Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jun 20

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 20, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Neuron transistor behaves like a brain neuron

Rare extreme helium star identified by astronomers

Gene mutation linked to psychosis in Icelandic family

Vaccine that lowers cholesterol offers hope of immunizing against cardiovascular disease

Familiar faces look happier than unfamiliar ones

Selfish gene acts as both poison and antidote to eliminate competition

Researchers find new vehicle emissions to be deceptively clean

Wet and stormy weather lashed California coast... 8,200 years ago

Patent talk: A system to guide price-touring shopper back to base

Molecular 'samurai sword' controls plant growth

Bacteria from hot springs solve mystery of metabolism

Breakthrough in algae biofuel research reported

Soliton molecules caused to vibrate like real molecules

Magnetic space tug could target dead satellites

New laser technique identifies the makeup of space debris, from painted shards to Teflon

Astronomy & Space news

	Rare extreme helium star identified by astronomers (Phys.org)—Astronomers have identified another rare example of an extreme helium star. The star, designated GALEX J184559.8−413827 (or J1845−4138 for short), was initially classified as a faint helium-rich "hot subdwarf," but new spectroscopic observations reveal that this star is more hydrogen-deficient than previously thought. The finding is available in a paper published June 11 on arXiv.org.
	Magnetic space tug could target dead satellites Derelict satellites could in future be grappled and removed from key orbits around Earth with a space tug using magnetic forces.
	Changing how solar power rolls Traditional solar panels used to power satellites can be bulky with heavy panels folded together using mechanical hinges. An experiment that recently arrived at the International Space Station will test a new solar array design that rolls up to form a compact cylinder for launch with significantly less mass and volume, potentially offering substantial cost savings as well as an increase in power for satellites.
	Star's birth may have triggered another star birth, astronomers say Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) have found new evidence suggesting that a jet of fast-moving material ejected from one young star may have triggered the formation of another, younger protostar.
	Training for space missions underwater How do you prepare for space missions on Earth? One way is to simulate an expedition into space underwater. Yesterday, six aquanauts dived almost 20 m to the sea floor where they will spend 10 days living and working below the waves.
	NASA releases Kepler Survey Catalog with hundreds of new planet candidates NASA's Kepler space telescope team has released a mission catalog of planet candidates that introduces 219 new planet candidates, 10 of which are near-Earth size and orbiting in their star's habitable zone, which is the range of distance from a star where liquid water could pool on the surface of a rocky planet.
	Space gardening Roman Statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero said, "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."
	A unique data center for cosmological simulations Scientists from the Excellence Cluster Universe at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich have established 'Cosmowebportal', a unique data center for cosmological simulations located at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. The complete results of a series of large hydrodynamical cosmological simulations are available, with data volumes typically exceeding several hundred terabytes. Scientists worldwide can interactively explore these complex simulations via a web interface and directly access the results.
	ESA boss urges action on 'ticking timebombs' in Earth orbit A European Space Agency director urged nations Tuesday to unlock concealed data on the whereabouts of hundreds of thousands of pieces of space junk, or "ticking time bombs" threatening spacecraft in Earth orbit.
	Scientists warn of asteroid danger A leading astrophysicist from Queen's University Belfast has warned that an asteroid strike is just a matter of time.

Technology news

	Patent talk: A system to guide price-touring shopper back to base (Tech Xplore)—As if Amazon did not garner enough of the recent headlines with its $13.7 bill move to rope in Whole Foods, there is now a patent headline to digest. With the patent news, the drums are getting louder to signal the rise (and continued rise, and continued rise) of Amazon in the retail space.
	Return to the fold for super-strong structures Lightweight structural panels that can stop bullets or withstand bombs are the goal of a team of researchers working at Swinburne.
	Michelin takes wraps off connected tire concept, 3-D printing, bio-sourced materials in the mix (Tech Xplore)—Michelin has let the world know of its concept tire and it does raise the idea of tires to a higher level.
	Watching cities grow—New algorithms for evaluating satellite data Three million measurement points in one square kilometer: Prof. Xiaoxiang Zhu and her team have set a world record in information retrieval from satellite data. Thanks to new algorithms, the researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) succeeded in making four-dimensional point clouds of Berlin, Las Vegas, Paris and Washington, D.C. from images stacks of the TerraSAR-X radar satellite. Next the scientists plan to create four-dimensional models of all cities in the world.
	Google's search engine aims to become employment engine Google is trying to turn its search engine into an employment engine.
	How to grow a structure using 'mushroom sausages' A Brunel University London student has been exploring how mushrooms can be used to grow robust zero-waste structures as an alternative to conventional building techniques.
	Focus on pickup trucks, not Priuses, to reduce gasoline use, emissions Larger trucks and SUVs with powerful, high-displacement engines are the low-hanging fruit for any policymaker seeking the most efficient path to reducing gasoline use and the associated emissions, according to an issue brief by an expert in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
	Engineers transform food waste into green energy In a classic tale of turning trash into treasure, two different processes soon may be the favored dynamic duo to turn food waste into green energy, according to a new Cornell-led study in the journal Bioresource Technology.
	Research uses social media to learn what people really need in time of crisis Painstaking analysis of nearly 70,000 tweets sent out by evacuees escaping the Fort McMurray wildfire shows key concerns in a crisis aren't being answered by current smartphone emergency apps, leaving citizens in the dark at a time of mass panic.
	Solar heating could cover more than 80 percent of domestic heating requirements in Nordic countries According to researchers at Aalto University, by using suitable systems, more than 80 percent of heating energy for Finnish households could be produced using solar energy. As the price of heating energy obtained from solar heating systems needed to be competitive with the currently used heating alternatives, calculations made by researchers showed that renewable energy could be used to cover 53 to 81 percent of annual domestic heating energy consumption depending on the technical implementation method.
	Price hikes in Ether and Bitcoin aren't the signs of a bubble When there is a rapid growth in any of the crypto-currencies and assets such as Bitcoin, Ether, Zcash and others, many will call it out as a bubble. Indeed, on a relatively short time scale it clearly looks like a bubble.
	Amazon aiming to be the dressing room in your house Amazon is hoping to claim more territory once held by department stores, essentially placing a dressing room in your house.
	China shames jaywalkers through facial recognition Chinese cities are cracking down on jaywalkers by installing facial recognition kits at intersections to identify and shame them by posting their photo on public screens, state media said Tuesday.
Delta adds facial recognition kiosks at Twin Cities airport Delta Air Lines says it is the first U.S. airline to use facial recognition technology to speed the process of checking baggage.
	Apple seeks to void patent claims, fees in Qualcomm dispute Apple is seeking to void some of Qualcomm's patent claims and licensing agreements, intensifying its legal battle with the chip maker over the technology in iPhones and iPads.
Vice Media to push global expansion with new funds Vice Media's latest capital infusion of $450 million will help accelerate its global expansion to some 80 markets by next year for the youth-focused media group.
	Uber allows riders to tip drivers via app, matching Lyft Uber is enabling passengers to tip its U.S. drivers with a tap on its ride-hailing app for the first time, part of a push to recast itself as a company with a conscience and a heart.
	Amazon.com once sold only books; now the retail giant markets everything When Jeff Bezos first launched Amazon.com in 1994, he gave himself a 30 percent chance of success - slightly better than the 1 in 10 odds for internet startups.
When customers forget their passwords, business suffers A lot of money goes unspent in the online world for a simple reason: Shoppers can't remember their passwords.
	Ship autopilot steers during evasive manoeuvres and docking VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is developing safe steering for the remote-monitored and controlled autonomous ships of the future. The new technology has been developed for navigation systems and ship autopilots, which steer ships automatically.
Opinion: Trump's attack on renewable energy Fossil fuels have long been subsidized by tax policies, such as the oil depletion allowance, and by infrastructure construction, such as the interstate highway system. In light of these long-standing subsidies, it's always a little ironic when fossil fuel industry advocates complain about tax expenditures and other subsidies promoting the renewable energy business. In my view, in their time, all of these subsidies played a positive role in the nation's economic development. The Tennessee Valley Authority and other New Deal programs subsidized rural electrification and brought the modern energy economy to a part of the country that the free market in energy might never have developed. No one seems to argue for the free market when they receive a subsidy, but if a competitor gets an incentive, suddenly the government is dominated by socialists determined to "pick winners."
	We need to be cautious when assuming CCTV will prevent family violence This year's Victorian state budget included a A$1.9 billion package to tackle family violence. Part of this was a statewide Personal Safety Initiative, which expands a trial of installing technology – such as CCTV, personal alarms and security doors – in the homes of at-risk women.

Medicine & Health news

	Gene mutation linked to psychosis in Icelandic family (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from Iceland, Finland and Germany has found evidence of a gene mutation in a large family in Iceland that explains why so many of them suffer from psychosis. In their paper published in the journal Nature Genetics, the team outlines the process they used to find the mutated gene, how they used their findings to study cases in other families, and the ways their findings might impact research on psychiatric disorders going forward.
	Vaccine that lowers cholesterol offers hope of immunizing against cardiovascular disease A vaccine to immunise people against high levels of cholesterol and the narrowing of the arteries caused by build-up of fatty material (atherosclerosis) may be possible following successful results in mice. Now, a phase I trial in patients has started to see if the findings translate to humans.
	Familiar faces look happier than unfamiliar ones People tend to perceive faces they are familiar with as looking happier than unfamiliar faces, even when the faces objectively express the same emotion to the same degree, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	Human tissue model developed to test colon cancer drugs The first-ever "disease in a Petri dish" platform that models human colon cancer derived from stem cells has been developed by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators, allowing them to identify a targeted drug treatment for a common, inherited form of the disease. The discovery also overcomes a long-standing challenge of using mice to research this form of cancer, as they do not typically develop the disease.
	Green mamba peptide found to reduce symptoms of kidney disease in mice (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from France, Germany and Belgium has found that giving a peptide found in green mamba venom to mice with a kidney disease led to reduced symptoms. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how test mice with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) saw reduced symptoms when given the peptide.
	Plant reveals anti-Alzheimer's compounds Japanese scientists have developed a method to isolate and identify active compounds in plant medicines, which accurately accounts for drug behavior in the body. Using the technique, they have identified several active compounds from Drynaria Rhizome, a traditional plant medicine, which improve memory and reduce disease characteristics in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
	Blocking yeast-bacteria interaction may prevent severe biofilms that cause childhood tooth decay Though most tooth decay can be blamed on bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, the fungus Candida albicans may be a joint culprit in an alarmingly common form of severe tooth decay affecting toddlers known as early childhood caries.
	Studies link nutrient, academic achievement in pre-adolescent children Researchers can look into your eyes to determine whether you're getting your lutein, a pigment found in green leafy vegetables that is known to accumulate in the brain. Two new studies find that children with higher lutein levels in the eye tend to do better than others on tests of cognition and academic achievement, even after accounting for other factors known to influence academic performance such as IQ, gender, body composition and physical fitness.
	Bacterial superantigens turn our immune cells to the dark side A subpopulation of immune cells that normally fend off pathogens can turn against the host during certain infections, a new study publishing on June 20 in the open access journal PLOS Biology reveals.
	Long-term memories made with meaningful information When trying to memorize information, it is better to relate it to something meaningful rather than repeat it again and again to make it stick, according to a recent Baycrest Health Sciences study published in NeuroImage.
	Thousands of genes influence most diseases, researchers report A core assumption in the study of disease-causing genes has been that they are clustered in molecular pathways directly connected to the disease. But work by a group of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine suggests otherwise.
	Older people who feel close to God have well-being that grows with frequent prayer As people grow older, those who are securely attached to God are more likely to have a sense of well-being—and the more frequently they pray, the greater that feeling, according to a Baylor University study. But those who feel more distant from God do not receive the same benefit.
	How six cups of ground coffee can improve nose, throat surgery Imagine plopping six cups of coffee grounds on the heads of patients just before they are wheeled into the operating room to have nose or throat surgery?
Researchers unravel mechanism behind bowel paralysis after surgery In the days following abdominal surgery, patients' intestinal contents pass more slowly or not at all. New research at KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium, has now shown that this phenomenon—known as post-operative ileus or bowel paralysis—is not caused by the cells previously identified as the main players. Quite the opposite, in fact: the cells even help restore bowel function. The findings are very important for further research into post-operative patient treatment.
Positive engagement in preschool key to developmental gains Many interventions and programs designed to improve low-income children's lives focus on providing high-quality early-childhood education. Preschool classrooms that are emotionally supportive, well-organized, and cognitively stimulating can help boost children's learning and development. Yet for the most part, focusing on the quality of early-childhood education has emphasized teachers, often missing the central role that children play in their own development. A new study has found that children's individual engagement with teachers, peers, and tasks was important to the gains they made during the preschool year, even after taking into account differences in classroom quality.
	Boyhood violence victims are more likely to commit similar acts on intimate partners According to new research, 60 percent of college-aged men reported being both victims and perpetrators of violence with an intimate partner in the year before their participation in the study.
Avoid meat, eggs and lust, pregnant Indians told Pregnant women in India are being advised to stay away from meat, eggs and lust—drawing derision from health experts who slammed the tips Tuesday as completely unscientific.
	Closing in on a universal flu vaccine Unreliable yearly flu jabs could be a thing of the past as researchers close in on technology that will take down the deadly virus once and for all.
	Parents who want their children to be kind are the most successful in passing on all of their values Research published in the British Journal of Psychology has found that parents who want their children to have prosocial values are the most successful in instilling all their values in their children compared to those who promote selfishness.
	Exhausted immune cells linked to irritable bowel syndrome Adelaide researchers have for the first time discovered that a specific type of irritable bowel syndrome is associated with exhaustion of the immune system in patients.
	Study details impact of antibiotics, antiseptics on skin microbiomes The use of topical antibiotics can dramatically alter communities of bacteria that live on the skin, while the use of antiseptics has a much smaller, less durable impact. The study, conducted in mice in the laboratory of Elizabeth Grice, PhD, an assistant professor of Dermatology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, is the first to show the long-term effects of antimicrobial drugs on the skin microbiome. Researchers published their findings today in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
	Study shows embarrassment, shame are better deterrents to college problem drinking than fear of formal punishment The prospect of feeling embarrassment and shame in front of one's peers—especially among women—rather than the threat of facing potential formal punishment appears to be the most effective deterrent to problem drinking at universities, according to a study led by a University of Kansas researcher.
Updated guidance urgently needed for antipsychotic drug clozapine Drug-safety regulators and manufacturers need to take urgent action over serious adverse effects of the valuable antipsychotic drug clozapine, a new study shows.
	Sedative combats virus that can cause birth defects A common sedative may help combat common viral infections that can cause birth defects in developing babies, Yale researchers report June 19 in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Paying for the price of convenience Meals prepared at home are cheaper than popular takeaway meals, and most remained cheaper even when accounting for the cost of preparation time. This is the surprising finding of a University of Auckland study which compared the cost of six popular takeaway meals with similar meals prepared at home, either cooked from scratch or using pre-prepared items.
	Why did humans evolve such large brains? Because smarter people have more friends Humans are the only ultrasocial creature on the planet. We have outcompeted, interbred or even killed off all other hominin species. We cohabit in cities of tens of millions of people and, despite what the media tell us, violence between individuals is extremely rare. This is because we have an extremely large, flexible and complex "social brain".
Gene for axon degeneration identified through international gene matching A research group from the University of Helsinki, Finland, has identified a new disease gene for early-onset axonal neuropathy and mild intellectual disability through an international research network.
	What we know, don't know and suspect about what causes motor neuron disease Since 2014, the ice bucket challenge, which involves people pouring a bucket of icy water over their heads, has raised awareness and much-needed research funds for motor neuron disease. While research for a cure is underway, first we need to know what causes it.
American workers unprepared for workplace cardiac emergencies, surveys find Most U.S. employees are not prepared to handle cardiac emergencies in the workplace because they lack training in CPR and first aid, according to new survey results from the American Heart Association, the world's leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease.
	Do wisdom teeth have to be removed? Should you have a wisdom tooth removed if it is not causing you any pain? Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Hossein Ghaeminia of Radboud university medical center researched the risk of complications when removing these teeth. He summarized his conclusions in a pamphlet, which can be used to better evaluate the risks for each patient. On June 23, Ghaeminia will receive his PhD for his research into problem-free wisdom teeth.
Infections in early life associated with increased risk for celiac disease Infections during infancy are associated with increased risk for gluten intolerance (celiac disease) later on. Apparently the risk is particularly high in the case of repeated gastrointestinal infections in the first year of life. This conclusion was drawn by scientists of the Institute for Diabetes Research at Helmholtz Zentrum München, a partner in the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), after analyzing data provided by the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. Results from this study have now been published in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
	Genetic modifier for Huntington's disease progression identified A team led by UCL and Cardiff University researchers has developed a novel measure of disease progression for Huntington's disease, which enabled them to identify a genetic modifier associated with how rapidly the disease progresses.
Pacemakers and other cardiac devices can help solve forensic cases Pacemakers and other cardiac devices can help solve forensic cases, according to a study presented today at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2017.1 Devices revealed the time and cause of death in some cases where autopsy failed to do so.
Buyer beware: Antimicrobial products can do more harm than good Are you buying antimicrobial or antibacterial soaps? According to over 200 scientists and medical professionals, you may want to save your money. A consensus statement published today in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives concludes that common antimicrobial products do not provide health benefits and cause health and environmental harm. The statement also calls for greater caution in using antimicrobial chemicals in everyday products.
New study advances understanding on the treatment of pediatric feeding disorders A new study suggests the existing drug D-cycloserine may enhance recovery for children during treatment for pediatric feeding disorders, by changing their brain's reaction to food. The results are reported in the June 20, 2017, online edition of Translational Psychiatry, from researchers at the Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine and Yerkes National Primate Research Center.
Tennis cheats may be predicted by their moral standards When top athletes cheat it makes headline news. Retaliating badly to a foul, faking an injury, or deliberately harming an opponent can all result in a loss of credibility and respect. In some cases, it can lead to a loss of sponsorship and even long-term disqualification.
Gene variant protecting against Alzheimer's disease decreases plasma beta-amyloid levels New research from the University of Eastern Finland shows that the APP gene variant protecting against Alzheimer's disease significantly decreases plasma beta-amyloid levels in a population cohort. This is a very significant discovery, as many on-going drug trials in the field of Alzheimer's disease focus on decreasing beta-amyloid levels in the brain tissue. According to the study, a 30% life-long decrease in beta-amyloid levels is not associated with detrimental effects on lipid or glucose metabolism, or on any other metabolic factors.
	Older dads have 'geekier' sons New King's College London research suggests that sons of older fathers are more intelligent, more focused on their interests and less concerned about fitting in, all characteristics typically seen in 'geeks'.
	New findings reverse hypothesis of GABA neurodevelopment in schizophrenia New research by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh provides an unprecedented level of resolution and insight into disturbances in cortical GABAergic microcircuits, which are thought to underlie cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Published in Biological Psychiatry, the study led by Dr. Kenneth Fish reveals new detailed understanding about alterations in neurocircuitry that point to abnormal neurodevelopment in the disorder.
	How a girl is raised can influence her adult sporting success The ability to produce peak performance plays a decisive role in the success of athletes in competitive sport. A desire to be the best is one of the most important traits in a top athlete, but where does this desire come from - are we born with it or is it a learned characteristic?
	Losing train of thought or it's hard to multi-task? You may be having one drink too many Impairments in processing and using information that help with decision-making and planning simple tasks such as grocery shopping are linked with one's frequency of alcohol or drug use according to a new study. Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Medical Center found that cognitive impairments are not a problem limited to addiction patients in treatment, but constitute a broader problem among substance users in the U.S. general population. Results are published online in the journal Addiction.
	Modeling Gulf War illness: Knowing the cause of brain dysfunction is key to finding a cure When hundreds of thousands of American troops deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991 in what is now called the First Gulf War, they were exposed to a variety of chemicals. These chemicals—especially when coupled with war-related stress—seem to still be affecting nearly 200,000 Gulf War veterans—or 25 to 32 percent of those who served—more than 25 years later, and the constellation of resulting symptoms has been termed Gulf War illness (GWI). This condition is characterized by central nervous system impairments—including cognitive and memory problems, mood dysfunction, sleep disorders and chronic fatigue—and systemic symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems and hypersensitive skin.
New report looks at integrating frailty research into care as we age Though it is one of the most frequently used health indicators as more and more of us age, frailty—the medical term for increased vulnerability to declines in health or a loss of independence—remains under-studied and under-utilized, so say researchers reporting on a prestigious conference hosted by the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with support from the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) and The John A. Hartford Foundation. Conference findings, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, are poised to advance not only a consensus definition for frailty but also our understanding of its biology, assessment, and role in improving care across several specialties, from cardiology and geriatrics to behavioral and social sciences.
Family history and location of genetic fault affect risk for carriers of cancer genes A large scale study of women carrying faults in important cancer genes should enable doctors to provide better advice and counselling for treatments and lifestyle changes aimed at reducing this risk.
	Increase in use of high-dose vitamin D supplements From 1999 through 2014 the number of U.S. adults taking daily vitamin D supplements above the recommended levels increased, and 3 percent of the population exceeded the daily upper limit considered to possibly pose a risk of adverse effects, according to a study published by JAMA.
Screening for obesity in children and adolescents recommended The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that clinicians screen for obesity in children and adolescents 6 years and older and offer or refer them to comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions to promote improvements in weight. The report appears in the June 20 issue of JAMA.
Applying continuous airway pressure improves respiratory and survival rates in children A study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and the Mailman School of Public Health found that applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a form of non-invasive ventilation, decreased mortality in children with respiratory distress. Findings from the trial in Ghana indicated that the procedure especially benefitted children less than one year of age. Results of the study are published online in The Lancet Global Health.
Internet-based weight-loss program for low-income women after child birth An internet-based weight loss program was effective in promoting significant weight loss in low-income postpartum women over 12 months, according to a study published by JAMA.
	African plant extract offers new hope for Alzheimer's A plant extract used for centuries in traditional medicine in Nigeria could form the basis of a new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease, researchers at The University of Nottingham have found.
	Americans want to be fit, but most don't put in the effort (HealthDay)—Most Americans want to be in better shape, but few are putting in the work to get there, a new survey shows.
	Breaking bad (eating habits) (HealthDay)—Breaking bad eating habits and starting good ones is one of the healthiest steps you can take.
	PCSK9 increased in females, youth with type 1 diabetes (HealthDay)—Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is increased in young females and youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), according to research published online June 6 in Diabetes Care.
	VKA monotherapy linked to reduced MI, stroke risk in A-fib (HealthDay)—For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), vitamin K antagonist (VKA) monotherapy is associated with reduced risk of first-time myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke compared with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) monotherapy, according to a study published in the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Depression inversely linked to body composition in teens (HealthDay)—There is an inverse correlation for major depressive disorder (MDD) severity with measures of body composition among older adolescents, while a positive association is seen for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), according to a study published online June 16 in Pediatrics.
	18 percent increase projected in primary care demand by 2023 (HealthDay)—The demand for primary care physicians is projected to increase 18.0 percent between 2013 and 2023, according to a May report published by the Congressional Budget Office.
	Older age needn't be a barrier to herniated disc surgery (HealthDay)—People over age 65 shouldn't avoid surgery for a herniated disc just because of their age, as they can benefit from the procedure as much as younger patients, according to a research letter published recently in JAMA Surgery.
	Chronic Lyme disease treatments tied to serious adverse effects (HealthDay)—Serious bacterial infections have been documented during treatment for chronic Lyme disease, according to research published in the June 16 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Hydrotherapy plus conventional drugs beneficial in RA (HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hydrotherapy in addition to conventional drugs is associated with improved antioxidant status, according to a study published online June 14 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Month of BID pimecrolimus best in facial seborrheic dermatitis (HealthDay)—Pimecrolimus 1 percent cream applied twice a day for four weeks seems to be the best regimen for patients with facial seborrheic dermatitis, according to a study published online June 7 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Novel biomarkers identified for prostate cancer in non-blacks (HealthDay)—Novel biomarkers have been identified that may have utility for predicting prostate cancer in non-African-American men, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of Urology.
Communication between nervous and immune systems detailed Sangeeta S. Chavan, PhD, Valentin A. Pavlov, PhD, and Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, have completed a detailed analysis of how the nervous and immune systems communicate with each other, which will help to develop novel medications and bioelectronic medicine devices to treat disease and injury. The analysis is published today in Immunity.
	Team tests best delivery mode for potential HIV vaccine For decades, HIV has successfully evaded all efforts to create an effective vaccine but researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LJI) are steadily inching closer. Their latest study, published in the current issue of Immunity, demonstrates that optimizing the mode and timing of vaccine delivery is crucial to inducing a protective immune response in a preclinical model.
First randomized controlled trial of DBS for chronic pain shows promise Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral striatum/anterior limb of the internal capsule is safe and feasible in addressing the affective component of pain in patients with post-stroke pain syndrome.
	UAlberta program found to lessen depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts in youth A University of Alberta pilot program designed to promote mental health skills in youth significantly lessened cases of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
	People who go to bed late have less control over OCD symptoms A late bedtime is associated with lower perceived control of obsessive thoughts, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	Predicting cognitive deficits in people with Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD) is commonly thought of as a movement disorder, but after years of living with PD approximately twenty five percent of patients also experience deficits in cognition that impair function. A newly developed research tool may help predict a patient's risk for developing dementia and could enable clinical trials aimed at finding treatments to prevent the cognitive effects of the disease. The research was published in Lancet Neurology and was partially funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Minimally invasive autopsy can identify causes of Mozambique newborn and childhood deaths Minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) can identify cause of death in pediatric, perinatal and neonatal deaths in Mozambique with significant precision and accuracy compared with complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA), according to two studies published by Clara Menéndez, Quique Bassat and colleagues from ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain, in PLOS Medicine.
	Depressed patients more likely to be prescribed opioids A new study shows that patients with low back pain who were depressed were more likely to be prescribed opioids and receive higher doses. Understanding these prescribing patterns sheds new light on the current opioid epidemic and may help determine whether efforts to control prescription opioid abuse are effective.
	Researchers say they've unlocked key to cancer metastasis and how to slow it Hasini Jayatilaka was a sophomore at the Johns Hopkins University working in a lab studying cancer cells when she noticed that when the cells become too densely packed, some would break off and start spreading.
	Shared decision-making is cornerstone of multiple sclerosis treatment One of the cornerstones of multiple sclerosis treatment is shared decision-making between patients and their doctors and nurses, according to a report in the journal Practical Neurology.
Post-ICU glucose management may improve outcomes in critical patients Monitoring and maintaining glucose levels of critically ill patients after admission from ICU through general care and discharge from the hospital may have positive impact on outcomes, according to findings published in the July 7, 2017 issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
	Researchers call for paradigm shift in type 2 diabetes treatment Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and exacerbated by type 2 diabetes, yet diabetes treatment regimens tend to focus primarily on blood sugar maintenance. This common approach to type 2 diabetes management can leave patients at risk for heart attack and stroke. But results from four recent randomized clinical trials suggest that using medications that offer glucose control while reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease could improve patient outcomes.
	Radiologists seek greater involvement in patient care Despite constraints of time and workload, radiologists are looking for ways to become more directly involved in the care of their patients, according to the findings of a recent survey of radiologists, published online in the journal Radiology.
Indian girl with rare condition dies suddenly An Indian girl who made international headlines when a rare condition caused her head to swell to more than twice the normal size has died, days before she was to undergo corrective surgery.
New guideline aims to reduce infections in total hip and knee replacement patients According to a new guideline released by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), the risk of joint infection resulting from total hip and knee replacements can be reduced with careful management of anti-rheumatic medications during the perioperative process. The guideline represents the first time rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons have collaborated to develop recommendations.
Is more digital support needed for young cancer patients? There is considerable scope to develop digital resources by means of which teenagers and young adults living with cancer can receive information and connect with both professionals and fellow patients. Such tools could help them gain different perspectives on treatment and survivorship, says Esha Abrol of the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and University College London in the UK, lead author of a study in Springer's Journal of Cancer Survivorship. The study presents the findings of a survey about the digital media use and needs of 102 cancer patients of the University College London Hospitals aged between 13 and 24 years old.
NAMS 2017 position statement updates guidelines for hormone therapy use A new position statement on the use of hormone therapy (HT) for menopausal and postmenopausal women from The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) has been published online today in the Society's journal, Menopause. "The use of hormone therapy continues to be one of the most controversial and debated topics," says Dr. JoAnn V. Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. "The goal of this updated version of the Society's position statement is to provide excellent, evidence-based, current clinical recommendations to menopause practitioners for the improvement of care for women depending on them to help relieve menopause symptoms." The statement also reviews the effects of HT on various health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, at different stages of a woman's life.
Polio paralyses 17 children in Syria: WHO A polio outbreak in war-ravaged Syria has paralysed at least 17 children since March, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, describing the situation as "very serious".
Yemen cholera death toll passes 1,100: WHO Cholera has killed 1,170 people in war-ravaged Yemen and the number of suspected cases is now at nearly 2,000 a day, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
	Scientists 'closing the gap' on malaria in India The National Institutes of Health has renewed a major grant that funds a University of Washington-led research center to understand malaria in India.
	They're back! Numbers of ticks are high across New England Tick numbers are on the rise across New England, raising the prospect of an increase in Lyme and other diseases associated with the blood suckers.
Task Force presents new ranking of colorectal cancer screening tests In its latest recommendations, the US Multi-Society Task Force (MSTF) on Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening confirms that people at average risk should be screened beginning at age 50, and recommends colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) as the "first tier" screening tests for this group. Screening continues to be a first line of defense against CRC, as it can detect pre-cancerous growths as well as cancer, which is highly treatable if caught early.
High Court ruling may hurt claims of talc link to cancer A Supreme Court ruling this week could have a "chilling effect" on the many lawsuits filed in St. Louis claiming talcum powder causes a deadly form of cancer in women, including cases under appeal in which stricken women and their survivors have been awarded more than $300 million, experts said Tuesday.

Biology news

	Selfish gene acts as both poison and antidote to eliminate competition Researchers from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center researchers have identified an unprecedented genetic survival strategy that would be right at home in an Agatha Christie murder mystery novel.
	Molecular 'samurai sword' controls plant growth Researchers from AMOLF and Wageningen University & Research have used a smart simulation program to study a plant protein called katanin and published their findings in the journal PNAS.
	Breakthrough in algae biofuel research reported ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics Inc. today announced a breakthrough in joint research into advanced biofuels involving the modification of an algae strain that more than doubled its oil content without significantly inhibiting the strain's growth.
	How the optics of soap bubbles may help us understand the mechanics of immune cells and cancer Scientists at the University of St Andrews have developed an advanced new microscopy technique that could revolutionise our understanding of how immune and cancer cells find their way through the body.
	New evidence animal behaviour regulated by interaction of tidal and circadian clocks A slater-like crustacean that lives in the sand on Auckland's Piha beach has provided new evidence that animals have biological clocks influenced by the tide as well as the more familiar circadian clock that follows the day/night cycle and which regulates human behaviour.
	Building a biological control switch with light, genetics, and engineering ingenuity A user-friendly switch for controlling room temperature, the thermostat is a classic example of the kind of tools engineers build.
	Chimps' cultural traditions extend beyond family Chimpanzees adapt their behaviour to match the group, just as humans do, according to new research led by the University of St Andrews.
	Mussels and sponges in the deep sea can thrive on oil with the help of symbiont bacteria At asphalt volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico that spew oil, gas and tar, mussels and sponges live in symbiosis with bacteria providing them with food. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology and colleagues from the USA have now discovered deep-sea animals living in symbiosis with bacteria that use oil as an energy source and appear to thrive on short-chained alkanes in the oil. According to the researchers, bacteria closely related to the symbionts, which bloomed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, used this ability to degrade the oil in the sea.
	Is it sometimes OK to cheat? Wasps that do not pollinate figs may flourish when they go unpunished When both partners benefit from a relationship—be they husband and wife or pollinator and flower—the relationship is known as a mutualism. But sometimes partners do not deliver their side of the bargain while still reaping the rewards. Research done at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama published in Ecology Letters found that unless unfaithful partners are severely punished by the other member of the relationship cheaters may become more common.
Finding the perfect match: A new approach to battle drug-resistant bacteria Antibiotics were the wonder drug of the 20th century, but persistent use and over-prescription have opened the door that has allowed bacteria to evolve resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than two million people in the United States develop bacterial infections that are resistant to multiple antibiotics every year.
	Spectrin proteins spring into action to restore nucleus When you lift weights, carry heavy boxes, or engage in physical activity, the cells in your body stretch and deform to accommodate your movements. But how do your cells recover, or return to their original state, once you set down the weights, unpack those heavy boxes, or complete your workout?
	If it smells like a petunia or shampoo, it might be a pesticide You probably know methyl benzoate when you smell it. The natural compound's wintergreen-spicy, floral-fruity aromas make it a popular ingredient in perfumes, soaps, and shampoos.
	Protecting resources from oxygen damage Vital to life on this planet, oxygen has a sinister and ravenous side that harms plants and biofuel production. That's why the Department of Energy's Office of Science supports research to tame oxygen's dark side.
	Lemur research gets a gut check "Stool sample collector" is not a glamorous way to introduce oneself at a party. But in the course of their research, gut microbiologists Erin McKenney and Lydia Greene have spent a lot of time waiting for animals to relieve themselves.
	Unlock molecular secrets with mobile game BioBlox2-D BioBlox2D is a new free mobile computer game inspired by tackling one of the hardest problems in biological science - how molecules fit together.
	City rats: Why scientists are not hot on their tails Researchers argue they need greater access to urban properties if they are to win the war against rats.
	Fighting a destructive crop disease with mathematics An international team of researchers has used mathematical modelling to understand new ways of combating maize lethal necrosis, an emerging disease that poses a serious threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
Board game helps Mexican coffee farmers grasp complex ecological interactions A chess-like board game developed by University of Michigan researchers helps small-scale Mexican coffee farmers better understand the complex interactions between the insects and fungi that live on their plants—and how some of those creatures can help provide natural pest control.
	Small variations in breeding pools make for big differences in Yosemite toad use The Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus) is a rare species found exclusively in California's Sierra Nevada. While its range encompasses hundreds of miles, spanning five national forests and two national parks, the livelihood and future survival of this federally threatened species may come down to mere centimeters.
	How dangerous are cattle, and how can you stay safe around them? A well-respected retired academic was recently trampled to death by cattle while walking in Oxford. In 2012, my father was hospitalised after being attacked by cows while walking his dogs through a field next to his village. He picked up his dog and was pushed to the floor and trampled before escaping over a wall.

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