Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jun 1

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 1, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Diamond needles emit intense bunches of electrons when illuminated by light

A new twist on uranium's origin story, by CSU scientists

A material that can switch between multiple phases that have distinct electronic, optical and magnetic properties

How to hold AI accountable for its actions

LIGO detects gravitational waves for third time

Rover findings indicate stratified lake on ancient Mars

Japan launches satellite in bid for super accurate GPS system

Colossal rocket-launching plane rolls toward testing

Researchers flip the script on magnetocapacitance

Exposure to specific toxins and nutrients during late pregnancy and early life correlates with autism risk

Ultra-stable perovskite solar cell remains stable for more than a year

One gene closer to regenerative therapy for muscular disorders

Meltwater lakes under the Antarctic Ice Sheet accelerated glacial retreat in the Earth's past

A protein that stem cells require could be a target in killing breast cancer cells

Artificial intelligence predicts patient lifespans

Astronomy & Space news

	LIGO detects gravitational waves for third time The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has made a third detection of gravitational waves, ripples in space and time, demonstrating that a new window in astronomy has been firmly opened. As was the case with the first two detections, the waves were generated when two black holes collided to form a larger black hole.
	Rover findings indicate stratified lake on ancient Mars A long-lasting lake on ancient Mars provided stable environmental conditions that differed significantly from one part of the lake to another, according to a comprehensive look at findings from the first three-and-a-half years of NASA's Curiosity rover mission. While previous work had revealed the presence of a lake more than three billion years ago in Mars' Gale Crater, this study defines the lake's chemical conditions and uses Curiosity's powerful payload to determine that the lake was stratified.
	Japan launches satellite in bid for super accurate GPS system Japan successfully launched a satellite Thursday as part of a broader effort to build a homegrown geolocation system that boosts the accuracy of car navigation systems and smartphone maps to mere centimetres.
	Colossal rocket-launching plane rolls toward testing A colossal aircraft capable of launching satellite-toting rockets into space is closer to testing, having been rolled out of a hangar in the desert, its creators said on Wednesday.
	Early black holes may have grown in fits and spurts A long-standing question in astrophysics is: how and when did supermassive black holes appear and grow in the early universe? New research using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) suggests that an answer to this question lies with the intermittent way giant black holes may consume material in the first billion years after the Big Bang.
	NASA to launch first-ever neutron-star mission Nearly 50 years after British astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell discovered the existence of rapidly spinning neutron stars, NASA will launch the world's first mission devoted to studying these unusual objects.
	After setbacks, Alaska space business again has high hopes When most people think of Alaska, they picture its thick forests, hulking grizzly bears and soaring, snow-covered peaks.
	Help astronomers find 'baby' galaxies that give birth to new stars A new citizen science project, led by astronomers at the University of Minnesota, is asking volunteers to help them with web classifications of galaxy spectra to find "baby" galaxies that are giving birth to new stars.
	The immune system in space Getting sick when you're far from home is a drag. You'd give anything to crawl into your own soft bed and sleep, but you're stuck in a cookie-cutter hotel room feeling like a sick fish out of water. Well, it could be worse.
	Mission to the sun will protect us from devastating solar storms and help us travel deeper into space From prayer and sacrifice to sunbathing, humans have worshipped the sun since time immemorial. And it's no wonder. At around 150m km away, it is close enough to provide the light, heat and energy to sustain the entire human race. But despite the fact that our parent star has been studied extensively with modern telescopes – both from home and in space – there's a lot we don't know about it.
	SpaceX to launch first 'recycled' cargo ship SpaceX on Thursday will attempt its first-ever cargo delivery to the astronauts living in orbit using a vessel that has already flown to space once before, the California-based company said.
	Image: Space station's view of Florida at night This nighttime photo of Florida was taken from the International Space Station by Expedition 51 Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, in March 2017.
	Image: James Webb Telescope tested in thermal vacuum chamber NASA's Johnson Space Center's "Chamber A" in Houston is an enormous thermal vacuum testing chamber and now appears to be opening it's "mouth" to take in NASA's James Webb Space Telescope for testing.

Technology news

	How to hold AI accountable for its actions (Tech Xplore)—A trio of academics has written and published a Focus piece in the journal Science Robotics on the need to hold artificial intelligence systems accountable for their actions. Sandra Wachter, Brent Mittelstadt and Luciano Floridi, all with the Oxford Internet Institute, suggest that there are three main difficulties standing in the way of such action, but they should not be enough to discourage implementation of strategies meant to protect from actions taken by machines.
	Artificial intelligence predicts patient lifespans A computer's ability to predict a patient's lifespan simply by looking at images of their organs is a step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to new research led by the University of Adelaide.
	Dutch testing tube unveiled for Hyperloop transport system A Dutch tech startup and a construction company on Thursday unveiled a Hyperloop test facility, a steel tube that will be used to help develop the futuristic high-speed transportation system.
	'Instantly rechargeable' battery could change the future of electric and hybrid automobiles A technology developed by Purdue researchers could provide an "instantly rechargeable" method that is safe, affordable and environmentally friendly for recharging electric and hybrid vehicle batteries through a quick and easy process similar to refueling a car at a gas station.
	Saving lives and money: the potential of solar to replace coal By swapping solar photovoltaics for coal, the US could prevent 51,999 premature deaths a year, potentially making as much as $2.5 million for each life saved.
	Scientists slash computations for deep learning Rice University computer scientists have adapted a widely used technique for rapid data lookup to slash the amount of computation—and thus energy and time—required for deep learning, a computationally intense form of machine learning.
	Europol using everyday objects to trace child sex abusers A particular shampoo brand, a magazine cover, a shopping bag or even a wallpaper pattern are among the clues Europol posted online Thursday, hoping they may help trace child sex abusers and their victims.
	Investors pick Tesla's promise over GM's steady profits When General Motors CEO Mary Barra introduced the Chevrolet Bolt at the CES gadget show last year, she took a shot at Tesla.
	UK campaigner takes on Facebook 'dark ads' during election From a tech hub in London, a teenage entrepreneur is working to shed light on the use of targeted Facebook ads in Britain's election campaign, amid concern that they are skewing democracy.
The art of everyday objects growing like mushrooms What is nicer after a long day than sinking your feet into comfortable slippers? But one Italian designer is hoping to show that shoes made from mushrooms can be just as cosy.
	First robotic cop joins Dubai police After bringing in Lamborghinis and Ferraris to patrol roads, Dubai police have enrolled a robotic officer, the first in a unit that aims to make up a quarter of the force by 2030.
	Design student turns waste plastic shopping bags into skateboards A compact press that turns plastic shopping bags into skateboards has been designed by a student at Brunel University London in a bid to tackle community litter and deforestation - and give kids a cheap new hobby.
How flattening our dimension can bring better graphics into the fold In order to create 3-D models in the field of computer graphics, thin sheets of material are layered together to create a single object. Dr. Scott Schaefer, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, is focused on peeling back those layers in order to create more realistic graphics than ever before.
	Roofline model boosts manycore code optimization efforts A software toolkit developed at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) to better understand supercomputer performance is now being used to boost application performance for researchers running codes at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) and other supercomputing facilities.
	Single cells lined up like ducks in a row The higher the concentration of tumor cells in the bloodstream, the greater the risk of metastasis. The number of circulating tumor cells indicates how well a patient is responding to therapy. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new microhole chip that enables cells to be identified and characterized reliably within minutes.
	A marker-free system for tracing mass components Highly interconnected manufacturing chains, cost issues and technical feasibility make it difficult to trace individual components in mass production. Efficient "track & trace" solutions are, however, an important prerequisite for production and process optimization—especially in the context of digitized manufacturing. With its "Track & Trace Fingerprint" solution, the Fraunhofer-Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM in Freiburg, Germany, has developed a marker-free system for tracing mass components.
	Avoiding material inclusions such as dross in wind turbines Wind turbines rise into the sky on enormous feet. To ensure these giants can reliably generate electricity for many years to come, the iron processing industry must manufacture their massive components in a stable, resource-saving and yet cost-effective way. However, material inclusions such as dross are often unavoidable while casting. Fraunhofer researchers are currently working to detect and analyze such material defects.
	Facebook, Google crack down on hate speech: EU Facebook, Google and other US internet giants have sharply boosted efforts to clamp down on online hate speech, a top European Union official said Thursday.
	Apple says payouts from App Store total $70 bn Apple said Thursday it has paid out more than $70 billion to app developers since opening its App Store in 2008, and that the ecosystem is still growing.
	'Expert in a suitcase' cuts power bills 10 percent in small commercial buildings The knowledge and expertise of a seasoned energy efficiency professional has been packed into a high-tech suitcase.
	Apple readying Siri-powered home assistant: report Apple is preparing to launch a connected speaker to serve as a smart home assistant in a challenge to Amazon Echo and Google Home, a news report said Thursday.
Berlin homes to be heated with energy from wind power Swedish utility company Vattenfall is investing almost 100 million euros ($112 million) to build a power-to-heat facility in the German capital.
JetBlue, Delta will test biometric boarding passes Boarding passes could someday become quaint relics for air travelers.
	Flying metal detectors? Navy tests new unmanned mine-detection system During a recent technology demonstration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dr. Rosemarie Oelrich and Dr. Cory Stephanson unveiled a new way to detect buried and submerged mines.
	Germany finds emission-cheating gear on 24,000 Audis in Europe (Update) German authorities have found emissions-cheating devices on 24,000 Audi vehicles in Europe, including some 14,000 cars in Germany, transport minister Alexander Dobrindt said Thursday.
	Study shows U.S. consumers want to know when their power is coming from renewable sources Do Americans want to use more renewable energy?
	Trump's cellphone use worries security experts President Donald Trump, who blasted Hillary Clinton for using a personal email server, might be a walking magnet for eavesdropping and malware if he is using an unsecured cellphone to chat with foreign leaders.
	Despite Trump, cleaner energy growth expected to carry on President Donald Trump may abandon U.S. pledges to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, but that step seems unlikely to stall the push to adopt cleaner forms of energy.
	Generation green: smart cities bring new eco-friendly jobs Smart cities across Europe are pioneering all sorts of cutting-edge technologies to reduce pollution and boost energy efficiency, becoming green role models for others to follow. The eco-friendly push is not only helping to protect our planet, it's also stimulating growth and unleashing a new generation of jobs
	Sensor boutique for early adopters Every chemical substance absorbs a very individual fraction of infrared light. Like a human fingerprint, this absorption can be used with optical methods for identifying substances. Such methods are used in the chemical industry, for example, but also in the health sector or in criminal investigation. If a company plans a new project, it often needs individually tailored sensor solutions. In the search for a suitable system, they are now supported by the EU-funded pilot line MIRPHAB (Mid InfraRed PHotonics devices fABrication for chemical sensing and spectroscopic applications) for the development of sensor technology and measurement technology in mid-infrared (MIR). The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF is participating in this project. MIRPHAB is making an important contribution to the factory of the future and Industry 4.0.
Walk this way with Detour app: 150 audio tours If you're looking for a knowledgeable traveling companion, consider installing the Detour app on your smartphone.
	Online game Words with Friends adds 'covfefe' to its list The popular mobile word game Words With Friends has added one of the internet's most popular typos in recent days—"covfefe."
Alleged Russia hacker appeals extradition to Russia A Russian man who faces charges of hacking computers at LinkedIn, Dropbox and other American companies has appealed a Czech court decision that allows his extradition to Russia.
	Interview: France warns of risk of war in cyberspace Cyberspace faces an approaching risk of "permanent war" between states and criminal or extremist organizations because of increasingly destructive hacking attacks, the head of the French government's cybersecurity agency warned Thursday.
Sears says that some Kmart stores targets of security breach Sears Holdings Corp. says some of its Kmart stores were targeted by hackers, leading to unauthorized activity on some of its customers' credit cards.

Medicine & Health news

	Exposure to specific toxins and nutrients during late pregnancy and early life correlates with autism risk Using evidence found in baby teeth, researchers from The Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory and The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai found that differences in the uptake of multiple toxic and essential elements over the second and third trimesters and early postnatal periods are associated with the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a study published June 1 in the journal Nature Communications. The critical developmental windows for the observed discrepancies varied for each element, suggesting that systemic dysregulation of environmental pollutants and dietary elements may serve an important role in ASD. In addition to identifying specific environmental factors that influence risk, the study also pinpointed developmental time periods when elemental dysregulation poses the biggest risk for autism later in life.
	One gene closer to regenerative therapy for muscular disorders A detour on the road to regenerative medicine for people with muscular disorders is figuring out how to coax muscle stem cells to fuse together and form functioning skeletal muscle tissues. A study published June 1 by Nature Communications reports scientists identify a new gene essential to this process, shedding new light on possible new therapeutic strategies.
	A protein that stem cells require could be a target in killing breast cancer cells For years, cancer experts have realized that cancerous cells behave in certain ways like stem cells, unspecialized cells that when exposed to certain signals, can "differentiate."
	Virtual reality eases phantom limb pain Virtual reality can relieve the sensation of phantom limb pain. A new test devised by researchers at Aalborg University shows that VR technology can trick the amputee's brain into thinking that it is still in control of a missing limb.
	A major step in treating genetic diseases Researchers at Queen's University have published new findings, providing a proof-of-concept use of genetic editing tools to treat genetic diseases. The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, offers an important first step towards treatment for a rare liver disease, as well as other disorders caused by genetic mutations.
	Researchers identify specific neurons that distinguish between reality and imagination New Western University research shows that neurons in the part of the brain found to be abnormal in psychosis are also important in helping people distinguish between reality and imagination.
	Researchers uncover clues about how HIV virus mutates A new study published in Cell Host & Microbe led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center completely maps all mutations that help the HIV virus evolve away from a single broadly neutralizing antibody, known as PGT151. Broadly neutralizing antibodies are immune molecules that bind to viruses and can block them from spreading in the body.
	Delayed meal times reset body clocks The human body runs according to a roughly 24-hour cycle, controlled by a "master" clock in the brain and peripheral clocks in other parts of the body that are synchronized according to external cues, including light. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on June 1 have found that at least one of those clocks can also be reset based on what time a person eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
	Common class of chemicals cause cancer by breaking down DNA repair mechanisms A common class of chemicals found everywhere from car exhausts, smoke, building materials and furniture to cosmetics and shampoos could increase cancer risk because of their ability to break down the repair mechanisms that prevent faults in our genes, according to a study published today in the journal Cell.
	A noninvasive method for deep brain stimulation—Electrodes placed on the scalp could help patients with brain disease Delivering an electrical current to a part of the brain involved in movement control has proven successful in treating many Parkinson's disease patients. This approach, known as deep brain stimulation, requires implanting electrodes in the brain—a complex procedure that carries some risk to the patient.
	Researchers decipher the enigma of how faces are encoded in the brain When you look at photos of faces, your brain is able to instantly identify the ones that you know—whether they're your mother or your favorite celebrity—and distinguish among those that you've never seen before. In recent years, neuroscientists have begun to peek inside the brain's black box to understand how the brain is able to recognize and perceive faces. Now, in a study published June 1 in the journal Cell, researchers report that they have cracked the code for facial identity in the primate brain.
	New evidence challenges popular hypothesis for how anesthesia works Despite widespread use of anesthesia, the precise mechanism by which it causes loss of consciousness remains a mystery. Now, scientists studying ferrets have found evidence that anesthesia may work differently than popularly believed, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Perseverance pays off in fight against deadly Lassa virus Before Ebola virus ever struck West Africa, locals were already on the lookout for a deadly pathogen: Lassa virus. With thousands dying from Lassa every year—and the potential for the virus to cause even larger outbreaks—researchers are committed to designing a vaccine to stop it.
	New insights into how the Zika virus causes microcephaly A study published today in Science shows that the Zika virus hijacks a human protein called Musashi-1 (MSI1) to allow it to replicate in, and kill, neural stem cells. Almost all MSI1 protein in the developing embryo is produced in the neural stem cells that will eventually develop into the baby's brain, which could explain why these cells are so vulnerable to Zika.
	Unexpected mechanism behind chronic nerve pain It has long been assumed that chronic nerve pain is caused by hypersensitivity in the neurons that transmit pain. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now show that another kind of neuron that normally allows us to feel pleasant touch sensation can switch function and instead signal pain after nerve damage. The results, which are presented in the journal Science, can eventually lead to more effective pain treatments.
	Puberty hormones trigger changes in youthful learning A University of California, Berkeley, study of mice reveals, for the first time, how puberty hormones might impede some aspects of flexible youthful learning.
	Neuroscientists rewire brain of one species to have connectivity of another ATLANTA-Scientists at Georgia State University have rewired the neural circuit of one species and given it the connections of another species to test a hypothesis about the evolution of neural circuits and behavior.
	Some vaginal bacteria may weaken anti-HIV gel: study Some kinds of vaginal bacteria may interfere with a gel meant to curb the risk of contracting HIV, which infects more than one million women worldwide each year, researchers said Thursday.
Imaging technique for treating heart condition should be more widely used to minimize radiation exposure A technique to treat an irregular heartbeat that limits or eliminates patients' exposure to radiation should be more widely adopted by physicians, NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine cardiologists argue in a new review article in Heart Rhythm, published in the June print issue and previously published online. They posit that the primary obstacle to the procedure's widespread use - physicians' discomfort with a different visual tool - can be overcome with training and experience.
	Largest study to date finds autism alone does not increase risk of violent offending A diagnosis of autism alone does not increase the risk of violent offending suggests a study published in the June 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP).
Health care process a roadblock for adolescents with autism and their caregivers For most people, trips to the doctor can be quite scary. For adolescents and young adults with autism, taking control of health care decisions is not only frightening, it also can be a barrier to independence. Now researchers from the University of Missouri have found that the health care process not only impacts adolescents with autism, but caregivers also feel they lack the skills and support necessary to help those adolescents achieve health-related independence. As more children with autism enter adulthood, improved communication between providers, adolescents and caregivers is needed to help those with autism transition to independence.
Study highlights high death risk for Africa twins One in five children born with a twin sibling in sub-Saharan Africa dies before the age of five—three times the rate among singletons, said a study Thursday.
	A wealthier India sees alarming rise in adolescent diabetes Rohin Sarin is midway through his 9th grade geography class when he starts feeling light-headed and dizzy, a sign that his blood sugar levels are dipping. He quietly removes his insulin pen from his school bag, gives himself one of four daily jabs and takes a bite of an energy bar.
Group: 504 Californians got life-ending prescriptions At least 504 terminally ill Californians have requested a prescription for life-ending drugs since a state law allowing physician-assisted deaths went into effect in June 2016, marking the first publicly released data on how the practice is playing out in the nation's most populous state.
	Noise from busy roads might increase heart disease risk, finds new study Traffic noise, as well as air pollution, could affect heart health, according to new research.
	How yoga is helping girls heal from trauma Rocsana Enriquez started thinking about yoga again when she was pregnant. She was 19 and in an abusive relationship.
Cardiovascular killer protein probed by researchers Probing the molecular breakdown of a little-known "killer" lipoprotein, responsible for many cases of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions, has given University of Otago scientists new insights into how it is metabolised by the body.
	Experts question push for 'abuse-deterrent' Rx opioids In response to the rise in opioid overdose deaths nationwide, pharmaceutical companies have developed formulations of prescription opioids designed to prevent tampering or abuse. These "abuse-deterrent" forms, however, are expensive and may not actually have the intended effect, say experts from Yale School of Medicine.
	Swearing relieves both physical and social pain, study finds Swearing has been shown to relieve physical pain when it comes to banging your toe or slamming a finger in a door. Now, a new psychology study shows we shouldn't be coy about cursing when suffering from an aching heart or hurt feelings.
	New research highlights potential of MR-HIFU technology for new cancer therapies Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, Philips Research and University Hospital of Cologne explored how a combination of ultrasound (HIFU), MRI imaging and drug-loaded temperature sensitive nanoparticles could be used to improve cancer treatment efficacy. Nicole Hijnen, Mariska de Smet, Esther Kneepkens, professor Holger Grüll and colleagues published the results of this preclinical study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) – one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals.
	Non-invasive, effective contact lenses and glasses to treat glaucoma, prevent blindness A Purdue-affiliated startup, Bionode LLC, is developing a wearable neuro-modulation device that could be used as a non-invasive, personalized therapy to treat and prevent elevated intra-ocular pressure in patients diagnosed with glaucoma.
	Almost a quarter of adolescents in Austria are currently suffering from a mental health problem A reported 23.93 percent of all adolescents in Austria are currently suffering from a mental health problem, and over a third of all adolescents have had a mental health problem at some stage in their lives. That is the central finding of the first Austria-wide epidemiological study into the prevalence of mental health problems in Austria, conducted under the supervision of Andreas Karwautz and Gudrun Wagner at MedUni Vienna's Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in collaboration with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Health Promotion Research and published in a leading child and adolescent psychiatry journal.
When a lack of sugar drives cells to eat themselves Autophagy is the recycling process by which our cells keep themselves young. They continually break down and renew small parts of themselves in a kind of self-digestion; this helps to counteract harmful deposits which may form. Autophagy – Greek for "to eat oneself" – is stimulated particularly in hunger situations and when there is an energy shortfall. A team of researchers headed by Professor Tassula Proikas-Cezanne at the University of Tübingen's Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology (IFIZ) has now discovered a molecular signaling circuit which regulates autophagy. In this process, WIPI proteins act as scaffolds, connecting the signal-directed initiation of autophagy with the subsequent breaking-down of cellular material. The findings were made in collaboration with Professor Boris Macek of the Proteome Center Tübingen and have been published in the latest editon of Nature Communications.
Scientists give tumor-fighting cells a boost in battling bone marrow cancer Researchers from Belgium led by Prof. Dirk Elewaut of the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research and the team of Prof. Vanderkerken and Prof. Menu at the Hematology and Immunology lab of the VUB uncovered a new way to enhance the function of a specific type of immune cell that destroys tumors in multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer considered incurable. In their study, the scientists blocked a hormone-related mechanism that suppresses these immune cells, restoring their ability to battle tumor growth. The results are groundbreaking in the fight against cancer, as they reveal a new form of cancer immunotherapy. The research team's findings are published in leading scientific journal Leukemia.
	The gut microbiota plays a key role in treatment with classic diabetes medication A clearer picture of how the classic diabetes medication metformin works has emerged. A recent study at Sahlgrenska Academy and University of Girona indicates that the clinical effect – control of blood glucose – is achieved through modulation of the gut microbiota.
	Looking at buildings can actually give people headaches — here's how It's three o'clock – you're at work, struggling to focus during the afternoon lull. You gaze out of your office window, hoping for some relief, but instead you feel a headache coming on. Flat grey concrete lines the streets, while windows form repetitive glassy intervals in stark brick walls. With monotonous straight lines as far as the eye can see, there's nowhere pleasant to rest your gaze. It may seem a superficial problem, but our research has found that looking at urban landscapes may actually give you a headache.
	Oesophageal cancer rates are rocketing—here's what you need to know about the disease Oesophageal cancer is an aggressive disease with one of the worst survival rates of all cancers. Our latest research shows that the longer a person waits to see a doctor, the more likely they are to die from their cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical as it can significantly improve survival odds.
	Treating alcohol addiction by reducing motivation to drink A new study in Biological Psychiatry may pave the way for treating alcohol addiction by reducing motivation to drink, rather than by altering the effects of alcohol itself. Led by Drs. Kasia Radwanska and Leszek Kaczmarek of the Nencki Institute, Warsaw, Poland, the study reports a new mechanism behind alcohol seeking behavior.
	Cholesterol a key player at the lung surface Cholesterol, a naturally occurring compound at the lung surface, has been shown to have a clear effect on the properties of this nanoscale film that covers the inside of our lungs. Cholesterol levels in this system may affect the lung's function, according to researchers at Lund University in Sweden who have published a new study on the significance of cholesterol for lung surface properties. The new findings provide new insights into this vital physiological system.
	Spending cuts may have contributed to falling teen pregnancy rates, study finds Teenage pregnancy rates have dropped in areas of the country most affected by government cuts to spending on sex education, according to a new study.
	New prostate cancer checklist to help patients weigh up treatment options Prostate cancer patients and doctors could get much-needed guidance on treatment options and their consequences thanks to a new 'checklist' developed by the University of Aberdeen.
	Keeping mentally ill out of jail and in treatment—model shown to work in breakthrough study People with severe mental illness are more than four times more likely to be arrested than other adults and account for nearly 20% of today's U.S. prison population. Behind bars, they often wait months to receive appropriate treatment, if any, studies show.
	Soaring medical costs from bicycle accidents: Study finds billion-dollar toll from injuries, primarily to men Bicycle use has skyrocketed in popularity, but it's also led to more accidents, with medical costs from non-fatal bike crashes climbing steadily by $789 million annually, according to a new study by UC San Francisco.
	Common acne medication offers new treatment for multiple sclerosis A Canadian clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), shows that minocycline, a common acne medication, can slow the progress of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in people who have recently experienced their first symptoms.
	Zinc may hold key to fighting liver disease New research from the Westmead Institute's Storr Liver Centre in collaboration with the Centre for Virus Research and Kirby Institute has shown that serum zinc may benefit liver disease in a way we never expected.
	Tobacco the 'silent killer' of HIV patients, say researchers Researchers at the University of York have shown that tobacco use is more common among HIV positive individuals than HIV negative individuals.
	How to attack Africa's neonatal mortality problem Giving birth at home is the most significant risk factor for neonatal deaths in major sections of Africa - a continent that continues to be plagued by the highest neonatal mortality rates in the world, indicates a new study by Michigan State University scholars.
	How do signs of problem gambling differ in men and women? Men and women experiencing problems with gaming machines (slot machines) display the same signs that their habit is out of control. However, the two sexes differ in how they handle the distress that accompanies their addiction. Women tend to be more emotional and more likely to cry or to look depressed when losing. Men may angrily channel their distress into striking or even kicking their gaming machine. These are the findings of researchers at the University of Adelaide, the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) and Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. The study is published in Springer's Journal of Gambling Studies.
	Mother's advanced age at childbirth is not the reason for the elevated risks of low birth weight or preterm birth: study A number of previous scientific studies have found that among mothers 35 or older, there is an elevated risk that their children are born preterm (less than 37 weeks of pregnancy) or with low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilograms).
	Who has better mental health: Public or private college students? Using information gleaned from social media, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have created a mental health index for the nation's highest-ranked colleges and universities. Their study looked at five years of data on Reddit, scanning it for comments about issues that included depression, financial and academic anxiety and thoughts of suicide. Schools were given a score based on the frequency of those threads and robustness of the conversations.
HMGB1 may be linked to immunosuppression in patients who survive septic shock A new study published online in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests a new approach to treating patients with sepsis, one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Specifically, the report reveals that in the late stage of sepsis, HMGB1, or the "high mobility group box 1" protein, might be a target for future therapies because the protein plays a key role in the development of post-sepsis immunosuppression and sepsis-induced dysfunction of neutrophils (white blood cells).
	First analysis of AACR Project GENIE data published The first analysis of nearly 19,000 de-identified genomic records from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) international data-sharing initiative known as AACR Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) was published today in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the AACR.
	Why pot-smoking declines—but doesn't end—with parenthood Adults who smoke marijuana often cut back after becoming parents—but they don't necessarily quit.
Payments linked to higher odds of doctors prescribing certain cancer drugs Physicians paid by pharmaceutical companies for meals, talks and travel had higher odds of prescribing those companies' drugs to treat two cancer types, a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center-led study has found.
	Researchers block B-cell AID, prevent diabetes in NOD mice Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory, Cyteir Therapeutics and collaborating institutions have found a way to protect beta cells from destruction—achieving a longtime, elusive goal that could lead to therapies preventing type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Deployment stress impacts well-being through different mental health issues for female and male vets Experiencing stress-related mental health issues following deployment exposures increases risk of reduced well-being in other life domains in the years following military service for veterans. Gender plays an important role in these associations.
How ancestry shapes our immune cells Virtually the entire population of sub-Saharan Africa, and some 70% of African Americans, carry a gene variant (allele) which results in a trait referred to as Duffy-negative. It has long been known that carriers of this version of the gene are relatively protected from some strains of malaria. In addition, the allele has recently been linked to benign neutropenia—a mild reduction in the numbers of neutrophilic granulocytes (neutrophils), a type of white blood cells present in the circulation. Although neutrophils are known to play an important part in the innate immune defenses against pathogens, Duffy-negative individuals do not show any obvious increase in susceptibility to infections. In a new study led by LMU's Dr. Johan Duchêne, Professor Christian Weber and Professor Antal Rot (also at University of York), an international team of biomedical researchers has now shown how the Duffy-negative variant affects the differentiation of white blood cells and why it leads to a relative paucity of circulating neutrophils. The findings appear in the current issue of the journal Nature Immunology.
	Study finds cause of, and possible cure for, genetic skin disorder Yale scientists have discovered the cause of a disfiguring skin disorder and determined that a commonly used medication can help treat the condition.
Get to know the omentum: The apron of fat that protects your abdomen The quirkiest organ in the human body may be a large sheet of fat that stretches over the intestines, liver, and stomach like an elastic apron. Sometimes called the "policeman of the abdomen," the omentum is known to secrete hormones related to obesity, and we're still learning new information about its functions. In a review published June 1 in Trends in Immunology, researchers discuss how the omentum is also an important immune organ that serves as a first line of defense against toxins and infection—hardly what you'd expect from a layer of fat.
	In utero tobacco exposure can lead to executive function issues in adolescents Prenatal tobacco exposure is known to have negative short-term impacts including preterm birth, low birth weight and subsequent behavioral issues. However, a new study found that the negative impacts can last well into the child's future. The results showed that exposure to as few as 10 cigarettes was associated with negative impacts on the executive function of adolescents who were exposed prenatally. Published online in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the study is the first to look at the long-term impact on students in a high school setting and demonstrates the importance of providing more evidence-based smoking cessation programs to women of childbearing age and pregnant women.
	Tuberculosis bacterium may undermine immune regulation to drive disease progression Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)—may disrupt human immune system regulation processes to promote destruction of lung tissue, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens.
	Who to vaccinate when flu season strikes Immunizing children and the elderly, after the high-risk individuals, will have the greatest overall benefit when there are limited vaccine resources, saving both lives and money, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology by Nargesalsadat Dorratoltaj of the Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, and colleagues.
	Elephantiasis patients more likely to have depression Many patients infected with filarial worms have no symptoms, but those who develop disfiguring lymphatic filariasis—more commonly known as elephantiasis—often struggle with discrimination and rejection. Now, researchers have quantified that burden, reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases that lymphatic filariasis patients in Nigeria have about four times the rate of depression as other adults there.
	Five years before diagnosis, brain cancer causes changes detectable in blood Changes in immune activity appear to signal a growing brain tumor five years before symptoms arise, new research has found.
	Emotions expressed by the dying are unexpectedly positive Fear of death is a fundamental part of the human experience—we dread the possibility of pain and suffering and we worry that we'll face the end alone. Although thinking about dying can cause considerable angst, new research suggests that the actual emotional experiences of the dying are both more positive and less negative than people expect.
	New combo pill offers hope to hepatitis C patients who fail other treatment (HealthDay)—A pill that contains three powerful antiviral drugs might offer a cure for many hepatitis C patients who have failed other treatments, researchers report.
	New teen drivers face triple the risk of a fatal crash (HealthDay)—Newly minted teen drivers in the United States have almost triple the risk of being involved in a deadly crash than adults, a new study finds.
	Advocating for a loved one (HealthDay)—There are times in life, like a health crisis, when a loved one needs you to be their eyes, ears and voice. Though you may be feeling anguish over his or her illness, a patient's pain, fear or even the effects of medication can keep them from being their own advocate.
	MicroRNA biomarker signature identified for allergic asthma (HealthDay)—Certain plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially regulated in allergic asthma and correlate with clinical characteristics, according to an experimental study published online May 17 in Allergy.
	Intra-arterial treatment effective with extracranial carotid disease (HealthDay)—Acute intra-arterial treatment (IAT) seems to be as effective for patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by intracranial proximal occlusion with, versus those without, extracranial carotid disease (ECD), according to research published online May 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Low albumin predicts mortality in renal replacement therapy (HealthDay)—Low albumin levels at the start of renal replacement therapy are independently associated with mortality during one-year follow-up, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of Renal Care.
	Beta-blocker use not linked to reduced mortality after AMI (HealthDay)—β-blocker use is not associated with reduced mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), according to a study published in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Taking antidepressants during pregnancy not associated with newborn problems at 2-4 weeks of age Babies exposed to an antidepressant or a mood disorder during fetal life did not have any more signs of irritability, difficulty feeding, sleep disturbances and respiratory problems two to four weeks after birth than babies who were not exposed. Instead, the major factor associated with newborn problems was preterm birth, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
Telehealth reduces wait time, improves care for children with autism living in remote areas Long wait times have been a persistent issue for families waiting to see an autism specialist, with waits often exceeding a year. Additionally, children with autism living in rural areas have added costs associated with traveling long distances for health care. To address these issues, ECHO Autism, a University of Missouri program, has been successfully training primary care providers to diagnose and manage autism spectrum disorders. Now, Kristin Sohl, associate professor of child health and the director of ECHO Autism, is preparing to expand the program with ECHO Autism partner sites serving Alabama, Alaska and under-served Navajo communities in New Mexico and Arizona. ECHO Autism also is set to expand globally through partner sites in Kenya. In the past year, Sohl has conducted autism specific trainings for ECHO Uruguay.
	Why antibiotics fail—biologists correct a flaw in the way bacterial susceptibility to these drugs is tested When a patient is prescribed the wrong antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection, it's not necessarily the physician who is at fault. The current antibiotic assay—standardized in 1961 by the World Health Organization and used worldwide—is potentially flawed.
Heavy-drinking Lithuania bans alcohol ads, raises minimum age Lithuania on Thursday banned alcohol advertising and raised the legal drinking age to 20 from 18 as part of efforts to curb consumption in one of the world's hardest-drinking nations.
	Wild 'death cap' mushroom seriously sickens 14 in California (HealthDay)—A bumper crop of deadly wild "death cap" mushrooms in northern California is likely to blame for the poisonings of 14 people in December, health officials say.
	Quadriceps exercise relieves pain in knee osteoarthritis (HealthDay)—A quadriceps isometric contraction exercise method is effective for relieving pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to a study published online May 25 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Certain breast CA patients benefit from adjuvant capecitabine (HealthDay)—Capecitabine (Xeloda) can extend the lives of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Beyond broke bones, CTs also detect frailty and predict survival Using computed tomography (CT) to evaluate muscle health may help identify optimal treatments for older patients who fall and break their hips, a new study led by radiologists from UC Davis and Wake Forest Baptist medical centers has found.
	Uncovering why playing a musical instrument can protect brain health A recent study conducted at Baycrest Health Sciences has uncovered a crucial piece into why playing a musical instrument can help older adults retain their listening skills and ward off age-related cognitive declines. This finding could lead to the development of brain rehabilitation interventions through musical training.
	Ethnicity and breastfeeding influence infant gut bacteria The bacteria in a child's gut appears to be influenced as early as its first year by ethnicity and breastfeeding, according to a new study from McMaster University.
HIV status may affect the progression of HPV infection to cervical pre-cancer A study of Senegalese women showed that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was more likely to develop into cervical pre-cancer in women living with human immunodeficiency virus.
Team presents an online tool to extract drug toxicity information from text There is an increasing interest in more sophisticated search engines that are tailored to cope with the complexity of biomedical data, not only enabling more targeted search queries but also easier integration and construction of biological knowledge bases and analysis of experimental datasets.
	New cancer drug interactions resource launched The University of Liverpool and Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen have launched a new website intended to promote safer prescribing and improve quality of care for cancer patients called www.cancer-druginteractions.org.
Excess weight predicts younger age at hip and knee replacement A 2010 study sought to determine the effect of weight status on the age at which individuals elected to have knee or hip replacement surgery.
	Researchers lead new international guidelines for childhood sport-related concussion Australian researchers from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute's (MCRI) have led a review to evaluate evidence regarding the management of sport-related concussion (SRC) in children and adolescents resulting in new international guidelines for childhood concussion.
Lupin seeds: Health impairments possible with bitter taste For several years now, lupin seeds have been used increasingly to produce foods such as gluten-free bakery produce and pasta, as well as diet products for people with milk protein allergies. Lupin seeds or beans are also consumed as snacks in some European and North African countries. Depending on the botanical species and geographical origin of the lupins, their seeds can contain bitter quinolizidine alkaloids.
	Combined optical and molecular imaging could guide breast-conserving surgery Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is the primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer, but more accurate techniques are needed to assess resection margins during surgery to avoid the need for follow-up surgeries. Now, in a first-in-human study, British researchers have provided a possible solution using Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), which combines optical and molecular imaging by detecting light emitted by the PET radiotracer F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG). CLI's high-resolution and small-sized imaging equipment make it a promising technology for assessing tumor margins during breast tumor surgery. The study is covered in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's June 2017 issue.
New consensus document for appropriate use of drug testing in clinical addiction medicine A new Consensus Document from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) provides practical, evidence-based recommendations on the use of drug testing for identification, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with or at risk for substance use disorders (SUDs). The document appears in the May/June issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of ASAM.
	Omega-3 fatty acid stops lupus trigger, but how? Michigan State University scientists have received a $2.3 million, five-year National Institutes of Health grant to help uncover why an omega-3 fatty acid, known as DHA, is so effective in stopping a known trigger of lupus.

Biology news

	Mystery of electric fish genus solved, new species identified Solving a 140-year old taxonomic puzzle, Cornell researchers have identified and described a new species of electric fish from the Ogooué River in Gabon, Africa.
	Professors call for an end to the chaotic classification of organisms (Phys.org)—A pair of professors, one with Charles Darwin University, the other Southern Cross University, both in Australia, has published a Comment piece in the journal Nature decrying the chaotic state regarding the classification of complex organisms. In their paper, Stephen Garnett and Les Christidis contend that failure to regulate taxonomy in the coming years could cause serious problems for conservation efforts directed towards preserving biodiversity.
	Chimps found to pass on knowledge to the next generation Passing skills down through the generations, previously thought to be unique to humanity, has been discovered in chimpanzees.
	Revealed: New step in plant mastermind hormone's pathway Plants are stationary. This means that the way they grow must be highly internally regulated to use the surrounding resources in the most-advantageous way possible.
	How the Galapagos cormorant lost its ability to fly The flightless cormorant is one of a diverse array of animals that live on the Galapagos Islands, which piqued Charles Darwin's scientific curiosity in the 1830s. He hypothesized that altered evolutionary pressures may have contributed to the loss of the ability to fly in birds like the Galapagos cormorant.
	A better dye job for roots—in plants Once we start coloring our hair, we may be surprised to learn that we begin to have a problem in common with plant biologists: finding the right dye for our roots. In the case of the biologists, just the right chemical is needed to measure exactly how plant roots grow. Now, a researcher at the Salk Institute has discovered a fluorescent dye that, paired with other imaging techniques, reveals root growth to be influenced by a major plant hormone more than previously thought.
	Researchers design AI system to diagnose pain levels in sheep The researchers have developed an AI system which uses five different facial expressions to recognise whether a sheep is in pain, and estimate the severity of that pain. The results could be used to improve sheep welfare, and could be applied to other types of animals, such as rodents used in animal research, rabbits or horses.
Tourists risk animal bites by misreading wild monkey facial expressions as 'kisses' Wildlife tourists frequently fail to identify aggressive and distressed emotional states in wild monkeys - mistaking animals' warnings of aggression for 'smiles' and 'kisses' - and this can lead to welfare problems for primates and risk of injury for people, according to new research published today.
Building better brains—a bioengineered upgrade for organoids A few years ago, Jürgen Knoblich and his team at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA) have pioneered brain organoid technology. They developed a method for cultivating three-dimensional brain-like structures, so called cerebral organoids, in a dish. This discovery has tremendous potential as it could revolutionize drug discovery and disease research. Their lab grown organ-models mimic early human brain development in a surprisingly precise way, allowing for targeted analysis of human neuropsychiatric disorders, that are otherwise not possible. Using this cutting-edge methodology, research teams around the world have already revealed new secrets of human brain formation and its defects that can lead to microcephaly, epilepsy or autism.
	Mercury emissions in Southeast Asian waters threaten Australian birds Australian bred Frigatebirds that migrate to Southeast Asian waters risk unacceptable levels of mercury contamination, according to a study led by a Monash University biologist.
Subsidies promote overfishing and hurt small-scale fishers worldwide Large-scale fisheries receive about four times more subsidies than their small-scale counterparts, with up to 60 per cent of those subsidies promoting overfishing.
	Dual role of fruit fly protein in connecting chromosome copies Nagoya University researchers identified combined function for Drosophila protein in launching and maintaining a process enabling chromatids to pair during DNA replication.
	Sea level rise may drive coastal nesting birds to extinction Rising sea levels and more frequent flooding events may drive coastal nesting birds around the world to extinction, a team of international researchers say following their 20-year study of Eurasian oystercatchers.
	New report calls on federal and state collaboration to address brucellosis transmission from elk Efforts to control brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) should focus on reducing the risk of transmission from elk, which are now viewed as the primary source of the infection in new cases occurring in cattle and domestic bison, says a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Federal, state, and tribal groups should work in a coordinated and transparent manner to address brucellosis in multiple areas and jurisdictions.
	The Spanish plant that was classified by mistake Surprisingly, there are still plant species waiting to be discovered in the Iberian Peninsula. Some are detected thanks to the latest study methods, and others, such as Linaria becerrae, are described when reinterpreting species which are already known. This new plant had been classified by mistake for 176 years in Málaga.
	Researchers untangle mystery of tiny bird's trans-Pacific flight Zoologists have documented the first record of a House Swift in the Americas—and begun to unravel the mystery of how the tiny bird got from its south-east Asia breeding grounds to Ladner, BC.
Key process for cell division revealed in molecular analysis Researchers have discovered important details of a vital process that enables cells to divide correctly into two.
	The art of folding mitochondrial membranes Oliver Daumke's lab figures out how the inner membranes of mitochondria "get their groove" and assume the complex shapes they need to carry out crucial cellular functions.
	Gene finding to eradicate severe blistering disorder of the skin found in dogs Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified a novel gene defect that causes a hereditary blistering disorder of the skin, epidermolysis bullosa, in dogs. Epidermolysis bullosa, found in the Central Asian Shepherd dog breed, occurs also in humans due to an identical gene found in both canines and humans.
Zinc's negative effects on mineral digestibility can be mitigated, study shows Researchers at the University of Illinois have shown that a common strategy for reducing postweaning diarrhea in pigs may have negative effects on calcium and phosphorus digestibility, and are suggesting management practices to counteract the effects.
	Researchers find chromosome cooperation is long-distance endeavor Multiple genomic elements work cooperatively and over long distances in order to ensure the proper functioning of chromosomes, a team of scientists has found. Its research offers new insights into the complexity of gene regulation.
	Scientists release frogs wearing mini radio transmitters into Panamanian wilderness Ninety Limosa harlequin frogs (Atelopus limosus) bred in human care are braving the elements of the wild after Smithsonian scientists sent them out into the Panamanian rainforest as part of their first-ever release trial in May. The study, led by the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, aims to determine the factors that influence not only whether frogs survive the transition from human care to the wild, but whether they persist and go on to breed.
	A tool to protect police dogs in drug raids from overdosing Police dogs simply follow their noses to sniff out narcotics. But inhaling powerful opioids can be deadly, so officers have a new tool to protect their four-legged partners: naloxone, a drug that has already been used for years to reverse overdoses in humans.
Human Cell Atlas data platform kicks off with support from CZI The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has announced financial support for the Human Cell Atlas, which is using sequencing technology to redefine every cell in the body. Funding and engineering support from CZI will enable the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBLEBI), the Broad Institute and the University of California Santa Cruz Genomics Institute (UCSC) to set up an open, cloud-based Data Coordination Platform to check, share and analyse the vast amounts of diverse information generated.

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