Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jun 22

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 22, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Researchers identify mammals that are most likely to harbor viruses risky to humans

New algorithm generates folding patterns to produce any 3-D origami structure

Software on Mars rover allows it to pick research targets autonomously

How eggs got their shapes: Adaptations for flight may have driven egg-shape variety in birds

Quantum thermometer or optical refrigerator?

New efficient, low-temperature catalyst for hydrogen production

Scientists uncover origins of the Sun's swirling spicules

Rare US total solar eclipse excites Americans coast-to-coast

UN says world population will reach 9.8 billion in 2050

Biofilms—the eradication has begun

Record UK rainfall in winter 2013-14 caused by tropics, stratosphere and climate warming

Ultra-thin camera creates images without lenses

JPL scientists predict future space probes will have artificial intelligence to operate autonomously

Unseen 'planetary mass object' signalled by warped Kuiper Belt

Coupling of movement and vision

Astronomy & Space news

	Software on Mars rover allows it to pick research targets autonomously (Phys.org)—A team of researchers form the U.S., Denmark and France has created a report regarding the creation and use of software meant to give exploratory robots in space more autonomy. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics, the team describes the software, called Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science (AEGIS), and how well it performed on the Mars rover Curiosity.
	Scientists uncover origins of the Sun's swirling spicules At any given moment, as many as 10 million wild jets of solar material burst from the sun's surface. They erupt as fast as 60 miles per second, and can reach lengths of 6,000 miles before collapsing. These are spicules, and despite their grass-like abundance, scientists didn't understand how they form. Now, for the first time, a computer simulation—so detailed it took a full year to run—shows how spicules form, helping scientists understand how spicules can break free of the sun's surface and surge upward so quickly.
	Rare US total solar eclipse excites Americans coast-to-coast For the first time in almost a century the United States is preparing for a coast-to-coast solar eclipse, a rare celestial event millions of Americans, with caution, will be able to observe.
	JPL scientists predict future space probes will have artificial intelligence to operate autonomously (Phys.org)—A pair of space scientists working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology has written a Focus piece for the journal Science Robotics. Steve Chien and Kiri Wagstaff suggest that future space probes will be given enough intelligence to carry out much of their mission without prompts from people back on Earth.
	Unseen 'planetary mass object' signalled by warped Kuiper Belt An unknown, unseen "planetary mass object" may lurk in the outer reaches of our solar system, according to new research on the orbits of minor planets to be published in the Astronomical Journal. This object would be different from—and much closer than—the so-called Planet Nine, a planet whose existence yet awaits confirmation.
	Could a dedicated mission to Enceladus detect microbial life there? Saturn's icy moon Enceladus is best known for its numerous geysers ejecting plumes of water and ice. These eruptive fountains perplex researchers searching for signs of microbial life beyond Earth. A dedicated spacecraft designed to study the plume-like features spewing from Enceladus could definitely tell us whether or not they contain alien microorganisms.
	The astronaut's extra nose How do we prevent astronauts in space from inhaling hazardous gases? A German-Norwegian hi-tech optical gas sensor provides a solution.
	Is human hibernation possible? Going to sleep for long duration spaceflight We've spent a few articles on Universe Today talking about just how difficult it's going to be to travel to other stars. Sending tiny unmanned probes across the vast gulfs between stars is still mostly science fiction. But to send humans on that journey? That's just a level of technology beyond comprehension.
	Student-built satellite aims to provide insight on effects of solar storms This summer, astronauts on the International Space Station will launch a Penn State student-built satellite into orbit that will help learn more about space weather.
	Space tourism could boost science and health research—here's how The announcement of the draft Spaceflight Bill in the Queen's Speech will allow the development of spaceports in the UK. This could see members of the paying public launched into space as tourists, or taking sub-orbital flights from London to New York in just 45 minutes.
	Could asteroids bombard the Earth to cause a mass extinction in 10 million years? Scientists have spent decades debating whether asteroids and comets hit the Earth at regular intervals. At the same time, a few studies have found evidence that the large extinction events on Earth – such as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs 66m years ago – repeat themselves every 26m to 30m years. Given that there's good evidence that an asteroid triggered the dinosaur extinction, it makes sense to ask whether showers of asteroids could be to blame for regular extinction events.
	Magnetic memories of a metal world 4.5 billion years ago in the violent, high-speed environment of the early solar system, a protoplanet roughly the size of Mars was involved in a series of fierce collisions with other large planetary bodies.
	NASA's Webb telescope gets freezing summertime lodging in Houston NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was placed in Johnson Space Center's historic Chamber A on June 20, 2017, to prepare for its final three months of testing in a cryogenic vacuum that mimics temperatures in space.
	New orbiters for Europe's Galileo satnav system The European Space Agency signed a contract with a German-British consortium Thursday to build eight more satellites for its Galileo satnav system, an alternative to America's GPS, the agency said Thursday.
	Jerry Nelson, astronomer who built advanced telescopes, dies Jerry Nelson, an astronomer who designed advanced telescopes that help scientists glimpse far reaches of the universe, has died in California. He was 73.
	Image: Visualization of the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse On August 21, 2017, the Earth will cross the shadow of the moon, creating a total solar eclipse. Eclipses happen about every six months, but this one is special. For the first time in almost 40 years, the path of the moon's shadow passes through the continental United States. This visualization shows the Earth, moon, and sun at 17:05:40 UTC during the eclipse.

Technology news

	New algorithm generates folding patterns to produce any 3-D origami structure In a 1999 paper, Erik Demaine—now an MIT professor of electrical engineering and computer science, but then an 18-year-old PhD student at the University of Waterloo, in Canada—described an algorithm that could determine how to fold a piece of paper into any conceivable 3-D shape.
	ProtonVPN out of beta, offering free and paid service types (Tech Xplore)—A Switzerland-based company earlier this week released a free virtual private network together with a tier-based system that provides even more VPN level of support. The new product is from ProtonVPN AG headquartered in Geneva.
	New design improves performance of flexible wearable electronics In a proof-of-concept study, North Carolina State University engineers have designed a flexible thermoelectric energy harvester that has the potential to rival the effectiveness of existing power wearable electronic devices using body heat as the only source of energy.
	Electric vehicles inefficient way to reduce CO2 emissions: study Subsidizing the purchase of electric cars in Canada is an inefficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that is not cost effective, according to a Montreal Economic Institute study released Thursday.
	Researchers develop landmark achievement in walking technology Researchers at the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a novel design approach for exoskeletons and prosthetic limbs that incorporates direct feedback from the human body. The findings were published this week in Science.
Taiwan's Foxconn says Toshiba deal 'not over' The head of Taiwan's tech giant Foxconn said Thursday its pursuit of Toshiba "is not yet over", a day after the Japanese firm announced it preferred another group of bidders to acquire its prized chip business.
	Inflight internet ready to take off Inflight internet access, a nascent market still hobbled by slow speeds, is set to take off as dedicated satellites make surfing in the skies a reality, experts say.
Study assesses risk in a changing insurance market for driverless vehicles In October 2015, tax giant KPMG published a report projecting a 60 percent reduction in the $135 billion auto insurance market by 2040 owing to the advent of driverless cars and the ensuing risk landscape. Despite projections, insurers will likely play a key role in supporting the safe deployment, adoption and sustainability of driverless cars. The relatively unknown nature, likelihood and extent of driverless accidents presents risk management challenges to both the automotive and insurance industries. Future motor policies may require non-traditional risk management, underwriting and actuarial approaches to account for driverless capabilities and shifting liabilities.
	Study demonstrates a better way to store renewable energy In an effort to find better ways to store renewable energy, physicists at the University of Arkansas, in collaboration with a scientist at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, have shown that antiferroelectrics can provide high energy density. The findings may lead to storage devices that improve the efficiency of wind and solar power.
	Most drivers could go electric within 10 years Electric and hybrid electric vehicles are in the fast lane to wider adoption, according to a new study by University of Michigan researchers.
	Light-scattering tool peers into pancreas to find cancer Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect early because the pancreas is deep inside the abdomen, making potentially cancerous cells hard to reach and identify without surgery.
	Uber's problems highlight silicon valley's faltering vision for the future It would be nice to think that Uber's problems are going to be fixed with the resignation of its CEO Travis Kalanick. Of course, the shareholders who instigated the demand for his resignation were not necessarily expressing a view about what he had done but merely that the company was spending more time focusing on its internal toxic culture than its actual business of expanding its taxi and delivery services.
	How malware infects apps Malicious software on popular mobile platforms such as iOS and Android is at best a nuisance and at worst a security threat to individuals and businesses.
	Texting-based surveys capture purchasing and behavior data from people living in remote areas While on location in remote areas of Kenya, researching automation and home manufacturing for his doctoral dissertation, Kenfield Griffith PhD '12 encountered a significant lack of data.
	Facebook offers Indian women tools to protect privacy Facebook has introduced new security features for women using the social media platform in India, including the ability to prevent strangers from downloading their profile pictures, the company said Thursday.
	The world's first 3-D printed reinforced concrete bridge starts to take shape Today the Built Environment department's concrete printer starts printing the world's first 3-D printed reinforced, pre-stressed concrete bridge. The cycle bridge will be part of a new section of ring road around Gemert in which the BAM Infra construction company is using innovative techniques.
	Negative tweets can trash TV programs for other viewers Negative social media comments about a television show tend to lower enjoyment for other viewers, while positive comments may not significantly boost their enjoyment, according to researchers.
	A new platform for Whole Foods? How deal could upend grocery Seeing Whole Foods products first in Amazon searches? Breezing through the grocer's stores with an app that scans affordable fruits and seafood?
	Tesla eyes manufacturing in China Tesla said Thursday it was considering the possibility of manufacturing in China as it ramps up for expansion of its line of electric-powered cars.
	China orders halt to video streaming on major websites China's media oversight body announced Thursday that it has ordered three prominent Internet companies to terminate their video and audio streaming services.
	Facebook wants to nudge you into 'meaningful' online groups At Facebook, mere "sharing" is getting old. Finding deeper meaning in online communities is the next big thing.
	A.I. will prepare robots for the unknown How do you get a robot to recognize a surprise?
	CIA penetrated by insider network of candy thieves The Central Intelligence Agency admitted this week that it had been compromised for months in 2013 by a network of high-tech snack thieves.
	Germany expands surveillance of encrypted message services Germany on Thursday passed a controversial new law that expands the power of authorities to spy on the content of encrypted message services such as WhatsApp and Skype.
	New spectral eye video database SPEED revolutionises eye-tracking Techniques to acquire spectral data have been static for a long time - until now. Exciting and novel spectral video technologies are emerging, allowing us to extract increasingly dynamic knowledge from light. Using a spectral video device in eye-tracking, computational spectral imaging and eye-tracking researchers from the University of Eastern Finland have created a novel - first of its kind - combined spectral video/spectral image database: the SPectral Eye vidEo Database, SPEED.
	Foxconn founder: US expansion might top $10 billion The chairman of Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn said Thursday it may spend more than $10 billion to set up manufacturing in the United States, and will announce investment plans by early August for at least three states.
	Line messaging digital theme park to open in Thai capital The text-messaging service Line plans to inaugurate an indoor digital theme park in Thailand's capital, seeking to squeeze maximum advantage from its popularity in the country, its second biggest market after Japan.
	France's Altice USA surges in New York market debut (Update) Altice USA shares rallied Thursday in their New York market debut after the telecom group controlled by French billionaire Patrick Drahi raised some $1.9 billion in an initial public offering.
	EU leaders urge Internet giants to fight online extremism EU leaders on Thursday urged Internet firms to do their utmost to combat online extremism promoting attacks or face the possibility of legislation if the industry self-regulation fails.

Medicine & Health news

	Coupling of movement and vision In a study published in Cell, Georg Keller and his group shed light on neural circuits in the cortex that underlie the integration of movement and visual feedback. They identified a mechanism in the visual cortex responsible for the coupling of sensory and motor experience and showed that perception and visually guided behavior are shaped by predictions of visual feedback during locomotion.
	For the first time in a patient, researchers use long-read genome sequencing When Ricky Ramon was 7, he went for a routine checkup. The pediatrician, who lingered over his heartbeat, sent him for a chest X-ray, which revealed a benign tumor in the top-left chamber of his heart. For Ramon, it was the beginning of a long series of medical appointments, procedures and surgeries that would span nearly two decades.
	How pheromones trigger female sexual behavior A study by a group of Japanese scientists showed how a male pheromone in mice enhances sexual behaviors in females—and how it may enhance a different behavior, aggression, in males—by identifying distinct neural circuits and neurons that generate a particular behavioral response to specific chemical signals. The findings point to a model for further investigating how sex-specific innate behaviors in living things are controlled.
	Study suggests memories that trigger anxiety, PTSD could be 'erased' without affecting normal memory of past events Different types of memories stored in the same neuron of the marine snail Aplysia can be selectively erased, according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and McGill University and published today in Current Biology.
	Ancient Egyptians to modern humans: Coronary artery disease genes benefit reproduction Researchers have found that genes for coronary heart disease (CAD) also influence reproduction, so in order to reproduce successfully, the genes for heart disease will also be inherited.
	Localized signaling islands in cells: New targets for precision drug design New research overturns long-held views on a basic messaging system within living cells. Key cellular communication machinery is more regionally constrained within the cell than previously thought. The findings suggest new approaches to designing precision drugs. Localizing drug action at a specific 'address' within the cell could mean fewer side effects in treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other serious conditions.
	Mouse study suggests how hearing a warning sound turns into fearing it over time The music from the movie "Jaws" is a sound that many people have learned to associate with a fear of sharks. Just hearing the music can cause the sensation of this fear to surface, but neuroscientists do not have a full understanding of how that process works.
	Researchers show first evidence of using cortical targets to improve motor function Monica A. Perez, P.T., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and The Miami Project, and colleagues, recently published A novel cortical target to enhance hand motor output in humans with spinal cord injury in the June issue of Brain that provides the first evidence that cortical targets could represent a novel therapeutic site for improving motor function in humans paralyzed by spinal cord injury (SCI).
More guns now being purchased for self-defense than recreation Although firearm violence kills or injures 100,000 Americans each year, most scientific research tends to focus on two aspects of this issue—victims of firearm violence and gun policies. Little attention has been paid to gun and ammunition or firearm manufacturers, dealers, and the industry lobby. In a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers determined that there has been a shift towards more lethal weapons that appear to be designed primarily for self-defense, rather than recreational use, such as hunting, target shooting, or other forms of recreation.
Studies of US Lassa fever patient offer clues about immune response, viral persistence When an American nurse working in West Africa became ill with Lassa fever and was evacuated to the U.S. for treatment in 2016, it provided a rare opportunity. With the consent of the patient, researchers were able to closely study, for the first time, how his immune system responded, including the persistence of Lassa virus in his semen after his recovery. An experimental drug was also used as part of his treatment.
	More frequent sexual activity can boost brain power in older adults, according to study More frequent sexual activity has been linked to improved brain function in older adults, according to a study by the universities of Coventry and Oxford.
	Starting school young can put child wellbeing at risk New research has shown that the youngest pupils in each school year group could be at risk of worse mental health than their older classmates.
	Paracetamol during pregnancy can inhibit masculinity Paracetamol is popular for relieving pain. But if you are pregnant, you should think twice before popping these pills according to the researchers in a new study. In an animal model, Paracetamol, which is the pain-relieving substance found in the pills, actually damages the development of male behaviours.
	SR probe of Zika looks into 'rebound virus' Southern Research scientists are investigating how the Zika virus is able to find a safe harbor in an infected host's tissue and stage a rebound weeks after the virus was seemingly cleared by the immune system.
Parents of newborn daughters take fewer risks, study suggests Pregnancy and parenting are major psychological events in the life of any individual. Having a baby may be a reason why we change our risk attitudes. According to the UNICEF estimates, 353,000 babies are born daily around the world. This means that a significant proportion of the population may be affected by changes in risk attitudes as a result of becoming a parent. In their study "Female Babies as a Determinant of Adult Risk-Aversion," Ganna Pogrebna and Andrew Oswald of the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick, and David Haig of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, explore the effect of learning a child's gender on parents' attitudes towards risky behaviors. In this study, the first of its kind, the authors gathered prenatal and post-birth data from the pediatric wards of hospitals in both the United Kingdom and Ukraine, allowing for longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of those attitudes.
	Cerebellum plays a major role in schizophrenia In a new study, Norwegian researchers have documented that the cerebellum is among the most affected brain regions in schizophrenia. Compared to healthy individuals, cerebellar volume was smaller in patients with schizophrenia. The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, is the largest brain imaging study to date on the cerebellum in schizophrenia, with important implications for our understanding of the disorder.
	Fireworks can take toll on hearing in children, adults Admiring fireworks from afar sounds like the best plan, according to a Purdue audiologist.
	High-fat diet leads to same intestinal inflammation as a virus A new study by scientists at UCLA found that when mice eat a high-fat diet, the cells in their small intestines respond the same way they do to a viral infection, turning up production of certain immune molecules and causing inflammation throughout the body. The scientists also found that feeding the mice tomatoes containing a protein similar to that in HDL, or "good cholesterol," along with the generic cholesterol drug Ezetimibe, reversed the inflammation.
	HIV-positive women with cytomegalovirus likelier to pass virus that causes AIDS to infant HIV-positive women with cytomegalovirus, or CMV, in their urine at the time of labor and delivery are more than five times likelier than HIV-positive women without CMV to transmit HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to their infants, according to a UCLA-led study. The research also found that they are nearly 30 times likelier to transmit cytomegalovirus to their infants.
	Binge watching has long-term impact Older Game of Thrones fans planning a marathon recap before the new TV season premieres might want to reconsider binge watching their favourite show.
	Feeling euphoric on a low-carb diet? The effect on your brain is similar to an illicit drug Some people on very low-carb diets say they feel euphoric, have clear minds and lose their appetite.
Doctors write fewer prescriptions after sunshine laws reveal drug company payments Payments by drug companies to doctors have become so common that most states have passed laws to promote transparency. Known as "sunshine" laws, they require drug companies to disclose payments to physicians.
	Study pinpoints protein key to fighting a common intestinal illness Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. It is highly infectious and potentially deadly. The virus, which has evolved strategies to evade the immune system, is the focus of new research lead by immunologist Richard Flavell and published in Nature.
	Portable food allergen test designed to check 'free-from' meals A portable food allergen testing device and app has been designed by a Brunel University London student, with the potential to go to market at a fraction of the cost of comparable products.
	Surgeons admit to mistakes in surgery and would use robots if they reduced the risks How good are humans at performing manual surgery?
	The fight against goat plague An endangered subspecies of antelope that roamed the earth at the same time as woolly mammoths now hovers on the brink of extinction as a disease that normally affects sheep and goats decimates its population.
	Orofacial pain fact and fiction Patients looking for relief from the radiating pain of temporal mandibular disorders (TMDs) in the face, jaw or neck will find an avalanche of misinformation online—and surprisingly, a lot of it comes from dentists who bill themselves as specialists in treating the condition, according to a survey of 255 dentists' websites across the country.
	News from the pathogen that causes sleeping sickness The life-threatening African trypanosomiasis, also called sleeping sickness, is caused by protozoa of the species Trypanosoma brucei. A team at the Biocentre of the Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, studies the pathogens and has now reported exciting news: The trypanosomes have a so far unknown enzyme which does not exist in humans and other vertebrates. This makes it a promising target for therapy.
	Researchers show how a protein prevents the uncontrolled expansion of immune cells The mammalian immune system consists of millions of individual cells that are produced daily from precursor cells in the bone marrow. During their development, immune cells undergo a rapid expansion, which is interrupted by phases of differentiation to more mature lymphocytes. Alternate phases of proliferation and differentiation occur also during the maturation of antibody-producing B cells. Researchers in Prof. Dr. Michael Reth's laboratory have come one step closer to understand how the proliferation to differentiation switch in B lymphocytes works, thereby providing new insights into the development of the most common types of tumors in children and potential therapies thereof.
Boosting natural detoxification pathways in the body to reduce cellular oxidative stress Promoting innate detoxification mechanisms in the body and discovering which supplements increase the efficacy of those biochemical pathways could be an efficient strategy to reduce the cellular oxidative stress and protect our health, according to an article published in the journal Food Chemistry by the researchers Rafael Franco, from the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona, and Eva Martínez Pinilla, from the Institute of Neurosciences of Asturias (INEUROPA) and the University of Oviedo.
	Text messaging effectively supports treatment of HIV and tuberculosis Mobile phone text messaging is a powerful tool for improving quality of care, as shown by José António Nhavoto in his doctoral thesis in informatics at Örebro University. He has developed and tested a method in Mozambique, helping patients with severe diseases to follow through with their treatments.
E. coli research could prevent unnecessary beach closings New research may give health officials more accurate tools when deciding whether to close beaches.
	Growing up in disadvantaged areas may affect teens' brains, but good parenting can help New research has found growing up in a disadvantaged neighbourhood may have negative effects on children's brain development. But for males, at least, positive parenting negated these negative effects, providing some good lessons for parents.
	Gene testing for the public—a way to ward off disease, or a useless worry? The launch in Australia of a genomic testing service aimed at healthy people heralds a new era of individual patient care. A scan of your genome, which is the complete set of your genes, to find out if you are at risk of particular diseases, can mean you can then go on to take preventive measures against them.
	Aging-related mutations in blood cells represent major new risk factor for cardiovascular disease Scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have found that a set of genetic mutations in blood cells that arises during aging may be a major new risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In contrast to inherited genetic predispositions and traditional lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking or an unhealthy diet, the new mutations are "somatic mutations" that originate in stem cells in the bone marrow as people age.
	Here's what oppressive heat does to you How hot is too hot? You might not realize it, but you have a maximum operating temperature, according to a University of Arizona physician who knows an overheated person when she sees one.
Adulthood wellbeing lower for single-parent kids, says new research People who grew up in single-parent families have lower levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction in adulthood, according to new research by the University of Warwick.
	Scientists call for immediate halt to consumer use of two widespread antimicrobial chemicals A pair of chemicals—prized for their antimicrobial properties—rose to become superstars in industry. Triclocarban is used in various soaps, while triclosan additionally appears in thousands of items of daily use in the United States and around the world, including pencils, clothing, toiletries, toys and yoga mats.
	Researcher continues progress toward effective HIV inhibitor Patricia LiWang was at an impasse.
Teachers and fathers play key roles in protecting young people from cyberbullying Young people who say they have strong relationships with their teachers and positive attitudes towards school are significantly less likely to report being cyberbullied, according to a University of Hertfordshire analysis for Public Health England.
	What's the best way for children to lose weight? Here's what the research says An increasing number of children and adolescents across the world are too heavy for their age, height and sex. Fortunately, new evidence reveals that there are proven, effective ways to tackle overweight and obesity in the young. Two reviews, published today, show that combinations of diet, exercise and behavioural change produce small but important reductions in measures of body mass in school-aged children and adolescents.
	Alzheimer's disease study links brain health and physical activity People at risk for Alzheimer's disease who do more moderate-intensity physical activity, but not light-intensity physical activity, are more likely to have healthy patterns of glucose metabolism in their brain, according to a new UW-Madison study.
	Many diabetes patients produce some insulin Some insulin is still produced in almost half of patients that have had type 1 diabetes for more than ten years. The study conducted by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden has now been published online by the medical journal Diabetes Care.
	Tiny blood vessels in the brain could be the key in treating vascular dementia Researchers from the University of Southampton are to study tiny channels embedded in the walls of blood vessels in the brain to assess their impact on dementia.
	Don't lose sleep over sharing your bed with your pet or kids About half of all pet owners share their beds or bedrooms with their pets at night. Although this has been the case through the ages, remarkably few studies have been done about the benefits and drawbacks of this practice. Studies about co-sleeping are limited to the bedtime arrangements of adults, or parents and their children. In an article in Springer's journal Human Nature, the authors argue that society regards both human-animal and adult-child co-sleeping with the same unnecessary apprehension. These concerns should, however, be set aside because both practices have their benefits, says lead author Bradley Smith of Central Queensland University in Australia.
Accentuate the positive to reduce risk of chronic disease People who experience not just positive emotions but a diversity of positive emotions appear to have lower levels of systemic inflammation, which may reduce their risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Clinics cut pregnancy risks for obese women Specialist antenatal clinics for severely obese mums-to-be can help cut rates of pregnancy complications, research has found.
	Eating your feelings? The link between job stress, junk food and sleep Stress during the workday can lead to overeating and unhealthy food choices at dinnertime, but there could be a buffer to this harmful pattern.
Bug spray accumulation in the home Warmer temperatures can lead to a flurry of unwelcome guests to our house - flies, mosquitoes, fleas, wasps, bedbugs and lice. Pyrethroids are a common pesticide used to repel these pests, and even though they have been found more or less safe for mammals in laboratory studies, they can cause skin irritation, headache, dizziness and nausea for more sensitive individuals. Since the active ingredients of household pesticides are often the same as those used in agriculture, a recent study published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry addresses "Pyrethroid concentrations and persistence following indoor application" and explores whether laboratory studies are truly representative of what happens in a home.
	Video games can change your brain Scientists have collected and summarized studies looking at how video games can shape our brains and behavior. Research to date suggests that playing video games can change the brain regions responsible for attention and visuospatial skills and make them more efficient. The researchers also looked at studies exploring brain regions associated with the reward system, and how these are related to video game addiction.
	Elevated rate of autism symptoms found in children with Tourette syndrome Around one in five children with Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations, met criteria for autism in a study headed by UC San Francisco. But this prevalence may be more a reflection of similarity in symptoms than actual autism, according to the study's researchers.
White people show race bias when judging deception When making judgments about who is lying and who is telling the truth, new research shows that White people are more likely to label a Black person as a truth-teller compared with a White person, even though their spontaneous behavior indicates the reverse bias. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Uncomfortable summer heat makes people moody and unhelpful, new research finds Associate professor Liuba Belkin of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Maryam Kouchaki, assistant professor at Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois, conclude in a new study, that when when it's uncomfortably hot, we're less likely to be helpful or "prosocial."
	Hints of some steps that may boost brain health in old age Are you seeking steps to keep your brain healthy in old age?
Does MRI plus mammography improve detection of new breast cancer after breast conservation therapy? A new article published by JAMA Oncology compares outcomes for combined mammography and MRI or ultrasonography screenings for new breast cancers in women who have previously undergone breast conservation surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer initially diagnosed at 50 or younger.
	HPV testing leads to earlier detection and treatment of cervical pre-cancer Women who receive human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, in addition to a pap smear, receive a faster, more complete diagnosis of possible cervical precancer, according to a study of over 450,000 women by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the University of New Mexico (UNM) Comprehensive Cancer Center.
	Researchers find way to better use current drugs to target cancer A team of researchers at McMaster University has identified a unique feature of cancer stem cells that can be exploited to kill the deadly cells thought to be the reason that cancer comes back after therapy. Understanding this feature will be useful for delivering more targeted cancer therapeutics to the right patients.
	Team discovers similarities between next-generation prostate cancer drugs Cleveland Clinic researchers have shown for the first time how a class of advanced prostate cancer drugs are processed in the body and how their anti-tumor activity might change depending on how they are metabolized. Their pre-clinical findings, just published in Cell Chemical Biology, may lay the foundation for improving therapies for treatment-resistant, aggressive prostate cancer.
	Lab grown human colons change study of GI disease Scientists used human pluripotent stem cells to generate human embryonic colons in a laboratory that function much like natural human tissues when transplanted into mice, according to research published June 22 in Cell Stem Cell.
	The biology of uterine fluid: How it informs the fetus of mom's world A developing fetus bathes in a mixture of cellular secretions and proteins unique to its mother's uterus. Before fertilization, the pH of uterine fluid helps create a conducive environment for sperm migration, and afterward, its volume supports the embryo as it implants onto the wall of the uterus. Recent evidence suggests that uterine fluid may play another key role in embryonic development: communicating the mother's outside conditions to the fetus, so that the latter can prepare accordingly. A review of this research appears on June 22 in Trends in Molecular Medicine.
Greater emphasis on preventing, treating heart disease in women needed Women and physicians do not put enough emphasis on cardiovascular disease in women, and a social stigma regarding body weight may be a primary barrier to these important discussions, according to research publishing today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Cancer cells may streamline their genomes in order to proliferate more easily Research from the Stowers Institute provides evidence suggesting that cancer cells might streamline their genomes in order to proliferate more easily. The study, conducted in both human and mouse cells, shows that cancer genomes lose copies of repetitive sequences known as ribosomal DNA. While downsizing might enable these cells to replicate faster, it also seems to render them less able to withstand DNA damage.
	Scientists uncover potential mechanism for HPV-induced skin cancer Scientists have identified a molecular pathway by which some types of human papilloma virus (HPV) might increase the risk of skin cancer, particularly in people with the rare genetic disorder epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). The novel pathway is described in PLOS Pathogens.
	New brain network model could explain differences in brain injuries Considering the brain's network of activity, rather than just individual regions, could help us understand why some brain injuries are much worse than others, according to a study published PLOS Computational Biology by Maxwell B. Wang, Julia Owen, and Pratik Mukherjee from University of California, San Francisco, and Ashish Raj from Weill Cornell Medicine.
	First Chikungunya-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitos found in Brazil While more than 13,000 cases of Chikungunya viral disease were reported in Brazil in 2015, scientists had never before detected the virus in a captured mosquito in this country. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have identified a mosquito—caught in the Brazilian city of Aracaju—that's naturally infected with the East-Central-South-African (ECSA) genotype of Chikungunya.
	Crowdsourced data may inaccurately represent some population groups While crowdsourcing, a practice that enables study participants to submit data electronically, has grown in use for health and medical research, a study led by UC San Francisco comparing the online approach to a standard telephone survey has found that certain crowdsourced groups are either over- or underrepresented by age, race/ethnicity, education and physical activity.
Study uncovers link between male hormones and metabolic disease in polycystic ovary syndrome Scientists from the University of Birmingham have discovered the link between increased male hormones and metabolic complications such as diabetes and fatty liver disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
	Study debunks claim of greatly improved survival rate for gunshot victims The survival rate of U.S. gunshot victims has not shown a marked improvement, as other recent studies have suggested, according to new research from Duke University and the University of California, Davis.
Proton pump inhibitors do not contribute to dementia or Alzheimer's disease Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications used to treat digestive problems such as ulcers and reflux disease by reducing the body's production of the acid that helps us digest food. Ulcers are sores that develop on the lining of our digestive system; when they develop in the upper part of the small intestine they are called "duodenal ulcers." Reflux disease is a condition in which stomach acid or other fluids in the digestive system irritate our food pipe, also known as the esophagus.
Popular prostate drug linked to serious side effects Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with the commonly prescribed Avodart (Dutsteride) may put men at an increased risk for diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and worsening erectile dysfunction.
High fat diet reduces gut bacteria, Crohn's disease symptoms Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have shown a high fat diet may lead to specific changes in gut bacteria that could fight harmful inflammation—a major discovery for patients suffering from Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel syndrome, causes debilitating intestinal swelling, cramping, and diarrhea. The disease affects half a million people in the United States, but its cause is yet unclear.
New biomarker assay detects neuroblastoma with greater sensitivity Investigators at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles have developed and tested a new biomarker assay for quantifying disease and detecting the presence of neuroblastoma even when standard evaluations yield negative results for the disease. In a study, led by Araz Marachelian, MD, of the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, researchers provide the first systematic comparison of standard imaging evaluations versus the new assay that screens for five different neuroblastoma-associated genes and determine that the new assay improves disease assessment and provides prediction of disease progression. Results of the study are published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
	Researchers dissect the process by which blood vessels shrink, which could have important implications for human health It's a tiny marine invertebrate, no more than 3 millimeters in size. But closely related to humans, Botryllus schlosseri might hold the key to new treatments for cancer and a host of vascular diseases.
	Burial teams dramatically reduced Ebola cases during west Africa outbreak: study Red Cross volunteers prevented a significant number of Ebola cases during the 2013-2016 epidemic in west Africa by using safe burial techniques, according to a study released Thursday.
	Most U.S. teens aren't 'doing it' (HealthDay)—Sex is everywhere in the media, and so you may be convinced that today's teens are always looking to "hook-up." But new federal research says it's just not so.
	Tips to curb nighttime eating (HealthDay)—Are you a regular victim of the late-night snack attack? Mindlessly munching on chips or diving head first into a pint of ice cream?
	Many doctors silent on cost of cancer care (HealthDay)—Cancer doctors are often mute when a patient asks about the cost of treatment, a new study shows.
	Tissue testing can spot Zika at birth: CDC (HealthDay)—Exposure to the Zika virus in pregnancy can wreak havoc on babies, but diagnosing the infection before birth remains a challenge. Now, there's some good news: U.S. health officials say testing placental and fetal tissue after a child is born can confirm or rule out infection.
	Could your office job rob you of vitamin D? (HealthDay)—Spending your days cooped up inside an office might mean you're not getting enough vital vitamin D—know as the "sunshine vitamin," researchers report.
	Many with advanced cancer want secondary germline findings info (HealthDay)—More than half of patients with advanced cancer who undergo tumor genomic profiling (TGP) are interested in learning their secondary germline findings, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of Oncology Practice.
	sRAGE linked to risk of incident diabetic nephropathy (HealthDay)—Serum levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are associated with the risk of developing incident diabetic nephropathy (DN) in individuals with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online June 19 in Diabetes Care.
	Valproic acid concentration drops with ketogenic diet (HealthDay)—For patients with epilepsy, anti-epileptic drug serum concentrations remain stable during the ketogenic diet (KD), apart from those of valproic acid, according to a study published online June 18 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
	Medical-home recognition higher in demonstration sites (HealthDay)—Demonstration sites, which are provided with care management fees and technical assistance to help them achieve the highest medical-home recognition, do have higher rates of medical-home recognition, according to a study published online June 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Isotretinoin may impair wound healing after tattoo (HealthDay)—Isotretinoin may impair wound healing after tattooing, according to a case report published online June 16 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
	Worm studies investigate how grandparents' experiences can affect our genes Studies of human populations suggest that our health and longevity could be affected by the diets and experiences of our grandparents. For example, studies of a small community in northern Sweden where detailed historical records were kept found correlations between food availability for one generation and the mortality rate for that generation's grandchildren.
	Seafood poisoning bug thwarts a key host defense by attacking the cell's cytoskeleton The leading cause of acute gastroenteritis linked to eating raw seafood disarms a key host defense system in a novel way: It paralyzes a cell's skeleton, or cytoskeleton.
Patient-inspired research uncovers new link to rare disorder Meeting a young patient with Zellweger syndrome, a rare, life-threatening genetic disease, started a scientific investigation that culminated with an unexpected discovery. The condition, also known as peroxisomal biogenesis disorder, had been linked only to lipid or fat metabolism. Now, as a team of scientists from several institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, reveals in PLoS Genetics, the condition also affects sugar metabolism. The discovery of this connection in animal models can potentially lead to treatments that might improve the condition.
	Legalized pot may lead to more traffic crashes (HealthDay)—Although states where recreational marijuana is legal may have experienced a slight bump in traffic collisions, the good news is that there wasn't an increase in crash-related fatalities compared to other states, two new studies show.
	Q&A: More questions than answers on legal pot in Nevada The drug sellers aren't the problem when it comes to the highly anticipated launch of Nevada's recreational marijuana industry. It's the distributors who have muddled plans to allow people to light up July 1.
Report on stillbirth and neonatal death rates across the UK Research published today shows that the stillbirth rate in the UK has reduced by almost 8% over the period 2013 to 2015. A current Government ambition is to halve the rates of stillbirth and neonatal death in England by 2030. These findings indicate that things are moving in the right direction.
Secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmoking adult cancer survivors has declined From 1999/2000 to 2011/2012, exposure to secondhand smoke among nonsmoking adult cancer survivors declined from 39.6 percent to 15.7 percent, but rates of exposure were higher among those with a history of a smoking-related cancer and those living below the federal poverty level compared with those with other types of cancer and those with the highest incomes, respectively.
Cosmetic procedures practice and promotion 'cause for serious concern,' says ethics body New developments and marketing have made an increasing range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures—including botox, dermal fillers, implants, and skin lightening, as well as newer techniques such as 'fat freezing' and 'vampire' treatments—big business and widely accessible.
Systems pharmacology modelers accelerate drug discovery in Alzheimer's An InSysBio scientific group led by Tatiana Karelina has developed a quantitative system pharmacology model of Alzheimer's disease. The first part has been published in CPT Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology, and shows how to design initial phases of clinical trials of new drugs and to interpret the data.
	Twin donates part of small bowel to brother in rare transplant Patrick Noel was on his way home from his brother's house on July 24, 2016 when a car pulled up next to him. The stranger in the other car asked Patrick if he lived in the neighborhood. Sensing something was wrong, Patrick hesitated briefly, but said that yes, he was from Calumet City. The man looked at Patrick, pulled out a gun and shot at him 10 times before driving off. It was a case of mistaken identity. Six of the shots hit Patrick; one grazed his head, others hit his back, foot and leg.
Blacks, women don't get same health benefit from employment Being gainfully employed normally is considered good for health, but new research from the University of Michigan shows that black men, and black and white women don't get the same benefits of increased life expectancy related to employment as white men. Neither do people with lower education.
Autism and terrorism—what are the links? Terror recruits often seem to come from vulnerable backgrounds. But new evidence suggests that those suffering from traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could be more at risk of being radicalised. It follows a number of high-profile cases where autism appears to have played a role in the offender's behaviour. So if people with ASD could be at higher risk, how can we protect them from falling under the spell of terror organisation such as Islamic State?
How serious is binge drinking among college students with disabilities? A new study finds that college students with disabilities binge drink more often than their non-disabled student peers. The study, providing the first picture of alcohol use and binge drinking by US college students with disabilities, is out today in Public Health Reports, a SAGE Publishing journal and the official journal of the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service.
	Brisbane Airport named Australia's first dementia-friendly airport at guide launch Brisbane Airport was named Australia's first dementia-friendly airport by Alzheimer's Australia at the launch today in the International Terminal of a new guide to the airport for travellers with dementia.
Senate Republicans unveil US health bill—but lack votes to pass it (Update) US Senate Republicans on Thursday unveiled a revamped health care plan aimed at fulfilling President Donald Trump's pledge to repeal Obamacare, but a revolt by four conservatives put the bill in immediate jeopardy.
Polish lawmakers legalise medicinal marijuana Poland's lower house of parliament, which is controlled by the conservatives, on Thursday voted to make medicinal marijuana legal under certain circumstances.
ACR acknowledges CMS efforts to increase flexibility and reduce regulatory burdens The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today welcomed components of a new proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) Quality Payment Program (QPP) as containing several positive developments for rheumatology providers. Specifically, rheumatologists expressed support for CMS's proposals to increase the threshold for Merit-Based Incentive Payments System (MIPS) exemptions, to extend "Pick Your Pace" flexibility for another year and to delay electronic health records requirements. Additionally, the ACR supports keeping the cost performance category weighted at zero for another year beyond 2018.

Biology news

	Researchers identify mammals that are most likely to harbor viruses risky to humans (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the EcoHealth Alliance has narrowed down the list of animal species that may harbor viruses likely to jump to humans. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group outlines the process they used to collect viral data on mammals around the globe, sorted them into groups and listed where they live. James Lloyd-Smith with the University of California offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	How eggs got their shapes: Adaptations for flight may have driven egg-shape variety in birds The evolution of the amniotic egg—complete with membrane and shell—was key to vertebrates leaving the oceans and colonizing the land and air. Now, 360 million years later, bird eggs come in all shapes and sizes, from the almost perfectly spherical eggs of brown hawk- owls to the tear-drop shape of sandpipers' eggs. The question is, how and why did this diversity in shape evolve?
	Biofilms—the eradication has begun Have you ever heard of biofilms? They are slimy, glue-like membranes that are produced by microbes, like bacteria and fungi, in order to colonize surfaces. They can grow on animal and plant tissues, and even inside the human body on medical devices such as catheters, heart valves, or artificial hips. Biofilms protect microbes from the body's immune system and increase their resistance to antibiotics. They represent one of the biggest threats to patients in hospital settings. But there is good news - a research team led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has developed a novel enzyme technology that prevents the formation of biofilms and can also break them down.
	Satellite data to map endangered monkey populations on Earth A team of scientists led by the Universities of Leicester and East Anglia are leading research to protect wildlife by using satellite data to identify monkey populations that have declined through hunting.
Rare cells are 'window into the gut' for the nervous system Specialized cells in the gut sense potentially noxious chemicals and trigger electrical impulses in nearby nerve fibers, according to a new study led by UC San Francisco scientists. "These cells are sensors, like a window looking into the contents of the gut," said James Bayrer, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at UCSF and one of the lead authors of the paper.
	Cells in fish's spinal discs repair themselves Duke researchers have discovered a unique repair mechanism in the developing backbone of zebrafish that could give insight into why spinal discs of longer-lived organisms like humans degenerate with age.
	Study sheds light on how bacterial organelles assemble Scientists are providing the clearest view yet of an intact bacterial microcompartment, revealing at atomic-level resolution the structure and assembly of the organelle's protein shell.
	Simulated honeybees can use simple brain circuits for complex learning Honeybees may not need key brain structures known as mushroom bodies in order to learn complex associations between odors and rewards, according to new research published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Wasp venom holds clues on how genes get new jobs Amid the incredible diversity of living things on our planet, there is a common theme. Organisms need to acquire new genes, or change the functions of existing genes, in order to adapt and survive.
	Plasmapheresis a potentially life-saving approach to veterinary immunotherapy The power of plasmapheresis lies in its unequivocal speed.
	Even ugly animals can win hearts and dollars to save them from extinction The Earth is home to millions of species, but you wouldn't know it from the media's obsession with only a few dozen animals like tigers and gorillas.
	Solar tracking gives scientists tools to follow small animals Keeping tabs on wild birds has long been a low-tech proposition. While radio collars and satellite tags became standard for tracking big mammals, binoculars and notebooks have remained critical for following most twittering, flittering birds.
	New insight into a central biological dogma on ion transport New research results from Aarhus University and New York University show how active transport of potassium can be achieved by a membrane protein complex that has roots in both ion pump and ion channel super-families. The results, which have just been published in Nature, shed new light on what define channels and pumps.
	The 'Star dust' wasp is a new extinct species named after David Bowie's alter ego During her study on fossil insects of the order Hymenoptera at China's Capitol Normal University, student Longfeng Li visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, carrying two unidentified wasp specimens that were exceptionally well-preserved in Burmese amber. This type of fossilized tree resin is known for the quality of the fossil specimens which can be preserved inside it. Being 100 million years old, they provide an incredible view into the past.
	Lessons from whale population collapse could help future species at risk A study of historic whaling records has revealed there were warning signs that populations of commercially harvested whales were heading for global collapse up to 40 years before the event.
	Researchers use supercomputers to study snake evolution, unique traits Evolution takes eons, but it leaves marks on the genomes of organisms that can be detected with DNA sequencing and analysis.
	Ecology insights improve plant biomass degradation by microorganisms Microbes are widely used to break down plant biomass into sugars, which can be used as sustainable building blocks for novel biocompounds. Getting the right microbial community for this process is still a matter of trial and error. New insights by University of Groningen microbial ecologist Dr Diego Javier Jiménez and colleagues could make a rational design possible. They argue this point in an opinion paper published in the journal Trends in Microbiology on 22 June.
Research points to previously unknown pine marten diversity The elusive American pine marten, a little-studied member of the weasel family, might be more diverse than originally thought, according to new research published by a University of Montana professor.
Snake fungal disease identified in wild British snakes for first time Europe's wild snakes could face a growing threat from a fungal skin disease that has contributed to wild snake deaths in North America, according to an international collaborative study, led by conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) alongside partners including the U.S. Geological Survey. The new study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
	Calves conceived in winter perform better Cows and humans have something in common: If you take better care of the mother during pregnancy, her children are likely to be healthier – and this impact should last a lifetime, a University of Florida scientist says.
	New marine protected area designated in Costa Rica International days, such as World Oceans Day earlier this month, are vitally important for raising awareness of topics such as marine biodiversity. But in Costa Rica this year, not only was awareness raised but a key action was taken –the government announced the designation of the Área Marina de Manejo Cabo Blanco (Cabo Blanco Marine Management Area), as a new 831 km2 marine protected area (MPA).
	Zimbabwe begins mass transfer of animals to Mozambique The animals won't travel two-by-two, but thousands of safari stalwarts will soon begin their journeys from Zimbabwe to Mozambique in one of Africa's largest ever wildlife transfers.

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