Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 22

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 22, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Functioning brain follows famous sand pile model
- Genetic analysis of 40,000-year-old jawbone reveals early modern humans interbred with Neandertals
- Expanding the DNA alphabet: 'Extra' DNA base found to be stable in mammals
- Fabricating inexpensive, high-temp SQUIDs: Discovery paves way for new kinds of superconducting electronics
- Best of Last Week – Renewable energy from evaporating water, left-handed kangaroos and a fasting diet that slows aging
- Is salt the key to unlocking the interiors of Neptune and Uranus?
- New spin on 'silicon valleytronics' could revolutionise future technologies
- How understanding GPS can help you hit a curveball
- PrEP data links anti-HIV immune response to reduce chance of infection
- Biologists find mistletoe species lacks genes found in all other complex organisms
- Researchers create synthetic membranes that grow like living cells
- Scarlet macaw skeletons point to early emergence of Pueblo hierarchy (Update)
- Sony doubles PlayStation storage in Xbox counter
- Manning up: Men may overcompensate when their masculinity is threatened
- Detecting exoplanets close to their host star: Astronomers develop breakthrough optical component

Astronomy & Space news

	MIRO maps water in comet's coma MIRO, the Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter, first detected the emission from water molecules in the coma of Comet 67P/C-G on 6 June 2014, when Rosetta was 350,000 km from the comet, approximately equivalent to the distance of the Earth from the Moon. At the time, the comet was 3.9 AU – about 580 million km – from the Sun.
	Star formation near supermassive black holes Most if not all galaxies are thought to host a supermassive black hole in their nuclei, a finding that is both one the most important and amazing in modern astronomy. A supermassive black hole grows by accreting mass, and while growing its feeding frenzy is not hidden from our view—it generates large amounts of energy. During the evolutionary phase in which it is most active, the object is known as an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Although there is a difference of a factor of about one billion in physical size scales between the black hole's accreting environment and its host galaxy, the two sizes are found to be closely correlated, suggesting that there is some kind of feedback between the growth of the black hole and that of its host galaxy. Understanding what the feedback mechanisms are, and how they affect the growth of the galaxy (in particular its star formation), are of paramount importance for our understanding galaxy f! ormation and evolution. Both processes are thought to peak in activity when the universe was only a few billion years old. Neither is particularly well understood.
	Detecting exoplanets close to their host star: Astronomers develop breakthrough optical component Astronomers have successfully commissioned a new type of optic that can reveal the image of an exoplanet next to its parent star. The 'vector Apodizing Phase Plate' (vector-APP) coronagraph was installed at the 6.5-m Magellan Clay telescope in Chile in May 2015, and the first observations demonstrated an unprecedented contrast performance very close to the star, where planets are more likely to reside. These results will be presented by PhD student Gilles Otten this Monday afternoon to the scientific community at the "In the Spirit of Lyot" conference organized by the Centre for Research in Astrophysics of Québec and researchers at the University of Montreal.
	Astronomers discover more than 800 dark galaxies in the famous Coma Cluster A group of researchers from the Stony Brook University (the State University of New York) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan has discovered 854 "ultra dark galaxies" in the Coma Cluster by analyzing archival data from the Subaru Telescope. The discovery of 47 such mysterious dark galaxies was a surprising find in 2014, and the new discovery of more than 800 suggests galaxy clusters as the key environment for the evolution of these mysterious dark galaxies. "Not only these galaxies appear very diffuse," said Jin Koda, principal investigator of the study, "but they are very likely enveloped by something very massive."
	MAVEN results find Mars behaving like a rock star If planets had personalities, Mars would be a rock star according to recent preliminary results from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft. Mars sports a "Mohawk" of escaping atmospheric particles at its poles, "wears" a layer of metal particles high in its atmosphere, and lights up with aurora after being smacked by solar storms. MAVEN is also mapping out the escaping atmospheric particles. The early results are being discussed at a MAVEN-sponsored "new media" workshop held in Berkeley, California, on June 19-21.
	Image: LISA Pathfinder electrode housing box This photo, suggestive of an old-fashioned lift cage, in fact shows inside a much smaller enclosure: one of the electrode housing boxes that will fly on ESA's LISA Pathfinder mission, planned for launch later this year. The inside of the box measures 5.5 cm on each side.
	SOFIA Begins 2015 Southern Hemisphere Science Flights NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, departed from Christchurch, New Zealand at 6:20 pm local time June 19 for the first of 15 planned Southern Hemisphere deployment science flights.
	Image: Hubble's compact blue dwarf galaxy UGC 11411 This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows a galaxy known as UGC 11411. It is a galaxy type known as an irregular blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy.
	Still a filament arrow? On May 28, 2015 (above left), the sun, as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, showed a pair of filaments in the form of an arrow. The filaments appeared to remain stable as they rotated around to the far side of the sun. It takes approximately 25 days for the equator of the sun to complete a full revolution, though, because of its composition of plasma and gases, different areas of the sun rotate at different speeds. At its poles the sun rotates once every 36 days.
	Discovery of intense radio emission from a tiny binary star calls for a review of stellar models A study led by researchers in the Group of Radio Astronomy of the University of Valencia has determined the mass of a tiny binary star thanks to its intense radio emissions –rare in such small stars– which compels scientists to review stellar evolution models. The findings of this study have just been published in the latest issue of the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
	Russia eyes Kazakh cosmonaut as space tourist Russia on Monday proposed sending a Kazakh cosmonaut to the International Space Station in place of a space tourist in September after a Japanese candidate formally dropped out.
	Sun unleashes mid-level flare The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 2:23 EDT on June 22, 2015. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
	OSIRIS-REx team prepares for next step in NASA's asteroid sample return mission With launch only 15 months away, NASA's Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) team is preparing to deliver instruments for integration with the spacecraft that will travel to, and collect a sample from, an asteroid.
	Rosetta and Philae at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Rosetta has been exploring comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko since summer 2014. In November 2014, the Philae lander landed on the surface of the comet. The first measurements by the scientific instruments allow conclusions to be drawn about the formation of small bodies in the early phase of solar system formation, cometary activity and the importance of comets for the existence of water on Earth.

Technology news

	Silent flights: How owls could help make wind turbines and planes quieter An investigation into how owls fly and hunt in silence has enabled researchers to develop a prototype coating for wind turbine blades that could significantly reduce the amount of noise they make.
	Powering desalination with the sun When graduate student Natasha Wright began her PhD program in mechanical engineering, she had no idea how to remove salt from groundwater to make it more palatable, nor had she ever been to India, where this is an ongoing need.
	Students' invention offers germ-free door handle Two high school students, Sum Ming Wong and Kin Pong Li, both living in Hong Kong have designed and built a door handle that kills germs, thus preventing the spread of disease through hand contact. They demonstrated their handle at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held last month in Pittsburgh—taking second place in the materials science category.
	Apple, Google bet on walletless future, but are shoppers ready to pay with phone? Some pay for deli sandwiches with a flick of their Internet-enabled wristwatches. Osama Bedier waves his phone.
	Sony doubles PlayStation storage in Xbox counter Sony next month will release a new PlayStation 4 with double the storage capacity, countering Microsoft's recent release of a beefed-up version of rival console Xbox One.
	Internet has hidden perils for teenagers – but spying on them isn't the answer The South Korean government has required that teenagers install a spy app on their smartphones. Having the app is compulsory for teens – their phones won't work unless it is installed. When installed, it provides parents with a means to see what sites are being accessed, block sites and send warning notifications.
	Green concrete proves more durable to fire Concrete made using an industrial by-product has shown better fire endurance than traditional concrete when exposed to fires of nearly 1000 degrees Celsius.
	Dorsey would have to give up Square to be Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey would have to give up his post at Square if he's to become CEO of Twitter.
	Google opens News Lab to sharpen journalism skills Google on Monday launched an online lab where journalists can learn or sharpen Internet Age reporting skills.
NYC taxi commission OKs new rules for app-based car services New York City's taxi regulatory agency on Monday approved new rules governing how Uber and other app-based car services operate within the five boroughs.
	Instagram users in N. Korea warned site put on blacklist (Update) Warnings are appearing on Instagram accounts in North Korea that say access to the popular photo-sharing app is being denied and that the site is blacklisted for harmful content.
	The infrastructure Australia needs to make electric cars viable Tesla may have ambitious plans for battery technology for the home but it is also looking to upgrade its electric vehicle batteries, which will allow them to travel twice the distance they currently do. So what will be the implications for Australia?
	European cyber police unit to take on Islamic State propaganda European police agency Europol said Monday it was launching a continent-wide cybercrime unit to combat social media accounts promoting jihadist propaganda, particularly those of the Islamic State (IS) group.

Medicine & Health news

	How understanding GPS can help you hit a curveball Our brains track moving objects by applying one of the algorithms your phone's GPS uses, according to researchers at the University of Rochester. This same algorithm also explains why we are fooled by several motion-related optical illusions, including the sudden "break" of baseball's well known "curveball illusion."
	Smoking around your toddler could be just as bad as smoking while pregnant Children whose parents smoked when they were toddlers are likely to have a wider waist and a higher BMI by time they reach ten years of age, reveal researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte Justine Research Centre.
	Stress hormones could undermine breast cancer therapy Recently, researchers have discovered that the hormone progesterone, an ingredient in contraceptives and menopausal hormone replacement therapies, might stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells that are resistant to anti-estrogen therapy and chemotherapy. Now, new research published June 22nd in the journal Oncogene, a Nature publication, shows that additional hormones, including stress hormones that are frequently used to treat the side effects of common chemotherapy, could make these effective cancer drugs fail sooner in some women with breast cancer. But there may be ways to counteract the effect.
	Saliva exonerated: Gene previously linked to obesity is unrelated, says new study A gene previously suspected of wielding the single greatest genetic influence on human obesity actually has nothing to do with body weight, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital.
	Smart insulin patch could replace painful injections for diabetes Painful insulin injections could become a thing of the past for the millions of Americans who suffer from diabetes, thanks to a new invention from researchers at the University of North Carolina and NC State, who have created the first "smart insulin patch" that can detect increases in blood sugar levels and secrete doses of insulin into the bloodstream whenever needed.
	PrEP data links anti-HIV immune response to reduce chance of infection Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that some individuals exposed to HIV-1, but who remain uninfected, have a certain pattern of virus-specific immune responses that differentiated them from individuals who became infected. The findings build upon prior research by studying these responses in the context of a controlled clinical trial, examining a large number of subjects, and by having access to specimens saved before anyone was infected. In the future, this information could be used to assess HIV-1 infection risk or inform the design of a preventative HIV-1 vaccine.
	Researchers find cell that replenishes heart muscle Regenerative medicine researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a cell that replenishes adult heart muscle by using a new cell lineage-tracing technique they devised.
	Manning up: Men may overcompensate when their masculinity is threatened From the old Charles Atlas ads showing a scrawny male having sand kicked in his face to sitcom clichés of henpecked husbands, men have long faced pressure to live up to ideals of masculinity.
How to predict biphasic allergic reactions in children Children are more likely to have a repeat, delayed anaphylactic reaction from the same allergic cause, depending on the severity of the initial reaction. The first pediatric study to look at the predictors for this phenomenon was published today in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Study examines US trends in the use of penile prostheses to treat erectile dysfunction US researchers have published the first large population-based study of nationwide trends in erectile dysfunction and its surgical management from 2001 to 2010. Using data from Medicare beneficiaries, the investigators found that while the prevalence of erectile dysfunction increased by 165%, the use of penile prostheses decreased by 50%, from 4.6% in 2001 to 2.3% in 2010. Prostheses have been increasingly used in sicker patients with significant comorbidities, however.
Study finds decreased rates of high-grade cervical lesions in young women A new analysis indicates that rates of high-grade cervical lesions decreased in young U.S. women after vaccines were made available to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), but the trend may be due in part to changes in cervical cancer screening recommendations. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study illustrates some of the challenges in monitoring a vaccine's impact during a time of concurrent changes in screening.
Patients test drive pacemaker before choosing permanent implant Patients are test driving a pacemaker outside the skin before deciding whether to have a permanent implant, reveals novel research presented today at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2015 by Professor Michael Giudici, director of arrhythmia services in the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, US.
	Cardiac device wearers should keep distance from smartphones Cardiac device wearers should keep a safe distance from smartphones to avoid unwanted painful shocks or pauses in function, reveals research presented today at EHRA EUROPACE—CARDIOSTIM 2015 by Dr. Carsten Lennerz, first author and cardiology resident in the Clinic for Heart and Circulatory Diseases, German Heart Centre, Munich, Germany.
S. Korea reports two deaths, three new MERS cases South Korea Monday reported two MERS fatalities and three new cases, taking the country's death toll to 27 in the largest outbreak of the virus outside Saudi Arabia.
	Study could reduce unnecessary cancer screening A large clinical trial led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa has found that contrary to expectations, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis does not improve cancer detection in people with unexplained blood clots in their legs and lungs. The results, published in the June 22 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, are expected to improve patient care and reduce screening costs around the world.
	Child fitness falls further than feared Child fitness levels are falling at an even faster rate than first feared - and this time there is evidence it has nothing to do with obesity.
	Tool to analyze genes according to their evolutionary profiles Two major revolutions, one genomic and one in informatics, are completely changing the face of biomedical research. Every day all over the world, millions of genetic sequences—from disease-related genes to complete genomes of plants, animals, bacteria and viruses—are resolved, identified and dissected.
Current monitoring of pacemakers, defibrillators may underestimate device problems The current monitoring of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers and defibrillators may be underestimating device problems, according to UC San Francisco researchers who propose systematic methods to determine accurate causes of sudden death in those with CIEDs as well as improved monitoring for device concerns.
	Most women with early-stage breast cancer undergo imaging for metastatic cancer despite guidelines Most women—about 86%—with early-stage breast cancer will undergo imaging to determine if the cancer has metastasized, despite international guidelines that recommend against testing, found a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Millions of smokers may have undiagnosed lung disease More than half of long-term smokers and ex-smokers who are considered disease-free because they passed lung-function tests have respiratory-related impairments when more closely evaluated with lung imaging, walking and quality-of-life tests. Many of those people likely have the earliest stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an incurable progressive disease (COPD) that is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Relationship seen across studies between cyberbullying, depression The median percentage of children and adolescents who reported being bullied online was 23 percent and there appears to be a consistent relationship between cyberbullying and reports of depression in a review of social media studies, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Prevalence of overweight, obesity in the United States New estimates suggest that more than two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Elevated blood pressure in young adults associated with middle-age heart issues Young adults who had blood pressure that was elevated but still within normal range for long periods of time were more likely to show signs of cardiac dysfunction in middle age, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Stem cell therapy for stroke shows need for rigorous trials in US The news that legendary Green Bay Packer quarterback Bart Starr has undergone stem cell therapy to recover from a stroke has raised the profile for a promising but unproven regenerative treatment intended to replace dead neurons with live ones.
	Does Pixar's Inside Out show how memory actually works? Disney/Pixar's newest film, Inside Out, tells the story of 11-year-old Riley and her difficulty dealing with a family move to San Francisco. The film is getting a lot of attention for its depiction of emotion and memory.
	Chemical engineer's contacts could help treat glaucoma A McMaster PhD candidate has harnessed a component naturally found in tears to develop a contact lens-based drug delivery system for glaucoma patients.
	Patient-controlled analgesia in the emergency department is effective, show twin studies Patients who arrive at the emergency department (ED) in moderate or severe pain are often given intravenous morphine, administered by a nurse. This is safe and works in the short term but is demanding of nursing time, particularly when repeated doses of painkillers are necessary.
	Australian-first for reconstructive surgery uses a 3-D printed jaw implant In an Australian-first surgical procedure, engineers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne along with Epworth Freemasons' Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon George Dimitroulis, have corrected a young man's rare congenital jaw deformity, using a 3D printed jaw joint that was designed and created in Melbourne.
	First Nations mothers at 70 per cent higher risk of stillborn birth A happy, healthy child is something all expectant mothers hope for. For most, that hope is realized. But not all are so lucky. Some will experience the tragedy of stillbirth.
	More women are reaching 100 but centenarian men are healthier New research conducted by a team at King's College London has found an increasing trend in the number of people in the UK reaching age 100 over the past two decades. The study also found that, whilst women were far more likely to reach 100 than men, males tended to be healthier and had fewer diagnosed chronic illnesses compared to women.
	Inactivating a single enzyme could effectively eradicate an aggressive form of leukemia EPFL scientists show how inactivating a single enzyme could effectively eradicate an aggressive form of leukemia. The principles could apply to other cancers as well.
	When it comes to older people and sex, doctors put their heads in the sand The sex lives of older people have received a lot of attention recently. From the Netflix sitcom Grace and Frankie, which stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin (both in their 70s) and does not shy away from the issue of sex, to the Channel 4 series that focused on "love and sex when we're over 60", it seems there is no escaping the message that older adults have and enjoy sex.
	MERS coronavirus candidate vaccine gears up for clinical trials Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have demonstrated, in a preclinical setting, the protective effect of a candidate vaccine directed against the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Planning for the first clinical trial is now underway.
	First clear evidence of a link between smoking and prostate cancer Smoking is a known risk factor for the development of various forms of cancer. However, when it comes to the link between smoking and prostate cancer, the findings of previous studies have been contradictory. Now, for the first time, an international study led by MedUni Vienna and Basle University Hospital, has provided evidence of a clear link.
	Healthy food marketing needed for parents Marketing healthy food as tasty and convenient while limiting junk food advertisements could help improve children's diets and combat childhood obesity, according to a study of parents' attitudes towards unhealthy food and drinks.
	Drinking a lot of beer increases exposure to mycotoxins Researchers from the University of Valencia (Spain) have analysed the mycotoxins produced by certain microscopic fungi in the beer and dried fruits, such as figs and raisins, confirming that these products meet food regulations. However, beer drinkers who consume more than a litre a day have increased exposure to these mycotoxins.
	Grandparental support helps reduce the risk of child obesity According to an English saying, it takes a whole village to raise a child. A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has shown how important the support from grandparents could be. According to the study, which is being published in the journal Pediatric Obesity, emotional support from grandparents has a protective effect against child obesity, even with the presence of other risk factors.
	Small intestine contributes to chronic inflammation in obesity Obesity is caused by numerous and complex factors, some of which are as yet unsuspected. Scientists from the CNRS, INSERM, UPMC and Université Paris Descartes, working with research clinicians from Paris Public Hospitals (AP-HP) have now shown that severe obesity is accompanied by inflammation of the small intestine and enhanced immune response in that region. This phenomenon reduces the insulin sensitivity of enterocytes1 and increases the absorption of nutrients, thus exacerbating the disease. This work, carried out at the Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (INSERM/UPMC/Université Paris Descartes) and the Institut de Cardiométabolisme et Nutrition (ICAN - INSERM/UPMC/AP-HP), is published on 18 June in Cell Metabolism.
	Vitamin K deficiency increasingly common as result of vaccine refusal Vitamin K, which has been administered to newborns as an injection since it was first recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1961, is vital for blood to clot normally. Despite it being given as standard medical practice since then, vitamin K-deficient bleeding (VKDB) is being seen more often in newborns than it has in decades. Emergency Department physicians at Nationwide Children's Hospital have recently seen several cases of intracranial bleeding due to parental refusal of the neonatal vitamin K shot.
Only one in five wants to see subsidies for health insurance eliminated: poll (HealthDay)—Only one in five Americans wants to see the elimination of federal subsidies for people who buy health insurance under Obamacare, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll reveals.
Florida bacteria alert: Beware of warm saltwater if you have open cuts There's lots of ways Florida can kill you, not the least of which is Vibrio vulnificus, a rare and potentially deadly bacteria found in warm salt water.
Clinical trials launching to combat advanced skin cancer Mayo Clinic and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) are helping launch a national clinical trial that will apply the latest in precision medicine to treat advanced melanoma skin cancer.
No 'heckler's veto' in online ratings of doctors, study shows Doctors have many concerns about online crowdsourced ratings, which are intended to make patients better-informed consumers of health care, but this is a big one: They worry that complainers will be the most outspoken contributors to rating sites, skewing scores and resulting in a kind of heckler's veto.
	How can health professionals enhance cognitive health in older adults? An expert panel convened by the Institute of Medicine clarified the cognitive aging process by making a distinction from Alzheimer disease and related dementias, and provided recommendations to enhance cognitive health in older adults. Now a new article published in Annals of Internal Medicine highlights key points of that report and serves as a guide for health care professionals seeking to improve the quality of life of older adults by maintaining brain health.
	Pregnancy safer for women with lupus than previously thought New findings may help ease concerns for women with lupus who are interested in having a child. A new study concludes that most women with lupus whose disease is not very active will have a safe pregnancy. The results are to publish online June 22 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Higher sTNF-RII associated with reduced memory functioning among breast cancer patients before treatment Pretreatment cytokine levels, specifically soluble TNF receptor type two (sTNF-RII), are associated with reduced memory performance among newly-diagnosed, post-menopausal breast cancer patients prior to receipt of surgery and/or adjuvant therapy, according to a new study published June 22 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Heart patients can stop blood thinners when undergoing elective surgery Patients with atrial fibrillation who stopped taking blood thinners before they had elective surgery had no higher risk of developing blood clots and less risk of major bleeding compared to patients who were given a "bridge" therapy, according to research led by Duke Medicine.
Smoking allowed in growing number of restaurants, bars in Georgia Despite the passage of Georgia's Smokefree Air Act in 2005, the number of restaurants and bars that allow smoking has doubled in recent years, according to researchers at Georgia State University's School of Public Health.
Doctors propose tool to help gauge the value of cancer drugs A doctors group is proposing a formula to help cancer patients decide if a drug is worth it—what it will cost them and how much good it is likely to do.
Model could help counteract poisoning from popular painkiller New research could help reverse deadly side effects caused by excessive doses of the drug acetaminophen, the major ingredient in Tylenol and many other over-the-counter and prescription medicines.
Clients lost in system when safety-net agencies close Safety-net agencies, such as food banks and nonprofits offering health care, serve vulnerable individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and help them connect with services, such as health care, legal aid and housing. A researcher from the University of Missouri studied the closure of a large, safety-net agency and how the closure affected clients and other, smaller agencies that depended on the larger agency for referrals. Based on her research, Nidhi Khosla, an assistant professor of health sciences in the MU School of Health Professions, offers recommendations for agency leaders and policymakers to make sure safety-net agencies are sustainable and, if they do close, clients continue to receive the services they need.
Sudan facing measles outbreak with 2,500 cases nationwide: UN Sudan is facing a huge nationwide outbreak of measles, with at least 2,500 confirmed cases so far this year, mostly children, and 38 deaths due to the disease, the United Nations said Monday.
	Two cultures, same risk for cognitive impairment Diabetes is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, age-related conditions that affect memory and thinking skills. However, little is known about how the diabetes-cognitive decline link compares across cultures.
Researchers find molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified two proteins in a fetus' lungs responsible for initiating the labor process, providing potential new targets for preventing preterm birth.
Rapid skin improvement seen after treating systemic sclerosis patients with fresolimumab A major treatment breakthrough for total body scarring of the skin that occurs in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, may soon be available for the estimated 300,000 Americans who suffer with this condition. Currently, no treatment is available.
	Fat, sugar cause bacterial changes that may relate to loss of cognitive function A study at Oregon State University indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of "cognitive flexibility," or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations.
Weight-loss surgery may greatly improve incontinence For severely obese people, bariatric surgery may have a benefit besides dramatic weight loss: it can also substantially reduce urinary incontinence.
Statins show promise to reduce major complications following lung surgery The results of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of patients undergoing elective pulmonary resection was designed to evaluate the effects of statin therapy. Unfortunately, because of difficulties in enrolling patients who had never taken statins, the study was terminated early, and the sample size was smaller than anticipate. Trends in the data suggesting differences between groups failed to reach statistical significance except in a post-hoc analysis. The accompanying Editorial Commentary by Dr. Betty Tong emphasizes the potential importance of statins for reducing the morbidity associated with major thoracic surgery. The Expert Opinion contributed by Dr. Neel R. Sodha and Dr. Frank Sellke evaluates the evidence regarding the benefits of statins as an adjunctive therapy for cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Independence at home program national demonstration saves more than $25 million House calls, a long-running option dating back to the early days of medicine, can be used in a new way to improve geriatric care and lower costs, says a report issued last week from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
'High-normal' blood pressure in young adults spells risk of heart failure in later life Mild elevations in blood pressure considered to be in the upper range of normal during young adulthood can lead to subclinical heart damage by middle age—a condition that sets the stage for full-blown heart failure, according to findings of a federally funded study led by scientists at Johns Hopkins.
Study looks at antibiotic choice for treating childhood pneumonia New Vanderbilt-led research shows hospitals are doing a better job of using antibiotics less commonly associated with antibiotic resistance to treat children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Study shows importance of cause of kidney failure when planning future treatment As a new physician in Galway, Ireland, and then as a nephrology fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Michelle O'Shaughnessy, MD, began to wonder whether similar treatment plans for all patients whose kidneys had failed was necessarily the best practice.
Resiliency training program helps teens deal with today's stresses Amid reports that rank today's teens as the most stressed generation in the country, a new study offers hope for helping them effectively manage stress and build long-term resiliency. A pilot study, published in the spring issue of the journal Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, describes how a stress-reduction/resiliency-building curriculum developed by the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) helped a group of Boston-area high school students significantly reduce their anxiety levels, increase productivity and effectively manage stress over time.
Colorado teen death blamed on hidden form of plague When a Colorado teen came down with a high fever and muscle aches, his family thought he had the flu. But he was dead within days and the rare cause was only revealed later.
Cigna rejects Anthem's latest merger deal Cigna said Sunday it had rejected a multibillion-dollar buyout deal from rival health care giant Anthem, saying it was "deeply disappointed" in the group's actions.
Cardio-oncology services may improve patient care if more widely available The impact of cancer treatments on cardiovascular health is an important consideration when treating cancer patients, but many hospital training programs have no formal training or services in cardio-oncology and a lack of national guidelines and funding are frequent barriers to establishing such programs, according to a nationwide survey published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The ACC conducted the survey to determine the existing practices and current needs in this area and plan for a cardio-oncology section that would fill gaps in resources and allow specialists to share best practices, develop educational tools and practice standards, design training programs and advocate for the specialty.
	LAMP Diagnostics—the key to malaria elimination? Malaria elimination is possible within a generation. But controlling malaria and eliminating malaria are different, and each pose certain challenges. Overcoming the unique challenges of malaria elimination is essential to meeting this goal, and the barriers presented in malaria elimination settings will require different strategies and policies. Researchers at the Malaria Elimination Initiative (MEI) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) are gathering evidence to inform elimination efforts going forward. I am a Masters candidate in the UCSF Global Health Sciences program, and I am working in the field in collaboration with the University of Namibia on a cross-sectional survey of malaria prevalence.
	Users to fine-tune hearing aids themselves More than 20 per cent of people with hearing aids use their devices for less than one hour a day because of problems they encounter with tuning the settings. But now users can participate in fine-tuning their devices themselves.
	Pakistan heatwave death toll nears 200 Nearly 200 people have died in a heatwave in southern Pakistan, officials said Monday, as the government called in the army to help tackle widespread heatstroke in the worst-hit city Karachi.
Reforms aim to make medical research safer for its subjects When University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers were looking for volunteers to test a vaccine for Ebola, which was killing thousands of people in West Africa, Andrea Buchwald raised her hand in Baltimore.
Best Practice Framework is good benchmarking tool for Fracture Liaison Services worldwide A new review by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has confirmed the success of the Capture the Fracture; Best Practice Framework as a single set of quality standards which can be used effectively to benchmark Fracture Liaison Services within a variety of health-care systems worldwide.
A specially tailored gut microbiome alleviates hyperammonemia in mice The microbiome of the human intestine consists of a variety of bacteria that assist in digestion, immune regulation, and other processes that are critical for human health. A subset of these bacteria produces urease, an enzyme that converts the waste product urea into ammonia. Ammonia supports a variety of physiological process. However, individuals with liver disease have excess ammonia in the blood, a condition referred to as hyperammonemia, that can cause neurotoxicity and hepatic encephalopathy. Current treatments for hyperammonemia-associated symptoms are limited and have several negative side effects.
Award-winning agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a surface protein that is normally present on healthy prostate cells, but is found at much higher levels on prostate cancer cells. It is barely found in the rest of the body. "Therefore, PSMA is an ideal target for diagnostic purposes as well as targeted therapies against prostate cancer," says biotechnologist Dr. Matthias Eder of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ).
Official: Seven die in South Sudan cholera outbreak Cholera has killed seven people in the South Sudan capita of Juba, the head of the isolation ward at the nation's main public hospital said Monday.
Pfizer buying two meningitis vaccines from Glaxo for $130M Pfizer will buy two meningitis vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline in a deal that the U.S. drugmaker valued at about $130 million.
	Anthem reaffirms commitment to its $47-billion bid for Cigna Anthem sees its more than $47 billion bid to buy rival Cigna as a way to muscle up on technology that helps consumers and to strengthen its rapidly growing Medicare Advantage business.
Experts propose new policies in advance of White House Conference on Aging The 2015 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA), slated for July 13 in Washington, DC, is focused on four priority areas: retirement security, healthy aging, long-term services and supports, and elder justice. In response, The Gerontological Society of America has produced a special issue of Public Policy & Aging Report (Volume 25, Number 2), wherein the nation's foremost experts on these topics make policy recommendations to improve the lives of all Americans as they age. The publication was supported by AARP.
Insurer combos offer no price break guarantees for consumers The average consumer should catch a price break if major health insurers like Anthem and Cigna combine and cut their expenses.

Biology news

	Safe repellents that protect fruit from spotted wing Drosophila found Insects destroy a very large fraction of the global agricultural output - nearly 40 percent. The spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), for example, feeds on ripening fruits. A nuisance especially in Northern California and Europe, it lays its eggs inside ripe berries, and, when its larvae emerge there, the fruit is destroyed. As a result, each year D. suzukii causes hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of agricultural damage worldwide.
	California's wildflowers losing diversity in face of warmer, drier winters Native wildflowers in California are losing species diversity after multiple years of drier winters, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, which provides the first direct evidence of climate change impacts in the state's grassland communities.
	Bass use body's swimming muscles to suck in food Fish are power eaters. In many species, large muscles running along their backs and bellies provide bursts of speed for chasing down prey. Then, at the very instant they close in, they vacuum victims into their suddenly gaping mouths with overwhelming suction. It turns out that these power surges are no anatomical coincidence. A new study shows that largemouth bass get their slurping power from the very same muscles that provide their swimming power.
	Researchers identify gene that controls soybean seed permeability, calcium content Purdue University researchers have pinpointed the gene that controls whether soybean seed coats are hard or permeable, a finding that could be used to develop better varieties for southern and tropical regions, enrich the crop's genetic diversity and boost the nutritional value of soybeans.
Research team evolves CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases with novel properties A team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers has found a way to expand the use and precision of the powerful gene-editing tools called CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided nucleases. In their report receiving advance online release in Nature, the investigators describe evolved versions of the DNA-cutting Cas9 enzyme that are able to recognize a different range of nucleic acid sequences than is possible with the naturally occurring form of Cas9 that has been used to date.
	Unpacking the mysteries of bacterial cell cycle regulation As part of their long-term investigation of regulatory factors in the bacterial cell cycle, molecular biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst now report finding a surprising new role for one factor, CpdR, an adaptor that helps to regulate selective protein destruction, the main control mechanism of cell cycle progression in bacteria, at specific times.
	Biologists find mistletoe species lacks genes found in all other complex organisms Indiana University scientists have discovered the first known instance of a plant or animal lacking several key genes involved in energy production in cells.
Dual internal clocks keep plant defenses on schedule Time management isn't just important for busy people—it's critical for plants, too. A Duke University study shows how two biological clocks work together to help plants deal with intermittent demands such as fungal infections, while maintaining an already-packed daily schedule of activities like growth.
	Genetic study of 'co-evolution' could provide clues to better food production In 1964, renowned biologists Peter Raven and Paul Erhlich published a landmark study that introduced the concept of co-evolution. Using butterflies and plants as primary examples, the team determined that two species can reciprocally drive each other's evolution and development. Now, an international team of researchers led by the University of Missouri and Stockholm University has used cutting-edge genomics to analyze the co-evolution theory and identified the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. Scientists believe that understanding how co-evolution works could help provide genetic clues for producing heartier plants and food for a growing global population.
Island rodents take on nightmarish proportions Researchers have analyzed size data for rodents worldwide to distinguish the truly massive mice and giant gerbils from the regular-sized rodents. They found that the furry animals with chisel-like teeth are 17 times more likely to evolve to nightmarish proportions on islands than elsewhere.
	Hungry bluefin tuna in a sea of plenty Bluefin tuna are going hungry in a sea full of fish because their foraging habits are most efficient with larger—not necessarily more abundant—prey, according to a study led by a University of Maine marine scientist.
	Enhancing honey bee populations by increasing beneficial pollinator flowers A group of University of Maine researchers is working to enhance native and honey bee populations by increasing beneficial pollinator flowers across Maine's landscape. This is not a new idea—what is new is their choice of research location. Some might describe one of their sites as trashy, but the researchers think it's just what they need.
	History of native Welsh sheep breeds uncovered The genetic integrity of native Welsh sheep breeds combined with contemporary scientific techniques will develop the commercial flocks of the future.
	Cameras aid in monitoring Fremantle dolphin movements Cameras are more effective than field personnel at collecting long-term data on marine animals in the ocean, according to a WA study on dolphin movements.
	What droppings can tell us If you want to find out about the shy Eurasian otter, its droppings are a fascinating source of information. By isolating DNA from otter droppings – known as spraint – researchers can not only identify individual animals but also estimate the size of the population. But it's important to know how to interpret the information correctly. A team led by Simone Lampa from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig reports on the benefits and drawbacks of the method in science journal PLoS ONE.
Study finds wolves are better hunters when monkeys are around Through a rare mixed-species association observed between a carnivorous predator and a potential prey, Dartmouth-led research has identified that solitary Ethiopian wolves will forage for rodents among grazing gelada monkey herds. Through consistent non-threatening behavior, the Ethiopian wolves have habituated gelada herds to their presence, foregoing opportunities to attack the juvenile geladas in order to better capture the rodents.
	The Mite and the Rose: Non-threatening new mite species found in Xinjiang, China Inspired by the discovery of more than 1000 eriophyoid mite species in China so far, Dr. Ji Wei Li and his team collected mites from four different areas across the autonomous region of Xinjiang, China. A consecutive study of the samples proved the existence of three new mite species all from separate genera. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Volunteers help track endangered, enigmatic bonneted bat The mysterious Florida bonneted bat, a creature so elusive that biologists know of only one roost in the wild, is actually a chatterbox, far easier to hear than see.
	Legumes control infection of nodules by both symbiotic and endophytic bacteria New research results show that legume plants selectively regulate access and accommodation of both symbiotic and endophytic bacteria inside root nodule. This provides a solid basis and platform for identification and selection of beneficial endophytic bacteria and highly efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to be used as biofertilisers in sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, these results contribute to the general understanding of the control mechanisms used by eukaryotic organisms to control microbial infection.
Why do we think infant animals are so cute? Over 50 years ago, ethologist Konrad Lorenz proposed that infants appear cute so that parents are attracted to them and motivated to care for them. Lorenz described the Kindchenschema, "baby schema," facial features such as a large head, high and protruding forehead, large eyes, and small nose and mouth, which change proportions as the animal ages.
	Study takes close look at formidable camel spider jaws For the first time, researchers have created a visual atlas and dictionary of terms for the many strange features on the fearsome-looking jaws of a little known group of arachnids. Called camel spiders, baardskeerders [beard-cutters], sun spiders, wind scorpions, and other colorful names, Solifugae are an order of arachnids that are neither spiders nor scorpions. Their jaws, or chelicerae, are the largest for body size among the group of animals that possess these specialized mouthparts—including horseshoe crabs, sea spiders, and arachnids—and bear most of the structures used for their classification. Despite their prominence in folklore around the world, solifuges have scarcely been studied, and much remains unknown about their biology.
	From Darwin to moramora ('take it easy'): Ten new subsocial spider species from Madagascar Ten subsocial cobweb spider species were discovered in a research on nearly 400 Madagascan colonies, conducted by Dr. Agnarsson's team. Most of them are single forest endemics and belong to one genus, Anelosimus.
	The challenge of measuring a bird brain In research, sometimes setting out to demonstrate one concept actually results in proving something entirely different. It's important to be flexible.
	For black rhino, zoo diet might be too much of a good thing A new study shows that captive black rhinos—but not their wild counterparts—are at high risk for two common health problems suffered by millions of humans: inflammation and insulin resistance.
	A new blueberry for home growers The Agricultural Research Service was awarded a plant patent for Nocturne, a new blueberry cultivar. The new blueberry was developed at ARS's Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Laboratory in their satellite location at the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension in Chatsworth, New Jersey.
	Stress in pet cats—how it manifests and how to manage it A variety of day-to-day events - from conflicts with other cats to changes in their daily routine - can cause cats to become stressed. This can trigger a number of behavioural changes and be detrimental to their welfare.
	Humans threaten Asian horseshoe crabs Human activity is affecting the population of Asian horseshoe crabs in the state of Sabah in Malaysia, possibly by disrupting the male to female ratio – that is the conclusion of a study that surveyed two populations of Mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) and studied their mating behaviour.
	Japan confirms plan to resume whale hunt Japan's chief whaling negotiator confirmed Monday its ships would return to the Antarctic this year, despite a call by global regulators to provide more evidence that the hunt has a scientific purpose.

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