while the Apple Watch gets more types of apps.
	Apple touts environmental upgrade in latest iPhones Apple has given its latest iPhones an environmental upgrade to go along with a better camera and a few new features.
	Apple delays Watch software update due to 'bug' Apple is delaying a big software update for the Apple Watch because it found a bug that is taking longer than expected to fix.
	MOVER technology: Improving therapy for brain injury patients For warfighters recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), the benefits of home-based, outpatient physical rehabilitation programs are numerous—they can exercise at home on their own schedules, be among family and friends and spend less time in treatment facilities. Regular physical therapy can keep tendons and joints flexible, maintain bodily strength and improve balance and walking ability.
	Lyft gets into China in tie-up with Didi Ride-sharing startup Lyft announced a partnership Wednesday with China's Didi Kuaidi which includes a $100 million investment in the US service to help ramp up its challenge to Uber.
	Microsoft raises dividend 16 percent to 36 cents Microsoft is raising its quarterly dividend 16 percent to 36 cents a share.
	Ultra-thin noise suppression sheets with the world's highest permeability TDK Corporation presents the ultra-thin IFL16 noise suppression sheet: The sheet has a thickness of just 0.03 mm or 0.05 mm, depending on type, making it 20 percent thinner than existing sheets with the same performance. At this thickness the new material offers the world's highest magnetic permeability of 220 µ´ at 1 MHz (typ.). IFL16 is designed for a temperature range of between -40 °C and +85 °C and is suitable for the frequency range from 0.5 MHz to 1000 MHz. The standard size of the sheet is 300 mm x 200 mm. The sheet can also be supplied on a roll (300 mm x 100 m). The new sheet extends the existing TDK product spectrum of noise suppression sheets of types IFL10M and IFL12. Volume production will start in September 2015.
	Data driven green design According to a study by the non-profit Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the commercial and residential building sector accounts for 39 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States per year, more than any other sector, including transportation and industry.
Planning sustainable energy at local scale European forests have an important role in rural development as a source of raw material and food, as well as for their recreational value. Rural development focuses on the use of local resources to provide benefits to the local population. It also aims to prevent the depopulation of rural areas by increasing local employment opportunities. In developing distributed energy systems for rural communities, it is crucial to understand that local decision making processes need to be guided by a careful evaluation of the sustainability of production chains and alternative choices. A recent study by an international team of scientists led by Dr. Salvatore Martire from EFI looks at the possibilities an integrated assessment can offer to rural development and energy policy objectives.
	Google launches fundraising tool for migrant crisis Google launched an online campaign Wednesday to get users to donate to relief efforts for the migration crisis affecting Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
	Target, developing healthier habits, hands workers Fitbits Target is going on a health kick, aimed at both customers and its employees.
Russian pleads guilty in US to selling hacked credit cards A Russian man has pleaded guilty in New Jersey to selling some of the 160 million credit and debit card numbers obtained in a computer hacking scheme.
	Montreal's La Presse pulls plug on daily print edition One of Canada's largest newspapers, Montreal's La Presse, will pull the plug on its daily print edition next year, its publisher said Wednesday.

Medicine & Health news

	Antibacterial soap no real threat to germs, study says Antibacterial hand soaps containing a chemical flagged as potentially dangerous are not much better at killing germs than regular suds, researchers said Wednesday.
	Alzheimer's disease consists of three distinct subtypes, according to study Alzheimer's disease, long thought to be a single disease, really consists of three distinct subtypes, according to a UCLA study. The finding could lead to more highly targeted research and, eventually, new treatments for the debilitating neurological disorder, which robs people of their memories.
	Study identifies how key brain region orchestrates punishment decisions It's a question most attorneys wish they could answer: How and why do judges and juries arrive at their decisions?
	Microbiome implicated in sickle cell disease—but antibiotics can counter its effects New research on sickle cell disease (SCD) has found that using antibiotics to deplete the body's microbiome may prevent acute sickle cell crisis and could offer the first effective strategy for warding off the disease's long-term complications, such as organ failure. The study, conducted by scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System, could also lead to better treatment for other inflammatory blood-vessel disorders including septic shock. The findings were published online today in Nature.
	Gene editing study reveals possible 'Achilles heel' of sickle cell disease Researchers from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center have found that changes to a small stretch of DNA may circumvent the genetic defect behind sickle cell disease (SCD). The discovery, published in the journal Nature, creates a path for developing gene editing approaches for treating SCD and other hemoglobin disorders, such as thalassemia.
	Delivering missing protein heals damaged hearts in animals, study finds Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine and their colleagues have enabled damaged heart tissue in animals to regenerate by delivering a protein to it via a bioengineered collagen patch.
	Caffeine at night delays human circadian clock, new study shows It's no secret that slugging down caffeinated drinks in the evening can disrupt sleep.
	Natural defense against HIV discovered Researchers at Michigan State University were part of a team to discover a new natural defense against HIV infection.
	Beet juice boosts muscle power in heart patients Scientists have evidence that Popeye was right: Spinach makes you stronger. But it's the high nitrate content in the leafy greens—not the iron—that creates the effect.
	Experts question the evidence underpinning e-cigarette recommendations Public Health England (PHE) recently endorsed the use of electronic cigarettes as an aid to quitting smoking. But in The BMJ this week, experts question the evidence on safety and effectiveness underpinning the recommendations.
	Scientists discover how cells overpower cancer drug Cancer Research UK scientists have found how cells adapt to overcome cancer drugs designed to interfere with their genetic controls, according to a study published today in Epigenetics and Chromatin.
Large-scale treatment of parasitic-worm disease cost-effective Stanford University School of Medicine researchers and their colleagues are calling for an urgent re-evaluation of global guidelines for the treatment of parasitic-worm diseases in light of a new study showing that large-scale treatment programs are highly cost-effective.
New studies show no long term effects of antidepressant use during pregnancy The use of antidepressants during pregnancy has no long term neurodevelopmental or behavioural effects on the child, however they may be associated with an increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage, suggests the findings from three studies published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).
	H. pylori linked to increased odds of laryngeal carcinoma (HealthDay)—Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with significantly increased odds of laryngeal carcinoma but not pharyngeal cancer, according to a review published online Aug. 28 in Head & Neck.
	More than 400 illnesses reported in latest salmonella outbreak (HealthDay)—A salmonella outbreak that has been linked to contaminated cucumbers imported from Mexico has now caused 418 illnesses in 31 states, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
	Team applies Ebola genetic sequencing methods to shed light on spread of Lassa fever Scientists fighting last year's outbreak of Ebola used the power of genetic sequencing to unlock the secrets of the deadly virus, and now they're doing the same for a similar, and far more prevalent, disease—Lassa fever.
	Guide aims to help parents set boundaries for kids and devices First there was too much TV, then computer and video-gaming addictions. Today, the proliferation of smart screens gives kids a three-in-one box, portable enough to be watched from anywhere, out of sight of watchful parents.
	When 'healthy' eating becomes a health risk In their quest for healthy eating, many Americans are turning to restrictive diets – from vegan to Paleo to low-carb – that they believe are the most "pure" or beneficial. But when people decide to go beyond these and severely limit the types of foods they consume, they could be putting themselves at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
	Research shows that the type of toys matters when it comes to how parents speak As the traditional toys of the past are rapidly replaced by electronically "enhanced" toys, Penn State Brandywine Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Jennifer Zosh is asking the question: "What impact do these toys actually have on the way we interact with kids today and the way they learn?"
Crime ties are relative in youth offenders' future substance abuse A new UT Dallas study has found that having family or friends involved in crime was the best predictor of whether a youth offender would become a long-term marijuana user or heavy drinker.
	The internet is eating your memory, but something better is taking its place In the years since the world started going digital, one of the big changes has been that we don't need to remember very much. Why risk forgetting a partner's birthday or a dinner date with a close friend when you can commit the details to your computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet and get a reminder at the appropriate time?
	Researchers identify the gene responsible for metastasis of breast cancer to the bone Physicians currently have no tools to help them detect which breast cancer patients will suffer metastasis to the bone, a process that occurs in 15-20% of cases. A study led by ICREA researcher Roger Gomis at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and published today in JNCI has uncovered a gene that allows breast cancer cells to invade bones and create new tumours, or to metastasize. This discovery has been patented and transferred to Inbiomotion, a spin off from the IRB Barcelona and ICREA, founded at the end of 2010. Inbiomotion, led by the venture investor Ysios Capital, has developed the technology necessary to validate the marker in clinical trials, which are already underway.
Tiny silica particles could be used to repair damaged teeth, research shows Researchers at the University of Birmingham have shown how the development of coated silica nanoparticles could be used in restorative treatment of sensitive teeth and preventing the onset of tooth decay.
	The key to your health could be in your ZIP code In January 2015, President Obama launched the Precision Medicine Initiative, a plan to support research into treatment and prevention strategies that take differences between people – especially genetics – into account.
	Choral singing therapy may lead to improved quality of life for stroke survivors Singing in a choir can improve the feelings of social isolation and low mood experienced by stroke survivors with aphasia (communication difficulties) according to new research from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
	Methadone increases death risk in first four weeks of treatment for opioid dependence Patients who start treatment for dependence on opioids are five times as likely to die in the first four weeks when they are prescribed the most commonly used treatment, methadone, than with an alternative treatment, buprenorphine, a study by researchers at the University of Bristol, King's College London and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW in Australia has found.
Identifying protein that may predict response to PD-1 immunotherapy for melanoma Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a protein marker whose frequency may predict patient response to PD-1 blockade immunotherapy for melanoma. An abstract of their findings was presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference in New York City.
Delhi hospitals struggle with dengue overload Hospitals in the Indian capital struggled Wednesday to cope with a flood of patients suffering from dengue fever as the Delhi government warned against turning away anyone seeking treatment.
	Beta-blockers don't mar acute variceal bleeding prognosis (HealthDay)—For cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding (AVB), being on non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB) is not a negative prognostic factor for short-term survival, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Hepatology.
	Dominant strain of drug-resistant MRSA decreases in hospitals, but persists in community The incidence of the most common strain of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has decreased in hospital-onset cases, but has failed to decline in the broader community, according to new research published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
New oral drug effective treatment for ulcerative colitis, researchers say A novel, one-step method to treat ulcerative colitis with an oral drug consisting of microparticles and natural herbal molecules that target the colon shows promise as an effective therapy, according to researchers from the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University and Southwest University in China.
	WHO aims to make Europeans start moving, stop smoking The World Health Organisation on Wednesday launched strategies aimed at getting Europeans to start moving and stop smoking over the next decade to defuse what it termed the ticking time-bomb of sedentary lifestyles.
	Americans support more funding of cancer research (HealthDay)—Major advances have been made in the fight against cancer, but Americans aren't satisfied, a new survey suggests.
Report: Cancer remains leading cause of death in US Hispanics While cancer is the second leading cause of death overall in the United States, it remains the leading cause of death among U.S. Hispanics. The finding comes from "Cancer Statistics for Hispanics/Latinos," a comprehensive report produced every three years by the American Cancer Society and published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
	Twin study suggests genetic factors contribute to insomnia in adults A new study of twins suggests that insomnia in adults is partially explained by genetic factors, and this heritability is higher in females than in males.
Not all rhythmic skills are related, which may have implications for language ability Tapping to a beat and remembering rhythms may not be related skills, which may also have implications for language ability, according to a study published September 16, 2015 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Adam Tierney and Nina Kraus from Northwestern University.
Being overweight may increase risk of type of brain tumor Being overweight or obese may be tied to an increased risk of a type of brain tumor called meningioma, according to a new meta-analysis published in the September 16, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Meningiomas occur at a rate of about five to eight cases per 100,000 people per year. The five-year survival rate for meningioma is 63 percent.
	Study finds association between energy drinks and traumatic brain injury in teens Teens who reported a traumatic brain injury in the past year were seven times more likely to have consumed at least five energy drinks in the past week than those without a history of TBI, according to a study published today in PLOS ONE.
	Researchers find some evidence of link between stress, Alzheimer's disease University of Florida Health researchers have uncovered more evidence of a link between the brain's stress response and a protein related to Alzheimer's disease.
	Tai chi improves BP control, quality of life in older adults (HealthDay)—Tai chi is effective in managing several hypertension-related risk factors in older adults, according to a study published in the October issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Support tool could aid decision on total joint arthroplasty (HealthDay)—A decision-support tool would help with decision making for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) for patients with osteoarthritis, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
	Misconceptions of infection, contagion surround psoriasis (HealthDay)—Misconceptions of infection and contagion surround psoriasis, which is highly stigmatizing, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Hospitalized patients with CKD often unaware of it (HealthDay)—Hospitalized patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently are unaware of their condition, according to research published in the September issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Risk of colorectal polyps tied to blood pressure medications (HealthDay)—Blood pressure medications may raise the risk of colorectal polyps, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
Groups seek details on Senate probe into painkiller ties Anti-addiction activists are calling on a Senate committee to release findings from a 3-year-old investigation into links between painkiller manufacturers and nonprofit medical groups.
Placental problems in early pregnancy associated with five-fold increased risk of OB and fetal disorders First-trimester ultrasound scanning to pinpoint placental vascular disorders may be used to identify women at risk of developing serious obstetric complications. A new study in The American Journal of Pathology finds that patients with the highest degree of uterine artery blood flow resistance have an almost five-fold increased chance of developing preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, or stillbirth than other pregnant women. Increased cell death and reduced insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF2) expression were found to be possible causal factors of abnormal placental development.
	Team pinpoints immune changes in blood of melanoma patients on PD-1 drugs A simple blood test can detect early markers of "reinvigorated" T cells and track immune responses in metastatic melanoma patients after initial treatment with the anti-PD-1 drug pembrolizumab, researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania report in new research being presented at the inaugural CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference. The new findings give more insight into how the anti-PD-1 therapy, approved last year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat metastatic melanoma, goes to work inside patients' bodies, and potentially form the basis of a biomarker to predict which patients are most apt to respond to the immunotherapy.
	Immune system may be pathway between nature and good health Research has found evidence that spending time in nature provides protections against a startling range of diseases, including depression, diabetes, obesity, ADHD, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and many more. How this exposure to green space leads to better health has remained a mystery. After reviewing hundreds of studies examining nature's effects on health, University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher Ming Kuo believes the answer lies in nature's ability to enhance the functioning of the body's immune system.
	Study links rare leukemia to busy roads Children who live near traffic-choked roads run a 30 percent higher risk of developing a very rare type of blood cancer, researchers said.
Merck: Long-acting diabetes pill works same as its Januvia Drugmaker Merck & Co. says its experimental Type 2 diabetes drug performed about as well as its older daily pill, Januvia, in a late-stage patient test.
	High consumption of sugar sweetened beverages linked to overall poor diet New research presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Stockholm shows that high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, which has been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, is part of a poor overall diet. Thus care must be taken when linking such beverages to disease risk, say the authors from Lund University, Malmö, Sweden, led by Louise Brunkwall.
	Rapamycin prevents Parkinson's in mouse model of incurable neurodegenerative disease Rapamycin, an FDA-approved drug that extends lifespan in several species, prevented Parkinson's disease (PD) in middle-age mice that were genetically fated to develop the incurable neurodegenerative motor disease that affects as many as one million Americans. While the rapamycin did great things for the mice, scientists in the Andersen lab at the Buck Institute also got an unexpected plus from the research - a new understanding of the role parkin plays in cellular dynamics, one that challenges the current dogma in PD research and presents new opportunities for drug discovery. The study is currently online in the Journal of Neuroscience.
	Reanalysis of antidepressant trial finds popular drug ineffective, unsafe for adolescents The widely used antidepressant paroxetine is neither safe nor effective for adolescents with depression, concludes a reanalysis of an influential study originally published in 2001.
	Multiple myeloma patients vulnerable to 'financial toxicity,' due to costly treatments Even patients with health insurance who have multiple myeloma may be vulnerable to "financial toxicity" - including those who make over $100,000 a year - because of the higher use of novel therapeutics and extended duration of myeloma treatment, researchers from Penn's Abramson Cancer Center report in this week's Lancet Haematology. Nearly half of the 100 patients surveyed tapped into their savings to pay for their care, and 17 percent reported delays in treatment due to costs, the team found. Ten stopped treatment altogether.
	Researchers isolate possible ovarian cancer biomarkers; find that biomarker loads can vary with disease stage Researchers from North Carolina State University utilized a highly sensitive mass spectrometry analysis to identify and measure difficult-to-detect N-glycan biomarkers associated with ovarian cancers in stages I – IV. In a surprising finding, the researchers determined that the level of biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer does not simply increase or decrease over the course of the disease, but can rise and fall during different stages. These findings have implications for our understanding of, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to, ovarian cancer.
	Women who give birth in rural hospitals are more likely to need to be later readmitted Researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Texas A&M Health Science Center compared hospital readmission rates for women who delivered their baby in rural versus urban hospitals. The study found that women discharged from rural hospitals had higher readmission rates than urban hospitals. These findings are currently available in the journal Rural and Remote Health.
Scientists create immunity to deadly parasite by manipulating host's genes There are two common approaches to protecting humans from infectious disease: Targeting pathogens and parasites with medicines such as antibiotics, or dealing with the conditions that allow transmission. Exciting new research demonstrates the effectiveness of a third strategy: adjusting the landscape of the human body to remove the mechanism that allows pathogens to cause disease.
UI Health validates cure for sickle cell in adults Physicians at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System have cured 12 adult patients of sickle cell disease using a unique procedure for stem cell transplantation from healthy, tissue-matched siblings.
	California doctor charged in $150 million insurance scam An orthopedic surgeon was charged as the ringleader in one of the state's biggest health fraud schemes, which included unnecessary operations by an untrained assistant that scarred patients forever, according to indictments unsealed Tuesday.
Australia to block government benefits for unvaccinated children Australia Wednesday introduced a "no jab, no pay" law which would block parents who refuse to vaccinate their children from accessing some government benefits.
Indian hospitals warned against turning away dengue patients Authorities have threatened to cancel the licenses of private hospitals in the Indian capital if they turn away patients suffering from dengue fever.
The tadpole endoscope—new diagnostic device in the fight against cancer Engineers have developed a new medical device aimed at improving diagnostic procedures for various cancers: the tadpole endoscope (TE).
	Simplified boron compound may treat brain tumours Effective and targeted uptake among malignant cells demonstrates the promise of a simplified boron compound for neutron radiation therapy, report researchers at Okayama University and Kinki University.
	Weighed down: 'Fat-Talk Nation' finds lasting hurt in waistline fixation From cereal boxes to the Kardashians, everywhere we look we're bombarded with messages about weight and bodies—how to look slimmer, how to be slimmer, how to stay slim.
	Innovation in neurosurgery As medical students, we don't get much intra-curricular exposure to surgery. Then there is the neurophobia, a chronic condition whose main symptom is the inability to apply knowledge of neuroscience to clinical situations. A phenomenon literature suggests is fairly common, and experience tells me is already afflicting my student cohort. As we waited to enter our exams a few months ago, one person voiced what we we'd all been thinking: "I really hope there's not much brain in this one!" Perhaps as a result of this neurophobia and limited insight into surgical careers, the relatively small specialty of neurosurgery seems to be shrouded in a certain level of mystery for many medical students.
	First diabetes prototype app with integrated online community Royal Philips and Netherlands-based Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc) today introduced a connected digital health prototype that enables people living with diabetes and their health care providers to make more confident care decisions while managing the complexity of diabetes self-care. In its first phase, the solution both organizations are developing will focus on patients living with diabetes type 1.
Half of refugees traumatised: German psychotherapists At least half of the refugees who have come to Germany have mental health problems because of trauma suffered in war or during their dangerous escapes, said the chamber of psychotherapists Wednesday.
	Undiagnosed Diseases Network launches online application portal The Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), a clinical research initiative of the National Institutes of Health, has opened an online patient application portal called the UDN Gateway. Introduction of this application system sets the stage for the network to advance its core mission: to diagnose patients who suffer from conditions that even skilled physicians have been unable to diagnose despite extensive clinical investigation. These diseases are difficult for doctors to diagnose because they are rarely seen, have not previously been described or are unrecognized forms of more common diseases.
Can mindfulness help patients stay in treatment? A common problem with treatments involving changes in diet and other lifestyle behaviors is that patients don't always stick with them rigorously. A new $4.7-million grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow a team of four Brown University researchers to study whether mindfulness can help patients do better.
Amgen buys 1 company, partners with 2nd to create new drugs Biotech drug giant Amgen has made two much-needed deals to replenish its stock of medicines in development as new competition to its lucrative biotech drugs threatens future revenue.
Cholera kills 16 at Boko Haram displaced camps in NE Nigeria: MSF Sixteen people have died in a cholera outbreak at three camps for those made homeless by Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Wednesday.

Biology news

	Arctic mosquitoes thriving under climate change, study finds Warming temperatures are causing Arctic mosquitoes to grow faster and emerge earlier, significantly boosting their population and threatening the caribou they feast on, a Dartmouth College study finds.
	The animal populations that humans selected to domesticate grew increasingly tame A reduced fear of humans can be the driving force behind the characteristics that have developed since wild animals became domesticated, according to research by ethologists at Linköping University (LiU).
	Noise may shorten sparrow lives, study finds The noise of cars honking and zooming through the streets may shorten the lifespan of sparrows growing up near the clamour, scientists said Wednesday.
	Wolves found to be better at problem-solving task than domesticated dogs (Phys.org)—Monique Udell, a researcher with Oregon State University, has found via experimentation, that domestic dogs appear to have lost some of their problem solving abilities as a result of their long history with humans. In her paper published in the journal Biology Letters, she describes a study she carried out and offers some theories on why she believe domesticated dogs may have lost some of their natural skills.
	Beetle's antennae finds potential mates Recent research from a team led by Dr Jonathan Cox shows how certain beetles use their antennae to locate potential mates. This is the first time scientists have studied molecule capture by the antennae of beetles.
	Human innovation more trial-and-error than 'lightbulb' moments Humans are not as good as coming up with sudden 'game-changing' new ideas as was previously thought, a new University of Reading study suggests.
	Bats frequently come into contact with infectious diseases, but rarely suffer from them The bat's immune system works in a fundamentally different way to that of other mammals. This was the conclusion reached by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in a study of mastiff bats. The research could also be significant in the fight against viral diseases that can be transmitted from animals like bats to humans.
	Plant species' responses to climate change altered by novel competitors With climate change and rising average temperatures, many wild animals and plants are being forced into new habitats, their distributions shifting in elevation and latitude with differing velocities. For alpine plants, this could mean facing competition from species unknown to them, such as plants found at lower elevations today that migrate to higher elevations due to climate change.
	Drones and troops protect Mexico sea turtle eggs A small drone buzzes above a pristine Pacific beach in Mexico as troops stand guard, seeking to deter poachers from snatching sea turtle eggs that end up on restaurant menus.
	Global marine populations slashed by half since 1970: WWF Populations of marine mammals, birds, reptiles and fish have dropped by about half in the past four decades, with fish critical to human food suffering some of the greatest declines, WWF warned Wednesday.
	Stopping a soil-borne fungus using charcoal They are a staple in billions of people's diet worldwide, but a soil-borne fungus is threatening the health of tomato plants. Scientists are using novel techniques to understand the relationship between the disease and the soil.
	Need directions? Ask a lizard You come out of an airport and get into a cab. You give the driver your destination and expect that you will be taken to the correct place. Ever wonder how the cabdriver is able to do that?
	Wasps may be battling ash-killing beetles Five years ago, a Michigan Technological University entomologist set loose a swarm of tiny wasps in the woods around Calumet, Mich. His aim: to combat the invasion of a shiny, green beetle deadly to America's ash trees. Now there's evidence that the wasps are settling in and doing their job.
	Research finds how to increase wheat yield during drought in rainfed environments Farmers in climates where late-season drought occurs frequently may be able to increase wheat yield, according to research from The University of Western Australia.
Putting a prehistoric mystery lizard back together again The size, shape, and solidity of an egg can tell us a lot, but until we can see inside, there is still an opportunity for surprise. Unfortunately, when you have an ancient fossilized lizard egg, you can't just crack it open and hope that everything is complete and identifiable. With recent advances in 3-D scanning and printing technology, scientists can now more easily see the contents of an egg without actually opening it. Using this approach, researchers may have made some unexpected discoveries about lizard reproduction.
	First glimpse of rare Peruvian animals revealed in extraordinary camera trap footage A series of remarkable new camera trap videos has revealed some of the first ever footage of a critically endangered bird, the Sira Currasow, and has confirmed the presence of the vulnerable spectacled bear, on which the children's character Paddington Bear is based, in the Sira Communal Reserve of Peru. The hidden cameras also captured 30 species of mammals including jaguar, giant anteater, Brazilian tapir and puma.
	Leaf 'bait' uncovers dieback crossbreeds Murdoch University scientists have discovered the first known natural occurrence of hybrids of the plant pathogen Phytophthora, commonly known as the dieback, which has ravaged south-west bushland and forests.
	Myth of the 'missing link' in evolution does science no favors This spring, the world learned of a newly discovered missing link between microbes and humans called Lokiarchaeota. The actual story is that the microbe Lokiarchaeota, discovered on the deep sea floor by a hydrothermal vent called Loki's Castle, shares features with both bacteria and us. The spin is that this makes it a missing link between the two. Microbiologists have been discreetly quiet about this narrative fiction; although the microbe is fascinating, and so deserves the spotlight, it is no more a missing link than the platypus is a missing link between ducks and humans.
	Four new species of huntsman spiders have been discovered in southern Africa The arachnologist Dr Peter Jäger of the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt has discovered a new genus from the family of huntsman spiders. He was able to describe a total of four new species within this genus, which occurs in South Africa and Namibia. Besides special setae at the tips of their feet, which likely prevent the animals from sinking into the sand, the eight-legged creatures are characterized by their interesting mating behaviour. The study was recently published in the scientific journal "African Invertebrates."
	Savoring a bitter bite: Japanese monkeys drop their guard to survive Most poisons taste bitter: being able to tell typically leads to longer life.
	The black box at the beginning of life Life begins with an egg and a sperm: that much is clear. But how do these "germ cells" form, and how do they pass genetic traits from one generation to the next?
Synthetic biology needs robust safety mechanisms before real world application Targeted cancer treatments, toxicity sensors and living factories: synthetic biology has the potential to revolutionize science and medicine. But before the technology is ready for real-world applications, more attention needs to be paid to its safety and stability, say experts in a review article published in Current Opinion in Chemical Biology.
	To be fragrant or not: Why do some male hairstreak butterflies lack scent organs? Female butterflies generally choose among male suitors, but in the tropics with hundreds of close relatives living in close proximity, how can they decide which males are the right ones? After all, if she mates with a male of another species, she is unlikely to have surviving offspring. One solution is that males of some species have scent producing organs on their wings, so if a male has the right smell, the female will presumably be receptive to his advances. Strangely, males of some species lack these scent producing organs, which would seem to be a huge disadvantage.
Counting underwater vital for marine conservation Understanding how genetic diversity occurs within species is paramount for conservation, according to University of Queensland scientists.
	Saving the last groups of wild Sumatran rhinoceros Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Indonesia Program carried out an island-wide survey of the last wild population of Sumatran rhinoceros, and now recommend that wildlife conservation managers consolidate the small population, provide strong protection for the animals, determine the percent of breeding females remaining and "recognize the cost of doing nothing."
	Citizen scientists contribute to dog research: At-home tests produce findings similar to laboratories Five hundred citizen scientists around the world have contributed data to a study of what goes on inside the minds of their dogs.
	Panda preserves providing habitat for other endangered, threatened species Chinese conservation measures to protect the charismatic giant panda in the wild have also benefitted other threatened species, including birds, mammals and amphibians, according to new Duke University-led study.
Invasive brood parasites a threat to native bird species North Americans might be seeing new species of birds in certain areas of the continent in the near future. According to research conducted by a psychology professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his co-authors, Eurasian birds are beginning to develop a presence on our continent, which could end up having a negative effect on native species.
	Restoring ocean health More than a decade ago, California established marine protected areas (MPAs) in state waters around the northern Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. Several years later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) extended these MPAs into the federal waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
	California sage-grouse remain genetically diverse... for now Genetic diversity is essential for a species to be able to adapt to environmental change, and when habitat loss divides a population into small, isolated fragments, that can spell trouble. Northeastern California is at the far western end of the range of Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), and the fringe population there is declining due to the ongoing invasion of their sagebrush habitat by cheatgrass and juniper. To determine whether the genetic diversity of birds in the region is suffering as a result, Dawn Davis of the University of Idaho and her colleagues spent three years collecting blood samples from California sage-grouse on their breeding grounds for a new study forthcoming in The Condor: Ornithological Applications.
Researchers shoot pigs in the head in blood-spatter study An animal rights group said Wednesday that New Zealand researchers who secured live pigs to a surgical table and shot them in the head with a pistol as part of a study on blood-spatter patterns acted cruelly, and has urged them to end such experiments.
	Model considers long-term benefits based on adaptive action Helping farmers decide what crop to sow in a particular field has just become easier thanks to changes to an existing simulation model.

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