Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jul 3

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 3, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Researchers develop 'MicroMegascope': imaging with a tuning fork

Study shows where brain transforms seeing into acting

Molecular oxygen in comet's atmosphere not created on its surface

NuSTAR mission proves superstar Eta Carinae shoots cosmic rays

A novel switch to control genome editing

Deadly amphibian fungus has its origins in East Asia

A refined magnetic sense

Putting a quantum gas through its phases

Acoustic microfluidic platform gently and quickly separates circulating tumor cells from blood samples

Spraying efficiently: Breaking up is hard to do

New tools used to identify childhood cancer genes

Prenatal exposure to folic acid fortification of foods may reduce mental illness risk

Creating room to breathe on the microscale

Material could help windows both power your home and control its temperature

How targeting metabolism can defeat cancer stem cells

Astronomy & Space news

	Molecular oxygen in comet's atmosphere not created on its surface Scientists have found that molecular oxygen around comet 67P is not produced on its surface, as some suggested, but may be from its body.
	NuSTAR mission proves superstar Eta Carinae shoots cosmic rays A new study using data from NASA's NuSTAR space telescope suggests that Eta Carinae, the most luminous and massive stellar system within 10,000 light-years, is accelerating particles to high energies—some of which may reach Earth as cosmic rays.
	Milky Way-type dust particles discovered in a galaxy 11 billion light years from Earth An international research team, with participation from the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, has found the same type of interstellar dust that we know from the Milky Way in a distant galaxy 11 billion light years from Earth. This type of dust has been found to be rare in other galaxies and the new discovery plays an important role in understanding what it takes for this particular type of interstellar dust to be formed.
	Image: Jupiter's southern hemisphere This image of Jupiter's southern hemisphere was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft on the outbound leg of a close flyby of the gas-giant planet. Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill created this image using data from the spacecraft's JunoCam imager.

Technology news

	Material could help windows both power your home and control its temperature Environmentally friendly building trends have boosted the popularity of window coatings that keep heating and cooling costs down by blocking out unneeded parts of sunlight. They have also inspired scientists and engineers to create thin, see-through solar cells to turn windows into miniature electricity generators. Researchers in China have gone a step further and combined these two functions into one window-compatible material that could double the energy efficiency of an average household. Their work appears July 3 in the journal Joule.
	NASA prepares to go public with quiet supersonic tech Arriving 49,000 feet above the test site, higher than the airlines fly, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center test pilot Jim "Clue" Less shuts down his F/A-18's afterburners moving just shy of Mach 1, the speed of sound, or about 630 mph at this altitude.
	Researchers report haptic interface for mobile technology Communication could step beyond reading a cellular phone screen with a new technique by Purdue College of Engineering researchers to learn and read messages through a person's sense of touch.
	Self-learning bionic hand could spark 'new generation' of prosthetic limbs The new prosthetic hand interprets muscular signals from brain activity with machine learning to make movements more natural.
	How much all-seeing AI surveillance is too much? When a CIA-backed venture capital fund took an interest in Rana el Kaliouby's face-scanning technology for detecting emotions, the computer scientist and her colleagues did some soul-searching—and then turned down the money.
	Report: Federal Facebook probe now includes FBI, SEC A federal probe into Facebook's sharing of user data with Cambridge Analytica now involves the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department, the Washington Post reported.
	What's new for Amazon's Prime Day? Deals at Whole Foods Amazon's Prime Day deals are coming to the aisles of Whole Foods as the online retailer seeks to lure more people to its Prime membership after a recent price hike.
	China firm develops 'laser gun' A Chinese firm has developed a laser gun designed for police use that can set fire to protesters' hair or banners from a range of almost one kilometre.
	Taiwan smartphone maker HTC to lay off 1,500 workers Taiwan's struggling smartphone maker HTC announced Tuesday it would slash 1,500 jobs, around a fifth of its total workforce, in the biggest staff cull for three years following heavy losses.
Artificial intelligence accurately predicts distribution of radioactive fallout When a nuclear power plant accident occurs and radioactive material is released, it is vital to evacuate people in the vicinity as quickly as possible. However, it is difficult to predict where the emitted radioactivity will settle, making it impossible to prevent the exposure of large numbers of people.
	Catching ultrafine emissions could help develop cleaner cars Modern engines—in particular those which inject fuel at high pressure—maximise efficiency and cut carbon dioxide emissions, but may also release harder-to-catch pollution associated with cancers and lung, heart and Alzheimer's diseases. In response, European researchers are analysing exhaust particles down to one billionth of a metre, which may help in the development of cleaner cars.
	Japan aims for 24% renewable energy but keeps nuclear central Japan's government on Tuesday pledged to modestly boost the amount of energy coming from renewable sources to around a quarter in a new plan that also keeps nuclear power central to the country's policy.
	New device and companion app let anyone safely trigger fireworks from their smartphones A Purdue University professor has created a device and a companion smartphone app that allow anyone to set off fireworks from a safe distance.
UK sharing economy usage rises by 60 per cent Users of the sharing economy in the UK have grown by 60 percent in 18 months, a new survey has found.
	This man was fired by a computer – real AI could have saved him Ibrahim Diallo was allegedly fired by a machine. Recent news reports relayed the escalating frustration he felt as his security pass stopped working, his computer system login was disabled, and finally he was frogmarched from the building by security personnel. His managers were unable to offer an explanation, and powerless to overrule the system.
What happens when people lose trust in the Internet? An April 2018 survey by the Pew Research Centre has found that fewer people believe that "the Internet has been mostly a good thing for society" as compared to four years ago. This worsening perspective on the social benefits of the Internet contrasts with the view that these same respondents believed that the Internet continued to be a good thing for them individually.
	Smarter, safer bridges with Sandia sensors Along with flying cars and instantaneous teleportation, smart bridges, roads and subway lines that can send out warnings when they're damaged are staples of futuristic transportation systems in science fiction.
	Facebook reveals special data-sharing deals to Congress Facebook shared user information with dozens of hardware and software makers, as well as application developers, well after it said it cut off outside companies' access to the data in 2015.
	Facebook responding to US regulators in data breach probe Facebook acknowledged Tuesday it was facing multiple inquiries from US and British regulators about the major Cambridge Analytica user data scandal.
	UTA patents headset that allows persons to point to objects of interest using their eyes People with disabilities such as ALS, spinal injury or Lou Gehrig's disease, often lose use of their legs, arms or hands. Even at advanced stages of the disease, one may still retain movement in their eyes. Some technologies have incorporated eye-tracking to enable disabled persons to interact with a computer to communicate messages to a caregiver, but the devices are often difficult to calibrate without expert assistance and do not allow patients to express their wishes right away.
	Explainer: How computers "see" faces and other objects Computers started to be able to recognize human faces in images decades ago, but now artificial intelligence systems are rivaling people's ability to classify objects in photos and videos.
	Washington moves to block China Mobile from US market The US Commerce Department recommended against approval of China Mobile's seven year old application to enter the domestic market on Monday, citing national security concerns.
Scientists create a vanadium flow battery model A group of scientists from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), led by Skoltech Professor Aldo Bischi, has developed a mathematical model of the electrochemical cell of the vanadium flow battery. The model describes the battery's dynamic behavior, including the flow of vanadium ions through the cell membrane. The results of the study were published in the journal Applied Energy.
	Synthetic 'brainy skin' with sense of touch gets £1.5m funding A robotic hand covered in 'brainy skin' that mimics the human sense of touch is being developed by scientists.
	3-D printing achieves more accurate and precise physical models from patient imaging data Prior to performing a medical procedure, physicians are increasingly relying on access to 3-D printed models created using patient-specific medical data. Unfortunately, current 3-D data processing workflows can be extremely time consuming, and frequently, the resulting 3-D-printed models fail to accurately depict the anatomical details of interest. Motivated by these inherent limitations, an international team of researchers describes a rapid method for creating extremely detailed physical models directly from volumetric data stacks in an article published in 3-D Printing and Additive Manufacturing.
	US car sales mostly up in 1H as larger vehicles reign Leading automakers reported mostly higher US sales for the first half of 2018 on Tuesday, bolstered by a strengthening economy and robust demand for larger vehicles despite higher gasoline prices.
	Why they fight: US and China brawl over high technology To understand why the United States and China stand on the brink of a trade war, consider the near-death experience of American Superconductor Corp.

Medicine & Health news

	Study shows where brain transforms seeing into acting You see the flour in the pantry, so you reach for it. You see the traffic light change to green, so you step on the gas. While the link between seeing and then moving in response is simple and essential to everyday existence, neuroscientists haven't been able to get beyond debating where the link is and how it's made. But in a new study in Nature Communications, a team at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory provides evidence that one crucial brain region called the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) plays an important role in converting vision into action.
	New tools used to identify childhood cancer genes Using a new computational strategy, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified 29 genetic changes that can contribute to rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. The group used Bayesian analysis, a method for statistical inference, in conjunction with screening using CRISPR/Cas9, the much-heralded gene-editing tool, to confirm the statistical predictions.
	Prenatal exposure to folic acid fortification of foods may reduce mental illness risk Fortifying grain-based foods with folic acid—instituted in the U.S. in the 1990s to prevent neural tube defects in infants—may also reduce the incidence of severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia that initially appear in young adulthood. In their study comparing brain images of school-aged youths born just prior to the fortification mandate to those of young people born afterwards, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-based research team found that increased in utero folic acid exposure was associated with changes in later brain development. These brain changes, in turn, predicted a reduced risk for symptoms of psychosis.
	How targeting metabolism can defeat cancer stem cells Researchers are the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer are unraveling a crucial thread that explains why cancer so often becomes resistant to treatment.
	Testosterone increases men's preference for status goods A research team led by Hilke Plassmann, the INSEAD Chaired Professor of Decision Neuroscience & Brain and Spine Institute (ICM—Inserm/CNRS/Sorbonne Université) shows that testosterone, the male sex hormone, increases men's preference for status goods compared to goods of similar perceived quality but seen as lower in status.
	The impact of the sugar tax in Chile: A bittersweet success? A new sugar tax introduced on soft drinks in Chile has been effective in reducing consumption of sugary drinks, new research carried out in the country has revealed.
	In a warming world, could air conditioning make things worse? As climate change continues to push summer temperatures ever higher, the increased use of air conditioning in buildings could add to the problems of a warming world by further degrading air quality and compounding the toll of air pollution on human health, according to a new study.
	Researchers uncover hidden brain states that regulate performance and decision making Brain activity is driven by encounters with external stimuli and situations, simultaneously occurring with internal mental processes. A team of researchers from Stanford University, with funding from the NIH BRAIN Initiative, in part through the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), has discovered how the brain dynamically handles cognitive tasks while it also is engaged in internal mental processes.
	Scientists discover how satellite RNA leads to cancer Only some of us have satellite TV in our homes, but all of us have satellite DNA in cells in our bodies. Working copies of satellite DNA (called satellite RNAs) are high in certain types of cancer, such as breast and ovarian. But whether they cause cancer or merely coincide with it has been unclear.
	Expecting a stressful day may lower cognitive abilities throughout the day There may be some truth to the saying "getting up on the wrong side of the bed," according to Penn State researchers who say starting your morning by focusing on how stressful your day will be may be harmful to your mindset throughout the day.
	Feeling young could mean your brain is aging more slowly While everyone gets older, not everyone feels their age. A recent study finds that such feelings, called subjective age, may reflect brain aging. Using MRI brain scans, researchers found that elderly people who feel younger than their age show fewer signs of brain aging, compared with those who feel their age or older than their age. Published in open-access journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, this study is the first to find a link between subjective age and brain aging. The results suggest that elderly people who feel older than their age should consider caring for their brain health.
	New clues to sepsis may speed diagnosis Sepsis is an infection that kills as many Americans each year as stroke and Alzheimer's combined-about 250,000-but very little has changed in the treatment of this age-old scourge.
	Scientists identify mechanism that may explain why males are more at risk than females for neurodevelopmental disorders Researchers have recently begun to realize that biological sex plays a key role in disease risk. Sex plays a role in hypertension, diabetes, arthritis—and in many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Depression and anxiety affect females more, while neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, early onset schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity, affect more males. Males are also more sensitive to prenatal insults, such as gestational stress, maternal infection and drug exposure.
Clocking up 45+ working hours/week linked to heightened risk of diabetes in women Clocking up 45 or more working hours in a week is linked to a heightened risk of diabetes in women, finds an observational study published online in the journal BMJ Diabetes Research & Care.
Testicular cancer study reveals highest risk symptoms to aid diagnosis A new study has identified the highest risk symptoms that can indicate testicular cancer, in research that aims to improve diagnosis.
	Increased brain injury markers in response to asymptomatic high-accelerated head impacts Researchers from the University of Michigan found that serum levels of two biomarkers of traumatic brain injury, tau and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1, are elevated following high-acceleration head impacts, even when there is no clinical diagnosis of concussion. Their complete findings are reported today in the Journal of Neurosurgery, in the article "Elevated markers of brain injury as a result of clinically asymptomatic high-acceleration head impacts in high-school football athletes" by Jacob R. Joseph, M.D., and colleagues.
	Team makes a step towards earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer A multidisciplinary team from the University of Granada has developed software that can make it easier to identify potential pancreatic cancer biomarkers and thereby achieve earlier diagnosis of the disease. These biomarkers are differentially expressed genes indicative of pancreatic cancer.
A novel tool to study Alzheimer's disease mechanisms and possible remedies Scientists in Dresden, Germany, have been successful in mimicking mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease in a novel, stem cell-based model system that reproduces features of human brain tissue. This experimental tool can be used to study mechanisms of pathology and help to find new therapeutic approaches, the researchers say. Their results, published in the journal Developmental Cell, indicate that modulating the immune system can trigger neuronal repair processes and thus possibly help the brain to better cope with Alzheimer's. The study involved the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF), the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden at the TU Dresden (CRTD) and further institutions from Germany and abroad.
	Mechanism leading to cortical malformation from brain-only mutations identified Focal malformations of cortical development (FMCDs) are a heterogeneous group of brain cortical abnormalities. These conditions are the most common causes of refractory epilepsy in children and are highly associated with intellectual disability, developmental delay, and autism-spectrum disorders. Despite a broad spectrum of cortical abnormalities in FMCDs, the defective migration of neuronal cells is considered a key pathological hallmark.
	Blood test enables reading out the internal clock With a new blood test, researchers at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin can determine the state of a person's internal clock. Once the internal rhythm of patient is known, drugs could be administered at particular times of day, making them more effective and with fewer side effects than standard therapy. The study was published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
	Cardiac hybrid imaging an effective tool for predicting heart attacks Cardiac hybrid imaging with CT and nuclear stress testing is an excellent long-term predictor of adverse cardiac events like heart attacks in patients being evaluated for coronary artery disease, according to a study published in the journal Radiology.
	Chronic heart disease poses high financial burden to low-income families The financial burdens of long-term care for a family member with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) disproportionately affect low-income American families, even those who have insurance, found researchers at Yale University's Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) and the University of Texas. The study appears in the July 3 issue of JAMA Cardiology.
	Surgeons have substantial impact on genetic testing in breast cancer patients who need it For many women diagnosed with breast cancer, genetic testing can offer important information that might guide treatment choices. But studies have shown that only about half of women who could benefit receive genetic testing.
More than 8 million babies born from IVF since the world's first in 1978 Forty years after the birth of Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby, an international committee monitoring progress in assisted reproduction reports today that the global total of babies born as a result of IVF and other advanced fertility treatments is "more than 8 million". Dr. David Adamson speaking at this congress on behalf of the International Committee for Monitoring ART (ICMART) said: "Based on ICMART's annual collection of global IVF data, it is estimated that since Louise Brown's birth in 1978 over 8 Million babies have been born from IVF around the world."
A commonly offered add-on treatment for IVF fails to provide any benefit in a large randomized trial An add-on treatment commonly offered to female IVF patients to improve their chance of success has been shown in a large randomised trial to be of no value. "Endometrial scratch", a technique whereby a small scratch or tissue biopsy is made to the lining of the uterus prior to IVF, was associated with no improvements in pregnancy or live birth rates, and should, say an international team of investigators, be abandoned as a procedure by fertility clinics.
Researchers develop method for identifying radiation-resistant tumors New research at the University of Arkansas has found a way to identify radiation-resistant cancer cells, a breakthrough in the treatment of lung cancer that uses imaging to evaluate the response to treatment and match treatment to specific tumor cells.
	Mental health burden for Indigenous Australians exceeds estimates Mental health disorders are four to seven times more common among Indigenous adults than other Australians, University of Queensland researchers have found.
	Domestic and family violence common amongst front line health workers The first study investigating domestic and family violence among female healthcare workers in Australia has found that almost half of them (45 per cent) has experienced family violence, including one in nine who had experienced abuse and violence by a partner during the previous 12 months.
Researcher investigates why insurance companies don't ask about gun ownership For every million scuba divers, 164 die during a dive each year. For every million gun owners or those with a gun in the home, a University of Michigan math professor estimates between 240 and 450 gun owners die from gunshot wounds each year.
	Exposure to paint, varnish, other solvents linked to increased risk of multiple sclerosis People who have been exposed to paint, varnish and other solvents and who also carry genes that make them more susceptible to developing multiple sclerosis (MS) may be at much greater risk of developing the disease than people who have only the exposure to solvents or the MS genes, according to a study published in the July 3, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Cell 'chatter' discovery could open clinical trial opportunity for fatal childhood brain tumour Brain tumours are hard to treat. But even this is a harrowing understatement for some forms of the disease.
New smartphone app to predict dry eye disease in children Scientists have developed a smartphone app that can quickly tell a health professional whether someone is suspected of having dry eye disease, a chronic and incurable condition that affects approximately one in five adults in the UK – and is becoming increasingly prevalent in youngsters glued to their screens.
	The science of superstition – and why people believe in the unbelievable The number 13, black cats, breaking mirrors, or walking under ladders, may all be things you actively avoid – if you're anything like the 25% of people in the US who consider themselves superstitious.
	Consciousness is partly preserved during general anaesthesia Finnish researchers have gained new information on brain activity during general anaesthesia by recording changes in the electrical activity of the brain. They discovered that changes in electroencephalogram correlated with the loss of consciousness itself and also by the non-specific effects of the drugs. Nearly all participants recalled dreaming during unresponsiveness and, somewhat surprisingly, words presented during anaesthesia were still processed in the brain even though the participants were unable to recall them later.
	Humans are to blame for the rise in dangerous viral infections Today, we hear about dangerous viral infections around the world on a regular basis. Social media and internet access may be an obvious explanation for their seeming increase.
Lone parent jobseeking requirements negatively affect mental health Mandatory employment requirements adversely impact the mental health of lone parents, according to a new study.
	Pediatric hospitalization for gun injuries higher in urban areas (HealthDay)—Urban areas have higher overall pediatric hospitalization rates for firearm injuries, with the highest rates for urban 15- to 19-year-olds, according to a study published online July 2 in Pediatrics.
	Pembrolizumab not better than PTX for advanced gastric cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with previously treated advanced gastric cancer or gastro-esophageal junction cancer, pembrolizumab does not result in a significant improvement in overall survival compared with paclitaxel, according to a study published online June 4 in The Lancet.
	Irrigation water likely cause of romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak (HealthDay)—Tainted irrigation water is likely to blame for a 36-state Escherichia coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that sickened 200 people and caused five deaths, U.S. health officials say.
	Ophthalmologists warn about eye injury risk with fireworks (HealthDay)—With the Fourth of July approaching, ophthalmologists are issuing a warning on the dangers of fireworks and the risk they pose for eye injuries.
	Fewer Americans spend their final days in hospital and more are dying at home The American way of dying seems to have become less frantic, desperate and expensive.
Ditching the doctor? What to know about home health tests before trying them Medical tests save lives. Discovering diseases before they become more serious can mean the difference between life and death. But many Americans say they don't have time to see a doctor, live too far from a medical facility or are so uncomfortable with examinations that they avoid tests altogether.
	How opioid use can lead to addiction Opioid use—even short term—can lead to addiction and, too often, overdose.
	Prawn white spot virus, and how we tracked down its source in Asia This week, Four Corners aired Outbreak – an investigation into alleged "quarantine failures putting the Australian economy at risk".
	How to build a better, safer, more welcoming hospital We spend much of our time in buildings, and they can have a profound effect on our well-being, for better or for worse. As long ago as 1943, Winston Churchill told Britain's House of Commons that "we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us."
	Drugs to treat top infectious disease killer a possibility with new discovery University of Otago researchers have discovered a novel property of a new anti-tuberculosis drug which may help develop more drugs to treat the top infectious disease killer in the world.
	Drugs that block structural changes to collagen could prevent lung fibrosis Scientists have found that it is the structure of collagen, rather than the amount, that leads to the devastating condition of lung fibrosis, according to a report in the journal eLife.
	'Find your passion' may not be the best advice after all As the world becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, having diverse interests can help people make important connections across fields, such as between the Arts and Sciences. A new study by Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor of Psychology Paul A O'Keefe and colleagues suggests that one's belief about the nature of interests might prevent those insights from happening. Those who endorse a "fixed theory" about interest tend to think of it as something already there that simply needs to be found. Therefore, they are unlikely to stray beyond the interests they already have. By contrast, those with a "growth theory" tend to believe that interests can be developed and cultivated. The common advice to "find your passion" supports a fixed theory and may eventually be limiting.
	Researchers discover new vulnerability in deadly form of lung cancer Researchers at the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have discovered a new metabolic vulnerability in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that can be targeted by existing drug therapies.
	New tools developed for brain mapping; should boost research into depression, dementia Researchers at Florida Institute of Technology have developed the fastest method to date for creating a key molecule used by neuroscientists at Columbia University in mapping brain activity. They also discovered ways to create two new versions of that molecule – a neurotransmitter called glutamate – that can further advance this critical field of study.
Sylvester researcher uses HPV vaccine to treat patient with skin cancer Squamous cell carcinoma is the second-most-common form of skin cancer. Evidence suggests the human papilloma virus plays a role in the development of some types of this skin cancer.
	Can parents of juvenile offenders still dream? Mothers want the best for their sons, but what happens to a mother's hopes and dreams when her son is charged as a juvenile offender?
	Pelvic exams do not help diagnose STDs in adolescent girls, study says A pelvic exam does not improve a physician's ability to diagnose certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in adolescent female patients. That is chief among several reasons why the exam's "routine performance should be reconsidered," according to new research in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
	Is the pap smear on the way out? (HealthDay)—The Pap test, used for over 50 years to spot the early signs of cervical cancer, may soon become a thing of the past, new research suggests.
	Drinking and driving: A deadly July 4 cocktail (HealthDay)—The July Fourth holiday is one of the year's deadliest in the United States, and drunken driving is a major reason.
	Those at-home DNA tests are an imperfect science (HealthDay)—If you're considering at-home DNA testing, there are some things you need to know, California State University experts say.
	Making the most of that fast food meal (HealthDay)—It can happen when you're traveling on business, running late to an appointment, or are simply running out of time to make dinner.
	Study: Small talk not as bad as previously thought People who engage in more substantive conversations tend to be happier, a new study confirms.
	Urban researcher shows impact of urban sprawl on life expectancy, innovation hubs A recently published study by a University of Texas at Arlington urban researcher shows a correlation between urban sprawl and a decreased life expectancy in the United States.
	Effective marketing methods offered for primary care doctors (HealthDay)—Marketing is important for physicians, and effective methods include internet marketing, speaking engagements, and print materials, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
	Smoking marijuana may be tied to cough, sputum production (HealthDay)—Smoking marijuana seems to be associated with increased risk of cough, sputum production, and wheezing, according to a review published online July 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Automated bone scan index prognostic for prostate cancer (HealthDay)—The automated Bone Scan Index (aBSI) is an independent prognostic imaging biomarker of overall survival (OS) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), according to a study published online May 17 in JAMA Oncology.
	Dynamics of brain volume loss vary with MS progression (HealthDay)—Brain volume loss (BVL) has nonlinear dynamics and limited reproducibility as a marker of therapeutic response in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published online July 2 in JAMA Neurology.
	AMA adopts policy to cut sugar sweetened drink consumption (HealthDay)—At the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), a policy was adopted to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as a way to reduce the amount of sugar that Americans consume.
	How good bacteria can help keep a gut healthy New research reveals a cellular mechanism by which good bacteria can help the gut stay healthy. The study, which appears in the journal Immunity, shows that good bacteria, or the microbiota, interact with both the epithelial cells lining the gut and cells of the immune system to help balance the immune responses and protect the gut from unwanted inflammation. The study suggests that manipulating the microbiota to limit intestinal immune responses could have potential therapeutic benefits for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
	Caring for seniors with dementia and their caregivers: A guide for physicians Community-based health care providers, such as physicians, nurse practitioners and others, should be aware of services and resources to help people living at home with dementia as well as their caregivers. A review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) aims to provide guidance to health care providers as well as government and health system planners, based on recent evidence.
Anticonvulsant drugs ineffective for low back pain and can cause harm, despite increased prescribing Anticonvulsant drugs are increasingly being used to treat low back pain, but a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) finds they are ineffective and can have adverse effects.
Antibiotic can be used to treat rare inner-ear condition, treat vertigo The antibiotic gentamicin has been used to successfully treat a rare illness that affects the inner ear. This was confirmed by Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences' retrospective evaluation of the results of treatment administered to 32 patients. However, the analysis found that initial measurements do not provide a basis for predicting the method's long-term effectiveness. The antibiotic's effect on the vestibular system was also investigated, revealing strong correlations between the impacts on the individual semicircular canals.
Ever been depressed? Had cancer? Preexisting conditions can define your future Robin Shine Maddox has racked up $160,000 in charges for biopsies, chemotherapy, medications and scans since being diagnosed with breast cancer in February. Now the 55-year-old Mt. Airy resident looks forward to finishing treatment and being able to call herself a cancer survivor.
Commonly used preventive therapy for recurrent miscarriage proved ineffective in large trial An immune response to pregnancy (in which the uterus rejects the embryo or foetus) is said to explain a large number of otherwise "unexplained" miscarriages. Thus, preventive treatment designed to suppress this immunological rejection during implantation and pregnancy has become a commonly accepted—albeit innovative—approach to preventing recurrent pregnancy loss. A range of "immunomodulatory" treatments are offered, most of which are non-evidence based and the latest of which is a drug known as recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), a regulator of neutrophils and other lymphocytes activating and protecting the immune system. This is widely used (and licensed) in cancer medicine to increase white blood cells after chemotherapy.
Highly refined mineral oils in cosmetics According to the EU cosmetics regulation, mineral oils are only permitted in cosmetics if the full refining history is known and the starting material is not carcinogenic, or if the distillate was tested using specific methods (IP346). The IP346 method is an initial test for those mineral oils which are to undergo further purification steps for subsequent use in cosmetic products.This should prevent the use of mineral oils which are of concern to health.
	Economic burden of fatty liver disease in US is $32 billion annually, new study finds Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, which affects roughly 100 million Americans, costs the United States healthcare system $32 billion annually, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Intermountain Healthcare researchers on the economic impact of the disease.
Sub-fertility in men treated with ICSI associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer Subfertile men who have received fertility treatment with the microinjection technique of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) have been found at a significantly greater risk of prostrate cancer, according to an analysis of three comprehensive nationwide registries in Sweden.
Large population study fails to find causal link between assisted reproduction and ovarian cancer Following concerns over many years that hormonal stimulation of the ovaries necessary for IVF may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, a nationwide cohort study from Denmark has now concluded that any perceived increase in risk is actually a statistical bias resulting from vigilant diagnosis at the time of treatment. The investigators were unable to make any causal association between the treatment and fertility drugs used and any excess risk of ovarian cancer.
	Survey shows Australian GPs cautiously supportive of medicinal cannabis access A majority of Australian GPs support medicinal cannabis being available on prescription, with their preferred "access model" involving trained GPs prescribing independently of specialists, a 2017 national survey of 640 GPs published in today's British Medical Journal Open reveals.
Energizing eggs with a patient's own mitochondria offers no benefit in assisted reproduction A controversial technique of energising eggs to improve their quality in assisted reproduction has been shown in an experimental randomised trial to offer no benefit in terms of pregnancy or live birth rate. The study was performed at a large centre in Spain in 59 infertile patients aged 42 or less with a past record of unsuccessful IVF and now having embryo screening in a subsequent attempt; the patients were described as "difficult to treat", and thus representing those previously proposed as likely to benefit from the enhanced egg quality procedure.
	Rising air ambulance bills hit patients with added shock A helicopter trip to a hospital may not be the only shock a patient faces after a bad accident. The next one could hit when the bill arrives.
ICD placements not meeting medicare coverage decline after investigation Following the announcement of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into potential overuse of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) that did not meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination criteria, the number of ICDs placed not meeting the criteria declined, according to a study of hospitals participating in the NCDR ICD Registry.
Measles spreads in Brazil after cases come from Venezuela A measles outbreak is growing in Brazil after cases were imported from neighboring Venezuela where health services have collapsed.
	July 4 fireworks nearly cost this fireman his life (HealthDay)—Fire Capt. Jay Northup lit the fuse for the intended climax of his backyard fireworks display, a pricey 12-mortar box that would create a wondrous shower of glittering lights over his neighborhood.
	Keep pets safe from July 4th's fireworks, summer's sizzle (HealthDay)—Is your dog the type to dive under a bed at the first pop of a firecracker? Is your cat suddenly avoiding stretching out for a snooze in her favorite sunny spot? Although many humans adore the warmer weather, holidays and outside activities of summer, they can be a challenge for your furry friends.
	Illinois child care providers need resources to serve children with disabilities Although the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law nearly 30 years ago, a recent statewide survey of child care providers and early interventionists in Illinois suggests little has changed with regard to promoting the inclusion of infants and children with disabilities in child care settings.

Biology news

	A novel switch to control genome editing A biological switch that reliably turns protein expression on at will has been invented by University of Bath and Cardiff University scientists. The switch enables control of genome editing tools that might one day regulate cascades of desired genetic changes through entire populations.
	Deadly amphibian fungus has its origins in East Asia Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), known as chytrid fungus, has long been known to cause the decline and extinction of numerous species of frogs, toads, salamanders and other amphibians on several continents. Chytrid is found around the world, but until recently, it has been unclear where the pathogen originated. New research has now traced its source to East Asia.
	Scientists use CRISPR to tweak butterfly wing color, change wing scale surface structure Pigments and the fine structure of butterfly wing scales work together to generate a mosaic of colors and patterns that help the insect camouflage or attract mates. On July 3, in the journal Cell Reports, scientists show how it only takes a few pigment genes to modify both the color and the morphology of wing scales. The researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 to tweak wing colors of the squinting bush brown butterfly of East Africa Bicyclus anynana and found that it resulted in changes to the scales' surface structure and rigidity, as well as color. The results show how pigmentation genes have dual roles in the formation of wing scales.
	Self-healing seed pods An international team of researchers including members of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces has discovered a self-sealing mechanism in the seed pods of Banksia plants: special waxes in the junction zone between the two pod valves melt at elevated environmental temperatures and thereby seal small fissures.
	Genetic study of silkworm helps unravel its long history of domestication A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China has conducted a genetic study of the silkworm in hopes of better understanding its long historical ties to humans. In their paper published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the group describes their study and what they found.
	Shedding light on the energy-efficiency of photosynthesis Photosynthesis is one of the most crucial life processes on earth. It's how plants get their food, using energy from sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide from the air into sugars. It's long been thought that more than 30 percent of the energy produced during photosynthesis is wasted in a process called photorespiration.
	Neuroscientists uncover secret to intelligence in parrots University of Alberta neuroscientists have identified the neural circuit that may underlay intelligence in birds, according to a new study. The discovery is an example of convergent evolution between the brains of birds and primates, with the potential to provide insight into the neural basis of human intelligence.
	A first look at interstitial fluid flow in the brain Interstitial fluid transports nutrients and removes waste between the organs and tissues in our body. In the brain, interstitial fluid is thought to be composed of circulating cerebrospinal fluid, cellular waste and blood plasma, and past research has shown a link between interstitial fluid flow and an increased invasion rate of glioblastoma, or brain tumor, cells. A team of biomedical researchers and electrical engineers from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech recently developed a new method to measure and reconstruct interstitial fluid flow velocities in the brain.
	Study suggests natural selection could have influence on lizards' 'personalities' For more than a century, scientists have understood that natural selection have profound effects on how an animal looks—Anolis lizards that spend more time on the ground, for example, might need longer legs for running, while species that remain in the trees usually have shorter legs better suited for climbing.
Don't sweat it: Scientists identify key step in production of body odour If this surprisingly hot British summer has you fighting off unwelcome armpit aromas, you'll be pleased to learn that science has just brought us a step closer to blocking body odour (BO).
	Fireworks safety for pets that do and don't like them Whether your pet is curious about fireworks or fears them, here are tips from a Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine expert.
	Researchers report on the complex machinery of the spliceosome A sophisticated atomic-level computer simulation has allowed researchers of SISSA and the National Research centre (CNR-IOM—Institute for Materials Manufacturing) to shed light on the function of the spliceosome, a molecular machine within the splicing speckles of the cell nucleus. The spliceosome is composed of five filaments of RNA and hundreds of proteins. The researchers have discovered that in yeast, the Spp42 protein (corresponding to the human Prp8) coordinates the motion of components that handle a minute cutting and sewing process. Thanks to this activity, genetic information can be correctly transformed into products like proteins. Defects in this process are the underlying cause of more than 200 human diseases, including several types of cancer. Understanding the functioning of the spliceosome components may be of fundamental importance for the development of new drugs and therapies. The research has just been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Sharks may be eating more northern seals, sea lions Something new is happening in the cold waters off northern and western Alaska. Unusual injuries such as bite marks and flipper amputations are showing up on seals in the Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea.
	Species shifts in the honey bee microbiome differ with age and hive role The makeup of microbial species—the microbiome—in a honey bee queen's gut changes slowly as she ages, while a worker bee's microbiome changes much more rapidly, according to a new study published by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.
	Researchers study how environment affects dolphin microbiomes at Shedd Aquarium Research conducted at Shedd Aquarium with the University of Chicago revealed new details about the microbiome of Pacific white-sided dolphins at the aquarium and how it is influenced by the surrounding environment.
	Expert discusses invasion of Asian super ants Fears that the invasive garden ant, also called the Asian super ant, is spreading across the UK are being reported in the UK press. Here, Ph.D. student at the University of York's Department of Biology, Phillip Buckham-Bonnett, discusses the characteristics of the species:
	Gene editing approach aims for broad disease resistance in staple food crops A novel gene editing approach could hold the key to broad-spectrum disease resistance in certain staple food crops without causing physical detriment to the plants, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.
	New gene transfer rules could help prevent spread of antibiotic resistance Unlike other organisms, bacteria can take up genetic material from their environment. This ability to exchange genes enables them to pick up new traits such as different metabolic pathways, virulence genes and antibiotic resistance.
	Mutation and 3-D modelling reveal new structure to cell division process Cell division is one of the most fundamental processes of biology. It's what allows all living things to grow, multiply and form complex structures. But scientists still don't understand many of the details behind the process.
	How adapting to different climates has helped a pest spread across the globe If you have ever bitten into a fruit and been disgusted to find it wriggling with cream-coloured maggots, you have already met at least one member of the fruit fly family.
	Can citizen science reverse the extinction of experience? Opportunities for people to interact with nature have declined over the past century, as most people now live in urban areas and spend much of their time indoors. And while adults are not only experiencing nature less, they are also less likely to take their children outdoors and shape their attitudes toward nature, creating a negative cycle. In 1978, ecologist Robert Pyle coined the phrase "extinction of experience" (EOE) to describe this alienation from nature, and argued that this process is one of the greatest causes of the biodiversity crisis. Four decades later, the question arises: How can we break the cycle and begin to reverse EOE?
Video: Life cycle of the firefly A firefly's life cycle encompasses much more than the three to six weeks when the adults light up summer evenings. UConn professor of physiology and neurobiology Andrew Moiseff and his research team are working to learn more about the larval stage of these charismatic insects by studying aspects of burrowing behavior, the structure of the eye, and perhaps learning if the larvae glow underground.
	Rare pear expedition bears fruit in Kyrgyzstan A new population of one of the world's most endangered trees, the Bukharan pear, has been confirmed in a remote corner of Kyrgyzstan. The discovery of an estimated one hundred mature trees in a single location provides a massive boost to the survival prospects of this species, which has virtually disappeared from most of its former strongholds in Central Asia. The last trees standing are confined to tiny, fragmented populations in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and, it is thought, Uzbekistan.
	What's in an egg? Oocyte factors that can reprogram adult cells The promise of generating truly pluripotent stem cells from terminally differentiated adult cell types continues to captivate scientists who envision great potential for therapeutic interventions. The two primary methods involve either the replacement of oocyte nuclei with adult somatic cell nuclei—a process known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)—or the introduction, typically by viruses, of a cocktail of specific transcription factors to create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). SCNT is more efficient and less variable but technically more demanding, and the availability of high-quality oocytes is limited. Thus, the potential to combine these approaches by identifying the crucial factors in oocytes that mediate SCNT efficiency is reviewed in a new article published in Stem Cells and Development.

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