Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 19

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 19, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Of wrinkles and wires: Capillarity-induced skin folding spontaneously forms aligned DNA nanowire

Researchers build first deployable, walking, soft robot

Prototype device enables photon-photon interactions at room temperature for quantum computing

Astronomers discover bubble-like structure associated with the pulsar PSR J1015−5719

Best of Last Week–Neural networks and quantum entanglement, no universe without big bang and looking at left-handedness

Sound waves direct particles to self-assemble, self-heal

To connect biology with electronics, be rigid, yet flexible

Tiny fossils reveal backstory of the most mysterious amphibian alive

New branch in family tree of exoplanets discovered

Freshwater from salt water using only solar energy: Modular, off-grid desalination technology

X-ray eyes in the sky: New method for 3-D through-wall imaging that utilizes drones and WiFi

New approach improves ability to predict metals' reactions with water

Papr swipes reveal instant reactions to preprints

'Human Project' study will ask 10,000 to share life's data

Researcher at London event focuses on e-cig used for computer exploit

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover bubble-like structure associated with the pulsar PSR J1015−5719 (Phys.org)—Astronomers have recently identified a peculiar bubble-like structure associated with an energetic pulsar known as PSR J1015−5719. The newly found feature, designated G283.1−0.59, is most likely a polar wind nebula. The findings were presented June 9 in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print server.
	New branch in family tree of exoplanets discovered Since the mid-1990s, when the first planet around another sun-like star was discovered, astronomers have been amassing what is now a large collection of exoplanets—nearly 3,500 have been confirmed so far. In a new Caltech-led study, researchers have classified these planets in much the same way that biologists identify new animal species and have learned that the majority of exoplanets found to date fall into two distinct size groups: rocky Earth-like planets and larger mini-Neptunes. The team used data from NASA's Kepler mission and the W. M. Keck Observatory.
	Martian crater provides reminder of Apollo moonwalk NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity passed near a young crater this spring during the 45th anniversary of Apollo 16's trip to Earth's moon, prompting a connection between two missions.
	The anatomy of Orion The Orion molecular cloud is a large complex of hot young stars, nebulae, and dark clouds of gas and dust located in the constellation of Orion. Two particularly famous sights in the night sky, the Orion Nebula and the Horsehead Nebula, are members of this complex, which is relatively nearby, only about 1500 light-years away. Despite its fame, brightness, and relative proximity, however, this complex is not very well understood. Take its star formation, for instance. The relative roles of the local versus galactic-wide conditions are poorly modeled, in particular the contributions of small-scale processes like magnetic fields and turbulence as compared to larger scale activity like gas pressure or the streaming motions of gas within the galaxy's spiral arms. One reason for this lack of understanding is that the nebula is densely packed with stars and activity while its dust obscures many of the regions from optical view.
	Probing the possibility of life on super-Earths Along with its aesthetic function of helping create the glorious Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, the powerful magnetic field surrounding our planet has a fairly important practical value as well: It makes life possible.
	Measuring the magnetic fields on the hottest planets in the galaxy It is now possible to measure the magnetic field strengths of the hottest planets in the galaxy, new research has shown.
	Image: Jupiter's clouds of many colors NASA's Juno spacecraft was racing away from Jupiter following its seventh close pass of the planet when JunoCam snapped this image on May 19, 2017, from about 29,100 miles (46,900 kilometers) above the cloud tops.
	Opportunity reaches 'Perseverance Valley' precipice Now well into her 13th year roving the Red Planet, NASA's astoundingly resilient Opportunity rover has arrived at the precipice of "Perseverance Valley" – overlooking the upper end of an ancient fluid-carved valley on Mars "possibly water-cut" that flows down into the unimaginably vast eeriness of alien Endeavour crater.
	Image: A stormy stellar nursery This shot from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows a maelstrom of glowing gas and dark dust within one of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Technology news

	Freshwater from salt water using only solar energy: Modular, off-grid desalination technology A federally funded research effort to revolutionize water treatment has yielded an off-grid technology that uses energy from sunlight alone to turn salt water into fresh drinking water. The desalination system, which uses a combination of membrane distillation technology and light-harvesting nanophotonics, is the first major innovation from the Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT), a multi-institutional engineering research center based at Rice University.
	X-ray eyes in the sky: New method for 3-D through-wall imaging that utilizes drones and WiFi Researchers at UC Santa Barbara professor Yasamin Mostofi's lab have given the first demonstration of three-dimensional imaging of objects through walls using ordinary wireless signal. The technique, which involves two drones working in tandem, could have a variety of applications, such as emergency search-and-rescue, archaeological discovery and structural monitoring.
	Papr swipes reveal instant reactions to preprints Jeff Leek, a biostatistician at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, released a prototype for an app called Papr.
	Researcher at London event focuses on e-cig used for computer exploit (Tech Xplore)—E-cigarettes could be used to hack computers. They could not only serve as your stop-smoking tool but there is a possibility they could serve as an exploit platform as well.
	China propels rise of electric ultra-high-performance cars Want an insanely fast ride with zero emissions? Startup NIO has the car: An electric two-seater with muscular European lines and a top speed of 195 miles per hour (313 kilometers per hour).
	Dutch firm aims to deliver first flying car in 2018 From "The Jetsons" to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", flying cars have long captured the imagination.
	Artificial intelligence and the coming health revolution Your next doctor could very well be a bot. And bots, or automated programs, are likely to play a key role in finding cures for some of the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions.
	Reducing video files to one-tenth their initial size enables speedy analysis of laparoscopic procedures Laparoscopy is a surgical technique in which a fiber-optic camera is inserted into a patient's abdominal cavity to provide a video feed that guides the surgeon through a minimally invasive procedure.
	Data firm working for Trump exposed 198 mn voter files: researchers A data analytics firm that worked on the Republican campaign of Donald Trump exposed personal information belonging to some 198 million Americans, or nearly every eligible registered voter, security researchers said Monday.
	Senegal's corner shops go digital to track trade Corner shops, markets and street traders are still the traditional way most Senegalese do their shopping, but micro-businesses are turning to digital means of tracking clients in the west African nation's informal economy.
	S. Korea to scrap all plans to build new nuclear reactors South Korea's new President Moon Jae-In vowed on Monday to scrap all plans to build new nuclear reactors as he seeks to steer Asia's fourth-largest economy clear of atomic power.
	Amazon deal seen as disruptor of grocery business Amazon's deal to buy Whole Foods Market injects even greater pressure into the food and grocery sectors at a time when e-commerce is already roiling retailers.
Free mapping: plotting development in Africa In Benin's economic capital of Cotonou, as in many other African cities, finding a house, office or restaurant is often like a treasure hunt.
	Microwaves and microbes turn household waste into biodegradable plastic Researchers are working hard to figure out how to harness the 477 kilograms of household waste that that average person in the EU generates. Some of this waste is recycled, but a lot is still sent to landfill, burned to release heat for energy production, or fermented to produce methane fuel, and all of these can lead to high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
	To post or not to post: Internet tips for college hopefuls Google yourself. Curate your online photos. The general rule of thumb, as one private high school advises its students: Don't post anything you wouldn't want your grandmother to see.
Harvard students' ouster over offensive posts stirs debate Few college-bound kids lose their shot, and their slot, at their dream school once they get in, but it happened at one of the world's most elite institutions and for a reason that has, until recently, hardly registered in the university admissions process: social media.
	Faster performance evaluation of super-graphs Himchan Park and Min-Soo Kim of DGIST have developed TrillionG, a computer model that generates synthetic data for simulating real-world applications that use giant graphs. TrillionG is faster than currently available synthetic graph generators and uses fewer computer resources, such as memory and network bandwidth.
	How drones are advancing scientific research Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been around since the early 1900s. Originally used for military operations, they became more widely used after about 2010 when electronic technology got smaller, cheaper and more efficient, prices on cameras and sensors dropped, and battery power improved. Where once scientists could only observe earth from above by using manned aircraft or satellites, today they are expanding, developing and refining their research thanks to drones.
	Study shows the trade-offs in gig work Uber driver Michelle, thinks her job is fantastic when she's only after part-time hours. But she's given it a couple of months and she says she's not getting anywhere.
	Tracking methane with robust laser technology Heatwaves in the Arctic, longer periods of vegetation in Europe, severe floods in West Africa – starting in 2021, scientists want to explore the emissions of the greenhouse gas methane with the German-French satellite MERLIN. This is made possible by a new robust laser system of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, which achieves unprecedented measurement accuracy.
	EU warns of 'united response' to cyberattacks The European Union warned Monday that a cyberattack on any one member state could merit a response by all members of the bloc, amid growing fears of hackers holding governments to ransom.
	Google steps up efforts to block extremism, following Facebook Google is stepping up its efforts to block "extremist and terrorism-related videos" over its platforms, using a combination of technology and human monitors.
	Grocers facing a united Amazon-Whole Foods must adapt Grocers trying to compete with the threat of a combined Amazon and Whole Foods will have to make their stores more appealing, leverage their locations to offer delivery and do a better job of collecting shopper data. They may also need to seek innovative partners of their own.
Report: Mexican journalists, activists targeted with spyware Mexican journalists, lawyers and activists were targeted by spyware produced by Israel's NSO Group that is sold exclusively to governments, according to an internet watchdog group's investigation published Monday.
	US regulators sue to block merger of fantasy sports sites US regulators announced Monday legal action to block the merger of fantasy sports websites DraftKings and FanDuel, which allow fans to create teams for virtual matchups in cyberspace.

Medicine & Health news

	'Human Project' study will ask 10,000 to share life's data Wanted: 10,000 New Yorkers interested in advancing science by sharing a trove of personal information, from cellphone locations and credit-card swipes to blood samples and life-changing events. For 20 years.
	Molecular mechanism underlies anxiety, autism A calcium-dependent molecular mechanism discovered in the brain cells of mice by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators may underlie the impaired social interactions and anxiety found in neuropsychiatric disorders – including schizophrenia and autism.
	Airborne bacteria remain live for 45 minutes Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing and wash your hands. QUT and UQ scientists have developed a new technique to study how some common disease causing bacteria can spread up to 4m and remain alive in the air for up to 45 minutes.
	Mutation of growth hormone receptor gene in men found to lengthen lifespan (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with member affiliations in the U.S., France and Israel has found that a mutation in a growth hormone receptor gene can make some men live longer. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the group outlines their study of several different groups of men and the differences they found for those with the growth hormone receptor exon 3 deletion.
	Analysis sheds light on how metaphors like 'sheds light' evolved As language develops over time, its limits have forced us to economize. In the evolution of English, the most common way this is accomplished is through imbuing existing words with multiple meanings.
	Treating autism by targeting the gut Experts have called for large-scale studies into altering the make-up of bacteria in the gut, after a review showed that this might reduce the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Until now, caregivers have relied on rehabilitation, educational interventions and drugs to reduce ASD symptoms, but now researchers suggest that treating this condition could be as simple as changing their diet.
	Grape-based compounds kill colon cancer stem cells in mice Compounds from grapes may kill colon cancer stem cells both in a petri dish and in mice, according to a team of researchers.
	Tumor immune fitness determines survival of lung cancer patients In recent years, immunotherapy, a new form of cancer therapy that rouses the immune system to attack tumor cells, has captivated the public's imagination. When it works, the results are breathtaking. But more often than not it doesn't, and scientists still don't know why.
	Scientists step closer to drug treatment for hepatitis B A major new insight into how Hepatitis B Virus works could pave the way for new drug treatments for the infection which is the major cause of liver cancer worldwide.
	Babies' DNA affects mothers' risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, study finds A major new international study has revealed for the first time that some features in a baby's DNA can increase the risk of its mother developing pre-eclampsia—a potentially dangerous condition in pregnancy.
	Unearned fun tastes just as sweet We may be inclined to think that a fun experience—say, watching a movie or indulging in a tasty treat—will be all the more enjoyable if we save it until we've finished our work or chores, but new research shows that this intuition may be misguided. The findings, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggest that leisure experiences tend to be pleasurable regardless of when we experience them.
	CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing reverses Huntington's in mouse model Disrupting a problematic gene in brain cells can reverse Huntington's disease pathology and motor symptoms in a mouse model of the inherited neurological disorder, scientists report.
	Study shows how an opportunistic microbe kills cancer cells New study results show for the first time how dying cells ensure that they will be replaced, and suggests an ingenious, related new approach to shrinking cancerous tumors. A research team from Rush University Medical Center will publish a new paper this week in the journal Developmental Cell that describes two groundbreaking discoveries.
	Scientists identify single-gene mutations that lead to atopic dermatitis Researchers have identified mutations in a gene called CARD11 that lead to atopic dermatitis, or eczema, an allergic skin disease. Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and other institutions discovered the mutations in four unrelated families with severe atopic dermatitis and studied the resulting cell-signaling defects that contribute to allergic disease. Their findings, reported in Nature Genetics, also suggest that some of these defects potentially could be corrected by supplementation with the amino acid glutamine.
	Mapping how words leap from brain to tongue When you look at a picture of a mug, the neurons that store your memory of what a mug is begin firing. But it's not a pinpoint process; a host of neurons that code for related ideas and items—bowl, coffee, spoon, plate, breakfast—are activated as well. How your brain narrows down this smorgasbord of related concepts to the one word you're truly seeking is a complicated and poorly understood cognitive task. A new study led by San Diego State University neuroscientist Stephanie Ries, of the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, delved into this question by measuring the brain's cortical activity and found that wide, overlapping swaths of the brain work in parallel to retrieve the correct word from memory.
	Research finds common household chemicals lead to birth defects in mice A new study at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech has found a connection between common household chemicals and birth defects.
New medication guidelines for rheumatic disease patients having joint replacement In the first such collaboration of its kind, an expert panel of rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons has developed guidelines for the perioperative management of anti-rheumatic medication in patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement.
	New three-in-one blood test opens door to precision medicine for prostate cancer Scientists have developed a three-in-one blood test that could transform treatment of advanced prostate cancer through use of precision drugs designed to target mutations in the BRCA genes.
	New ultrasound scoring system for thyroid nodules to reduce unnecessary biopsies Nodules—a type of abnormality detected by ultrasound—are extremely common in the thyroid gland. Up to two-thirds of adults have nodules in this gland, and most are benign or only cause a slow-growing cancer that is no threat to life.
	Ebola vaccine developed in Canada shows promising results A phase 1 randomized controlled trial has found an Ebola virus disease (EVD) vaccine, developed in Canada, was well-tolerated with no safety concerns, and high antibodies were present in participants 6 months after immunization. The study, led by Canadian researchers, is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Acupuncture relieves pain in emergency patients: study The world's largest randomised controlled trial of the use of acupuncture in emergency departments has found the treatment is a safe and effective alternative to pain-relieving drugs for some patients.
	Medicaid expansion states saw ER visits go up, uninsured ER visits go down States that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA) saw 2.5 emergency department visits more per 1,000 people after 2014, while the share of emergency department visits by the uninsured decreased by 5.3 percent. The results of a study of 25 states will be published online Monday in Annals of Emergency Medicine, along with an accompanying editorial.
	Risk of infection higher for patients with obesity after bypass surgery Patients with obesity have a higher risk of infection within 30 days after receiving heart bypass surgery, according to a series of studies conducted by University of Alberta researchers at the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
	Study reveals factors associated with hospital discharges against doctors' advice A new study has found that certain factors are linked with a person's decision to leave the hospital against the advice of his or her care provider. Also, some of these factors are more pronounced in older versus younger individuals. The findings, which are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, may help healthcare providers address this growing problem.
Self-medication misuse is high in the Middle East A new review indicates that there is a massive problem of self-medication misuse in the Middle East. The findings, which are published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, indicate the need for better patient and physician education, as well as improved policies that restrict sales of prescription medications without a prescription.
	China bans more synthetic opioids blamed for US drug deaths China said Monday it would ban a designer drug called U-47700 and three others, following U.S. pressure to do more to control synthetic opioids blamed for fast-rising overdose deaths in the United States.
The US weed rush and white-collar cannabis CEOs They are bankers, accountants and computer engineers—mainstream in every way but for one respect: their love of cannabis and the desire to make megabucks in a growing US industry.
Surrogacy remains a lure for Cambodia's poorest despite ban Peeling a mango inside her rickety wooden shack, Chhum Long explains how her daughter's decision to nurture a Western couple's baby in her womb helped her family buy two desperately needed items: a metal roof and a motorbike.
	Could therapy animal visitation pose health risks at patient facilities? A survey of United States hospitals, eldercare facilities and therapy animal organizations revealed their health and safety policies for therapy animal visits varied widely, with many not following recommended guidelines for animal visitation. The research from investigators at Tufts Institute for Human-Animal Interaction at Tufts University appears online on June 19, 2017, in advance of print in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Clinical trial for a better treatment for mycetoma starts in Sudan The first-ever double-blind, randomized clinical trial for an effective treatment for the severely neglected disease mycetoma has enrolled its first patient at the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) in Khartoum, Sudan.
	Lack of 'editing' in brain molecules potential driver of cancer Scientists in the U.K. and India have observed a "significant" lack of 'editing' in microRNAs in brain tissue of brain cancer patients.
Researchers seek biomarker to assess spinal muscular atrophy treatment Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of death in infants, affecting 1 in 11,000 live births. As promising new therapies such as those directly targeting survivor motor neuron (SMN) are entering clinical trials for infants, children, and adults with SMA, researchers are searching for biomarkers in blood that can monitor their effectiveness. Investigators now report in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases that SMN levels in blood do not track SMN levels in motor neurons, and therefore are not an informative biomarker for SMN-modulating therapies that are delivered intrathecally. Beyond providing important information for SMA trial planning going forward, their results also highlight the importance of carefully validating specific biomarkers in a preclinical trial situation.
	Patching up a broken heart It is almost impossible for an injured heart to fully mend itself. Within minutes of being deprived of oxygen – as happens during a heart attack when arteries to the heart are blocked – the heart's muscle cells start to die. Sanjay Sinha wants to mend these hearts so that they work again.
	Flights can make aircrew sick, study suggests Flying a plane should come with a health warning, according to research led by the University of Stirling.
	Different genetic features found in Chinese dementia cohort Genetic screening of Chinese patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) indicates that different genetic constitution in different populations could cause the same disease.
	Glutamine suppresses herpes in mice and guinea pigs in study Glutamine supplements can suppress reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in mice and guinea pigs, according to findings recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The research was conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Review shows child protection services need further work One of the first academic and independent reviews of the Government's direction on child protection services has raised fundamental concerns that the study author, Otago University's Dr Emily Keddell, says need addressing.
	Study shows people are not good at recognising voices "Alexa, who am I?" Amazon Echo's voice-controlled virtual assistant, Alexa, doesn't have an answer to that – yet. However, for other applications of speech technology, computer algorithms are increasingly able to discriminate, recognise and identify individuals from voice recordings.
	New oral treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are treated for around six months with the standard anti-rheumatic agent methotrexate, to which many patients respond very well. However, if they do not respond and no remission or at least reduction in the activity of the disease can be achieved, they are given a combined treatment of methotrexate and a biologic agent (frequently an anti-TNF, such as e.g. adalimumab, administered by injection), if risk factors are present. An international research group has now shown that there is another, equally effective oral treatment option: the combination of methotrexate and the chemically synthesised Janus Kinase Inhibitor tofacitinib. The results of the study, for which MedUni Vienna rheumatologist Josef Smolen was senior author, have now been published in The Lancet.
	Tractor vibrations can be bad for farmers' backs Researcher Catherine Trask and recent master's graduate Xiaoke Zeng have found that farmers experience prolonged "body shock" when riding horses or driving farming machinery on uneven terrain during an average workday. Whole body vibration is a major risk factor for developing back pain, they say.
	Researchers develop new concept to predict universal anti-influenza drugs University of Hertfordshire researchers have developed a new concept which could lead to the discovery of universal anti-influenza drugs.
	Sun effects on skin reveal eczema therapy clues Exposure to sunlight releases a compound from the skin that can alleviate symptoms of eczema, research has found.
A diagnostic test for ALS Researchers at VIB, KU Leuven, and UZ Leuven, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Jena, have demonstrated that measuring neurofilaments provides reliable confirmation of an ALS diagnosis. This diagnostic test represents a significant step forward because valuable time is still lost at present in diagnosing ALS. Diagnosis takes an average of one year from the first symptoms. The researchers hope that these tests will allow treatment to be started sooner.
Academics argue sexualised drinks advertising undermines anti-rape campaigns Environments which incite narratives of loss of control and hypersexuality compromise the ability to counter sexual offending, research suggests.
Emergency departments need to do more to identify young people with alcohol problems Nine of out of ten Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are failing to identify young people with alcohol problems, preventing them from getting the vital help they need, a new study in the Emergency Medical Journal has found.
Bone disease traced to the Middle Ages The special form of the bone disease osteopetrosis that exists in Västerbotten is due to a gene mutation that can be traced back to the Middle Ages and leads to defective bone resorption, according to new research led at Uppsala University.
	Even though genetic information is available, doctors may be ignoring important clinical clues With the availability of home genetic testing kits from companies such as "23andMe" and "Ancestry DNA," more people will be getting information about their genetic lineage and what races and ethnicities of the world are included in their DNA.
	Smartphone app directs first responders to cardiac arrest three minutes before ambulance A novel smartphone application (app) has been developed that can direct first responders to cardiac arrest victims more than three minutes before the emergency services arrive. Each minute increases the chance of survival by 10 percent.
Is your doctor prescribing the wrong treatment for pink eye? A new study suggests that most people with acute conjunctivitis, or pink eye, are getting the wrong treatment. About 60 percent of patients are prescribed antibiotic eyedrops, even though antibiotics are rarely necessary to treat this common eye infection. About 20 percent receive an antibiotic-steroid eyedrop that can prolong or worsen the infection. The study is now online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This is the first study to assess antibiotic use for pink eye in a large, diverse segment of the United States. The findings are consistent with a nationwide trend of antibiotic misuse for common viral or mild bacterial conditions. It's a trend that increases costs to patients and the health care system and may promote antibiotic resistance.
	Poll: Nearly two-thirds of mothers 'shamed' by others about their parenting skills Some mommy-shaming "wars" become national news headlines.
	Among farmworkers, immigrants are less likely to use SNAP The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—formerly known as "food stamps"—that helps low-income individuals and families purchase food is less likely to be used by farmworkers eligible for the benefit who are immigrants, Hispanic, male, childless or residing in California, new research from UC Davis health economists shows.
	New CDC data shows gaps remain in surveillance for mosquitoes that transmit Zika As concerns over Zika virus have grown since 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has turned to local public health professionals to compile data on distribution of the two primary mosquito species capable of transmitting the virus, Aedes aegypti (the primary vector for Zika) and Aedes albopictus. Their findings highlight both the potential widespread presence of the mosquitoes as well as gaps in local surveillance capabilities crucial to understanding the threat of Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. Through a county-level survey of vector-control professionals, entomologists, and state and local health departments, conducted initially in 2015 and again in 2016, CDC researchers developed what they call "our best knowledge regarding the current distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the United States." Reported in the Entomological Society of America's Journal of Medical Entomology, the historical county-level records compiled by the CDC show Ae. aegypti reported in 220 counties in 28 states and the District of Columbia between 1995 and 2016 and Ae. albopictus reported in 1,368 counties in 40 states and DC during that time.
	Shootings kill or injure at least 19 US children each day Shootings kill or injure at least 19 U.S. children each day, with boys, teenagers and blacks most at risk, according to a government study that paints a bleak portrait of persistent violence.
Medications underutilized when treating young people with opioid use disorder Only one in four young adults and teens with opioid use disorder (OUD) are receiving potentially life-saving medications for addiction treatment, according to a new Boston Medical Center (BMC) study published online in JAMA Pediatrics.
Financial incentives increased viral suppression in HIV-positive patients in care Gift cards offered as financial incentives helped to increase viral suppression in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in a community-based clinical trial in New York and Washington, D.C., two communities severely affected by HIV, according to a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Poor adolescent diet may influence brain and behavior in adulthood Adolescent male mice fed a diet lacking omega-3 fatty acids show increased anxiety-like behavior and worse performance on a memory task in adulthood, according to new research published in The Journal of Neuroscience. The study suggests adequate nutrition in adolescence is important for the refinement of the adult brain and behavior.
	Psychiatric medication protects developing mouse brain from birth defects A clinically available anxiety drug safely and effectively protects against brain defects caused by the mouse version of a common human virus, finds new research published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
	Guidelines on minimising Legionnaires' risk are failing to safeguard ageing population, research finds Global guidelines aimed at minimising the risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease are inadequate for safeguarding the health of our ageing population, new research from Brunel University London concludes.
	Hi-tech vest may help keep heart failure patients out of hospital Doctors at The Ohio State University Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital are testing a high-tech vest which measures fluid inside the lungs from outside a person's clothing. It could be a new way to prevent repeated trips to the hospital for the nearly six million Americans living with heart failure.
	Acetaminophen: A viable alternative for preventing acute mountain sickness Trekking and mountain climbing are quickly growing in popularity, but.one of the challenges that climbers face is acute mountain sickness (AMS). Previous studies have shown that ibuprofen is an effective way to reduce the risk of AMS. Investigators wanted to find out if acetaminophen, a commonly used anti-pain medicine like ibuprofen, would have a comparable effect. They found almost no difference in the performance of both drugs, suggesting that acetaminophen may be another effective prophylactic treatment for AMS. Their results are published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
	Cells that make blood vessels can also make tumors and enable their spread While it's widely held that tumors can produce blood vessels to support their growth, scientists now have evidence that cells key to blood vessel formation can also produce tumors and enable their spread.
	Does roasting level affect the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of coffee beans? Researchers compared the caffeine and chlorogenic acid components of coffee beans at different roasting levels and tested the protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the different coffee extracts in human cell models. The results, linking increasing degree of roasting to reduced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, are published in Journal of Medicinal Food.
	Mutant mosquitos make insecticide-resistance monitoring key to controlling Zika One of the most common insecticides used in the battle against the Aedes aegypti mosquito has no measurable impact when applied in communities where the mosquito has built up resistance to it, a study led by Emory University finds.
	Raise the smoking age to 21? Most kids fine with that (HealthDay)—Nearly two-thirds of U.S. teens support raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years old, new research finds.
	Better sleep for better weight loss (HealthDay)—Did you know that the key to your "dream diet" may be as close as your bedroom?
	Unusual measles outbreak described in Ontario in early 2015 (HealthDay)—Eighteen cases of measles were recorded as part of an unusual outbreak in Ontario, Canada, in early 2015, according to research published in the July issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
	Risk factors explain most heart failure risk in incident A-fib (HealthDay)—Four modifiable factors account for most of the population attributable risk of heart failure among women with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online June 14 in JACC: Heart Failure.
	Modified colorectal CA screening score improves risk prediction (HealthDay)—A modified colorectal cancer screening score improves risk prediction of advanced neoplasia, according to a study published online May 31 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Health insurers recruiting former pharma reps to cut costs (HealthDay)—Health insurers are recruiting former pharmaceutical company representatives to educate doctors and help save money on prescription medications, according to a report published June 8 in Kaiser Health News.
	Certain criteria may be better than others in RA assessment (HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the performances of the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) appear to be better than that of the Disease Assessment Score of 28 joints—C-reactive protein (DAS-28-CRP), according to a study published online June 12 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Case report: Acneiform eruption tied to vitamin B12 therapy (HealthDay)—In a case report published online June 8 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, acneiform eruption associated with vitamin B12 therapy is described in five female patients ranging in age from 21 to 62 years.
	Understanding HIV's persistence Most cells in the human body have a limited lifespan, typically dying after several days or weeks. And yet, HIV-1 infected cells manage to persist in the body for decades. Current treatment for HIV is very effective at suppressing the virus, but is unable to entirely clear the disease, which can rapidly recur if treatment is ever stopped. A new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, led by Mathias Lichterfeld, MD, PhD, and Guinevere Lee, PhD, from the Brigham and Women's Hospital Infectious Disease Division sheds new light on the mechanism underlying the persistence of HIV-1 infected cells despite antiviral treatment.
Healthcare providers should individualize patient education Effective patient education includes more than brochures and written patient information. It should be tailored to a patient's ability to understand recommendations to help them manage their health and control their risk factors, according to an American Heart Association scientific statement published in the Association's journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
New research points to potential for more targeted treatments of neuroblastoma tumors Genetic variations appear to pre-dispose children to developing certain severe forms of neuroblastoma, according to new research by the University of Chicago Medicine. The findings lay the groundwork for developing more targeted treatments for particularly deadly variations of the cancer.
Brain stimulation protocol reduces spasticity in spinal cord injury patients Spasticity, uncontrolled muscle contractions, is a common disorder experienced by patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Previous studies have shown that excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce spasticity. In a new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, researchers found that a protocol of rTMS, excitatory intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), was successful in reducing spasticity in patients with SCI and therefore may be a promising therapeutic tool.
Surgery patients placed in alternate ICUs due to crowding get less attention from doctors Overcrowding of intensive care units (ICUs) is a growing problem in American hospitals, often resulting in the need to place patients in alternate intensive care units within a hospital. Research has indicated that these "ICU boarder" patients—for example, a brain surgery patient staying in a cardiac ICU—have worse outcomes as a result of this alternate placement, and now, a new study suggests one reason for these worse outcomes is that ICU boarders, compared to non-boarders, appear to get markedly less attention from doctors and other caregivers. The study is led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is published online today in the American Journal of Surgery.
	Mathematical modeling uncovers mysteries of HIV infection in the brain After uncovering the progression of HIV infection in the brain thanks to a new mathematical model developed by a UAlberta research team, clinicians and researchers are developing a nasal spray to administer drugs more effectively.
	How viewing cute animals can help rekindle marital spark One of the well-known challenges of marriage is keeping the passion alive after years of partnership, as passions tend to cool even in very happy relationships. In a new study, a team of psychological scientists led by James K. McNulty of Florida State University has developed an unconventional intervention for helping a marriage maintain its spark: pictures of puppies and bunnies.
As America ages, new national poll will track key health issues for those over 50 Nearly a third of U.S. adults have celebrated their 50th birthday - a sign of an aging nation. Now, a new poll based at the University of Michigan will take the pulse of this population on a wide range of health issues, and provide data and insights to inform healthcare policy, clinical practice, and future research.
	Researchers find demographic differences in both diabetes rates and care sought Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects millions of people in the United States and has more than doubled in prevalence over the past 20 years. Diabetes brings a wide array of complications that can harm the cardiovascular system and other organs, and it has been found to affect some groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities and people with low incomes, at a disproportionate rate. Researchers from the Texas A&M School of Public Health, the University of Michigan and the University of Georgia analyzed national health statistics to gain a better understanding of how different socioeconomic factors affect the prevalence of diabetes and prevention and management of the disease.
Researchers produce molecules with potential against HIV As the HIV/AIDS epidemic approaches its fourth decade, each year brings promising news of pioneering research to alleviate the scourge. Add City College of New York scientists to the list with a rapid method to access new molecules that could inhibit the virus that causes AIDS.
	Combining immunotherapies effective against mouse model of cancer Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer made up of cells that normally develop into skeletal muscles, is the most common soft tissue cancer in children. If it is detected early and localized in certain areas, rhabdomyosarcoma is usually curable with traditional therapies like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. However, these treatments are fraught with side effects, especially for children.
	Yoga is an effective alternative to physical therapy for easing low back pain A study of 320 predominantly low-income, racially diverse adults with chronic low back pain found that yoga was as safe and effective as physical therapy for restoring function and relieving pain. Compared to an education only intervention, patients who did yoga or physical therapy were also less likely to take pain medications at 12 weeks. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Six experts resign from Trump HIV/AIDS panel Six top health advisors have resigned from Donald Trump's advisory council on HIV/AIDS, complaining that the US president doesn't really care about combatting the illness.
	Artificial tube feeding in older adults: a complex and challenging issue in Asia Researchers from University of Malaya uncover significant obstacles to appropriate feeding for older Asians with swallowing difficulty. These obstacles involved cultural attitudes, healthcare professional perceptions and knowledge and limitations of healthcare funding, resulting in a poorer outcome for older Asians with swallowing problems.
	Brain healing after injury given a natural boost We may be able to kick-start healing after a traumatic brain injury by boosting levels of a protein made naturally within the brain, according to new research conducted at the University of Adelaide.
	Good nutrition, physical training and mental exercises can reverse physical frailty in the elderly: study Physical frailty is common among the elderly and is strongly associated with cognitive impairment, dementia and adverse health outcomes such as disability, hospitalisation, and mortality. A four-year study conducted by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) showed that a combination of nutritional, physical and cognitive interventions can reverse physical frailty in elderly people.
Tenth year of data on cardiac arrhythmia treatment launched at European congress The tenth year of data on cardiac arrhythmia treatment is being launched at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2017.
European network created to find sudden cardiac arrest causes and treatments A European network has been created to find sudden cardiac arrest causes and compare treatments.
Georgia high court rejects challenge to 20-week abortion ban Georgia's highest court on Monday rejected a challenge to a state law banning most abortions after 20 weeks, saying the courts are barred from considering lawsuits against the state without the state's consent.
	New study from KKI shows feasibility of acupuncture in young children with ASD A pilot feasibility study to determine if young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents would tolerate and adhere to an office- and home-based acupuncture/acupressure intervention showed completion of all 16 biweekly sessions and measurements of their effects before, during, and after the protocol. The study design and results, which suggest further controlled studies of this intervention approach in ASD, are published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the JACM website until July 19, 2017.
High court sides with drugmaker in Plavix lawsuit The Supreme Court says hundreds of out-state-residents can't sue drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. in California state court over adverse reactions to the blood thinner Plavix.
CU Anschutz and Baylor researchers to study Zika virus impact on children Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Baylor College of Medicine will join with Guatemalan investigators in a major study examining the clinical outcomes of children infected with the Zika virus after being born, focusing on long-term brain development.
Family of patients with NAFLD and cirrhosis are at increased risk of liver fibrosis Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disorder characterized by abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver. NAFLD is diagnosed in up to one in three adults and one in 10 children in the United States, and obesity is the greatest known risk factor. While NAFLD itself does not damage the liver, inflammatory responses to fat deposits can lead to liver scarring and cirrhosis. NAFLD patients that develop cirrhosis have a substantially worse prognosis, with an elevated risk of mortality due to liver disease.

Biology news

	Biologists discover surprisingly strong effects from protein variation The genetic material of any two individuals can be clearly distinguished. Computational biologists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now determined that the impact of DNA variations has been greatly underestimated. The new insights could impact advances in personalized medicine.
	Scientists solve 30-year old mystery on how resistance genes spread To win the war against antibiotic-resistant superbugs, scientists seek the origin of resistance genes to identify how they are introduced to disease-causing bacteria. Identifying the origin of resistance genes and how they spread is comparable to finding patient zero in an outbreak, which is not an easy task.
	How to build an artificial nano-factory to power our futures Many bacteria contain little factories for different purposes. They can make sugars from carbon dioxide to fuel life, or digest certain compounds that would be toxic for the cell, if the digestion took place outside of these factories.
	Basic building blocks of bacterial 'hair' could lead to new antibiotics Uncovering the essential building blocks which bacteria use to make long, hair-like filaments could lead to new drugs to fight infection.
	Mouse eyes constrict to light without direct link to the brain Experimenting with mice, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report new evidence that the eye's iris in many lower mammals directly senses light and causes the pupil to constrict without involving the brain.
	Probiotics could improve survival rates in honey bees exposed to pesticide, study finds In a new study from Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) and Western University, researchers have shown that probiotics can potentially protect honey bees from the toxic effects of pesticides.
	Ancient DNA reveals role of Near East and Egypt in cat domestication DNA found at archaeological sites reveals that the origins of our domestic cat are in the Near East and ancient Egypt. Cats were domesticated by the first farmers some 10,000 years ago. They later spread across Europe and other parts of the world via trade hub Egypt. The DNA analysis also revealed that most of these ancient cats had stripes: spotted cats were uncommon until the Middle Ages.
	How to stop the nasty lurking toxoplasmosis parasite? Target its 'stomach,' study suggests One in three people has a potentially nasty parasite hiding inside their body—tucked away in tiny cysts that the immune system can't eliminate and antibiotics can't touch.
	DNA delivery technology joins battle against drug-resistant bacteria Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, affecting anyone, at any age, in any country, according to the World Health Organization. Currently, 700,000 deaths each year are attributed to antimicrobial resistance, a figure which could increase to 10 million a year by 2050 save further intervention.
	Unusual soybean coloration sheds a light on gene silencing Today's soybeans are typically golden yellow, with a tiny blackish mark where they attach to the pod. In a field of millions of beans, nearly all of them will have this look. Occasionally, however, a bean will turn up half-black, with a saddle pattern similar to a black-eyed pea.
	Birds of all feathers work together to hunt when army ants march Army ants scare up a lot of food when they're on the move, which makes following them valuable for predator birds. But instead of competing and chasing each other off from the ant "raids," as scientists had thought, birds actually give each other a heads up when the ants are marching, according to a new Drexel University study.
	Scientists demonstrate adaptation of animal vision in extreme environments Cell biologists at the University of Toronto (U of T) have discovered animals can adapt their ability to see even with extreme changes in temperature.
	Wildebeest feast: Mass drownings fuel the Mara River ecosystem (Millbrook, NY) Each year, more than a million wildebeest migrate through Africa's Serengeti Mara Ecosystem. While crossing the Kenyan reach of the Mara River, thousands perish. A new study, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to reveal how wildebeest drownings impact the ecology of the iconic river.
	Looking for trouble: Territorial aggressions and trespasses pay off among primates Territorial boundary patrolling by chimpanzees is a striking example of group-level cooperation displayed by our closest primate relatives.
	Bacterial classification may be more elusive than previously thought New research from Dartmouth College raises questions over how scientists should interpret observed groupings of bacteria. The study advises caution with the assumption that bacterial clusters are always a result of ecological and genetic forces.
	Climate imperils Ethiopia's coffee output: study Climate change could wipe out more than half of Ethiopia's coffee production unless farmers move to higher ground, scientists warned Monday.
	Biologists discover the immune system can eliminate cells with too many or too few chromosomes Most living cells have a defined number of chromosomes: Human cells, for example, have 23 pairs. As cells divide, they can make errors that lead to a gain or loss of chromosomes, which is usually very harmful.
	Biologists explore how testate amoebae survive in peat fires An International team from China University of Geosciences, University of York and Lomonosov Moscow State University have studied the impact of wildfire on testate amoebae—one of the dominant microbial groups in peat bogs. The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Soil Ecology.
	As the weather warms, people and snakes are destined to meet Allison Davis never saw the snake. The Mountain Brook, Alabama, elementary school teacher was pulling weeds from a planter on her deck when she felt a sharp stab of pain in her left hand.
	Why cockroaches and termites are great parents To most people, cockroaches are abhorrent, disease-ridden pests, scuttling under the fridge when you go to the kitchen for a midnight snack. But those who know cockroaches well understand that they can be very caring creatures.
	Scientists examine how ticks cling to surfaces Ticks spend more than 90 percent of their up to three-year-long life starving and clambering around in leaf litter and on vegetation. They walk remarkable distances while periodically exploring distal plant parts in order to prey on their victims. Once they get to humans and animals, the little parasites walk along skin and hairs, searching for suitable feeding sites.
	150-year records gap on Sulawesi ends with five new species in the world's largest tree genus It seemed rather unusual that the largest tree genus, Syzygium, containing over 1500 species, was only represented by about a dozen of records on the biodiversity-rich island of Sulawesi, the latest new species description dating back to the mid-19th century.
	Researchers sample a DC swamp to study a spineless creature Its name is Stygobromus hayi, the Hay's Spring amphipod. It is spineless. It lacks vision. It is an opportunistic feeder, consuming whatever resources are available - perhaps including the remains of its own kind.
	If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em: Pastries may help crab woes The unwanted crabs that have plagued Maine's clam beds for years might soon play a new role—as appetizer.
	Team discovers 3 chameleon species University of Texas at El Paso doctoral candidate Daniel Hughes has discovered three new species of chameleons. The reptile trio, historically thought to be a single species, was found in different parts of the Albertine Rift in Central Africa.
Wheat coproducts vary in protein digestibility when fed to pigs Research from the University of Illinois is helping to determine the quality of protein in wheat middlings and red dog, two coproducts of the wheat milling process that can be included in diets fed to pigs and other livestock.

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