Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 26

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 26, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Electrocaloric refrigerator offers alternative way to cool everything from food to computers

Best of Last Week-Paving the way to fusion power, new way to make saltwater fresh and why forgetting can make you smart

Tiny magnetic tremors unlock exotic superconductivity

Topsy-turvy motion creates light switch effect at Uranus

Novel viral vectors deliver useful cargo to neurons throughout the brain and body

One billion suns: World's brightest laser sparks new behavior in light

Study reveals mysterious equality with which grains pack it in

Scientists catch plants in the act of changing chemistry thought to be immutable because necessary for life

Study finds way to pack more data in single acoustic beam for underwater communications

New class of 'soft' semiconductors could transform HD displays

System of quadcopters that fly and drive suggest another approach to developing flying cars

Great Barrier Reef a $42 billion asset 'too big to fail': study

FCC approves OneWeb Internet via satellites

Cancer hijacks natural cell process to survive

Researchers explore whether climate change could bring tropical viruses to Europe

Astronomy & Space news

	Topsy-turvy motion creates light switch effect at Uranus More than 30 years after Voyager 2 sped past Uranus, Georgia Institute of Technology researchers are using the spacecraft's data to learn more about the icy planet. Their new study suggests that Uranus' magnetosphere, the region defined by the planet's magnetic field and the material trapped inside it, gets flipped on and off like a light switch every day as it rotates along with the planet. It's "open" in one orientation, allowing solar wind to flow into the magnetosphere; it later closes, forming a shield against the solar wind and deflecting it away from the planet.
	The shapes of galaxies Since Edwin Hubble proposed his galaxy classification scheme in 1926, numerous studies have investigated the physical mechanisms responsible for the shapes of spiral and elliptical galaxies. Because the processes are complex, however, studies frequently rely on computer simulations as their main tool. The discs of galaxies are believed to form through the collapse of gas which acquires its initial spin in the early Universe. During their subsequent evolution, galaxies undergo a wide range of phenomena, from the accretion of matter—or its outflow—to mergers with other galaxies, all of which modify the disk's spin and angular momentum.
	World View Enterprises looking to popularize use of stratospheric balloons (Phys.org)—World View Enterprises bills itself on its website as a "full-service commercial launch provider"—it offers to take various types of equipment up to the edge of space using a balloon for a short amount of time for less money than NASA charges. The newly burgeoning field of balloon science is the topic of a Feature piece by journalist Adam Mann for the journal Science—he takes a closer look at the work done by the team at World View and others who are looking to expand the field.
	Artificial brain helps Gaia catch speeding stars With the help of software that mimics a human brain, ESA's Gaia satellite spotted six stars zipping at high speed from the centre of our galaxy to its outskirts. This could provide key information about some of the most obscure regions of the Milky Way.
	Dutch scientists fete rare meteorite find (Update) Dutch scientists on Monday celebrated the rare discovery of meteorite in The Netherlands, which at 4.5-billion years old may hold clues to the birth of our solar system.
	Arp 299: Galactic Goulash What would happen if you took two galaxies and mixed them together over millions of years? A new image including data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals the cosmic culinary outcome.
SpaceX launches 10 satellites from California air base A SpaceX rocket carried 10 communications satellites into orbit from California on Sunday, two days after the company successfully launched a satellite from Florida.
	Impact threat from asteroid Apophis cannot be ruled out The famous near-Earth asteroid Apophis caused quite a stir in 2004 when it was announced that it could hit our planet. Although the possibility of an impact during its close approach in 2029 was excluded, the asteroid's collision with Earth in the more distant future cannot be completely ruled out.
	Image: SOHO's summer solstice sun Residents of Earth's northern hemisphere enjoyed the greatest number of daylight hours in a single day all year on 21 June 2017. This summer solstice occurs when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun, which sits directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
	Hubble scopes out a galaxy of stellar birth This image displays a galaxy known as ESO 486-21 (with several other background galaxies and foreground stars visible in the field as well). ESO 486-21 is a spiral galaxy—albeit with a somewhat irregular and ill-defined structure—located some 30 million light-years from Earth.
	Help us find out what our possibly habitable exoplanet neighbour is actually like There was a lot of excitement when Proxima b was discovered – a potentially habitable exoplanet around our nearest neighbour star, Proxima Centauri. Located a mere 4.24 light years away, we may actually be able to send tiny robots there in the next few decades. And now you can help lead the way.
	Alaska Air offers charter flight for solar eclipse viewing Alaska Airlines said Monday it will charter a flight over the Pacific Ocean this Aug. 21 so select passengers can view the astronomical event from the sky.
VTT's miniature hyperspectral camera launched to space in Aalto-1 satellite VTT's small and lightweight hyperspectral camera was successfully launched to space in Aalto-1 nanosatellite on 23rd of June 2017. Scalable sensing technology offers opportunities for new SmallSat- based services.

Technology news

	System of quadcopters that fly and drive suggest another approach to developing flying cars Being able to both walk and take flight is typical in nature - many birds, insects, and other animals can do both. If we could program robots with similar versatility, it would open up many possibilities: Imagine machines that could fly into construction areas or disaster zones that aren't near roads and then squeeze through tight spaces on the ground to transport objects or rescue people.
	FCC approves OneWeb Internet via satellites (Tech Xplore)—FCC has given OneWeb its green light to bring satellite Internet to the United States.
	Twitter-monitoring system detects riots far quicker than police reports Social media can be an invaluable source of information for police when managing major disruptive events, new research from Cardiff University has shown.
	Engineers use replica to pinpoint California dam repairs Inside a cavernous northern Utah warehouse, hydraulic engineers send water rushing down a replica of a dam built out of wood, concrete and steel—trying to pinpoint what repairs will work best at the tallest dam in the U.S for a spillway torn apart in February during heavy rains that triggered the evacuation of 200,000 people living downstream.
	How AI helped auction off $19 billion worth of radio spectrum Mobile phone carriers scooped up airwaves no longer needed by television broadcasters last March in a $19-billion auction designed by UBC and Stanford University researchers.
	Air pollution casts shadow over solar energy production Global solar energy production is taking a major hit due to air pollution and dust.
	Scientists create a cellular guillotine for studying single-cell wound repair While doing research at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts, Sindy Tang learned of a remarkable organism: Stentor coeruleus. It's a single-celled, free-living freshwater organism, shaped like a trumpet and big enough to see with the naked eye. And, to Tang's amazement, if cut in half it can heal itself into two healthy cells.
	Drivers cautious but curious over automated cars, first Canadian study shows Say what you will about old dogs and new tricks, it appears men over 50 are most keen to embrace fully automated cars when computer-chauffeured vehicles finally appear on Canadian streets.
	Phone scams cost billions. Why isn't technology being used to stop them? World-wide, credit card fraud and other scams cost the public billions of dollars. While credit card fraud is the clear leader in sheer volume of money lost, "regular scams" still result in a significant amount of money being lost each year.
	How to help kids navigate fake news and misinformation online Young people get a huge amount of their news from social media feeds, where false, exaggerated or sponsored content is often prevalent. With the right tools, caregivers can give kids the knowledge they need to assess credible information for themselves.
	Should robot artists be given copyright protection? When a group of museums and researchers in the Netherlands unveiled a portrait entitled The Next Rembrandt, it was something of a tease to the art world. It wasn't a long lost painting but a new artwork generated by a computer that had analysed thousands of works by the 17th-century Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.
	Portugal airline chief fears increasing drone near-misses Portugal's national airline chief said Monday he is considering asking authorities to order that all drones in the country be grounded, following a series of near-misses with commercial aircraft.
	Researchers use head related transfer functions to personalize audio in mixed and virtual reality Move your head left, now right. The way you hear and interpret the sounds around you changes as you move. That's how sound in the real world works. Now imagine if it worked that way while you were listening to a recording of a concert or playing a video game in virtual reality.
Avis teams up with Waymo on self-driving car program Avis is teaming up with Waymo on a self-driving car program.
	Curtain system creates soundproofed office spaces in open floor plans Anyone who has worked in an office with an open floor plan becomes aware of a major downside of these otherwise collaborative spaces: It is impossible to hold confidential meetings with colleagues—or even make a personal phone call to schedule a dentist appointment in your office.
	When kids talk to robots: Enhancing engagement and learning Conversational robots and virtual characters can enhance learning and expand entertainment options for children, a trio of studies by Disney Research shows, though exactly how these autonomous agents interact with children sometimes depends on a child's age.
	Facebook to produce own TV series, games Facebook is starting production on high-quality television series and gaming shows to be broadcast on its platform, one of the social media giant's executives said on Monday.
US mayors back plan for cities to use only renewable energy A bipartisan group of mayors from across the country unanimously backed an ambitious commitment for U.S. cities to run entirely on renewable sources such as wind and solar in two decades.

Medicine & Health news

	Novel viral vectors deliver useful cargo to neurons throughout the brain and body Viruses have evolved to be highly effective vehicles for delivering genes into cells. Seeking to take advantage of these traits, scientists can reprogram viruses to function as vectors, capable of carrying their genetic cargo of choice into the nuclei of cells in the body. Such vectors have become critical tools for delivering genes to treat disease or to label neurons and their connective fibers with fluorescent colors to map out their locations. Because viral vectors have been stripped of their own genes and, thereby, of their ability to replicate, they are no longer infectious. Therefore, achieving widespread gene delivery with the vectors is challenging. This is especially true for gene delivery to hard to reach organs like the brain, where viral vectors have to make their way past the so-called blood-brain barrier, or to the peripheral nervous system, where neurons are dispersed across the body.
	Cancer hijacks natural cell process to survive Cancer tumours manipulate a natural cell process to promote their survival suggesting that controlling this mechanism could stop progress of the disease, according to new research led by the University of Oxford.
	The mere presence of your smartphone reduces brain power, study shows Your cognitive capacity is significantly reduced when your smartphone is within reach—even if it's off. That's the takeaway finding from a new study from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.
	Magnetic implants used to treat 'dancing eyes' A research team has successfully used magnets implanted behind a person's eyes to treat nystagmus, a condition characterised by involuntary eye movements.
	Study shines light on brain cells that coordinate movement UW Medicine researchers have developed a technique for inserting a gene into specific cell types in the adult brain in an animal model.
	Catalyst for genetic kidney disease in black people identified Between 15 and 20 percent of black people carry a genetic mutation that puts them at risk for certain chronic kidney disease, but only about half of them develop the illness - a variance that long has puzzled researchers. Now a study has found that the gene mutation's toxic effects require higher than normal levels of a protein called suPAR to trigger the onset and progression of the disease.
	Characterizing the mouse genome reveals new gene functions and their role in human disease The first results from a functional genetic catalogue of the laboratory mouse has been shared with the biomedical research community, revealing new insights into a range of rare diseases and the possibility of accelerating development of new treatments and precision medicine.
	Study reveals how sex 'blindspot' could misdirect medical research The sex of animals frequently has an effect in biomedical research and therefore should be considered in the study of science, report scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium. In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that the differences between male and female mice had an effect that could impact research results in more than half of their studies.
	Researchers develop a technique to visualize and control the neural activities that underlie behavior Since scientists began studying the brain, they have asked whether the biology they observed can really be tied to external behaviors. Researchers are building a substantial understanding of the biophysical, molecular, and cellular interactions of neurons, but directly relating those interactions to outward behaviors is an ongoing challenge in the field. "The biophysical properties of neurons are pretty well known," said Hyungbae Kwon, Ph.D., Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI). "What we don't know well is how these connections and communications trigger our behavior."
	Microscope can scan tumors during surgery and examine cancer biopsies in 3-D When women undergo lumpectomies to remove breast cancer, doctors try to remove all the cancerous tissue while conserving as much of the healthy breast tissue as possible.
	Beyond bananas: Scientists harness 'mind reading' technology to decode complex thoughts Carnegie Mellon University scientists can now use brain activation patterns to identify complex thoughts, such as, "The witness shouted during the trial."
	Thwarting metastasis by breaking cancer's legs with gold rods "Your cancer has metastasized. I'm sorry," is something no one wants to hear a doctor say.
	Dementia patients may die sooner if family caregivers are mentally stressed Patients with dementia may actually die sooner if their family caregivers are mentally stressed, according to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley.
	Scientists use algorithm to peer through opaque brains Trying to pinpoint signals from individual neurons within a block of brain tissue is like trying to count headlights in thick fog. A new algorithm, developed by researchers based at The Rockefeller University, brings this brain activity into focus.
	Computer model simulates sense of touch from the entire hand Neuroscientists from the University of Chicago have developed a computer model that can simulate the response of nerves in the hand to any pattern of touch stimulation on the skin. The tool reconstructs the response of more than 12,500 nerve fibers with millisecond precision, taking into account the mechanics of the skin as it presses up against and moves across objects.
	New research could help humans see what nature hides Things are not always as they appear. New visual perception research at The University of Texas at Austin, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, explains the natural limits of what humans can see and how to find what nature hides.
	Alzheimer's disease risk linked to a network of genes associated with myeloid cells Many genes linked to late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) are expressed in myeloid cells and regulated by a single protein, according to research conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published June 19 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
	New tool offers snapshots of neuron activity Many cognitive processes, such as decision-making, take place within seconds or minutes. Neuroscientists have longed to capture neuron activity during such tasks, but that dream has remained elusive—until now.
	Medicaid restrictions linked to increased late-stage breast cancer diagnoses Women in Tennessee who were diagnosed with breast cancer were more likely to be diagnosed with late stage disease after a substantial rollback of Medicaid coverage for adults in the state, according to a new analysis. When investigators compared women living in lower-income areas with those in higher-income areas, low-income areas saw the greatest shift to late stage diagnosis. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to the potential negative health impacts of limiting Medicaid enrollment.
Natural health product regulation in Canada needs to go further to protect consumers Health Canada's proposed changes to natural health product regulation are a good step forward, but they need to go further to protect consumers, argues Dr. Matthew Stanbrook in an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Handwashing prevents childhood illness, but most families in low-income countries lack soap at home Washing with soap and water is second nature for many. But in many other places around the world, handwashing with soap is rare.
	How insulin in the brain may suppress the subjective feeling of hunger Insulin in the brain may help regulate the hunger sensation and improve functional connectivity in the default-mode network (DMN), as well as in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. This is the finding of a new study by researchers at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) in Tübingen.
	Gene clusters offer better answers in breast cancer prognosis Breast cancer patients could get a more reliable idea of how long they will live now scientists have linked a new group of genes to poor prognosis.
Heavy-drinking mothers linked to their child's path toward the justice system A study investigated whether children whose mothers had an alcohol-related disorder would be at risk of early-life contact with the justice system, which can lead to many negative outcomes across an individual's life span. Such outcomes can include repeated contact with the justice system, social disadvantages and marginalization, and mental-health and substance-use issues.
	Why do onions make you cry? According to the National Onion Association (yes, that's a thing), approximately 170 countries grow onions, and it's estimated that 9.2 million acres of onions are harvested annually around the world. Onions are low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also go great in your salads, omelets and guacamole recipes.
	More educated people snack more frequently, new research says Better educated parents spend more time eating, have meals more often with their families and snack more frequently, new research says.
	Confidence can be a bad thing—here's why Have you ever felt 100% confident in your ability to complete a task, and then failed miserably? After losing in the first round at Queen's Club for the first time since 2012, world number one tennis player, Andy Murray, hinted that "overconfidence" might have been his downfall. Reflecting on his early exit, Murray said: "Winning a tournament is great and you feel good afterwards, but you can also sometimes think that your game is in a good place and maybe become a little bit more relaxed in that week beforehand."
	Premature infants at greater risk of SIDS Premature infants still have a greater risk compared to full-term babies of dying of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths despite recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics that hospital NICU's provide more safe infant sleep education to parents before they go home.
	Culturally tailored training for suicide prevention program The implementation of an Indigenous-led suicide intervention program will begin in Queensland's rural and remote communities in July.
	Exercise program improves performance of daily activities for frail older adults An exercise program comprised of gentle exercises and taught by home care aides can help frail older adults perform basic daily activities, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago published in The Gerontologist.
	Can robots help care for people with dementia? As our populations continue to age the issue of how we deliver care to the elderly continues to be an incredibly important issue. But with the number of older people set to reach 1 billion in the next 10 years and the demand for carers increasing, could robots potentially provide the solution?
	Injectable therapy blocks opioid euphoria, withdrawal symptoms in trial A study led by investigators in the University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research (CDAR) has demonstrated a weekly injectable formulation of buprenorphine, CAM2038, suppresses symptoms of withdrawal in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Closing the border in extreme pandemics worthwhile for island nations It may sometimes make sense for island nations like New Zealand to temporarily close their borders in extreme pandemic situations, a new study by Wellington researchers suggests.
	Stop abusing your eyes—put down that phone or tablet and get outside Is our tech-laden modern world wearing out your eyes? QUT eye health researcher and optometrist Associate Professor Scott Read says it's a case of not just stopping to smell those flowers, but having a good look at them too.
Greater muscle strength – better cognitive function for older people Greater muscle strength is associated with better cognitive function in ageing men and women, according to a new Finnish study. The association of extensively measured upper and lower body muscle strength with cognitive function was observed, but handgrip strength was not associated with cognitive function. Cognition refers to brain functions relating to receiving, storing, processing and using information. The findings were published in European Geriatric Medicine.
	Flat head syndrome usually not serious for infants The number of infants who develop flat head syndrome—deformational plagiocephaly—has increased significantly since the start of the Back to Sleep campaign to combat Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the 1990s.
	Why we desire partners who have had relationship experience Mate copying (sometimes called mate-choice copying) is where an individual is preferred as a future romantic partner simply because they have relationship experience.
	Combination approach improves power of new cancer therapy An international research team has found a way to improve the anti-cancer effect of a new medicine class called 'Smac mimetics'.
	Mental health services are failing young autistic people More and more is being done to raise awareness of mental health problems at a public and policy level, and understandably so. One in six adults in the UK has a common mental health condition, and one in 20 adults has thought of taking their own life at some point.
	Scientific ways to beat anxiety and become mentally strong Do you have anxiety? Have you tried just about everything to get over it, but it just keeps coming back? Perhaps you thought you had got over it, only for the symptoms to return with a vengeance? Whatever your circumstances, science can help you to beat anxiety for good.
	Anxiety that jeopardizes success Most students are acquainted with the typical butterflies-in-tummy syndrome that sets in the run-up to an exam. But for many others the thought of facing a test evokes a pathological state of anxiety. Albert Einstein himself allegedly suffered from an abnormally intense fear of exams. In such cases, the candidate views the upcoming test as an insurmountable obstacle, even though this perception is at odds with her intellectual abilities and grasp of the relevant material. This misguided psychological perception may be accompanied by somatic symptoms, such as sudden panic attacks, heart palpitations and abrupt bouts of sweating. Many sufferers react by withdrawing from their normal routines. "I remained holed up at home for months, and had no contact at all with my circle of friends," says Andreas Huber (a pseudonym), a former student of Political Science at LMU. He even kept his parents at arm's length, in order to avoid embarrassing questions on their part. For a long time he convinced himself that he could somehow cope with the situation. "And when I finally admitted to myself that I needed help, it was almost too late," he recalls – a not untypical case.
	Home bladder cancer tests set for clinical trial A leading car sensor manufacturer is developing a device to radically simplify bladder cancer testing.
	Imprecise iron supplementation can spur increase in salmonella It would seem that too much iron is too much iron—whether it is ingested from particular foods or stored in the body genetically—and that pathogens such as Salmonella would grow identically in either case. It turns out that this is not the case, and that genetic and dietary forms of hemochromatosis – iron overload – lead to divergent paths with respect to Salmonella infection. This is the conclusion of a recent paper published in Frontiers in Cellular Infection and Microbiology, authored by Dr. Manfred Nairz and colleagues.
	Eating more vegetable protein may protect against early menopause Results of a new study from epidemiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggest that long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from such foods as whole grains, soy and tofu, may protect women from early menopause and could prolong reproductive function.
	Physician heal thyself: Simple coping strategies for pervasive physician burnout The proverb, "physician heal thyself," is probably more relevant today than it was in biblical times with the fast pace of life, the impact of multitasking and the unending bombardment of information, which have made emotional exhaustion almost certain. And this is especially true for obstetricians and gynecologists who experience professional burnout rates between 40 to 75 percent.
Large-scale production of living brain cells enables entirely new research Important pieces of the puzzle to understand what drives diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are still missing today. One crucial obstacle for researchers is that it is impossible to examine a living brain cell in someone who is affected by the disease. With the help of a new method for cell conversion, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have found a way to produce diseased, aging brain cells on a large scale in a cell culture dish.
Significant racial disparities persist in hospital readmissions A new study in the journal Health Affairs shows that, despite being designed to more effectively manage care and control costs, black patients enrolled with Medicare Advantage are far more likely to be readmitted to the hospital after a surgery than those enrolled on traditional Medicare. Furthermore, significant disparities continue to exist in readmission rate between black and white Medicare patients.
How to stay sane when your child can't sleep Your child's sleep problems may be making you depressed and unsure of your parenting skills, says a new paper by UBC sleep expert and nursing professor Wendy Hall. The good news is you can turn the situation around. In this Q&A, she talks about the connection between parental sanity and infant sleep—and offers a few suggestions for parents unsure of the way forward.
	Regular brisk walks and a daily longer one help lower office workers' blood lipids Many people spend increasing time sitting during their work days, but breaking things up with regular brisk walks, while also taking daily 30-minute walks, significantly lowers levels of fatty acids that lead to clogged arteries, researchers from New Zealand's University of Otago have found in a first-of-its-kind study.
People living at home with dementia at risk of potentially dangerous antipsychotic usage Off-label use of antipsychotic medications to treat patients with dementia has reduced dramatically in recent years due to education programs warning of increased risk of death. However, those campaigns have not focused on care settings outside of nursing homes, leaving community-dwelling adults with dementia at risk of potentially fatal side effects, according to research published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
	Cosmetic complaints climb but products still on market Many cosmetic products entice consumers with active ingredients that will plump, lengthen and boost.
	Is there an association between socioeconomic status in childhood and the heart? Socioeconomic inequalities are a public health challenge in cardiovascular disease and a new study published by JAMA Pediatrics examined the association of childhood family socioeconomic status in youth on measures of left ventricular mass and diastolic function 31 years later in adulthood.
Team develops risk assessment score to predict, help prevent sudden cardiac arrest A Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute investigator and his team have developed a new risk assessment tool that brings physicians closer to predicting who is most likely to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, a condition that is fatal in more than 90 percent of patients.
	Readily available drug cocktail can help prevent sepsis shock and death Sepsis presents a major challenge for health care providers, especially in low-income countries where the mortality rate can exceed 60 percent. Even in advanced medical settings, sepsis is still very dangerous and accounts for over 400,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone. While new drugs are in development, a group of researchers has determined that a combination of intravenous vitamin C, corticosteroids (a steroid), and thiamine (vitamin B) may be effective in preventing progressive organ dysfunction and reducing the number of deaths from severe sepsis and septic shock. Their findings are published in the June issue of Chest.
	Fluid in the knee holds clues for why osteoarthritis is more common in females Researchers have more evidence that males and females are different, this time in the fluid that helps protect the cartilage in their knee joints.
	The brain's fight and flight responses to social threat A study published in eNeuro exploring the neural correlates of the 'fight-or-flight' response finds that people who choose to flee perceive a greater threat, which leads them to mentally and behaviorally disengage from the situation.
	Childhood asthma may lead to thickening of left ventricle in adulthood Young adults with a history of asthma are at a greater risk of thickening of the left ventricle, which can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, and eventually lead to heart failure, according to research published today in JACC: Heart Failure.
Early cardiology care linked to lower risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation The risk of stroke was significantly reduced in patients newly diagnosed with a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation who received early care from a cardiologist, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Mechanism shown to reverse disease in arteries A certain immune reaction is the key, not to slowing atherosclerosis like cholesterol-lowering drugs do, but instead to reversing a disease that gradually blocks arteries to cause heart attacks and strokes.
African-Americans with healthier lifestyles had lower risk of high blood pressure Among African Americans, small health improvements were associated with lower risk of developing high blood pressure, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension. African Americans who had at least two modifiable healthy behaviors at the beginning of the study, compared to those with one or none, researchers found the risk of high blood pressure at follow-up was reduced by 20 percent.
	Sequencing healthy patients reveals that many carry rare genetic disease risks Whole genome sequencing involves the analysis of all three billion pairs of letters in an individual's DNA and has been hailed as a technology that will usher in a new era of predicting and preventing disease. However, the use of genome sequencing in healthy individuals is controversial because no one fully understands how many patients carry variants that put them at risk for rare genetic conditions and how they, and their doctors, will respond to learning about these risks.
	Night shifts may hinder body's ability to repair DNA damage Night shift work may hinder the body's ability to repair DNA damage caused by normal cellular processes, suggests a small study published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
	New gonorrhea treatment targets enzyme needed for respiration Researchers have identified a possible new treatment for gonorrhea, using a peptide that thwarts the infection-causing bacterium by interfering with an enzyme the microbe needs to respirate.
	Immunizations for high flyin' travelers (HealthDay)—Nothing spoils a trip faster than getting sick. And a good way to protect yourself is by getting certain vaccinations before you leave home.
	Boozing can age you right down to your cells (HealthDay)—The more you booze it up, the more your cells age, increasing your risk for age-related health problems like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia, a new study suggests.
	When is an opioid safe to take? (HealthDay)—Many people in pain are apprehensive about taking an opioid painkiller to ease their suffering, and rightfully so.
	Taking photos of experiences boosts visual memory, impairs auditory memory A quick glance at any social media platform will tell you that people love taking photos of their experiences - whether they're lying on the beach, touring a museum, or just waiting in line at the grocery store. New research shows that choosing to take photos may actually help us remember the visual details of our encounters.
	Review: Insomnia medication may wake up some patients from vegetative state In a new systematic review in JAMA Neurology, Michigan Medicine researchers found reason to further explore the surprising effects of zolpidem that have been observed outside the scope of its primary Food and Drug Administration approval.
	Where are the new therapies for heart disease? Despite dramatic reductions in the death rate from cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, it remains the leading causes of death, and experts have expressed concern that the number of new therapies coming to market has lagged. A new study from the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University and the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development at Tufts University School of Medicine tracks the progress of developing new therapies, from basic science on mechanisms of cardiovascular disease through the development of new drugs based on this science. The results suggest that the extensive delay in the emergence of new drugs reflects the long timelines for growth of basic research on cardiovascular disease, and that strategies for accelerating new cures should focus on optimizing the growth of biomedical research and better synchronizing drug development with this growth.
Researchers identify best practices for cochlear implant hearing preservation Cochlear implants that have electrodes designed without wire perform better than those with wires for long-term hearing preservation, a Mount Sinai researcher has reported in a first-of-its-kind study. The research also determined that the best surgical approach for cochlear implant procedures did not involve drilling into the bone around the ear. The results, published in the June 23, 2017, online edition of The Laryngoscope, may transform how doctors approach cochlear implant procedures to give patients the best possible outcomes.
	Brains evolved to need exercise: study Mounting scientific evidence shows that exercise is good not only for our bodies, but for our brains. Yet, exactly why physical activity benefits the brain is not well understood.
	Study: Lack of sleep + spat with spouse = potential health problems A lack of sleep doesn't just leave you cranky and spoiling for a fight. Researchers at The Ohio State University Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research say it also puts you at risk for stress-related inflammation.
	Why social isolation can bring a greater risk of illness Social isolation has been linked to a wide range of health problems, as well as a shorter lifespan in humans and other animals. In fact, during a U.S. Senate hearing on aging issues this spring, a representative for the Gerontological Society of America urged lawmakers to support programs that help older adults stay connected to their communities, stating that social isolation is a "silent killer that places people at higher risk for a variety of poor health outcomes."
	Exposure to light causes emotional and physical responses in migraine sufferers: study People experiencing migraines often avoid light and find relief in darkness. A new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has revealed a previously unknown connection between the light-sensitive nerve cells in the eye and centers in the brain that regulate mood and a host of physical parameters such as heart rate, shortness of breath, fatigue, congestion and nausea. The findings, which explain how light can induce the negative emotions and unpleasant physical sensations that often accompany migraine, were published online today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	What men need to know about ED drugs and anesthesia (HealthDay)—Men who take erectile dysfunction drugs need to alert the anesthetist before having surgery or other medical procedures, hospital experts say.
	How to dodge summertime threats (HealthDay)—During the summer, poison centers get an increase in the number of calls about bites, stings, plants and pesticides.
	Similar skin cancer incidence seen with teledermatology (HealthDay)—The incidence of skin cancer is similar for patients evaluated by store-and-forward (SAF) teledermatology or face-to-face (F2F) consultation, according to a study published online June 20 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
	Acne-related depression, anxiety not tied to oxidative stress (HealthDay)—High levels of anxiety and depression in patients with facial acne are not related to oxidative stress, according to a study published online June 20 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	HIV testing inadequate in young men who have sex with men (HealthDay)—Few young men who have sex with men (MSM) receive HIV testing, although they account for most new diagnoses, according to research published in the June 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Immune profile differs during symptom flare, free in IBS-D (HealthDay)—For patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), interferon-γ concentrations and THELPER cells are inhibited during symptom flare, according to a research letter published online June 10 in Gut.
	Longer survival for midostaurin and chemotherapy in AML with FLT3 (HealthDay)—For patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a FLT3 mutation, midostaurin plus chemotherapy is associated with prolonged overall and event-free survival, according to a study published online June 23 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Heart healthy diet as effective as statins, American Heart Association says Replacing foods high in saturated fats with those that have unsaturated fats can reduce a person's chance of developing heart disease as much as cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins, according to new advice from the American Heart Association.
Looking for clues to dangerous fatty liver disease In his lab in Lake Nona, Dr. Peter Crawford has been studying nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that's closely linked to obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Study highlights need for education and training to help human trafficking victims Healthcare professionals are in a unique position to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking. Nearly 88 percent of them seek medical treatment during captivity, and of those, 68 percent of them are seen in the emergency department (ED). Unfortunately, many victims slip through the cracks and remain "hidden." A study released today in the Emergency Nurses Association's Journal of Emergency Nursing aims to help emergency nurses better identify victims of human trafficking. The study details an evidence-based project that shines a spotlight on the importance of formal education, screening, and treatment protocols for emergency department personnel to guide identification and rescue victims of human trafficking.
	Opinion: What happens when the federal government eliminates health coverage? Lessons from the past After much secrecy and no public deliberation, Senate Republicans finalized release their "draft" repeal and replace bill for the Affordable Care Act on June 22. Unquestionably, the released "draft" will not be the final version.
Sri Lanka blames garbage pile-up for record dengue toll Sri Lanka has suffered a record 200 deaths from dengue fever this year, the health minister said Monday, blaming a garbage disposal crisis in Colombo.
	Mitochondria targeting anti-tumor compound Autophagy is a natural cellular mechanism that plays an important role in cellular homeostasis by removing or recycling damage cell components. Mitophagy is autophagy that is specific to mitochondria. The mitochondrion is an organelle responsible for several functions including the production of cellular energy and the initiation of cell death. The removal of damaged mitochondria prevents degeneration of healthy cells, and recent research has found that it is a potentially potent treatment for cancer since mitophagy activation in cancer tissue induces cancer cell death.
3-D printing with living tissues may help treat joint diseases Degeneration of cartilage and other joint tissues is a major cause of disability. A new review highlights the recent developments in biofabrication, a new technique that allows investigators to print living tissues for implantation that can potentially regenerate cartilage and eventually the full joint.
Diabetes may have important effects in patients with acute heart failure Researchers have found that patients with acute heart failure and diabetes, compared with those without diabetes, have distinct markers related to inflammation, cardiovascular function, and kidney health.
Fatality rates are high within two years of drug-induced liver injury Most patients suffering liver toxicity due to medications or herbal or dietary supplements recover from the acute liver injury without long-term problems, but some do not survive the injury or they require liver transplantation. In a recent study, nearly 10% of patients with definite, highly likely, or probable drug-induced liver injury had a fatal outcome within 2 years of onset.
	Study describes changes to structural brain networks after radiotherapy for brain tumors Researchers compared the thickness of brain cortex in patients with brain tumors before and after radiation therapy was applied and found significant dose-dependent changes in the structural properties of cortical neural networks, at both the local and global level. These alterations and the finding of increased segregation of brain regions essential for thought function may have a role in the delayed cognitive impairment experienced by many patients after brain radiotherapy. This new research is reported in Brain Connectivity.
Are activity monitors fit for exercise research? Getting there, but further steps needed Activity monitors or fitness trackers are fun and informative gadgets to help track daily physical activity. But as a source of objective data for research on the health benefits of exercise, they're not yet fully up to speed, reports a paper in Progress in Preventive Medicine, the official journal of the European Society of Preventive Medicine.
Alzheimer's gene associated with failure to adapt to cognitive challenge in healthy adults Healthy adults carrying the gene APOE4—the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD)—may struggle to adapt their brain activity to increasing cognitive demands as they get older, according to a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience. This age-related effect, which was not observed in people without the risk factor, suggests that interventions targeting cognitive decline in at-risk populations may need to begin many years before any symptoms of the disease emerge in order to be effective.
More funding for heart disease research crucial for health of patients and the economy Biomedical research on heart disease produces a significant return on investment for both health and the economy, but government and private funding is not keeping pace with need, according to a new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research.
Study links immune responses to intestinal microbes with rheumatoid arthritis In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), self-reactive T cell responses cause inflammation and progressive damage to synovial joints. Although genetic risk factors for RA have been identified, environmental causes are also thought to play a role in the onset of RA. Recent work suggests that the disease is initially triggered by immune responses to gut bacteria, but how autoimmunity of intestinal origin plays a role in RA-linked autoimmune responses is unclear.
Evidence review shows that having health insurance saves lives A review of published evidence shows that having health insurance reduces the risk for death. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine, just as Congress prepares to vote on the fate of the nation's health care.
ICD therapy significantly reduces death risk in patients with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy Primary prevention with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy reduced the incidence of sudden and all-cause death for patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomypotathy when compared with conventional care. Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Early antiretroviral therapy linked with bone loss in patients with HIV Current HIV treatment guidelines now recommend initiating antiretroviral treatment (ART) at the time of diagnosis. However, a new study has found that such early ART causes greater bone loss compared with deferring ART.
	Does socioeconomic status affect women's decisions not to continue breastfeeding? A new study has shown that among women who intended to breastfeed, nearly 25% of those defined as socioeconomically (SE) marginalized stopped after only 1 month, compared to about 7% of the women in the SE privileged group. Interestingly, the reasons for early cessation of breastfeeding differed between the two groups, as reported in Health Equity.
'Own-point-of-view' video method leverages power of perception to improve emergency care The 'own-point-of-view' perspective video technique, coupled with a subjective re situ interview, provides a better understanding of how physicians make clinical decisions in an authentic treatment setting, compared with the conventional external perspective. That is the primary finding of a study to be published in the July 2017 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Two more plague cases reported in New Mexico's Santa Fe County The New Mexico Department of Health on Monday confirmed two more human cases of plague.
Fraud trial for pharma bad boy Shkreli begins Martin Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive dubbed "the most hated man in America" for his astronomical price hikes on an AIDS treatment, arrived Monday at a federal court to face fraud charges.
Endocrine Society issues Scientific Statement on obesity's causes A new Scientific Statement issued by the Endocrine Society calls for more research aimed specifically at understanding the underlying mechanisms that make it difficult to maintain long-term weight loss.
	World's largest sleep study launches from Western's Brain and Mind Institute Renowned Western University neuroscientist Adrian Owen has launched the world's largest sleep-and-cognition study to help researchers learn the effects on our brains of sleep and sleep deprivation.
	New study links hot flashes with depression With age comes a greater risk of depression, especially in women. With 15% of the female population in the US being 65 or older, and the number expected to double in the next 50 years, there is a major focus on age-related disorders, including depression. A new study published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), documents an association between hot flashes and a greater risk of depression.
This type of firework disfigures people more than any other, study shows Mike Spencer lit the fuse and held the firework above his head.

Biology news

	Researchers explore whether climate change could bring tropical viruses to Europe The mosquito-borne viral disease Chikungunya is usually found in tropical areas. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm have now discovered how climate change is facilitating the spread of the Chikungunya virus. Even if climate change only progresses moderately – as scientists are currently observing – the risk of infection will continue to increase in many regions of the world through the end of the 21st century. If climate change continues unchecked, the virus could even spread to southern Europe and the United States. The researchers have published their findings in Scientific Reports.
	More than meets the eye to ulcer-inducing bacterial protein Scientists at The University of Western Australia and Perth-based biotech Ondek Pty Ltd have revealed new insights into the function of an important bacterial protein in Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers.
	Hot cities spell bad news for bees A new study from North Carolina State University finds that common wild bee species decline as urban temperatures increase.
	Lending plants a hand to survive drought The findings have helped some plants survive 50 percent longer in drought conditions, and could eventually benefit major crops such as barley, rice and wheat, which are crucial to world food supplies.
	Previously unknown extinction of marine megafauna discovered Over two million years ago, a third of the largest marine animals like sharks, whales, sea birds and sea turtles disappeared. This previously unknown extinction event not only had a consid-erable impact on the earth's historical biodiversity but also on the functioning of ecosystems. This has been demonstrated by researchers at the University of Zurich.
	Discovery of a new mechanism for bacterial division Most rod-shaped bacteria divide by splitting into two around the middle after their DNA has replicated safely and segregated to opposite ends of the cell. This seemingly simple process actually demands tight and precise coordination, which is achieved through two biological systems: nucleoid occlusion, which protects the cell's genetic material from dividing until it replicates and segregates, and the "minicell" system, which localizes the site of division around the middle of the cell, where a dividing wall will form to split it in two.
	Vinegar: A cheap and simple way to help plants fight drought Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have discovered a new, yet simple, way to increase drought tolerance in a wide range of plants. Published in Nature Plants, the study reports a newly discovered biological pathway that is activated in times of drought. By working out the details of this pathway, scientists were able to induce greater tolerance for drought-like conditions simply by growing plants in vinegar.
	Cloning thousands of genes for massive protein libraries Discovering the function of a gene requires cloning a DNA sequence and expressing it. Until now, this was performed on a one-gene-at-a-time basis, causing a bottleneck. Scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School have invented a technology to clone thousands of genes simultaneously and create massive libraries of proteins from DNA samples, potentially ushering in a new era of functional genomics.
	Researchers demonstrate how some genes evolved from an immune function to an olfactory role in some mammals Mammals possess several lines of defense against microbes. One of them is activated when receptors called Fprs, which are present on immune cells, bind to specific molecules that are linked to pathogens. Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, showed in 2009 that these same receptors were also present in the nose of mice, probably to detect contaminated food or to avoid sick conspecifics. The biologists now describe in the journal PNAS how Fprs have acquired this olfactory role during rodent evolution, moving from the immune system to a neuronal system. This innovation results from two genomic 'accidents' that occurred several millions years apart during the evolution of rodents.
	Could humans ever regenerate a heart? A new study suggests the answer is 'yes' When Mark Martindale decided to trace the evolutionary origin of muscle cells, like the ones that form our hearts, he looked in an unlikely place: the genes of animals without hearts or muscles.
	New method to rapidly map the 'social networks' of proteins Salk scientists have developed a new high-throughput technique to determine which proteins in a cell interact with each other. Mapping this network of interactions, or "interactome," has been slow going in the past because the number of interactions that could be tested at once was limited. The new approach, published June 26 in Nature Methods, lets researchers test millions of relationships between thousands of proteins in a single experiment.
	A little place for my stuff: How big bacteria can grow depends on how much fat they can make In his classic comedy routine, "A Place for your Stuff," George Carlin argues that the whole point of life is to find an appropriately sized space for the things you own. What holds for people is also true for bacteria.
	Chimpanzee 'super strength' and what it might mean in human muscle evolution Since at least the 1920s, anecdotes and some studies have suggested that chimpanzees are "super strong" compared to humans, implying that their muscle fibers, the cells that make up muscles, are superior to humans.
	Long-term study finds energy development has lasting impact on deer populations A new long-term study finds that energy development has longer-lasting impacts on mule deer populations than previously thought.
	Mouse lemurs may provide insight into human behaviour and well-being Something to Google today: mouse lemurs.
	Camera-trap research paves the way for global monitoring networks Biodiversity loss is one of the driving factors in ecosystem change, on par with climate change and human development. When one species, especially a large predator, disappears from an area, other populations will be affected, sometimes changing entire landscapes.
	Steelhead trout population declines linked with poor survival of young fish in the ocean Steelhead trout are entrenched in the economy, ecology, and culture of the Pacific Northwest. Declining numbers of steelhead in the rivers flowing through British Columbia, Washington state, and Oregon are troubling fishers and fisheries managers alike. A new study published today in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CJFAS) shows that survival of young steelhead trout in ocean environments has also been precipitously declining.
	Panda love spreads to benefit the planet Loving pandas isn't just a feel-good activity. Recent Michigan State University (MSU) work shows China's decades of defending panda turf have been good not just for the beloved bears, but also protects habitat for other valuable plants and animals, boosts biodiversity and fights climate change.
	Formation of artificial cells with a skeletal support reinforcement to withstand application realized A research group of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Keio University and Tohoku University have successfully developed an artificial cytoskeletal structure for cell models (liposomes or artificial cells) using DNA nanotechnology, and demonstrated that liposomes with the cytoskeletal structure were almost as strong as living cells.
	Predicting future outcomes in the natural world When pesticides and intentional fires fail to eradicate an invasive plant species, declaring biological war may be the best option.
	Ten million tonnes of fish wasted every year despite declining fish stocks Industrial fishing fleets dump nearly 10 million tonnes of good fish back into the ocean every year, according to new research.
	French PM says ban on 'bee-killer' pesticide will go ahead French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe weighed in on a row between his environment and agriculture ministers on Monday to rule that a pesticide found harmful to bees would be banned in 2018 as scheduled.
	Flowers lovers flock to Vermont bog for wild orchids Each spring and summer, a Vermont bog yields a rare spectacle—hundreds of wild orchids in bloom, drawing visitors from around the country.
	Near instantaneous evolution discovered in bacteria How fast does evolution occur? In certain bacteria, it can occur almost instantaneously, a University at Buffalo molecular biologist has discovered.
	Meet the dogs with OCD Curiously, and perhaps eagerly, I am looking at a bull terrier named Sputnik, searching for a resemblance.

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