Science X Newsletter Thursday, Aug 1

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 1, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Measurements induce a phase transition in entangled systems

Barn owls may hold key to navigation and location

Researchers build hybrid chip able to run autonomous bicycle

Physicists make graphene discovery that could help develop superconductors

Bats use leaves as mirrors to find prey in the dark

Distant 'heavy metal' gas planet is shaped like a football

The curious tale of the cancer 'parasite' that sailed the seas

3-D printing the human heart

New approach could make HVAC heat exchangers five times more efficient

Genomic data reveal intense fish harvesting causes rapid evolution

Decades-old pollutants melting out of Himalayan glaciers

Male black widow spiders piggyback on the work of their rivals to find female mates faster

Novel catalysis approach reduces carbon dioxide to methane

A new algorithm enables more realistic sound effects in VR

Speeding up drug discovery for brain diseases

Astronomy & Space news

	Distant 'heavy metal' gas planet is shaped like a football The scorching hot exoplanet WASP-121b may not be shredding any heavy metal guitar riffs, but it is sending heavy metals such as iron and magnesium into space. The distant planet's atmosphere is so hot that metal is vaporizing and escaping the planet's gravitational pull. The intense gravity of the planet's host star has also deformed the sizzling planet into a football shape.
	Flight by Light: Mission accomplished for LightSail 2 Mission accomplished: the Planetary Society announced Wednesday that its LightSail 2 spacecraft, which was launched last month, had successfully raised its orbit using only the power of photons from the Sun.
	Anaemic star carries the mark of its ancient ancestor A newly discovered ancient star containing a record-low amount of iron carries evidence of a class of even older stars, long hypothesised but assumed to have vanished.
	LightSail 2 spacecraft successfully demonstrates flight by light Years of computer simulations. Countless ground tests. They've all led up to now. The Planetary Society's crowdfunded LightSail 2 spacecraft is successfully raising its orbit solely on the power of sunlight.
Solar eclipse provides unique opportunity to study atmospheric waves Witnessing one total solar eclipse—the one that swept across the continental U.S. in 2017—wasn't enough for Montana State University senior Jaxen Godfrey. But when she flew to Chile in July to experience another, it wasn't just for the thrill. It was to continue studying an elusive atmospheric phenomenon.
	The mechanism for gamma-ray bursts from space is decoded Gamma-ray bursts, short and intense flashes of energetic radiation coming from outer space, are the brightest explosions in the universe. As gamma rays are blocked by the atmosphere, the bursts were discovered accidentally in the late sixties by the Vela satellites, defense satellites sent to monitor manmade nuclear explosions in space.
	One of two newly discovered exoplanets shows potential as a habitable world A super-scorched planet orbiting around a nearby dim star has helped reveal the presence of two previously unseen planets—one of which could host liquid water and thus be friendly to life, astronomers say.

Technology news

	Barn owls may hold key to navigation and location The way barn owl brains use sound to locate prey may be a template for electronic directional navigation devices, according to a team of Penn State engineers who are recreating owl brain circuitry in electronics.
	Researchers build hybrid chip able to run autonomous bicycle A team made up of members from a host of institutions in China, one in Singapore and one in the U.S., has built a hybrid chip that can control an autonomous bicycle. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes the effort that led to the chip and how well it worked when tested.
	A new algorithm enables more realistic sound effects in VR When we watch movies or play video games, the right sound effects can help make scenes more realistic: When a grizzled gambler rolls a silver dollar across a card table in a silver screen saloon, the sound seems to travel from ear to ear, a trick movie-makers can accomplish by splicing in a pre-recorded sound that moves from speaker to speaker.
	Why did my classifier just mistake a turtle for a rifle? A few years ago, the idea of tricking a computer vision system by subtly altering pixels in an image or hacking a street sign seemed like more of a hypothetical threat than anything to seriously worry about. After all, a self-driving car in the real world would perceive a manipulated object from multiple viewpoints, cancelling out any misleading information. At least, that's what one study claimed.
	Storytelling bots learn to punch up their last lines Nothing disappoints quite like a good story with a lousy finish. So researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who work in the young field of automated storytelling don't think they're getting ahead of themselves by devising better endings.
	Cut, fold, send: 3M develops a way to declutter shipping "It's kind of insane that shipping materials haven't evolved much," said Duncan Nielsen in Dwell. Nielsen just about nailed what is puzzling about the way packages are, well, packed.
	Research looks at how Snapchat filters affect self-image While observing heavy use of selfie apps such as Snapchat, graduate student Amy Niu found herself wondering about the effects that virtual makeovers have on college-age females.
	'Erratic' online handle apt for Capital One hack suspect The 33-year-old former Amazon software engineer accused of hacking Capital One made little attempt to hide her attack. In fact, she effectively publicized it.
	Siemens pins hopes on rail as manufacturing gloom hits home German industrial conglomerate Siemens reported Thursday falling profits in its third quarter across most of its sprawling operations as manufacturers worldwide suffered, but said it could still reach full-year targets.
	Novel camera system could provide cost-effective way to monitor crop temperatures A hot plant is an early warning sign of an under-watered, unhealthy plant, which makes monitoring crop temperatures a priority for many farmers. But to do so, they need the right equipment. Infrared cameras can detect heat and convert it into an image, but they are large, unwieldy and expensive. Infrared sensors are less expensive, but they don't provide images, which makes accurate monitoring difficult for medium and large-sized fields.
	New Zealand poised to introduce clean car standards and incentives to cut emissions The New Zealand government has proposed new fuel standards to cut greenhouse emissions, along with consumer rebates for cleaner cars—paid for by fees on high-polluting cars.
	Data collected by governments can be useful to researchers, but only when accessed carefully Data are generated every time we make a purchase or receive other services such as health care. This has always been the case, but over the past 20 years, data collection has become increasingly automated, with data collected and stored in digital (rather than paper) formats.
	VW diesel scandal cost German carmakers plenty The Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal pulled down sales for other German car companies by about 105,000 vehicles worth $5.2 billion in 2016, according to a study that looked at how much collective reputation matters.
	Software to empower workers on the factory floor Manufacturers are constantly tweaking their processes to get rid of waste and improve productivity. As such, the software they use should be as nimble and responsive as the operations on their factory floors.
	Looking for work? Your next job interview might just come by text message When the text message popped up on his iPhone, Malcolm Barnes was skeptical. Could this really be from a recruiter? Sure, he had applied online for a job. But in the era of data breaches, spam and scams, he wasn't sure whether to trust it.
	Ancestry will let you search online for relatives who were displaced by the Holocaust Ancestry is digitizing millions of Holocaust and Nazi-persecution records and making them searchable online for the first time ever. Anyone, not just Ancestry's paid members, can explore the records at the company's site.
	Report warns of possible mass casualties from automotive cyberattacks Warnings about connected vehicle vulnerabilities have been a steady drumbeat for years. Now a consumer-advocacy group is putting it in starker terms, suggesting a mass cyberattack against such vehicles could lead to Sept. 11-level casualties.
	Artificial intelligence could help air travelers save a bundle Researchers are using artificial intelligence to help airlines price ancillary services such as checked bags and seat reservations in a way that is beneficial to customers' budget and privacy, as well as to the airline industry's bottom line.
	How roads can help cool sizzling cities Special permeable concrete pavement can help reduce the "urban heat island effect" that causes cities to sizzle in the summer, according to a Rutgers-led team of engineers.
	IndyCar to use hybrid technology to boost horsepower, safety IndyCar plans to use hybrid technology to increase horsepower and improve safety.
	Google halts Assistant speech data transcription in EU Google has given reassurances that it won't make transcripts of speech data picked up by its Google Assistant system in the European Union for at least the next three months, a German data-protection authority said Thursday.
Ninja out: Gaming megastar leaves Twitch for Mixer Fortnite superstar Tyler "Ninja" Blevins has left Twitch and is taking his video game live streams to Microsoft's Mixer platform, a stunning switch that could have wide-ranging consequences for the rapidly growing industry.
	Amazon says French clients to bear cost of France's new digital tax Amazon plans to pass on the costs of France's new digital tax on internet giants to the businesses that use its Marketplace platform for finding customers, instead of taking the hit itself, the US online retailer said Thursday.
	Lyft suspends e-bikes after battery fires Lyft said it was suspending use of its shared electric bikes in San Francisco after reports of two battery fires.
	Congress wants Capital One, Amazon to explain data breach Leaders of House and Senate committees want Capital One and Amazon to explain to Congress how a hacker accessed personal information from more than 100 million Capital One credit applications.
	Whistleblower vindicated in Cisco cybersecurity case A computer security expert who has won a trailblazing payout in a whistleblower lawsuit over critical security flaws he found in October 2008 in Cisco Systems Inc. video surveillance software thought his discovery would be a career-boosting milestone.
	Tribune Media, Nexstar must divest some TV stations for merger The US Department of Justice said Wednesday that Tribune Media and Nexstar must divest television stations in 13 markets to address concerns over their $6.4 billion merger.
	BMW profits dented by electric vehicle investment costs German high-end carmaker BMW on Thursday reported slumping second quarter profits, with pricey investment in electric cars sapping the bottom line, but it remained confident of hitting its financial targets.
	Verizon adds more cellphone customers; profit slips Verizon's net income fell in the second quarter but a key earnings measure topped analyst expectations as the country's largest cellphone company added more wireless customers.
	Bombardier reports loss in Q2 amid issues with rail contracts Canadian plane and train maker Bombardier on Thursday announced major losses in the second quarter due to delays in fulfilling several of its rail contracts, and revised down its earnings forecast for the year.
	Pricey truck sales boost GM earnings despite lower volumes Strong demand for pricey, high-end trucks in North America boosted General Motors' earnings, offsetting lower car sales, especially in China, the company announced Thursday.

Medicine & Health news

	3-D printing the human heart A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University has published a paper in Science that details a new technique allowing anyone to 3-D bioprint tissue scaffolds out of collagen, the major structural protein in the human body. This first-of-its-kind method brings the field of tissue engineering one step closer to being able to 3-D print a full-sized, adult human heart.
	Speeding up drug discovery for brain diseases A research team led by Whitehead Institute scientists has identified 30 distinct chemical compounds—20 of which are drugs undergoing clinical trial or have already been approved by the FDA—that boost the protein production activity of a critical gene in the brain and improve symptoms of Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental condition that often provokes autism-like behaviors in patients. The new study, conducted in human cells and mice, helps illuminate the biology of an important gene, called KCC2, which is implicated in a variety of brain diseases, including autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and depression. The researchers' findings, published in the July 31 online issue of Science Translational Medicine, could help spur the development of new treatments for a host of devastating brain disorders.
	Can a combination immune therapy reduce genital herpes outbreaks? Yale investigators have shown that the combination of a vaccine and a medicated cream is a promising strategy to dramatically reduce the recurrence of genital herpes. Their study, co-led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, was published in the journal npj Vaccines.
	Injectable 'bone spackling': A cell therapy approach to heal complex fractures Large, complex bone wounds are hard for doctors and patients alike to contend with. They often require grafts and multiple surgeries.
	Using AI to predict acute kidney injury A team of researchers from DeepMind, the U.S. Veterans Administration and several other institutions in the U.K. and the U.S. has applied artificial intelligence to the problem of detecting acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their deep learning project and how well it performed.
	Digital games may beat mindfulness apps at relieving stress Digital games, typical of those used on smartphones, may relieve stress after a day's work more effectively than mindfulness apps, according to a study by UCL and the University of Bath.
	Brain activity may help predict success of CBT in depression In a new study, led by the University of Glasgow and published in Science Advances, scientists show that brain activity recorded using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) may help predict response to CBT in depression before the treatment commences. The advances could help patients receive the most appropriate treatment for depression in a timely manner.
	Sugarcoating the search for a new vaccine A vaccine based on sugarcoats does have the potential to combat a multi-resistant staphylococcus. That is what Jeroen Codée and his colleagues from Utrecht state in Nature. In doing so, they are contradicting the earlier conclusions of German colleagues.
	Knockout mice are guide to new genes for eye and skin disorders Albinism is the best-known of a group of rare genetic disorders that can affect both eyes and skin. Some genes have been identified that are linked to these conditions, but many remain mysterious. Now a team led by UC Davis researchers has identified dozens of these genetic mutations in a screen of gene-targeted "knockout" mice. The authors hope the work, published Aug. 1 in Scientific Reports, will be a resource for clinicians specializing in genetic disorders.
	Blood test is 94% accurate at identifying early Alzheimer's disease Up to two decades before people develop the characteristic memory loss and confusion of Alzheimer's disease, damaging clumps of protein start to build up in their brains. Now, a blood test to detect such early brain changes has moved one step closer to clinical use.
	Old cells, new tricks—important clue to AML diagnosis and cure discovered Around 22,000 people will be diagnosed this year in the US with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the second most common type of leukemia diagnosed in adults and children, and the most aggressive of the leukemias. Less than one third of AML patients survive five years beyond diagnosis.
	Researchers unlock cancer cells' feeding mechanism, central to tumor growth An international team led by researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Japan's Keio and Hiroshima universities has discovered the energy production mechanism of cancerous cells that drives the growth of the nucleolus and causes tumors to rapidly multiply.
	Jogging and five other exercises ward off weight gain despite 'obesity genes' For people who inherited genes that increase their chance of becoming obese, there is hope for keeping the weight off. A study by Wan-Yu Lin of National Taiwan University and colleagues, published 1st August in PLOS Genetics, identified the types of exercise that are especially effective at combatting genetic effects that contribute to obesity.
	New vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) elicits strong immune response An experimental vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), one of the leading causes of infectious disease deaths in infants, has shown early promise in a Phase 1 human clinical trial. A team of researchers, including The University of Texas at Austin's Jason McLellan, report today in the journal Science that one dose of their vaccine candidate elicited large increases in RSV-neutralizing antibodies that were sustained for several months.
	'Wildling' mice could help translate results in animal models to results in humans Researchers at the National Institutes of Health developed a new mouse model that could improve the translation of research in mice into advances in human health. The mouse model, which the scientists called "wildling," acquired the microbes and pathogens of wild mice, while maintaining the laboratory mice's genetics that make them more useful for research. In two preclinical studies, wildlings mirrored human immune responses, where lab mice failed to do so. Led by scientists at the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the study published online in Science.
	'Voltron' imaging tool captures brain cell action in living animals Luke Lavis has spent years developing fluorescent dyes in every color of the rainbow. The super-bright, long-lasting dyes have been used in labs around the world and have helped make Nobel Prize-winning microscopy advances possible.
	Scientists discover immune cell subtype in mice that drives allergic reactions Allergies can be life-threatening when they cause anaphylaxis, an extreme reaction with constriction of the airways and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Scientists have identified a subtype of immune cell that drives the production of antibodies associated with anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions. The research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, and reveals a potential target for new therapies to prevent severe allergic reactions. The findings are published online today in the journal Science.
	Hidden chemistry in flowers shown to kill cancer cells Researchers at the University of Birmingham have shown that it's possible to produce a compound with anti-cancer properties directly from feverfew—a common flowering garden plant.
Poor methodology reporting makes radiation oncology studies impossible to replicate Nearly 80 percent of radiation oncology studies funded by the National Institutes of Health involve investigating the effects that radiation has on tumor cells and healthy tissue in pre-clinical settings, such as experiments done in cell cultures or mice. A majority of these radiation biology studies, however, have serious flaws in how their irradiation methodology is described, which makes them very difficult to replicate, according to a new finding from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
	Researchers show how side hit to the head could damage brain, lead to concussion Play contact sports for any length of time and at one point or another you're probably going to have your 'bell rung' by a powerful blow to the head from a hard hit or fall. Rising awareness of the severe, abiding repercussions of strong impacts to the head—concussions, mild traumatic brain injury, neurological disorders—have led scientists to focus on what exactly happens inside a skull during a big hit.
	Precision editing of gut bacteria reduces cancer in mice UT Southwestern researchers have shown that precision editing of the bacterial populations in the gut reduces inflammation-associated colorectal cancer in mice.
	Data on alcohol-related incidents show positive trends Dartmouth has released its latest data on the number of alcohol-related incidents involving undergraduates on campus. The new information, which tracks incidents through the 2018-2019 academic year, is available on the Student Wellness Center website.
Review calls for better care in our dying days A new paper from The Australian National University (ANU) highlighting failings with palliative care and how we are cared for when we die.
	Genetically at-risk youth can lower risk of alcohol problems by taking part in prevention program For people with a genetic predisposition to alcohol problems, participating in a family based prevention program during adolescence reduced the likelihood that they would develop those problems as an adult, according to a new study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers.
	Excellence payments to hospitals improve hip fracture care Hip fractures are a major cause of death and disability among older people worldwide, with 70,000 cases every year in the UK, which cost the NHS around £2 billion.
	Japan approves growing human organs in animals for first time Scientists in Japan will begin trying to grow human organs in animals after receiving government permission for the first study of its kind in the country.
	Backs to the future: jump in MRI accuracy raises hope for pain sufferers A new MRI scanning technique for analysing degenerated spinal discs improves accuracy from 70% using current methods to 97%, raising hope of better diagnoses of back pain.
	New role for microtubules in diabetes The failure of pancreatic beta cells to release appropriate amounts of insulin in response to rising blood glucose levels is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes.
	Toddler brains resist learning from screens, even video chat Little ones may be fascinated by the cartoon character or person on TV asking them questions and pausing for a response. But science shows that children under the age of 30 months don't tend to learn from such encounters.
	Study highlights RSV burden on infants in Nicaragua Respiratory syncytial virus, a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections, is behind one of every four deaths from acute illness for children under 2 years old in Nicaragua, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Low muscle mass in arms and legs can heighten mortality risk after 65 Evaluating body composition, especially appendicular muscle mass, can be an effective strategy for predicting longevity in people over 65 years of age, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil.
	Stress in cervical cancer patients associated with higher risk of cancer-specific mortality Psychological stress was associated with a higher risk of cancer-specific mortality in women diagnosed with cervical cancer.
	A potential cure for sleeplessness New research from Queen's University's Judith Davidson (Psychology) has shown insomnia can be treated effectively at the family doctor's office without the use of drugs.
	Are there certain foods you can eat to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease? With the rise of fad diets, "superfoods", and a growing range of dietary supplement choices, it's sometimes hard to know what to eat.
	Aging with pets isn't just a sentimental concern, but a matter of health and wellness Is home somewhere that you feel comfortable? Is it filled with memories of beloved friends and family—some of whom may be furry animals?
	What is herd immunity and how many people need to be vaccinated to protect a community? The term herd immunity comes from the observation of how a herd of buffalo forms a circle, with the strong on the outside protecting the weaker and more vulnerable on the inside.
	How hangovers reduce brain function Hangovers reduce brain function and memory, according to new research from Swinburne University of Technology (Swinburne) in Melbourne.
	'Prescribed' smartphone app offers hope to young people who self-harm A new mental health app, designed to help manage negative emotions and periods of extreme anxiety for young people, could have a significant impact on reducing self-harm according to research.
	Super-resolution microscopy sheds light on how dementia protein becomes dysfunctional University of Queensland researchers have used super-resolution microscopy to observe key molecules at work inside living brain cells, further unravelling the puzzle of memory formation and the elusive causes of dementia.
Middle-school Latino children report more depressive symptoms after family member arrested Latino children who experience the immigration-related arrest of a family member report more severe levels of depression than those who don't have such an experience, especially if one or both parents are undocumented, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Low level exposure to air pollution is harmful, mouse model shows Air pollution is made up of both gaseous and particulate matter (PM). Each year almost two million people die as a direct result of air pollution with many more experiencing impaired lung function, developing lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However research, on the effects of low level air pollution, is often overlooked.
	Unmasking the hidden burden of tuberculosis in Mozambique The real burden of tuberculosis is probably higher than estimated, according to a study on samples from autopsies performed in a Mozambican hospital. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa," shows that highly sensitive molecular techniques can detect cases that escape clinical diagnosis and even traditional post-mortem examination of organs and tissues.
	Levels of 'ugly cholesterol' in the blood are much higher than previously imagined The amount of remnant particle cholesterol in the blood, the so-called ugly cholesterol, is much higher than previously believed. This is shown in new research from the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital. The discovery may have implications for future prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
	Edinburgh is global hotspot for inflammatory bowel disease rates Edinburgh has some of the highest known rates of inflammatory bowel disease in the world and the figure is expected to rise in the next 10 years.
Autopsies reveal how meth hurts the heart Use of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine causes build-up of tough protein fibers in heart muscle, which may help explain the development of enlarged hearts and heart failure in users, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2019 Scientific Sessions.
	Study examines direct-to-consumer stem cell clinics in six Southwestern states This direct-to-consumer stem cell marketplace has come under increasing scrutiny, but relatively little is known about the clinics that deliver these treatments or how the treatments they offer align with the expertise of the practitioners providing them. In a paper published August 1 in the journal Stem Cell Reports, investigators offer a detailed characterization of nearly 170 stem cell businesses across six southwestern states. The study focused on Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, where the researchers estimate that about one-third of all stem cell clinics in the US are located.
	Two fraudsters, one passport Computers are more accurate than humans at detecting digitally manipulated ID photos, which merge the images of two people, new research has found.
	New blood test can detect rejection by antibodies after kidney transplant A group of European scientists led by KU Leuven has found a biomarker that can identify patients with symptoms of kidney rejection symptoms after a transplant as a result of antibodies. The identification can be done through a simple blood test and at an early stage. It is the first known biomarker for rejection by antibodies. The researchers hope that the test can be further developed quickly for use in the hospital.
	Clinical trial to evaluate experimental treatment in people allergic to multiple foods Though food allergy affects more than 4.8 million children in the United States, no approved preventative treatments currently exist. While experimental desensitization strategies are available in research settings, people with food allergies must avoid known allergens and are advised to carry injectable epinephrine to prevent potentially life-threatening allergic reactions caused by accidental exposures. To help alleviate this risk, a new study to evaluate an experimental treatment for food allergy launched today. The study is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health; Genentech, a member of the Roche Group; and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
	Treatment for liver disorder in pregnancy ineffective, finds new study Research led by King's College London has found that the currently recommended treatment for a common pregnancy liver disorder that can result in preterm birth and stillbirth, is ineffective and should be reconsidered.
	Cigarette smoke in pregnancy may impair healing of newborns' hearts Exposure to cigarette smoke in utero strongly harms a newborn heart's ability to repair itself after injury, according to a preliminary study of mice.
	Study finds racial gap in who gets critical stroke treatments Black and Hispanic people having a stroke are less likely than their white counterparts to get treatments proven to reduce death and improve quality of life, new research shows.
	Health cautions for young male athletes (HealthDay)—Exercise has many health benefits for boys, ranging from a lower chance of obesity to improved self-esteem. It may also reduce risk-taking behaviors. However, some sports come with cautions, especially those with weight classes that could lead to excessive dieting or even anorexia.
	Is your daughter, the athlete, eating enough? (HealthDay)—Exercise is essential for girls, but problems can occur if they take in too few calories.
	Could exercise in pregnancy boost baby's health, too? (HealthDay)—Women who keep moving during pregnancy may have infants with more advanced motor skills, a small study suggests.
	Discovery of distinct lung cancer pathways may lead to more targeted treatments Known for its poor prognosis, lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, responsible for about 4 of 10 diagnoses, according to the National Cancer Institute. Researchers on Mayo Clinic's Florida campus can now distinguish between two pathways where this deadly cancer can develop. They say their discovery could help future patients. The findings appear in Cancer Cell.
	Despite treatment, elderly cancer patients have worse outcomes if HIV-positive Elderly cancer patients who are HIV-positive, particularly those with prostate and breast cancers, have worse outcomes compared to cancer patients in the same age range who do not have HIV. A Moffitt Cancer Center researcher, in collaboration with investigators at the National Cancer Institute, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, took a closer look at the disparity, factoring in whether or not cancer treatment had an impact on outcomes among this patient population. Their findings were published today in JAMA Oncology.
	Childhood BMI, HDL-C variability may up later-life diabetes risk (HealthDay)—High variability in body mass index (BMI) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) during childhood are associated with an increased risk for later-life diabetes, according to a study published online July 18 in Diabetes Care.
Study highlights need to rethink emergency responses for children in humanitarian settings From risks of violence and abuse to disrupting their development, humanitarian crises present major threats to the wellbeing of children, and for more than two decades Child Friendly Spaces have been considered one of the best ways to respond.
	Study casts doubt on evidence for 'gold standard' psychological treatments A paper appearing today in a special edition of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology questions much of the statistical evidence underpinning therapies designated as "Empirically Supported Treatments," or ESTs, by Division 12 of the American Psychological Association.
	Monthly lifestyle counseling tied to better outcomes for patients with diabetes For primary care physicians caring for patients with type 2 diabetes, it's a familiar conversation: Exercise. Improve your diet. Lose weight. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event so physicians counsel their patients on how to make lifestyle changes to help regain control of their blood sugar levels and diminish that risk. But does this counseling help? Should physicians continue advising patients repeatedly? A new study in Diabetes Care suggests that patients who received lifestyle counseling at least once a month were at decreased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes and hospitalization for chest pain as well as death from any cause compared to those who received counseling less frequently.
Sudden hearing loss: Update to guideline to improve implementation and awareness The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation published the Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss (Update) today in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) affects five to 27 per 100,000 people annually, with about 66,000 new cases per year in the United States.
	How little we know: Experts document the lack of research on youth firearm injury A century ago, if a child or teenager died, an infectious disease was the most likely cause.
Study assesses outcomes for meth users with burn injures UC Davis Health researchers were surprised to find that methamphetamine use is not linked with worse health outcomes among burn patients. However, meth use was associated with significantly worse conditions for those patients after their release from the hospital.
	Improving outcomes for sepsis patients More than 1 million sepsis survivors are discharged annually from acute care hospitals in the United States. Although the majority of these patients receive post-acute care (PAC) services, with over a third coming to home health care (HHC), sepsis survivors account for a majority of readmissions nationwide. Effective interventions are needed to decrease these poor outcomes.
	Peering into the soul of the immune system to better fight disease A rare, short-lived population of immune cells in the bloodstream may serve as 'periscopes' to monitor immune status via lymph nodes deep inside the body, according to researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Their findings are published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).
	New computational method could advance precision medicine Scientists have devised a new computational method that reveals genetic patterns in the massive jumble of individual cells in the body.
	Cancer without end? Discovery yields fresh insights If there is any consolation to be found in cancer, it may be that the devastating disease dies with the individual carrying it. Or so it had long been assumed. Recent research however has uncovered some forms of cancer that are transmissible, jumping from one host to another. Indeed, one such contagious cancer, known as canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT), has managed to persist in dogs for thousands of years.
Racism influences medical students' decision on practicing in minority or underserved communities A longitudinal study of 3,756 U.S. medical students provides evidence that racism in medical schools influenced their decisions on whether to practice in minority or underserved communities.
	1-year-old daughter of Congo man who died of Ebola has virus The 1-year-old daughter of the man who died of Ebola in Congo's major city of Goma this week has the disease, the health ministry said Thursday, while Rwanda closed its border with Congo over the virus outbreak that now enters its second year.
	Intestinal immune cell interactions Multiple types of immune cells are interspersed among the epithelial cells lining the intestines and are considered to be a first line of defense against pathogens. The survival and interaction of these intraepithelial lymphocytes and their roles in intestinal inflammation are not well understood.
Brexit: nuclear medicine at risk from no-deal With Boris Johnson as prime minister, a no-deal Brexit looks more likely. Indeed, Goldman Sachs recently raised the probability of a no-deal Brexit from 15% to 20%. Faced with an uncertain future, it is difficult to make adequate preparations for critical medicines—especially ones with a complex supply chain.
	Rwanda shuts DR Congo border after Ebola cases in frontier city Rwanda has shuttered its frontier with Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo after a third case of the deadly virus was detected in the border city of Goma, the Congolese presidency said Thursday.
	Youth empowerment program can prevent childhood obesity A first-of-its-kind study had Worcester youths create their own narratives about reducing sugary drink consumption, successfully leading to behavior changes and preventing excess weight gain.
	Scientists study the effect of mutations of Alzheimer's disease A team of neurobiologists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) published an article on their study of the causes of Alzheimer's disease and suggested therapy methods. The scientists believe the disease is associated with the genes that code the formation of contacts between neurons. The team also discovered a substance that could considerably reduce the negative effect of mutations in these genes. The work was published in Neuroscience.
	Infant mortality rates highest for non-hispanic blacks (HealthDay)—Mortality rates are much higher for infants of non-Hispanic black women than for infants of other race/ethnic groups, according to the Aug. 1 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	ATS publishes clinical guideline on obesity hypoventilation syndrome The American Thoracic Society has published an official clinical guideline on the evaluation and management of obesity hypoventilation syndrome in the Society's Aug. 1 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Biology news

	Bats use leaves as mirrors to find prey in the dark On moonless nights in a tropical forest, bats slice through the inky darkness, snatching up insects resting silently on leaves—a seemingly impossible feat. New experiments at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) show that by changing their approach angle, the echolocating leaf-nosed bats can use this sixth sense to find acoustically camouflaged prey. These new findings, published in Current Biology, have exciting implications for the evolution of predator-prey interactions.
	The curious tale of the cancer 'parasite' that sailed the seas A contagious canine cancer that conquered the world by spreading between dogs during mating likely arose around 6,000 years ago in Asia and spread around the globe through maritime activities, scientists say.
	Genomic data reveal intense fish harvesting causes rapid evolution For the first time, scientists have unraveled genetic changes that cause rapid fish evolution due to intense harvesting—changes that previously had been invisible to researchers.
	Male black widow spiders piggyback on the work of their rivals to find female mates faster A new University of Toronto study finds male black widow spiders will hijack silk trails left by rival males in their search for a potential mate.
	Study shows placenta truly is a bacteria-free zone A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge has found evidence indicating that the human placenta is a sterile environment. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their study of the placental environment and what they found. In an accompanying News and Views piece, Nicola Segata, with Università degli Studi di Trento, suggests that the findings by the team indicate that the placenta is unlikely to be the main source of the infant microbiota.
	Repairing harmful effects of inbreeding could save the iconic Helmeted Honeyeater Habitat destruction results in wildlife populations that are small, made up of relatives, and have low genetic variation.
	Turtle embryos play a role in determining their own sex In certain turtle species, the temperature of the egg determines whether the offspring is female or male. But now, new research shows that the embryos have some say in their own sexual destiny: they can move around inside the egg to find different temperatures. The study, publishing August 1 in the journal Current Biology, examines how this behavior may help turtles offset the effects of climate change.
	Tracking baby fish for better reef management A group of Australian scientists has created the world's first computer model that can accurately predict the movements of baby coral trout across the Great Barrier Reef. The study confirms the importance of fish larvae produced in no-take zones for the health of fish populations within nearby fishing zones.
	Three concepts from complexity could play a big role in social animal research From bees to birds to humans, the animal kingdom is full of organisms that have evolved complex social structures to solve specific problems they encounter. Explaining why some species evolved more complex societies than others has been a fundamental challenge in the field of social animal research, and might be best approached with tools from complex systems, according to a team of researchers from the Santa Fe Institute.
	Chromosome structure inspires intricate works of art A collaboration between a Virginia Tech entomology professor, art professor, and computer science professor working in biophysics has resulted in the creation of stunning works of art that can help researchers and the public better understand the function of DNA and chromosomes in many important cellular processes.
	Cat causes carnage in rare seabird colony Ph.D. student Claire Greenwell from Murdoch University's Harry Butler Institute helped to establish the successful Fairy Tern colony in Mandurah, South-Western Australia, resulting in a thriving colony containing 111 nests by late November 2018.
	Mastering metabolism for shark and ray survival Understanding the internal energy flow—including the metabolism—of large ocean creatures like sharks and rays could be key to their survival in a changing climate, according to a new study.
	Buzz kill: mass bee deaths sting Russian beekeepers Anatoly Rubtsov looked despondently at the beehives lining his property. "The farm used to be loud, it sang," he said. Today just a faint buzz is audible but an overpowering rotting stench hung in the air after his bees were likely poisoned by a pesticide.
	The purpose of life: why the textbook needs an update New research from Australia and Finland could help explain one of nature's strangest quirks—why some animals forego mating to help other animals procreate.
	A scientific approach to recreate metabolic evolution in plants Plants have evolved to produce a variety of compounds that vary from species to species. These compounds play a key role for the survival strategies of plants. Compounds that are bitter and poisonous protect the plants from being eaten by insects and animals. Meanwhile, compounds that have good smell or colorful pigments attract insects carrying pollens.
	Can plants think? They could one day force us to change our definition of intelligence Some might balk at the idea that plants made of roots, stems and leaves could have intelligence or consciousness. But scientists have actually been hotly debating this idea for decades.
	New research helps hay producers manage Bermuda grass stem maggot A relatively new pest—the Bermuda grass stem maggot—is plaguing Texas hay producers this season, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
	The drug combination effective against bovine leukemia Scientists have succeeded in reducing levels of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in cows with severe infections by combining an immune checkpoint inhibitor and an enzyme inhibitor. The finding could be utilized to control other diseases in cattle, and perhaps in humans someday.
	Research looks at virus past to predict future outbreaks Looking at the past may help the future when combating some viruses in humans, especially the evolutionary history of hantaviruses.
	Finding weakness in bacterial protein to fight antibiotic resistance Researchers reveal previously undiscovered hot spots on the surface of bacteria's critical enzyme, which could guide novel approaches to antibiotic design.
	Scientists crack the code to improve stress tolerance in plants In any eukaryotic organism, the DNA in a cell exists not as a loose strand, but as a highly condensed complex that consists of DNA and other proteins known as histones. Overall, this condensed structure is referred to as chromatin, and this packaging is important for maintaining the integrity of DNA structure and sequence. However, as chromatin restricts the topology of DNA, modification of chromatin (via modification of histones) is an important form of regulation of genes and is referred to as epigenetic regulation. Now, a group of scientists, led by Prof Sachihiro Matsunaga from Tokyo University of Science, has uncovered a novel epigenetic regulation mechanism, at the center of which lies a histone demethylase enzyme called lysine-specific demethylase 1-like 1 (LDL1). Prof Matsunaga states, "The novel mechanism of epigenetic regulation that we found is related to DNA damage repair in plants, and we believe that it has a lot of real-world applications." This study is published in American Society of Plant Biologists.
	Scientists identify a new signaling component important for plant symbiosis A proteomics-based protein-protein interaction study has led to the discovery of proteins that interact with a legume receptor that mediates signal transduction from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. This shows how symbiotic signals from symbiotic bacteria are transmitted upon perception, ultimately leading to their accommodation within the host plant.
	Endometrial diseases can be imitated in a lab dish, new study shows Biomedical researchers at KU Leuven have found a new way to study endometrial diseases such as endometriosis and cancer. They were able to grow three-dimensional cell structures from diseased tissue of patients. The biobank can be used to unravel the disorders and test drugs.
	Using organisms to decontaminate soil The German Ministry of Education and Research is funding a long-term soil remediation project run by the University of Jena. The project is to investigate and test biological methods for remediating soils contaminated with metal at the former uranium mining site near Ronneburg, Thuringia, to renew the soils, and to make them available for land use.
	Human genetic diversity of South America reveals complex history of Amazonia The vast cultural and linguistic diversity of Latin American countries is still far from being fully represented by genetic surveys. Western South America in particular holds a key role in the history of the continent due to the presence of three major ecogeographic domains (the Andes, the Amazonia, and the Pacific Coast), and for hosting the earliest and largest complex societies. A new study in Molecular Biology and Evolution by an international team lead by scholars from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and from the University of Zurich reveals signatures of history, ecology and cultural diversity in the genetic makeup of living rural populations.

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