Science X Newsletter Monday, Aug 7

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 7, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Graphene electronic tattoos can be applied to the skin with water

Synthetic Genomics unveils digital-to-biological converter using digital DNA to print biologics

Massive multiple star system found by astronomers

Best of Last Week – Neutrino interactions observed, Voyager spacecraft reach milestone and risks of lean eating

Japanese scientists create ice cream that doesn't melt

DNA from Viking cod bones suggests 1,000-year history of European fish trade

Scientists probe the conditions of stellar interiors to measure nuclear reactions

Understanding how persuasion works can make consumers more savvy

TESS mission to discover new planets moves toward launch

Desert tortoises can't take the heat of roadside fencing

How do birds get their colors?

European heatwave deaths could skyrocket: climate study

Surfers turned off by idea of ad tracking to get browsing option in Karma Black

Air travel: Researchers say factors like plane size and boarding method can have a huge impact on infection rates

Social isolation, loneliness could be greater threat to public health than obesity, researchers say

Astronomy & Space news

	Massive multiple star system found by astronomers A group of astronomers led by Javier Lorenzo of the University of Alicante, Spain, has discovered that the binary star system HD 64315 is more complex than previously thought. The new study reveals that HD 64315 contains at least two binary systems composed of massive stars. The findings appeared online on Aug. 2 in a paper published on arXiv.org.
	TESS mission to discover new planets moves toward launch A NASA mission designed to explore the stars in search of planets outside of our solar system is a step closer to launch, now that its four cameras have been completed by researchers at MIT.
	Magnetic fields in massive star formation cores Studies of molecular clouds have revealed that star formation usually occurs in a two-step process. First, supersonic flows compress the clouds into dense filaments light-years long, after which gravity collapses the densest material in the filament into cores. In this scenario, massive cores (each more than about 20 solar masses) preferentially form at intersections where filaments cross, producing sites of clustered star formation. The process sounds reasonable and is expected to be efficient, but the observed rate of star formation in dense gas is only a few percent of the rate expected if the material really were freely collapsing. To solve the problem, astronomers have proposed that magnetic fields support the cores against the collapse induced by self-gravity.
	An artificial eclipse for imaging extrasolar planets In our hunt for Earth-like planets and extraterrestrial life, we've found thousands of exoplanets orbiting stars other than our sun. The caveat is that most of these planets have been detected using indirect methods. Similar to how a person can't look at anything too close to the sun, current telescopes can't observe potential Earth-like planets because they are too close to the stars they orbit, which are about 10 billion times brighter than the planets that surround them.
	US in rare bull's-eye for total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 It will be tough eclipsing this eclipse.
	What's a total solar eclipse and why this one is so unusual Total solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic. What makes the Aug. 21 eclipse so special is that it will cut diagonally across the entire United States.
	Image: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory watches a sunspot On July 5, 2017, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory watched an active region—an area of intense and complex magnetic fields—rotate into view on the Sun. The satellite continued to track the region as it grew and eventually rotated across the Sun and out of view on July 17.
	NASA develops solar eclipse Braille book On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be in the path of a solar eclipse, which occurs when the sunlight reaching Earth is blocked by the moon.
	New Horizons' next target just got a lot more interesting Could the next flyby target for NASA's New Horizons spacecraft actually be two targets?
	Musk says maiden Falcon Heavy rocket to launch in November, acknowledges high risk Before the year is out, the long awaited debut launch of the triple barreled Falcon Heavy rocket may at last be in sight says SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk, as he forthrightly acknowledges it comes with high risk and released a stunning launch and landing animation earlier today, Aug. 4.
9-year-old wants to be NASA's 'planetary protection officer' A 9-year-old New Jersey boy who described himself as a "Guardian of the Galaxy" is hoping to add the real-life NASA title "Planetary Protection Officer" to his resume.
Astronauts to bring asteroid back into lunar orbit Future space exploration aims to fly further from Earth than ever before. Now, Italian Space Agency scientists have expressed an interest in contributing to the development of robotic technologies to bring an asteroid from beyond lunar orbit back into closer reach in order to better study it. In a paper published in EPJ Plus, Marco Tantardini and Enrico Flamini from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) make the case for taking part in the robotic phase of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). In addition to taking manned spaceflights deeper into space than ever before, the proposed mission would also bring some benefit for planetary science.
	NASA instrument key to understanding solar powered planet arrives at Kennedy Space Center A new instrument that will monitor our planet's biggest power source, the Sun, arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It has a targeted November 2017 launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station. The Total Solar and Spectral Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1) instrument was built by the University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
	NASA tests autopilot sensors during simulations Inside a large, black-walled facility outside Denver, NASA's Satellite Servicing Projects Division (SSPD) team successfully completed the latest testing of three rendezvous and proximity operations sensors used for satellite servicing applicatons and beyond. These sensors are needed for autonomous rendezvous of spacecraft, which is a vital technology for robotically servicing a satellite.
	Sunshield layers fully integrated on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope The five sunshield layers responsible for protecting the optics and instruments of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope are now fully installed.
	New CubeSat propulsion system uses water as propellant A new type of micropropulsion system for miniature satellites called CubeSats uses an innovative design of tiny nozzles that release precise bursts of water vapor to maneuver the spacecraft.
	NASA and Norway to develop Arctic laser-ranging station NASA and the Norwegian Mapping Authority are partnering to develop a state-of-the-art satellite laser ranging station 650 miles from the North Pole that will produce high-precision locations of orbiting satellites, help track changes in the ice sheets and improve the efficiency of marine transportation and agriculture.

Technology news

	Surfers turned off by idea of ad tracking to get browsing option in Karma Black (Tech Xplore)—Advertisers and marketers are hungry to know what consumers want. They believe they can come much closer to attracting consumers to buy products if they can figure out what customer prospects look at on the Internet.
	Feeling the mobility gap, Sunu Band to help blind and visually impaired (Tech Xplore)—Wearables for the blind to improve their spatial awareness and navigation are always of interest and this month the Sunu Band is drawing keen interest among tech watchers for its capabilities.
	Row over Google employee's defense of tech gender gap Google found itself at the center of controversy Sunday after an employee in a leaked internal document claimed "biological causes" explained the lack of women in tech industry leadership roles.
	El Calafate, Argentina, is scene for glider reaching new highs "Altitude record" marks the achievement of one project which is set to nab even new higher numbers, with an added special mission to collect valuable data.
	Hybrid drones carry heavier payloads for greater distances MIT alumnus Long Phan SM '99, PhD '12 is a technology innovator and entrepreneur with several engineering "firsts" under his belt.
	Smash hit 'Despacito' becomes most viewed YouTube video "Despacito"—the racy Spanish-language global smash hit throbbing with sexual innuendo—racked up another record Friday, supplanting "See You Again" as the most watched video on YouTube.
	Judge sets $30K bail for UK researcher in malware case A Las Vegas federal judge set bail of $30,000 on Friday for a celebrated young British cybersecurity researcher accused by U.S. prosecutors of creating and distributing malicious software designed to steal banking passwords.
	China's web users fear losing tools to bypass 'Great Firewall' Enterprising internet users in China fear the tools they use to tunnel through the country's "Great Firewall" may soon disappear, as Beijing tightens its grip on the web.
	Apple's China problem highlights conundrum for tech sector Apple's decision to bow to Chinese officials by removing apps to sidestep online censorship underscores the dilemma faced by US tech companies seeking to uphold principles while expanding their business.
	Cash crisis pushes Libyans to virtual payments When a cash crisis struck the war-torn North African country of Libya, many people were forced to queue for days to withdraw their savings.
	Never too old to code: Meet Japan's 82-year-old app-maker When 82-year-old Masako Wakamiya first began working she still used an abacus for maths—today she is one of the world's oldest iPhone app developers, a trailblazer in making smartphones accessible for the elderly.
	Bioengineers developing better models of the bone, muscles and nerves At this moment, computer-generated skeletons are competing in a virtual race, running, hopping and jumping as far as they can before collapsing in an electronic heap. Meanwhile, in the real world, their coaches – teams of machine learning and artificial intelligence enthusiasts – are competing to see who can best train their skeletons to mimic those complex human movements. Perhaps the coaches are doing it for glory or prizes or fun, but the event's creator has a serious end goal: making life better for kids with cerebral palsy.
	Spectacular images thanks to an efficient algorithm Filming of spectacular action scenes is expensive and the creative possibilities are often limited. An ETH doctoral student has developed an algorithm that allows drones to implement the desired picture compositions independently.
	Reengineering elevators could transform 21st-century cities In the 160 or so years since the first skyscrapers were built, technological innovations of many kinds have allowed us to build them to reach astonishing heights. Today there is a 1,000-meter (167-story) building under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Even taller buildings are possible with today's structural technology.
Poor households are locked out of green energy unless governments help A report released this week by the Australian Council of Social Service has pointed out that many vulnerable households cannot access rooftop solar and efficient appliances, describing the issue as a serious problem.
	Electric car startup Faraday Future signs factory deal Electric car startup Faraday Future said Monday it had signed a lease for a new assembly plant in California and reaffirmed its intention to start deliveries in 2018.
Latest research suggests cybercriminals are not as anonymous as we think Understanding a cybercriminal's backstory - where they live, what they do and who they know, is key to cracking cybercrime, new research suggests.
	SoftBank adding technology ambitions, with ARM, robotics Photo ops of SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son sometimes show him chatting happily with his company's humanoid robot, the childlike Pepper, or grinning as President Donald Trump heaps praise on him for creating American jobs.
Machines just revealed the evolution of language Machine learning scientists at Disney Research have developed a new innovative model that uncovers how the meanings of words change over time.
'Yeah, if you could win spreadsheet title, that'd be great' John Dumoulin has never really set foot in an office. He works part time at Chick-fil-a.
	Green living—encouraging investors to go retro Making our homes greener and more energy efficient is crucial if Europe is to realise its environmental targets and ambitions. But securing financial fuel to retrofit existing properties is tough, with investors often wanting to inject their cash into projects that deliver relatively quick returns
	Tesla raising cash in push to get Model 3 to masses Tesla is raising $1.5 billion as it ramps up production of the Model 3 sedan, its first mass market electric car.
UK plans to strengthen online 'right to be forgotten' Britain plans to strengthen the online "right to be forgotten" with a law making social media companies delete personal information on request.
	Judge: IBM owes Indiana $78M for failed welfare automation IBM owes Indiana $78 million in damages stemming from the company's failed effort to automate much of the state's welfare services, a judge has ruled in a long-running dispute.
	Netflix acquires comic book creator Millarworld Netflix announced Monday it was acquiring comic book publisher Millarworld, creator of popular series including "Kick-Ass" and "Kingsman."
	Google exec denounces employee's views on female workers Silicon Valley's efforts to promote workforce diversity haven't yielded many results—unless you count a backlash at Google, where a male engineer blamed biological differences for the paucity of female programmers.
	UK cyber-researcher still held in Las Vegas in malware case An official says a British cybersecurity researcher remains jailed in Nevada, a day before he's due to face charges in federal court in Milwaukee that he created and distributed malicious software designed to steal banking passwords.

Medicine & Health news

	Understanding how persuasion works can make consumers more savvy When someone offers a free sample, it's not really free. It comes with the implied expectation that if a person accepts it, he or she will feel obligated to return the favor and eventually pay for the full product. That's just one of the many insights psychology has uncovered about the subtle mechanics of persuasion and how people can recognize and respond to attempts to influence their behavior.
	Social isolation, loneliness could be greater threat to public health than obesity, researchers say Loneliness and social isolation may represent a greater public health hazard than obesity, and their impact has been growing and will continue to grow, according to research presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.
	Slimming down, beefing up deep brain implants When it comes to sticking something into your brain, smaller is usually better.
	Single strep bacteria protein sets off white blood cell's early warning system Group A Streptococcus bacteria—the cause of strep throat and flesh-eating infections—have been well studied for nearly a century. But researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences recently made a surprising discovery: strep's M protein alone wipes out macrophages, but not other types of immune cells. The macrophages' self-sacrifice serves as an early warning of infection to the rest of the immune system.
	New study identifies essential genes for cancer immunotherapy A new study identifies genes that are necessary in cancer cells for immunotherapy to work, addressing the problem of why some tumors don't respond to immunotherapy or respond initially but then stop as tumor cells develop resistance to immunotherapy.
	Breakthrough device heals organs with a single touch Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State's College of Engineering have developed a new technology, Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT), that can generate any cell type of interest for treatment within the patient's own body. This technology may be used to repair injured tissue or restore function of aging tissue, including organs, blood vessels and nerve cells.
	Mutation in prostate tumors shown to change epigenetic identity, the make-up of DNA Prostate cancer researchers have mapped the impact of an acquired mutation that alters epigenetic identity, the make-up of DNA, in about 50% of patient tumour samples. The discovery also identifies a new opportunity for targeted therapy.
	Big data yields surprising connections between diseases Using health insurance claims data from more than 480,000 people in nearly 130,000 families, researchers at the University of Chicago have created a new classification of common diseases based on how often they occur among genetically-related individuals.
	Stress heightens fear of threats from the past Recognizing threats is an essential function of the human mind—think "fight or flight"—one that is aided by past negative experiences. But when older memories are coupled with stress, individuals are likely to perceive danger in harmless circumstances, according to a paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	How a chemo drug can help cancer spread from the breast to the lungs COLUMBUS, Ohio -The very same treatment that thwarts breast cancer has a dark side—it can fuel the spread of the disease to the lungs.
	Tiny molecule has big effect on brain's ability to learn Prenatal brain development is a crucial period, and as new research has found, even small alterations to the way brain cells develop can have significant effects later in life.
	Women have more active brains than men In the largest functional brain imaging study to date, the Amen Clinics (Newport Beach, CA) compared 46,034 brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging studies provided by nine clinics, quantifying differences between the brains of men and women. The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
	Stem Cell discovery refreshes the heart Some people are better than others at recovering from a wounded heart, according to a new USC Stem Cell study published in Nature Genetics.
	Printable tool enables sensitive diagnostic testing Biomedical engineers at Duke University have created a portable diagnostic tool that can detect telltale markers of disease as accurately as the most sensitive tests on the market, while cutting the wait time for results from hours or even days to 15 minutes.
	Bilingual babies listen to language Are two languages at a time too much for the mind? Caregivers and teachers should know that infants growing up bilingual have the learning capacities to make sense of the complexities of two languages just by listening. In a new study, an international team of researchers, including those from Princeton University, report that bilingual infants as young as 20 months of age efficiently and accurately process two languages.
	A mathematical crystal ball gazes into future of prostate cancer treatment The chemotherapy docetaxel is widely accepted as a standard therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. But 10-20 percent of patients will have adverse side effects that force discontinuation of treatment. These patients may have been better off with another treatment or alternative dosing of docetaxel in the first place, but who's to know before trying the drug which patients will go on to experience debilitating side effects? A crowdsourced competition asked this as an open question. Today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Informatics, competition organizers and participating teams report their findings: Using open data from four previously conducted clinical trials, teams of international researchers designed mathematical models predicting the likelihood that a patient will discontinue docetaxel treatment due to adverse events. These results represent the first comprehensive effort to make such predictions based on patient clinical characteristics.
Charlie Gard's life became 'soap opera': clinician A clinician who treated Charlie Gard, the terminally-ill British baby who died last month, said Saturday his short life became a soap opera fuelled by President Donald Trump and the pope.
	Doctor told to stop marketing 3-person baby technique U.S. regulators on Friday warned a New York fertility doctor to stop marketing an experimental procedure that uses DNA from three people—a mother, a father and an egg donor—to avoid certain genetic diseases.
EU suspends sale of contraceptive implant The sale of a contraceptive implant has been suspended for three months across the European Union after an Irish regulator said it was temporarily withholding renewal of the device's commercial licence.
Belgium admits it kept quiet about 'tainted' eggs probe Belgian officials admitted Saturday they knew in early June there was a potential problem over insecticide-contaminated eggs but kept it secret because of an ongoing fraud investigation.
	Manipulating brain network to change cognitive functions: New breakthrough in neuroscience When an electric circuit breaks down, we can repair it by restoring connections in the circuit. Is it possible to restore the connections in our brain? And by doing so, is it possible to restore declining cognitive functions? Numerous regions of the brain are connected together and constitute a huge network. Researchers have developed a learning method to change cognitive function by manipulating connections in the brain. The study, published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, could lead to important applications in clinical, rehabilitation and learning-assistive methods taking advantage of a neural plasticity.
	How to pave over our big butt problem Soon the footpath you walk on could be full of cigarette butts, instead of being littered with them.
	Compound derived from marijuana interacts with antiepileptic drugs New research published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), suggests that an investigational neurological treatment derived from cannabis may alter the blood levels of commonly used antiepileptic drugs. It is important for clinicians to consider such drug interactions during treatment of complex conditions.
Study reveals higher opioid use among cancer survivors A new study found that opioid prescription use is more common in cancer survivors than in individuals without a history of cancer. This was true even among survivors who were ten or more years past their cancer diagnosis. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings come at a time of rising rates of opioid overdose and addiction that experts have categorized as an epidemic.
	New study generates more accurate estimates of state opioid and heroin fatalities Although opioid and heroin deaths have been rising dramatically in the U.S., the magnitude of the epidemic varies from state to state, as does the relative proportion of opioid vs heroin poisonings. Further complicating the picture is that up to one-quarter of all death certificates fail to note the specific drug responsible for the fatality, complicating efforts to target enforcement and treatment programs at both state and federal levels. A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine presents a correction procedure to refine this data, which results in significant shifts in state-by-state mortality rates. This truer picture helps to remove an important barrier to formulating effective policies to address this serious drug epidemic.
Early term babies are at greater risk for diabetes and obesity-related diseases Early term deliveries impact babies' long-term health with increased risk of diabetes and obesity-related illnesses as well as a shortened life span, according to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers.
	Non-sex hormones in sexing liver cancers NUS biologists have discovered that two hormone factors, cortisol and serotonin, play critical roles in the development of male-biased liver cancers.
	Studying patients with sleep disorders non-intrusively at home using wireless signals More than 50 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, and diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's can also disrupt sleep. Diagnosing and monitoring these conditions usually requires attaching electrodes and a variety of other sensors to patients, which can further disrupt their sleep.
Improved diagnostics for patients with traumatic brain injuries A new study published in PLOS Medicine shows that by improving the classification of patients with traumatic brain injuries, a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis can be made. The results are the product of a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital and Helsingfors University Hospital.
	Study offers road map to personalized therapies for sarcoma, other aggressive cancers Sarcoma is a rare and deadly form of cancer occurring in the bones and connective tissue that affects people of all ages. Its aggressiveness, rarity and diversity continue to hinder efforts to identify effective therapies for people with this malignancy. In a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft, human tumor fragments are transplanted into a mouse. Such xenografts have long shown great promise in modeling how sarcoma and other cancers can respond to and resist therapies, but their feasibility for use in people in clinical settings remains unknown.
	An immune regulator of addiction Drug addiction is often thought of as neuron-centric, but in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, M.D./Ph.D. student Daniel Kashima and his mentor, Brad Grueter, Ph.D., show that the immune system also plays a critical role.
	New study discovers "killer peptide" that eliminates resistant cancer cells A new study by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers shows that when therapy-sensitive cancer cells die, they release a "killer peptide" that can eliminate therapy-resistant cells.
	New study looks at inpatient mental health care across England and Wales A cross-national study looking at mental health care provision in acute inpatient settings has found that much positive practice is taking place within acute inpatient wards in England and Wales, with evidence of a widespread commitment to safe, respectful, compassionate care underpinned by strong values.
	Research sheds new light on why smoking in pregnancy is harmful Maternal smoking during pregnancy contributes to various long-term health problems in offspring, especially respiratory disorders.
	How a tick gut gene serves as a gateway for Lyme disease The bacterium that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, may have some help from a gene found in the guts of infected ticks, according to a new study led by Yale researchers and published in Nature Communications.
New tool to help distribute resources by identifying areas of need Research by the University of Auckland has created a new way of measuring social deprivation in New Zealand that could assist agencies to distribute resources better.
	Our healthcare records outlive us. It's time to decide what happens to the data once we're gone. Death is inevitable. The creation of healthcare records about every complaint and ailment we seek treatment for is also a near-certainty.
	Herbal medicine shows potential to treat cancer Researchers from KAUST have been searching locally for plants that have potential for use to combat cancer. Now, three plants used for traditional medicine in Saudi Arabia are shown to be worthy of further investigation for anticancer properties.
	New OCT technique provides better 3-D imaging of the cellular structure of the eye Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution live imaging technique that can be used for early detection of retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration , diabetes-related conditions, glaucoma or vascular occlusions, for example. However, in order to obtain cellular resolution of the retina and hence even better results, it has so far been necessary to use expensive adaptive lenses to correct the image aberrations that occur. However, using a new technique developed at MedUni Vienna, so-called Line Field OCT, MedUni Vienna researchers from the Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Technology have now managed to simplify looking into the cellular processes in the eye to allow even more accurate diagnosis.
Antiulcer drugs do not increase risk of Alzheimer's disease The use of proton pump inhibitors does not increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, shows a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. Proton pump inhibitors are a type of antiulcer drug that is commonly used among older persons.
	Tackling sleeping sickness in Maasai communities Pietro Ceccato remembers his first trip three years ago to a Maasai village located a two hour's drive south of Arusha, Tanzania. He was there with a team of public health researchers to learn more about the dynamics of trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease carried by tsetse flies which threatens millions of people in communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
	Laser + growth factor improves appearance of stretch marks (HealthDay)—Laser treatments combined with topical growth factor improve the appearance of stretch marks, according to a small pilot study published online July 29 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Strong religious beliefs may be linked to higher weight (HealthDay)—There is evidence of a significant association between religious affiliation and body weight, with religiosity being significantly associated with higher body weight, according to research published online Aug. 2 in Obesity Reviews.
	A 20-minute city sounds good, but becoming one is a huge challenge Liveability is an increasingly important goal of Australian planning policy. And creating cities where residents can get to most of the services they need within 20 to 30 minutes has been proposed, at both federal and state level, as a key liveability-related mechanism.
	Man flu is real, but women get more autoimmune diseases and allergies Men and women respond differently to diseases and treatments for biological, social and psychological reasons. In this series on Gender Medicine, experts explore these differences and the importance of approaching treatment and diagnosis through a gender lens.
	Medicine's gender revolution—how women stopped being treated as 'small men' Men and women respond differently to diseases and treatments for biological, social and psychological reasons. This is the first article in our series on Gender Medicine, where experts explore these differences and the importance of approaching treatment and diagnosis through a gender lens.
	What is silicosis and why is this old lung disease making a comeback? Silicosis is a group of occupational lung diseases caused by breathing in silica dust. It has been described since ancient times, when miners and stone cutters were exposed to dust containing this crystalline mineral.
	Sitting in the sun is linked to days when people lived in caves, scientists believe Summer is in full stride, with people heading to beaches to soak up the sun. But there's more to that behavior than trying to get a good tan, says an epidemiology expert at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
	Oxidative stress biomarkers don't always signal diabetes risk High levels of compounds found in the body that are commonly associated with oxidative damage may actually be a good sign for some people, according to a recent review of multiple human studies led by an epidemiologist at the School of Public Health at Georgia State University.
	New genetic analysis approach could improve diagnosis for mitochondrial disease Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) scientists have shown a new approach to genetic analysis could greatly improve diagnostic rates for children with baffling and often fatal mitochondrial diseases.
Scientist finds children at risk from surprising source of air pollution We think of schools as safe places for children, but there's an invisible hazard lurking right outside the front door. A recent study by Matthew Adams, assistant professor with U of T Mississauga's Department of Geography, found that school kiss-and-ride drop-off zones are exposing children to increased levels of air pollution.
Pro-vaccine messages can boost belief in MMR myths Current strategies for correcting misinformation about the dangers of vaccinations have the opposite effect and reinforce ill-founded beliefs, a study suggests.
Gold specks raise hopes for better cancer treatments A tiny medical device containing gold specks could boost the effects of cancer medication and reduce its harm, research suggests. Scientists have completed a study which showed that gold increased the effectiveness of drugs used to treat lung cancer cells.
	What happens to your body when you're stressed We all feel stressed from time to time – it's all part of the emotional ups and downs of life. Stress has many sources, it can come from our environment, from our bodies, or our own thoughts and how we view the world around us. It is very natural to feel stressed around moments of pressure such as exam time – but we are physiologically designed to deal with stress, and react to it.
	Three reasons to think twice about mapping the brain The brain has a geography that matters. The cerebral cortex (the grey outer layer of the brain) is folded into our skulls in such a way as to reduce the wiring length of our neurons and improve cognitive function. Needless to say, this folding is incredibly complex. In order to examine and make sense of this structure, neuroscientists are increasingly turning to maps to represent its complexity. Much like the towns, cities, countries and continents represented on a typical geographic map, areas of the brain are similarly being spatially defined, labelled and understood through a process of mapping.
	Mental illness, suicide and violence creating a 'lost generation' in Middle East Suicide, murder, and sexual assault are increasing faster in the Eastern Mediterranean than any other region in the world, according to a new study.
	Scientists reveal role for lysosome transport in Alzheimer's disease progression Researchers from Yale University School of Medicine have discovered that defects in the transport of lysosomes within neurons promote the buildup of protein aggregates in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. The study, which will be published August 7 in The Journal of Cell Biology (JCB), suggests that developing ways to restore lysosome transport could represent a new therapeutic approach to treating the neurodegenerative disorder.
'Origami organs' can potentially regenerate tissues Northwestern Medicine scientists and engineers have invented a range of bioactive "tissue papers" made of materials derived from organs that are thin and flexible enough to even fold into an origami bird. The new biomaterials can potentially be used to support natural hormone production in young cancer patients and aid wound healing.
Anti-inflammatory, anti-stress drugs taken before surgery may reduce metastatic recurrence Most cancer-related deaths are the result of post-surgical metastatic recurrence. In metastasis, cells of primary tumors travel to other parts of the body, where they often proliferate into inoperable, ultimately fatal growths.
Lifestyle-modification programs for weight management in Arab states lack in effectiveness Obesity is a growing health problem worldwide, and is associated with serious medical comorbidities and an increased risk of mortality. This scenario is present also in Arabic-speaking countries, where around 6-8% of the total population of the world lives. Recent epidemiological studies have reported that a significant proportion of their citizens, especially females, are heavily affected by or obesity or are overweight, foremost in Kuwait, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
$820 million wasted in failing to attempt Type 2 diabetes prevention efforts The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 84 million Americans have prediabetes. Unless something is done, 70 percent will eventually be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Pharmacy service could save NHS £517.6m, finds study A scheme launched by the Department of Health in 2011 to help patients stick to their drug regimens has been so successful, that in its first five years, it will save NHS England £517.6m in the long-term, a team of health economists has found.
	Decline in kids' ear infections linked to pneumococcal vaccine American kids' ear infections dropped threefold over 10 years, compared to the 1980s, largely due to pneumococcal vaccines that protect against one type of bacteria that causes them, a new study suggests.
	Stretches: the forgotten exercise (HealthDay)—Along with aerobic and strength training, stretching is an important part of every workout routine. But many people make the mistake of skipping this key step or doing certain stretches at the wrong time.
You are what your grandmother ate: Intergenerational impacts of prenatal nourishment A study published online in The FASEB Journal shows that parents' own prenatal environment has a detectable impact on their children's weight. Mothers who were malnourished in the womb tend to produce smaller babies, while a father's malnourishment in utero results in his offspring being smaller by the time they are 2 years old. The findings come from an experiment of nature in rural Gambia that ruled out confounding socioeconomic factors that could influence babies' growth across generations.
Molecule in human saliva has potential for wound healing A study published online in The FASEB Journal delves into the mystifying fact that wounds in your mouth heal faster and more efficiently than wounds elsewhere. Until now, it was understood that saliva played a part in the wound healing process, though the extent of its role was unknown. The study examined the effects of salivary peptide histatin-1 on angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), which is critical to the efficiency of wound healing. Researchers found that histatin-1 promotes angiogenesis, as well as cell adhesion and migration.
	97 percent of insurance denials in pediatric proton patients overturned on appeal Insurance companies end up covering proton therapy treatment for pediatric cancer patients in 97 percent of the cases they originally deny once those decisions are appealed. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania analyzed five years of coverage decisions at Penn's Roberts Proton Therapy Center. They discovered that roughly one in 10 pediatric cancer patients are initially denied coverage for the cutting edge and costly treatment - yet nearly all patients ultimately get approval. They published their findings in Pediatric Blood & Cancer today.
In utero exposure to diesel exhaust could be linked to adult heart failure According to a study published online in The FASEB Journal, involving mice, gestational exposure to airborne particles derived from diesel exhaust can modify DNA in utero and alter the expression of genes that potentially increase susceptibility to adult heart failure. Although an association between gestational exposure to diesel exhaust and heart failure susceptibility had previously been reported, this is the first study that identifies specific DNA methylation (a chemical modification of DNA that changes its action) and gene expression effects in the heart that result from gestational exposure.
	New research can improve cancer treatment through better gene targeting IBM's Watson beat real-life contestants on Jeopardy. Now researchers are hoping this icon of artificial intelligence will help people with cancer win as well by providing a rapid, comprehensive report of the genetic mutations at the root of their specific disease and the therapies that target them.
Like a game of 'spot the difference' for disease-prone versus healthy people Understanding common diseases sometimes boils down to grasping some of their basic mechanisms. For instance, a specific kind of natural nanoparticles, called low-density lipoproteins (LDL), are fascinating scientists because their modification plays a key role in people affected by high cholesterol. They are also known for their role in the formation of atherosclerosis. Judith Peters from the University Grenoble Alpes and the Institute Laue Langevin, Grenoble, France and colleagues from the Medical University of Graz, Austria, mimicked variations of LDL found in people affected by such diseases. They then compared their responses to temperature variations and increased pressure with those of lipoproteins found in healthy people. Their findings, recently published in EPJ E, show that the LDL from healthy people behaved differently when subjected to high pressure compared to LDL affected by the common diseases studied.
	MRSA survival chances predicted by DNA sequencing the superbug Sequencing the DNA of the MRSA superbug can accurately identify patients most at risk of death and could help medics develop new treatments as we move towards personalised medicine, say scientists publishing in the journal Nature Microbiology.
	Study links unhealthy segregated neighborhoods to childhood asthma Researchers have had trouble explaining why black children are much more likely than other children to suffer from asthma. A new study by Princeton University strongly suggests that much of the answer lies in persistent residential segregation, which traps minority children in unhealthy, polluted neighborhoods.
	Midlife cardiovascular risk factors may increase chances of dementia A large, long-term study suggests that middle aged Americans who have vascular health risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking, have a greater chance of suffering from dementia later in life. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Low Medicaid rates limit beneficiaries' access to assisted living facilities More than 700,000 elderly and disabled Americans receive health care in residential care communities, such as assisted living facilities. As the population ages, this number will grow. A new study by RTI International found that low Medicaid payment rates for services in assisted living and similar settings discourage residential care providers from serving Medicaid beneficiaries, which limits their access to community-based residential care.
Clinical trial examines drug combo as remission-inducing treatment options for LAM Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) begin a new clinical trial this fall, examining the potential role of a drug combination therapy to eliminate lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) cells. The trial will look at the safety and efficacy of a combined therapy using sirolimus and resveratrol as a potential remission-inducing treatment option for patients with LAM.
Overweight children and adults get significantly healthier and quickly with less sugar Osteopathic physicians suggest shifting the conversation from weight to health for overweight children and adults, asking patients to reduce their sugar intake to see measurable improvements in metabolic function.
Largest-ever study of pets and kids' health finds no link Contrary to popular belief, having a dog or cat in the home does not improve the mental or physical health of children, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	First human application of novel PET tracer for prostate cancer In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine (11C-sarcosine), for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.
Individuals with bipolar disorder need workplace support People with bipolar disorder often find themselves unemployed due to exclusion, stigma and stereotypes directed at them at work, a new study found.
New antibiotic class found effective against gonorrhea in the laboratory The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 700,000 people around the world die annually from drug resistant infections. It also listed drug resistant gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium, as a high priority infection that poses a great threat to human health.
	How an unlikely cellular 'antenna' can impair brain development An antenna-like structure on cells, once considered a useless vestige, appears to be important for proper brain development in mammals and when impaired can cause defects in the brain's wiring similar to what's seen in autism, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. In lab experiments, UNC School of Medicine scientists prevented these wiring defects by restoring signaling though these antenna-like structures called primary cilia.
Fat rats show why breast cancer may be more aggressive in patients with obesity Women with obesity are more likely to get breast cancer, and a number of studies have provided a reasonable explanation why: after menopause, fat tissue manufactures estrogen, and the estrogen then promotes tumor growth. But why, then, do women with obesity continue to have more aggressive tumors even after anti-estrogen treatment? Once the tumor's source of estrogen is removed, obesity should have no effect on prognosis, but it does.
	Primary prevention could reduce heart disease among type 2 diabetes patients In a Journal of the American College of Cardiology state of the art review published today, researchers from the division of cardiology and the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at the New York University Medical Center in New York City, examine evidence and guidelines for the prevention of heart disease in Type 2 Diabetes patients.
Hospital admissions for older adults increased for weeks after natural disaster Older adults may still be checking into hospitals for weeks after a natural disaster, past the the expected three days of anticipated injuries and health issues, a new University of Michigan study shows.
Automated measure of nighttime oxygen levels could speed diagnosis of sleep apnea Computer analysis of oxygen levels in the blood during sleep could—by itself—provide an easy, relatively inexpensive and sufficiently reliable way to determine which children who snore habitually could benefit from a diagnosis and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. This approach was most accurate for children with severe apnea.
Physician implicit racial bias does not impact their clinical decision making A doctor's racial preference does not necessarily mean he or she will order more or fewer diagnostic tests or treatments based on race. That is the primary indication of a study to be published in the August 2017 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
	A new view for protein turnover in the brain Keeping the human brain in a healthy state requires a delicate balance between the generation of new cellular material and the destruction of old. Specialized structures known as lysosomes, found in nearly every cell in your body, help carry out this continuous turnover by digesting material that is too old or no longer useful.
Safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals deliver similar PCI outcomes Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at safety-net hospitals experienced similar outcomes as patients treated at non-safety-net hospitals, according to research published today in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Brain lays foundation for reason in childhood Structural connections between frontal and parietal areas in children's brains can predict their ability to reason later in life, reports new research published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
	New study shows how to account for social disparities in health care costs A first-of-its kind payment formula developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical School recommends allocating some health insurance dollars for patients in vulnerable communities and for those subject to social risks, in addition to their medical issues. Adjusting for these risk factors redistributes funds in the health system, which can be used in community settings to address underlying causes that often lead to costly hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room.
	Media portrayals of pregnant women, new moms unrealistic, study says Whether it's a pregnant character on a TV show or a photo spread heralding a celebrity's rapid recovery of her pre-pregnancy physique, media portrayals of pregnant and postpartum women tend to be unrealistic, women said in a new study.
Melatonin may help you sleep Dear Mayo Clinic: Can melatonin supplements help insomnia? What are the side effects of melatonin supplements?
Limiting access to fast-food restaurants unlikely to reduce obesity Living near fast-food restaurants and supermarkets has little impact on an individual's body mass index, according to new Indiana University research.
	Medicaid coverage brings more silence to the hearing impaired Medicaid does not cover hearing aids in 22 states. Coverage varies greatly in the remaining 28 states based on the degree of hearing loss and types of benefits available. Such inconsistencies exist as the federal government does not require Medicaid to cover hearing aids for adults, allowing individual states to set its own guidelines.
Getting patients to shop for health care is a tough sell Americans extol price shopping for health care as a prudent idea, yet few actually do it even when given the means to, according to the findings of two separate studies led by investigators at Harvard Medical School.
Staff at Safety-Net Medical Clinics report increasing dissatisfaction with workplace Physicians, nurses and other staff members at medical clinics that care for people from lower-income communities are increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs, adding to evidence that the health care workforce is under stress, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Cash incentives, talk can encourage primary care visits by people with new health coverage An economic experiment to inform policymakers considering Medicaid expansion shows small cash incentives to low-income people with new health care coverage can promote primary care visits that may significantly reduce costs overall. The study, by Cathy Bradley, professor of health systems management and policy at the Colorado School of Public Health at CU Anschutz, published today in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Medicaid expansion under ACA can reduce government costs for Supplemental Security Income Expanded Medicaid eligibility under one part of the Affordable Care Act results in a cost savings for the federal government, according to new Indiana University research. The finding is significant because it indicates that an effort by Congress to save money by trimming Medicaid spending may actually drive up costs in another part of the budget.
New biomarker found for group of rare metabolic diseases A newly discovered biomarker associated with a rare metabolic disorder may facilitate better diagnosis and identification of new drugs for clinical trials for the disease, according to researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Their findings are described in Human Molecular Genetics. Development of treatments for the neurological symptoms of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), a family of rare genetic disorders, have been hindered by the lack of objective measures of the extent of central nervous system (CNS) damage in patients.
Infant mortality disparity grows in Appalachia, study finds A new study shows a growing disparity between infant mortality and life expectancy rates in Appalachia compared with the rest of the country.
2,000 Philippine mums show breast is best for babies Some 2,000 mothers in the Philippines breastfed their babies in public on Saturday in a gathering aimed at cutting infant deaths and dispelling taboos over the practice.
Study finds the Affordable Care Act has not had the negative effect on jobs As the debate over the Affordable Care Act boiled over in Washington, D.C., this summer, a working paper written by Stanford economists threw cold water on a claim made by several of the law's critics: that it was killing American jobs. That argument was founded on early projections made by the Congressional Budget Office. But the working paper written by Gopi Shah Goda, Mark Duggan and graduate student Emilie Jackson showed that these predictions were inaccurate – the ACA has actually had little aggregate impact on the labor market. And just a few days after their paper was released, the so-called "skinny bill" to repeal the ACA was defeated in the Senate, leaving the law intact.

Biology news

	Synthetic Genomics unveils digital-to-biological converter using digital DNA to print biologics A team of researchers at Synthetic Genomics (SG) has unveiled a machine they call a digital-to-biological converter—it sends digitized information describing DNA, RNA or a protein to a device that prints out synthesized versions of the original material. The team has published a paper describing their creation in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
	DNA from Viking cod bones suggests 1,000-year history of European fish trade Norway is famed for its cod. Catches from the Arctic stock that spawns each year off its northern coast are exported across Europe for staple dishes from British fish and chips to Spanish bacalao stew.
	Desert tortoises can't take the heat of roadside fencing Desert tortoises pace back and forth and can overheat by roadside fencing meant to help them, according to a study published in the journal Biological Conservation by the University of California, Davis, and the University of Georgia.
	How do birds get their colors? A new article in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology explores the role of melanins in creating complex plumage patterns in 9,000 species.
	The barred grass snake is described as a separate species Together with an international team, Senckenberg scientists identified a new species of snake in Europe. Based on more than 1,600 snakes, the researchers were able to show that the barred grass snake, whose range includes Western Germany, France, Great Britain, Switzerland and Italy constitutes a distinct species. In their study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, the team examined two contact zones – in the Rhine region and in eastern Germany – where different genetic lineages of grass snakes meet.
	Marine reserves a solution to bycatch problem in oceans Commercial fishermen may be able to catch more of the profitable fish they want with marine reserves than without them, according to a study in the journal PNAS led by the University of California, Davis. Using marine reserves as a management tool could also help the recently rebounded West Coast groundfish fishery sustain itself, the study notes.
	Modern domestic dog has a single geographic origin By analyzing the DNA of two prehistoric dogs from Germany, an international research team led by Krishna R. Veeramah, Ph.D., of Stony Brook University in the USA has determined that their genomes were the probable ancestors of modern European dogs. The study also suggests that all contemporary dogs have a common origin and emerged through a single domestication process of wolves 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) also participated in the study, the results of which recently have been published in Nature Communications.
	Successful guide dogs have 'tough love' moms, study finds Much has been written on the pitfalls of being a helicopter parent, one who insulates children from adversity rather than encouraging their independence.
	Scientists tally the environmental impact of feeding meat to our cats and dogs. It's huge You've heard about the carbon footprint, but what about the carbon paw-print? According to a new study, U.S. cats' and dogs' eating patterns have as big an effect as driving 13.6 million cars for a year.
Warm winter, monsoon rain leading to bee attacks in Arizona Two deadly bee attacks in the past week in the Tucson area likely are the result of a warm winter and recent monsoon rain, experts said Friday.
Surviving baby panda in 'perfect health' says French zoo The first baby panda born in France is in good health and feeding from its mother, staff at Beauval Zoo said Saturday, as they came to terms with losing its twin.
	US government clamps down on eel poaching as value grows Changes in the worldwide fisheries industry have turned live baby American eels into a commodity that can fetch more than $2,000 a pound at the dock, but the big demand and big prices have spawned a black market that wildlife officials say is jeopardizing the species.
	Passenger knocked out as whale slams into Australia boat A man was knocked unconscious and three others suffered facial fractures and broken ribs after a whale slammed into a charter fishing boat off Australia's north coast, the skipper said Monday.
	Getting birds to look where they're going John Swaddle believes he can save a lot of birds just by getting them to look up.
	Living blanket, water diviner, wild pet: a cultural history of the dingo In traditional Aboriginal society, women travelled with canine companions draped around their waists like garments of clothing. Dingoes played an important role in the protection and mobility of the women and children, and are believed to have greatly extended women's contribution to the traditional economy and food supply.
	Researchers identify transport mechanism for synaptic junction reinforcement Learning involves constant restructuring of nerve-cell connections. This requires specialized transport systems to ensure that these specific synapses can structurally and functionally be modified. One such delivery mechanism has now been characterized.
Bacterial plasmids readily pick up new genes and spread them to new species New research from the University of Sheffield has found that bacterial plasmids readily pick up new genes and spread them to new species – something which is an increasing concern for transfer of antibiotic resistance between bacterial species.
	Afforestation with non-native trees alters island soils A healthy global debate has occurred concerning the benefits of using non-native trees for restoring some aspects of ecosystem function in degraded habitats. In many cases, the stresses associated with establishing seedlings disallow most native tree species from becoming successfully established in harsh planting sites. The tolerant non-native trees enable successes that would otherwise be unachievable.
	The ocean's fastest shark is being threatened by over fishing More bad news for sharks.
	5 critically endangered white lions born in Czech zoo For the critically endangered white lion, the quintuplets recently born in a Czech zoo are a vital contribution for survival, and a joy and responsibility for keepers.
	Sale of genetically modified salmon in Canada alarms environmentalists Environmentalists charged Monday that genetically modified salmon are being marketed in Canada without warning labels and called on supermarkets to withdraw them from sale.
	French farmers, breeders demand action against wolves Hundreds of farmers, shepherds and politicians rallied in Aveyron, southern France, on Saturday calling for action to halt the slaughter of livestock by packs of wolves.
France, UK among 4 countries urged to check eggs The European Union has notified food safety authorities in Britain, France, Sweden and Switzerland as a precautionary measure that some eggs contaminated with an insecticide might have entered their territory.

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