Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jun 29

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 29, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Skull fragments with carved long, deliberate lines found at Gobekli Tepe

Who is responsible if a brain-controlled robot drops a baby?

New method could enable more stable and scalable quantum computing, physicists report

Study finds hackers could use brainwaves to steal passwords

Hydrogen peroxide protects plants against sun damage

New research identifies key mechanism behind some deafness

Darwin's 'strangest animal ever' finds a family

Scientists produce dialysis membrane made from graphene

Clean, electrically-driven process to separate commercially important metals from sulfide minerals in one step

Researchers develop pioneering X-ray technique to analyze ancient artifacts

Newly identified small RNA fragments defend the genome when it's 'naked'

New study reveals key steps in CRISPR-Cas3 function at near-atomic resolution

New technique enables safer gene-editing therapy using CRISPR

New insights into why the immune system fails to see cancer

People prove adept at predicting emotional transitions

Astronomy & Space news

	Kepler has taught us that rocky planets are common Rocky planets are probably a whole lot more common in our galaxy than astronomers previously believed—according to the latest release of Kepler Space Telescope data last week—a scenario that enhances the prospects for extraterrestrial life in nearby solar systems.
	An algorithm helps protect Mars Curiosity's wheels There are no mechanics on Mars, so the next best thing for NASA's Curiosity rover is careful driving.
	Image: The Niagara Falls of Mars Various researchers are often preoccupied with the quest for flowing water on Mars. However, this image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), shows one of the many examples from Mars where lava (when it was molten) behaved in a similar fashion to liquid water.
	Bizarro comet challenging researchers Scientists pursue research through observation, experimentation and modeling. They strive for all of these pieces to fit together, but sometimes finding the unexpected is even more exciting.

Technology news

	Study finds hackers could use brainwaves to steal passwords Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggest that brainwave-sensing headsets, also known as EEG or electroencephalograph headsets, need better security after a study reveals hackers could guess a user's passwords by monitoring their brainwaves.
	New firewall protects cellphones from security threat Cyber security researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) developed an innovative firewall program that adds a missing layer of security in Android cellphones and monitors for malicious code.
	A ring made as identity wearable for opening doors, computer, car (Tech Xplore)—Knock, knock. Who's there? Me. Me who? No, no need to ask, and no need to answer.
	Five reasons why Amazon-Whole Foods won't win grocery war Goodbye, Kroger? Safeway? Albertsons? Costco? Even Walmart and Target?
	Amazon Prime Day promo starts night of July 10, now 30 hours Amazon is extending its annual "Prime Day" promotion to 30 hours this year.
Western Digital says JV partner Toshiba's complaints harmful Western Digital Corp. lashed back against its joint venture partner Toshiba on Thursday in a deepening feud over the Japanese company's plan to sell its computer memory business.
Samsung to create 950 jobs in S. Carolina Samsung will spend $380 million on a facility in South Carolina, creating 950 jobs over the next three years, company officials announced Wednesday.
In Oakland, hackers race DIY autonomous cars—and it may revolutionize your ride They aren't much to look at with their bare plywood or plastic frames, exposed wires and electronic innards on display.
	Self-driving cars must learn trust and cooperation Self-driving vehicles will not only need to "see" the world, they'll need to communicate and work together.
	A dual-arm construction robot with remote-control function A group of Japanese researchers developed a new concept construction robot for disaster relief situations. This robot has a double swing dual arm mechanism and has drastically improved operability and mobility compared to conventional construction machines.
	Silicon-on-Seine: world's biggest tech incubator opens in Paris French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the world's largest start-up incubator in central Paris on Thursday, taking the city a step closer to fulfilling its ambition of becoming Europe's technology capital.
	True romance in the air at Tokyo virtual reality show It is Saturday night and you want to have a date with someone special, but you're too tired to get off the sofa.
	High-rise buildings much more energy intensive than low-rise Office and residential buildings use more energy per square metre, the taller they are, according to new research from UCL.
	Instagram enlists AI to filter nasty comments Instagram on Thursday said it is using artificial intelligence to filter nasty comments and spam at the popular Facebook-owned photo-sharing service.
	What Amazon wants from Whole Foods: Data on shopping habits Why is Amazon spending nearly $14 billion for Whole Foods ? One reason: People who buy yoga mats and fitness trackers on Amazon might also like grapes, nuts and other healthy items at the organic grocery chain.
	Snapchat users might want to be cautious using app's latest feature Popular cellphone app Snapchat has introduced a new feature called Snap Map that allows users to share their location with friends. Worry about security surfaced immediately.
Sick of your internet provider? Do some research before you jump ship We are lucky to live in the age of broadband internet availability just about everywhere.
	Cyberattack: Shipping giant's terminals slowly recovering (Update) Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, one of the global companies hardest hit by a malicious software that froze computers around the globe, said Thursday that most of its terminals are now operational, though some remain crippled.
How conspiracy theories feed political fragmentation Conspiracy theories are all the rage these days. Barely a day goes by without someone accusing someone else of engaging in fake news, post-truths, witch hunts and organised political skulduggery.
Walgreens to buy half of Rite Aid stores for $5.2 bn US pharmacy chain Walgreens announced a new deal on Thursday to buy half of competitor Rite Aid's stores for nearly $5.2 billion after canceling a two previous merger attempts.
	3-D-printed implants can improve integration of amputee prosthetic devices with bone A new study evaluated two additive manufacturing methods for producing either fine or coarse textured titanium implants and compared the strength of bone integration, interlocking, and torque in rats given one or both types of the implants in the distal femurs. The ability to apply this technology to customize implant surface textures and geometries to match the specific anatomy of human amputees is increasingly important as the trend in prosthetic devices moves toward transcutaneous osseointegrated implants rather than socket-cup fitting devices, according to an article published in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing.
	Global cyberattack may have aimed for havoc, not extortion The cyberattack that has locked up computers around the world while demanding a ransom may not be an extortion attempt after all, but an effort to create havoc in Ukraine, security experts say.
	Ex-bosses stand trial over 2011 Fukushima crisis Three former executives at the operator of Fukushima's power plant start their trial Friday on the only criminal charges brought over the 2011 disaster, the worst nuclear accident in a generation.

Medicine & Health news

	Who is responsible if a brain-controlled robot drops a baby? As brain-controlled robots enter everyday life, an article published in Science states that now is the time to take action and put in place guidelines that ensure the safe and beneficial use of direct brain-machine interaction.
	New research identifies key mechanism behind some deafness Although the basic outlines of human hearing have been known for years - sensory cells in the inner ear turn sound waves into the electrical signals that the brain understands as sound - the molecular details have remained elusive.
	New insights into why the immune system fails to see cancer Cancer hides in plain sight of the immune system. The body's natural tumor surveillance programs should be able to detect and attack rogue cancer cells when they arise, and yet when cancer thrives, it does so because these defense systems have failed. A team of investigators led by Niroshana Anandasabapathy, MD, PhD, at Brigham and Women's Hospital have uncovered a critical strategy that some cancers may be using to cloak themselves - they find evidence of this genetic program across 30 human cancers of the peripheral tissue, including melanoma skin cancer. Their results are published June 29 in Cell.
	People prove adept at predicting emotional transitions For most people, reading the emotions of those around you is second nature: Your spouse is grumpy. Your co-worker is anxious. Your child is happy.
	The breast cancer genome's 'dark matter' starts to give up some secrets While mutations in protein-coding genes have held the limelight in cancer genomics, those in the noncoding genome (home to the regulatory elements that control gene activity) may also have powerful roles in driving tumor growth. A new study reveals recurrent mutations in nine such noncoding elements in breast cancer.
	Social status of listener alters our voice People tend to change the pitch of their voice depending on who they are talking to, and how dominant they feel, a study by the University of Stirling has found.
	Banned chemicals pass through umbilical cord from mother to baby, research finds Trace amounts of flame retardants, banned in the U.S. for more than a decade, are still being passed through umbilical cord blood from mothers to their babies, according to new Indiana University research. The chemicals are linked to health concerns including hormone disruption and low birth weight.
	Scientists find mechanism behind precise spinal cord development Scientists have uncovered how nerve cells in the spinal cord are organised in precise patterns during embryo development - a finding that could give insight into regenerative medicine.
	Controlling a single brain chemical may help expand window for learning language and music Learning language or music is usually a breeze for children, but as even young adults know, that capacity declines dramatically with age. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have evidence from mice that restricting a key chemical messenger in the brain helps extend efficient auditory learning much later in life.
	A perturbed skin microbiome can be 'contagious' and promote inflammation, study finds Even in healthy individuals, the skin plays host to a menagerie of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Growing scientific evidence suggests that this lively community, collectively known as the skin microbiome, serves an important role in healing, allergies, inflammatory responses and protection from infection.
Malaria control in African schools dramatically cuts infection and reduces risk of anemia Schools that provide prevention education, insecticide-treated nets and antimalarial treatment, in regions where malaria is highly seasonal, could reduce the risk of schoolchildren developing anaemia and improve their cognitive performance, according to new research published in BMJ Global Health.
	Inequalities in malaria research funding in sub-Saharan Africa A quarter of countries in sub-Saharan Africa receive very little funding for research into malaria despite having high malaria-related death rates.
Personal assistance relationships are complex and need support, study finds Personal assistance relationships are usually empowering and flexible for both employer and workers, but can become emotionally fraught and even wounded, according to a report launched today.
Study examines palliative care trends in patients with end-stage liver disease A new study has uncovered low rates of referral for palliative care in US patients with end-stage liver disease, although rates have been slowly increasing over time. The Hepatology study also found that certain socioeconomic and ethnic barriers may hinder access to palliative care services.
	New opioid use in older adults with COPD associated with increased risk of cardiac death Older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder who recently started using opioids have an increased risk of coronary artery disease-related death compared to non-opioid users, researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have found.
Hospitals ramp up hyperbaric therapy for diabetics, despite concerns The Villages Regional Hospital did not sweat its decision to add hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 2013.
	Vaccine to slow cancer growth closer to human trials A more targeted and affordable cancer treatment vaccine with wide ranging potential is being tested on dogs ahead of human trials.
	Are people taking risks when it comes to food safety? A new study, conducted by a team of UK based researchers involving The University of Manchester, Bangor University and the University of Liverpool, known as the ENIGMA Project, has revealed the levels of bad behaviours in UK kitchens which increase the public's risk of getting food poisoning.
Depression linked to physical health decline in cancer caregivers A new report finds cancer caregivers suffer a steady decline in physical health compared to controls, and that symptoms of depression were the only significant predictor of caregivers' physical health decline. Writing in Cancer, the authors say assessing and addressing depressive symptoms among caregivers early in the cancer survivorship trajectory may help to prevent premature health decline among this important, yet vulnerable population. The study is the longest follow-up to date of caregivers' physical health following providing care to a loved one with cancer. It was funded by the American Cancer Society.
	Test identifies breast cancer patients with lowest risk of death A molecular test can pinpoint which patients will have a very low risk of death from breast cancer even 20 years after diagnosis and tumor removal, according to a new clinical study led by UC San Francisco in collaboration with colleagues in Sweden. As a result, "ultralow" risk patients could be treated less aggressively and overtreatment avoided, leading to fewer toxic effects.
	Researchers propose new approach to identify genetic mutations in men with prostate cancer Scientists have had limited success at identifying specific inherited genes associated with prostate cancer, despite the fact that it is one of the most common non-skin cancers among men. Researchers at University of Utah Health studied prostate cancer patients with multiple cancer diagnoses, many who would not be recommended for genetic tests following current guidelines, to identify genetic mutations that may influence cancer treatment and cancer risk assessment for family members. Their findings are reported in the June issue of the journal Cancer.
	Study explores how adverse parenting styles can follow a multi-generational cycle Our experiences as children growing up inform how we parent when we have kids of our own. But when those experiences are abusive, neglectful or otherwise adverse, they can increase the risk for a negative cycle that can play out for generations within a family.
	Extreme athleticism can take a toll on figure skaters' bones and joints Overhead lifts, quad jumps, double Salchows and sit spins—the artistry of figure skating is awe inspiring, but these moves also require extreme athleticism, which can take a toll on the body's bones and joints.
	Autism and developmental coordination disorder have similarities but also sharp differences UTA researchers are recommending in a new study that children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder should be checked for developmental coordination disorder since the two maladies are linked.
	Children being targeted by plastic surgery apps, warns new report Children are being targeted by plastic surgery mobile phone apps and makeover games that are having damaging effects on the way users see themselves, according to a major report supported by research from a City, University of London academic.
	Pets can help children accept challenges of foster care Stable, loving, secure family relationships are vital for child development and well-being. But many children who enter the foster care system have early experiences of neglect, suffering, hurt, and loss, and been deprived of secure parenting.
	Pain neuron may protect fungal inflammation and bone destruction Scientists have discovered unexpected functions of pain neurons, finding that they inhibit fungi-induced osteo-inflammation via the CGRP-Jdp2 axis.
	PTSD in children quickly and effectively treatable within hours Children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be successfully treated with only a few hours of EMDR or cognitive behavioral writing therapy (CBWT). This is the finding of a new research paper by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and GGZ Rivierduinen (Trauma Center for Children and Youth). The paper was published on Thursday, 29 June in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
	Biting and chewing gets you teeth Biting and chewing force our buried teeth to emerge, not an innate 'eruptive' force from within the bone of the jaw as previously thought, according to biomechanical modelling done by Babak Sarrafpour and an interdisciplinary team working at the University of Sydney.
	Study calls on Chinese government for stronger support of food safety laws and traceability systems An international team of researchers, including the University of Portsmouth, has called for stronger government intervention in China to implement food safety rules, regulations and support.
Communication between neighboring cells triggers autophagy An immune-related protein deployed between neighboring cells in Drosophila plays an essential role in the cell degradation process known as autophagy, according to new research by Eric H. Baehrecke, PhD, at UMass Medical School. This extracellular molecular link raises the possibility that the breakdown between an immune system signal and autophagy could contribute to human diseases. The study appears online in Cell.
	Being South Asian is as great a risk factor for stillbirth as smoking Australian women born in South Asia are more likely to have a stillbirth than other women, perhaps due to a rapidly ageing placenta that cannot support the pregnancy, new research suggests.
Surprisingly exact timing of voluntary movements Almost everything people do – walking, talking, or drinking coffee – is completely dependent on accurate timing when activating many muscles at once. The prevailing theory has been that the exact timing of this type of movement is not voluntarily controlled, and the timing has therefore been assumed to be fully automated when learning movements. However, researchers at Lund University in Sweden now argue that this may be wrong. A new study shows that people are fully capable of controlling their blinking with a time precision that was previously believed not to be possible.
	Eighty-five percent of Spanish children eat too much salt Salt is a hidden enemy in children's diets. So concludes a study by researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid, which suggests that over 80 percent of Spanish schoolchildren consume excess salt; this is associated with a greater risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and obesity.
Lung cancer screening could save money as well as lives, research shows Lung cancer screening is likely to be cost-effective, particularly if it also identifies other tobacco-related conditions in high-risk people, suggests new research published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO).
	Cocoa and chocolate are not just treats—they are good for your cognition A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands - a phrase commonly used to justify ones chocolate snacking behavior. A phrase now shown to actually harbor some truth, as the cocoa bean is a rich source of flavanols: a class of natural compounds that has neuroprotective effects.
	One step closer to a DNA vaccine against dengue virus In a new study, researchers inoculated mice with a new DNA vaccine candidate (pVAX1-D1ME) in order to evaluate its efficiency. They found that the vaccine candidate was able to induce persistent humoral and cellular immune responses and provided efficient protection against lethal challenge from one of the four serotypes of dengue virus (DV1). They also evaluated the immunoprotective potential of a combined (bivalent) DNA vaccine, which was found to generate a balanced immunogenic response to two serotypes of dengue virus (DV1 & DV2). These results are encouraging for the future development of a tetravalent vaccine that could provide efficient protection against all four serotypes of the virus.
Serious pain afflicts a third of nursing home residents in last six months of life Many nursing home residents have a fairly pain-free experience until the end of life, but at least a third suffer persistent, significant pain during their last six months, according to a new study from the University of Manitoba, University of British Columbia and University of Alberta that could have implications for end-of-life care in Canada.
New study examines effectiveness of labor induction in India Researchers from the University of Liverpool with colleagues from Gynuity Health Care in New York and the Government Medial College, Nagpur, India, have published a major study of two different types of labour induction methods in The Lancet.
	Scientists investigate link between air pollution and type 2 diabetes An interdisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Leicester and other institutions has played a pivotal role in research investigating a possible link between air pollution and the rise in type 2 diabetes.
	Promising new therapeutic approach for debilitating bone disease An Australian-led research team has demonstrated a new therapeutic approach that can re-build and strengthen bone, offering hope for individuals with the debilitating bone cancer, multiple myeloma.
Understanding the epidemiology of sarcopenia throughout the lifecourse Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome which is characterised by progressive and generalised loss of muscle mass and strength. How prevalent is sarcopenia? As there is a lack of consensus in the operational definition used to characterized the disorder, estimates vary widely in different clinical settings, and depending on the definition used.
Treating lymphatic fluid leaks improves protein loss in patients with single-ventricle heart disease Focusing on a rare but devastating complication in patients with single-ventricle heart disease, a research team has revealed the role of leakage from the liver's lymphatic system, and used a novel procedure to seal off those leaks and improve symptoms in patients.
	Does carrying extra weight offer better survival following a stroke? Despite the fact that obesity increases both the risk for stroke and death, a new study has found that people who are overweight or even mildly obese survive strokes at a higher rate as compared to those with a normal body weight.
Success with first 20 patients undergoing minimally invasive pancreatic transplant surgery Surgeons at Johns Hopkins Medicine report that their first series of a minimally invasive procedure to treat chronic pancreas disease, known as severe pancreatitis, resulted in shorter hospital stays, less need for opioids and fewer complications, compared with standard surgical approaches.
	Biomechanical acoustics study sheds light on running injuries Running is one of the most popular sports in the world. More than 110 million people in the EU and the U.S. reported running recreationally in recent surveys; billions of dollars are spent globally each year to purchase running apparel and participate in races.
	Pregnant or trying? Don't let Zika guard down The Zika virus may not seem as big a threat as last summer but don't let your guard down—especially if you're pregnant or trying to be.
New anesthesia dosing models may increase safety of remifentanil for obese patients and children Researchers have developed new dosing models that may provide the scientific basis for more accurate administration of remifentanil, a synthetic opioid commonly used during surgery, in children and obese patients. The dosing models, described in two studies in Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), could help prevent children from receiving too little remifentanil, and morbidly obese patients from receiving too much.
	Cancer researchers overestimate reproducibility of preclinical studies Cancer scientists overestimate the extent to which high-profile preclinical studies can be successfully replicated, new research publishing June 29 in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Jonathan Kimmelman and colleagues from McGill University suggests.
	Elephantiasis on the decline in Cameroon Lymphatic filariasis—a parasitic infection commonly known as elephantiasis—is among the 10 neglected tropical diseases that the World Health Organization (WHO) is aiming to eliminate by 2020. In Cameroon, large-scale annual mass drug administration efforts are successfully curbing rates of LF, researchers now report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Confusion over symptoms may be affecting whether women take tamoxifen for breast cancer Women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer may be failing to take the preventive anti-cancer drug tamoxifen because they are confusing naturally-occurring symptoms with side effects from the medicine, according to a study of nearly 4,000 women led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
Catheters linked to most bloodstream infections in dialysis patients Using catheters to access the blood during hemodialysis continues to be linked with increased rates of bloodstream infections, according to a recent analysis of data from US dialysis facilities. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
Researchers find link between food allergies and childhood anxiety Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Albert Einstein College of Medicine studied the link between food allergy and childhood anxiety and depression among a sample of predominantly low socioeconomic status minority children. The results showed that children with a food allergy had a significantly higher prevalence of childhood anxiety. Food allergies were not associated with symptoms of childhood depression or with symptoms of anxiety or depression among their caregivers. The results are published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
	Research suggests association between gut bacteria and emotion Researchers have identified gut microbiota that interact with brain regions associated with mood and behavior. This may be the first time that behavioral and neurobiological differences associated with microbial composition in healthy humans have been identified.
	Why does acupuncture work? Study finds it elevates nitric oxide, leading to pain reduction The use of acupuncture to treat pain dates back to the earliest recorded history in China. Despite centuries of acupuncture, it's still not clear why this method of applying and stimulating tiny needles at certain points on the body can relieve pain. Recent studies have raised additional questions, with some finding acupuncture reduced chronic pain while others showed that acupuncture has little, if any, impact on pain.
	Even perfectly clean hands can lead to MRSA transmission in NICU babies Even if hospital workers practice perfect hand hygiene, MRSA can still spread among babies in the NICU, according to new research led by a Drexel University researcher.
	Common antimicrobials help patients recover from MRSA abscesses Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria are resistant to multiple antibiotics and commonly cause skin infections that can lead to more serious or life-threatening infection in other parts of the body. In new findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that two common, inexpensive antimicrobials can help patients heal from MRSA skin abscesses. The findings suggest that current treatment options for MRSA still have a role, even as scientists continue to search for new antimicrobial products. The research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Car seat laws for older kids have limited impact Laws that require increasingly older kids to sit in car safety seats appear to have limited impact, new research has found.
	More Americans are walking for exercise (HealthDay)—Call it a step in the right direction: More and more Americans are trying to walk their way to better health.
	For many, friends are key to happiness in old age (HealthDay)—As you age, the friends you keep wield an ever-greater impact on your health and sense of happiness, new research reveals.
	Concussion in high school doesn't boost depression risk: study (HealthDay)—Two new studies offer good news for any high school athlete who's suffered a concussion: For most athletes, mental or physical effects may resolve themselves over the long term.
	Arm yourself against insect sting allergies (HealthDay)—For most of us, an insect bite means an annoying itch and some minor discomfort. But more and more people are having serious—and even potentially deadly—reactions to bites and stings, researchers report.
	Robotic navigation noninferior for CVPI in atrial fibrillation (HealthDay)—For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI), use of robotic navigation (RN) systems is noninferior to manual ablation (MN), according to a study published online June 28 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
	Tryptophan may be marker for diabetic nephropathy (HealthDay)—For patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), a lower level of tryptophan (Trp) is associated with rapid decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), according to a study published online June 26 in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation.
	Metformin therapeutic as post-ischemic conditioning agent (HealthDay)—Metformin has therapeutic potential as a post-ischemic conditioning agent, according to a study published online June 23 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
	Wireless peripheral nerve stimulation safe and effective (HealthDay)—Wireless peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is beneficial for chronic intractable pain secondary to post-herpetic neuralgia, according to a case report published online June 20 in PAIN Practice.
	Brain stimulation no better than escitalopram for depression (HealthDay)—Escitalopram may outperform transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of depression, according to a study published in the June 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Oregon infant's illness prompts warning about placenta pills Health officials are warning new moms about the potential dangers of taking pills made from their placenta, after an Oregon infant's infection was tied to the practice.
	Possible early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder Measuring a set of proteins in the blood may enable earlier diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study from the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
US fraud trial underway for pharma bad boy Shkreli The US securities fraud trial of Martin Shkreli, a former pharmaceutical executive who gained notoriety for jacking up the price of an HIV drug by 5,000 percent, got underway on Wednesday after being delayed over difficulties in finding impartial jurors.
	Campylobacter to blame for most foodborne infections in Denmark Campylobacter is to blame for more than 4,600 foodborne infections in Denmark and is thus still the most common cause of foodborne disease. This is one of the findings of the annual report for 2016 on the incidence of diseases that can be transmitted from animals and food to humans. The report was prepared by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, in cooperation with Statens Serum Institut – the national institute of public health – and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. Researchers, government agencies and industry are considering initiatives that can lead to the bacteria making fewer Danes fall ill.
	As South Sudan's civil war rages, cholera takes deadly toll Clasping frail arms around his stomach, Machar Weituor doubles over in pain as he slowly positions himself over the hole in his bed. Too feeble to make it to the toilet, the 40-year-old groans faintly as he defecates into a bucket.
	Interview: Europe can solve superbug crisis As the European Commission publishes a new plan to fight the threat from drug-resistant superbugs, Professor Herman Goossens, the initiator of the first European Antibiotic Awareness Day, says he is optimistic that scientists and industry can work together to solve perhaps the biggest challenge of our time.
Treatment benefits patients with thalassaemia and HCV Many individuals with the blood disorder thalassaemia also carry the hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to contaminated transfusions before 1990. Due to the co-existence of iron overload (from repeated blood transfusions), these patients are at increased risk of developing liver cancer.

Biology news

	Hydrogen peroxide protects plants against sun damage Plants use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) - best known for use in bleach and hair treatments - to control how their cells react to varying levels of light, new research shows.
	Newly identified small RNA fragments defend the genome when it's 'naked' Our genomes are minefields, studded with potentially damaging DNA sequences over which hundreds of thousands of sentries stand guard. These sentries, called epigenetic marks, attach to the double helix at such spots and prevent the underlying DNA sequences from springing into destructive action.
	New study reveals key steps in CRISPR-Cas3 function at near-atomic resolution Harvard Medical School and Cornell University scientists have generated near-atomic resolution snapshots of CRISPR that reveal key steps in its mechanism of action. The findings, published in Cell on June 29, provide the structural data necessary for efforts to improve the efficiency and accuracy of CRISPR for biomedical applications.
	New technique enables safer gene-editing therapy using CRISPR Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin took an important step toward safer gene-editing cures for life-threatening disorders, from cancer to HIV to Huntington's disease, by developing a technique that can spot editing mistakes a popular tool known as CRISPR makes to an individual's genome. The research appears today in the journal Cell.
	How soil dwelling bacteria adapt to richer or poorer conditions Scientists have identified a unique mechanism that the soil dwelling bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens uses to effectively exploit nutrients in the root environment.
	New study explores plant adaptations to drought and cold stress Recent advances in technology have allowed scientists to probe the molecular nature of life, analyzing thousands of genes at a time and recognizing patterns of gene interaction. In a recent paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, complexity scientist Samuel Scarpino and co-authors explore gene co-expression networks that have evolved to help plants withstand drought and cold.
	Most modern horses are descendants of recently imported oriental stallions Researchers who have analyzed the Y chromosomes of more than 50 horses representing 21 breeds have found that the paternal lines of nearly all modern horses trace to stallions brought to Europe from the Orient over the last 700 years. The findings reported in Current Biology on June 29 reveal the overwhelming influence of breeding schemes driven by strong selection on males.
	Ancient South Carolina whale yields secrets to filter feeding's origins The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. And yet they feed almost exclusively on tiny crustaceans known as krill. The secret is in the baleen, a complex filter-feeding system that allows the enormous whales to strain huge volumes of saltwater, leaving only krill and other small organisms behind. Now, researchers who have described an extinct relative of baleen whales in Current Biology on June 29 offer new insight into how baleen first evolved.
	Collaboration produces surprising insights into the properties of butterfly wings A collaboration between biologists and materials scientists at the University of Pennsylvania is yielding new insights into the wings of the "skipper butterfly" in the Costa Rican rainforest. What they learn could lead to technological advancements in systems ranging from power-efficient computer displays to sensors to energy efficient buildings, windows and vehicles.
	Variation at a central metabolic gene influences male fruit fly lifespan The overexpression of an important gene that regulates energy metabolism can cause a severe shortening of lifespan in male fruit flies but has only a small negative effect on lifespans of female fruit flies, according to new research from North Carolina State University. The findings, which involve metabolic genes and pathways that are important in humans and other animals, shed more light on sex-specific differences between male and female lifespans.
	Global forest network cracks the case of tropical biodiversity If aliens sent an exploratory mission to Earth, one of the first things they'd notice—after the fluffy white clouds and blue oceans of our water world—would be the way vegetation grades from exuberance at the equator through moderation at mid-latitudes toward monotony at higher ones. We all learn about this biodiversity gradient in school, but why does it exist?
	First pan-European field study shows neonicotinoid pesticides harm honeybees and wild bees Researchers from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) publish results of a large-scale, field-realistic experiment to assess neonicotinoid impacts on honeybees and wild bees across Europe, in the peer-review journal Science on 29 June 2017.
	Genetic 'fossils' reveal long-term viral partnerships in grass Defective viruses incorporated into grass genomes may adapt to form partnerships with other genome-incorporated viruses in order to complete their life cycle, according to a new PLOS Pathogens study. The findings suggest that partner viruses evolve in concert, enabling them to maintain their relationship over time.
	Exposure to neonics results in early death for honeybee workers and queens: study Worker and queen honeybees exposed to field realistic levels of neonicotinoids die sooner, reducing the health of the entire colony, a new study led by York University biologists has found.
	Researchers identify new mechanism for keeping DNA protein in line The actions of a protein used for DNA replication and repair are guided by electrostatic forces known as phosphate steering, a finding that not only reveals key details about a vital process in healthy cells, but provides new directions for cancer treatment research.
	Solving a sweet problem for renewable biofuels and chemicals Whether or not society shakes its addiction to oil and gasoline will depend on a number of profound environmental, geopolitical and societal factors.
	Incremental discovery may one day lead to photosynthetic breakthrough Photosynthesis is one of the most complicated and important processes—responsible for kick-starting Earth's food chain. While we have modeled its more-than-100 major steps, scientists are still discovering the purpose of proteins that can be engineered to increase yield, as scientists recently proved in Science. Now researchers have uncovered secrets about another protein, CP12—the full understanding of which may provide an additional route to boost yields in the future.
	Study links at-risk orcas' failed pregnancies to scarce food Endangered killer whales that frequent the inland waters of Washington state are having pregnancy problems because they cannot find enough fish to eat, according to a new study.
	Scientists work to develop heat-resistant 'cow of the future' University of Florida scientists are working to breed the "cow of the future" by studying the more heat-tolerant Brangus cow—a cross between an Angus and a Brahman.
	Smart detectors set to monitor urban bat life The activity of urban bats in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) in London is being monitored in real time using new, automated smart detectors.
	Study reveals albatross interactions with fishing vessels in the southern ocean An international research team involving the University has tracked the foraging patterns of albatrosses in the southern ocean and found that nearly 80 percent of them follow fishing boats, giving scientists new insight into the risk fishing vessels present to seabirds.
	Take that chocolate milk survey with a grain of salt It's been all over the news lately: a survey by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy suggests that 7 percent of American adults believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
A new ribosomal biogenesis regulation point to treat cancer and 5q- syndrome Researchers at the Catalan Institute of Oncology have discovered a new role for free 40S ribosomes as guardians of genetic information required to synthesize themselves. This mechanism, which relies on a complex of free 40S ribosomes and the RNA binding protein LARP1, is independent from the 40S ribosomes role in protein synthesis, which can be potentially targeted as a cancer therapy. Moreover, together with researchers at the IDIBAPS, Barcelona, they also found that the 40S-LARP1 complex may be a potential point of intervention for the treatment of 5q- syndrome, a rare sporadic genetic disease, which they demonstrate is causally linked to the loss of LARP1 and free 40S ribosomes
	Bumble bees make a beeline for larger flowers Bumble bees create foraging routes by using their experience to select nectar-rich, high-rewarding flowers. A study by Shohei Tsujimoto and Hiroshi Ishii of the University of Toyama in Japan now suggests that bees actually forage more efficiently when flower sizes are large rather than small. This indicates that for these insect pollinators foraging quickly is more efficient than foraging accurately. The research is published in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology and uses a laboratory-based experiment to investigate how aspects of associative learning influence how bumble bees find food among different-sized flowers.
	More milkweeds located throughout the landscape can help conserve monarchs Adding milkweeds and other native flowering plants into midwestern agricultural lands is key to restoring monarch butterflies, with milkweed sowers from all sectors of society being critically needed for success.
	Future-proofing 'big data' biological research depends on good digital identifiers "Big data" research runs the risk of being undermined by the poor design of the digital identifiers that tag data. A group of worldwide researchers, led by Julie McMurry, at Oregon Health & Science University, has assembled a set of pragmatic guidelines to create, reference and maintain web-based identifiers to improve reproducibility, attribution, and scientific discovery. The guidance, publishing June 29 in the open access journal PLOS Biology helps address the frequent problems associated with persistent identifiers linked to scientific data.
	Whale-watching comes under scrutiny at South Africa meeting Whale-watching is a growing tourist business in many parts of the world, and delegates to an international whale conference in South Africa say guidelines to protect the animals are increasingly needed.
	Live-pig markets and traders could provide insight to controlling African swine fever Understanding how live pigs are traded between villages and backyard farmers can help health agencies better understand how devastating swine diseases spread, according to a study published recently in the journal PLOS ONE.
	Wildlife of northern Central African Republic in danger The first aerial assessment of the impact of Central African Republic's recent conflict on wildlife and other natural resources in the northern part of the country shows that wildlife populations have been depleted in large areas of their former range, yet there is hope as some populations of Kordofan giraffe, giant eland, buffalo, roan, and other key species that still survive in low numbers. No elephants or signs of elephant were observed during the survey. Commercial poaching and wildlife trafficking, committed by heavily armed groups moving across borders as well as local actors, has greatly impacted the area. Significant pressures from transboundary pastoralism and local mining were documented. The vast magnificent savanna, forests, wooded savannas, and deep rivers habitats remain largely intact with potential for recovery of wildlife populations if urgent and robust conservation security measures are taken in this strategic area, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), ECOFAUNE+/AGRECO, and the Ministry of Environment of Central African Republic said in a report issued today.
Endangered Hawaiian monk seal gives birth on remote beach A Hawaiian monk seal conservation volunteer has captured rare video of one of the animals giving birth.

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