Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jul 30

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 30, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Researchers model unihemispheric sleep in humans

PSR J2055+3829 is an eclipsing 'black widow' pulsar, study finds

Bone tissue engineering—nano-glue polymer membranes for robust bone regeneration

Scientists use isotopes to reveal how aquifer refilled 400,000 years ago

Ultra-thin layers of rust generate electricity from flowing water

Study: People may use overconfidence to persuade or deceive others

Marital infidelity and professional misconduct linked, study shows

Researchers discover a new phase in block copolymers

Soft wearable health monitor uses stretchable electronics

Scientists reproduce the dynamics behind astrophysical shocks

To get customers to buy more in the future, help them buy a gift

Study shows power of refocusing student stress in middle school transition

One hack, 106 million people, Capital One ensnared by breach

Google builds gesture controls into new Pixel phone

Plastic junk spawns desert island disaster in Pacific

Astronomy & Space news

	PSR J2055+3829 is an eclipsing 'black widow' pulsar, study finds By conducting timing observations, astronomers have uncovered important insights into the properties of the millisecond pulsar PSR J2055+3829. Results of the observations, presented in a paper published July 23 on arXiv.org, indicate that this object is an eclipsing "black widow" pulsar.
	'Unprecedented' discovery of unique infrared light signature on Neptune's moon Triton Triton orbits Neptune, the eighth planet from the Sun, some 2.7 billion miles from Earth—at the cold outer fringe of the Solar System's major planet zone. Surface temperatures hover near absolute zero, so low that common compounds we know as gases on Earth freeze into ices. Triton's atmosphere, which is 70,000 times less dense than Earth's, is composed of nitrogen, methane and carbon monoxide.
	Study suggests frozen Earthlike planets could support life Icy planets once thought too cold to support life might have livable land areas above freezing, challenging the typical assumption of what kinds of planets might be habitable, a new study suggests.
	First rollout of Ariane 6 mobile gantry At Europe's Spaceport the Ariane 6 mobile gantry, a 90 metre-high metallic structure built to house Ariane 6 underwent a 97 m rollout test last week to mimic prelaunch.
	Cheops passes final review before shipment to launch site The Characterising Exoplanet Satellite, Cheops, has successfully passed the final analysis review for its launch on a Soyuz rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
	Analyzing gravity waves at the edge of space Jeff Forbes is working on a research project slated for the International Space Station (ISS) to help us better understand and forecast conditions on the edge of space.
	Small, nimble CSU satellite has surpassed a year in space After meeting all its benchmarks for demonstrating small-satellite weather forecasting capabilities during its first 90 days, a Colorado State University experimental satellite is operating after more than one year in low-Earth orbit.

Technology news

	Soft wearable health monitor uses stretchable electronics A wireless, wearable monitor built with stretchable electronics could allow comfortable, long-term health monitoring of adults, babies and small children without concern for skin injury or allergic reactions caused by conventional adhesive sensors with conductive gels.
	One hack, 106 million people, Capital One ensnared by breach A security breach at Capital One Financial, one of the nation's largest issuers of credit cards, compromised the personal information of about 106 million people, and in some cases the hacker obtained Social Security and bank account numbers.
	Google builds gesture controls into new Pixel phone Google on Monday revealed that it is building gesture controls and face recognition into a next-generation Pixel smartphone as it looks to fuel early enthusiasm for its upcoming flagship handset.
	Investing in energy storage for solar, wind power could greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions Drive through nearly any corner of America long enough and giant solar farms or rows of wind turbines come into view, all with the goal of increasing the country's renewable energy use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
	Contact lens: You blink and you zoom in Researchers are in the news this week because of their soft biomimetic lens. Blink twice and you get yourself a closer look at things. Activated soft elastomer works to increase focal length.
	Tech companies not doing enough to protect users from phishing scams Technology companies could be doing much more to protect individuals and organisations from the threats posed by phishing, according to research by the University of Plymouth.
	Uber cuts marketing staff to reduce costs Uber on Monday confirmed it is cutting 400 jobs from its marketing team of more than 1,200 workers to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
	Sony first quarter net profit down on one-off factors Japanese entertainment giant Sony on Tuesday reported a fall in first-quarter net profit due to one-off factors, with operating profit up thanks to strong demand for its image sensors.
	Nintendo's Q1 net profit drops 46% on forex losses Japanese entertainment giant Nintendo said Tuesday its net profit in the first quarter dropped 46 percent due to exchange rate losses, but reported steady sales of its Switch gaming platform.
	Why Facebook's new 'privacy cop' is doomed to fail The Federal Trade Commission issued its largest-ever fine, of US$5 billion, to Facebook for violating a 2011 privacy settlement in late July. But the amount is only about a month's worth of the company's revenue, suggesting that the fine, while seeming large, is, in fact, rather modest.
	Insurance black boxes and the surveillance state Over the last few years there's been a noticeable rise in the number of drivers opting to fit a "black box" to their cars in order to obtain cheaper insurance. According to some recent reports, these black boxes could save drivers as much as £300 a year.
	Machine learning predicts blackouts caused by storms Thunderstorms are common all over the world in summer. As well as spoiling afternoons in the park, lightning, rain and strong winds can damage power grids and cause electricity blackouts. It's easy to tell when a storm is coming, but electricity companies want to be able to predict which ones have the potential to damage their infrastructure.
	Turing test for androids will judge how lifelike humanoid robots can be Alan Turing was recently announced as the face of the new £50 note for his code breaking contributions in World War II and laying the foundations of computer science. However, Turing's work still challenges and inspires many people working today, especially those in robotics and artificial intelligence.
	US issues hacking security alert for small planes The Department of Homeland Security issued a security alert Tuesday for small planes, warning that modern flight systems are vulnerable to hacking if someone manages to gain physical access to the aircraft.
	Rocket fuel and 3-D printing James Cook University scientists in Australia are using 3-D printing to create fuels for rockets, and using tailor-made rocket motors they've built to test the fuels.
	Researchers add unique, efficient engine wear testing rig Southwest Research Institute recently added an additional single cam rig (SCR) to its considerable array of tribology testing equipment. The rig, which investigates wear mechanisms in engine valvetrain components, was designed and created by SwRI staff led by Staff Engineer Dr. Peter Lee.
	Q&A: What to know about the Capital One data breach One of the country's biggest credit card issuers, Capital One Financial, is the latest big business to be hit by a data breach, disclosing that roughly 100 million people had some personal information stolen by a hacker.
	French 'flyboard' daredevil to make new Channel bid A Frenchman who has captured the country's imagination with his jet-powered "flyboard" will make a new bid to cross the English Channel after a failed first attempt last week, his team said on Tuesday.
	Air France-KLM orders 60 new Airbus planes, plans A380 phase-out Air France-KLM said Tuesday that it would buy 60 of Airbus's new A220-300 planes, one of its biggest orders in years as the airline moves to modernise its fleet in order to reduce operating costs and rein in carbon emissions.
	'Amateur' Capital One hack stuns security community The massive data breach at Capital One appeared to be an unsophisticated attack from a single hacker, raising questions about the security of the financial system and insider threats to cloud computing.
	European price war squeezes Lufthansa hard European airline giant Lufthansa on Tuesday reported tumbling net profits in the second quarter, saying higher operating costs and a European short-haul price war ate into the bottom line.
	Huawei says revenue surges despite US sanctions Huawei's sales unexpectedly rose in the first half of the year, company figures showed Tuesday, as executives admitted US sanctions would bring further challenges in the coming months.
	Getting AI ethics wrong could 'annihilate technical progress' An intelligent water gun that uses facial recognition to identify its targets is helping to highlight some of the emerging human rights issues surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) – an area of research that is on the rise as new technologies become more and more prevalent in our daily lives.
	Leaner, cleaner diesel engines Diesel engines are widely used in transport the world over. Regulatory and legal efforts are afoot to reduce their use in some countries because of concerns about pollution. However, they are likely to remain a mainstay of heavy goods transport for many years to come because their efficiency and power general outstrip petrol engines and electric vehicles in some contexts.
	Highly efficient solar cells thanks to solid foundation The sun is an inexhaustible and sustainable source of energy. Hence, photovoltaics is gaining importance in German energy production. Among promising materials for solar cells—with a high efficiency and low production costs—are metal-organic Perovskites. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a novel type of highly efficient nickel oxide hole transport layer that can be deposited on large areas and reaches record efficiencies in these solar cells.
China tech firm eyes IPO for gay dating app Grindr The Chinese parent company of the popular gay dating app Grindr on Tuesday said it will "restart" plans for a public listing after a US national security panel dropped its opposition to the move.
	Air Canada lifts Q2 earnings despite 737 MAX grounding Profits at Air Canada beat expectations in the second quarter thanks to higher travel volumes and rising business class income, the airline said Tuesday.

Medicine & Health news

	New material could make it easier to remove colon polyps More than 15 million colonoscopies are performed in the United States every year, and in at least 20 percent of those, gastroenterologists end up removing precancerous growths from the colon. Eliminating these early-stage lesions, known as polyps, is the best way to prevent colon cancer from developing.
	Unraveling links to possible origins, better treatment for genetic disorders In recent decades, scientists have successfully mapped the human genome, but it's viewed in a way similar to viewing a screen without a sharp resolution picture. Now a new digital tool designed at the University of Missouri will allow scientists to study the detailed interactions between chromosomes within the human genome through a high-resolution, three-dimensional digital model. This model will help increase scientific knowledge while advancing precision medicine.
	Discovery enables clear identification of diseased beta cells in type 2 diabetes Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have unlocked the key to clearly identifying diseased beta cells in type 2 diabetes. This discovery has both research and therapeutic implications.
	The surprising link between a baby's proprioception and the genetics of motor control Neuroscientists at the University of Sussex have revealed that complex movements, such as those for maintaining posture, can be controlled by a simple genetic system, providing a framework to better understanding the molecular basis of diseases that affect motor control, like Huntington's and Parkinson's.
	Chemists teach old drug new tricks to target deadly staph bacteria "Slaying superbugs, one antibiotic at a time," is the motto of Bill Wuest's chemistry lab at Emory University. Wuest (it rhymes with "beast") leads a team of students fighting drug-resistant bacteria—some of the scariest, most dangerous bugs on the planet.
	Researcher explores new treatment for advanced biliary tract cancers A new treatment that may extend survival for patients with advanced biliary tract cancers—who typically face a grim outlook with average survival of less than a year—is being studied by a University of Arizona Cancer Center researcher.
	Cigarette smoke makes MRSA superbug bacterium more drug-resistant Cigarette smoke can make MRSA bacterial strains more resistant to antibiotics, new research from the University of Bath has shown.
	Finding a cause of neurodevelopmental disorders Neurodevelopmental disorders arising from rare genetic mutations can cause atypical cognitive function, intellectual disability, and developmental delays, yet it is unclear why and how this happens. Scientists suspected a mutation in a complex of proteins could be the culprit for a group of rare genetic disorders and, now, Salk Institute researchers have identified the molecular mechanism linking this mutation with abnormal nervous system development. The team's findings, published in Molecular Cell on July 30, 2019, bring researchers one step closer to understanding neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome and others.
	Researchers repair faulty brain circuits using nanotechnology Working with mouse and human tissue, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report new evidence that a protein pumped out of some—but not all—populations of "helper" cells in the brain, called astrocytes, plays a specific role in directing the formation of connections among neurons needed for learning and forming new memories.
	Researchers redefine the footprint of viral vector gene therapy Building on a track record of developing adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors as a groundbreaking clinical tool for gene therapy and gene editing, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) researchers report a more sensitive method for capturing the footprint of AAV vectors—a broad range of sites where the vectors transfer genetic material.
	Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission A group of microorganisms known as kinetoplastids includes the parasites that cause devastating diseases such as African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. They share an ability to adhere to the insides of their insect hosts, using a specialized protein structure. But what if scientists could prevent the parasite from adhering? Would the parasites pass right through the vectors, unable to be passed on to a human?
	Disruption of glucose transport to rods and cones shown to cause vision loss in retinitis pigmentosa Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a common hereditary eye disorder that leads to the gradual deterioration of rod cells causing reduced peripheral vision and night vision. Subsequent loss of cone photoreceptors cause the loss of high-resolution daylight and color vision.
	p53 mutations in 10,000 cancer patients shed new light on gene's function One of the most extensively studied genes in cancer, TP53 is well known for its role as a tumor suppressor. It senses cellular stress or damage, and in response stops cell division or initiates cell death, thereby preventing a damaged cell from reproducing. Mutation of this gene eliminates a key cellular fail-safe mechanism and is a step leading to cancer. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have conducted the most comprehensive study of TP53 mutations to better understand the processes leading to the inactivation of this important gene. Their findings, published in the journal Cell Reports, shed light on how the gene becomes mutated and how those mutations can help predict clinical outlook.
	Autonomic nervous system appears to function well regardless of mode of childbirth Late in pregnancy, the human body carefully prepares fetuses for the rigors of life outside the protection of the womb. Levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, ramp up and spike during labor. Catecholamines, another stress hormone, also rise at birth, helping to kick start the necessary functions that the baby will need to regulate breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and energy metabolism levels at delivery. Oxytocin surges, promoting contractions for the mother during labor and stimulating milk production after the infant is born.
	'Digital twins'—An aid to tailor medication to individual patients Advanced computer models of diseases can be used to improve diagnosis and treatment. The goal is to develop the models to "digital twins" of individual patients. Those twins may help to computationally identify and try the best medication, before actually treating a patient. The models are the result of an international study, published in the open access journal Genome Medicine.
Cardiac device complications vary widely among hospitals The chances of patients experiencing complications after having a cardiac device implanted vary according to where they have the procedure.
	'Tickle' therapy could help slow ageing 'Tickling' the ear with a small electrical current appears to rebalance the autonomic nervous system for over-55s, potentially slowing down one of the effects of ageing, according to new research.
	Individuals with obesity get more satisfaction from their food The propensity to overeat may, in part, be a function of the satisfaction derived from eating. A new study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published by Elsevier, found no significant difference in taste perceptions between participants of normal weight and those who were overweight. However, participants with obesity had initial taste perceptions that were greater than participants who were not obese, which declined at a more gradual rate than participants who were not obese. This quantification of satisfaction from food may help explain why some people eat more than others.
	Birthweight, height together provide insight into future heart health It's the proportionately of a newborn—a measure that includes both birthweight and length—that may best tell doctors whether a child is born with an increased risk for heart problems later in life, investigators report.
Globally, more than 11 million years of healthy life lost due to childhood cancer in 2017 While the number of new cancer cases in children and adolescents (aged 0-19 years) is relatively low at around 416,500 globally in 2017, treatment-related ill-health and disability and fatal cancer are estimated to cause around 11.5 million years of healthy life lost globally every year, according to the first Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) to assess childhood and adolescent cancer burden in 195 countries in 2017, published in The Lancet Oncology journal.
	Less-invasive procedures to restore leg blood flow as good at avoiding amputation as open surgery Less-invasive procedures to open severely-clogged leg arteries were as good at helping people survive and avoid amputation as more invasive open surgeries, according to a study reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
	Smoking impedes embolization treatment in lungs Smoking reduces the chances of a successful procedure to treat blood vessel abnormalities in the lungs, according to a study published in the journal Radiology.
	Study finds brain defects in people with a genetic risk for schizophrenia An international study led by researchers from the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA has found that people who are born with a genetic disease that greatly increases the risk of developing schizophrenia have distinctive defects and deficiencies in the white matter of their brains. Researchers compared the brains of people with the genetic disorder, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, to the brains of healthy people and to the brains of people with the disease who do not have schizophrenia.
	Online program helps traumatised refugees overcome mental health stigma A world-first intervention for refugee men who suffer from PTSD has shown promise in a trial, encouraging them to get help.
	Stressed at school? Art therapy reduces teenage girls' headaches Teenagers report higher levels of stress than adults, and cite school as the highest contributing factor, according to the American Psychological Association's annual report. A summary from 2013 concluded that while stress among Americans was not new, "what's troubling is the stress outlook for teens in the United States."
	Medicaid expansion may prevent child neglect, study shows More than 4 million reports of child maltreatment involving about 7.5 million children were made in 2017 to Child Protective Services. While much work has been done to reduce these high rates of child abuse and neglect in the United States, few programs have been consistently effective.
	Speech development starts in the womb New parents are always thrilled when their offspring finally speaks its first words—usually at the age of 12 to 18 months. What parents often don't know is that the regions of the brain that recognise and process speech sounds start to specialise at a much earlier stage.
	Analysis reveals economic cost of Alzheimer's disease and dementia are 'tip of the iceberg' A new research review highlighting the hidden costs of dementia suggests that traditional measures only show the 'tip of the iceberg' of the cost impact on society.
	Cannabidiol reduces aggressiveness, study concludes A new study has concluded that cannabidiol attenuates the aggressiveness induced by social isolation. The research, based on a mouse model, was performed by scientists at the University of São Paulo's Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP-USP) in Brazil. Scientists at the University of São Paulo's Center for Applied Research in Neuroscience (NAPNA-USP) also contributed to the study. The results are published in the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.
	Restricting SNAP benefits could hurt millions of Americans—and local communities The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to restrict access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
	Opinion: Beyond meat? The market for meat substitutes is way overdone Meatless burger maker Beyond Meat has just reported quarterly earnings of US$67.3 million—much better than market expectations of US$52.7 million. It is now forecasting sales of US$240 million for the 2019 year, nearly three times that of 2018.
	The amazing baby brain says 'pas de problème' with bilingualism People often say that babies are like little sponges —with their ability to soak up language quickly and easily.
Weight stigma in men associated with harmful health consequences Men's health may be compromised by weight stigma, finds the latest research from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut.
	Teenagers who play sports after school are only 7 minutes more active per day than those who don't Teenagers who play organized sports only get seven minutes more physical activity per day, on average, than teenagers who don't play any sport.
	Enzalutamide shows survival benefit in men with metastatic prostate cancer A combination of enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly reduced the risk of metastatic progression or death over time in men with advanced prostate cancer, according to the results of clinical trial led by Duke Cancer Institute.
	New app designed for opioid users, loved ones, providers A new smartphone app puts a network of information and support about opioid and other substance use disorders into the hands of users, their loved ones and health care providers.
	Give me a break: The importance of taking time out Just imagine if sleep-ins could make you smarter or a day at the beach was as productive as a study day. Sounds like an alternate reality, right? But in fact science is finding that it might be key to getting the most out of life and study.
	Virtual reality to solve personal problems People are often much better at giving useful advice to a friend in trouble than they are in dealing with their own problems. Although people typically have a continuous internal dialogue, they find it difficult to take an external perspective regarding their own problems. However, with friends, especially someone we know well, it is much easier to understand the bigger picture and help them find a way through their problems.
	Forgiving your boss can increase job satisfaction Workers should consider forgiving their boss for mistakes because doing so boosts their own job satisfaction, according to research from the University of Exeter Business School.
	Opioid epidemic may have cost states at least $130 billion in treatment and related expenses The devastating health effects of the opioid epidemic have been well documented, with over 700,000 overdose deaths and millions more affected.
	Multi-national survey reveals 75% of asthma sufferers are unable to work to their full potential A new multi-national survey has revealed that asthma sufferers are missing nearly one-tenth of work hours due to their symptoms, which also results in a loss of productivity and affects their emotional wellbeing.
How families with same-sex parents resolve conflict impacts children For more than a decade, Rachel Farr has studied various aspects of family life. More specifically, she's zeroed in on a highly debated topic—adoption among same-sex couples.
	Juul users are inhaling chemicals not listed on the label When it comes to e-cigarettes, the ingredients listed are not all that users are consuming. Yale researchers found that chemical reactions in flavored liquids of the popular Juul e-cigarette create unexpected chemicals that can irritate users' airways.
	Stem cell research sheds new light on the skin For the first time, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have studied and outlined the development of sebaceous glands in the skin. The study provides greater insight into the development and maintenance of the skin and how cancer mutations affect the behaviour of stem cells.
	Adjuvant radiotherapy may be beneficial in treating locally advanced prostate cancer Some 5,400 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Finland every year. Although in most cases prostate cancer can be cured, approximately 900 men every year die of it. Treatment recommendations for prostate cancer are largely based on the cancer's stage (TNM classification), the cancer's aggressiveness determined from a prostate biopsy (the Gleason score), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) obtained from a blood test, as well as the risk categorisation determined on the basis of these.
	New nanoparticle combination therapy shows effective resuscitation for massive hemorrhage Massive hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding, is a potentially preventable yet a major cause of death in trauma patients.
	Girls who are more physically active in childhood may have better lung function in adolescence Physical activity has many well-known health benefits, but its association with lung function in childhood and adolescence is not well understood. A new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by "la Caixa," has for the first time demonstrated an association between regular physical activity during childhood and higher lung-function values in adolescent girls.
	Researchers estimate societal costs of the opioid epidemic The devastating consequences of the opioid crisis are far-reaching in the United States, impacting public health as well as social and economic welfare. Penn State researchers recently collaborated to address the issue in a supplement of The American Journal of Managed Care titled "Deaths, Dollars, and Diverted Resources: Examining the Heavy Price of the Opioid Epidemic."
	Why are we so drawn to places of happy memories? If somebody asks me "are you a coffee addict?" I may say, "Yeah it seems like, but on the one condition, only in my office." I don't have that much craving for coffee at home, but just being in the office, where I used to drink coffee all the time seeking to get caffeine jitters, seems to trigger my caffeine-addicted brain.
	New protocol for HIV prevention drug reduces the number of pills required Health officials and AIDS advocates in San Francisco hope to expand the use of an effective HIV prevention drug with a new approach that requires fewer pills than the standard once-a-day regimen.
	Mammogram centers add soft touches to help put patients at ease Jennifer Davis sat in a plush, light pink robe across from a glowing electric fireplace in the consult room.
	The 411 on unsaturated fats (HealthDay)—Doctors may be as confused about what dietary advice to pass on to their patients as the patients themselves—even when it comes to protecting against heart disease through diet, according to U.S., British and Italian reports.
	Lifesaving drug for infants costs $2.1 million a dose (HealthDay)—Its extremely high price tag means that a lifesaving medication to treat young children with spinal muscular atrophy is simply too expensive for most families.
Scientists identify propranolol's target in treating rare condition and hemangiomas The discovery of a new target for the blood-pressure medication propranolol may lead to the development of new and safer therapies for vascular diseases, according to new findings published in eLife.
	High blood sugar levels and BMI linked to stillbirth in mothers with diabetes High maternal blood sugar levels and BMI are risk factors for stillbirth in mothers with diabetes, according to a new study in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes), with babies at the lowest and highest weights being most at risk. Mothers with pre-pregnancy diabetes are at a four to five times increased risk of stillbirth—with no improvement seen over recent years, in contrast with decreasing stillbirth rates seen in the general obstetric population.
	NHS 'health checks' reduce cardiovascular disease risk, new study finds Attending a health check as part of the England National Health Services "Health Check" programme is associated with increased risk management interventions and decreased risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the six years following the check, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Samah Alageel of King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, and colleagues from King's College London, UK.
	Pre-eclampsia increases risk of end stage kidney disease, study finds Women with pre-eclampsia during pregnancy have a five-fold increased risk of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) later in life compared to women who don't develop pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Ali Khashan of University College Cork, Ireland, and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden and Liverpool University, UK.
	Antenatal screening for kidney problems in early childhood Babies who have persistent fluid-filled areas in their kidneys during gestation are likely to present with urinary tract problems and to be admitted to hospital in early childhood, according to new research published by Shantini Paranjothy and colleagues at Cardiff University, UK in the open access journal PLOS Medicine on July 30.
	Brand-brand competition is unlikely to reduce list prices of medicines Greater brand-brand competition alone will likely not lower list prices of brand-name drugs in the US, according to a study published July 30 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Ameet Sarpatwari of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues.
	Should polycystic kidney disease patients be screened for brain aneurysms? Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive development of kidney cysts, as well as abnormalities outside the kidneys, including brain aneurysms—or weaknesses in blood vessels in the brain that balloon and fill with blood and may later rupture. A new study appearing in CJASN investigated whether patients with ADPKD should be routinely screened for brain aneurysms.
	House move during early pregnancy linked to heightened premature birth risk Moving house during the first three months of pregnancy is linked to a heightened risk of premature birth and low birthweight as well as a slightly higher risk of a smaller than expected size baby, finds US research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
	When mosquitoes are biting during rainy season, net use increases, study finds The more rainfall a region in sub-Saharan Africa gets, the more mosquitoes proliferate there and the more likely its residents will sleep under their insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria transmission, a new study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs suggests. CCP is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	New studies highlight causes of vitiligo A pair of new journal articles by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine indicate that both genetic and environmental factors play significant roles in the onset of vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that results in the loss of color in blotches of skin.
Leading oncologists and nutritionists pinpoint areas to catalyze nutrition-based cancer prevention An international collaborative led by Ludwig Cancer Research and Cancer Research UK has identified key areas that are central to uncovering the complex relationship between nutrition and cancer. Advancing research on these core areas using a holistic, cross-disciplinary approach could catalyze progress urgently needed to prevent cancer and improve public health globally. Their main observations and conclusions are reported in a Forum article published online today in BMC Medicine.
	UA researcher and doctoral student reconcile scientific standoff in colon cancer research When two studies attempting to identify new colon cancer treatment methods found different results, a researcher at the University of Arizona Cancer Center was asked to help settle the uncertainty.
Yellow fever outbreak in Ivory Coast kills one: health ministry Eighty-nine people have contracted yellow fever and one person has died in recent weeks during an outbreak in Ivory Coast, the health ministry said Tuesday.
	Heartburn drugs might bring allergy woes (HealthDay)—There are numerous drugs to treat digestive woes caused by heartburn or stomach ulcers. But solving one health problem may be causing another.
	Earlier puberty in Swedish boys only partially due to higher BMI (HealthDay)—There is a secular trend for earlier pubertal timing among Swedish boys, according to a study published online July 22 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Changes in radial pulse during menopause may reflect CV risk (HealthDay)—Changes in the harmonics of the radial pulse wave during menopause may reflect cardiovascular risk, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2019 Scientific Sessions, held from July 29 to Aug. 1 in Boston.
	Trees an oasis of mental well-being (HealthDay)—City dwellers who live on tree-lined streets might be happier and healthier for it, a large new study suggests.
	SGLT-2 inhibitor use not linked to increased risk for UTI events (HealthDay)—Initiation of therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus is not associated with an increased risk for urinary tract infection (UTI) events compared with initiation of other second-line antidiabetic medications, according to a study published online July 30 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Antioxidant compound from soybeans may prevent marijuana-induced blood vessel damage In laboratory tests, a compound found in soybeans blocked damage to the lining of blood vessels in the heart and circulatory system and may someday provide a way to prevent the cardiovascular side effects of recreational and medical marijuana use, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2019 Scientific Sessions.
	Candida auris is a new drug-resistant fungus emerging globally Early identification of Candida auris, a potentially deadly fungus that causes bloodstream and intra-abdominal infections, is the key to controlling its spread. Its emergence has highlighted gaps in fungal identification capacity in the U.S. and around the world, and physicians should be on alert for risk factors. A commentary is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Link between music and speech rhythm in brain could provide language insight Neuroscientist Dr. Domenica Bueti often plays an altered version of the classic aria La donna è mobile when she gives talks about the importance of time perception. Her friend's piano rendition of Giuseppe Verdi's composition uses the same notes but is played at different speeds. Rarely does anyone ever identify the tune.
	Study finds lower stress, depression levels in mothers of children with autism by improving relationships Mothers of young children with autism who focus on improving the quality of their own relationship skills—as opposed to teaching developmental skills to their children—experience dramatic improvements in their level of parenting stress and depression.
	Merck's global sales jump 12% in second quarter Soaring sales of its cancer blockbuster and vaccines helped drive Merck's second-quarter profit up a whopping 54%, blowing past Wall Street expectations.
	Drugmaker Eli Lilly tops 2Q expectations, raises forecast Eli Lilly raised its 2019 forecast after a jump in sales from the diabetes treatment Trulicity helped push the drugmaker to a better-than-expected second quarter.
	Q&A: Treating hair loss Dear Mayo Clinic: Can anything be done for hair loss that is likely hereditary? If so, what should I look for when choosing a hair regrowth product?
	Salsa's a zesty alternative to sauces (HealthDay)—Looking for a fresh way to top your burger, seafood and other proteins? Use hot peppers to create a zesty alternative to mayo or butter-based sauces.
	North Carolina man dies of brain-eating amoeba after visiting water park (HealthDay)—The rare brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri has been confirmed as the cause of death of a North Carolina man.
	Experts warn of mosquito-borne brain infection in Florida (HealthDay)—There is an increased risk for a mosquito-borne virus that causes brain infection and swelling, Florida health officials warn.
	New Ebola case diagnosed in DR Congo's Goma: health official A new case of Ebola has been registered in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, a key transport hub, a Congolese health official said on Tuesday, as the virus death toll rose to 1,790.
	Twins' deaths in hot car highlight a preventable tragedy (HealthDay)—It's happened again: A seemingly loving parent forgets a small child—in this case two children—in the back seat of a car on a hot day, with tragic results.

Biology news

	Thanks to science, parasite can have sex in mice, not just cats Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled parasite perhaps best known for its ability to trick mice into taking potentially fatal risks around cats and, in humans, as a serious threat to fetal health, has given up a long-held secret of its reproduction.
	How humans and chimpanzees travel towards a goal in rainforests How do human-unique ranging styles, like large home range and trail use, influence the way we travel to our goals? Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany, investigated spatial movement patterns of the Mbendjele BaYaka people and Taï chimpanzees. Human foragers and chimpanzees traveled in similarly straight lines towards goals, but they showed clearly different patterns in how they change linearity and speed depending on group size and familiarity with an area.
	New study reveals how TB bacteria may survive in human tissues Carbon monoxide is an infamous and silent killer that can cause death in minutes. But while it is deadly for us, some microorganisms actually thrive on it, by using this gas as an energy source.
	Fly antimicrobial defence system doubles as tumour-killer An antimicrobial agent called Defensin kills tumour cells and shrinks tumour size in fruit flies, with help from a pathway that flags the cells for destruction.
	Gene transcripts from ancient wolf analyzed after 14,000 years in permafrost RNA—the short-lived transcripts of genes—from the "Tumat puppy", a wolf of the Pleistocene era has been isolated, and its sequence analyzed in a new study by Oliver Smith of the University of Copenhagen and colleagues publishing on July 30 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology. The results establish the possibility of examining a range of RNA transcripts from ancient organisms, a possibility previously thought to be extremely unlikely because of the short lifespan of RNA.
	Scientists call for modernization of EU gene-editing legislation When using conventional methods, it usually takes relatively long to breed new plant varieties with favourable characteristics. On the other hand, precision breeding with genetic scissors such as CRISPR-Cas can significantly accelerate this process. However, the current interpretation of the European legislation prevents the use of genome editing in the European Union. European scientists are now appealing to the newly elected European Parliament and the European Commission to simplify the use of new methods for improving cultivated plants in order to enable the development of sustainable agriculture in Europe.
	Research identifies the SIGN-R1 molecule responsible for influenza virus recognition A team of researchers from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB, affiliated to USI Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland) have discovered and identified a molecule—SIGN-R1—capable of recognizing the multiple variants of influenza and consequently 'directing' the immune response in individuals affected by the disease. The results of the research, which pave the way for the design of alternative therapies to vaccination, are published in the scientific journal Nature Microbiology.
	Belligerent beetles show that fighting for mates could help animals survive habitat loss Animals around the world are seeing their environments change. Climate change is causing heating and changes to weather patterns, the oceans are becoming more acidic, and previously undisturbed habitats are being altered and degraded by human activities.
	New method increases accuracy of nontuberculous mycobacteria identification The bacterial genus Mycobacterium has the dubious honor of including species responsible for two of the best-known chronic human infectious diseases: tuberculosis and leprosy. But unlike their more famous cousins, for which effective treatment strategies have long been available, it is the 200 or so lesser known Mycobacterium species that are currently causing a resurgence in pulmonary diseases in recent times.
	Decoding the complex life of a simple parasite Dicyemids, microscopic parasites comprising 30 cells, are in-between creatures. With their basic three-part body plan, they are more complex than single-celled protozoans but considerably less complex than multicellular metazoans—the animals of the kingdom Animalia. Yet the simple makeup of these so-called mesozoans does not translate to a simple life.
	Conservation or construction? Deciding waterbird hotspots Imagine your favorite beach filled with thousands of ducks and gulls. Now envision coming back a week later and finding condos being constructed on that spot. This many ducks in one place surely should indicate this spot is exceptionally good for birds and must be protected from development, right?
	Gatekeepers of the genome Transcription factors control gene activation in cells. By binding to specific segments of DNA, they enable the blueprints that code for cellular proteins to be produced. But how are such factors themselves regulated?
	Electrifying insights into how bodies form At first glance, Mike Levin's lab looks like any standard biology lab with its shelves of petri dishes containing small, brown, semitransparent flatworms called planaria, one of the organisms his lab studies. Look more closely at the bodies of the tiny worms swimming and stretching under the plastic, however, and you might notice something strange—instead of a head and tail, each worm has two fully functional heads.
	Bangladesh 'extremely worried' over low male tiger population A lower-than-expected population of male Bengal tigers in the world's largest mangrove forest has sparked fears about the long-term viability of the endangered species in Bangladesh, officials said Tuesday.
	Birth at Safari Park marks milestone in saving nearly extinct rhino Victoria the southern white rhino is now happily bonding with her healthy newborn son at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. And with that birth on Sunday, the prospects for rescuing their nearly extinct kin have brightened.
	Bayer says now targeted in 18,400 glyphosate cases in US German pharmaceutical giant Bayer said Tuesday it is now targeted in some 18,400 US legal cases over glyphosate, a key herbicide ingredient that plaintiffs say caused grave illnesses like cancer.
New strategies for optimizing the specificity of gene editing nucleases Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., a genomic medicine company, announced today the publication in Nature Biotechnology of a manuscript by Jeffrey Miller, Ph.D., and colleagues at Sangamo, describing two new strategies for optimizing the specificity of genome editing using zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs). The ability to engineer highly specific gene editing nucleases with little or no detectable activity at unintended genomic sequences is a key safety factor for therapeutic applications. The strategies entail engineering the two key functional regions within the ZFN structure, namely adjusting the binding affinity of the zinc finger array which recognizes DNA, and slowing the catalytic rate of the Fok1 cleavage domain. The two approaches, which are complementary, may be combined to enable near 100% on-target modification with no detectable off-targets. The manuscript, titled "Enhancing gene editing specificity by attenuating DNA cleavage kinetics," was published online on July 29 and will appear in the August issue of Nature Biotechnology.
	Research aims to preserve the future of Ningaloo Reef corals Researchers at The University of Western Australia are a step closer to discovering more about the health of our oceans after analyzing how coral in Ningaloo Reef formed.
	Dozens of live pangolins found hidden on bus in Vietnam Dozens of live pangolins smuggled from Laos were discovered "dehydrated and weak" on a bus in central Vietnam, police and conservationists said Tuesday, in a country where the endangered mammals are a highly-prized delicacy.
	Hundreds of volunteers help save five whales stranded off Florida beach Five pilot whales stranded in shallow water on a Florida beach were rescued Monday afternoon thanks to the efforts of scientists, the Coast Guard, and a small army of beachgoers who volunteered to help.

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